Duuuudes and duuuudettes, I found a most awesome thing in the trash room! A stop sign! And it is attached to some wood. It is like a stop sign from a swinging gate or something. I guess a person didn't want it when they were moving out so it is mine now. I made an effort to take it to Karen's to make a grand entrance with it. It is more cumbersome than heavy. Hurray!
Science Friction dealt with what defines scifi, if the art is bad or just dated, and some other stuff. Nicole lead the class for a little bit. We didn't get too deep into the story but regarded it more as a vertex between many different mediums. We got out early because we had to do a teacher evaluation. I said that Trevor is awesome and that was that.
Illustration was great for the first part and sucky for the second. My Madoka Kinoshita forgery went down really well (some said it was the best executed forgery and that they thought it was just another book on the artist and not my piece next to a sample). I remembered to bring Madeline's artist book but forgot the Illustration Now book that Alex referenced. Alex couldn't find an example of his artist because he neglected to write down the exact name of the person (Tavish). The class has really dropped in numbers. Oh well. Marilyn's forgery was very smooth and sweet but still had her humor, Dominic used some lovely flipside blending, Madeline's Hajime Yoshio was neat and tidy, and April's Banksy was a Llama. The only one Chad didn't deem successful was Josh's but we all jumped it an he changed his opinion.
Our assignment was to do a sorta conceptual Illustration based on an excerpt from something overheard. I didn't quite get it (should have read it closer I guess)and did a portrait of Jon while he was eating lunch and talking about his housemates. I tried something new and some new textures and stuff but it wasn't quite right. It looks good but not..quite there. Some of the Illustrations produced were really beautiful and experimental.
One week left.
The rain was quite torrential.
Ate spaghetti and considered my work. I have Saturday and Sunday off so I shall be cranking this out! Yeah!
Diana showed us (Karen and I)her fashion puppet robot. It is awesome.
Phil, Robin, Karen, Diana, Phil's friend Chris, and I all made Shrinky Dinks! You draw on this plastic stuff and you put it in the oven and it shrinks and it becomes hard and solid and the image that you made goes really small. It is good for things like earrings or pendants. We were experimenting. I should consider a shrinky dink comic. Yeah!
While Phil won Munchkin, we were all at level 9 so it was close. With my bonuses, I was at an impressive 32 or something. I had boots and leggings and a shiny cheese grater and an angry wizard hireling, and all this other stuff. I made a good play of keeping other people from winning for a while but in the end, Phil won.
Chris had one of those laptops that you can draw and click straight on the screen. I drew in a program. It was super fun.
hi
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
stressing out (like everyone else)
ARHHHHHGGGG!!!!!!
I was almost done with my forgery piece for Illustration when I smudged the gouache on the eye and then in trying to clean that up, I smudged the whole thing and pretty much had to go over everything again. The sweater was repainted, the shirt had to be made white again, the hair color and background was changed, and I had to do the black lines all over again. It was an exhaustive, frustrating process. It really killed me when it was smudged. I hate how it looks now. It's so textured and muddy. It lost the softness that it originally had. It's done enough but I really wish it was how it looked before I screwed it up. It all came out with this piece. I just...argh.
Adam knocked on my door to chill while Karen showed up. I texted her that he was here and she called and I went into the other room while they "sorted out" the meeting mix up. They were here while I screwed up my piece and were very nice about the breakdown I had.
Figure drawing was one long tonal pose. Mine looked like a hairball. I don't like this tonal stuff. I feel like I didn't have enough time to apply what I was told during midterm.
I worked on inking my comic during the break. Karen, Diana and I went to Safeway and I had an onion ring/jo jo/macaroni and cheese early lunch. Nicely priced and very filling. I took a nap during the last hour of my break. Farel was out sick so once I finished the inking, I went home.
While watching Land of the Dead and Idiocracy I finished the inking and started on a new forgery. The Kent Williams one was too much like my own style so I embarked on a Madoka Kinoshita. I put down the colors and layered thick, gouache black lines over it. That was my undoing.
Started watching Revolver. It is weird but I kinda dig it. Mark Strong is on my awesome actor list now.
I'm ready for this semester to be over.
