Q. A ‘plum job’ is an excellent job. For some, this might mean high prestige. For others, this is a job where one can make a whole lot of bank without having to work so hard. How did plums find themselves in gilded easy street? . A. The expression ‘a

Q. Happy Father’s Day! Here’s to all you amazing Fathers, and to those celebrating their Dads in person, at a distance, or in memoriam. We’ve seen lots of examples of artists who have painted their mothers. How about painter fathers? Do they make their way onto the canvas? . A.

Q. Come summer – and particularly given a tough economy – people are more likely to be hosting guests in their homes. How do you feel about houseguests? What, starting at 0 days, do you see as the ideal length of stay, even for guests you like? . A. A

Q. With an abundance of beautiful possibilities, how do artists settle on certain natural elements or scenes as inspiration? . A. To explore this question, we talked to Anne Griffiths, a talented Canadian painter who is known for her striking landscape paintings. . As Griffiths told us: ‘My paintings do