Thomas Kinkade Christmas Moonlight
he was cleaning a club, sort of thing, and it accidentally went off,' said Nobby. He'd caught it, too.
'No-one 'd want to kill young Beano,' said the down, in a quiet voice. 'He was a friendly soul. Friends everywhere.'
Almost . I am detector-ing, he thought, with a faint touch of pride. People are Helping me with My Inquiries.
Thomas Kinkade Christmas Evening
'Dunno. Odd. Not quite himself—''This was yesterday?''Oh, 'Who are these gentlemen?' he demanded.'Er—' Boffo began.funny. That was the whole purpose of a clown. People laughed at clowns, but only out of nervousness. The point of clowns
Thomas Kinkade Abundant Harvest
everywhere,' said Colon.The funeral was over. The jesters, jokers and clowns were going about their business, getting stuck in door-ways on the way. There was much pushing and shoving and honking of noses and falling of prats. It was a scene to make a happy man slit his wrists on a fine spring rang.'All I know is,' said Boffo, in a low voice, 'that when I saw him yesterday he was looking very . . . odd. I called out to him when he was going through the gates and—''How do you mean, odd?' said Colon
Thomas Kinkade A Holiday Gathering
yes. In the morning. I know because the gate rota—''Yesterday morning?''That's what I said, mister. Mind you, we were all a bit nervous after the bang—''Brother Boffo!''Oh, no—' mumbled the clown.A figure was striding towards them. A terrible figure.No downs were was that, after watching them, anything else that happened seemed enjoyable. It was nice to know there was someone worse off than you. Someone had to be the butt of the world.But even clowns are frightened of something, and that is the white-faced clown. The one who never gets in the way of the custard. The one in the shiny white clothes, and the deadpan white make-up. The one with the little pointy hat and the thin mouth and the delicate black eyebrows.Dr Whiteface.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida Maria
Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida MariaAlexandre Cabanel OpheliaAlexandre Cabanel Cleopatra
a jack-in-office and an insolent upstart!'
'Dear me. I did not appreciate your strength of feeling. But since you demand it, I will bring him to heel without delay.'
'Thank you.'
'Don't mention it. Do not let me keep you.'
Dr Cruces wandered off in the direction of the Patrician's idle gesture.
Lord Vetinari bent over his paperwork again, and did not even look up when there was a distant, muffled cry. Instead, he reached down and rang a small silver bell.
A clerk hurried up.
'Go and fetch the ladder, will you, Drumknott?' he said. 'Dr Cruces seems to have fallen in the hoho.'
The back door to the dwarf Bjorn Hammerhock's workshop lifted off the latch and creaked open. He went to see if there was anyone there, and shivered.
He shut the door.. I can easily replace that. You know,' he said, looking up, 'this is a very interesting device. With the chemicals in the tubes and all. Such a simple idea. Is it a clown thing? Some kind of automatic slap-stick?'
He sorted through a bin of metal offcuts to find a piece of steel, and then selected a file.
'I'd like to make a few sketches afterwards,' he said.'Bit of a chilly breeze,' he said, to the room's other occupant. 'Still, we could do with it.'The ceiling of the workshop was only about five feet above the floor. That was more than tall enough for a dwarf.Ow, said a voice that no-one heard.Hammerhock looked at the thing clamped in the vice, and picked up a screwdriver.Ow.'Amazing,' he said. 'I think that moving this tube down the barrel forces the, er, six chambers to slide along, presenting a new one to the, er, firing hole. That seems clear enough. The triggering mechanism is really just a tinderbox device. The spring . . . here . . . has rusted through
About thirty seconds later there was a pop and a cloud of smoke.
Bjorn Hammerhock picked himself up, shaking his
a jack-in-office and an insolent upstart!'
'Dear me. I did not appreciate your strength of feeling. But since you demand it, I will bring him to heel without delay.'
'Thank you.'
'Don't mention it. Do not let me keep you.'
Dr Cruces wandered off in the direction of the Patrician's idle gesture.
Lord Vetinari bent over his paperwork again, and did not even look up when there was a distant, muffled cry. Instead, he reached down and rang a small silver bell.
A clerk hurried up.
'Go and fetch the ladder, will you, Drumknott?' he said. 'Dr Cruces seems to have fallen in the hoho.'
The back door to the dwarf Bjorn Hammerhock's workshop lifted off the latch and creaked open. He went to see if there was anyone there, and shivered.
He shut the door.. I can easily replace that. You know,' he said, looking up, 'this is a very interesting device. With the chemicals in the tubes and all. Such a simple idea. Is it a clown thing? Some kind of automatic slap-stick?'
He sorted through a bin of metal offcuts to find a piece of steel, and then selected a file.
'I'd like to make a few sketches afterwards,' he said.'Bit of a chilly breeze,' he said, to the room's other occupant. 'Still, we could do with it.'The ceiling of the workshop was only about five feet above the floor. That was more than tall enough for a dwarf.Ow, said a voice that no-one heard.Hammerhock looked at the thing clamped in the vice, and picked up a screwdriver.Ow.'Amazing,' he said. 'I think that moving this tube down the barrel forces the, er, six chambers to slide along, presenting a new one to the, er, firing hole. That seems clear enough. The triggering mechanism is really just a tinderbox device. The spring . . . here . . . has rusted through
About thirty seconds later there was a pop and a cloud of smoke.
Bjorn Hammerhock picked himself up, shaking his
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Mark Spain Timeless Beauty
Mark Spain Timeless BeautyMark Spain The Pink DressMark Spain SevillaMark Spain ReflectionMark Spain Pure Elegance
of Esme Weatherwax’s head, at the tight bun of gray hair under the brim of the pointy hat.
