Archive for November, 2007

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A Lesson in Snobbery

November 30, 2007

 by Lisa

I’m worried about something. I think I have become a snob. A painting snob. And I don’t want to be. Not after what happened last night. I will have nothing to do with snobbery anymore.

Last night I went to watch my tennis team play North Ranch Country Club. My team is not from a fancy country club. We are riffraff. The serfs, who come from the public courts. We were playing North Ranch in the play-offs to see who will go to sectionals. I did not get to play this time, but we all wanted to go to support our other teammates. I arrived a little late, after playing had commenced, and walked into the clubhouse and up to the front desk. I explained why I was there, and the cute little girl with the turned up nose and the bob informed me that she was really sorry that she could not let me go in because I was in jeans and they have a no denim rule.

After my initial reaction of incredulity, I explained to her that I had come quite a distance to see my team play, and that if they did not want denim tainting their manicured grounds, their team captain should have made that clear to our team captain. She apologized again and explained that a number of my teammates had shown up unaware of the rule as well. She offered to sell me pants from their swank shop (WORK OUT PANTS!!! Oh, much better!!!) which some of my teammates had taken her up on. I happen to be a size two and wear junior sizes, and no way did they have pants to fit me. I did ask her, being of smart ass mind and body, if I could buy pants and return them later that night if they did not fit. She said no. I asked if she meant to tell me that they had a no return policy. At this point she didn’t seem to know what to say to me, and referred me to the manager. Perfect.

I walked out through the door opposite the entrance, into Eden. Like a fly on shit, the manager was bee-lining toward me with her denim radar on high. I beat her to the punch.  “No denim right”? And so began the new argument. I tried everything.  I told her their team captain was at fault.  I told her it was beyond snobbery. I wanted to speak to the board members which she claimed were on the grounds, but she denied me access. I told her I was wearing “7″ jeans that cost $187 (okay they were on sale). Nothing worked. She told me I could go and watch from outside the fence. I’m just sure. Boy was I pissed by the time I was escorted out of there. I could have come ALL THE WAY HOME and changed and gone back, but I knew that if I did, and we lost to them, I was going to be a tad cranky and the wrath of Lisa would be on full display.

I still do not know yet whether or not we won, but will post that info next time since I know this is such a cliff hanger for all of you so interested in painting. Which brings me back to my original point. I am guilty of being a painting snob, and have poo-pooed (I tried to come up with a more eloquent term, but couldn’t quickly, and the thesaurus does not have poo-pooed) many a painting style other than classical realism, or painters other than Rembrandt, Sargent and Odd Nerdrum. Because of North Ranch, I feel like Scrooge being liberated by the spirit. I will never trash Pollock again.

I hope we kicked their denimless asses…

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Santa Santa Santa, Lookit

November 29, 2007

By W.R. Jones

mychristmastree.jpg Santa, I have selected this to be my Chrismas tree this year.  Don’t swing by the house, OK?

    Yes I know it is not a traditional looking tree but think of this, the reindeer can rest and stoke up on some of this fine grass.  You can warm your fat butt for awhile and I will leave a thermos of coffee along with a ham and cheese sandwich in the crook of the tree. 

    I’ve decided to include a photo of what I expect demand to find under this tree on Christmas morn.

scooter.jpg

    I thought perhaps with a photo those miscreant elves of yours might not screw it up like they did last year, and the year before that, and the year before that….

All my love,

Billy

PS – I have been a very good boy all year.

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‘Tis the Season’

November 28, 2007

by Lisa

Yesterday,  I brought in some Christmas ornaments for the students to paint. one student in particular saw what was on the agenda, and said, “What if I hate Christmas?”. At this point, I had a flashback to last December. I did a solo show of oil paintings –33 of those suckers, with a reception planned for the 17th of December. What was I thinking? (Well, it was suppose to happen during the summer, but I got screwed out of the gallery space.) Between getting 33 paintings up, and putting on a reception in which Martha Stewart and Queen Elizabeth were invited, I was an absolute mess throughout the holiday season. I concluded many times that I too — hated Christmas.

xmas_baubles.jpg

At any rate, this is the painting that I made into a Christmas card, into which I inserted invitations for the reception. I had 500 of them made and only used about 100. You do the math. I  have a fire sale going on now of 25 cards for $10. So what if they have 2006 next to my signature. They read ‘Tis the Season…’ on the inside. Ah c’mon…

I know. Maybe I’ll take them with me next time I go plein air painting and sell those suckers on the spot. Now that I’m building a following in the ‘field’.