Okay readers, have you had your flu shot this year? No? Well, it’s coming, and I’m glad I got mine. You see, sometimes after you get a flu shot, you’ll exhibit symptoms of said bug. This isn’t always the case, but I’ve had “mock flu” after a shot on more than one occasion. The symptoms usually don’t persist longer than 24 hours, but this year it was a full 36 hours before I was back to normal.

So, if you’re not going to get yourself vaccinated, this is what you can look forward to: you’ll start with a queasy tummy, followed by a tightening in your chest. After a while, your neck will start to ache, and gradually move all the way down your back. This is followed with a cold chill that no amount of blankets will warm, dizziness, weakness in your arms and legs, and a topsy-turvy tummy that prevents you from eating anything that might make you feel better.

Now, if this sounds like fun, you can also look forward to several days off work. It’s your choice, but why not head down to the nearest Minute Clinic and let the nice technician stick you in the arm. It won’t take very long, and if you cry like a baby, he might even give you a lollipop. Then, when everyone else is dropping like flies, you’ll still be able to shovel snow off the driveway.

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©2008 The Studio News. All Rights Reserved.

So, now that the alphabet series is complete, what’s next on my agenda? Well, someone suggested that I do the whole thing all over again using the Greek alphabet. Good grief. I don’t know about doing a whole nuther alphabet series, but I’d hate to disappoint anybody! So, here ya go (you know who you are), alphabeta soup. I think Andy would be pleased.

Technorati Tags: alpha, beta, soup

©2008 The Studio News. All Rights Reserved.

Z is for zinnober, zircon white, and zinc yellow. Z is for zoho, a Japanese method of calligraphic overlapping using a brush, and Zig calligraphy supplies. Z is for zincography, a printing process using zinc plates.

Z is for zip, the vertical lines pained in the works of abstract expressionist Barnett Newman. Z is for zebrawood, and for zoomorphic, paintings with animal attributes. Z is for zoopraxiscope and zeotrope, early mechanical devices for simulating movement and animation.

Z is for…
Ink, Colored Pencil

Z is for Zatzka, Zinnogger, Zampighi, and Zoffany, an original member of the Royal Academy who was nominated by King George III. Z is for Ziem, Zatti, Zorach, and Zorn, known for his watercolors and three color palatte. Z is for the Danish painer Kristian Zahrtmann, and for Johannes Zehngraf, who painted three of the “surprise” miniatures found in some Faberge’s eggs, and finally, Z is for…

~ ZEE END ~

Technorati Tags: art, illustration, alphabet

©2008 The Studio News. All Rights Reserved.

Y is for yellow. Y is for the Yucca leaves that Native Americans used for paint brushes. Y is for yarn used by textile artists, and for yard, a unit of measure for really big paintings. Y is for celebrating YAM (Youth Art Month) every March.

Y is for yugen, one of the ten Japanese qualities of mysterious skills that can be felt, but not defined, and the Yayoi art period of ancient Japan. Y is for Yarka pastels and drawing crayons, and for Yupo synthetic paper.

Y is for…
Ink

Y is for Young, Yeames, Yelland, and Yu-Tang Yang, a notable pen and ink artist. Y is for Yvon, Yewell, Yon, and Yanow, contemporary pastellist and member of the PSA.

Y is for having a yen for art, and that’s no yolk!

Technorati Tags: art, drawing, illustration, alphabet

©2008 The Studio News. All Rights Reserved.

X is for X-Acto. X is for Xanthorrhoea, an Australian resin that’s colored either yellow-gold, or ruby-red. X is for Xylem, makers of elegant easels, and for Xyron, when you need stickers or lamination. X is for toxic solvents like Xylol and xylene.

X is for…
Ink, Colored Pencil

X is for Xanthic, from the Greek word for yellow. X is for xerography, a dry process of photocopying, and for xylography, a printing technique using ink. X is for xylo, from the Greek, meaning wood, and for  X-ray techniques used by xperts who reveal old paintings under new.

X is for Xavery, Xeller, and Ximeno. X is for Ximenes, and Ximenez.

X is for getting new art supplies for xmas.

Technorati Tags: art, illustration, alphabet, X

©2008 The Studio News. All Rights Reserved.