The fire alarm went off at 2:30am. I had to shove Ibanez in his carrying case and go outside in my jammies. I didn't get back into bed until about 3:00am. My alarm goes off at 6:30am. How I managed to get up, get to school, and stay awake through it all is beyond me.
Oh yeah. Green tea. Such a blessing. Just enough kick to keep me up but not addicted.
Well my first tea of the day was this Pomegranate White Tea. Tasty stuff. I love fruity teas. I barely nodded off once. The outside noise kept me alert as well. In between the people in between the walls sawing wood and the car alarm, it is really hard to find time for a few winks.
Matt Kindt's Super Spy is a pretty groovy graphic novel. I love the non-sequential narrative and how all the characters keep popping up in the background. I like stories that express the importance of all the otherwise anonymous individuals. It was put together really well. All the shorts fit together into a cohesive plot quite well. Not so fond of the artwork.
Work went quick. The MFA's did a heinous thing in one of the toilets that required some courage out of me to clean up. And here I praised how nice and good they were. Not any more! Jerks. The bathrooms all were pretty filthy so the intensive cleaning I do on them normally really showed this week. I drank another thing of tea for lunch, this was the green tea with raspberry. It was cold tea, and oh so tasty.
I finished Super Spy (we are talking about it over two parts of class) during my break and doodled a little on a scrap piece of paper.
We have to do a comic for our final in my class. I am going to graphic novelize a section from Ryu Murakami's Piercing. I like some of his other work more, that one is just more fresh in my memory and I have ideas for how to present it already. I don't have time to come up with my own story.
I picked up my paycheck after work. My largest one ever! Yay! But my largest paycheck from PNCA is still one-third the size of my paychecks from Olympic College. But money is money. Now I can go buy more Scott Pilgrim. And groceries.
I managed to stay awake for a few hours upon returning home but at around 6:30 I decided to nap. Ibanez stopped by a couple times to cuddle. I rolled out of bed to eat dinner and watch some TV on my computer. I'm going to return to bed in a few.
Tomorrow I shall etch my stone. That is my main goal.
hi
Friday, April 4, 2008
Portrait of Llyw (work in progress)
10"x14"(total)
Watercolor on paper.
(this is a poorly photographed section of a larger work in progress)
no clue
In drawing class we had a lecture from Lennie about art schools from across the globe (mostly Europe). He talked about Slade and how massively prestigious it was and how he was part of the critique board there. I worked on a little drawing during the lecture. He didn't talk that much about the school in Belgium that I want to go to. We got out early.
I finished up the new comic club flier, photocopied it, and put it up around school. Walked and talked with Christopher while I was doing it. It is a pretty cool and catching flier. Very clear as to what it is (not like some others we have had).
Went home, worked on some pieces, read some of my textbook, ate some food, prepared some paper for class, and watched City of Lost Children. Well only part of it, I am going to watch it all the way through with Karen some time this weekend (probably). I am sure I did more during my break between classes but looking at my to-do list proves that thinking incorrect. I didn't do much. Damn.
Oh, I got my Easter care package from home. It had an adorable Peter Rabbit chocolate bunny which I chomped down. And so many fruit leathers and peanuts and sweets and pens and such cool cool stuff. Wheee.
Class was spent all in sketching mode. I'll paint it over the weekend and sketch the next part. Can't start the next part without finishing the first. Annie handed back all of our work. I only have a perfect score on one piece, and that one isn't that great. The ones I put serious effort into all came up short. Some I understand why, others it really pisses me off. I spent way more time on them than was probably necessary and still I don't get a good score. I understand her not wanting to be a "well you tried, here's an A" teacher but come on! Every piece, save for one, comes up short some how? It is a 13 piece stack and 12 of them... argh! That didn't make me happy. I also have to come up with a concept and a form of presentation for my final and I don't know how I am going to do that. No clue. None. I just wanted to get better at portraits. To be able to draw people how they look, to capture what makes them them and identifiable. I wanted to work on that but now I have to focus on how they work as a whole, how to tie them together, how to express something deeper. I don't think I have enough skill right now to do both. I know what I need to work on but I have to muddle that up with trying to overextend myself into forcing messages and themes. I don't want to do that but right now I'm loosing lots of points because I am not. Damnit all.
Walked around the stalls around school. First First Thursday in a while where they had them up. Nothing great beyond one nice artist lady from RISD who had some beautiful etchings.
