hi

hi

Saturday, March 8, 2008

grumpy. and then I get some chocolate in me.

Today was fun. I was a little grumpy for the first part as some of my plans had fallen through but eventually I got into it and had a good time.

I went to Seattle!

PNCA put on a trip to the Emerald City and I signed up. I didn't know our itinerary until we were on the bus so I didn't want to delude anyone into thinking there was possible hanging out time with yours truly.

I arrived at school on time at 7:55. We didn't leave for another 45 minutes. Leaving at almost 9:00 and trying to be back in Portland at 10:00 doesn't actually leave the greatest length of time to really see Seattle. They bus us around the U District and some sprawl of warehouses; it really takes away the chance from the people who have never really been to Seattle. I think they should leave considerably earlier. Hit the galleries early in the day and hit Pike's Place Market and Seattle Center later in the day.

The Henry had mostly boring exhibits. There was a great installation of tinfoil casts of the artists body at various stages of bending over. But the photography was just, "oh wow look I made my photos really big and shiny on nice paper" and nothing really moved me about them. The Frye had a great R. Crumb exhibit with videos of him comic jamming, his original drawings and comics, and even a few sculptures. I loved that. Diana, Robin, and I got into a wee debate about his offensiveness (ys he is offensive but that is stating the obvious. I'm looking for the, "okay yes, what else about him?" conversation). The next gallery had some photos of David Bowie lyrics on mattresses. It was cool how he found all the mattresses to write on but once I got it that was pretty much it and I was bored. Western Bridge had Isaac Julien's The Long Road to Mazatlan playing. I thought it was amazing. The video installation was three separate projections that were synchronized and it played sometimes three points of view of one scene, or a wide semi connected shot of the same thing, or entirely separate shots happening. It and the R. Crumb show made the trip worth it.

I was tired and grumpy up till around the Frye. Many of the exhibits bored me. We were not anywhere near Pike's Place so I was unable to swing by quickly and say hi to Llyw. The food was okay. I snacked plenty and the ride was fairly comfortable. Read some more of Choke. Was the trip worth it? I guess so. I wouldn't have done anything else with the day except sleep in. I'm doing that tomorrow.

We watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off going up to Seattle and The Royal Tenenbaums returning. Both enjoyable but I started to fall asleep on Jim during the latter. I rarely am in bed before midnight on a Saturday. Or a Sunday or a Tuesday...and many other days for that matter.

Jim and I walked Diana home and then I walked Jim to the nearest Max Station. Company makes everything go faster.

Friday, March 7, 2008

pizza haiku

Long day was long. But it didn't feel that long.

Comic class went fast and we got out early. I went to the post office and mailed some things off then I went to the museum to check out a Renaissance painting to write about for my class. I had a little amount of time left before work so I did a quick run through of the new exhibit on display. Lots of nice pictures of dancers from Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas, and one other dead dude. They lumped most of Toulouse-Lautrec at the end of the exhibit and those were the pieces I liked best.

I am learning to pace myself better at work and because of that I didn't have much time left at the end. One of the bathrooms had a big ink spill so that was exciting to clean up (I was actually thrilled that there was something to scrub up). Only about 40 pages left on Choke. It is getting really good now. Not sure if it is worth trudging through the first couple hundred pages for it though. Hmm.

Watched the Project Runway finale episode after work. I'm glad Rami didn't win. He gets all the exposure but none of the responsibility of having to fulfill the obligations of winning. He will be successful on his own awesome terms.

Movie night was Brazil. I haven't watched it in years and even then it was only once before. It blew me away! So beautiful and imaginative and depressing. Loved the casting and effects. Gilliam in general rocks 1/3 of the time. It ran a little long but still it was a cool thing to watch.

