poster portraits

Digital collage and color.

Micron pen & photoshop.

portrait sketches 3

First two images drawn from photo reference. The latter three drawn from life.

Micron in sketchbook.

early and done with

I still feel really tired, even though I got a good amount of sleep. My energy levels are all out of whack.

Bacon, eggs, tea.

Anyway, turned in my mentor and panel forms. Karen was a bit behind in her printing, so I mostly sat and talked to BT and needle felted till yoga started. Good old yoga. Lots of long poses and stretching and breathing.

I exposed Karen's screens when I came back and she and BT took a food break and she treated me to a beer. Tomorrow we are meeting at 11, and I'll hound her and we'll print print print. She was trying to say 2pm, but as I said "if you start early, you'll finish early, and you won't be working late". BT agreed and Karen agreed to start earlier. Hurrah! Sat with Cherish, Isaiah, and Sandra at Yur's. At 6:45 I left, hopped on my bike, and went to see Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest at Cinema 21.

The theater was pretty crowded, which is a nice feeling. Nice because it is full of movie enthusiasts who enjoy film. As for the film, it was a perfect wrap up to the trilogy. It wasn't as emotionally gripping or tense as the first or second film. It wrapped stuff up, but I wouldn't call it stand alone. It was mostly political and court drama type stuff. Nice filming, sure. It just never had the feeling that things wouldn't come out all right. Which they did. Spooooiilllers: all the bad guys got arrested or are in jail. So it was good, an end to the series, just not phenomenal.

Now I'm home. About to make a list of things to accomplish and in what order. Writing early, so I'm not writing late. Plus I'm tired, and as I'm forcing Karen into action tomorrow and then later, at 3pm, getting together with my illustration homies to practice....yeah. An early night might serve my body better.

Oh, the rough draft of Focus Week came out. I am proposing on Monday. At 3pm. The "get it out of the way" day. Which I'm pretty happy with. It keeps me on top of things NOW instead of later. Robin, Madeline, and Amanda are in the same spot though, which sucks. At least I'll be able to spend most of the week relaxing and cheering on my friends. And working on animation.

tv good

Thursday. Designated "sleep in and recalculate" day. Booyah.

Slept in. Had some toast and tea.

Watched Terriers. Later on watched Misfits. The weather continued to be horrible. So bad that the reception on television was cutting in and out. A real hassle to watch Community (which was hilarious! And today really is Latvian Independence Day, so keep that in mind when watching the episode).

Harry Potter comes out tonight. I think I'll catch a matinée on Sunday or something. Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest comes out tomorrow! Whoo! I'm going to help Karen catch paper, go to yoga, help her catch some more, and then go see movie. Saturday I need to print my double sided poster. First I need to figure out the text.

Oh crap, I just remembered I have to put the thesis mentor forms in teacher boxes tomorrow. I already have a good write up of what my thesis will be. So I just need to edit it into essay form and all is good.

I should make a list...meh. Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow.

Did my nails.

Think I'll read something. I really want some chocolate, but I don't have any.

I'm tired. But I think that is because I've been tired all week. Mmm rest.

Don't have much else to say right now.

stuffffzzzz....

Decided to go ahead and get a ticket home for Thanksgiving. The pressure is piling up, and a break would be nice. I feel like I'm in a good spot right now. Got the late train on Wednesday and I'm going back Saturday afternoon. It will be good to have a whole day before focus week to gnaw on my fingernails and freak out.

My final animation project will be a mini animated video for Odd Owl! Hurrah!

By the way, a ton of storm drains in my area are clogged (some day the new pavers covered it up by accident, which is stupid. Covering it up I mean). So when it ran furiously, and I mean real horrible ran all day long, soaking the poor art students, the streets were steeped in water. Sucked.

We looked at some complicated video tricks before lunch. McClaren. This person's film

...

So cool.

Lunch! I scanned stuff and then wrote up and printed stuff. Then I had 10 minutes to grab lunch, so I got some flavorless Safeway sushi and perrier and nutrigrain bars. Lunch of lazy people. We had more AfterEffects, except this time I got it! Made stuff spin. Batched stuff. Then we met with the teacher to present our final projects. Then it was work time.

