Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Come on, man.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

DeSantis transforms Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

After roe, women are no longer free.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

This fight is for everything.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Let there be snark.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

You are here: Home / Artists In Our Midst / Artists In Our Midst

Artists In Our Midst

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The UPS truck dropped off these beautiful pictures today:

Those were taken by one of you- I’ll let the offending party speak for herself in the comments. I can’t wait to get them framed and hung.

At any rate, it has been a while since we had one of these threads, so I thought this would be a good time to have one. If you are your loved one are an artist and sell your wares or just share your craft, drop a comment with a link to your website or your store. You all would be really surprised by how creative so many of you are.

Here are some other things crafted by you commenters. Two pictures hanging in my living room that were taken by commenter Renato (at an angle because I am a shitty photographer and the flash kep showing up in the glass):

And LauraW made this frame for the Blog Stars Tunch and Lily, and it hangs in the guest bathroom right off the living room:

Reader Interactions

144Comments

  5. 5.

    Peter

    I love these threads.

    My website is woefully out of date, which I hope to have fixed before the Rapture happens. Lately I’ve also been making ceramics, some of which can be seen here.

  6. 6.

    HumboldtBlue

    What about those of us who are talentless, snarking, smartass, cynical fucks? What the fuck, we can’t get some recognition for being no-talent fucknozzles? We have to draw pretty pictures or paint like the dude with the jewfro? What if … what if umm … what if we like, sing an’ stuff, like songs and then drink beer, lots of beer?

    Fucking elitist.

  7. 7.

    Cat Lady

    My very old (in years, not age) friend Amy has a way with glass. Everything she does gives me a happy! It will give you or your loved one a happy too.

    Love the lotus flower picture. It grows in pristine purity above the mud, but requires the mud. There may be a lesson there.

  8. 8.

    Tom Hilton

    @HumboldtBlue:

    What if … what if umm … what if we like, sing an’ stuff, like songs and then drink beer, lots of beer?

    That would probably work, but only if everyone else drinks at least as much beer as you do.

  15. 15.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Great timing, John. I just shipped you two wood carvings of my genitalia. I’m spent.

  18. 18.

    Tom Hilton

    @wmd: indeed. We got to see one of the nesting condors–just a tiny dark shape, though a scope set up by the rangers along the High Peaks Trail, but still…very cool.

  21. 21.

    SiubhanDuinne

    As usual with these threads, the creativity and painstaking skill of so many of you just knocks me out.

    A couple of things, though, I can’t see. CatLady, I think you may have a bad link there; and Dreggas, by any chance is there a way to view the cakes without using Facebook?

    All the photography is spectacular. And Peter, I am in love with your ceramics. Playing with geodesic forms like that — wonderful, challenging (I would imagine), and very effective.

    I am going to lean on my sister to put up photos of her work on her new website and I hope can post that the next time you do one of these threads. She uses old scraps of old leather (cuts up damaged jackets and vests and so on), and combines them with all kinds of miscellaneous jewelry to come up with one-of-a-kind pieces. I’m collecting a slew of ancient earrings that long ago lost their mates, and assorted odds-and-sods to send her. She’s always been good at off-the-wall crafts like this, and I can’t wait to see some of her work. I love the idea that she uses only recycled things — won’t buy anything new for this line.

    Me? I’ll sing along.

  22. 22.

    R. Johnston

    Peak Wingnut?

    “On Saturday afternoon, FBI agents arrested Erlyndon Joseph Lo at his home in the 3500 block of Nancy Court. He made an initial appearance Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don Bush in Plano. Bush will hold a detention hearing April 15 to determine if Lo will continue to be held pending trial.

    On Friday morning, Lo went to the Plano federal courthouse and filed a court document saying that at noon that day, he was planning to go to the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in the 8600 block of Greenville Avenue in Dallas and “use deadly force to defend the innocent life of another human being,” according to court documents.

    Lo’s filing specifically sought a restraining order against law enforcement, asking that officers not be allowed to harm him if he had to harm someone else.”

  27. 27.