I was almost done with my forgery piece for Illustration when I smudged the gouache on the eye and then in trying to clean that up, I smudged the whole thing and pretty much had to go over everything again. The sweater was repainted, the shirt had to be made white again, the hair color and background was changed, and I had to do the black lines all over again. It was an exhaustive, frustrating process. It really killed me when it was smudged. I hate how it looks now. It's so textured and muddy. It lost the softness that it originally had. It's done enough but I really wish it was how it looked before I screwed it up. It all came out with this piece. I just...argh.
Adam knocked on my door to chill while Karen showed up. I texted her that he was here and she called and I went into the other room while they "sorted out" the meeting mix up. They were here while I screwed up my piece and were very nice about the breakdown I had.
Figure drawing was one long tonal pose. Mine looked like a hairball. I don't like this tonal stuff. I feel like I didn't have enough time to apply what I was told during midterm.
I worked on inking my comic during the break. Karen, Diana and I went to Safeway and I had an onion ring/jo jo/macaroni and cheese early lunch. Nicely priced and very filling. I took a nap during the last hour of my break. Farel was out sick so once I finished the inking, I went home.
While watching Land of the Dead and Idiocracy I finished the inking and started on a new forgery. The Kent Williams one was too much like my own style so I embarked on a Madoka Kinoshita. I put down the colors and layered thick, gouache black lines over it. That was my undoing.
Started watching Revolver. It is weird but I kinda dig it. Mark Strong is on my awesome actor list now.
I'm ready for this semester to be over.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
My 24 Hour Comic
I just Googled myself and found that someone had scanned and uploaded my comic from the 2008 24 Hour Comics Challenge to a collection (I gave permission for this). So if you are interested, here is the link to the site:
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/pncace/kencohen/series.php?view=archive&chapter=33816&mpe=1&step=1
This was drawn in seventeen hours and fifty three minutes.
8 1/2"x11". Ink on Bristol.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
if you bought more, I wouldn't have to mark it down
I had an epic markdown shift today. Did the sheets for a while. Some pants were so NOT herringbone but the sheet said they were. That took too long so we started just beeping everything. We had about 4500 units to mark down. It is the first wave of trying to reduce the Winter stuff for Spring. There were huge piles of polos and sandwiched in sweaters to mark down. Even with three other people working, it still took till 1:30pm to finish. Well, when I took lunch, some people left. I had to do most of the backroom by myself. Piles and piles. Lots of up and down and up and down. Super strain on my knees because Paula doesn't like seeing people sit while working. Even with all the hard work (Gloria kept encouraging me to work with more immediacy, I was trying my hardest to be immediate!) there were still mutters of it taking too long. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF THINGS TO MARK DOWN PEOPLE!! It takes time. And there was a complaint about the state of the store after the mark downs. Well you can either have the job done close to the time you ask for and have it be messy after or have it be neat and take twice as long.
Still, lots of hours are good. And I got my paycheck. It was more than I expected but still less than I wanted and my next is going to be smaller. Still, any money is my very hard earned money. There is a Key Bank a block from the Lloyd so I promptly deposited it.
I requested to have the 19th to the 28th off from work. There is the possibility of me going back to Portland on the 28th if they schedule me for the 29th so if you want some Trilly Time, you have to jump on it.
I just didn't have the heart to draw much today. Worked a little on a fourth puppet (three just would make the play too hectic). But I have a lot of time tomorrow between class and my comic isn't that complex. This weekend will be INTENSE to get it finished (but its a three day weekend, hurrah!). Not as on top of it as last year I think.
Oh, got a kazoo for the puppet show as Morgan wants a band for it.
Yoga went by so quickly. I managed to get my palms on the floor! It was a small group but I felt really good after. Kody and I chatted a little bit. He is a cool dude now that I am used to him. Well, used to is a poor phrasing. More like "friends with".
I don't know if I mentioned it but last Friday, Chad handed out a fake assignment to us to try and prank us. It was to do a classical illustration to this hard rock song. It seemed like something he would assign (in line with his humor I mean) so we were very deceived. He's a fun guy.
Still, lots of hours are good. And I got my paycheck. It was more than I expected but still less than I wanted and my next is going to be smaller. Still, any money is my very hard earned money. There is a Key Bank a block from the Lloyd so I promptly deposited it.
I requested to have the 19th to the 28th off from work. There is the possibility of me going back to Portland on the 28th if they schedule me for the 29th so if you want some Trilly Time, you have to jump on it.
