Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Amedeo Modigliani Seated Nude

Amedeo Modigliani Seated NudeAmedeo Modigliani Red NudeAmedeo Modigliani Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne
'That's a long time.'
'But we've been working on the ivory for only a week and it's going very well!' said the alchemist quickly.
Except for some side . He nodded to a figure bent over a cue.
'Er, Mr Silverfish—' he began.
'Quiet! Game on!' said the head alchemist, squinting at the white ball.
Sendivoge glanced at the score rail.
'Twenty-one points,' he said. 'My word. Perhaps we're adding just the right amount of camphor to the nitro-cellulose after all—'
There was a click. The cue ball rolled away, bounced off the cushion—effects which we'll doubtless soon be able to sort out.'He pushed open a door.It was a large room, heavily outfitted with the usual badly ventilated furnaces, rows of bubbling crucibles, and one stuffed alligator. Things floated in jars. The air smelled of a limited life expectancy.A lot of equipment had been moved away, however, to make room for a billiard table. Half a dozen alchemists were standing around it in the manner of men poised to run.'It's the third this week,' said Sendivoge, gloomily

Monday, April 27, 2009

Sung Kim Palm Reflection

Sung Kim Palm ReflectionSung Kim Overlook Cafe IISung Kim Overlook Cafe I
yeah? you even know who your father is, do you?'
'—that, while you must certainly celebrate your proud ethnic folkways, to profit by the example of my fellow officers here, who have sunk their ancient differences—'
'—I smash you head, attention to him. He turned.
Sung Kim Escape
Lance-Constable Cuddy was upside down, because Lance-Constable Detritus was trying to bounce him on the cobbles by his helmet, although Lance-Constable Cuddy was putting the position to good effect by gripping Lance-Constable Detritus around the knee and trying to sink his teeth into Lance-Constable Detritus' ankle.
The opposing marchers watched in fascination.
'We should do something!' said Angua, from the guards' hiding place in the alley.
'Weeell,' said Sergeant Colon, slowly, 'it's always very tricky, ethnicyou roguesome dwarfs!''—for the greater benefit of—''—I could take you with one hand tied behind my back!''—the city, whose badge they are—'' —you get opportunity! I tie BOTH hands behind you back!''—proud and privileged to wear.''Aargh!''Ooow!'It dawned on Carrot that hardly anyone was paying any

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Salvador Dali Tiger

Salvador Dali TigerSalvador Dali The Sacrament of the Last SupperSalvador Dali The RoseSalvador Dali Paysage aux papillons (Landscape with Butterflies)Salvador Dali Mirage
And no one even thought to leave a damn window
open! Can’t you hear them?”
“Hear what?”
Nanny looked around hurriedly and picked up a silver

candlestick.
Magrat snatched it out of her hand.
“This happens to be,” winding her arm back, “very nearly,”
taking aim, “Very slowly, she sat up. She focused on Magrat and
Nanny Ogg with some difficulty, and said:
“I wantzzz a bunzzch of flowerszz, a pot of honey, and
someone to szzzting.”my castle—“The candlestick flew up, turning end over end, and hit a big stained glass window right in the center.Fresh sunlight extruded down to the table, visibly mov-ing in the Disc’s slow magical field. And down it, like mar-bles down a chute, the bees cascaded.The swarm settled on the witch’s head, giving the impression of a very dangerous wig.“What did you—“ Ridcully began.“She’s going to swank about this for weeks,” said Nanny. “No one’s ever done it with bees. Their mind’s everywhere, see? Not just in one bee. In the whole swarm.”“What are you—“Granny Weatherwax’s fingers twitched.Her eyes flickered.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Mark Spain Night Light

Mark Spain Night LightMark Spain Forever YouMark Spain Flamenco II
wish the lady to come out,” it said. “You must say to her, if she does not come out, we will play with you some more.”
“What will you do to us if she does come out?” said Shawn.
“Oh, we shall still play with you,” said the elf. “That’s what makes it so much fun. But she must hope, must she not? Talk to her now.”
He was pushed up to the door. He knocked on it, in what he hoped was a respectful way.
223
Terry Pratehett
“Urn. Miss Queen?”
Magrat’s voice was muffled.
“Yes?”either side of the doorway, and one put his pointed ear to it.
Then it knelt down and peered through the keyhole, tak-ing care not to come too near the metal of the lock.
There was a sound no louder than a click. The elf remained motionless for a moment, and then keeled over gently, without a sound.“It’s me, Shawn.”“I know.”“I’m out here. Um. I think they’ve hurt Miss Tockley. Um. They say they’ll hurt me some more if you don’t come out. But you don’t have to come out because they daren’t come in there because of all the iron. So I shouldn’t listen to them if I was you.”There were some distant clankings, and then a twang.“Miss Magrat?”“Ask her,” said the elf, “if there is any food and water in there.”“Miss, they say—“One of the elves jerked him away. Two of them took up station

