Steven Strang
@alchemicalrat.bsky.social
Artist, researcher. Anthropology, experimental archaeology, painting, sculpture, visual communication. Slowed but not entirely stopped by ME/CFS. Ottawa, Canada.
This painting had been sitting unfinished for over five years.
Fixed it. Ready to start over…
Fixed it. Ready to start over…
November 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This painting had been sitting unfinished for over five years.
Fixed it. Ready to start over…
Fixed it. Ready to start over…
Proof of Cat, and How I Spent My Weekend, all in one photograph.
November 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Proof of Cat, and How I Spent My Weekend, all in one photograph.
Describe your cat’s personality with one photo:
November 29, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Describe your cat’s personality with one photo:
Not exactly what you had in mind perhaps, but here’s a photo of my moose antler wedding ring.
November 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Not exactly what you had in mind perhaps, but here’s a photo of my moose antler wedding ring.
If you see this post a monster.
From a series I called “Reasons Not To Put A Tillinghast Camera Trap Under Your Bed”
From a series I called “Reasons Not To Put A Tillinghast Camera Trap Under Your Bed”
November 27, 2025 at 2:50 AM
If you see this post a monster.
From a series I called “Reasons Not To Put A Tillinghast Camera Trap Under Your Bed”
From a series I called “Reasons Not To Put A Tillinghast Camera Trap Under Your Bed”
Current bookbinding experiment, based on Renaissance era notebooks with flexible parchment bindings. Using material from a broken drumhead for the bands and cover on this one.
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Current bookbinding experiment, based on Renaissance era notebooks with flexible parchment bindings. Using material from a broken drumhead for the bands and cover on this one.
Planning a painting, so down to the end of the road to measure a sign…
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Planning a painting, so down to the end of the road to measure a sign…
Roumd stripes on plaid!
November 21, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Roumd stripes on plaid!
Little 13x18cm painting getting started.
There’s something odd going on at this little cabin in the forest, but I’m not sure yet what it is. Painting can be an act of discovery as much as depiction.
There’s something odd going on at this little cabin in the forest, but I’m not sure yet what it is. Painting can be an act of discovery as much as depiction.
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Little 13x18cm painting getting started.
There’s something odd going on at this little cabin in the forest, but I’m not sure yet what it is. Painting can be an act of discovery as much as depiction.
There’s something odd going on at this little cabin in the forest, but I’m not sure yet what it is. Painting can be an act of discovery as much as depiction.
The Dream Repository is coming along well, trying to avoid overworking it.
November 16, 2025 at 9:39 PM
The Dream Repository is coming along well, trying to avoid overworking it.
An old painting for today. Any village blacksmith could remake a sword into a ploughshare, but a tank is a bigger problem. So why not park it as a garden shed planted around with poppies?
November 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
An old painting for today. Any village blacksmith could remake a sword into a ploughshare, but a tank is a bigger problem. So why not park it as a garden shed planted around with poppies?
If you see this post your bird art
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 PM
If you see this post your bird art
Next painting in line is taking form. Working title is “Dream Repository”. Acrylic, 20x25cm.
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Next painting in line is taking form. Working title is “Dream Repository”. Acrylic, 20x25cm.
Provisionally finished, will varnish it in a few days once I’m certain.
“In Transit”, 20x25cm, acrylic on modified Masonite panel.
Thanks for the encouragement on earlier versions!
“In Transit”, 20x25cm, acrylic on modified Masonite panel.
Thanks for the encouragement on earlier versions!
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Provisionally finished, will varnish it in a few days once I’m certain.
“In Transit”, 20x25cm, acrylic on modified Masonite panel.
Thanks for the encouragement on earlier versions!
“In Transit”, 20x25cm, acrylic on modified Masonite panel.
Thanks for the encouragement on earlier versions!
Current state. Am happier now with the work I did last night than I was when I laid down the brushes. Sky and water done, and I think the dock and foreground are actually done too. A little tinkering with the person and their suitcase left.
November 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Current state. Am happier now with the work I did last night than I was when I laid down the brushes. Sky and water done, and I think the dock and foreground are actually done too. A little tinkering with the person and their suitcase left.
Well, that panel I depainted with a knife the other day is finally starting to turn into something I’m provisionally content with. Lots more to do yet. A tree to add, perhaps a suitcase and some birds, and something enigmatic…
November 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Well, that panel I depainted with a knife the other day is finally starting to turn into something I’m provisionally content with. Lots more to do yet. A tree to add, perhaps a suitcase and some birds, and something enigmatic…
Mostly crash days for the past week (migraines and ME don’t combine well), but was able to sit in the studio this afternoon and fix a failed painting.
And by fix I mean cutting it off the panel from the gesso on up. Very therapeutic.
And by fix I mean cutting it off the panel from the gesso on up. Very therapeutic.
November 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Mostly crash days for the past week (migraines and ME don’t combine well), but was able to sit in the studio this afternoon and fix a failed painting.
And by fix I mean cutting it off the panel from the gesso on up. Very therapeutic.
And by fix I mean cutting it off the panel from the gesso on up. Very therapeutic.
The mice are forming up for their Remembrance Day parade in the front window. Looks like the band will be playing. Isembard is carrying my medals for me this year and Champlain has my father’s.
November 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The mice are forming up for their Remembrance Day parade in the front window. Looks like the band will be playing. Isembard is carrying my medals for me this year and Champlain has my father’s.
Classic!
I needed to work around the pre-chewed areas on the front.
I needed to work around the pre-chewed areas on the front.
October 31, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Classic!
I needed to work around the pre-chewed areas on the front.
I needed to work around the pre-chewed areas on the front.
Mr Socks (the cat) isn’t entirely sure about the Halloween decor…
October 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Mr Socks (the cat) isn’t entirely sure about the Halloween decor…
Finishing a couple of bookbinding projects that had been dormant in the studio for a while. Notebooks based on an early 1800s pattern, sewn on parchment tapes & with leather spines. The parchment is stiffer than cloth tapes & so automatically rounds the spine.
October 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Finishing a couple of bookbinding projects that had been dormant in the studio for a while. Notebooks based on an early 1800s pattern, sewn on parchment tapes & with leather spines. The parchment is stiffer than cloth tapes & so automatically rounds the spine.
The mice are getting ready for Halloween. Their theme this year is “Put the Rat back in Nosferatu”.
October 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The mice are getting ready for Halloween. Their theme this year is “Put the Rat back in Nosferatu”.