I just didn't have the heart to draw much today. Worked a little on a fourth puppet (three just would make the play too hectic). But I have a lot of time tomorrow between class and my comic isn't that complex. This weekend will be INTENSE to get it finished (but its a three day weekend, hurrah!). Not as on top of it as last year I think.
Oh, got a kazoo for the puppet show as Morgan wants a band for it.
Yoga went by so quickly. I managed to get my palms on the floor! It was a small group but I felt really good after. Kody and I chatted a little bit. He is a cool dude now that I am used to him. Well, used to is a poor phrasing. More like "friends with".
I don't know if I mentioned it but last Friday, Chad handed out a fake assignment to us to try and prank us. It was to do a classical illustration to this hard rock song. It seemed like something he would assign (in line with his humor I mean) so we were very deceived. He's a fun guy.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
farewell
My Grandpa passed away this morning. Last holiday he went through my portfolio and marveled at the figure work I was doing. He, with the rest of the family, always encouraged me to apply myself to my art.
More tonal work in figure drawing. Long break. I'm not so keen on this work but it is giving me a better sense of building up the figure. History of Design was spent looking at the websites of Portland based design companies. Some cool videos were watched:
We got out early. Karen, Jim and I looked at more more the Bent Studios videos. Maybe I should get an internship with one of these companies?
Painting was spent sketching out my comic pages. Shouldn't be too difficult to finish. The size is just hard to work with outside of having a desk to do it on, ya know? Jen put on Amelie and we thoroughly enjoyed it. A lovely soundtrack now that I know the tone and scenes on that movie from heart.
Got some apples and bananas from Trader Joes. I wanted to get more healthy stuff but my mind drew a blank. This cute employee chatted me up a little bit. Joked about putting my groceries in my art tube and then asked what it was for. When I said it was a piece for art school he said he went to California College of Arts (before the dropped the ...and Crafts). It was a nice little moment. Then he held up a little cardboard mask and ninja'd away. Tee hee. Had a little chat with the person who rang me up about how my bike wasn't stolen last time I was here when I forgot to lock it. I've had him bag my groceries before, a nice old chap. I really like Trader Joe's as a whole. Great deals on sweeties as always.
Called mom when I got home.
Now I am going to go to bed. Well, have some tea and read a book and then doze off. I have a morning shift again. Hurray.
More tonal work in figure drawing. Long break. I'm not so keen on this work but it is giving me a better sense of building up the figure. History of Design was spent looking at the websites of Portland based design companies. Some cool videos were watched:
We got out early. Karen, Jim and I looked at more more the Bent Studios videos. Maybe I should get an internship with one of these companies?
Painting was spent sketching out my comic pages. Shouldn't be too difficult to finish. The size is just hard to work with outside of having a desk to do it on, ya know? Jen put on Amelie and we thoroughly enjoyed it. A lovely soundtrack now that I know the tone and scenes on that movie from heart.
Got some apples and bananas from Trader Joes. I wanted to get more healthy stuff but my mind drew a blank. This cute employee chatted me up a little bit. Joked about putting my groceries in my art tube and then asked what it was for. When I said it was a piece for art school he said he went to California College of Arts (before the dropped the ...and Crafts). It was a nice little moment. Then he held up a little cardboard mask and ninja'd away. Tee hee. Had a little chat with the person who rang me up about how my bike wasn't stolen last time I was here when I forgot to lock it. I've had him bag my groceries before, a nice old chap. I really like Trader Joe's as a whole. Great deals on sweeties as always.
Called mom when I got home.
Now I am going to go to bed. Well, have some tea and read a book and then doze off. I have a morning shift again. Hurray.
Wilde at Heart (oh that was a bad pun)
The audio only version of the Importance of Being Earnest was so witty that it put me right to sleep. I had to take a nap 10 minutes into Act II. It also probably wasn't the best idea to listen to it all snuggled up in bed with the handmade doll that Karen made me. She's a witch, she put some sleepy stuff in that doll.
For the majority of the day I just sat around being loathsome because of how little I was accomplishing despite having lots of ideas. Eventually I managed to rattle off two fairly simple paintings for SciFri (there will be at least 5). They are okay. Probably will look better when put side by side.