When class was over, I worked on my promotional mailer. Then it turned out sketches were not even due! Now I'm ahead with a good idea though. We had this guy Garth teach us instead, from Nemo design. Cool guy. He showed us his work and talked extensively about various design projects (maybe a little too extensive). Then we broke for class and I got the train tickets. Back in class he continued, showing us and talking through promotional materials. Got some good ideas. I think I'll silk screen a mailer onto chipboard. A quick little design. Could have some potential.

Despite the rain, Karen, Kristen, Beth, Leo, Danny and I went to Yur's. Gabbed about Harry Potter and thesis and asked what questions might be asked. Kristen drew some great drawings of us all. I ordered some tots. It was still raining on the way back home. Streets have so much water on them. It is ridiculous. Got back. Chilled. Now I am feeling like I'm going to pass out now I am really really tired.

changed my mind

portrait sketches 2

First image (Evan and BT) drawn from life. The latter four drawn from photo references.

Micron in sketchbook.

rocked it out

Only one more day to wake up early for. I've done it like, three times now!

Needle felting has totally done in my thumb and fore finger. I've jabbed them so many times. Need to let them heal. Which is good, because I've felted most of my felt now.

Got up. Ate scrambled eggs and bacon and tea. Very groggy start. I think I actually grunted when I crawled out of bed.

It was a slow start. I tidied up my note cards. I practiced from the notes. With bumbling, I got past 10 minutes! The influences section is lacking. I also want to expand the start. I feel like it is good, but it isn't very definitive about any aspects or goals. I feel like I repeat myself. "for my peers" "friendship is important to consider" "art should be accessible". I don't think I'm talking the same talks my classmates are, and I'm not sure if that is fine or if I'm off base. I wrote up my proposal before Martin wrote up a little helpful guideline for us.

Anyway, worked on my slide show. Got some better images in. I really need to print that poster. That is my next week goal: print the poster. It won't take that long, I just need to resolve the text. Went to school at 2:30. Chatted with Madeline. Inputted color into the spot images in my slide show to make it pop a little more. Then we went to the other lab to do our thesis thing.

I was first last week, and last this week. We ran late, so I went at 6:15. Finished my animation instead of doing yoga. It was easier to edit the individual images and line them up to the existing sync than to manipulate the separate images and copy and paste. But I know how to reimport sequences, so no biggie. Got a burrito because I hadn't eaten anything substantial since breakfast. Yum. Got home in time for Raising Hope! Loaded Glee. Great episode. Paltrow was another great guest star. I ate half the burrito before animation, and then half while watching my stories. Then I got back into the homework thing. Just gotta do an animation project proposal! Hmmmn.

Oh, my thesis practice went pretty good. Stumbled through cards, but that is better than being straight from an essay. Flow is good. Martin didn't have any major negative comments. I asked if I should talk about research and he told me not to force anything, but didn't disagree when I commented about expanding the start. So yeah, totally awesome. I didn't volunteer, and I sort of figured I would go last because last week went fairly well. Why put someone who was well last week in the earlier, less time restricted slot? Not that I was mad or anything. I could have volunteered any time.

Everyone who has been nervous, has pretty good written proposals. Dominic's was great. Madeline's is concise. Nicole's great sense of humor is back. All in all, a pretty solid batch. There are some overlaps too, which is interesting. Jeff is the only one doing posters, but they are different from my sort of posters.

Okay, there is another set of bathrooms in the 815 area! We didn't know about them! Nice ones too! They are through a fire door, and through a classroom. I always wondered why people go in and out of there, now I know: really nice bathrooms!

Pretty successful day. Need to do those posters now. And do a lot of solidifying of the proposal.

I'm getting itchy again. Hmm.

Also I did my hair up in heidi braids. You know, with the braids looped over the top and pinned. I dig the look. I need to do it more often. It is perfect for the days when my hair is gross but not gross enough to justify the trouble of washing it.

When I'm done with college, I want to do something. Travel for a while maybe. Step away from seven years of college and really do something. I don't know what.

needle felting! ouch my thumb

I tacked on a shirt order onto BT's shirt order. So there will be some Christmas shirts! Three bucks for 10 is much better than 4-5 bucks for miscellaneous second hand ones.

Bacon and eggs for breakfast! Yumm!

Still trying to get my gel liner to be fluid. This time tried microwaving it (internet totally said this as fine to do) and it became really soft, but by that time, my eyeliner brush was gunked up. Still did a dramatic eye, but not the look I wanted to attempt. Boo.

