The Master's Brush

Because I'd like to be able to begin projects as soon as the art studio is ready, I'm announcing an open call for models. You must have some kind of experience and you will be compensated at a professional rate. Owl or write me privately for more details or if you're interested.

It is very ironic that I am dreading having to paint this new place of mine. One would think that I would enjoy it, but I really loathe painting walls. It would be different if I were creating a mural, but for now, I'm going with solid colors on the walls just to give it a fresh clean look, better than how it looks at present.

So much mundane prep work to be done before the art studio opens. But it'll hopefully only be a couple more weeks.

Everything is coming together nicely. I do believe that the student art show this weekend will be Benoit's best ever. Everything will be staged in the hall outside Waldgrave. The artwork will be going up on Friday and staying up through the weekend until the next Monday.

I am happy to say that the sculpture project that has been taking up a good portion of my classroom for the past two years will be completed in time for the end of year art show. About said art show, it is going to be a little different than in past years. The student's works will not be in display in the art room. Instead, the works will be lining the hallway to the entrance to Waldgrave. All students who are submitting work for the show, have it to me no later than next Wednesday. That gives you one more week to finish any projects you are still working on.

The preparations for the winter carnival have gotten me in a good mood.

That and I'm looking forward to winter being done with soon.

I'm feeling like, quite literally in some ways, I have a new lease on life.

I've been very pleased with the ice sculpting unit we started this week. It's something I haven't tried with my classes before now, and other than an unfortunate tongue-sticking-to-ice incident in the fourth year, it's been going very well.

( hexed private )

Bring your sculpting tools to class next week for the start of our next project. And your heavy cloaks and hats and scarves and such.

The holiday charms have certainly made the month interesting. I have learned from last year and am not using live models for anything this month, as I was so frustrated last year at having my models randomly coming in with discolored hair or other unexpected physical changes.

The candy and goodies have been nice, though I have been making a point of reading through my journal in the morning before trying the food. I only made that mistake once, yesterday, though I managed to get through all my classes without uttering a word. Most of my students were pretty quiet too. It was actually really nice to have a day of silence.

( hexed private )

( private )

( Berne )

[hexed private, viewable by staff]

Fuck! I can't do a thing anymore without being criticized and being threatened with the Board of Governors. I am just about at my limit of what I can deal with in this job. I am the artist whose work is world-renowned, how dare they question my judgment, over and over!

For the record, I am experimenting with use of fashion and design and setting for a Halloween theme in class. In addition to procuring some antique Victorian-era furniture and backdrops, I made available a wide variety of clothing for the models, all of which has a Gothic, or Victorian theme. Some of it was more modern and suggestive in nature, but I left it up to the models to choose what they would prefer to wear to pose in. I feel I've done nothing wrong, or inappropriate.

The stresses of this job are really starting to outweigh the joys.

( hexed private to Kane, Flint, Beau, Zach O., Kit, Antony, Arnaud, Fabien, Maslin, David, Bert, Amedee )

( hexed private to Kane, Flint, Beau, Zach O., Kit, Antony, Arnaud, Fabien, Maslin, David, Bert, Amedee, Adrian Cain, Emerson Fernandes, Philip Laillier )

I will again this year be needing models for my art classes. Please respond privately to this message if you are interested. This is voluntary, so there is no compensation but I can offer a bit of extra credit if you are in my class. If you do not take art, you are still welcomed to help. This applies to any interested staff as well. I will be needing models for my classes and ones available for individual sessions with my students as needed. Please specify your availability and if you prefer to model clothed, nude, or either. [added later] I will only be accepting of-age students, students 17 and older, as nude models.

I thought I should leave a note here and inform my students that I will be resuming teaching my art classes starting tomorrow. If you've done anything worthwhile in my absence, I'll be checking in on your progress and giving you an additional week to finish up your current work before beginning my curriculum for the class, one that is not bastardized by a bitter old fool who knows nothing whatsoever about art.

[hexed private]

Oh Merlin. I'm responsible. I left the boggart out for the Aurors, and from what I heard from the paintings in my office, an older boy broke in and let it loose. What Silver said about what happened to his brother, it had to be the boggart. It makes sense. All the reports of chaos from the school over the weekend, that's what it is. It's the boggart.

As much as I'd like to see the new Headmaster have as difficult a time there as possible, I can't let it go on. I need to do something. Maybe I should tip off Asher and Charlot. They dealt with it over the summer. Or I could tell Claude. He knows about it too. Claude might be better, I wouldn't want to chance any more students getting hurt.

On the bright side, the Aurors found nothing in their illegal search of my rooms. Not that I'm surprised. I've stayed one step ahead of them for years now. Though I was a little worried about them this time. I wish that boggart had been in there waiting for them. It would have served them right. Even so, I'll continue to keep a low profile for now. I'd rather not be brought in by them for more questioning right now.

( triple hexed private )

( triple hexed private to Charlot )

( Hexed private to Art Students, Staff minus Headmaster )

Does school really begin next week? Too soon...

( hexed private )

( hexed private to Lucas Petit )

( hexed private to Asher and Charlot )

( hexed private to Asher and Charlot )

( hexed private to Maslin )

( hexed private to Emile )

I hate to leave Greece, but we've stayed much longer than I had planned. But it was a nice visit, I got a lot of painting done and some networking too. But now it's time to return to school and start thinking about the new school year. I'm not ready for it to start yet.