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Pino First Glance

Pino First GlanceEdvard Munch The Girls on the BridgeMartin Johnson Heade Rio de Janeiro BayUnknown Artist Brent Lynch Coastal Drive
Terry Pratchett
with entire countries who get belligerent after one drink, and entire kingdoms who Have Broken Off Diplomatic Relations after what the Crown Prince Said About Our Sharon. Verence had managed to work that all out, but then there were the species to consider. Trolls and dwarfs got on all right in Lancre by the simple expedient of having nothing to do with one another, but too many of them under one roof, especially if drink was flowing, and espe-cially if it was flowing “They might give me answers. And then what would I do?”
“What did Granny want to talk to you about?”
“Oh . . . you know . .. things ...”
“It wasn’t about.. . sex, was it?”
Verence suddenly looked like a man who had been in the direction of the dwarfs, and people would Be Breaking People’s Arms Off because of what, more or less, Their Ancestors Said About Our Sharon.And then there’s other things .. .“How’s the girl they brought in?”“I’ve told Millie to keep an eye on her. What are they doing, those two?”“I don’t know.”You’re king, aren’t you?”Verence shifted uneasily.“But they’re witches. I don’t like to ask them questions.”“Why not?”

Monday, April 20, 2009

Thomas Kinkade Heather's Hutch

Thomas Kinkade Heather's HutchThomas Kinkade Forest ChapelThomas Kinkade End of a Perfect Day III
“You haven’t, have you? And then you think you can just stroll down here and confound this girl, just like that?”
“I don’t know,” said Granny Weatherwax.
Nanny Ogg looked hard at her.
72
LOR06 ft^D LftQ/£6
“You don’t, do you?” she said, in a softer tone of voice. “Oh, well . . . you better sit down here, before you fall down. Suck an .”
After some eye contact. Nanny Ogg ambled across the square and met Perdita in the middle. The young would-be witch looked worried under her makeup. She held a black lace handkerchief in her hands, and was twisting it nervously.
“Morning, Mrs. Ogg,” she said.
“Afternoon, Agnes.”
“Um. What happens now?”orange. They’ll be here in a few minutes.”“No she won’t,” said Granny “She’ll be late.”“How d’you know?”“No good making an entrance if everyone isn’t there to see you, is it? That’s headology.”In fact the young coven arrived at twenty past twelve, and took up station on the steps of the market pentangle on the other side of the square.“Look at ‘em,” said Granny Weatherwax. “All in black, again.”“Well, we wear black too,” said Nanny Ogg the reasonable.“Only ‘cos it’s respectable and serviceable,” said Granny morosely. “Not because it’s romantic. Hah. The Lords and Ladies might as well be here already

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Johannes Vermeer Diana and her Companions

Johannes Vermeer Diana and her CompanionsJohannes Vermeer Christ in the House of Mary and MarthaUnknown Artist warmth by volk
S'carrying something," he said eventually. "Sergeant? Go and bring that man here."
A few minutes later the sergeant returned.
"Says he'll meet you in the middle of the beach, sir," he reported.
"Didn't I tell you to bring him here?"
"He didn't want to come, sir."
"You've got a sword, haven't you?"
"Yessir. He was brought before a trestle table, behind which sat half a dozen large men in various military styles,
and one small olive-skinned man who was gutting a fish and grinning hopefully at everyone.
"Well, now," said Argavisti, "Cenobiarch of Omnia, eh?"
Brutha dropped Vorbis's body on to the sand. Their gaze followed it.
"I know him-” said Borvorius. "Vorbis! Someone Prodded him a bit, but he dint want to move, sir. And he's carrying a dead body, sir.""On a battlefield? It's not bring-your-own, you know.""And . . . sir?""What?""Says he's probably the Cenobiarch, sir. Wants to talk about a peace treaty.""Oh, he does? Peace treaty? We know about peace treaties with Omnia. Go and tell . . . no. Take a couple of men and bring him here."Brutha walked back between the soldiers, through the organized pandemonium of the camp. I ought to feel afraid, he thought. I was always afraid in the Citadel. But not now. This is through fear and out the other side.Occasionally one of the soldiers would give him a push. It's not allowed for an enemy to walk freely into a camp, even if he wants to.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Johannes Vermeer The Love letter

