This Is the End.

I love painting so much. I love it more than anything right now.

Yes, even music.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

I think maybe it is because it’s instant gratification. All the things I love about music, painting gives me every day. It used to be that a concert would give me this feeling, this instant happiness. Sometimes now it just feels like a “show” (which is what a lot of people call it). I don’t really consider myself a “performer”. I know some people who would tell me that I’m in the wrong line or work, or I don’t take my job seriously. It’s just who I am. I’m just being honest with you.

I’ve spent a lot of time in my life assessing music and what it means to me. Every time you get knocked down, especially as you get older, you have to look around and take stock, ask yourself some important questions and decide if you can keep going like this.

Every time I ask myself these questions, I learn a little more. About myself, what I truly value, what the whole thing means to me…stuff like that. I realize that it’s the excitement of Making that keeps me around. The creating. The writing. Recording. It doesn’t matter what job I have or what else is going on in my life, I will always do these things.

Sometimes aspects of it get in the way. It’s ok, then I just stop. I really like to write, I think because it activates the part of my brain that says “You are learning something” or “You are making something”. When outside influences get involved and projects get put on hold, my brain goes through this anxious state of confusion before it just…moves on.

It’s ok, it’s just time to learn something else. Make something else. That is where my happiness comes from. In the making.

So much in music is so drawn out. If it were up to me I’d make a couple albums a year. Unfortunately, that is not in the budget. Sometimes people ask me about “Writer’s Block”. I think it’s a sign that you should not write. I don’t worry about it anymore…I know that the writing will come back. It’s almost like it’s linked to the doing and the learning. When it gets stalled, I fumble around until I get a fix. We are all just poor passing facts. We are all just drug addicts.

So I started painting.

I’m working on “Nine” right now, the ninth in the Numbered Series, which means that nine months ago I started painting. Wow! It sure has been fun.

Right now we are going through a blitz of painting before I leave for tour and then I am going to stop. Not painting, I’m not going to stop painting. Not music, I’m not going to stop music. I’m simply going to stop putting paintings on eBay for you to bid on.

Why? Because I’m making a section on this site where all my paintings will live and if someone wants to buy them, great. So far I have not kept one of my paintings. I consider them all a part of me Learning and Making. I wouldn’t say I have mastered the learning and the making of paintings, but I certainly learned something about myself. I learned that I love painting. I love it so much. More than anything right now. So much so that I would like for it to be my job. Well, at least one of them.

So this is the end. This is the end of me trying to be a painter and the beginning of me, being a painter. I love painting so much I’m going to really give it a shot. If you get a chance, try and get your hands on a painting while they are up for auction because after this, I’m deciding the price mwa hahahaha 😉

Love you,

Billy

This Is What I Have Been Up To

 

 

So I broke my ankle and since I can’t work or whatever this is what I’ve been up to.

Here’s this month’s painting “Eight” as well as some “book-sized” Literature inspired paintings. On eBay for the next week or so.

IMG_7404 IMG_7401 IMG_7405 IMG_7400IMG_7406

IMG_7302 IMG_7303 IMG_7322 IMG_7324 IMG_7325 IMG_7327 IMG_7360 IMG_7352 IMG_7351

This Is What I Have Been Up To

 

 

So I broke my ankle and since I can’t work or whatever this is what I’ve been up to.

Here’s this month’s painting “Eight” as well as some “book-sized” Literature inspired paintings. On eBay for the next week or so.

IMG_7404 IMG_7401 IMG_7405 IMG_7400IMG_7406

IMG_7302 IMG_7303 IMG_7322 IMG_7324 IMG_7325 IMG_7327 IMG_7360 IMG_7352 IMG_7351

Art Sale

To help cover some of the costs for my upcoming tour with Chuck Ragan I am going to be selling some art in all shapes and sizes. My hope is that some of them are small enough that if you’ve ever tried to bid on a larger piece and missed out, now’s your chance. I only have a month left so I’m not sure how many I will be able to do (especially considering that I normally paint standing up and this ankle thing is really messing that up) but I’m determined to do my best. If you get sick of me peddlin’ my wears maybe unsubscribe for a bit Here is the first in a series of literature inspired pieces that are “book sized”… 5X7 inches, to be exact

IMG_7258 IMG_7251 IMG_7257 IMG_7259 IMG_7263 IMG_7262 IMG_7261 IMG_7260

 

Surprise! I’m Going on Tour with Chuck Ragan and Northcote

Surprise 🙂

I’m going on tour with Chuck Ragan and Northcote. Click the image to find out more and for ticket links.

Also…here is a “Making Of” video about my new album with Frank Turner made by Ben Morse.

FB_timeline

Tue 27 May UK Nottingham Rock City Basement
Wed 28 May UK Bristol Thekla
Thu 29 May UK London The Garage
Sat 31 May Germany Erfurt Club Centrum
Sun 01 Jun Germany Numberg Der Hirsch
Tue 03 Jun Germany Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
Wed 04 Jun Germany Munich Theaterfabrik
Thu 05 Jun Austria Vienna Arena
Fri 06 Jun Germany Leipzig Conne Island
Sat 07 Jun Germany Berlin So 3
Tue 10 Jun Germany Cologne Live Music Hall
Thu 12 Jun Italy Milan Live Forum
Tue 17 Jun Germany Lower Saxony Rosenhof
Wed 18 Jun Germany Dresden Scheune
Thu 19 Jun Germany Wiesbaden Schlachtof
Tue 24 JunUK Brighton The Haunt
Wed 25 Jun UK Manchester Gorilla
Thu 26 Jun UK Leeds Brudenell Social Club

The Most Awesome Salad Ever

I invented the most awesome salad ever and I wanted to share it with you.

Careful, there are some f-bombs in here and that’s just cause I’m god damn passionate about cooking. Oh and also I’m the best at it. And I’m humble as shit.

Stop Swearing, Liars

First you get some lettuces, whatever kind you think are the best.

Then you put some steamed broccoli on there.
You can also put some carrots in when the broccolis are a-steamin, it’s your salad man do whatever the fuck you want.
You can also put some peppers in there I guess too. I mean, if you want to ruin everything.

Then you add some chick peas. make sure you drain and wash them and don’t just dump a whole can in. DO NOT use the dry kind that you have to soak overnight cause seriously WHO HAS THAT KIND OF TIME.

Cut up some little squares of veggie ham. I know, it sounds weird, but you’ll thank me when you’re older. I guess you can use real ham. I mean, if you’re a murderer.

Then you top with tiny cubes of cheese (vegan if you want) and ground hemp seed. Make sure it’s the kind that looks like sawdust and not the seed-y looking kind. It’s going to look fuckin disgusting but trust me on this. It’s fucking good for you and I’m trying to keep you from dying so quickly.

Gawd.

Top with balsamic vinaigrette. Eat often. Drink with 1-14 tiny coffees. Rinse. Repeat.

You’re welcome.

Fuckin delicious

Six

“I sing my sorrow and I paint my joy.” – Joni Mitchell

photo 5 photo 4 photo 3 (3) copy photo 2 (2) photo 1 (2)