Move all projects from old website over

content/painting.md

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+Title: Man’s Reach Exceeds His Grasp
+Date: 2012-04-11
+Category: Projects
+Summary: My first attempt at painting with acrylic.
+
+The painting is called “Man’s Reach Exceeds His Grasp”. I've always wanted to
+try painting and thought I had a good idea, so after a couple of drawings I
+attempted to paint it. I eventually got it framed at Michaels. Many thanks to my
+friend Laura for the opportunity to do this, I couldn't have done it without her
+help.
+
+![a painting of water pouring out of a vase and into a hand]({static}/images/painting/painting1.jpg)
+
+## The Meaning
+
+It’s hard to see in the photo, but the moment the water touches his hand it
+turns into sand and is taken by the slight breeze. The title is a quote from
+Andrea del Sarto, a poem by Robert Browning.  It is also said by Nikola Tesla’s
+character in my favourite movie, [The Prestige](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/).
+
+“I, painting from myself and to myself,  
+Know what I do, am unmoved by men’s blame  
+Or their praise either. Somebody remarks  
+Morello's outline there is wrongly traced,  
+His hue mistaken; what of that? or else,  
+Rightly traced and well ordered; what of that?  
+Speak as they please, what does the mountain care?  
+Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,  
+Or what’s a heaven for?”  
+– Robert Browning from *Andrea del Sarto*
+
+## Creation
+
+I started with the background, trying to make it blurry and out of focus, then
+slowly progressed to the foreground. The hands were drawn in pencil and painted
+in. It was quite difficult to get the blending and shadows perfect, but I had
+Laura to tell me when things didn't look right. Below I am trying to figure out
+what a hand looks like in a mirror.
+
+![me looking at my own hand in the mirror]({static}/images/painting/painting2.jpg)