Letter

Naming paintings is a bitch. You don’t want to give too much away because it has to work on its own. You don’t want to be too clever or too obtuse or to overthink it. Every once in a while it names itself but usually the painter’s stuck coming up with the title even though we’re painters in part to get around words. When I’m doing a picture of my bookshelf I have an easy cheat since I’m staring for hours at the spines of books. This one’s called Panic in a Suitcase after a novel I liked from last year.

Thursday, at a house filled with art and books in Ukrainian Village, Jessa Crispin held a book-release party for her Dead Ladies Project. I played a tiny role in its publication in that Jessa got in touch with me to find out what it was like working with University of Chicago Press while considering who to go with. I guess whatever I told her was positive enough for her to move forward and sign the contract. She read a chapter about Margaret Anderson, the legendary editor of Little Review. A couple years ago Jessa bought a portrait of Anderson which I’d done for a series called “Writers No One Reads”. I hope lots of people read Jessa’s book. 

On Friday I looked in on my paintings at Green Dog (which you can still go see for another week or two), then went to the Hideout for my friends’ record-release. Here are sketches of the bands that played. Each is worth knowing.

Last Wednesday I finished the first draft of my book. What’s a book without a cover, so I did a first draft of one of those as well. I’ve sent it to a couple of literary agents and to friend Bill who edited both my other books. There will likely be a lot more work to do but it felt good to let the thing go and have someone else look at it. I have no idea if anyone will like it, much less want to publish it, but I’m glad I wrote it. The other books were written in pieces and read that way on the internet whereas this was almost all written without being shared with anyone. In other words, the traditional way books are written. It feels strange not to be working on it anymore actually.

I haven’t done very much since sending those manuscripts out. There’s a new oil painting underway but it’s not far enough along to share yet. I’m hoping to get into something new this week. We’ll see…

A few weeks ago I was working door at the Skylark when a guy named Keefe came in. I’d met him at my friend Bill’s birthday party and he recognized me. After drinking awhile he came up and asked if I wanted to be part of an evening of improvisational performances with him. The rules of the night are that you don’t plan or rehearse and you don’t work with anyone you’ve worked with before. Keefe had worked with just about everybody in town. He didn’t know much about me except that I wrote books so he figured I’d do something with words on stage. I told him I’d do it but only if I could paint instead. Having few other options he agreed.

So tonight I’m bringing a big pad of paper, a bottle of Sumi ink, and some brushes and we’ll see what happens. Come by if you’re curious.

I got back to Chicago last night after a week away. For most of that time I sat in this chair and wrote and wrote and wrote. I’ve never written so much in such a short time. Behind the chair, through a bunch of windows, you could see the lake which was only a few steps away. I went swimming most afternoons as a break. Once or twice a day I’d walk up to the building by the side of the road where you could get internet. In the evening Wendy and Mari would come back from the dance studio and we’d eat. I did most of the dishes and they did most of the cooking. One morning though I filled the whole cabin with smoke cooking bacon in the oven. I thought baking it rather than frying it might not set off the smoke detector. Boy was I wrong. Tasted good afterwards though.

I doubt I could ever live in a remote place like that but it was certainly good for getting work done. I wish there was more drawing or painting to share but I just didn’t do much. Trees aren’t my thing. I have most of a book together now. A couple more weeks editing and I’ll be sending it out for others to look at.

I’m glad I drove out to the sticks.