A new study has found an interesting link between a synthetic dopamine used to treat Parkinson’s Disease, and sudden bouts of intense creativity. “I started painting from morning till night, and often all through the night until morning. I used countless numbers of brushes at a time. I used knives, forks, sponges … I would gouge open tubes of paint–it was everywhere,” says one patient.  “But I was still in control at that point. Then, I started painting on the walls, the furniture, even the washing machine.”  (more…)

A recent article by the Telegraph examines the theft of iconic artworks, and their fate on the black market.  Often, journalist Alaistair Sooke notes, the works have a black market value of about 3% to 10% of their real market value, and are often used as collateral in dangerous illegal activities like drug trading and/or gun-running. (more…)