arvey & melissa

Got up early, well got up at the usual time of around 10, because Karen was taking me to Arvey paper! It was a giant place for reems of different papers. I needed to check out paper for my thesis and figure out what I am to print on. It was a nice bright day. Threw on my new shoes. Karen picked me up and off we went to the magical land of paper. Since I'm not picking "art" paper for my thesis, that is to say "archival", I have the benefit of ordering reems. I just needed to pick up some samples to test on. I needed to test how a sheet would react to say, three layers of screenprinting ink with double sided printing. And I needed to see how it folded. Didn't want to buy a ton of paper only to find out the paper was crap.

So I looked at paper. And then looked at a paper sample book. And then talked to the guy and found out how much a big thing of the paper would be. Went "EGADS" and he directed me to the paper I could buy by the sheet. So I grabbed a sample of each type, even though I knew I wouldn't be printing on some of them. It is good to know. I also bought some little tags to make business cards out of. Karen and I wandered over to this craft store to look at stuff, but there wasn't much to look at.

At Mazatlan we grabbed lunch. I had a chimichonga. We discussed "the system" and anarchy and stuff like that. We swung by my place, where I grabbed some of my reading, and went down to school. I figured that since I had the time I might as well be productive.

So Karen, Carla, Heather, and BT were there working on restretching screens (the process of pulling fabric taut and then gluing it to a metal frame). BT mainly tore the screens off, while Karen learned how to do it. I applied emulsion to a screen and got some stuff ready to print. Mainly just samples. Something small, something big and flat. Just some sort of printing to mimic the type of printing that I would do. So I would print that on the paper samples I had, so that I could see how the paper reacts to the printing and also how it folds with the printed matter.

So I got the screen ready to go and I printed and it printed well. And folded well. The thicker stuff, while it takes the paper really well it is a problem to fold because it is so stiff. And the stuff that is easy to fold because the paper is so thin doesn't take the ink well. But there was a perfect medium and that was the Mohawk Bright White 70 pound paper. Now I just need to order it. Though that can wait a little bit. It was actually next weekend that I was scheduled to go paper shopping, so now I'm ahead in one part of the project.

After that I went to my studio. Dom and I put our heads together on this little packet of hard difficult really big questions that Joan gave us. I don't know how to answer so many of them. But we got a start on it. And it was good because we could converse with one another and ask questions. Then I walked home, as Karen had been my ride and she had left earlier. Gave me time to listen to my audiobook. Kristen and her family left for dinner right as I got back. I decided to blog the day between my day and going to Melissa's birthday. When I get back, I'll fill in the rest of my details.

*****

Arrived at Oasisba, this Thai food fusion cuisine place, in celebration of Melissa. There was a reservation for 10 people and I was the 9th to show up. Melissa, Mel, Cidney, Phil, Robin, Sohkun, Travis, and Karen were already there. Oasisba used to be Sweet Basil Thai or something, but it changed owners. Now it is run by Drag Queens. So the wait staff is in drag, and every now and again they would sing and dance and frolic. It was AWESOME. Melissa was even brought up on stage for a number. Oh what a show. I had the special mojito. It was delicious. I had the avocado larb for dinner (in retrospect I wasn't that hungry and should have just stuck with the drink and had an appetizer at Rogue later). It wasn't quite larb as I like it. It was good just not what I was expecting. Shrimp was good. The food in general was fantastic. The location is kinda crummy. I think the word hasn't gotten out that there is a DRAG THAI FOOD PLACE. The word needs to get out.

From there we went to Rogue. I bought Melissa the John John Dead Guy Ale. I just had water and sipped from a few other people's beer. I'd already spent enough money dining out for the day. Way more that I should have, but I'll allow it because it was a special occasion and now that I'm not at school for long stretches, I'll be eating less bought lunches. Some people left between Oasisba and Rogue, and some more people (Mike, Shelby, Zaneta, uhm three other girls) joined us. From there we went to Red Cap. I just bought the birthday girl a jello shot. I only had like, two bucks in cash on me and didn't feel like dealing with a tab. I left at around midnight. Wasn't feelin' it. Red Cap is a little bit loud and dancing for my taste. Plus I think I'll get up early tomorrow, as I have a bunch of stuff to read and write. And I might hang out with Rollyn for a bit....so if I'm going to be social I need to be productive and if I'm going to be productive I can't drunk walk home at 3am.

