Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Have Your Art, Gelato and Cappuccino…

    Have Your Art, Gelato and Cappuccino…

    Some may argue that ice cream and coffee are not necessities. These people are not likely to think that painting is necessary either. I’m happy to report that both are not only essential, but possible to enjoy at the same time. My first show in Washington, DC will be modest: a two month run in…

  • What Came First, the bed time story or the nightmare?

    What Came First, the bed time story or the nightmare?

    We should think twice before approaching amateur or professional couches to answer this question. A childhood fed by fairy tales, enlarged by the steroidal effects of Hollywood or Disney can lead to some pretty freaky stuff. An adult redo of Margaret Wise Brown’s classic might include: “Good night obsessive compulsive disorder”, “Good night electra complex”, “Good night existential fear of death”… Psychoactive doors,…

  • “Farm To Table” at the Fire Hall Gallery in Charles Town, WV

    “Farm To Table” at the Fire Hall Gallery in Charles Town, WV

    This July I will take part of a three-artist exhibit organized by Joy Bridy in Charles Town, WV’s Fire Hall Gallery. A series of 9 Paintings called An Artist on An Animal Farm will be my contribution. The title of the show is “Farm to Table” and the guiding principle is connection to the land through…

  • Totem Animals, Mountains, GPS and new venues for Bunny

    Totem Animals, Mountains, GPS and new venues for Bunny

    My watercolor painting entitled GPS will be on display within a group show at the Fire Hall Gallery in Charles Town, WV in May, 2016. It is part of a larger series of over 100 works centered on my totem animal, a rabbit. The show features the work of artists who participated in CraftWorks with Rebecca Jones and…

  • Icons: Intimacy & Ecstasy

    Icons: Intimacy & Ecstasy

    Catholic girls had a reputation I didn’t know much about until I graduated from an all girl, Episcopalian high school in Virginia. It was much more than the short plaid skirts and saddle shoes. The boys at our brother Episcopalian school used this cliché quite a bit. I didn’t hear heavier terms like Madonna Whore…

  • Journey as Identity

    Journey as Identity

    “Wouldn’t it be better without Bunny? I like the trees, the animals and the atmosphere.” This was the first critical response to Climbing. Artists must learn that nothing is precious. It can all be scraped back to a blank canvas to start again. When you spend hours learning how to look and reflect on that looking,…

  • “Don’t Slip!” and other advice…

    “Don’t Slip!” and other advice…

    I spend a lot of time in my imagination while working my day job. I have all manner of fantasies. It’s not that reality is dissatisfying, it’s just that I prefer to see it as a psychoactive door to a much more interesting place. And this is why I paint a rabbit doing human things as her…

  • Marketing… do’s and don’ts?

    Marketing… do’s and don’ts?

    My most recent completed series of paintings debuted for Farm Day last year on October 25, 2015. Since then, I’ve submitted those paintings to a variety of online magazines and other venues to have them displayed. I’ve also posted them on ETSY  The result: Learning to Fly and Making Concoctions sold, and Don’t Slip has been accepted for exhibition…

  • Bunny Can’t seem to Eat Canaries

    Bunny Can’t seem to Eat Canaries

    Nothing is precious. I don’t remember a mentor saying those exact words, but the idea is obvious, if a little fatalistic. A wasted hour on social media will prove this. Many people make paintings. We spend hours pursuing this passion. We are lucky if anyone removed by more than 6 degrees will stop to notice for more than 2…

  • How I made my new artist website

    How I made my new artist website

    Artists evolve and adapt. Websites need to change with them. My old site lacapretta.com no longer fits me. Rather than a studio based site intended for collaboration with other artists, I want one that presents a solo artist in a more stunning way. This is how I made the transition to nancypolo.com 1. Pick a Web Domain, Register…

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