    Violet

    Beautiful photos. I love that they’re being being propped up on laptops for display. How appropriate.

  28. 28.

    srv

    Noooooooooooo! I was going to go drink some beer, and now I have to hit refresh every minute to see the new art.

    Maybe if I got an iPad…

  30. 30.

    Richard Fox

    Hello John,

    I follow your site, though never have commented before, but wanted to say I love to follow your thoughts and commentary, and also the adventures of Tunch. Makes me feel like my own( late) feline is still around and purring, and for that I thank ye.

    I am a New Yorker born and bred, a painter and cartoonist. I have put a link of my paintings here to join in the thread, as that is a lovely thing on your part to make available. Take care. –Richard

  31. 31.

    JD Rhoades

    I recently decided to try an experiment in electronic publishing. My friends J.A. Konrath and Lee Goldberg have had some success putting stuff up on Kindle and other e-pub formats. So I thought I’d stick my own toe in the digital water, so to speak, and put my novel STORM SURGE on line, for those of you who are electronically enabled. In keeping with the idea that e-pubbing should be cheap, it’s only $1.99.

    You can find the Kindle version HERE:

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DA4G8Q

    and Smashwords has other formats HERE :

    https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/11659

    Let me know how you like it.

  37. 37.

    Catsy

    I don’t make any money from this, but I’m very proud of this shot–it won first place a few days ago in the Blood in the Snow contest:

    Bird’s Eye

  38. 38.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Thanks, Cat Lady! Your friend does lovely pieces. I’m very fond of the dragonflies especially.

  40. 40.

    James in WA

    Wow, LauraW’s picture frame is truly awesome. I’d cover my walls with frames like that, given even half a chance.

  46. 46.

    Peter

    @SiubhanDuinne: Thanks. It’s fun, and unburdened with all of the career-type issues that can make the studio a chore sometimes. And extra fun to make food to go in them.

  47. 47.

    Fergus Wooster

    Damn. Now I’m stuck here all night refreshing for new photos, while I haven’t any decent ones to submit. Going to the family farm this weekend, and hope to get some bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes. With and without a toddler hamming it up among them.

    None of which will compete with you, Tom. Beautiful work.

  53. 53.

    Adam Lang

    Not sure if this counts, but my sweetie is a musician:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqWkT03Kaq4

    She shouldn’t be hard to identify, she’s the only one that looks even vaguely female.

    Oh, did I mention that she’s fucking awesome?

    She, she and one or two other people, or she and the whole damn Wrenboys group are available for parties, weddings, funerals, or other events anywhere in the greater SF Bay area.

  57. 57.

    Fergus Wooster

    @machine: No, but I drove from Houston to San Antonio for a meeting last week, and it was 3 hours of gorgeousness. How was Brenham?

    My family has 90 acres in the middle of nowhere (closest town is College Station, but not too close). The two pastures become oceans of bluebonnets in the spring, and we figured it was about time to get some pics of Peanut among them.

    Plus, if we’re lucky we’ll snag some wild blackberries and raspberries.

  58. 58.

    Ducktape

    I have a casual game service that works on pretty much everything, including WebTV & MSNTV2, as well as on computers. The service itself is member-supported, ad-free, and we’re particularly oriented for Boomers and their parents (lots of members over 65, and at least a dozen in their 90s — oldest that we know about is 99).

    Even though most is members only, there are always 3 free-to-play games at the top of the front page, and they change weekly. We’ll have our 6th anniversary the first weekend in May, and will have a 3-day open house (all games open) to celebrate.

    Check it out — and if you want a nice place to park your mom where she can make friends and get attention but will never be hassled, sold to, or infected, we have gift certificates! http://games.net4tv.com

    Thanks, John!

    ducktape

  59. 59.

    Adam Collyer

    Not me personally, but my Dad has become a pretty serious recreational photographer since his retirement. Now he publishes a daily photoblog and takes pictures every day. He’s super-talented and he loves comments, so if you get a minute, drop on by and see what’s out there.