Johannes Vermeer The Love letterJohannes Vermeer The ConcertJohannes Vermeer Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window
hunger. Om tried to encircle the pain, make it flow away . . . and not to think about what would happen if it went. By the feel of things, the lion had not eaten for days.
The lion grunted as Brutha withdrew the spearhead.
"Omnian," he shifting under his feet. The boulders formed a maze of half­-open tunnels and caves. By the smell, the lion had lived there for a long time, and had quite often been ill.
He stared at the nearest cave for some time.
"What's so fascinating about a lion's den?" said Om.
"The way it's got steps down into it, I think," said Bruthasaid. "It hasn't been there long. It must have met the soldiers when they were on the way to Ephebe. They must have passed close by." He tore another strip from his robe, and tried to clean the wound."We want to eat it, not cure it!" shouted Om. "What're you thinking of? You think it's going to be grateful?""It wanted to be helped.""And soon it will want to be fed, have you thought about that?""It's looking pathetically at me.""Probably never seen a week's meals all walking around on one pair of legs before."That wasn't true, Om reflected. Brutha was shedding weight like an ice-cube, out here in the desert. That kept him alive! The boy was a two-legged camel.Brutha crunched towards the rock pile, shards and bones

Thomas Kinkade The Beginning of a Perfect Day

Thomas Kinkade The Beginning of a Perfect DayThomas Kinkade Sunset at Riverbend FarmThomas Kinkade Seaside HideawayThomas Kinkade Pools of Serenity
I borrow the towel?"
"It's yours anyway, Mr. Legibus."
"Is it?"
"I said, you left it here last time. Remember? When you had that idea for the lighthouse?"
"Fine. Fine," said Legibus, wrapping the towel around himself. He drew a few more lines on the wall. "Fine. Okay. I'll send someone down later to collect the wall."
He turned and appeared to see the Omnians for the first time. He peered forward and then shrugged.
"Hmm," he said, and wandered away.
Brutha tugged at you think you've got a bright idea, you don't want to do it somewhere cold. If you do do it somewhere cold, you die out. That's natural selection, that is. Ephebe's known for its philosophers. It's better than street theater."
"What, a lot of old men running around the streets with no clothes on?" said Brutha, under his breath, as they were marched onward.
"More or less. If you spend your whole time thinking about the universethe cloak of one of the Ephebian soldiers."Excuse me, but why did we stop?" he said."Philosophers have right of way," said the soldier."What's a philosopher?" said Brutha."Someone who's bright enough to find a job with no heavy lifting," said a voice in his head."An infidel seeking the just fate he shall surely receive,' said Vorbis. "An inventor of fallacies. This cursed city attracts them like a dung heap attracts flies.""Actually, it's the climate," said the voice of the tortoise. "Think about it. If you're inclined to leap out of your bath and run down the street every time

Monday, April 13, 2009

Titian Sacred and Profane Love

Titian Sacred and Profane LoveFrancisco de Goya The ParasolBartolome Esteban Murillo Madonna and Child
We have one!"
Instinctively, every masked figure turned to look at the drawing on the wall, indistinct in the firelight but graven on, which is like pouring water onto a pond. It didn't seem to make any difference, anyway. The beetle plodded away.
He cursed a melon unto the eighth generation, but nothing happened. He tried a plague of boils. The melon just sat there, ripening slightly. their minds. They were looking at the truth, which can often impress."The Turtle Moves!""The Turtle Moves!""The Turtle Moves!"The leader nodded."And now," he said, "we will draw lots . . ." The Great God Om waxed wroth, or at least made a spirited attempt. There is a limit to the amount of wroth that can be waxed one inch from the ground, but he was right up against it.He silently cursed a beetle

Edgar Degas The Rehearsal

Edgar Degas The RehearsalEdgar Degas The Bellelli FamilyEdgar Degas At the Races
soil in the whole country, either."
"Off you go, then," said the abbot.
"I shall takeIt was the Year of the Notional Serpent, or two hundred years after the Declaration of the Prophet Abbys.
Which meant that the time of the 8th Prophet was imminent.
That was the reliable thing about the Church of the Great God Om. It had very punctual prophets. You could set your calendar by them, if you had one big enough.
And, as is generally the case around the time a prophet is expected, the Church redoubled its efforts to be holy. This was very much like the bustle you get in any large concern when the auditors are expected my mountains," said Lu-Tze. "The climate will be good for them."And he also took his broom and his sleeping mat. The history monks don't go in for possessions. They find most things wear out in a century or two.It took him four years to get to Omnia. He had to watch a couple of battles and an assassination on the way, otherwise they would just have been random events.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida Beach at Valencia

