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?!