“Sweet?” she said.
“I expect you’ve got another bag now,” said Granny, without looking around.
“Esme—“
“You got anything to say, Gytha? About bags of sweets?”
Granny Weatherwax still hadn’t turned around.
Nanny looked at her boots.
“No, Esme,” she said meekly.
“I knew “It’s legal, is it?”
“Technically they shouldn’t do it when there’s women present,” said Nanny. “Otherwise it’s sexual morrisment.”you’d go up to the Long Man, you know. How’d you get in?”“Used one of the special horseshoes.”Granny nodded. “You didn’t ought to have brung him into it, Gytha.”“Yes, Esme.”“He’s as tricky as she is.”“Yes, Esme.”“You’re trying preemptive meekness on me.”“Yes, Esme.”They walked a little further.“What was that dance your Jason and his men did when they’d got drunk?” said Granny.“It’s the Lancre Stick and Bucket Dance, Esme.”
of Esme Weatherwax’s head, at the tight bun of gray hair under the brim of the pointy hat.
“Sweet?” she said.
“I expect you’ve got another bag now,” said Granny, without looking around.
“Esme—“
“You got anything to say, Gytha? About bags of sweets?”
Granny Weatherwax still hadn’t turned around.
Nanny looked at her boots.
“No, Esme,” she said meekly.
“I knew “It’s legal, is it?”
“Technically they shouldn’t do it when there’s women present,” said Nanny. “Otherwise it’s sexual morrisment.”you’d go up to the Long Man, you know. How’d you get in?”“Used one of the special horseshoes.”Granny nodded. “You didn’t ought to have brung him into it, Gytha.”“Yes, Esme.”“He’s as tricky as she is.”“Yes, Esme.”“You’re trying preemptive meekness on me.”“Yes, Esme.”They walked a little further.“What was that dance your Jason and his men did when they’d got drunk?” said Granny.“It’s the Lancre Stick and Bucket Dance, Esme.”
Friday, April 24, 2009
Arthur Hughes Phyllis
Arthur Hughes PhyllisFranz Marc Zwei KatzenFranz Marc yellow cowFranz Marc TigerFranz Marc Stables
What’re we going to do, Mum?”
“There’s bands of elves all over the place,” said Nanny,
“and there’s a big glow over the Dancers—“
“We must attack them!” shouted Casanunda. “Give ‘em a taste of cold steel!”
“Good man, that dwarf!” said Ridcully. “That’s right! I’ll get my crossbow!”
“There’s too many of them,” said Nanny flatly.
“Granny and . Even if it’s a million to one chance, ma’am.”
“That’s all very well,” said Nanny, “but what you’re say-
ing is, for every Mr. Ridcully that survives tonight’s work,
999,999 are going to get killed?”
“Yes, but I’m not bothered about those other buggers,” said Ridcully. “They can look after themselvesMiss Magrat are out there, Mum,” said Shawn. “Miss Magrat came over all strange and put on armor and went out to fight all of them!”“But the hills are crawling with elves,” said Nanny. “It’s a double helping of hell with extra devils. Certain death.”“It’s certain death anyway,” said Ridcully. “That’s the thing about Death, certainty.”“We’d have no chance at all,” said Nanny.“Actually, we’d have one chance,” said Ridcully. “I don’t268LORDS ftNO LftQf£6understand all this continuinuinuum stuff, but from what young Stibbons says it means that everything has to happen somewhere, d’y’see, so that means it could happen here
What’re we going to do, Mum?”
“There’s bands of elves all over the place,” said Nanny,
“and there’s a big glow over the Dancers—“
“We must attack them!” shouted Casanunda. “Give ‘em a taste of cold steel!”
“Good man, that dwarf!” said Ridcully. “That’s right! I’ll get my crossbow!”
“There’s too many of them,” said Nanny flatly.
“Granny and . Even if it’s a million to one chance, ma’am.”
“That’s all very well,” said Nanny, “but what you’re say-
ing is, for every Mr. Ridcully that survives tonight’s work,
999,999 are going to get killed?”
“Yes, but I’m not bothered about those other buggers,” said Ridcully. “They can look after themselvesMiss Magrat are out there, Mum,” said Shawn. “Miss Magrat came over all strange and put on armor and went out to fight all of them!”“But the hills are crawling with elves,” said Nanny. “It’s a double helping of hell with extra devils. Certain death.”“It’s certain death anyway,” said Ridcully. “That’s the thing about Death, certainty.”“We’d have no chance at all,” said Nanny.“Actually, we’d have one chance,” said Ridcully. “I don’t268LORDS ftNO LftQf£6understand all this continuinuinuum stuff, but from what young Stibbons says it means that everything has to happen somewhere, d’y’see, so that means it could happen here
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Daniel Ridgway Knight On the Way to Market
Daniel Ridgway Knight On the Way to MarketDaniel Ridgway Knight Shepherdess and her FlockDaniel Ridgway Knight Hailing the Ferry
Something bulleted out of another doorway and bore her to the floor.
It was Shawn Ogg. Through the chromatic haze she could see his worried face peering out from its hood of rusty—
l iron.
The song changed while staying the same. The complex harmonies, the fascinating rhythm did not alter but suddenly grated, as if she was hearing the song through different ears.
She was dragged into the doorway.
“Are you all and they’d
put their mark on her, so she’s doing what they want—“
“Shawn!”
“And Mum said they don’t kill you, if they can help it.