I really need to go shopping for vegetables. It has been nonstop carbs. Mmm pasta then udon then rice with juice and tea in between.
Also finally settled on my painting final. Going away from all the fun stuff and doing a little comic about how when we do something zany we say, "what was that?" and that is the cue to repeat the motion or noise.
Watched a lot of Nevermind the Buzzcocks. Thankfully with having seen all that appears to be on Youtube, I am out and will have to find a new British Panel show to occupy myself with. Maybe 8 out of 10 Cats.
Today, yeah, not as productive as I would have liked but now I know my course for all my finals so it is time to set sail on it.
For the majority of the day I just sat around being loathsome because of how little I was accomplishing despite having lots of ideas. Eventually I managed to rattle off two fairly simple paintings for SciFri (there will be at least 5). They are okay. Probably will look better when put side by side.
I really need to go shopping for vegetables. It has been nonstop carbs. Mmm pasta then udon then rice with juice and tea in between.
Also finally settled on my painting final. Going away from all the fun stuff and doing a little comic about how when we do something zany we say, "what was that?" and that is the cue to repeat the motion or noise.
Watched a lot of Nevermind the Buzzcocks. Thankfully with having seen all that appears to be on Youtube, I am out and will have to find a new British Panel show to occupy myself with. Maybe 8 out of 10 Cats.
Today, yeah, not as productive as I would have liked but now I know my course for all my finals so it is time to set sail on it.
Monday, December 8, 2008
well that was redundant
Got another doll finished! Now the plan with them is to perform a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest where my three puppets will change costume to indicate a change in character. Thanks to Llyw for the play suggestion. So now I just need to figure out what scene and make the outfits and then that is done! So much more fun than that 3D thing. Whee!! Is there a career in articulated dolls? I hope so, they are fun.
Jen and I had an afternoon outing. I took the max to meet her at Pioneer Place. The rain was rainy but I had the double protection of a hoodie under another hoodie. We really wanted cheese steak but the place was closed so we opted for Chipotle and had burritos instead. I had steak with goodness added in. It took some deep breathing but I finished it. Not quite the monster burrito from Ole Ole or Cha Cha Cha but still quite good.
We danced between the option of seeing the 3:00 Boy in the Striped Pajamas or going to the theatre to see if Milk is playing soon. Holocaust coming of age story or a biopic of an assassinated political figure. Which is slightly less depressing? Milk was playing at 1:45 and we saw it. At first I didn't think I was getting into it but I really got into it. The performances were across the board phenomenal. Sean Penn was very endearing. I think I maybe would have liked a little more development of his relationship with Scott but their subtle interactions got it all across yeah. Very sad. Even though you know it is coming...
We hugged goodbye and I loafed around at home for a horrible amount of time. I did get something done but really not enough. BUT there is always tomorrow to get something done that would be enough. Perhaps start the painting we will be working on in class on Tuesday. EGADS TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE SEMESTER! FREAK OUT!
Rewatching Delicatessen tonight. Just a perfect movie.
Jen and I had an afternoon outing. I took the max to meet her at Pioneer Place. The rain was rainy but I had the double protection of a hoodie under another hoodie. We really wanted cheese steak but the place was closed so we opted for Chipotle and had burritos instead. I had steak with goodness added in. It took some deep breathing but I finished it. Not quite the monster burrito from Ole Ole or Cha Cha Cha but still quite good.
We danced between the option of seeing the 3:00 Boy in the Striped Pajamas or going to the theatre to see if Milk is playing soon. Holocaust coming of age story or a biopic of an assassinated political figure. Which is slightly less depressing? Milk was playing at 1:45 and we saw it. At first I didn't think I was getting into it but I really got into it. The performances were across the board phenomenal. Sean Penn was very endearing. I think I maybe would have liked a little more development of his relationship with Scott but their subtle interactions got it all across yeah. Very sad. Even though you know it is coming...
We hugged goodbye and I loafed around at home for a horrible amount of time. I did get something done but really not enough. BUT there is always tomorrow to get something done that would be enough. Perhaps start the painting we will be working on in class on Tuesday. EGADS TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE SEMESTER! FREAK OUT!