Rode home. Relaxed with Lindsay and Sully. Watched Pecker. Enjoyable film, somehow I have a different memory of the ending from when mom watched it (she also didn't allow me to watch it...maybe it was a different movie). Very sweet and innocent. Well, it was a little formulaic but I liked the cast and the performances. Also it was short, but maybe after watch Brazil anything under two hours seems short.

spaghetti pizza
much more tasty than it sounds
far better than corn

Thursday, March 6, 2008

cake eating monkey

Went out to First Thursday. My first in a while (the weather has been horrible). I was originally going to go out with Lindsay and some of the boys that have been hovering around her lately but there were some complications about meeting up (I left my cell at home) so I went out with Karen, Diana, and Robin instead. We went to Black Fish (horrible digital prints and cute shrinky dink pieces), Elizabeth Leech (amazing collage work with puzzles) and a few other galleries. One had these heinous 80's paintings that we tore apart. With words of course. Karen said it reminded her of when you shave and you miss pieces and you have chunks left over. I said one was like Hostel II; better than the trash put out before but still pretty terrible. Diana just hated the majority of them. One of the Elizabeth Leech pieces Robin fell in love with. I think she is going to break into the gallery, steal it, run away and marry it.

We found our way down to the Pony Club gallery and took a gander at Erin's clock piece. It was cool but the gallery became stuffy and crowded really quick. I had to get out of there into the nice cool night. I am not claustrophobic but First Thursday might make me so.

I hit up Floating World Comics for my comics, boards, and bags (the latter two to put the new comics into). American Virgin was on its last issue and I must say FINALLY to that. The writing sucked and I was really just buying it for Cloonan. I also have two more Boys in and Doktor Sleepless. I am way behind in my comic reading. Hopefully Spring Break will remedy that.

After comics I met up with the gang again at Compound Gallery. They had a beautiful show devoted to Alice in Wonderland inspired artwork but it was insanely crowded so I couldn't enjoy it much. I'll come back later. We met up with Bebop and Elliot and some of their friends but Robin and I didn't stay around that long. We walked off towards PNCA/Goose Hollow together. We parted ways on 10th, her going South and myself going North. I was overheating from all the layers so I stopped and picked up a vanilla and caramel ice creme cone from the new shop on 11th and Johnson. It was delicious. I returned to PNCA, grabbed my stuff, checked out the hot security guard, and rode off into the night. I only needed a hoodie and my undershirts for the ride home and even then I was hot as I staggered in the door. Very tired! And still so much work to do.

I am a very safe bicyclist. I always stop at red lights and don't go through them even if I don't see anybody coming. I was ten seconds behind another PNCA biker today and they went through a couple red lights. Their dangerous biking only got them there about thirty seconds sooner. It isn't worth it.

Experiments in drawing was yet another work day. ARGHGGHGHGHGHGHG!!! WHAT THE HELL MODOU? This is like garageband with Gordon all over again. It is making me really frustrated and annoyed with the class. It is going no where. My piece is just all over the place and I add to it randomly. I'm going to add a few more Bigfoot and call it a day. I just don't know about it. Added some spray paint and that made me nauseous.

My break was spent painting my blanket and watching Project Runway out of the corner of my eye. Actually the painting turned out pretty fabulous. Working with a time crunch forces me to have more confidence in my color mixing and application.

This theme of speed carried over into my class today where Annie came by and confiscated my small brushes and told me I had 10 minutes to fill the figure with color. I managed to do it! Mostly! I had a few spots left but generally it was filled in by the end of the 10 minute deadline. The painting was, at the end of class, done! The first one! I'm amazing and rock so hard. Probably needs some more work but I filled the page and touched on every area of the piece. I'm so proud of myself that I could do that.

Cleaned up and went to the commons to wait for Lindsay. Ran into Matt who was sporting some snazzy glasses and a cool scarf. Gray really works on him. Tall Andy was around and a few other familiar faces. Ultimately I texted Lindsay on Karen's phone telling her I was going out with them. Swung by Craig's show (and once I figured out what was going on, I digged it) and briefly took another gander at Mia's.

Now to finish the last few sentences of my reading response and to stagger into bed.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

printing is done, busy still not over

Hopefully my last long day for a while! I've been going strong with no breaks...except for all the Project Runway.

