I spent fewer hours on the garage over the past two days so I could get another sheet of watercolors done on Outlander. It looks like it’s going to take me about a day per watercolor painting.

I woke up early this morning and wound up filling in the skies on nearly the rest of them. Those take a while, but they are not quite the longest parts…

I’d say the greenery on the left side panel takes the longest time. The desert scene doesn’t take nearly as long, and it’s more fun to do. I prefer to paint that one for whatever reason. It’s nice that they all vary. In that way, they are not totally the exact same paintings over and over. I keep telling myself.

I also got the first coat of black paint on the cigar boxes. Rather, Hannah did. I feel bad because I nagged her about doing it today and it’s really hot outside. Once I realized that I regretted asking her, so I’m glad she stopped for the day after the first coat. We’ll come back it when it isn’t so fucking hot out. Jeez.

Nevertheless, I’m still slowly but surely working on the garage and it’s kind of coming together, although it still looks like a garage. Nothing I can do about it, but it looks better than it did. By the way, I’ll have bigger paintings on easels in front of that ductwork by the heater. I’ll hide as much junk as possible. All except the art storage. I’ll need to be able to have access to that.

I put these rugs down to make the area look a little cozier and I’m getting some things put away. I have a lot of unwrapping of art yet to do so I can start hanging the art upon the racks, a bit like this. Get the idea now?

I also started pinning up a few drawings on the wall that’s on the other side of the garage. It’s covered in this kraft paper because I was originally set up to take pictures of my bag paintings.

These are all super early drawings that I pulled out of an old sketchbook. I’m going to have to make some new things–more quick sketches–that I can sell for cheap. I also have some tiny block prints here that were extras from the 1-SELF book. I gotta come up with some prices for these.

I recently talked to my artist friend Wini Brewer who also participates in the open studios tour and she spoke about how the less expensive art goes fast. The more expensive work–not so much. I’m pretty convinced I won’t be selling any proper oil paintings during this thing. I may be going to a lot of trouble for nothing, as it costs money to participate in the first place.

The people organizing this event haven’t updated the website yet. Apparently, they are supposed to soon. Please bear with them. They do have a Facebook page and an Instagram page, but, of course, that doesn’t give you much information, which is a big fat bummer. I’ve had a few people ask me about the event and I feel bad I can’t send them anywhere with all the info. But the dates, again are October 9-10, 16-17, and 23-24.

I highly recommend making a weekend out of it if you’re coming from out of town. I do know the printed catalog of all the artists with maps and whatnot will be available pretty much all over town and available for download once they get their shit together. There are only 32 days left to promote, which (in my opinion) is cutting it too close.

I don’t know if I’ll have Outlander done in time, but maybe I’ll have one to show by then. I highly doubt I’ll have any for sale yet.

Oh yeah, to my fellow American’s: Happy Labor Day. Aren’t we supposed to take a break from labor today? That’s funny because I don’t think I know the meaning of that.