Rewatching Delicatessen tonight. Just a perfect movie.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
production and not
Karen and I checked out Button Emporium and Josephine's. She is looking for buttons to complete these dolls she has been making (and her final for Morgan's class). The Button Emporium did not disappoint. They know what they are doing. Walls of buttons! Every type imaginable except the specific perfect kind.
It was a sunny day. Not so bad. I had a hard time getting motivated to start. I work so much better when it is night.
Robin rain checked on the slumber party at her house. Maybe I could have gotten more done if I wasn't loafing at home. Then again I did complete TWO doll bases and an outfit for one of them. That is pretty awesome I think. I was going to go to sleep after I sketched the guy but I was on a roll and just continued straight through with it. If I do a third, she will have yellow underwear and be a blond.
My skin is so bad right now. Argh.
Chatted a little bit with mum today.
I'm having such a hard time deciding which pieces to do for painting and SciFri. I have ideas but no compositions. I have all day Sunday and Monday.
Well Sunday afternoon, Jen and I are getting together for another girly date of sorts. Going to see Milk and eat cheese steak after. Funfun!
Watched Thin Red Line today. Long, very exhausting movie. I think I would be more saddened by it if I wasn't multitasking while watching it. Every time I got psyched about an actor in the movie he died. But that is to be expected from any war movie.
It was a sunny day. Not so bad. I had a hard time getting motivated to start. I work so much better when it is night.
Robin rain checked on the slumber party at her house. Maybe I could have gotten more done if I wasn't loafing at home. Then again I did complete TWO doll bases and an outfit for one of them. That is pretty awesome I think. I was going to go to sleep after I sketched the guy but I was on a roll and just continued straight through with it. If I do a third, she will have yellow underwear and be a blond.
My skin is so bad right now. Argh.
Chatted a little bit with mum today.
I'm having such a hard time deciding which pieces to do for painting and SciFri. I have ideas but no compositions. I have all day Sunday and Monday.
Well Sunday afternoon, Jen and I are getting together for another girly date of sorts. Going to see Milk and eat cheese steak after. Funfun!
Watched Thin Red Line today. Long, very exhausting movie. I think I would be more saddened by it if I wasn't multitasking while watching it. Every time I got psyched about an actor in the movie he died. But that is to be expected from any war movie.
Articulated Puppets: Two of Them!!
Two articulated doll bases and dress. The dress is based after a 1958-1959 Maggy Rouff French New Wave design. These dolls need names, any suggestions?
15". Watercolor.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
ode to things slimy
Science Friction just barely scratched the surface of Watchmen. I said that we all own it, not just DC or Moore. I brought oatmeal and ate it. The school has a hot water dispenser so hurrah for mush!
In Illustration we talked about what thesis we saw and our ideas for our future. I talked a lot, maybe because I was tired and didn't have a censor. We broke for lunch early and Robin and I got some Yo's. We lounged in the library. Katie and I exchanged quick hellos.
Carson Ellis came into class to talk to us and show her work. She is really cool and super skilled and all famous and well known. Hurrah! Also very much red headed. Our assignment was to draw a forgery. It isn't due till next class so I might redo it. I tried to forge Kent Williams but we had to do it in something opposite our style so I might redo it. Oh I just said that. Err yea. I also sketched, inked, and lightly colored a drawing of Dominic and Sivonna sitting next to each other. They both really dug it so I photocopied it for them. I'm pleased with it as well, they both have great hair to draw.
I left a little early and rushed home to catch the office before it closed. I got my packaged at like, 4:58. Yeah for teeshirts! They look great and fit me perfectly. I'm wearing my Octadecapus teeshirt now.
Did my laundry. The towels didn't fit and I did them by hand. They are going to take forever to dry.
Did some quick little articulated figures to give to the Munchkin crew. Also handed out a stack of comics to Adam and Phil. They all loved my little moving images of them. Robin had a rotating tea arm, Adam had an arm to put around Karen, Karen had two arms, Phil had a high-fiving arm, Diana had a hand holding arm, and I also had a hand holding arm. Everyone was all "awww that's so sweet!" and I got hugs.
Diana won Munchkin via the Divine Intervention card which gave her a winnable level. I had a pretty awesome character which included, but was not limited to, a fire breathing, farting, flying war horse and a divine stepladder. I drew out characters and then drew Robin smoking and looking sultry.
