Medical Gray. I prefer it over Medical Taupe.

Sent my latest e-newsletter to subscribers this week that includes a promo code for $5 off zines. I’m shipping prints, zines, books, and finishing up some commissions for folks. Stock up for the holidays, friends. Art makes a great gift!

My friend Tommy will an eloquent and thoughtful reflection of this past week in Charlotte. It was tense where I live in north Charlotte and many of us were vigilant at schools and bus stops, but the presence wasn't near as heavy as other locations. Bruised but unbroken in Charlotte:

I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered. He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here : www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...

I wrote about the late, great Todd Snider. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/todd-snide...

And the Trogdor comes in the niiiiggghhhht!

My kids’ school and small “suburban”town in north Charlotte had no sightings today…but it’s only Monday. Be vigilant. Carry your whistles. Southern hospitality does not apply in these circumstances.

I whistled-up yesterday.

Another video from Charlotte, NC. Property owners scare off federal agents after they question a man putting up Christmas lights.

Damn. An absolute authentic legend - someone whose work, courage, and storytelling has inspired me throughout my life and artistic career. Tell your stories, friends. And be fearless with your art.

jawdropping

Painting Commission sketches! I used to do preliminary work with gouache but switched to digital a few years ago. Here are three options for a client of Carters Dam in Georgia. The client chose the first one, but I kinda want to make all three… #art #painting

What do authors do in uncertain times? They open an #independentbookstore and plan on the support of their local community. Announcing Floodplain Books. www.floodplainbooks.com

Every time someone posts a screenshot of one of the Epstein emails, I pause and think “this one has to be fake; don’t get fooled into reposting a spoof.” But then … they’re all real?

Just emailed a reminder to my gaming group about Saturday’s D&D game with this statement: “…we have a rousing gaming session where y’all make questionable decisions and I have to railroad you to progress the story.” Seems apt to most things in my life these days…

Waffle House Wednesday! “Store No. 1655: Monroe, North Carolina.” Prints available. On this glorious post-election morning, let’s look at the first photograph I made for the project. It remains one of my favorites. Buy the book: bsgeneralstore.com/collections/... #art #photography

On January 5th at 6 pm, I’ll be doing a reading and discussion at Bright Side Bookshop in Flagstaff! I hope to see you there!

It took a while, but I’m back - making time for friends Two hours of catching up, talking art and being there for each other. Surround yourself with good people, y’all.

I wake up each day saying exactly this. Fight the bs, make a positive impact, and find the joy.

Waffle House Vistas Wednesday! “Store No. 604: West Memphis, Arkansas.” Prints available. One of my favorite photographs from the project. Not only do I love the composition, but the wet smears on the table make me cringe. Buy the book: bsgeneralstore.com/collections/... #art #photography

It’s been a tough week so far - I didn’t bob and weave enough and my creativity suffered. So I finally sat down and watched “Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple” and I am reminded that I can do anything with my art that I want.

Spent my early morning following a lead for a potential editor / publisher for my next book… …only to see that they also edited books by some of the worst right-wing media personalities. I immediately deleted my email draft. Values matter more than money. #BookSky #PhotoBook

I have many questions for my Town Manager…and I fear the worst. www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...

We’ve reached the part of the semester when class attendance drops off a cliff. It’s times like these when I question the choice to teach synchronously. At least the content is fun.

Escaped with my family to the Carolina Renaissance Festival yesterday. It was a day of joy, music, juggling, performance, and real person-to-person communication. People in merriment and laughter. No phones needed and no apps. Thanks, @renfest.bsky.social

Just finished Open Enrollment for 2026: Our health insurance premiums for my family of four on the NC state heath plan increased 44%. Doesn’t feel great, y’all…

Side effect of adding LED strips to paintings: sometimes they need to be fixed and the gallery supplied with fresh batteries. Happy to say that “Rocket Tower VI” is lit once more. “Rocket Tower VI,” 24 x 36, acrylic, spray paint, and LED strips on panel.

Y’all, this week I finished reading this fantastic novel by @kevidently.bsky.social A journey of character development with plot twists and emotional fireworks that explores identity, grief, desire, and the creative process. An enjoyable, thoughtful, and satisfying book. Go get it!