Not right away. You’re much more fun if you’re not dead.”right. Miss Queen?”“What’s happening?”“Dunno, Miss Queen. But I think we’ve got elves.”208LORQ6 fttfO iftQ/£6“Elves?”“And they’ve got Miss Tockley. Um. You know you tookthe iron away—““What are you talking about, Shawn?”Shawn’s face was white.“That one down the dungeons started singing,
Something bulleted out of another doorway and bore her to the floor.
It was Shawn Ogg. Through the chromatic haze she could see his worried face peering out from its hood of rusty—
l iron.
The song changed while staying the same. The complex harmonies, the fascinating rhythm did not alter but suddenly grated, as if she was hearing the song through different ears.
She was dragged into the doorway.
“Are you all and they’d
put their mark on her, so she’s doing what they want—“
“Shawn!”
“And Mum said they don’t kill you, if they can help it.
Not right away. You’re much more fun if you’re not dead.”right. Miss Queen?”“What’s happening?”“Dunno, Miss Queen. But I think we’ve got elves.”208LORQ6 fttfO iftQ/£6“Elves?”“And they’ve got Miss Tockley. Um. You know you tookthe iron away—““What are you talking about, Shawn?”Shawn’s face was white.“That one down the dungeons started singing,
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Henri Matisse Spanish Still Life
Henri Matisse Spanish Still LifeHenri Matisse Moroccan LandscapeHenri Matisse Moorish ScreenHenri Matisse Luxe I
His clothes were soaked with dew.
His head felt full of wisps and whispers.
He stared at the stones.
The scumble jar was lying in the leather. After a moment or two he picked it up, and took an experimental swig. It was empty.
and knees looking for his hat. “Maybe when you gets ‘ome she’ll have married someone else, eh?”
“Maybe a hundred years’ll have gone past,” said Carter, hopefully.
“Cor, I hope so,” said Weaver, brightening up. “I had sevenpence invested in The Thrift Bank down in Ohulan. I’ll be a millionaire at complicated interest. I’ll be as rich as Creosote.”
“Who’s Creosote?” said Thatcher.
“Famous rich bugger,” said Barker, fishing one of his boots out of a peat pool. “Foreign.”
“Wasn’t he the one, everything he touched turned to gold?” said Carter.He nudged Weaver in the ribs with his boot.l Insert the usual “red-hot curried marbles” description here, if you like. 165Terry Pratchett“Wake up, you old bugger. We’ve been up here all night!”One by one, the Morris Men made the short but painful journey into consciousness.“I’m going to get some stick from our Eva when I get home,” moaned Carter.“You might not,” said Thatcher, who was on his hands
“Nah, that was someone else. Some king or other. That’s what
His clothes were soaked with dew.
His head felt full of wisps and whispers.
He stared at the stones.
The scumble jar was lying in the leather. After a moment or two he picked it up, and took an experimental swig. It was empty.
and knees looking for his hat. “Maybe when you gets ‘ome she’ll have married someone else, eh?”
“Maybe a hundred years’ll have gone past,” said Carter, hopefully.
“Cor, I hope so,” said Weaver, brightening up. “I had sevenpence invested in The Thrift Bank down in Ohulan. I’ll be a millionaire at complicated interest. I’ll be as rich as Creosote.”
“Who’s Creosote?” said Thatcher.
“Famous rich bugger,” said Barker, fishing one of his boots out of a peat pool. “Foreign.”
“Wasn’t he the one, everything he touched turned to gold?” said Carter.He nudged Weaver in the ribs with his boot.l Insert the usual “red-hot curried marbles” description here, if you like. 165Terry Pratchett“Wake up, you old bugger. We’ve been up here all night!”One by one, the Morris Men made the short but painful journey into consciousness.“I’m going to get some stick from our Eva when I get home,” moaned Carter.“You might not,” said Thatcher, who was on his hands
“Nah, that was someone else. Some king or other. That’s what
Monday, April 20, 2009
Johannes Vermeer Lady Standing at a Virginal
Johannes Vermeer Lady Standing at a VirginalJohannes Vermeer A Lady Writing a Letter
LORDS ftf/0 LfiQIES
But there was a price. No one asked you to pay it, but the very absence of demand was a moral obligation. You tended not to swat. You dug lightly. You fed the dog. You paid. You cared; not because it was kind or good, but because it was right. You left nothing but memories, you took nothing but experience.
But this other roving intelligence . . . it’d go in and out of another mind like a chainsaw, taking, taking, taking. She could sense the shape of it, the predatory shape, all cruelty and cool unkindness; a mind full of intelligence, that’d use other goes the other
way—“
“What thing?”
“You know what a bat’s eyesight is like. Just a big shape is all it saw. Something killed old Scrope. It’s still around. Not an ... not one o’ the Lords and Ladies,” said Granny, “but something from El... that place.”
Nanny looked at the shadows. There are a lot of shad-ows in aliving things and hurt them because it was fun.She could put a name to a mind like that.Elf.Branches thrashed high in the trees.Granny and Nanny strode through the forest. At least, Granny Weatherwax strode. Nanny Ogg scurried.“The Lords and Ladies are trying to find a way,” saidGranny. “And there’s something else. Something’salready come through. Some kind of animal from theother side. Scrope chased a deer into the circle and thething must have been there, and they always used to saysomething can come through if something
LORDS ftf/0 LfiQIES
But there was a price. No one asked you to pay it, but the very absence of demand was a moral obligation. You tended not to swat. You dug lightly. You fed the dog. You paid. You cared; not because it was kind or good, but because it was right. You left nothing but memories, you took nothing but experience.
But this other roving intelligence . . . it’d go in and out of another mind like a chainsaw, taking, taking, taking. She could sense the shape of it, the predatory shape, all cruelty and cool unkindness; a mind full of intelligence, that’d use other goes the other
way—“
“What thing?”