Still, it was fun seeing Cidney and fun seeing Melissa enjoy her 21st immensely. So many free shots for that poor little lady. I hope she fairs well tomorrow. Mel will take care of her. It was a nice night out, even though I was all responsible and stuff. No fun till May now. Bleehh. It's all serious and work work work from here on out.

Todays Portrait Is: Eva Ashford.

magicians do not exist

Went to sleep with a pounding headache. Not sure if it was henna fume or stress induced. Popped some advil. Listened to my audio book. Eventually it subsided. Woke up just fine. Rolled out of bed at 10. Had some scrambled eggs and tea. Took a shower because I can't start a day without one, even if I shower at night. I just feel gross after sleeping if I don't have a shower.

Did the Internet rounds. All though the round where I check my student email I neglected.

Went to my studio so that I'd be in a "work" place so that I could focus on work. Which worked! I got some good writing and planning done. Did some sketches. Got my mind thinking. I think I'm going down a good track once again. My mind has been having trouble visualizing this thing. I think it is getting on visual track as well as the foundation. I think I'm getting there. Getting to it. Doing it.

Then 2:20 rolled around and I went in search of Martin. Went to his office. He wasn't there. Went to the commons. He wasn't there. Went back to his office. He wasn't there. Went to the commons. He wasn't there. Asked Ruth at the front desk if she had seen him, she said no. So I went to the computers and checked my student email. There was an 8am message saying he couldn't make the meeting. Well, at least not knowing that got me out of the house and working. Scanned some stuff and shot him an email summing up my thoughts. Worked in the studio a bit more.

Returned to the apartment. My Roos from Zappos.com were waiting for me! They look so freaking awesome. And the fit perfectly. So comfy too. So much grip, so much cushion. Chucks better watch out, I might just have a new sneaker love.

At 6:30ish, I went down to Le Happy, this crepe place that is on Lovejoy and 15th or something, to meet Cidney and Mel. I've never been though I have passed by it a bunch of times. It was a little hole in the wall place. Very cozy. We chatted thesis and Washington and general stuff. I had the ham and cheese crepe. Delicious! We split a honey and lemon one for dessert. It was a great little meal. We left right as people started to line up for tables. I had some time before the movie so I joined them in the walk back to Mel and Melissa's. Because they have a kitten! Little Zsa Zsa! I terrorized it for about fifteen minutes, and then headed home. No one calls me all day and then they all start calling and texting when I'm riding my bike! It was just Karen saying she wasn't going to be at the movie, and Rollyn saying he was at the movie. But I'm not going to bike and talk. That is crazy!

Dropped my bike off at the apartment, said hi to Kristen and her visiting family, and then dashed to Cinema 21 to watch The Illusionist. Rollyn joined me in line, even though he had the ticket. Inside we found Asha, Eva, and John (Eva's boyfriend). I had organized a little "hey who wants to see the new Sylvain Chomet movie" get together on Facebook. Heather and Daniel were also due to show up. After we got settled, I went to get some popcorn. Heather and Daniel were in line for treats, perfect! They sat behind us, because there was no more room in our row. Which was better almost, because it is easier to talk to people behind you than five people down.

The movie was delightful! It was also a bit sad. Set in the late 50's (I could tell because of the cars, yay for fins) it was an animated movie about a French illusionist and a Scottish lassie. A mostly wordless tale of their friendship. Lots of great character designs and little moments. A darling little film. Sad at times. And it made it seem like Scottish was a foreign language as well. Couldn't understand a bloody word of what the girl was saying. Afterwards we all chatted in a little group. Daniel and Heather parted ways. And Rollyn and I parted ways, so I could walk him safely to his car. But then it turns out that Eva and Asha and John all live along the same walking path, so for a few blocks they mock stalked us and we chatted some more. Then we really split paths. I got Rollyn safely to his car and then I strolled off back to my place. Love my 'Roos.