I've started riding up Johnson and then going home along 19th. Its a bit of a climb at the start but after Burnside it is pretty much all coasting. The route is prettier as well. I got so sick of 13th.
Read more of my text. Ate some junkish food. Watched lego animations of Eddie Izzard routines. Stressed out. Really stressed out. I have to etch and write a report and paint and read and email some people. And I don't know how I am going to tie together my final in painting. Or what I am going to do in comic lit either. The school gives you breaks at the worst possible times. You get a good working momentum, then it all stops, then you have to do the pre-final push. And then then final push.
I finished up the new comic club flier, photocopied it, and put it up around school. Walked and talked with Christopher while I was doing it. It is a pretty cool and catching flier. Very clear as to what it is (not like some others we have had).
Went home, worked on some pieces, read some of my textbook, ate some food, prepared some paper for class, and watched City of Lost Children. Well only part of it, I am going to watch it all the way through with Karen some time this weekend (probably). I am sure I did more during my break between classes but looking at my to-do list proves that thinking incorrect. I didn't do much. Damn.
Oh, I got my Easter care package from home. It had an adorable Peter Rabbit chocolate bunny which I chomped down. And so many fruit leathers and peanuts and sweets and pens and such cool cool stuff. Wheee.
Class was spent all in sketching mode. I'll paint it over the weekend and sketch the next part. Can't start the next part without finishing the first. Annie handed back all of our work. I only have a perfect score on one piece, and that one isn't that great. The ones I put serious effort into all came up short. Some I understand why, others it really pisses me off. I spent way more time on them than was probably necessary and still I don't get a good score. I understand her not wanting to be a "well you tried, here's an A" teacher but come on! Every piece, save for one, comes up short some how? It is a 13 piece stack and 12 of them... argh! That didn't make me happy. I also have to come up with a concept and a form of presentation for my final and I don't know how I am going to do that. No clue. None. I just wanted to get better at portraits. To be able to draw people how they look, to capture what makes them them and identifiable. I wanted to work on that but now I have to focus on how they work as a whole, how to tie them together, how to express something deeper. I don't think I have enough skill right now to do both. I know what I need to work on but I have to muddle that up with trying to overextend myself into forcing messages and themes. I don't want to do that but right now I'm loosing lots of points because I am not. Damnit all.
Walked around the stalls around school. First First Thursday in a while where they had them up. Nothing great beyond one nice artist lady from RISD who had some beautiful etchings.
I've started riding up Johnson and then going home along 19th. Its a bit of a climb at the start but after Burnside it is pretty much all coasting. The route is prettier as well. I got so sick of 13th.
Read more of my text. Ate some junkish food. Watched lego animations of Eddie Izzard routines. Stressed out. Really stressed out. I have to etch and write a report and paint and read and email some people. And I don't know how I am going to tie together my final in painting. Or what I am going to do in comic lit either. The school gives you breaks at the worst possible times. You get a good working momentum, then it all stops, then you have to do the pre-final push. And then then final push.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
to the victors go the ice cream
Did some drawing tonight. Had to catch up on certain things I should have done a week or so ago. Not school related, other related. Can't mention it here though. I will later, just not now. I'M MYSTERIOUS!
I also had another cheese steak sandwich for dinner(or as someone called it, a Trilly Cheese Steak Sandwich. Har har.)
So I had printmaking today. I came in and only a handful of my classmates were there. I started in on the tusche for my stone. Rachel and Aaron were at my table in the back. Tusche was slower going than I thought. Took a lot of time to build up the layers.
Later on I noticed that only the people at my table were actually there, everyone else had left for whatever reason (Yoshi and the assistant, Maymie (?) were there). Rachel didn't return after lunch and Aaron left early. I was left all alone to tusche. Everyone else became a victim of the amazingly beautiful and sunny weather. They went to enjoy it while I sat and diligently did my work. But that actually worked out really well because Yoshi came back from lunch with mint chocolate chip Ben & Jerry's ice cream! He is so totally awesome. The three of us sat about and ate the pint and talked about assorted what-nots.
I fear my piece is a little dark. I can't go back or go over it. I'll look at it again tomorrow. I love the way the tusche dries. I hope the etching and printing process works out because I would love to return to this technique in the future.
So yeah, five hours of work and I'm still no where near the actually time consuming part.
I did get to enjoy a modicum of the sun. I sat by the Jamison Square Fountain and read my textbook and then I went inside and read more of my text and nibbled on sunflower seeds. Chatted with Robin and Michael for a bit and then it was time for yoga!