“You know what a bat’s eyesight is like. Just a big shape is all it saw. Something killed old Scrope. It’s still around. Not an ... not one o’ the Lords and Ladies,” said Granny, “but something from El... that place.”
Nanny looked at the shadows. There are a lot of shad-ows in aliving things and hurt them because it was fun.She could put a name to a mind like that.Elf.Branches thrashed high in the trees.Granny and Nanny strode through the forest. At least, Granny Weatherwax strode. Nanny Ogg scurried.“The Lords and Ladies are trying to find a way,” saidGranny. “And there’s something else. Something’salready come through. Some kind of animal from theother side. Scrope chased a deer into the circle and thething must have been there, and they always used to saysomething can come through if something
Friday, April 17, 2009
Mark Spain Crescendo II
Mark Spain Crescendo IIMark Spain Crescendo IMark Spain Cordoba
woman in the circle laughed.
“But they are like the stupid dwarfs! All they are inter-ested in is pebbles. There is nothing of interest in pebbles.”
The girl gives a kind of one-shoulder uni-shrug, as if indicating that pebbles may be full of quiet interest.
4
LORDS ft/VD ift0f£6
“Why can’t you come out from between the stones?”
There was a can’t keep your temper. They say you have no discipline.”
The girl tossed her hair. “Oh, you know that too, do you? Well, they would say that, wouldn’t they? But I mean to be a witch whatever they say. You can find things out for yourself. You don’t have to listen to a lot of daft old ladies who’ve never had a life. And, circle lady, I shall be the best witch there has ever been.”distinct impression that this was the wrong question to have asked. The woman carefully ignored it.“I can help you find far more than pebbles,” she said.“You can’t come out of the circle, can you?”“Let me give you what you want.”“I can go anywhere, but you’re stuck in the circle,” said the girl.“Can you go anywhere?”“When I am a witch I shall be able to go anywhere.”“But you’ll never be a witch.”“What?”“They say you won’t listen. They say you
woman in the circle laughed.
“But they are like the stupid dwarfs! All they are inter-ested in is pebbles. There is nothing of interest in pebbles.”
The girl gives a kind of one-shoulder uni-shrug, as if indicating that pebbles may be full of quiet interest.
4
LORDS ft/VD ift0f£6
“Why can’t you come out from between the stones?”
There was a can’t keep your temper. They say you have no discipline.”
The girl tossed her hair. “Oh, you know that too, do you? Well, they would say that, wouldn’t they? But I mean to be a witch whatever they say. You can find things out for yourself. You don’t have to listen to a lot of daft old ladies who’ve never had a life. And, circle lady, I shall be the best witch there has ever been.”distinct impression that this was the wrong question to have asked. The woman carefully ignored it.“I can help you find far more than pebbles,” she said.“You can’t come out of the circle, can you?”“Let me give you what you want.”“I can go anywhere, but you’re stuck in the circle,” said the girl.“Can you go anywhere?”“When I am a witch I shall be able to go anywhere.”“But you’ll never be a witch.”“What?”“They say you won’t listen. They say you
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Bartolome Esteban Murillo Annunciation
Bartolome Esteban Murillo AnnunciationWilliam Bouguereau The Song of the AngelsPierre-Auguste Cot La Tempete
pulled out the tortoise Om had just met.
For a moment it was held up, legs moving slowly, before the deacon threw it overarm into the rocks.
Then he picked up the sky with long, lazy sweeps of its wings.
Om watched it until it became a dot, and then looked away as a smaller dot detached itself and tumbled over and over toward the rocks below.
The eagle descended slowly, preparing to feed.
A breeze rattled the thornbushes and stirred the sand. Om thought he could hear the taunting, mocking voices of all the small gods.Brutha with some effort, slung him across his shoulders, and set off towards Omnia.It happened in seconds.Om fought to stop his head and legs retracting automatically into his shell, a tortoise's instinctive panic reaction.Vorbis was already disappearing round some rocks.He disappeared.Om started to move forward and then ducked into his shell as a shadow skimmed over the ground. It was a familiar shadow, and one fiIled with tortoise dread.The eagle swept down and towards the spot where the stricken tortoise was struggling and, with barely a pause in the stoop, snatched the reptile and soared back up into
pulled out the tortoise Om had just met.
For a moment it was held up, legs moving slowly, before the deacon threw it overarm into the rocks.
Then he picked up the sky with long, lazy sweeps of its wings.
Om watched it until it became a dot, and then looked away as a smaller dot detached itself and tumbled over and over toward the rocks below.
The eagle descended slowly, preparing to feed.
A breeze rattled the thornbushes and stirred the sand. Om thought he could hear the taunting, mocking voices of all the small gods.Brutha with some effort, slung him across his shoulders, and set off towards Omnia.It happened in seconds.Om fought to stop his head and legs retracting automatically into his shell, a tortoise's instinctive panic reaction.Vorbis was already disappearing round some rocks.He disappeared.Om started to move forward and then ducked into his shell as a shadow skimmed over the ground. It was a familiar shadow, and one fiIled with tortoise dread.The eagle swept down and towards the spot where the stricken tortoise was struggling and, with barely a pause in the stoop, snatched the reptile and soared back up into
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sandro Botticelli The Cestello Annunciation
Sandro Botticelli The Cestello AnnunciationSandro Botticelli Pallas and the CentaurSandro Botticelli Madonna in Glory with SeraphimJean Beraud La Rue de la Paix 1907
Not many. They only hurt his pride. And only after they'd run out of vegetables."
"They threw vegetables?"
