For those that don't know, one of my hobbies is painting and I'm currently trying to focus a little more attention on it for whatever reason.  It's fitting then, that a few days ago, a friend of mine reminded me about the East Austin Studio Tour (E.A.S.T.) which I went to last year for the first time and was completely blown away by the multitude of hidden studios that exist in my old neighborhood.  I wish I had a better memory to tell you all the great places I went to (making this entry a lot more useful).  What I can offer however, is a suggestion if you're going: start at a few of the larger exhibition spaces (i.e. Pump which is E15 on the map), find an artist who is creating art that you particularly enjoy and just ask them which other spaces they would suggest.  Last year I talked to Mychal at Iona Handcrafted Books (81 on the map) and she was kind enough to point me in the right direction and even gave me a delicious chocolate chip cookie with a beer kicker to boot.

That's it.  I just wanted to push more people to go to this event.  I'll update the blog with some pics and thoughts about my trip to the E.A.S.T. and then later will upload some of my paintings that I am working on (a Goodie in Austin Studio Tour of sorts GiA.S.T.) just for kicks.  I'm thinking this will be a Friday night or Sunday afternoon deal though Friday seems like a strange choice and Sunday's their last day so I'm not sure I'm planning this right.  Hit me up if you're heading there too.

Btw, the above picture was drawn by an artist friend of mine during my recent visit to NYC, he's currently doing a project where he is drawing every person in new york which I think is completely badass.  I realize that it's not from East Austin, but it certainly is from the East.