This time it wasn't as stressful. I even touched my palms to the floor! My back is getting so bendy and awesome. Mia and Heather joined us for class. It is getting nice and full while the Monday session is still fairly vacant. In general I'm feeling better and better about how in shape I am. As in, I am actually getting in shape. Whodathunkit: Trillian in shape. Never in a million years.
Made myself a sandwich. Did the immense pile of dishes. Then I drew! Tomorrow is a lecture and hopefully painting.
I also had another cheese steak sandwich for dinner(or as someone called it, a Trilly Cheese Steak Sandwich. Har har.)
So I had printmaking today. I came in and only a handful of my classmates were there. I started in on the tusche for my stone. Rachel and Aaron were at my table in the back. Tusche was slower going than I thought. Took a lot of time to build up the layers.
Later on I noticed that only the people at my table were actually there, everyone else had left for whatever reason (Yoshi and the assistant, Maymie (?) were there). Rachel didn't return after lunch and Aaron left early. I was left all alone to tusche. Everyone else became a victim of the amazingly beautiful and sunny weather. They went to enjoy it while I sat and diligently did my work. But that actually worked out really well because Yoshi came back from lunch with mint chocolate chip Ben & Jerry's ice cream! He is so totally awesome. The three of us sat about and ate the pint and talked about assorted what-nots.
I fear my piece is a little dark. I can't go back or go over it. I'll look at it again tomorrow. I love the way the tusche dries. I hope the etching and printing process works out because I would love to return to this technique in the future.
So yeah, five hours of work and I'm still no where near the actually time consuming part.
I did get to enjoy a modicum of the sun. I sat by the Jamison Square Fountain and read my textbook and then I went inside and read more of my text and nibbled on sunflower seeds. Chatted with Robin and Michael for a bit and then it was time for yoga!
This time it wasn't as stressful. I even touched my palms to the floor! My back is getting so bendy and awesome. Mia and Heather joined us for class. It is getting nice and full while the Monday session is still fairly vacant. In general I'm feeling better and better about how in shape I am. As in, I am actually getting in shape. Whodathunkit: Trillian in shape. Never in a million years.
Made myself a sandwich. Did the immense pile of dishes. Then I drew! Tomorrow is a lecture and hopefully painting.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
cheese, hair, and Colbert
Well today was a big nothing, class wise. But some cool things did happen!
About six people showed up for class. It was pretty much decided on general consensus that it would be a "do whatever you want" day. I decided on what image to photoshop. And then I showed Karen and Vanessa the David Lynch: Problem Solver videos on youtube. Then Karen, Lindsay and I walked home. Well I rode very slowly on my bike along side them.
I ate some oatmeal. Then some rice. Then some tea. Then some juice. I checked the mail like four times and it wasn't until Lindsay texted me a prank about my package being at school that the word finally came through that my order had come in! About a week ago, Threadless was having a super shirt sale. I am not very much into their stuff but I thought I would check it out and see if anything sparked my interest. Only one shirt did and it was so totally me. I ordered the (on sale)long sleeve right away and have been waiting for it to arrive. And it finally did! It fits wonderfully, it looks great, and I am so happy with it!
I was so happy to go to school and show it off to all my school chums. I left early to print out some references for painting class. I received a call informing me that Annie was sick and class was cancelled so I didn't have to come to school (too bad I was already there). I printed out my things, called up Karen, and we met out front of the school. She and Diana both agreed that my shirt was totally me. I love my yes-women.
I wanted to pick up a zine from Powell's about Steampunk (zines being independently published magazines about specific subjects, typically on cheap paper and on sale for cheap). I got the last copy and sat around waiting for Diana and Karen, who took the streetcar, to catch up with me. Turns out they were in Anthropologie.
Today was absolutely beautiful. Sunny and not too chilly. It was marvelous to walk around Portland today. We went to the Portland Art Museum gift shop and looked at art books. I was feeling peckish but when I suggested going to eat that was when it was realised that work had to be done and it was time to go home. Diana parted from us on 14th and I parted from Karen on the 3rd floor. I reaaaaallly wanted a cheese steak sandwich and I figured that I might as well learn to make them, seeing as how I love them and all that. So I pulled up a recipe and went to Safeway.
Meat and cheese costs more than it should. Damn you delicious tasty goodness!