"When they couldn't find any more eggs."
"And when we came to remonstrate-”
"I am sure sixty ships intended more than remonstrating," said the Tyrant. "And we have warned you, Lord Vorbis. People find in Ephebe what they seek. There will be more raids on your coast. We will harass your ships. Unless you sign."
"And passage through Ephebe?" said Vorbis.
The at your disposal. There are many fine temples and works of art should you wish to inspect them. When you require meals, mention the fact to the nearest slave."
"Slave is an Ephebian word. In Om we have no word for slave," said Vorbis.
"So I understand," said the Tyrant. "I imagine that fish have no word for water." He smiled the fleeting smile again. "And there are the baths and the Library, of course. Many fine sights. You are our guests."
Vorbis inclined his head.Tyrant smiled."Across the desert? My lord, if you can cross the desert, I am sure you can go anywhere." The Tyrant looked away from Vorbis and towards the sky, visible between the pillars."And now I see it is nearing noon," he said. "And the day heats up. Doubtless you will wish to discuss our . . . uh . . . proposals with your colleagues. May I suggest we meet again at sunset?"Vorbis appeared to give this some consideration."I think," he said eventually, "that our deliberations may take longer. Shall we say . . . tomorrow morning?"The Tyrant nodded."As you wish. In the meantime, the palace is
"I pray," he said, "that one day you will be a guest of mine
Not many. They only hurt his pride. And only after they'd run out of vegetables."
"They threw vegetables?"
"When they couldn't find any more eggs."
"And when we came to remonstrate-”
"I am sure sixty ships intended more than remonstrating," said the Tyrant. "And we have warned you, Lord Vorbis. People find in Ephebe what they seek. There will be more raids on your coast. We will harass your ships. Unless you sign."
"And passage through Ephebe?" said Vorbis.
The at your disposal. There are many fine temples and works of art should you wish to inspect them. When you require meals, mention the fact to the nearest slave."
"Slave is an Ephebian word. In Om we have no word for slave," said Vorbis.
"So I understand," said the Tyrant. "I imagine that fish have no word for water." He smiled the fleeting smile again. "And there are the baths and the Library, of course. Many fine sights. You are our guests."
Vorbis inclined his head.Tyrant smiled."Across the desert? My lord, if you can cross the desert, I am sure you can go anywhere." The Tyrant looked away from Vorbis and towards the sky, visible between the pillars."And now I see it is nearing noon," he said. "And the day heats up. Doubtless you will wish to discuss our . . . uh . . . proposals with your colleagues. May I suggest we meet again at sunset?"Vorbis appeared to give this some consideration."I think," he said eventually, "that our deliberations may take longer. Shall we say . . . tomorrow morning?"The Tyrant nodded."As you wish. In the meantime, the palace is
"I pray," he said, "that one day you will be a guest of mine
Monday, April 13, 2009
Edward Hopper Hotel Room
Edward Hopper Hotel RoomEdward Hopper Hotel LobbyEdward Hopper Girlie ShowEdward Hopper Early Sunday Morning
don't know! Perhaps he wrote it himself!"
Brutha put his hand over his mouth in horror.
"Thaff blafhngf!"
"What?"
Brutha removed his hand.
"I said, roaring white bull for a week and ended up a tortoise for three years. Why? I don't know, and I'm supposed to know everything. According to these prophets of yours who say they've met me, anyway. You know, no one even heard me? I tried talking to goatherds and stuff, and they never took any notice! I was beginning to think I was a tortoise dreaming about being a god. That's how bad it was getting."
"Perhaps you are," said Brutha.that's blasphemy!""Blasphemy? How can I blaspheme? I'm a god!""I don't believe you!""Hah! Want another thunderbolt?""You call that a thunderbolt?"Brutha was red in the face, and shaking. The tortoise hung its head sadly."All right. All right. Not much of one, I admit," it said. "If I was better, you'd have been just a pair of sandals with smoke coming out." It looked wretched. "I don't understand it. This sort of thing has never happened to me before. I intended to be a great big
don't know! Perhaps he wrote it himself!"
Brutha put his hand over his mouth in horror.
"Thaff blafhngf!"
"What?"
Brutha removed his hand.
"I said, roaring white bull for a week and ended up a tortoise for three years. Why? I don't know, and I'm supposed to know everything. According to these prophets of yours who say they've met me, anyway. You know, no one even heard me? I tried talking to goatherds and stuff, and they never took any notice! I was beginning to think I was a tortoise dreaming about being a god. That's how bad it was getting."
"Perhaps you are," said Brutha.that's blasphemy!""Blasphemy? How can I blaspheme? I'm a god!""I don't believe you!""Hah! Want another thunderbolt?""You call that a thunderbolt?"Brutha was red in the face, and shaking. The tortoise hung its head sadly."All right. All right. Not much of one, I admit," it said. "If I was better, you'd have been just a pair of sandals with smoke coming out." It looked wretched. "I don't understand it. This sort of thing has never happened to me before. I intended to be a great big
Henri Matisse The Green Line
Henri Matisse The Green LineHenri Matisse Red FishHenri Matisse Pink Nude
found a small clearing in a pine forest a mile or two ahead of the herd, although the sound of it was clearly audible and there was a line of steam above the trees and the ground was dancing like a drumtop.
Nijel strolled to the middle of the clearing and made a few practice swings with his sword. The others watched him Creosote nodded miserably, wheeled the horse and disappeared over the treetops.
Snow was shaking down from the branches around the clearing. The thunder of the approaching glaciers filled the air.