    Ed’s Photo of the Day – Some old, some new…

  60. 60.

    stuckinred

    @Fergus Wooster:

    Highway 90, the jobs are gone
    We kept our garden, we set the sun
    This is the only place on Earth blue bonnets grow
    And once a year they come and go
    At this old house here by the road

    And when we die we say we’ll catch some blackbird’s wing
    And we will fly away to heaven
    Come some sweet blue bonnet spring

  61. 61.

    machine

    @Fergus Wooster: The fields along 105 and 36 were thick with bluebonnets, paintbrushes and daisies. There is a second weekend to the Bluebonnet Trail w/ winery tour, so I’d recommend getting out there. Pleasant Hill Winery has a rockin’ sangiovese you might like.

  63. 63.

    Violet

    @Cat Lady:
    Do you know if she makes dragonflies in any other way except jewelry? I’m thinking of one for a gift for someone who wouldn’t wear jewelry. Not quite sure what form it would be…on a stand, perhaps? Hmmm….

  67. 67.

    machine

    @Adam Collyer: Added your dad’s photoblog to my rotation. Some great shots there, especially Notre Dame.

    And your dad’s a Lightroom fanatic too, so that helps.

  69. 69.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Dreggas: Thank you so much for putting up the alternative views. Those cakes are amazing!

  70. 70.

    cay

    I am honored that my work is in JC’s new digs. Who ever thought that when I shot a couple of images in Japan that some awesome blogger in WV would want these flowers on his wall?

  71. 71.

    Violet

    @IndyLib:
    Yeah, maybe. I was looking around the site and saw the “Critter.” It has some cords with beads or rocks that hang off it that can be moved around. I’m thinking of maybe a dragonfly with some attached springs or wires that could be played with while thinking – like a worry stone, flipping it around in your hand. But something that could be moved around. Hmm….going to have to think this through.

  74. 74.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @LauraW: I see you do a lot of crafts fairs and the like in western NC. That’s a pleasant drive for me from Atlanta, and I am definitely going to put one or two of those dates in my summer calendar. Look forward to meeting you and to seeing and buying your extraordinary pieces.

  77. 77.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @LauraW: I see you do a lot of crafts fairs and the like in western NC. That’s a pleasant drive for me from Atlanta, and I am definitely going to put one or two of those dates in my summer calendar. Look forward to meeting you and to seeing and buying some of your extraordinary pieces.

  85. 85.

    Hippie Killer

    I do this as illustrations for posts on my own blog. I don’t know if readers realize I’m the one who paints them. But hey, the less they know about me the better, right? Anyway, here they are, hot off the presses:

    WANT

    TAKE

    For some reason, the links (above) aren’t showing up as blue, but I tried them and they work. If any of you don’t know who the subject is, just check out the lead story in any of tonight’s (or tomorrow’s) national news broadcasts. I’m sure he’ll come up.

  86. 86.

    Cat Lady

    @Violet:

    You can contact her on her website, but she’s so creative I’m sure she’d be able to come up with a great idea.

  87. 87.

    AhabTRuler

    I’ll let the offending party speak for herself in the comments. I can’t wait to get them framed and hung.

    Damn, John, that’s pretty harsh. What do you do to the artists you don’t like?

  89. 89.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Indy Lib: you are cruel. Those vanilla bean sconettes are may fave thing at Starbucks these days.

    Sadly, ‘bucks discontinued my VERY fave thing evah: Toffee Almond Bars. I suspect I could get results by following a standard blondie recipe and crunching up a few Heath Bars in the batter, but if you have a better, more authentic source, I’d be ever so grateful.

  93. 93.

    Omnes Omnibus

    I have demonstrated no artistic ability since I stopped playing the violin in high school. Thanks for making me feel inadequate. Seriously though, there is a lot of talent around here. Well done.

  94. 94.

    IndyLib

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    It’s an amazing thing that I found the link at Sully’s today. I haven’t read him for months (he gets credit for leading me to BJ, however), but I clicked on him today after following someone’s link to a Fallows piece this morning.
    Andrew’s thing for petite vanilla scones has always tickled me.

  95. 95.

