Painting of a shirtless man in a cap

About this image

This textured, expressive figurative painting shows a tanned, shirtless mature man wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, relaxing on a striped outdoor lounge chair as he reads the fantasy novel *Return of the Crimson Guard* on a sunlit residential pool patio. A labeled "Still Water" plastic bottle sits on a small side table beside him, with bright blue pool water and a potted spiky houseplant visible in the warm, sun-dappled background. The artwork uses a warm beige, teal, and rich brown color palette with distinct visible brush strokes, conveying a calm, leisurely mood of quiet summer vacation relaxation.

This warm, inviting reading-focused bedroom features a built-in wooden shelf above the bed lined with a curated collection of vintage classic mystery, thriller, and fiction paperbacks from iconic authors including Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, and Rex Stout. A dark wood nightstand holds a glowing ceramic table lamp and a copy of William Gibson's *Neuromancer*, positioned beside a neatly made bed with soft light blue pillows and rich navy marbled bedding. Soft warm ambient lighting casts a calm, cozy late-night reading atmosphere against muted taupe walls.

Comments (34)

• @DavidP · Aug 22, 2026

  Well back when that was relevant there was no such thing. In fact it was before the time of PCs, let alone the internet and eReaders. That said, I confess to being a bit old school and still like a real book. Though I have never tried a Kindle which would probably serve me well now. My son, although born in '99 also tried and didn't really enjoy ebooks. Now, I hope you'll take the time to visit the blog and gift it 20 claps.

• @DavidP · Aug 22, 2026

  I thought as much, but thought I'd play along anyhow. Thanks, appreciate the support and enouragement always. As for the play - Lady Bracknell and some of her lines still ring in my head, delivered in an upper class English accent full of disdain.

• @DavidP · Aug 22, 2026

  Thanks, appreciate that. If I may, work on a Saturday - that's tough.

• @DavidP · Aug 22, 2026

  That sounds a wonderful way to make a leaving. Ah The Bard. I did read Hamlet and Julius Caesar as set works at school, and Macbeth after my brother read it as a school setwork. Of course we read many sonnets during the study of poetry. Also read Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy at school, and after the first 80 odd pages of scene setting, I have to say I enjoyed it. Maybe you have performed in a production of The Importance of Being Earnest, which I chose to read and loved. That said, guilty as charged - I've never been a great reader of classic literature. I shall accept my punishment of zero claps from you 😢

• @charlypalermo · Aug 22, 2026

  Hahaha, I wanted to see your reaction, and it was exactly what I expected. Yes, I wrote it in Spanish, of course, but trying to capture that upper-class English style. Lady Bracknell is a wonderful character. And Oscar Wilde is one of my favorites; he wields irony like few others, leaving behind powerful messages.

• @charlypalermo · Aug 22, 2026

  I'm an actor and theater director, so it's impossible for me not to work Saturdays and Sundays, haha, that's when I work the most. And as a playwright, I work during the week. I won't give you the 20 claps because you don't even have a single book by William Shakespeare, unacceptable 😡

• @charlypalermo · Aug 22, 2026

  Okay, for having read 3 of William's works, and The Importance of Being Earnest (which I directed and adapted, I haven't been able to act in it yet), I'll give you the applause (I was going to give it anyway, it was a joke)

• @Sealine · Aug 23, 2026

  Not my favorite thing but it does mean a day off during the week when I can get things done.

• @Sealine · Aug 22, 2026

  Great image! I bookmarked the blog to read later, headed to work soon.

• @charlypalermo · Aug 22, 2026

  And you have Agatha! How could I not give you 20 rounds of applause!

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