Yesterday I wiped my now decommissioned 1st-gen iPhone and reinstalled iOS 3.1.3. It’s amazing how much of a difference new software made, and it’s nice to have all of the free space. I hooked it up to my trusty music server here at work and loaded up a bunch of playlists via poky USB 1.1 ports, and took it to my drawing class last night. While I was there, downloaded Spotify and the NPR News app, and with those and a few key podcast subscriptions, I think I’m covered.
I tried out some new paper this evening. It’s a Bristol cold press, so it stands up to water better than sketch paper, and I found that it dries a little slower. The problem is that I’m overworking just about everything I sketch out, which means it just looks sloppy and fussy when I’m done with the brush. I look back at the first two weeks with ink, and every brushstroke is economical and assured. I’m not sure what to do.
A busy weekend is behind us; we spent Saturday out in Easton with the Morris clan, eating delicious food and hiking through a nature preserve. Finn missed her nap on the way over (we left from her dance class) and crashed about mid-afternoon, which meant I carried her for most of the hike. The trees were in full color, and the entire trip was bathed with golds, yellows, and greens just beginning to turn.
Back at the homestead, we finally took a saw to the holly tree in the front yard, trimming the bottom 5′ back to the trunk; it’s amazing how much it opens up the front yard. I hauled brush, mowed the lawn, painted a cabinet, fixed the upstairs sink, and tore the passenger-side exhaust down on the Scout to find I need a new gasket above the heat riser; I think I’m going support my Light Line dealers and wrap that purchase in with new shop manuals.
I also tried the IPA on Saturday evening, and I’m very, very pleased with the results. It’s rich, full-flavored, and has no trace of caramel or molasses undertones. I brought some next door to the neighbors’ for the Sunday evening football game, and he agreed with me. I’m hoping this will be the motivation he needs to buy supplies to brew himself.
The big honkin’ HP LaserJet is now installed and running at work; after cracking it open, cleaning off the transfer drum and installing new cartridges the other day, it’s printing much, much cleaner and seems to be happier. I have to haul the Phaser back to the house and set it up somewhere quiet, but I’m not looking forward to humping it up the stairs.
Not as much luck at the studio this week. I’ve been fighting with the medium enough that any finished piece doesn’t look finished; I’ve overworked areas or haven’t been able to pull things together into a cohesive whole. I definitely need to find some paper that’s in between sketchbook weight and “watercolor” paper weight where it won’t dry immediately or stay wet for an hour so that I can stay ahead of it. I’d like to start working with colors during the next studio, so trying to iron out this issue will be the goal for the remainder of the fall session.
I got an email this morning from Apple; my iPhone is in Hong Kong on its way to me!