The sandwich was amazingly easy to make. Actually, it scared me how simple and quick it was. And it barely used any ingredients. I have enough left to make two to three more. The meat and onions were cut a little thick but boy was it tasty! Mmm mmmMMMM!! The fancy mayonnaise from Whole Foods is scrumptious (it has omega stuff in it). It was tasty and filling and juicy and messy. Mmm. I am so proud at my skills. Go me!
Later on I went to hang out with Michael for a bit. Just about an hour and a half or so. Nice, clear night for biking to and from his place. We walked around the 23rd area and then returned to his place and ate some of Stephen Colbert's ice cream. Fun little evening.
Monday, March 31, 2008
lack of faith
I'm back in action! Back to school! Back to yoga! Back to the amazing frustration that is Experiments in Drawing!
Art history was fine. More gaudy baroque era. I lost all focus during the second part. My brain suddenly shut off and I couldn't wake up. It is interesting stuff, I just couldn't get why I had such trouble.
I was the only one in yoga today so it was like a free private lesson. Stretched all the bits. I managed to get my palms on the floor while bending over with straight legs! I'm getting so much better. Go me! I wonder if it was the yoga that wiped me out. Hmm.
Rode home along 19th. Such a pretty area. Then I got home, put on my pajama bottoms, and set my phasers to sloth.
I was interrupted by the fire alarm, which went off right as I got Ibanez downstairs.
I am hooked on Life on Mars now. Such a great drama! With half way awesome, half way cheesy performances that are so typical of the BBC. All my other shows are on a break till more episodes can be made (damn writer's strike!).
Still stuck on my sequential narrative idea. I'll get it together. I have a few hours tomorrow to work on it as well.
Experiment in Drawing is moving on to a new assignment...which seems to be along the lines of taking photos of your old assignment and redrawing it digitally. Modou isn't even here during this week to properly explain so we are going off of an instruction sheet. That class is all over the place. I have no clue what is going on. I have barely learned anything. It is a waste of time and money. I wanted to believe in Modou so badly but I just can't anymore. I have no faith that this class will amount to anything.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
these pants are all I ever wanted
Me and my girls went over to the East Side today. And by my girls I mean Karen, Diana, and Robin.
Karen drove us(at this time it was only her, Diana and myself) over to the East Side and dropped off her car at Jiffy Lube. We meandered down east Broadway and popped into a bead store. Lots of pretty colors but I don't know what to do with them. Might learn some day because I had some ideas for jewelry based after what I saw. But I don't wear jewelry, at least nothing beyond the pieces that have meaning to me and I wear every day (the rings, watch and necklace). I could always make it for other people... But I am getting ahead of myself.
We met up with Robin outside Peet's Coffee and then we went with sushi for lunch. The place was decently priced and we finished all that we ordered. The sushi just wasn't anything spectacular. It was a little bland and the pot stickers paled in comparison to my own. Karen enjoyed the sauce. Diana laughed whole heartily. Robin ordered eel.
Afterwards we hit up the first Goodwill of the day. I was really surprised at how much the Portland Goodwill's charge. Easily two to three bucks more than Silverdale and Bremerton. Sure its just a couple of dollars but Goodwill isn't a place when you have to debate buying clothes. It is a cheap way to get funky pieces that you don't have to worry about wearing that much. There are some things I would have bought but I had to pass because $10 for a dress at Goodwill is outrageous! We had a lovely time trying on clothes and getting and giving opinions. Diana acquired a cabinet and a few tops and dresses. Karen bought some shoes and a few tops. I got high-heeled calve height boots that fit really well (and were half off), a pair of bright red imitation snake skin pants (also very cheap, hence why I bought what amounts to a pair of novelty pants), and some extremely comfy brown knee length shorts (I am wearing them right now, they are great).
We returned to pick up Karen's car and then we crossed the river to the second Goodwill. They had slightly better prices but even worse selection. Still I found a nice gray sweater with the zipper placed askew and Karen pointed out a fun patterned dress that fit perfectly in all the places (don't have to take it in anywhere, a rarity for a dress). Diana picked up some frames that she will convert into bulletin boards and Karen found some things that I didn't get a chance to see on her but I am sure they are fabulous. That dress is so cute, and it is fairly thick so I can start wearing it now (with a hoodie and leggings of course).
Robin didn't find anything but she was wearing a cute new top. She didn't have to find any new fabulous thing.
After the second Goodwill we dropped Diana off at her home. We also helped her haul up her findings of the day. We hugged goodbye and the Goose Hollow girls went home.