Nijel started when she tapped him on the shoulder, and dropped his sword.thoughtfully.'If you don't mind,' whispered Creosote to Conina, 'I'll be off. It's at times like this that sobriety loses its attractions and I'm sure the end of the world will look a lot better through the bottom of a glass, if it's all the same to you. Do you believe in Paradise, o peachcheeked blossom?''Not as such, no.''Oh,' said Creosote. 'Well, in that case we probably won't be seeing each other again.' He sighed. 'What a waste. All this was just because of a geas. Um. Of course, if by some unthinkable chance-’'Goodbye,' said Conina.
found a small clearing in a pine forest a mile or two ahead of the herd, although the sound of it was clearly audible and there was a line of steam above the trees and the ground was dancing like a drumtop.
Nijel strolled to the middle of the clearing and made a few practice swings with his sword. The others watched him Creosote nodded miserably, wheeled the horse and disappeared over the treetops.
Snow was shaking down from the branches around the clearing. The thunder of the approaching glaciers filled the air.
Nijel started when she tapped him on the shoulder, and dropped his sword.thoughtfully.'If you don't mind,' whispered Creosote to Conina, 'I'll be off. It's at times like this that sobriety loses its attractions and I'm sure the end of the world will look a lot better through the bottom of a glass, if it's all the same to you. Do you believe in Paradise, o peachcheeked blossom?''Not as such, no.''Oh,' said Creosote. 'Well, in that case we probably won't be seeing each other again.' He sighed. 'What a waste. All this was just because of a geas. Um. Of course, if by some unthinkable chance-’'Goodbye,' said Conina.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Arthur Hughes The Long Engagement
Arthur Hughes The Long EngagementArthur Hughes The King's OrchardGeorge Inness October
attempt to get out of the sea.
'In that?' she said.
'You never on guard, was sound asleep.
Conina lay perfectly still, every sense seeking out the thing that had awoken her.
Finally she heard it again. It was a tiny, diffident clinking noise, barely audible above the muted slurp of the sea.
She got up, or rather, she slid into the vertical as bonelessly as a jellyfish, and flicked Nijel's sword out of his unresisting hand. Then she sidled through the mist without causing can tell.'Rincewind mooched along the waterline, distractedly picking up stones and throwing them in the sea. One or two were thrown back.After a while Conina got a fire going, and the bone-dry, salt-saturated wood sent blue and green flames roaring up under a fountain of sparks. The wizard went and sat in the dancing shadows, his back against a pile of whitened wood, wrapped in a cloud of such impenetrable gloom that even Creosote stopped complaining of thirst and shut up.Conina woke up after midnight. There was a crescent moon on the horizon and a thin, chilly mist covered the sand. Creosote was snoring on his back. Nijel, who was theoretically
attempt to get out of the sea.
'In that?' she said.
'You never on guard, was sound asleep.
Conina lay perfectly still, every sense seeking out the thing that had awoken her.
Finally she heard it again. It was a tiny, diffident clinking noise, barely audible above the muted slurp of the sea.
She got up, or rather, she slid into the vertical as bonelessly as a jellyfish, and flicked Nijel's sword out of his unresisting hand. Then she sidled through the mist without causing can tell.'Rincewind mooched along the waterline, distractedly picking up stones and throwing them in the sea. One or two were thrown back.After a while Conina got a fire going, and the bone-dry, salt-saturated wood sent blue and green flames roaring up under a fountain of sparks. The wizard went and sat in the dancing shadows, his back against a pile of whitened wood, wrapped in a cloud of such impenetrable gloom that even Creosote stopped complaining of thirst and shut up.Conina woke up after midnight. There was a crescent moon on the horizon and a thin, chilly mist covered the sand. Creosote was snoring on his back. Nijel, who was theoretically
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Leroy Neiman Frank at Rao's
Leroy Neiman Frank at Rao'sLeroy Neiman Ferrari on the BeachLeroy Neiman Elephant Stampede
was two o'clock in the morning. River mists coiled like snakes through the streets of Ankh-Morpork, but they coiled alone. Wizards did not hold with other people staying up after midnight, and so no-one did. They slept the troubled sleep of the enchanted, instead.
In the was the only sound that broke the cholesterol of silence that had the heart of the city in its grip.
Silence reigned too in the dark bulk of Unseen University. Except-
Spelter crept along the shadowy corridors like a two-legged spider, darting - or at least limping quickly -from pillar to archway, until he reached the forbidding doors of the Library. He peered nervously at the darkness around him and, after some hesitation, tapped very, very Plaza of Broken Moons, once the boutique of mysterious pleasures from whose flare-lit and curtain-hung stalls the late-night reveller could obtain anything from a plate of jellied eels to the venereal disease of his choice, the mists coiled and dripped into chilly emptiness.The stalls had gone, replaced by gleaming marble and a statue depicting the spirit of something or other, surrounded by illuminated fountains. Their dull splashing
was two o'clock in the morning. River mists coiled like snakes through the streets of Ankh-Morpork, but they coiled alone. Wizards did not hold with other people staying up after midnight, and so no-one did. They slept the troubled sleep of the enchanted, instead.
In the was the only sound that broke the cholesterol of silence that had the heart of the city in its grip.
Silence reigned too in the dark bulk of Unseen University. Except-
Spelter crept along the shadowy corridors like a two-legged spider, darting - or at least limping quickly -from pillar to archway, until he reached the forbidding doors of the Library. He peered nervously at the darkness around him and, after some hesitation, tapped very, very Plaza of Broken Moons, once the boutique of mysterious pleasures from whose flare-lit and curtain-hung stalls the late-night reveller could obtain anything from a plate of jellied eels to the venereal disease of his choice, the mists coiled and dripped into chilly emptiness.The stalls had gone, replaced by gleaming marble and a statue depicting the spirit of something or other, surrounded by illuminated fountains. Their dull splashing
Peter Paul Rubens The Straw Hat
Peter Paul Rubens The Straw HatPeter Paul Rubens Duke of LermaJohn William Godward Dolce far niente
'Brothers!' he shouted, and nodded as the hubbub died away. 'Thank you. Be upstanding, please, for the ceremony of the, um, keys.'
