In a muddle over mediums. (media?)

I'm not sure if other artists go through this, but I find that I occasionally battle with myself back and forth over whether it is better to work with the highest quality painting mediums, paints and supports possible, or if I should be creative enough, improvisational enough, free enough (whatever you want to call it) to just pick up any objects or mediums, supports etc., and be able to create something brilliant out of it. Does anyone know what I mean here? Anyone?

Anyway, when I'm not thinking about those issues, I'm just going ahead and painting, these days on printed fabric:

ladies, your prince has arrived oil on printed fabric 12"x12" 2008, by me, Diane Feissel

Excitement.

Okay - this one goes out to Sadie:

some of us crave excitement, oil on printed fabric, 10"x10", 2008, by me, Diane Feissel.

flick.

Okay, I finally opened up a "flickr" account, here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianefeissel/. So far I'm mostly uploading pics of recent paintings or paintings-in-progress and so forth... here's a sneak preview, below, of a piece from the series on fabric I've been working on:

chewing the scenery, oil on printed fabric, 12"x10", 2008.

I've also uploaded some new paintings from this series on my website, at this link.

Dropping in.

Hi, I'm back. Dropped out of sight for a while there, at least according to this blog. What have I been up to? Namely, painting - especially portrait commissions, trying to catch up on that front. Other activities of late include getting mowed down by lousy Raleigh drivers, weaning myself off a bad peanut M&M habit, working on my latest series of paintings (entitled "fabrication" - you can see some examples here), weeping over the sad state of the country, visiting Triangle area farms, reading Judy Blume books in French, and taking plenty of naps with Emmy. Oh, and having twelve thousand headaches from the frequent low-pressure systems here in Raleigh. It's hurricane season, apparently.

Anyhoo, now that it's already time for First Friday in Raleigh for October, here's a painting I had showing for the month of September... and yes, in the future I solemnly vow to be 110% less lazy about posting here.

painting (dammit, I forget the title I gave it), 2008, oil on canvas, 20"x16", by me, Diane Feissel.

Okay. The NYC review.

Ok - I'm trying to take a deep breath and get over it, and move on, and vote with my brain in November. There's not much more to be done, and I will acquire ridiculously high blood pressure if I don't just let it go. Fwooosh.

In the meantime, here are some photos from last weekend's brief time in NYC:

Me and John in the subway: Christopher Street station.

Face on building. East Village.

Evolution in Soho: a store that manages to be cool and creepy and cool and sad and fascinating and terrifying and gross and great and borderline unethical and utterly awesome - all at the same time.

Awesome cat in Bleecker Street Records. Mmmmmm, cat.

Mmmm nice! Bleecker Street Records.

Love the subway tilework. Plus, seeing this always puts the Simon & Garfunkel song in my head. Mmmm.

S.'s awesome hat...

After 9 years in California, NYC looks deliciously old. Mmmmmm, old.

Here's us on the way back to the Philadelphia airport, on SEPTA. Beware "Slippery Rail Season," by the way. Beware!!

Unpleasant intermission.

I had intended to continue a photo recap of our vacation... but the hideousness of the RNC got in the way. I have been rendered cranky beyond my own belief. Two things that haven't helped this crankiness situation:

1. I was nearly run over by a crappy Raleigh driver on the way home.

2. Some certain cat peed on my side of the bed today.

Repeat: I am cranky beyond my own belief. I will return to make another post when my mood improves. Stay tuned.

P.S. And Hanna will probably hurricane all over First Friday tomorrow night. *%#@!!!#

Trip on the Day of Labor.

Okay, we're back from a tragically brief, whirlwind-y trip up to Philadelphia/NYC. If you live in the area and we didn't get to look you up, our apologies - it was a quick and ill-planned venture... and we'll catch you the next time around.

Here's some photo recap on the Philadelphia leg of the journey:

chez P., with G., E. and L., qui bouge beaucoup...

On Walnut Street: the old and the new, mingling.

In Society Hill, the historic area: perhafs you would like fome molaffes?

Would a trip to Philly be complete without a photo of Rocky? Probably not. Yo.

Would a trip to Philly be complete without a visit to La Colombe? Probably. Sorry y'all - it's pretty, but their hot chocolate is sub-par. Meh.

Would a trip to Philly be complete without a visit to see wee Milo? Decidedly not.

Last but not least: the front gate at the Barnes Foundation - pretty much the only place you can photograph anything as they practically confiscate all belongings upon entry to the grounds. They're... a tad protective of their collection, it would be fair to say.

More soon from NYC... stay tuned.