I have the snuffles. I think I caught a chill last night from not having a proper amount of pajamas on.
Tomorrow I am going with Robin to house sit and work work work! I'll be away from the distractions of my apartment so that should be good. Also there is a button quest at noon with Karen. Hurray!
In Illustration we talked about what thesis we saw and our ideas for our future. I talked a lot, maybe because I was tired and didn't have a censor. We broke for lunch early and Robin and I got some Yo's. We lounged in the library. Katie and I exchanged quick hellos.
Carson Ellis came into class to talk to us and show her work. She is really cool and super skilled and all famous and well known. Hurrah! Also very much red headed. Our assignment was to draw a forgery. It isn't due till next class so I might redo it. I tried to forge Kent Williams but we had to do it in something opposite our style so I might redo it. Oh I just said that. Err yea. I also sketched, inked, and lightly colored a drawing of Dominic and Sivonna sitting next to each other. They both really dug it so I photocopied it for them. I'm pleased with it as well, they both have great hair to draw.
I left a little early and rushed home to catch the office before it closed. I got my packaged at like, 4:58. Yeah for teeshirts! They look great and fit me perfectly. I'm wearing my Octadecapus teeshirt now.
Did my laundry. The towels didn't fit and I did them by hand. They are going to take forever to dry.
Did some quick little articulated figures to give to the Munchkin crew. Also handed out a stack of comics to Adam and Phil. They all loved my little moving images of them. Robin had a rotating tea arm, Adam had an arm to put around Karen, Karen had two arms, Phil had a high-fiving arm, Diana had a hand holding arm, and I also had a hand holding arm. Everyone was all "awww that's so sweet!" and I got hugs.
Diana won Munchkin via the Divine Intervention card which gave her a winnable level. I had a pretty awesome character which included, but was not limited to, a fire breathing, farting, flying war horse and a divine stepladder. I drew out characters and then drew Robin smoking and looking sultry.
I have the snuffles. I think I caught a chill last night from not having a proper amount of pajamas on.
Tomorrow I am going with Robin to house sit and work work work! I'll be away from the distractions of my apartment so that should be good. Also there is a button quest at noon with Karen. Hurray!
Friday, December 5, 2008
dilly of a day
Ahk, what a day.
Figure drawing was a focus on more tonal buildup. Lots of long poses. Whatever.
Inked in some of my sketchbook. Looks great even though one page smudged onto the opposite drawing. Still is acceptable. Scanned those in. Checked email.
Ate at Hot Lips. Sketched another picture. My method makes it really a simple thing to produce work. Read Watchmen.
I broke down a little before painting and Jen and Bryan were both very sweet. I have great friends. Got it together in time for class and Farel brought in another buddy to show off: Jesse Reklaw! He showed us his technique and we all joked about. It was nice. Farel assigned us our final (with two weeks left in the semester).
Karen stopped by to give me some brads for my puppet.
Earlier in the day we (Karen and I) purchased some items from the Holiday Art Sale. I have a budget and I have not gone over it! I got a comic bundle from BT, a print that I really wanted from Anthony Roberto for cheapsies (hurrah!!), a print of Darya's, and a present for a someone someone. People priced a little high this year and there isn't as much really interesting work. Still, it is cool to see everyone come together.
I spent hours working on my sketchbook before noting the due date is the 19th. What the hell? Argh. So I had to stay up even later than I had to to finish my homework that is actually due. But I got it.
Cecine is leaving after this semester. My new roommate is named Katie. She has a cat. She is in my Science Friction class, is an intermedia major, and seems like a cool Caterpillar.
Figure drawing was a focus on more tonal buildup. Lots of long poses. Whatever.
Inked in some of my sketchbook. Looks great even though one page smudged onto the opposite drawing. Still is acceptable. Scanned those in. Checked email.
Ate at Hot Lips. Sketched another picture. My method makes it really a simple thing to produce work. Read Watchmen.
I broke down a little before painting and Jen and Bryan were both very sweet. I have great friends. Got it together in time for class and Farel brought in another buddy to show off: Jesse Reklaw! He showed us his technique and we all joked about. It was nice. Farel assigned us our final (with two weeks left in the semester).
Karen stopped by to give me some brads for my puppet.
