I was recently in need of a paint box and decided to go with a vintage Jullian box.  The box was constructed back when the company still was made in France so I knew the quality would be great.  And as an added bonus, it came with the original solid wood palette, which is another rarity these days. 
  I've been collecting and using vintage supplies for a long time now and the quality of these items never ceases to impress me.  It's sad that the majority of artist's tools (and pretty much everything) made nowadays is disposable.  I bought a new Jullian Rexy watercolor easel a while ago and the quality is terrible; the wood is cheap and it doesn't even fit into the carrying case properly.  It's clear to me that the quality between the old Jullian easels and the new ones is night and day.
  I know that I'm fighting against the modern tide, but using these quality tools bring me joy.  And it's not just painting, but everything involved with general day-to-day living.  Even the way we communicate with one another is low-quality.  It's hard to describe the feeling, but I'm often left with a hollow feeling when my friends text me instead of calling me or writing me a letter.  And I have this same hollow feeling when I use cheap quality materials to create my paintings.  However, I see glimmers of a resurgence in handmade items and I'll keep doing my best to promote quality craftsmanship.  In the meantime, I'll keep buying vintage.

  Almost got blown away by the wind today, but I managed to finish this 10" X 14" watercolor, Just Passing Through....  The title has a double meaning referring to the geese passing through the scene and also to the fact that this is a cemetery and we're all just passing through life.

  I've recently been feeling stuck with my painting and it's made me feel really down about my own abilities.  I think these "slumps" are a natural part of any creative process, but they can be intensely frustrating.  The tricky part is to try and figure out what's not working and how to rectify the problem.
  Although I've been feeling frustrated, I kept painting and today, I broke my slump and did a painting that I'm very proud of.  The rush of doing a good painting is really an incomparable feeling.  For anyone who's going through a rough patch, remember that not every painting will be a winner, but you can gain a lot by learning how not to paint.

  It was a real honor and pleasure to be interviewed by Mr. Louis Carr of East Oaks Studio yesterday.  We talked about a lot of things with a focus on residency and fellowship tips and ideas.  I'm currently being mentored by Louis and it's already been a game changer in my own mindset and artistic journey.  Huge thanks also to Ms. Kelley Farris for coordinating this.