I was talking with Boris Johnson this morning. Never realized he and I have the same philosophy when it comes to art. Listening to him as I brushed my teeth, I saw his point of view on my present painting. Walking back to my bedroom I thought about his ideas. Pulling on clean trousers and socks I continued to think over his ideas. Only when I ran a comb through my hair did my own ideas become clear. Boris faded in the mirror as his blond hair became my white hair and it took on that orderly look that is mine.
Of course Boris wasn't there sharing ideas on art with me, it was simply me organizing my thoughts for my day. I do look like the British prime minister in the morning though. It isn't a bad look, just not my look. Dressed, lunch packed, I check to see if I need my winter coat. Why is the newspaper always in the street or in my neighbor's yard?
Annie and Fred are posing for me today. Annie is drop dead gorgeous, she brings the construction going on next door to a halt. Fred, her loyal friend, is quite laid back. He gets right to work, and hits the model's stand as soon as he's in the door. Not always in the right pose, but a little prodding gets him there. Two Milk Bones and Fred is set for the day. While Fred dreams of squirrels and rabbits, Annie doses off and I set to work getting just the right blue to her jeans and burnt sierra to her favorite belt. Besides being a great model, she is a damn fine drywaller. Brush work needs correcting and those jeans need a bit more Annie in them. It isn't just a figure in my painting, it's Annie and Fred in my painting. You know how you can recognize a friend from the back? Well that is how it is with me and my painting. Models start off as strangers but along the way they become friends. I may have to buy a blue, special, for Annie's jeans and it may take several tries to get her hair color right. When I finished the painting I've said "Meet Annie and Fred ".
