First day of creating a copy of Psyche by J.W.Waterhouse with oil on canvas. I'm more than slightly intimidated by the largest format I ever did in my life (the canvas is almost a meter tall, while the original is even bigger). First steps - neutral gesso underpainting, complete sketch on canvas + a chiaroscuro study from my sketchbook.
John William Waterhouse RA (Italian-born English, 1849-1917)
Diogenes, 1882
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
The most famous of the Cynic philosophers, Diogenes (412?-323 BC) pursued the ideal of eliminating non-essential luxuries, thus choosing to live not in a house but in a large tub. Supposedly he would stalk the streets of Athens with the lantern (here shown at his feet) vainly searching for an honest man.
Sometimes I have to stop and recognize that I am now at a place in my life that, for a long time, I never thought I’d achieve. I own a home. I can customize it however I want and give the middle finger to resale value. How cool is that.