Adding some complexity.

More gradient practice.

Did this after a few unsatisfying attempts at more complex subjects (birds). The goal was to practice painting gradients.

I had this thought after drinking a bit too much.

I like cigars. I like the smell. I like the flavor combination of cigar smoke and red wine. I like that they force me to be outside, sitting calmly, for two hours. I like the nicotine high. Smoking cigars feels like a rejection of the…

Two years ago, on my 40th birthday, I stood with Heather atop the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, feeling as if I had reached a pinnacle not just geographically but also in life. Yet, as I mark my 42nd year, it strikes me…

This past weekend, Heather and I ventured to Piggott, Arkansas, to witness our second total solar eclipse. Although we were anxious about the potential for cloudy weather, as forecasts had predicted such conditions, the allure of the eclipse prompted us to take the chance. The…

I finished this model over the weekend. It’s taken about three weeks of assembly and painting. I had a good time with it, and considering it’s my first vehicle, I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Heather and I saw Dune: Part 2 today. Overall, I found it disappointing as it diverts from the traditional hero's journey, rendering the narrative surprisingly dull. The absence of both tension and humor contributes to it feeling emotionally flat, where the stakes are never high…