Earlier in the day we (Karen and I) purchased some items from the Holiday Art Sale. I have a budget and I have not gone over it! I got a comic bundle from BT, a print that I really wanted from Anthony Roberto for cheapsies (hurrah!!), a print of Darya's, and a present for a someone someone. People priced a little high this year and there isn't as much really interesting work. Still, it is cool to see everyone come together.
I spent hours working on my sketchbook before noting the due date is the 19th. What the hell? Argh. So I had to stay up even later than I had to to finish my homework that is actually due. But I got it.
Cecine is leaving after this semester. My new roommate is named Katie. She has a cat. She is in my Science Friction class, is an intermedia major, and seems like a cool Caterpillar.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Maddison and Charlie
Pages from my sketchbook. Inked Maddison from his thesis proposal and a sketched Charie.
Ink.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
brads and lines
I thought friends were nice and let you sleep in but noooo they schedule group breakfasts at 9:30am and make fancy foods when you bring juice.
Robin, Diana, Adam, Karen, Phil, Andrew, and I all grouped together for a morning feast. There was spicy hash browns (which were too much for me), scrambled eggs with too many unidentifiable bits in it, french toast, store bought juice, blueberry pancakes, and apple spread. I was teased for being a picky eater. I'm not picky, I'm bland and with a sensitive tongue! I kept nagging at Adam to read Watchmen in the proper order instead of jumping into the interesting bits.
After the food we decided to play a non-Munchkin card game. No amount of suggesting and pouting could get people to play Spoons so we played Karen's Insane Card Game. Which was Uno with a couple twists. It was fun but it ended really quick once everyone decided we needed to get to work.
I finished, I guess, my History of Design piece and go to work on a few preliminary puppets (did I mention I changed my concept?). It wasn't all that productive but a stiff neck was paining me all day. The weekend is upon me and I have plenty of time...I hope. This finals period has been really bad for me.
Robin, Diana, Adam, Karen, Phil, Andrew, and I all grouped together for a morning feast. There was spicy hash browns (which were too much for me), scrambled eggs with too many unidentifiable bits in it, french toast, store bought juice, blueberry pancakes, and apple spread. I was teased for being a picky eater. I'm not picky, I'm bland and with a sensitive tongue! I kept nagging at Adam to read Watchmen in the proper order instead of jumping into the interesting bits.
After the food we decided to play a non-Munchkin card game. No amount of suggesting and pouting could get people to play Spoons so we played Karen's Insane Card Game. Which was Uno with a couple twists. It was fun but it ended really quick once everyone decided we needed to get to work.
I finished, I guess, my History of Design piece and go to work on a few preliminary puppets (did I mention I changed my concept?). It wasn't all that productive but a stiff neck was paining me all day. The weekend is upon me and I have plenty of time...I hope. This finals period has been really bad for me.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
covered with the sweat of virgins
I went to see Dir en Grey tonight. My first real concert concert.
Jaymee and I met at Diana's and she drove us to the Hawthorne Theatre. It was a nice cool night but we dressed light and just wore jackets for the line. I haven't listened to Dir en Grey in a while (since I was 18 or so) but for nostalgia and for my first real show, I bought a ticket. The audience was mostly made up of teens between 14 and 18. Lots of youngins with intense makeup and way too much clothing for a packed show. We had some giggles at the fashion choices and also felt old because just being 20 put us in the minority of "older" listeners. The line was right near traffic and we kept getting honks. Some cars drove dangerously close. The Monster Soda truck swerved onto the curb and gave out free energy drinks to the teens. Nuts!
When we got close to the entrance, Jaymee and Diana took our coats to the car (which was only like a block and a half away, score!) and I held a spot for them. It was cold but it was the best choice as I became soaked through the show. The theatre was designed for about 300-500 people, I don't quite know the number for sure but it was small. Lots of little girls all shoved into the place. The first band was The Human Abstract. American and not that interesting. The audience had no energy for them and they generated none. Just some wanky looking guys, whatever. Some of the audience were fans though. During the break Diana gave us shoulder rubs and we made fun of people. Some of the shoving of the audience made girls put there hands up in "back off" motions. I jerked my thumb in a "you should get away from the front because you will be stomped" motion. Seriously, who enforces personal space when they are 10 feet away from the stage?