There was a ripple of laughter and a general buzz of expectancy as the wizards pushed back their benches and got wizardry stared at the doors.
There was a soft knocking.
'Go away!' shouted the wizards, some of them collapsing at the sheer subtlety of the humour.
Spelter picked up the great iron ring that contained the keys to the University. They weren't all metal. They weren't all visible. Some of them looked very strange indeed.
'Who is that who knocketh without?' he intoned.
'I do.'
What was strange about the voice was this: it seemed to every unsteadily to their feet.The double doors to the hall were locked and triple barred. An incoming Archchancellor had to request entry three times before they would be unlocked, signifying that he was appointed with the consent of wizardry in general. Or some such thing. The origins were lost in the depths of time, which was as good a reason as any for retaining the custom.The conversation died away. The assembled
'Brothers!' he shouted, and nodded as the hubbub died away. 'Thank you. Be upstanding, please, for the ceremony of the, um, keys.'
There was a ripple of laughter and a general buzz of expectancy as the wizards pushed back their benches and got wizardry stared at the doors.
There was a soft knocking.
'Go away!' shouted the wizards, some of them collapsing at the sheer subtlety of the humour.
Spelter picked up the great iron ring that contained the keys to the University. They weren't all metal. They weren't all visible. Some of them looked very strange indeed.
'Who is that who knocketh without?' he intoned.
'I do.'
What was strange about the voice was this: it seemed to every unsteadily to their feet.The double doors to the hall were locked and triple barred. An incoming Archchancellor had to request entry three times before they would be unlocked, signifying that he was appointed with the consent of wizardry in general. Or some such thing. The origins were lost in the depths of time, which was as good a reason as any for retaining the custom.The conversation died away. The assembled
Monday, April 6, 2009
Vincent van Gogh Wheatfield under a Cloudy Sky
Vincent van Gogh Wheatfield under a Cloudy SkyClaude Monet Water Lilies 1903Claude Monet Bridge over a Pool of Water Lilies
re out of Time, Mr Bill Door.
The new Death raised his cowl.
There was no face there. There was not even a skull.
Smoke curled formlessly between the robe and a golden crown.
Bill Door raised himself on his elbows.
A CROWN? His voice shook with rage. I NEVER WORE A CROWN!
You never wanted to rule.
The Death swung the scythe back.
And faint outline of a lifetimer, its sand pouring away in a torrent.
The Deaths could just make out, on the glass. the spidery name: Renata Flitworth.
The new Death’s featureless expression became one of terminal puzzlement. It turned to Bill Door.
For YOU?
But Bill Door was already rising and unfolding like the wrath of kings. He reached behind him, growling, living on loaned time, and his hands closed around the harvest scythe.then it dawned on the old Death and the new Death that the hissing of passing time had not, in fact, stopped.The new Death hesitated, and took out the golden glass.It shook it.Bill Door looked into the empty face under the crown. There was an expression of puzzlement there, even with no features actually to wear it; the expression hung in the air all by itself.He saw the crown turn.Miss Flitworth stood with her hands held a foot apart and her eyes closed. Between her hands, in the air in front of her hovered the
re out of Time, Mr Bill Door.
The new Death raised his cowl.
There was no face there. There was not even a skull.
Smoke curled formlessly between the robe and a golden crown.
Bill Door raised himself on his elbows.
A CROWN? His voice shook with rage. I NEVER WORE A CROWN!
You never wanted to rule.
The Death swung the scythe back.
And faint outline of a lifetimer, its sand pouring away in a torrent.
The Deaths could just make out, on the glass. the spidery name: Renata Flitworth.
The new Death’s featureless expression became one of terminal puzzlement. It turned to Bill Door.
For YOU?
But Bill Door was already rising and unfolding like the wrath of kings. He reached behind him, growling, living on loaned time, and his hands closed around the harvest scythe.then it dawned on the old Death and the new Death that the hissing of passing time had not, in fact, stopped.The new Death hesitated, and took out the golden glass.It shook it.Bill Door looked into the empty face under the crown. There was an expression of puzzlement there, even with no features actually to wear it; the expression hung in the air all by itself.He saw the crown turn.Miss Flitworth stood with her hands held a foot apart and her eyes closed. Between her hands, in the air in front of her hovered the
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Steve Thoms Poppies
Steve Thoms PoppiesEdvard Munch Puberty 1894Unknown Artist Heighton After Hours
She thought she could hear a sound as the blade moved. A sort of faint whine of tensed air.
‘And it’s still not sharp enough?’
Bill Door sighed. IT MAY NEVER BE SHARP ENOUGH.
‘Come on, man. No sense in giving in,’ said Miss Flitworth.’Where there’s life, eh?’
WHERE THERE’S LIFE EH WHAT?
‘There’s hope?’
IS THERE?
‘Right enough.’
Bill Miss Flitworth sorted through her rag-bag.
‘What next?’ she said.
WHAT HAVE WE HAD SO FAR?
‘Let’s see . . . hessian, calico, linen . . . how about satin? Here’s a piece.’