    The Other Steve

    r€nato, those are very nice. I really like the Tuscany Cypreses on that site.

    I used to do a lot of photography when I was a kid, and always wanted a decent camera. I could never really talk myself into it. Finally last december I bought a Sony A500, and it’s the most fun I’ve had with a camera ever.

  96. 96.

    SIA

    @R. Johnston: Jeebus, the crazy just keeps on comin’. Was it like this during Clinton’s terms? I didn’t become very political until the 2000 “election” but just don’t remember this level of hate and toxicity.

  97. 97.

    Johnny's mom

    My dearest is an incredibly talented artist- you don’t have to believe me, just ask the NBA, Timeout New York weekly, Pop Sci, etc. etc. on and on. He also makes perfect eggs and phenomenal chili. My boyfriend is oh-so dreeeeeeamy. This link leads directly to some of his animal related art pieces: http://www.namtab.com/gallery/animals.htm#penguin

  100. 100.

    Stan of the Sawgrass

    I’ll have to come back tomorrow to read this thread and check the links– ya’lls got some intrestin’.
    My wife and I actually make a living (most of the time) doing decorative painting, etc. for the astoundingly wealthy down here in S. Fla.
    I don’t update it nearly enough, but go look at my Flickr site– got some silly political shite along with the Deathless Art.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanhughes/

    PS– another 12-hr day tomorrow, but I really need to see what the rest of you are doing creatively. BJ folks are the salvation of the Nation! Or at least more fun to descend into Political Chaos with.

  102. 102.

    Jason Bylinowski

    I am a musician. Can you imagine what it’s like, to hear it? I think it sounds a lot like music, but I can’t remember.

    ::resumes ridiculous amount of studying::

  104. 104.

    SIA

    @stuckinred: Mr. Screaming has read it. I probably need to – just have to watch my own rage levels. Same reason I didn’t see Farenheit 911. Knew I couldn’t handle it.

  106. 106.

    Laura W.

    @James in WA:
    Hey, thanks!
    The fun of the jewelry/geegaw mirrors and frames is in the customizing. Here is one John commissioned for his sister, Devon, last Summer. It is a memorial frame for her dog, Irie. You can scroll thru and see some of the close-ups of angel dogs, etc.

    For Tunch and Lily’s frame, you gotta see close ups because where else in WV is there a Steelers Italian charm bracelet hanging in the guest bath?
    I nearly wet my pants when I realized I had that old silver My Diary charm in my stash. I like the treasure hunt, synchronicity aspects that come into play when making these sorts of highly personalized pieces. Magic happens!

    I’ve started a new blog to document some large projects I’m about to start, linked thru my name above.

  111. 111.

    Laura W.

    @SiubhanDuinne: Well, that web page is so neglected that those are last year’s shows, most of which I bailed out on anyway. So much work, and heat, and sweat and BOREDOM. Truly torturous for me, those shows.

    So, you have a lot more freedom in terms of when you come up because you can find me here from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. (email me for specific days and hours since we’ve got a bit of a funky schedule.) It’d be great to meet you and yak a while. Bring Demo Woman, SIA, and whoever else I’m forgetting. For sure Michael D!

  113. 113.

    Jason Bylinowski

    @Linda Bacon: I both liked and was terrified of your meticulous paintings. They literally boggle the mind. Yes, I said it. Minds were boggled. This should be good enough to make you rich for eternity. I’m afraid I won’t be allowed to discuss this any further though until you immediately change your username to L I N D A B A C O N because it looks that way on your website, and frankly I’m pretty sure that that. is. awesome.

  115. 115.

    Anne Laurie

    @Hann1bal: Your photos did turn out nicely! I think the mystery bush might be a honeysuckle, if that helps you place the fragrance any better…

  116. 116.

    SIA

    @Laura W.:

    Bring Demo Woman, SIA, and whoever else I’m forgetting. For sure Michael D!

    Shoot yeah! I LOVE your part of the world, and have some friends in Blowing Rock.

  117. 117.