Kristen's family is in town for the weekend. Tomorrow I'm going to go paper shopping for my thesis! Oooohhhh! Big decision big decision. And then in the evening it is Melissa's 21st birthday. I'm likely to only be there for the first chunk of the shindig. But who knows....

Todays Portrait Is: Asha Whittle.

enabled and slathered

And now my inconsequential school week comes to a close. While Kristen was in the shower, I prepared a nice lunch for myself. Benefit of so little class days: don't have to buy lunch hardly ever! So I made up a tuna sandwich and filled a baggie with almond slices and a couple of the sweets from Trader Joe's. Go me!

The first half, the pre lunch, section of class was a discussion of website and the syllabus. Then we looked over our sketches. There are some really cool pieces that seem to be happening in these sketches. The assignment was to art direct one another. So pieces that played to our strengths while also challenged us. It's quite cool. During the lunch break I showed Danny how to kern in Photoshop. Then I ate my sandwich and watched an episode of Bob's Burgers with Jeff. After lunch we walked down to the Museum of Contemporary Craft for the Era Report show. I was mostly caught up with the book exhibit, that had Anthony Roberto's amazing thesis in it. There was also a book that if you read every other word....it was quite scandalous.

The curator of the Era Report show was there and he gave a little talk. He was a nice fellow. Looked very much like a "character". I stuck around a bit to look at the books and then walked back to school. Texting mom.

I was trying to get mom to talk me out of henna dying my hair. Tried to get her to give me a lecture in not being impulsive. All she said was to go for it! I talked to Karen, who told me to go for it as well. So when I got home, Kristen and I walked up to Lush to pick up the henna. I went for the Caca Marron color, which was to be an auburn shade. It comes in this brick. They didn't have any spare gloves so they gave me some freebies to make up for it (like the balm and a leave in conditioner). I had some gloves at home, so no worries. Kristen dyed her hair (with drugstore dye) first. While I worked on breaking up 5/6's of the brick into little bits. Hammered and grated and crushed. Took a good while. Then I put the bits in a heat resistant bowl and covered them with boiling water. Let that sit. Mixed it up. Then I put that bowl in a larger bowl filled with boiling water, so that it heated up further. When it was hot enough, and with MUCH help from Kristen, I slathered it on my hair. It was gritty and drippy and oh what a mess. It was all over the sink. I then wrapped my hair up into a saran wrap turban. And waited....I worked on the dishes. The henna kept seeping down my face. Had to constantly wipe it off my face. If my hands were not such a mess, I have have been inclined to take a picture.

After about an hour, I washed my hair. Then as I was hair drying, I blew a fuse. Went down to Ace Hardware and bought some. Returned. Replaced one. Then when there was light I saw how fantastic my hair really was! It was perfectly subtle. A nice auburn tint. Really nice. All though now the smell is giving me a bit of a headache. But damn if it isn't worth it. Sort of.

Anyway. Watched Community. Another sort of "meh" episode. Come on, you can do better Community. Ate some microwaved stuff for dinner. Now to work on thesis stuff. Got a Martin meeting tomorrow.

Todays Portrait Is: Jennifer Stark.

not so serious

Decided to sleep in. My body hurt so much yesterday I figured that it needed the rest. Had my usual scramble and tea. A good way to start the day: protein! I'm working hard at getting the food groups. Veggies, protein, dairy. And sweets. Always sweets.

Anyway. My skin looks so bad today. Bleh. Don't know what happened. I think I'm fussing with it too much. Maybe using too heavy of moisturizers or scrubbing too much. I'm almost out of my Ocean Salt Lush stuff, so I think I might try a different fancy goop from there.

Went to school to meet with Joan. Just a short little thesis meeting to touch base and talk. Her conversation with Rachel went long. In our conversation, I mentioned being unaware what I wanted to argue in my thesis. I then started talking about the preciousness that people apply to the word art, and then Joan said that there was my argument: art shouldn't be this word synonymous with good, precious, fine, quality, and so on. Art is art and shouldn't be relegated to just "nice" things that have no function. What of architecture and craft? Anyway, pretty broad thesis right now but I'm also talking about gift. I think I can whittle it down.

