Wah Wah Wah
art journal pages
I think communication starts when words are not present. I think we put so much emphasis on language, silence is so much more important.
Marina Abramovic
I was sad to receive email that artist Igor Shulman passed away last week. I loved many of his paintings, but Jan 1 was my absolutely favorite. It’s one of those paintings that tells a different story every time you see it. There’s so much to take in, process, and wonder about. It’s magical.
RIP, Igor. You will be missed.
What I’m reading this week:
The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
I’m listening to the audiobook read by Noah Reads while I paint. Sounds kinda cheesy - artist listens to classics while painting, but it’s true. :) I’m about 1/3 of the way through, and I’ve been painting these portraits…
I’m also listening to The Housemaid by Freida McFadden while I paint. I can’t seem to sit and stare at a wall when I’m listening to a book. If I meditate or lie down while listening, I fall asleep, so I either clean, paint or play games on my phone.
229146 people are currently reading this one according to Good Reads, and 1338682 people want to read it. It’s one that is easy to listen to - not all audiobooks are like this. I’m flying through the chapters, and can’t seem to turn it off. Every time a chapter ends, I think one more, just one more. The buildup is just perfect, and I’m waiting on the edge of my seat for something to happen. Something does happen, right? I’m on chapter 21.
Hunchback - Ichikawa Saou
Finished it this afternoon. Still processing how I feel about this book. Didn’t love it, which I understand I wasn’t supposed to.
The Definitions - Matt Greene
I hope to finish this one tomorrow or at least by the weekend.
I seem to be swallowing books whole lately, which was my secret new year’s resolution back in January. I don’t normally do resolutions, but I did set out with the intention in 2026 to read more this year. After a slow start, I think I’m starting to make it happen.
Last month, I slowly made my way through The Paris Wife, (which I gave 5 stars) but then dove head first into these four. I didn’t want The Paris Wife to end, so I savored it. When it did end, I knew I wasn’t ready to let Ernest Hemingway go just yet. I’m completely enchanted with him, his life, and the people he kept company with, especially Gertrude Stein.
At some point I’m going to circle back to Paula McLain’s (The Paris Wife) other books because she’s a fantastic writer, and I need to read more of her work.
What I’ve watched this week:
Ernest Hemingway, Wrestling With Life (documentary)
I Tried Hemingway’s (amazing) Daily Routine - Nathaniel Drew
Ernest Hemingway - The Later Years | Documentary
Ernest Hemingway Documentary to Fall Asleep To - I didn’t fall asleep while listening to this. It kept my brain fully engaged, and I ended up being awake until about 4 am. Oy! It made getting up early to feed the fur babies a bit challenging.
My artwork is available on Daily Paintworks, Etsy, and eBay.
You can also find me on pinksky & blsky, where I post multiple times a day.
I’ve also been posting notes here on Substack in between these longer posts.
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May you be well, happy and peaceful.