A new challenge?

ohmygodohmygodohmygod!!! I almost forgot I HAD a blog.

Seriously, I have nothing to say. So....here:



Someone please send me a new challenge for the blog or suffer through many blogs of this nature.

Umm...hello?

Sorry folks. I have been making my cow-a-day drawings but I haven't had time to get them loaded on to the blog. I promise to have them back in action later this week. Stay tuned...

Guest Blog - Cow

Pen on calculator tape - Randle Reed

Randle like candle drew this beauty and left it on my desk at work. I thought it best to share.

Cow #6

Marker and Highlighter with White out tape on chipboard

This drawing is appealing to me probably because it looks like a painting. I'm hoping that one of these weekends I will force myself to break out the paint and do several 15 to 20 minute paintings. This drawing definitely sparks the desire for wet media. I keep feeling the need to explain why these images are not perfect and then I have to remind myself that 15 to 20 minutes does not allow for perfection, only getting the information down quickly while allowing myself the opportunity to be playful. SO, I won't continue to make comments like, "this drawing is terrible!". Well, I'll try anyway. :}

Cow #5

Created on the iPad in iDraw???

So I made this drawing on the iPad. I can't remember the what the app is called. I think it was iDraw but I can't be sure. As you are aware the iPad is a touch screen so it's kind of like finger painting without the mess. I did not use a reference image with this one and perhaps that is apparent. Meh, I like it anyway. I think I might go at this again with an actual reference and see what happens.

Thanks Mr.G for getting this image from the iPad to my email. I seriously wanted to punch it in the face last night so I couldn't have done it without you. ox

Cow # 4

Blind Contour on Paper

Oh man this photo is terrible. I am ashamed and in need of a camera...or better lighting. Whatev's...I did it and that 's all that matters.

Cow-A-Day: Sunday

I guess we are out of printer/copy paper at home so this is what I found in a fury last night.

You're welcome.

Sharpie on Grocery List

P.S. Monday's beauty will be uploaded this evening. I know you are all just DYING to see it already.

Cow-a-day: Saturday

Saturday's VERY quick drawing. Mr.G and I were watching Rambo when I remembered I needed to get my cow drawing done. Yes, that was the first time I ever watched Rambo. No, I don't remember much about it because I was not paying attention but I would wager I could give the general idea of the movie if questioned. I mean, how hard would that be?


Scrap paper - ball point pen



Cow-a-day

Today is the first post for a month long cow-a-day drawing.

The parameters are as follows:
Draw a cow every day.
Use only materials that are on hand.
Time limit: 15-20 minutes.
Post finished image on blog. (The good, the bad and the really bad.)

Here is today's cow drawing:


Post-it note - sharpie & liquid white out
















Not a great picture I realize but it's from my phone. Actually, you can expect this kind of terrible quality for most of these posts because I don't have a camera anymore. I have a SUPER FANCY AWESOME camera that is mostly used by my husband and never with me when I need it. Therefore you will have to live with this until I get my own little point-and-shoot.

Oh! Feel free to join the fun if you'd like.

Randle

Here are things you need to know about Randle:

His favorite movie is Jurassic Park.

He dyes his hair. A lot.

He majored in photography in college.

He may or may not be looking for a sugar daddy.

He would like to have all of his shirts embroidered with cute animals.

He got a new car and a new job this year.

He cooks more than I do.

He has a twin sister.

He is currently growing serious chops.

He used to eat a banana every day.

He thinks he is funny.

He wants me to write a blog about him.

Randle like Candle: The man with chops.

Enjoy A Nice BIG Plate of Inspiration

I love negaitive space! This is no secret. If you look at my work or my office you would be able to concur that I am super organized and I like clean. Something about the void stirs things up in my brain. I react positively to it.

My thesis work was using negative space as a vehicle to communicate emotion. It literally set the stage. When I reflect back on this now it sounds kind of sad but it wasn't that way in my head.

Anyway, I was reading some of my favorite art blogs today and noticed that Hiroshi Sugimoto has new work up at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. His work is so lovely. His images are clean, present and, at times, empty. Take that for whatever it's worth because this is my opinion.
His new work is images of ligtning. COMPLETELY BEAUTIFUL.

Although I am not a photographer it does make me want to pick up the camera and have at it. The combination of line, contrast and graceful abstraction makes these images spectacular. Truthfully the formal qualities are just one part of why I love these new pieces. I could go on and on but you get the point. If you discover he is showing some place near you then you must take the time to go. He will deliver inspiration with ease.

Complaints of a teenage freshman

This week is REALLY hectic at work. I'm trying to stay pleasant but sometimes I want to give these kids a reality check.

The world isn't going to end if you have class from 1:30 to 5:30 on Friday's. Believe me, you aren't binge drinking and making poor decisions until well after 10pm. Get. A. Grip. Life sucks when you become an adult and have responsibilities. Just be happy your "work day" ends at 5:30. Never mind the fact that you don't have class on Monday....AT ALL. When I was your age I had two studio classes back to back on Mondays from 8:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night. I also had class every Friday AND I was commuting 45minutes one way on a train.