    Fergus Wooster

    @Violet: Sorry, got called away. They grow wild (or at least used to) along one of the fences on the edge of the property. They’re some bizarre wild variety, maybe a blackberry hybrid, but we had blackberries too.

    Hopefully they’ll be there this year, and I’ll maybe steal some seeds.

  119. 119.

    Violet

    @Fergus Wooster:
    Yeah, the wild blackberries – or dewberries, there are both – grow really easily. I’ve not seen raspberries growing in central/southern Texas, so that caught my eye. Would love to know more if you find them there. I hope so!

  120. 120.

    Fergus Wooster

    @stuckinred:

    Highway 90, the jobs are gone. . .

    Your superior taste is superior. Approved.

    And pardon reiterated for having fuck-speak’d me for no reason Tues. . . Cheers!

  121. 121.

    satby

    Thread’s probably dead, but I do handcrafted, made to order natural soap and skin care products. All sales include donations to nonprofit orgs.

  124. 124.

    SIA

    @jron: Those are beautiful. I love the “Dusk” series. Very fine.

    ETA: I see she’s shown in Atlanta – bookmarking the site to watch for future shows. SiubhanDuinne – you would like these.

  125. 125.

    Adam Collyer

    Just wanted to say that this thread has been my favorite of the past few months. A lot of tremendously talented people here, and I can’t wait to go through most of them tomorrow.

  126. 126.

    cdmarine

    I’m just now finally getting set up on Etsy.

    http://slipstreamblue.etsy.com

    It’s a little sparse right now. I do some metalwork as well, but am currently without any of those tools, so mostly I’m limited to beadweaving and some hammering and sanding.

    Are any of you interested in launching a left blogosphere Etsy team? I think with the talent that’s floating around, it’d be pretty ass kicking.

  127. 127.

    cdmarine

    Forgot to include the non-Etsy site:
    http://slipstreamblue.com

    I haven’t updated it in awhile because we just had a death in the family, but it offers access to previous pieces that are no longer on Etsy.

    I can’t wait to get off this iPhone browser and onto a real computer so I can start checking out everyone’s links!

  128. 128.

    hamletta

    @SIA: What Stuckinred said. Also, The Hunting Of the President, by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons.

    The link is to the movie site, but it’s a book that started as a series of articles in Salon, back when it didn’t suck. Or sucked less. Conason, of course, still writes for Salon, and Lyons has been based in Little Rock for eons.

    I’ve actually never read the book, just the articles as they were coming out. I gave it to my mom one year for Christmas, though, and it blew her away.

  129. 129.

    IndyLib

    @cdmarine:

    Your jewelry is beautiful and your website made me miss Sedona, which is about the only place in Arizona I have any desire to go back to – ever.

  133. 133.

    James in WA

    @Laura W.: Beautiful work! It really reminds me of the Día de los Muertos pieces that I used to see so often when I was in Denver, so much color and detail to draw the eye. But your style is all your own, and I love it.

  135. 135.

    Rob

    I’m an abstract oil painter whose work is displayed at RMiddleton.com. I enjoy creating works ranging from the size of a note card to ones which cover a large wall. I also enjoy keeping a blog/online scrapbook, where I post thoughts, works-in-progress, photos of visuals I’ve run across in real life, and (mostly) reblogs of images I’ve found online which inspire me.

  136. 136.

    cdmarine

    @IndyLib: Thanks! Yeah, we went to Sedona on our honeymoon, and I’m pretty convinced that it (and the canyon leading down into it) is the most beautiful place in the world. We ended up painting our whole house in a Sedona dirt-red/tree-green/sky-blue color scheme.

    And, holy crapoley, are there some seriously talented artists and photographers and sculptors and whatnot here! Jeebus knows, I wish I had the money to invest in some of it, but I’ve bookmarked and added contacts, etc. Maybe I’ll get flush in the future.

  141. 141.

    Persia

    I love these threads. I have bought before from LauraW and can testify to her quality!

    And I have to link the amazing NYC photography of one of my friends. She sees things in the city I think no one else does, and if you’re into cemetery art or fashion at all, you’ve got to check her out. (And she could really use the money, honestly.)

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