Put the Kettle On

Why put the kettle on? Oh it’s the key to a secret revolution, gentle reader! But, before reading on, if you want more information about me, check here.

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It’s Time

Even if you only read the Cliff Notes version of Timothy Snyder’s book entitled “On Tyranny” (cough cough), he offers insights and ways of fighting back that I love. And, this painting, though it only shows one mug, is meant to embrace Snyder’s lessons.

What? You might wonder? What does a tea mug have to do with standing up to tyranny? Consider Snyder’s Lesson #12 “Make Eye Contact and Small Talk.” To quote from this website:

This is not just polite. It is part of being a citizen and a responsible member of society. It is also a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down social barriers, and understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life.

Invitation to Put the Kettle On

To that end, if you live near me, I invite you to drop by. And, if you do, I promise to put the kettle on. (Insert two mugs of tea here). As Snyder writes in Lesson #14:

Establish a private life. Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware. Remember that email is skywriting.  Consider using alternative forms of the Internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble.

Onward to this week’s painting

This oil painting is painted on Arches Oil paper and is ~9×12 inches. It’s unframed and for sale for $100. Contact me here, if you’re interested in making it your own.

New for 2026

Every now and then, I plan to share paintings that I love having in my home. It’s going to be called “Other People’s Paintings.” I’ll also be sharing why I love each painting. And, I will offer you some objective ways you can assess a painting.

Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you see a painting or hear music and love it. And, if you had to explain why, maybe you could conjure up a word or two. But sometimes, there’s a connection with artwork that goes beyond words.

So here’s the first painting I’m sharing. It’s a new addition to our home and is painted in watercolor by Georgia-based artist, Kathy Michaud. I loved it from the minute I saw it. Why? Well, take a look first and then I’ll share why.

Why do I love this painting? It expresses cool, wintry air and snow with it’s palette and brushwork. And, even though we’re in the midst of winter and cool air right now in North Carolina, I know this too shall pass. So I chose to hang this painting on my wall in anticipation of those steamy, humid, heatwaves, we’ll have later this year. And, full disclosure, the artist is my big sis!

Three Questions You Can Ask

If you see a painting you think you like but want some objective ways to assess whether or not it’s worth sharing space with you in your home, there are three questions to ask yourself. I promise to share those questions in a future post when I share my next “Other People’s Paintings” in a month or so.

Happy New Year

In the meantime, I wish you and yours a Happy New Year!