Bill Door took the rag and wiped it gently along the Door ran a bony finger along the edge.HOPE?‘Got anything else left to try?’Bill shook his head. He’d tried a number of emotions. but this was a new one.COULD YOU FETCH ME A STEEL?It was an hour later.
She thought she could hear a sound as the blade moved. A sort of faint whine of tensed air.
‘And it’s still not sharp enough?’
Bill Door sighed. IT MAY NEVER BE SHARP ENOUGH.
‘Come on, man. No sense in giving in,’ said Miss Flitworth.’Where there’s life, eh?’
WHERE THERE’S LIFE EH WHAT?
‘There’s hope?’
IS THERE?
‘Right enough.’
Bill Miss Flitworth sorted through her rag-bag.
‘What next?’ she said.
WHAT HAVE WE HAD SO FAR?
‘Let’s see . . . hessian, calico, linen . . . how about satin? Here’s a piece.’
Bill Door took the rag and wiped it gently along the Door ran a bony finger along the edge.HOPE?‘Got anything else left to try?’Bill shook his head. He’d tried a number of emotions. but this was a new one.COULD YOU FETCH ME A STEEL?It was an hour later.
Edgar Degas At the Races
Edgar Degas At the RacesEdgar Degas After the BathFrida Kahlo The Frame
Except Lupine, ‘ said Arthur.
‘I’m more what you might call honorary undead,’ said Lupine.
‘Him being a werewolf, ‘ explained Arthur.
‘I thought he was a werewolf as soon as I saw him, ‘said Windle, nodding.
‘Every full moon,’ said Lupine. ‘Regular.’
‘You start howling and growing hair, ‘ said Windle.
They all ‘Oh, yeah. See, it’s all right for human werewolves. They just keep their
own clothes on. I mean, they might get a bit ripped, but at least they’ve got
them handy on, right? Whereas if I see the full moonshook their heads.‘Er, no,’ said Lupine.’I more sort of stop howling and some of my hair temporarily falls out. It’s bloody embarrassing.’ ‘But I thought at the full moon your basic werewolf always -‘ ‘Lupine’s problem,’ said Doreen, ‘is that he approaches it from ze ozzer way, you see.’‘I’m technically a wolf,’ said Lupine.’Ridiculous, really. Every full moon I turn into a wolfman. The rest of the time I ‘m just a . . . wolf.’‘Good grief,’ said Windle.’That must be a terrible problem.’‘The trousers are the worst part, ‘ said Lupine.‘Er . . . they are?’
Except Lupine, ‘ said Arthur.
‘I’m more what you might call honorary undead,’ said Lupine.
‘Him being a werewolf, ‘ explained Arthur.
‘I thought he was a werewolf as soon as I saw him, ‘said Windle, nodding.
‘Every full moon,’ said Lupine. ‘Regular.’
‘You start howling and growing hair, ‘ said Windle.
They all ‘Oh, yeah. See, it’s all right for human werewolves. They just keep their
own clothes on. I mean, they might get a bit ripped, but at least they’ve got
them handy on, right? Whereas if I see the full moonshook their heads.‘Er, no,’ said Lupine.’I more sort of stop howling and some of my hair temporarily falls out. It’s bloody embarrassing.’ ‘But I thought at the full moon your basic werewolf always -‘ ‘Lupine’s problem,’ said Doreen, ‘is that he approaches it from ze ozzer way, you see.’‘I’m technically a wolf,’ said Lupine.’Ridiculous, really. Every full moon I turn into a wolfman. The rest of the time I ‘m just a . . . wolf.’‘Good grief,’ said Windle.’That must be a terrible problem.’‘The trousers are the worst part, ‘ said Lupine.‘Er . . . they are?’
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Georges Seurat The Island of La Grande Jatte
Georges Seurat The Island of La Grande JatteWilliam Blake The ResurrectionWilliam Blake The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with SunWilliam Blake The Descent of ChristWilliam Blake Los
wizards revolved on their benches to stare.
Windle Poons swayed for a moment, assembling control of vocal chords, lips and tongue, and then said:
‘I think I may be able to metabolise alcohol.’
The Archchancellor was the first one to recover.
‘Windle!’ he said.’We thought you were dead!’
He hadyoung fool,’ he muttered.’Think I go around looking like this all the time? Good grief.’ He glared at the assembled wizardry.’Anyone here know what a spleen is supposed to do?’ He reached the table, and managed to sit down.
‘Probably something to do with the digestion,’ he said.’Funny thing, you can go through your whole life with the bloody thing ticking away or whatever it does, gurgling or whatever, to admit that it wasn’t a very good line. You didn’t put people on a slab with candles and lilies all round them because you think they’ve got a bit of a headache and want a nice lie down for half an hour. Windle took a few steps forward. The nearest wizards fell over themselves in an effort to get away.‘I am dead, you bloody
wizards revolved on their benches to stare.
Windle Poons swayed for a moment, assembling control of vocal chords, lips and tongue, and then said:
‘I think I may be able to metabolise alcohol.’
The Archchancellor was the first one to recover.
‘Windle!’ he said.’We thought you were dead!’
He hadyoung fool,’ he muttered.’Think I go around looking like this all the time? Good grief.’ He glared at the assembled wizardry.’Anyone here know what a spleen is supposed to do?’ He reached the table, and managed to sit down.
‘Probably something to do with the digestion,’ he said.’Funny thing, you can go through your whole life with the bloody thing ticking away or whatever it does, gurgling or whatever, to admit that it wasn’t a very good line. You didn’t put people on a slab with candles and lilies all round them because you think they’ve got a bit of a headache and want a nice lie down for half an hour. Windle took a few steps forward. The nearest wizards fell over themselves in an effort to get away.‘I am dead, you bloody
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