Afterwards I returned to my studio and got to cleaning it up. It has become a bit of a depository for stuff and less of a work space. Recycling a lot of old pages. Put away some flat work. Stowed some stuff in this book shelf that Karen left in my studio. She also left a paper garland and her spray painted yellow folding chair. It is a nice looking space once again. All Robin's egg blue and red, with white accents and the yellow chair that stands out vividly. I love it.

Went home. Ate a salad. Went on Tumblr and looked at art. Then I took my birthday money and went up to 23rd. Went into Lush and talked to them about skin care. The nice face lotions are out of my reasonable splurge price range. I think I need to work on the cleansing part of my skin care first anyway. So much nice stuff in Lush. They even have henna to dye your hair with. I wonder if doing a Henna rinse might be a nice change of pace for me. It isn't permanent, right? Maybe going redder for a bit...hmm. Or darker. Or maybe just pump up the color in general. I haven't done any sort of dye to my hair in ages. I'm sort of impulsive about certain things, once the idea is in my head. The odds are good that tomorrow after class, I might return to Lush and talk to them about the henna and by night's fall, I'll have a different hair color. Or maybe I'll regain my senses. Anyway. I got a bit of the Herbalism type facial scrubby cleanser. It seems a bit finer and more gentle than the Ocean Salt I've been using. I wish I had a chance to try some of mom's Mask of Magnanimity. Anyway. Excited to try my new face stuff. I then wandered over to MAC, as I am wont to do when I have some extra cash that has been gifted to me (or earned through art, I like to spend money that is mine on the extra frivolous stuff, as opposed to the money that is for food and art supplies and ohh I need to pay rent soon...). Anyway. I looked at the blushs, thinking of upgrading, and then remembered that a primer for eyelids would also be good to have. Primers make the eyeshadow stick a lot better. Anyway, the lady at MAC was nice and even gave me a little make over! She put on two different primers on each lid, and then eyeshadows and mascara. Gave me some tips. That was fun. And now, many hours later, I still look the same. Thanks to the primer. So I got the primer. Fun fun fun. Next time I give mom a makeover, I'll make it more dramatic and take pictures.

Now that I've blahed about makeup, the idea of changing my hair color has gone. I shouldn't muck with it.

Anyway. Went home. Munched on more veggies. Worked on reading. Worked on sketching. Back to serious school work.

Todays Portrait Is: Jennifer Hayes.

veggie trip

It will be interesting to see how I use these many days off to work and be productive. Like I've said many times, recording my productivity in this blog keeps me productive. Today I got up at 10ish, instead of sleeping in till the last possible moment. Had a little breakfast. Got ready. Went to school for Student Council to turn in the Yoga budget request forms for Fawn. Got them in. Talked to Michael and Carrie a bit. Student Council went pretty well. The days of squabbles and money concerns seem to be over, which is nice. The vote for yoga is tabled for next meeting because it is over $200. Afterwards I went to the library and checked out a big pile of fun books. Namely the complete Taschen vintages mens magazine tomes. Really awesome scandalous books. Stuffed them into my bike basket and went home.

Our fridge was devoid of vegetables so I went to Trader Joe's. Salad, apples, bananas, bread, some treats. Had a salad with almond slices and vinaigrette for lunch followed by some chips and hummus. Go me, being healthy! I've now moved onto listening to Clash of Kings. Now anytime I'm not doing a task that requires reading, I am listening. So hooked.

For the rest of the day I sort of stared at my notebook and tried to wrangle my thoughts. Last night I had this bolt of an idea for how it could look but now I'm having trouble really making it visual. I sat at the table, ate some pasta and orange juice. Looked at my notebook. Started writing more stuff out. Realized that my thesis at the core is about the self and the community and the relationship between the two and appreciation for both sides of it. So I wrote out some thoughts about groups and community, and self worth and stuff. The foundation is slowly getting built, piece by piece.

Drew some more portraits. I need to buy a new note book to draw them in.