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida Beach at ValenciaAlexandre Cabanel HarmonyThomas Gainsborough Shepherd Boys with Dogs Fighting
happened before,' said Rincewind. 'Went on for thousands of years until not a-’
'Do you know what's odd about that heap of stone?' said Conina.
Rincewind glanced at it. He screwed up his eyes.
'What, apart from'Your hair,' said the Seriph, rocking slowly forward again, 'is like, is like a flock of goats that graze upon the side of Mount Gebra.'
'Look here
'Your breasts are like, like,' the Seriph swayed sideways a little, and gave a brief, sorrowful glance at the empty bottle, 'are like the jewelled melons in the fabled gardens of dawn.'
Conina's eyes widened. 'They are?' she said. the legs?' he said.It took several minutes to dig the Seriph out. He was still clutching a wine bottle, which was almost empty, and blinked at them all in vague recognition.'Powerful,' he said, and then after some effort added, 'stuff, this vintage. Felt,' he continued, 'as though the place fell on me.''It did,' said Rincewind.'Ah. That would be it, then.' Creosote focused on Conina, after several attempts, and rocked backwards. 'My word,' he said, 'the young lady again. Very impressive.''I say-’ Nijel began.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Thomas Kinkade The Aspen Chapel

Thomas Kinkade The Aspen ChapelFabian Perez Rojo Sillion III Second StateFabian Perez Balcony at Buenos Aires II
brow furrowed. Why didn't he feel happy about it?
Because it's the wrong bloody decision, you idiot.
Right, he thought, I've had enough voices in my head. Out.
But I belong here.
You mean you're me?
Your Right. Aeons. Go back aeons to the time when raw magic ruled. The whole framework of reality trembled daily. It was pretty terrible, I can tell me.
How do I know?
Racial memory.
Gosh. Have I got one of those?
Well. A part of one.conscience.Oh.You can't let the hat be destroyed. It's the symbol ...... all right, I know ...... the symbol of magic under the Lore. Magic under the control of mankind. You don't want to go back to those dark Ians ...... What? ...Ians ...Do I mean aeons?

Leroy Neiman Femlin

Leroy Neiman FemlinUnknown Artist Abstract Autumn by DougallAndy Warhol Shot Blue Marilyn 1964
should we stand against him?' said Spelter, in a reasonable tone of voice.
'Because he's more powerful than we are!'
'Yes?' Spelter's voice would have made a sheet of glass look like a ploughed field, it made honey look like gravel.
'It standslike mad.
'He does not seem overly inclined to use that power,' said Carding.
'What about Billias and Virrid?'
'Childish pique,' said Carding.
The other wizards stared from him to the bursar. They were aware of something going on, and couldn't quite put their finger on it.
The reason that wizards didn't rule the Disc was quite simple to reason-’Gravie hesitated. Spelter gave him an encouraging smile.'Ahem.'The ahemmer was Marmaric Carding, head of the Hoodwinkers. He steepled his beringed fingers and peered sharply at Spelter over the top of them. The bursar disliked him intensely. He had considerable doubt about the man's intelligence. He suspected it might be quite high, and that behind those vein-crazed jowls was a mind full of brightly polished little wheels, spinning

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Joseph Mallord William Turner Moonlight A Study at Millbank

Joseph Mallord William Turner Moonlight A Study at MillbankJohn Singer Sargent The Daughters of Edward Darley BoitJohn Singer Sargent Paul Helleu Sketching with his Wife
The Archchancellor just asked if you wanted a drink.’
‘He’d like a glass of distilled water,’ said Mrs Cake.
‘What, just water?’ said Ridcully.
‘That’s had been invited to the University she’d come too. Mrs Cake always assumed that an invitation to Ludmilla was an invitation to Ludmilla’s mother as well. Mothers like her exist everywhere, and apparently nothing can be done about them.
The Fresh Starters were being entertained by the wizards, and trying to look as though they were enjoying it. It was one of those problematical occasions with long silences, sporadic coughs, and people saying isolated things like, ‘Well, isn’t this nice.’what he wants,’ said Mrs Cake.‘I’d Like a glass of distilled water, please,’ said Windle.Mrs Cake looked smug. At least, as much of her as was visible looked smug, which was that part between the Hat and her handbag, which was a sort ofcounterpart of the hat and so big that when she sat clasping it on her lap she had to reach up to hold the handles. When she’d heard that her daughter

