Many have heard my tirades against the perils of advanced technology, inspired much by a certain math professor now retired in Colorado. I have, from time to time, been vocal in particular about the deleterious effects that social media, and other moderns forms of information distribution, have on cognition, social functioning, personal autonomy, freedom of thought and expression, mental health, and so on.

But, like any good ideologue, I shall never hesitate to set aside my principles at the first opportunity for personal financial gain. Accordingly, I regret to inform you that I have made an Instagram account, to aid in the sales of my artwork.

@david_c_billingsley

It is my solemn hope that people – you, even – should take some of these paintings off my hand in exchange for some of Jerome Powell’s freshly conjured greenbacks. The fact is, they are taking up quite a bit of space in our tiny closets. If you don’t like anything you see, I’ve still got you covered. That is, I take commissions. If you are steadfast in your refusal to barter you will find that I remain standing before you, hat clutched diffidently in hand, asking that you (sigh) follow, like, and share.

Now, let us set that unpleasant business aside and take a look at some other things I’ve produced since my last update:

A portrait I painted of Kendra and Evan, some of whom may be known to you. It was supposed to be a wedding gift. It ended up as a three-year anniversary gift.

Nick Pappadopoulos, master pianist and prep-school chum, recorded one of my piano compositions, The Sea Rises.

I continue to work wood. A poplar TV stand. The design is completely my own, somewhat inspired by traditional Japanese architecture.

I made per capita maps of COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita. Here they are, as of 5/6/2020. More here.

Here are some new paintings, with their titles.

The Development of a Society Can Never Be Subject to Rational Human Control

Broken Face

Memories of the Future

This is a bookshelf made of red oak. It is a modification of a Shaker style design I found How to Build Bookcases & Bookshelves. I doubled the length since we had so many extra books, and the pattern at the top on the sides I kind of made up on the fly before taking it to the bandsaw. Sanded to 220 and finished with 2 coats of wipe-on polyurethane. The amber hue of the polyurethane kind of subdues the original red undertones of the oak, but it balances out to a nice, understated iridescent amber finish that feels nice to the touch.

Here it is in its final setup in our living room.

Let me know if you want me to make anything for you.

Also, a jazz composition I finished a while back but forgot to post, called Ten Out of Twenty – sheet music here – and some new tracks on Soundcloud. Acoustic rock.

This has nothing to do with the election. It’s just I have the day off. So, I have some new paintings to show you. They are all abstract. I am working on 3 or 4 or more realistic things. Those are slower going; these are what I’ve done in the meantime.

I have also added the sheet music for two piano compositions, The Sea Rises and Reverie in A Minor, to the Music page. Recordings are coming later.

Silhouette I: Rock Lady – May 2018 – 18×24

Silhouette II: Fascist Breakdown – March 2018 – 18×24

False Landscape V: The Tide Pool – June 2018 – 11×14

False Landscape IV: Inverted River – July 2018 – 11×14

False Landscape III: Corridors – August 2018 – 11×14

Silhouette III: Three – October 2018 – 14×18

Photos from Indonesia and Staten Island.

Eight Paintings. Three Portraits, two commissioned (one kid, one dog). Five abstracts.

Color Algebra I – Behind the Veil. Oil on Canvas Board. 16×20.

Woman Listening to Drake. Oil on Canvas. 16×20.

Buddy. Oil on Canvas. 16×12. Commission.

False Landscape II: Line Clouds. Oil on Canvas Board. 16×20.

Rochelle’s Nephew. Oil on Canvas. 16×12. Commission.

Color Algebra II – War Dog Puzzle. Oil on Canvas Board. 16×20.

Ivete’s Composition. Acrylic on Canvas. 16×20

False Landscape I: – Cliff Overlook. Oil on Canvas Board. 16×20.

Some assorted photographs. Most are taken from Pemberton Music Festival in Pemberton, BC. All are taken in 2016.

And finally, there is a price list.

Since January I have completed 8 new paintings. 6 in oil, 2 acrylic. 4 portraits, 2 abstract ones, and 2 kind sort of non-portrait study type things.

Here they are!

The Toll Worker. Oil on Canvas. 16×12.

The Nurse. Oil on Canvas. 16×12. Sold.

Color field I (Corelian Bricks). Oil on Canvas. 16×12. Sold.

The Librarian. Oil on Canvas. 16×12.

The Troublemaker. Oil on Canvas. 18×20.

I. Acrylic on Panel. 16×12. Spring 2016

Us. Acrylic on Panel. 16×12. Spring 2016

Color Field II (Our Love Child). Oil on Panel. 16×12. Sold.