Working the Job, supervisor for a day

I'm settled down for the evening, dictating once again to the assistant, Benny, to talk about my day. It was another big one.

I had supervisory tasks today but that's not how it all started. First I did some car security, while Benny visited an 83 yr old human. Now if you start thinking about that in dog years, it would be 581 but who's counting anyways? I prefer visiting the 104 yr old closer to the studio. Do the math on that one! The 104 yr old keeps special treats in her frig and has given me a special name of "Bandy". Sounds good. While I was guarding the car there was some strange guy nearby ripping up grass but not eating it. I considered joining him but didn't want to horn in. He might be earning some chow money. Took a prequel nap instead.

Next we went to the hardware store. There's a project afoot. Wrapping blocks of plywood in black cloth, then screwing on a bit of wood to act as the transition between the enamel and the wood. Course, there's glue involved. Sounds complicated, doesn't it? Something about a show in Orinda coming up soon. I went into the store. It's a cool place, Ace Ellis Hardware on Martin Luther King Jr Way. Most of it behind a counter so you just ask for what you want or describe the problem and out comes the good stuff. I was considering requesting biscuits. There's a bulging saddlebag load waiting for me at the studio thanks to the new pack member, Sheila, so I didn't. Anyways, the staff there gave me some attention, noting that I'm the new bodyguard. It felt good to pick up a connection or two.

We rode on, tying the reins of the red horse, "Lumbar Jack", on the hitching rail outside the studio. There's a mountain of paperwork to do, piling up like the snow drifts in Flagstaff. The assistant has been dodging it for weeks. Pretty soon we can just cut it into blocks and make an igloo or maybe put it into the Bay and call it an iceburg.

My assistant phoned an art pal to yap and have a good howl together. There's an English Bulldog, doing security in San Francisco for that artist, Lars Johnson. I hear that the painter/printmaker has a unique style of shapes and colors. All probably beyond me but I do know that he was a great help for my human when a feller brought a full-on looney tunes to help move his kit out of the studio loft storage. A former EMT, Lars just make it easy for the wacko to go do his arm waving and yelling outside. They talked about open studios, sales and style, managing guest artists and curators. Benny enjoyed having this artist park his newly acquired press at AlbaStudios for a year or so because it meant having another printmaker around.

Not long after that there was an attempt to decrease that mountainous iceburg of paperwork on the desk. Fortunately the new pack member, Sheila, rolled in. What luck, she had this incredible rawhide chew just for me! Didn't want it for herself, must have hunted well not long before. They say that the way to a feller's heart is thru his stomach and I'm no different than the rest. Of course, I could have had a fresh apricot but I left that to my assistant. She ate some late in the day and liked 'em.

Those two females have been working on remodeling my bank, where I make my deposits. LOADS of blackberry vine, redoing the trellis and wacking the rose bushes into better shape sure made it sunnier there. It makes a great riff raff barrier on the other side of the fence but who needs the stuff when you're visiting the bank? There's a comfy area of montbredia and iris that made for a good couch while I kept them company. That new pack member sure is a great help. They snuck out for ice cream while I took a break from supervising.

Then there was the start of wood panel preparation, from sneezy sawdust sanding and then fast gesso application. Gesso is this white liquid that goes underneath the paint. It keeps the canvas from rotting. It also make for a very absorbant surface for the colors. Made out of plaster of paris and other ingredients, the liquid dries fast. The apprentice is learning the special ways to move the brush, to keep a wet edge and to work really fast when it's not "watered down". She left with a ready to paint on canvas. More panel prep in the near future. There's a lot to learn and some really focused physical work to make the surfaces/substrates of paingings. Most folks have no idea what it takes to do it right as far as time, supplies and effort go.

I hear that I am going to have my portrait done. Sheila does spot on portraits of mostly mammals. Maybe some others too. I checked out her blog and saw some cats that she's done. The distillation/capture of their personalities was the best part... as well as interesting color choices for background color. I tried to sniff the computer screen, they looked so good. She does it as a job and also as a fundraiser for worthwhile causes.

My assistant says that Sheila is a generous person, liking to give. Benny says that she's looking forward to a year together with this real winner. "Definitely a star apprentices already!" The shakeout tour is still happening... but it's a fact. Some fellow is going to find this one and partner up, lucky guy. I've got my job but I'd rest my paws on her rug anytime. (You two foodteds say "I'd put my shoes under her bed anytime.") She's so good to me!