Monday, April 6, 2009

Sung Kim Point

Sung Kim PointSung Kim ParadiseSung Kim Palm Reflection
himself. ‘Oh, darn,’ he said miserably. The swearwords settled amiably on his hat.
‘They like you,’ said the Dean.
‘You’re They looked at the remains of the trolley.
‘Things zooming around,’ said Ridcully.’Things coming alive.’ They looked up at a suddenly familiar squeaking noise. Two more wheeled baskets rattled across the square outside the gates. One was full of fruit. The other was half full of fruit and half full of small screaming child.their daddy,’ said the Lecturer in Recent Runes. Ridcully scowled.’You b- boys can stop being silly at your Archchancellor’s expense and da-jolly well find out what’s going on,’ he said.The wizards looked expectantly at the air. Nothing appeared.‘You’re doing fine,’ said the Lecturer in Recent Runes.’Keep it up.’ ‘Darn darn darn,’ said the Archchancellor.’Sugar sugar sugar. Pooty pootity poot.’ He shook his head.‘It’s no good, it doesn’t relieve my feelings one bit.’‘It’s cleared the air, at any rate,’ said the Bursar.They noticed his presence for the first time.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Edward Hopper Night Windows

Edward Hopper Night WindowsEdward Hopper Lighthouse HillEdward Hopper Hotel Room
OH, DAMN, he said. And walked into the fire.
‘Um. It’s me, Librarian,’ said Windle, trying to shout through the keyhole.’Windle Poons.’
He tried hammering some more.
‘Why won’t he answer?’
‘Don’t know, ‘ said a voice behind him.
‘Schleppel?’
‘Yes, Mr Poons.’
‘Why are’
‘Oook!’
‘That’s - that’s unfair!’
‘What’s he saying, Mr Poons?’ you behind me?’‘I’ve got to be behind something, Mr Poons. That’s what being a bogeyman is all about.’‘Librarian?’ said Windle, hammering some more.‘Oook.’‘Why won’t you let me in?’‘Oook.’‘But I need to look something up.’‘Oook oook!’‘Well, yes. I am. What’s that got to do with it?
‘He won’t let me in because I’m dead!’
‘That’s typical. That’s the sort of thing Reg Shoe

Claude Monet Sunflowers

Claude Monet SunflowersClaude Monet PoplarsJohannes Vermeer View Of Delft
the world with a speech impediment, so instead of sitting on roofs and screaming when people are about to die he just writes them a note and slips it under the door-‘ Windle recalled a long, sad face.’ He gave me one, too.’ ‘We try to encourage him,’ said Lupine.’He’s very self-conscious.’
His arm shot out and flung Windle against a wall.
‘Quiet!’
‘What?’
Lupine’s ears swivelled. His nostrils flared.
Lupine sighed. ‘Wolves don’t do this sort of thing, you know, ‘ he said.
The man dangled.
‘Hey, is that a fact, ‘ he said.
‘It’s all head-on combat, fang against fang, claw against claw,’ said Motioning Windle to remain where he was, the wereman slunk silently along the alley until he reached its junction with another, even smaller and nastier one. He paused for a moment, and then thrust a hairy hand around the corner.There was a yelp. Lupine’s hand came back holding a struggling mop. Huge hairy muscles moved under Lupine’s torn shirt as the man was hoisted up to fang level.‘You were waiting to attack us, weren’t you,’ said Lupine.‘Who, me -?’‘I could smell you, ‘ said Lupine, evenly.‘I never -‘

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Vincent van Gogh Two Cypresses

Vincent van Gogh Two CypressesEdmund Blair Leighton Stitching the StandardFrancois Boucher Nude on a SofaFrank Dicksee La Belle Dame Sans MerciBenjamin Williams Leader The Last Gleam, Wargrave on Thames
Windle squinted at the small object that was thrust triumphantly under his nose.
‘Well, er . . .’ he said diffidently, ‘I’d say . . . yes . . . hmm . . . yes, the smell
is very and creaked along the corridors until he reached his room. Someone else seemed to have moved some of their stuff into it, but Windle dealt with that by simply picking it all up in one sweep of his arms and throwing it out into the corridor.
Then he lay down on the bed.distinctive, isn’t it . . . yes, quite definitely. Allium sativum. The common domestic garlic. Yes?’The wizards stared at him. They stared at the little white clove. They stared at Windle again.‘I am right, aren’t I?’ he said, and made an attempt at a smile. ‘Er,’ said the Archchancellor.’Yes. Yes, that’s right.’ Ridcully cast around for something to add.‘Well done, ‘ he said.‘Thank you for trying,’ said Windle.’I really appreciate it.’ He stepped forward. The wizards might as well have tried to hold back a glacier. ‘And now I ‘m going to have a lie down, ‘ he said.’ It’s been a long day.’ He lurched into the building