I’ve been gerrymandered consistently since I moved to NC in 2015, most recently in 2024 in their attempt to secure a super majority in Raleigh. Gerrymandering is a plague. Period. This map is sickening and infuriating.

The hustle is real and I’ve never felt better to not have a 9-5: Finishing up work for a fellowship application. Sending a contract to a potential client. Pack prints for a collector in Colorado. Drafting my next e-newsletter. All this before teaching three Art Appreciation classes today!

Making prints today. Sometimes I get so lost in the fieldwork, I forget to stop and appreciate the making of the objects. #art #photography

Purdue student-journalists: marvelous. IU student-journalists: double down and bit the hand that thinks it feeds you. And the administrators at IU? You're revealed as trash and unworthy to claim the role of educators. You proved it to your campus and the world.

Happening TODAY! We’re at McColl Center in Uptown Charlotte until 5pm. So many great artists and so much to look at and purchase. Zines. Photos. Comics. Books.

Teaching my three classs today was a slog, but at least I got to argue that ceramics is art and show some great work from contemporary ceramicists.

This Saturday, 10/18 from 11am - 5pm. Protest your ass off and then join us in Charlotte, North Carolina for the annual Queen City Zine Fest! 60+ real artists making rad things: comics, zines, poetry, printmaking, photography, artist books.

Adding this to my Christmas gift wish list. Condition does not matter.

Waffle House Vistas Wednesday! “Store No. 634: Orlando, Florida.” Prints available. This image is sooo Orlando. I almost didn’t make this photo as I was ready to begin my WDW project. I had to wait another 2 years for that… Buy the book: bsgeneralstore.com/collections/... #art #photography

I had a great meeting with a potential publisher today. Creative energy and vision is infectious. We should harness it when it’s present. Collaboration not competition - let’s make new, great things together!

I know bots are a thing, but can someone explain to me why accounts who make AI-generated art keep reaching out to me? I make real art. If you have a “prompt,” ask a real artist if they can create it for you. And, no, we don’t want “exposure.”

A lovely night of live Yacht Rock to conclude the 2025 live music series at my local park. Although, I do question the guy playing electric conga drums. I don’t think John Stamos would not approve.

Recently shipped this Waffle House Vistas print to a collector in Georgia. This photograph, “Store No. 916: Monteagle, Tennessee,” has been a sneaky popular image of late. As we get closer to the holiday season, remember that art makes great gifts! #art #photography

Hotel View: Calhoun, Georgia

Making prints this afternoon. I can’t wait to start sharing this work with you. This next book is going to be great. #photography #art #wdw

A corporate client commissioned me to make a painting about Carters Dam in Georgia in the style of my “Hydropower” series. I completed my site visit last night - what a beautiful place teeming with tension and energy (no pun intended). Excited to begin working on this!

What makes me happy at an art exhibition? Someone taking a picture of my painting. Bonus: we had a 10 minute conversation about art, courage, and making the world a better place through creativity and community.

My friend Laura Bullard wrote this incredible piece for Wired. It is riveting, illuminating, and, frankly, terrifying. Give it a read. Laura was also the original essayist for “Waffle House Vistas.” Her addition to that photo book was beautiful and haunting. You should know her and her writing.

Waffle House Vistas Wednesday! “Store No. 2149: Wilmington, North Carolina.” Prints available. Another request from the second edition, this was a challenging location: the intersection was busy and the light was bright. Buy the book: bsgeneralstore.com/collections/... #art #photography

When you wait two weeks for a meeting with someone who is helping you find a new publisher…and you sit in the Teams waiting room for 20 minutes. Publishing is hard enough - I’m tired of people flaking on me and my work. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.

How many of you that saw my model of the EPCOT pavilion Horizons at #RetroMagic this weekend would be interested in owning your own limited edition model? I need to gauge interest before I can figure out a price but I want to make it as affordable as I can for the amount of work it takes.

Here it is cleaned up with lights on and off. “Rocket Tower VI,” 24 x 36 inches, acrylic, spray paint, and LED lights on panel. Dropped off at the gallery today - exhibition opens Friday night. More to come, y’all. #art #painting