At school there was this life skills thing going on in the commons. Tutorials in hair extensions, making your own cheese, forming a band, identifying passive aggressive speech patterns, needle felting, planned parenthood, and much more! I went to Taryn's passive aggressive one and Kami's needle felting. Needle felting is pretty much just stabbing wool with a barbed needle until it knots and tangles into a form. I found the process very rewarding and therapeutic. We were allowed to take wool samples.

Before the workshops, I scanned in my portrait sketches and Pride and Prejudice drawings. After the workshops, I met Samala in the computer lab and we both practiced our proposals. Neither of us knew what the other was exactly doing, so we got a good fresh take and gave feedback to one another. Samala is making an animation about our dependence on technology. It is looking pretty cool. She is at 7 minutes. I am at 9. I'm now switching over to cards. I think with cards, I should slow down. I also need to edit my slide show now that the format is changing.

I worked on my give away poster layout. I just remembered I have a bunch of tan paper in my studio that I can use for the poster. Whoo, don't have to buy! It will be a bit smaller, but it is more a format example than a piece to include in my thesis. Anyway, worked on photoshop. At five Dominic showed up and Sivonna, Jon, and I listened to his proposal. Dom has switched to doing art about neurosis. It is late in the game to change, so he is doing a lot of catch up work. But it ill come together and be awesome.

At 6:15 I went to find Knit/Purl and got some needles and wool to needle felt with. As I said, very therapeutic. Even if my left thumb and pointer finger are totally chewed up by the needle. It is fun to just construct abstract 3D shapes that are totally the opposite of what I do.

House was fairly good, Lie to Me was good enough, and Weeds has gone through some great character development.

I'm going to finish writing up my note cards. Write out some mantras. And go to sleep. Because I'm tired. And getting up early on Tuesday has been working out really well for me.

Wearing dramatic makeup, or a showy piece like white boots or a funky patterned shirt, gives me some sort of self confidence. Maybe if I feel like I am putting on a show, I feel more confident speaking. Being fabulous brings out courage.

I posted all the portraits I have done thus far on Facebook, and three people changed their profile pictures to my art work. Got some good positive responses, and these are just sketches! I can't wait to really experience portraiture.

I also can't wait to come home for Christmas and quilt some more and listen to audio books all day. I like crafty things, though I don't stick with them for long periods of time. I have all the good quilting gear, it just never seems like a "time" to quilt.

I also registered for class. Writing with Handwerg, Advanced Studio 2 with Kristin, Thesis whatever. Remember when registering was a big deal? Actually...this is my last time ever to register at PNCA. I'm done after this. I'm done with college after this(till I get a MFA, if that ever happens). I will have a degree. I will have a career. Seven long years of college are coming to an end next year.

2011. It is right there. Waiting for me.

I really, really hope it will be better than 2010. Though that won't be a hard thing to accomplish.

Still.

I'm ready for 2010 to be over. I looked back to what my first post was of this year and it is titled "this is going to be a good year". It was a big year, but I don't think I'd call it a good one. I don't talk about some of the more intense emotional things that happen in my life here. Some things are private, especially when they involve other people. But enough people who are reading these words, and they know what this year has entailed for me. So I thank you for your love and kindness.

portrait sketches

Drawn from life.

Pen in sketchbook.

I'm more of a teal beret

Went to William Temple House to see what their winter layers were like. Got a shirt, a London Fog brand suede jacket with removable lining (a girl needs more than two winter coats), and this sweet beret for eighteen bucks. All together I mean. I think I'll remove the pin and put in a pin that is more "me" and less...army.

Turns out Samala never got my message about meeting up. But I did get up early and all that jazz. Didn't really do much though. Went down to the studios. Wrote Jay a letter. Went to Yur's with Karen. Worked on the letter. Chatted girl talk. Listened to these four CRAZY WOMEN who were very loud and crazy. They were not credits to the species, I tell you what. Went back to the studios. Jon came over from his side and we talked and drew.

And now, nearing midnight, my mind has gone into "work on art" mode. Fff stupid. Should have been more productive. Tomorrow has stuff planned and lined up. Solid plans keep me working. Without them, I meander through the day till it gets to the "well, too late to slack any more" stage. All though I still have yet to pull an all nighter. I still am on top of things a bit.

Also I joined Mint.com. I like their bar graph. Helps me keep track of things. It's pretty cool, I must say.

Had some egg salad sandwich for late lunch. Should eat something more soon. Keep my energy going.