I'm already frustrated with bsky labeling any female nude as "sexually suggestive" instead of just "nudity" and when I've tried to repeal these labels, I get an error. I probably won't post anymore figurative work here, or post at all. I'm so fucking tired of social media.

FYI my paintings are not meant to be erotic or titillate and if you leave comments about how they are hot or sexy I will block you, end of story. Keep it to yourself.

Three Bathers
Gouache on Toned Paper
29 x 34
2024

#painting #drawing #art #figurepainting #gouache

This piece is just a few years old but I kind of what to revisit it, I could do better, and I wish I still had that very 2004 anime girl hot topic shirt.

2021
Gouache on toned paper

...If there was an open studio event, it leaves open the idea for a city wide art crawl, and that could help combat the gentrification of a concentrated arts district. I don't know, I just wanted to air out my day dreaming somewhere and trying to turn my frustrations into productive thoughts.

There would be a network of maybe 4 locations throughout the city, instead of the current situation where all studio spaces are concentrated in one part of town, that is honestly really inconvenient to get to...

I started dreaming up of a studio network made up of small collectives of artists, where you take annex spaces and have maybe 5 private, individual 500 sq/ft-ish studio spaces. That way you have a trusted pod of people in your building and it doesn't feel overly public.

...but I also feel comfort knowing I'm not alone in a building and that there are a few other respectful individuals around.

I never cared for open studio events, my studio is a work space that is sacred to me, not a sales floor. And I certainly don't like work spaces with 15+ studio cells where you're not really sure who is in the building. I feel my best when I have privacy...

I get some artists want a social space, but for me, I am strictly there to work. I only keep a folding chair and a folding table as a desk because I don't want to take a nap on a couch, I don't want to idealize unhealthy work and home blended boundaries.

and the thought that struck me the most and has me really thinking is...why are so many studio spaces built around the idea of the artist as an extrovert? This has really become more obvious since the rise of co-working tech spaces and studio spaces mimicking those amenities.

My recent studio eviction and trying to find a new place has stirred up a lot of frustrations and has me wondering about the current studio-space-for-rent offerings in my city...🧵💭

Video taken this past summer while wrapping up the work for Cruel Babes.
I moved the majority of my belongings out of my studio this morning and keep spontaneously crying. I'm sick of other people dictating what I can and can't have in my life. I'm just so worn out and tired.

January self portrait studies, all about window reflections at night.

I'll add that I don't think Agnes is going away any time soon and I know it's being run by good people, just really don't want to give the property owner any more of my money.

Nosebleed
22.25 x 24.5 in
2023
Gouache, ink and watercolor on Cotton Paper

Same landlord that I've been with, I've been kicked out of two properties owned by them on short notice. Not really wanting to rent with them again.

Commercial real estate is so elusive and weird. It seems like a lot of it is just people holding on to empty buildings for no reason at all until a developer comes along with an offer.

So I'm going to have to comb through commercial listings and just try to find *anything* else because all other spaces in midtown have gone away. There's so many small weird commercial buildings in Waldo though that are empty, but how the fuck do you find out any information on them?

Gosh the most frustrating thing is that all of the large, cheap studio spaces are in the West bottoms, on the very opposite corner of where I live in the city. The drive there is so annoying that I'd never want to go to my studio...

Luckily I'm not waist deep in wet, large scale oil paintings that I'm wrapping up for a solo. So at least there's that advantage.

on top of everything else going on, do I really have to be spending the rest of this month and beyond desperately searching for a new studio space?
The answer is yes, yes I do.

The Yellow Room
Gouache on toned paper
34 x 30 in
2021

#gouache #painting #portrait #figurepainting

And yes it's an investment, I'm not saying people need to go out and start spending $1000 a month on art instead of rent. But if you love something, and make a thoughtful, conscious purchase, you'll have something you can love for a very, very long time.

I've made it my 2025 goal to start collecting more. I've always wanted to but I told myself I couldn't for some dumb reason. But I have so many wonderful friends and people I admire that I should be investing in.

Artsy has made this all a bit more approachable but reach out to galleries, reach out to artists! I find it way more rewarding to sell a small piece that someone is actually going to hang in their house the sell a big piece that's going to someone's climate controlled storage unit

Galleries like to hide prices for a lot of dumb reasons but if you have an artist you like and reach out and ask for a price list, you might be surprised! Some pieces sure might be out of reach but there's usually a list of works that are small and haven't been shown that are perfect for your home

It seems intimidating and I think a lot of people who can afford to buy art from small and mid tier galleries just don't realize they totally can, it's an option!

If you can, buy original art! It's great!

Eric is a cutie