Friedrich

Very impressed by Lucian, though more so now that you've pointed out what fascinates you about him. But never fond of his work. I don't think I'm deep or substantial enough for it. You may be fonder of tortured/pondered/heavily-worked things than I am: make sure every square inch matters!

My essential laziness is overawed by such concerns. And as a would-be painter, I'm looking for tricks. "How to fill up all that extra space easily and entertainingly," basically. I once took a class in how to paint faux finishes -- it was as useful as, and much less pretentious than, any other art class I've taken, even if I retain little. (Sponges? Rags? Something like that.)

There's a place here in town (the Studio School) that runs a program called the Drawing and Painting Marathon. A week or two of working eight hours a day on the same drawing or painting. I've been tempted to give it a try, but lordy, I just don't know. Maybe more up your alley?

Are you an Auerbach fan too? Freud I feel I get, even if only in some dim way. Auerbach I can't make sense of.

Best,

Michael