Guess what I call that time now. Vacation. I'll be paying for that vacation many years from now and dang it...it was worth every penny. So put a sock in it lazy bones and go make a camera out of a coffee can while I sit at a desk and extract data.

Just sayin'.

Why are goats so awesome?

Just one of the many reasons.

Stay as loooooong as you can

Did I ever tell you guys how much I LOVE my little baby boy?!! Well, I do.

Recently, some young folks in my office were talking about how much they wanted to have a baby. By young I mean under 25. All I could think of was this:



Again, its not that I don't love and adore and enjoy my boy but WOW It's hard taking care of a baby. My advice to those reading this without children and under the age of 30....wait. Wait until you are at least 30. Enjoy your youth and freedom. Do what you want whenever you want to do it. Then hunker down and start your family while your back can still manage to pick up a 25 pound toddler. At 30, you can do that. Plus you'll be WAY more mature.

Stop being responsible

I work at a small art college and in my current position I work with students, staff and faculty. Today a faculty member came into my office and saw this painting I made in 2007:

I brought it in to replace a larger piece on my office wall. Anyway, he said: "This painting is lovely. Is it new? You should paint more." To which I replied, "No, its older and I would LOVE to paint more if I didn't have to work all day and then go home and take care of a toddler." Oh if only I had the time and money, my friend. My ass would have work in the Whitney Biennial by now.

The best part of this conversation was when he said, "You need to quit this job. You're too responsible. Stop being so responsible and paint." I almost started to cry because it's ALL I WANT TO DO. Sadly, I have bills to pay and a family to support. I can't be irresponsible.

But I just want to make things. I wan to P A I N T ! ! ! ! !

If anyone reading this is wealthy and willing to support an amazing artist please comment. Be sure to leave your contact information and I will be your art slave forever as long as you pay me a small salary and pay off my student loans. Reasonable.

I'm totally grounded in reality today.

Calling all super readers!

Geez! That show is so annoying and yet it captivates my little guy whenever it's on. I feel like the world's worst parent whenever he stands in front of the great entertainer like a zombie ignoring everything else. Sometimes a girl has to have a minute, ya know? Is it SO bad that he watches a little PBS everyday? I'm not certain I want you to answer that because my mommy guilt meter just exploded.

At least its educational. Why am I defending myself?

Yup, still feeling guilty. Being a mom sure is challenging. What's the super story answer?

Jess.E.ca and her Pandas

Last week we had a baby shower for my lovely uber preggy coworker Jess.E.ca. Before going any further, I would like to point out that she is glowing and blissful and eager to see this little bundle after months of lugging he/she around. Yes, that's right, we don't know what the gender is because she doesn't know either. It's admirable that she and her husband are able to go through all of this and not try to find out whether their baby is a boy or a girl. I could not do that. I'm WAAAAAAYYY to anxious. I admit it. I suppose the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem so there you go. Step one = complete.

ANYway, this baby shower was decorated around her nursery theme which is panda bears. I won't tell you what other ideas we had for the decor. Just know they were wildly humorous and pretty inappropriate. Your welcome Jess.E.ca.

Moving on...The baby-shower-throwing-committee wanted to prove its worthiness by making panda cupcakes and cake-pops. It took four of us and hours of Project Runway but we got 'em done. All in all they were not too hard to create but we did have many hands and this was the first time most of us had tried such a thing.

Aren't they cute?!!! Aaaagaaagggggggaaaaaggggghaaahhhhgghh. - That's my typed drooling impression of Homer Simpson. Besides these cute little mounds of sugary goodness we had a bear mobile made out of recycled magazines, paper lanterns with paper flowers on twigs, cute little cake pops (below) in a tea pot,bright colored fabrics on the tables, an Asian-style canister with fortunes from everyone and a large helping of baby presents. I'm certain we rocked her world hardcore.

Well, what do you think?!

Shoot it, stuff it or eat it

I'm no 1950's housewife.


Well, ok...I don't cook. I don't actually do the laundry anymore either. Come to think of it, what do I do??? Oh yeah, I take care of a baby and clean the house and work to pay bills. I digress.


I think that given the opportunity to be a housewife I could rise to the occasion. Like I would do the laundry and stuff. I do know how. I digress again.


What I am attempting to say here is that I make all of these valiant attempts to sew things. Mr. G bought me a sewing machine for Christmas one year and I was so amped about it I started making these owl door stoppers and random stuffed animal kinda thingys. Anyway, whenever I am in a situation where I need a gift I always decide to make something. Because I'm an artist and I pressure myself into thinking that is what everyone expects from me. Besides, I start off thinking its going to be fun and usually it is; however when said occasion occurs and I choose to sew, it inevitably turns into a disaster. I don't know how to sew. I know I learned how to sew AND how to use a sewing machine in sixth grade home economics but shit...I'm in my thirties now and I can't remember how to do the things I was taught then!!! I can't even add correctly. (That's a whole different post.) I digress yet again.


