Pic and Story Idea

This is an idea I have for a painting. I hope to do it in either watercolor or acrylic, and maybe pen and pencil as well. I like the initial idea, seems like maybe a story could go with it too. I really like the third figure at the bottom left, kind of a more menacing figure than the mermaid holding on to the man. She doesn't seem to want to intentionally harm him, just to hold him whether that means keeping him under or not. For his part, the male has an arm around her, yet reaches for the surface. Yep, I think this pic needs to be finished and needs fleshing out in written form. I hope to get at least the writing done this coming week, who knows when the picture will get done? I am great at starting, not so great at finishing, but the motivation is there, so I will strike while the iron is hot! Wish me luck!

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I am currently looking for a teaching job. California is unique as far as I know since they post all the teaching jobs to one site. Should be interesting to see what opens up. I was hoping someone would take a pregnancy leave over Christmas break so I could work sooner...beats having to replace someone who got fired!

I teach Art and or PE, but I like Art best. There is a lot of satisfaction to be had from helping someone realize that they ARE an artist and can be creative. A lot of parents sell their kids short and try to "help me out" by telling me their kids aren't good at Art. That is all I need to hear! Of course their kid isn't good at Art, are you encouraging them? Exposing them to it? Buying them supplies for it? Well why should they be any good at it? It has been challenging, but if the student will put in the work you can see amazing results.

That does not mean the kid will all of a sudden be a fantastic artist, it means they will leave better than when they came in. How much better is totally up to them. I wish I had saved some before and after pics. I can't really take credit, as the student does all of the work, but you should see some of the results! I am really looking forward to getting back into the classroom. Wish me luck!

Sports Stars and the public's need for apology

As of yesterday, the sports world, or at least the sports reporters are all a flutter about Mark McGuire and his sudden need to admit his steroid use. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and there was no proof until now, but I am always amused at how people choose to spin stuff.
Why does the public need his apology in the first place? He played a GAME, not swindled people out of their life savings or killed someone. It's just baseball, and baseball itself is not willing to fully admit the problems it has in the first place. Why is this a big deal? Anyone who watched should have at least suspected that he was using the "juice", so why blow it up so big at this point? Baseball had to know and they turned a blind eye, only "investigating" now and then. It makes no sense to me.
It seems to me that sports writers are some of the most jealous people in our country. The reaction to Tiger Woods infidelity has been pretty spectacular! How does it actually affect anyone but his family? He only cheated them and didn't really even project himself as some cuddly teddy bear outside of golf. Is he flawed? Sure, but I am still a fan because I only liked him for how he hit a golf ball, not for the funny jokes he told when we hung out at barbecues. I didn't know him, and that's what I think gets these reporters: he never let them be cool enough to hang with him and kept them at arms length. They are much more forgiving of people they think are "good" than others when we have no real idea who is good and who is not. Lets just try to take it for what it is and leave it with that.

This drawing I made to try to keep my skills up. It's from an ad for something or other, just tried to get the shading and form properly. I think it's pretty good, what say you?

hmmm

this is a new thing. it only just occurred to me to try keeping a blog. the first idea was to use it to publish a short story i am currently editing and maybe post some ideas and art, so we will see where it goes from there. thanks for looking this far, more to come,

J