Your Silent Face Available in Paperback plus The Playlist /  by Tim Lane

“In Lane’s literary novel, a music lover attempts to make sense of his reality in 1980s Michigan…A meandering but vigorous story about wayward youth and the necessity of art.” —Kirkus Reviews

#comingofage #80s #80smusic #flint #midwest #rustbelt #genx #newwave #newwavemusic #joydivision #iancurtis #nativeamericanliterature #yoursilentface #yoursilentfacethenovel #yoursilentfacetimlane #novel #fiction #lovelansing

What lies ahead that doesn’t suck? Summer break forces Stuart Page to return home and wrestle with his fraying ties to the East Side of Flint, his memory an archive of cassettes he would like to erase. His freshman year of college was lame. More early Cure than Spandau Ballet, he might be overheard saying. More Gary Numan than Falco.

Flustered by visits from a stoic viking, fueled by an endless supply of beer, Stu picks apart an obsession with the lead singer of Joy Division and chugs the sour dregs of insecurity as he drunkenly veers through Flint’s blue collar fight culture, summer hook ups, the aftereffects of Old School Catholicism and Reaganomics in Your Silent Face.

Rebel Yell /  by Tim Lane

#flashbackfriday I don’t know if there is anything like music on this planet. Whenever I hear songs from my formative years, I am immediately transported back in time. All kinds of memories and feelings—good, bad and everything in between. Take Billy Idol’s song, “Rebel Yell,” released in 1983—I was sixteen. It embodied a lot of energy. Whenever it catches up with me on the radio or a playlist or soundbyte, I still flip out. Happy flashback Friday.

#80smusic #newwave #postpunk #billyidol #genx #yoursilentface #lovelansing #80s #newwavemusic #postpunkmusic #alternativemusic #clubbing

Singularity to None: a New Painting /  by Tim Lane

O, watercolors, how I have avoided thee! I really enjoyed making this painting. I learned a couple of things about activating and layering watercolor paints. I also used my new brush pen for the first time. It takes a light hand. It was touch and go…I suspect that without looking at hundreds and thousands of watercolor paintings in museums, galleries, videos and books, I will only be able to progress so far. After all, that is how I got to where I am with acrylics, oil paintsticks and such. I devoured images with my eye and mind for a handful of years. I studied the surfaces of my favorite paintings—the texture, line, shape, color, contrast and dynamics—and questioned how everything was done/might be done. I learned techniques from friends who were artists, read artist interviews, questioned everything my eye took in. I tried to replicate the technique of work I admired. How was this texture created? What were the effects of these lines, these marks, these shapes? What traits made each painting interesting? I took a 2D foundations class at the local community college. Maybe I am about to venture off into an extended study. I haven’t been to the MSU Fine Arts Library to load up with art books in some time. Maybe I will just keep painting, keep watching short tutorials and reels which outline materials and techniques. Maybe a protracted, in depth study—a close reading of watercolors—is just what I need. I don’t know.

Who are your favorite watercolor painters?

*Thanks to Stephanie Dawe Horton for letting me use her vacation photos as my source material. She took some nice shots.

#watercolorpainting #worksonpaper #artistsofinstagram #contemporarypainting #contemporaryart #space #sky #sunset #yoursilentface #lovelansing

Singularity to None, 2022

Singularity to None, 2022

A Few Writers Who Have Written about Flint Are Preparing for a Reading in September /  by Tim Lane

Cat Batsios, Conner Coyne, Kelsey Ronan and I will be reading at one of our favorite art galleries in September. More information coming soon! Pretty pumped about this. Check out Amazon for Connor’s Urbantasm series and more, Kelsey’s amazing novel, Chevy in the Hole (which has totally blown up big time) and my 80s-coming-of-age ode-to-New Wave novel, Your Silent Face. And google "Catharine Batsios poetry" (Punk: An Anthology of Poetry, etc.) to find Cat's poems!

Words for Your Silent Face, by Tim Lane

“A meandering but vigorous story about wayward youth and the necessity of art.” —Kirkus Reviews

Snippets from reviews by Verified Amazon Purchasers (full reviews here):

“YSF is the novel you will read once to fall in love with the protagonist, and then a second time as a master class in 80s music appreciation.” —Kirk Bristor

“The story had me laughing, reflective, annoyed and wondering if maybe I should try my hand at poetry.” —Heather Surface

“A dreamy wondering through the discomfort of nothing happening and then the intensity of making something happen for a second.” —Moll

“The novel beautifully weaves together the struggles of Stuart as he tries to figure himself out, with the 80's new wave music scene…I loved it and am hoping to hear more from author, Tim Lane.” —Mary M

Your Silent Face
By Lane, Tim

The Singularity Is Now /  by Tim Lane

And if not now, then pretty dang close? I don’t know. AI might not be sentient, yet, but I am of the opinion that technology is on a runaway train. The question becomes, In what station will that train arrive? If you ask me, the distinction between science fiction and fiction is a blue light flashing in a desert. What was that?! I don’t know!

#watercolorpainting #contemporarypainting #worksonpaper #quantamphysics #space #technology #AI #singularity #artistsofinstagram #sciencefiction #yoursilentface #lovelansing

The Singularity Is Now, 2022

Teen Age Riot(s) Sells /  by Tim Lane

Happy this painting is going to a new home. Thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in my work and supported my endeavors in any way over the years.

#worksonpaper #artistsofinstagram #watercolor #coloredpencil #watercolorpainting #contemporarypainting #yoursilentface #lovelansing