As a maker of things and not at all a functional math lovin' carpenter I don't measure twice cut once. I always do that backwards and then I have to start over. I will say that I typically get it right the second time. I'm a late bloomer. I believe sewing requires some skill and patience which I feel going into each project I have. But my skillz, wha-what?, is not in the sewing department its in the creative-make-it-up-as-you-go-along department. HELL YEAH!!! High five??!! No? Ok, so you can see where this is going. I decide what to make, I cut things, I start to sew and then realize I did it all backwards or that I started at step two instead of step one. I get frustrated and toss the whole thing in a basket where is sadly lives (??disappears??) for many years. Currently I am working on such a project. I HAVE to get it right. I can't give up because I'm poor and need to make this super awesome fantastic gift for a friend. I wonder if I offer to cook and do the laundry for a week Mr. G would measure twice and cut once for me. Hmm....

Don't hate the playa, just hate the game.

Ever feel like this?

"I work well with others, I just don't work well under others." ~A former coworker.

Yeah. That's sums it up.

Hey Baby

Hi.

Apologies for not posting in over a week. In my mind I had written two other posts but the computer didn't read my mind and magically type it up for me so it never happened. Someone should invent that. Wait. No. If that really happened I would wish it didn't and then be all whatastupidideamylifeisruined.

Now then, let's talk some trash, shall we?

I have a baby. Well, he's a little over one now but I still consider him a baby. Babies make life a bit more complicated.* For instance, we had a leak in our bathroom in April which turned into a total bathroom overhaul. Not a bad thing since that bathroom had not been touched in over 15 years and it was looking mighty sad. The problem lies in having time to actually do all the work. My AMAZING husband is super handy so he basically did it all. I helped by making design choices and painting. How in the world would he survive without me?! Anyway, a project like this for Mr. G and I would typically take a few weeks. We are the overly eager get it done kinda people. BUT because we have a baby it took us two months. TWO MONTHS! Truthfully, it's not completely done because "we" still have to make a door for this built in shelf thingy but its now a functioning bathroom. I am happy with the end result I just wish there was a way we could multi-task so these kinds of projects wouldn't take so long. You can't do that with a baby. You can try. You will fail. Sorry but it's true and if anyone tells you its possible they are lying. LIAR!

Meh. I love my little baby so I'm not upset. I am merely amazed at the difference he makes in my life. Things that used to take little time to do now take much longer. Things that used to be important suddenly become almost meaningless. It's hard to adjust to life with a child. It's easy to forget what life was like before it too. When all is said and done I'm happy to share my time and energy with him because renovating the bathroom just isn't as fun as a dance party in the kitchen.

*After I had my son I suffered from postpartum depression. It was agony. When I came back to work I began writing a sarcastic response to all of the weekly emails I kept getting from the various baby websites. I wanted to write a more realistic verison of what to expect. I never actually blogged any of it but perhaps one day I will share with y'all.

I think I was meant to do this and not that

Huzzah!!! I started illustrating last night. Thanks to my crafting buddies, Jess and Randy, I was fully motivated. Somehow Mexican food and kit kats make it all come together. Thursday night art-making is where it's at! I think I was meant to do this and not that other stuff I do all day Monday through Friday. (Insert Kanye Wests song "Spaceship" here because clearly I can relate.)

The images are coming along nicely. I sketched/painted the frog (see left) and turtle. I also started sketching the mice. I plan to outline the animals, wait animals? characters? subjects? Yes that works, subjects. I plan to outline the subjects when the painting part is complete. I still have to paint the background and add some details. All in all I think they are pretty cute. Feeling positive about this project! Who's with me?!

Please excuse the terrible image. It is from my phone. YES-I-LIVE-WITH-A-PHOTOGRAPHER but he was not with me and in the interest of quickly getting an image for y'all I had to use what I had.

On another note, why does it have to be sooooooo cold in my office everyday. I mean, I get it. It's hot outside and the air is good but does it need to be arctic tundra in this mug?! Just sayin'.

I can't promise to be good all the time

Well, here I am people. It's the moment you've been waiting for...or at least hoping would happen so I would shut up about it already. Anywho, this is the beginning of a new adventure. I hope to use this blog for good and not evil but I make no promises. I don't have to because this is my blog and I can say whatever I want. So. There.

This evening I hope to start illustrating a children's book. Don't get too excited my friends. It's really a book for babies. Very simple. Lots of negative space which I am VERY fond of and use often. Think cute little animals and less than 20 words. I'm not the start big kinda gal. I have restraint which is probably the reason it took me so long to commit to a blog.

I will load photos of the progress as it happens so you can follow me on this creative journey. Stay tuned...