Three new paintings almost complete. Preparing a talk on contemporary figurative painting, March 25th, so I have some time. It’ll be a powerpoint presentation with images of works by Elizabeth Peyton, John Currin, Lisa Yuskavage, Annika Connor, Eric Fischl, and more. I think two of the concepts I’ll push is temperature (within and outside) the work (i.e. a “hot” new artist vs. cold modern abstraction) and I’d love to incorporate viscosity. Heat & Viscosity in Contemporary Figurative Painting? There’s an opening at the Claremont Graduate University tonight (and every tuesday) think I’ll stop by for a couple free beers before heading to the polling place to vote. I wish I could make up things to vote on. I’m not even sure how I’m registered. I used to be a card carrying Republican – but it was only to throw the numbers off. I might be undeclared now. After voting I’ll lock myself in my studio until I pass out… I haven’t done that in a long time, there’s something very rewarding about working yourself to the point of exhaustion – I mean if its something you truly want to do.