Anyway, there was a critique in printmaking and it went fairly well. Yoshi wasn't down with the wiping I did on my Bigfoot plate. It was generally agreed it needed more work but now that I know more about aquatint, I can do some snazzy, snazzy things! I wasn't really hurt in the critique as I was aware of the problems that already existed in my plates. I did my cine cole (shin cole? sine cole? I don't know...) print as well. It was a little askew but I like the direction in which it is going. Some cool prints were put up. Tea time also had snacks and that rocked.

Comic club was okay. Met another Rachel. Did some jams. I volunteered responsibility for the comic jam on the wall set up (nothing was getting done, it is also delayed). I am kinda going "crap, why did I do that?" But I also know some of the parties involved better than others so I guess I am right for the job.

I worked on my drawing assignment for Modou. We have critique tomorrow and I have no idea what is going to happen. I cut it out and stenciled it but its just, I don't know. The class is all over the place and I have no clue what he is going to have us do.

Yoga was in another room and it went pretty well. My arms couldn't hold up to some of the strain of downwards facing dog. I have no arm strength.

We had to hit the ceiling and yell at the guys above for the first time in a while tonight. They shut up after I yelled. Jerks.

Tomorrow is First Thursday, I have to work on a painting during my break, Friday is class and work and movie night, Saturday I have something and that leaves most of Sunday. Sunday night is a bonus yoga class because the teacher is on an MFA trip next week. Gee whiz! Spring break is only two and a half weeks away, spring break is only two and a half weeks away.

pointless, frustrating, decent, helpful, and crashitism

Experiments in Drawing was yet another near pointless work day. Nicole came in and gave an awesome lecture about her art. She is groovy.

I went straight to the print lab and worked on my bigfoot prints. They look terrible.

The fire alarm went off while I was printing so I was outside with my hands covered in ink. It didn't last long but still. I was grubby all day.

I only had an hour to kill between printing and painting so I chilled in the library and talked with some people in the library.

Painting was nude models and I had Scott. Scott is a great model. The painting turned out alright, nice color combinations and it looks a little like him. And I filled the page pretty well.

After I got home I went to Michael's to help him pack for his move. After packing we went to Sharis' for dinner. I started to crash a few bites into my burger.

I'm going to crash now. Good night all.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

the man from Antarctica

Lindsay and I rode the red line all the way out to the airport to pick up her friend Sully. He is visiting for the week. He flew in from LA and before that he was in Hawaii and before that Australia and before that New Zealand and before that Antarctica. Yeah hes pretty cool.

Had an Art History test. I think I did fairly well. I blanked on one term but I knew the rest pretty well. I've had Libby before, I have no fear of her tests. Shes a fair but not harsh grader.

After that I was in the print lab for three hours. I finished one edition (plus a few extra/warm up prints) so whoo I'm almost done! It went really quick. Rachel, Rachel, and the girl who isn't a Rachel were in there with me so that was fun. Rachel (the one in my digital tools class) and I are going to trade prints. We both are doing creative wiping when it comes to our prints (so that they don't look bland).

I have accepted the fate that my hands won't be clean till the semester is over.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

he's our little lamb

I am working on my painting for class, the one that I really assigned myself more work to do than was necessary. Haha, I think one more intense sit down is all it require. Just one more, just one more.

I was unable to sleep in today (work up at 8:45 am! what the hell?) so I just sat in front of the computer watching MORE Project Runway. I am almost halfway caught up with the entire series. It is so bad. Ibanez was extra cuddly as Lindsay was out all night and morning.

Today was really lazy. We took a walk to Art Media, we talked, I made cupcakes, we watched Project Runway. Yeah not much happened. I was just lazy and groggy. I think I was productive on something else but I really can't remember. Hmmn.. Wow I guess I really just wasted my Sunday except for painting. Dang, that was probably stupid of me. Monday is going to be packed full of printing and trying to piece together something for Modou. Oh and painting homework. DANG! I've been bad.

I've also been tired and frustrated and stressed. Procrastinating is not a cure for that but I need time to take it easy, my weeks are so busy. I have to allow myself these break because I know that I won't have them during the week. Its all study, paint, print, read, write. And my irregular sleep schedule doesn't help.

I can do it.