At that point on today’s work where I am running some test samples on old cardboard for techniques, and I am “living with” the base background to make sure I like the current brush strokes. As soon as the test samples are done and dried, I’m packing it up for today. I got accomplished what I set out to accomplish. Yeah for setting low goals! I just don’t want to rush this one. It feels special. It’s the first work I have been really, really excited about in a long, long time.

Well, at least I don’t hate it yet, and that’s good, right?

I’d show you, but that might jinx it. Not that there is much to look at yet anyway. There’s the base coat (blackish) and the centerpiece (cut up iris painting), and then there’s a whole bunch of stuff laying around on it. I’m trying to see which things speak to me loudest about wanting to be a part of this little project. I’m pretty sure the mink has said it doesn’t want any part of this thing. The color seems wrong, which is all well and good since I was being silly about not wanting to cut it up anyway. Though thanks to johnnym, I have discovered that scrap mink can be had rather cheaply at eBay, so I expect to get some in the future, because I would like to use some fur at some point. Of course, there are two cats living right here, and they do have nicely colored fur. I’m kidding! I’m kidding!

Speaking of cats, they have been as unbearable today as I expected them to be. They woke up feisty, and they have stayed that way. They didn’t even take their usual afternoon siesta, and they made it impossible for me to grab a power-nap. They eventually have to run out of energy. Don’t they?

Personally, I am just about completely out of energy. I feel like I am dragging my feet along wearing concrete boots, and my eyes definitely want to close as soon as possible. I believe I better down some Dr Pepper and go ahead and prep the meat for dinner tonight while I still have some strength left. I could eat right now, because all I had for breakfast was a boiled egg, and for lunch I had bread and water. No, not some ascetic artist’s diet … just too damn lazy to make anything, and I didn’t want to mess up the kitchen or having to move my project stuff. Yes, too lazy to eat. Sad, I know.

Tomorrow, I plan to do some more materials tests including breaking marbles into small pieces, bubblewrap+tissue paper+glue, and salt sprinkled on wet acrylic paint. Then I will proceed to working up the base color with a few more dark colors and planning the textures that will go on top. This is soooo fun!