We sat and chatted about the Sunday comics with Karen for a while and then she kicked us out so she could go to work. I showed off my days work to Lindsay (whose light show piece is looking bloody brilliant now, I can feel my face melt just thinking about it). She got a good grin out of the red pants, which is exactly my intention behind them.
Put on my new sweater and short pants and went to Robin's and hung out for a little bit. I drew, we looked at Youtube, she applied acrylic medium, and we were generally awesome. She and Diana were getting together to watch Sense and Sensibility, and as that isn't really my thing I be adieu to her.
Ate some salad and pasta. Watched some Life on Mars.
School starts tomorrow.
Karen drove us(at this time it was only her, Diana and myself) over to the East Side and dropped off her car at Jiffy Lube. We meandered down east Broadway and popped into a bead store. Lots of pretty colors but I don't know what to do with them. Might learn some day because I had some ideas for jewelry based after what I saw. But I don't wear jewelry, at least nothing beyond the pieces that have meaning to me and I wear every day (the rings, watch and necklace). I could always make it for other people... But I am getting ahead of myself.
We met up with Robin outside Peet's Coffee and then we went with sushi for lunch. The place was decently priced and we finished all that we ordered. The sushi just wasn't anything spectacular. It was a little bland and the pot stickers paled in comparison to my own. Karen enjoyed the sauce. Diana laughed whole heartily. Robin ordered eel.
Afterwards we hit up the first Goodwill of the day. I was really surprised at how much the Portland Goodwill's charge. Easily two to three bucks more than Silverdale and Bremerton. Sure its just a couple of dollars but Goodwill isn't a place when you have to debate buying clothes. It is a cheap way to get funky pieces that you don't have to worry about wearing that much. There are some things I would have bought but I had to pass because $10 for a dress at Goodwill is outrageous! We had a lovely time trying on clothes and getting and giving opinions. Diana acquired a cabinet and a few tops and dresses. Karen bought some shoes and a few tops. I got high-heeled calve height boots that fit really well (and were half off), a pair of bright red imitation snake skin pants (also very cheap, hence why I bought what amounts to a pair of novelty pants), and some extremely comfy brown knee length shorts (I am wearing them right now, they are great).
We returned to pick up Karen's car and then we crossed the river to the second Goodwill. They had slightly better prices but even worse selection. Still I found a nice gray sweater with the zipper placed askew and Karen pointed out a fun patterned dress that fit perfectly in all the places (don't have to take it in anywhere, a rarity for a dress). Diana picked up some frames that she will convert into bulletin boards and Karen found some things that I didn't get a chance to see on her but I am sure they are fabulous. That dress is so cute, and it is fairly thick so I can start wearing it now (with a hoodie and leggings of course).
Robin didn't find anything but she was wearing a cute new top. She didn't have to find any new fabulous thing.
After the second Goodwill we dropped Diana off at her home. We also helped her haul up her findings of the day. We hugged goodbye and the Goose Hollow girls went home.
We sat and chatted about the Sunday comics with Karen for a while and then she kicked us out so she could go to work. I showed off my days work to Lindsay (whose light show piece is looking bloody brilliant now, I can feel my face melt just thinking about it). She got a good grin out of the red pants, which is exactly my intention behind them.
Put on my new sweater and short pants and went to Robin's and hung out for a little bit. I drew, we looked at Youtube, she applied acrylic medium, and we were generally awesome. She and Diana were getting together to watch Sense and Sensibility, and as that isn't really my thing I be adieu to her.
Ate some salad and pasta. Watched some Life on Mars.
School starts tomorrow.
crummy crum crums
Sort of a crummy day. Tossed my shoes. Sat about mourning the loss of them. Watched the last few episodes of Project Runway. Watched another episode of Life On Mars.
Finished reading Scott Pilgrim volume three. I must refrain from buying the fourth volume.
The day just sort of vanished. It went in a haze of upset stomach and sitting around.
Saw Karen briefly. Will probably hang with her and the gang tomorrow.
Doodled with my tablet. Thought about my upcoming projects. I did do that painting of Llyw, so it isn't like I haven't produced anything in my 10 days off.
Finished reading Scott Pilgrim volume three. I must refrain from buying the fourth volume.
The day just sort of vanished. It went in a haze of upset stomach and sitting around.
Saw Karen briefly. Will probably hang with her and the gang tomorrow.
Doodled with my tablet. Thought about my upcoming projects. I did do that painting of Llyw, so it isn't like I haven't produced anything in my 10 days off.
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