In Progress

Although I've admittedly had more emphasis on performative types of art projects lately, I do still try to paint every so often. I'm rather out of practice, but here is what I'm currently working on.

It's pretty large: 48 x 60 inches, oil on paper.

Much of what is here is underpainting. It will look very different when finished.

Grey Pants from Gap (2)

My coworker returned the shoulder-pad Gap pants for me without incident.

I waited outside, leaning against the corner of the building, trying to read a paper nonchalantly. I was too nervous that not only that the pads, but my own anxiety, would be palpable. I was sure that if I went in with her I would blush inappropriately, or stammer, or otherwise draw attention to the transgression.

My coworker had no such problem. She says that the trick is small talk. She said the cashier actually folded that pants a couple of times, perhaps feeling something odd, perhaps absentmindedly.

I lost a couple of dollars to mark-downs, but the pants should be back on the shelves by now, or at least on the clearance rack.

Shell Game: Grey pants from Gap

I've been doing this project slowly for a couple of years now.

I buy clothing, alter it in little quiet ways that are not outwardly visible, and then return it.

The clothing is from basic, mid-level mall-type stores: Gap, Express, Banana Republic, etc. This is a before picture of some pants I just got from the Gap.



Here is what they looked like inside-out, before alteration. They have this great layer of black lining that only goes down about three quarters of each leg. I look for elements like that, because it makes it so easy to add things without stitches showing on from the outside.


















I sewed a couple of shoulder-pads into the lining of the pants, so they would hit just the right spot to be knee-pads.

I am a little concerned about returning them, because although they are not really visible from the outside, you can feel their odd squishy addition when you fold them.

I have been telling myself that it is unlikely that someone working at the Gap will be folding so conscientiously. Still, a coworker of mine has offered to return them for me, and I think I will take her up on it. Hopefully tomorrow.

This is what they look like now, when turned right-side out. They hang a little differently, but it is really the feel of them that has me looking for a proxy-returner.

The First

Posting art on the internet is just as good as hanging it on a wall these days, right?