Sat with Kristen at the table while working on my logo as well. That was nice. Bounced a lot of stuff back and forth from one another. Now I'm tired. Damn you alarm clock and not sleeping in! Tomorrow I am having a quick meeting with Joan. And then I shall sit and draw and try to sort my thesis out more. Meeting with Martin again on Friday. End of the month I'm supposed to have a sense of the visual language of the piece. I feel like I'm behind, even though I'm doing work. Eerrg.

Todays Portrait Is: Beth Austin.

research it!

Woke up to a text at 9:30ish from Madeline asking where the thesis meeting was. Thankfully that text reminded me that there was a meeting, which was in the Stevens. Another group thing where we all got together and Linda gave us the run down for the next semester. I threw clothes on, stuffed my hair under a hat, and set out. Thank god for living 10 blocks from campus.

Still got there with time to spare. Might have had time to shower...

We got another thick thesis packet with instructions and tips and schedules and rules for Thesis Defense. She gave us a 50 minute talk on the calender and set up and rules and how at first sign of trouble we should talk to her and how there is no shame in delaying thesis a semester. I ain't gonna though.

It was a good little run down. Afterwards I went home. Showered. Made a scramble. Put the clothes I threw on in the morning back on. Looked at my schedule. Tended to stuff. Did the dishes. I'm so close to being done with Game of Thrones! I am so utterly hooked.

Soon it was time to head back to school for class. I uploaded a .pdf of my thesis abstract. In my school mail box was a wonderful little card and book from Chad. It was his promotional mailer thingie...thing. A Bruegel inspired story book. What a lovely present. I sat in class early and worked on my calender some more, filling some things in with pen. My teacher is the highly recommended Joan Handwerg. In my class is Antonia, Nico, Portia, Mel, James J, Ali, Robin, Beth, Jennifer H, and Dominic. A good group. In the class we will focus on research and writing a 20 page thesis research paper. I don't know quite what I'm trying to argue yet. Friendship is good? Anyway, we will be doing a lot of readings and stuff and writing. 20 very concise pages. I remember when I started at PNCA, I heard it was something like a 60 page paper. I guess it is our job to psyche out the underclassmen?

We will be meeting Joan one on one in the coming week. Just to show her our art and talk about stuff. We got out early, so I went home.

I pulled out my notebook and got to sorting out my seven mantras. I'm up to six. Some of the themes are hard to nail down in one word. I made a few pages of maps and thought webs and just free form writing. It is actually quite helpful, I think. Getting a lot of words and areas and directions to go to. And it isn't psyching me out to do. Right now my calender is dominated by sorting out these mantras. And once I sort them out, and the over arching themes, the uniting themes, then I can get to the visuals. The themes are the foundation. The ideas I want to get at. Themes of community, self reflection & worth, friendship, and other things. Tomorrow is a busy day. Sort of. It is a lot of little things. Thinking. Thought webbing. Trying to narrow things down. Mantras. Themes. Thumbnails. Reading. Figuring out what I want to say in the printed essays. One half of my project is what I'm going to say on the folding out of the poster, but I'm sort of at a loss for what I want to say. Oops. Well, that is what I'll be a thinking about tomorrow. And sketching. And proposing yoga. I think I'll tidy up my studio as well. It's been untended and piling of stuff. No room to work and I'll be needing to work there.

Worked on thought web while watching House. Worked on portraits and inking portraits while watching Lie to Me. Only half watching. A good chunk of that show can just be listened to, which I did from my room as I pulled up references for portraits. I'm really excited about tomorrows.

Todays Portrait Is: Nathalie Heizenrader.

party and whatnot

Yesterday:

Got to sleep in! Hurray! It is nice to sleep in. Oh how quick I appreciate sleep, even though I've had too much of it. Ate my breakfast and made a to do list. Showered. Kristen and I walked to Fred Meyer. I got chili fixings and took out some cash, because it is good to have cash on hand. It was a very bright day. My sunglasses had dropped on the ground and the center part broke. I need to get super glue to fix them. It was a good little Fred Meyer's haul. Though I forgot to get super glue. No matter.

I poured all the stuff into the crock pot, set it to low. Helped tidy the place. All that jazz.

My party was a sort of sequin dress theme, though not enforced. It was mainly an excuse to wear the sequin butterfly shirt that belonged to mother dearest. A great high statement piece. I also took the time to do a nice eye makeup look. Kristen put together a great ensemble. At 6:20 we walked to Blue Moon. Unfortunately only one of the three big tables was open. Last year all three were, so we expanded as people arrived. I just figured we would wing it as people arrived.

Harmony and Peter came next. Then Rollyn. Asha. Jennifer & Steve. Jim. Then the table was full. Then Eva. Mel. Thom. Daniel and Heather. Karen. What a lovely massive group, all in celebration of meee! And there was only one waitress for the whole place it seemed. She was obviously over worked, but she wasn't good at all either. Had to double ask all the orders, should have just written them down. And any food orders took forever to come. I tried to do my best to go around to all the different people and chat. Eva got me a new micron. Peter and Harmony gave me some jam and tea. Thom gave me a James Jean sketchbook (Sweeeeet). Daniel and Heather gave me Bacon soap and a sushi stapler and a wonderful unicorn card. It was awesome. Not awesome was the service. I had thought we would stay longer but because it took so long, we ended up packing up for my place early. The check was a hassle as well. Dom and Morgaine arrived as we were packing up. Hurrah, they didn't have to order!

Most of us went back to my apartment in one group. Harmony and Peter went to Freddies to buy beer. We had just enough places for people to sit. Oh also Dashon, Asha's boyfriend was there. The chili went fast. Too fast. It was all eaten before Harmony and Peter arrived. Oh nooo! Robin and Samala and Jon also missed out on chili. It is too good to stick around in the crock pot. It was literally full when I had the first taste, half gone the next time I looked, and then scraped clean the third time. All in the span of like, five minutes. I gave Peter and Harmony my recipe as consolation.. So people came and people went. Oh, my owl cupcakes were well received as well. Everyone thought they were cute. I drank the rest of my giant Ninkasi Sleig'r beer, what I used in the chili. After a game of spoons and when it got close to the last run for the buses, it came down to just Jim, Robin, Harmony, Peter and myself. I popped in Big Trouble for whatever reason. A nice charming laughable movie. After that it was just Robin and I for a bit more. And then it was just me. Kristen and Tabitha went clubbing. I tidied up a bit and then crawled into bed.

Today:

Thankfully with a crock pot full of chili, the only thing you have to clean is the crock pot and the bowls. I listened to my audio book and cleaned bowls and spoons. Went fast. Showered. Ate breakfast. Tidied up. It wasn't a hootenanny, so it wasn't really that unclean anyway.

Rollyn and I met up for the 4:45 showing of Blue Valentine. Hurrah for student discounts! It was a solid little depressing romance story. Nicely unveiled as it went a long. Beautifully shot and acted. Wasn't the uber film I had been anticipating, but I think that I might have hyped it up too much for myself. Still, nice performances. Hard to watch sometimes because it was so real seeming. Afterwards we watched some MST3K. Always a better note to end a night on.

Stopped by Safeway on my home to get some super glue. But they didn't have it. So I got some razors instead.

Now I'm working on sorting out the themes of my thesis mantras and waiting for stuff to download. Top Gear, Shameless, Episodes...that stuff. It is only 11pm but it feels much later. Feels like 3am in Trillian time. I feel very....tired. I need to photocopy my master calender that I've made. Photocopy it, make it bigger. Hang it up. So that it looms. Tomorrow is thesis research and writing. It isn't till 3, but I plan to get to school early to do some stuff. Like photocopy my master calendar. The next few weeks contain a lot of decisions that will decide the next three months worth of work.

Todays Portrait Is: Alfredo Lettenmaier.

place holder for the day

Birthday! I slept in, which was nice. I say the word nice a lot. Lots of things are nice.

Uhm...I'm actually pretty tired. I think I'm just going to crash.

Got my birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa! Thank yoooou!

Todays Portrait Is: Jay Lee.