The crowd cheered for each Asian that came on stage and then stopped when they realised it wasn't a member of the band. I was screaming jokes about that something like, "YEAH ALL ASIANS LOOK ALIKE!" and "YEAH ROADIES YEAH!"
When Dir en Grey came on it went mental. Everyone crowded and pushed and clawed to get closer. Kyo, the lead singer, was shirtless and was so controlled in his snake like contortions. It was just mental. Screaming, pushing, elbows, sweat, arms, hands, bodies, fabric, skin, spit, everything together in one shifting waving mass. Kyo spat on his audience for the start and we reveled in it. I was mostly within the cluster with slight movement. We were not locked in place but we shoved onwards and forwards.
People had their cellphones and cameras out for such long portions. They just HAD TO PROVE how close they were and how awesome it was. I would rather just experience the show instead of documenting it to relive it. Can't relive something you barely live.
This lady behind me shoved me more than pushed me. I didn't elbow her in the nose but I wanted to. Every time I saw her, her face was grumpy and irked. Like she was dragged there by her boyfriend. She just didn't want to be close or anything. I pushed back into her a little harder than I was pushed. Seriously, why stand so close if you don't want to be touched?
The little girls put up a good fight. My hair was soaked and sticking to my face. I jumped and danced and screamed and screamed. I escaped to the back when their main set was done and scooted closer when they came out for their encore. I wish I was closer when the other band members came up for the last gestures but I had room to jump in the back.
The night was sweet and refreshing when I emerged. A guy chatted me up while I waited for my friends to show. We screamed each others names and jumped on each other in triumph of the show.
Fred Meyer's gave us sweet sweet liquid to consume and hydrate ourselves.
We sat in Diana's car and unwound. I called Chris and gushed the details. When we got chilly it was time to go home and crash.
The Thesis Presentations:
Jason: Brilliant. He knew how to word things and how to put together a slide show to explain what he was going to do. The room was filled with easily 40 people. Karen, Robin, and I sat on the couch and didn't have the best view but still got a good general idea. Jason is doing a life size sculpture of those spitting dinosaurs from Jurassic Park. It is on a wrecked car and will be spitting toxic stuff. It deals with childhood pop culture and the inclusion of radioactive material in it. He phrased it in such a way that it was perfect. He is an illustration major but he has already mastered all that there needs to be mastered in technique and examples of stuff. He is set for life that boy.
Natalie: Could have had more character sketches and a better idea of the final concept. There was some major nit-picking. I think the end result has some great potential. She was very nervous but as we asked, her thesis got more fleshed out. She is doing 15 illustrations based after the Norwegian story about the girl and the polar bear.
Matt: Beautiful slide show. Perfect amount of time spent in explanation and he really knew what he was drawing from to create the story. It is a steampunk comic about the relationship between two brothers. I think he will add more pages because 15 is such an odd number.
Maddison: He had a loop of ominous music playing while we filed in. His project is a sequential scroll based upon Lucifer's fall from Heaven. He was dressed like he was going to sell us Ice Cream and the under lighting of the podium gave him a very sinister look. Some people asked him some silly questions which seemed more about showing off their own knowledge of the subject. I wanted to ask how he was going to use the scroll aspect in its design.
Charlie: I sat next to Charlie's darling wife Karie. Wonderful woman. This was Charlie's oral final thesis presentation. Months of work lead up to this and he did not disappoint. He wrote a book and illustrated it and got it printed up through Lulu (print on demand service). It looks really nice. The oral was so personal and he really bared a lot of himself in the glare of the lights. He knew every word. There was no doubt. He gave us all pamphlets of his work as well. Goodies! Next paycheck, I think I will order a copy of his story. His art style is amazing. We all adore Charlie so much, I'm going to miss him.
I did about 6 sketches during the proposals and final. Plenty to ink and finalize!
During lunch Jaymee came up to Diana and started talking about the Dir en Grey concert. I decided to get a ticket if it was not sold out, and it wasn't so I got one. So quick with the Internet. The long lunch was long and I decided to change my puppet because the plaster just isn't working the way I want it to.
I only got about 10 minutes between getting home from the thesis stuff and going to Diana's. Karen was a doll and drove Robin and I there and back. Karen so rocks.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAHHH!!!!
Jaymee and I met at Diana's and she drove us to the Hawthorne Theatre. It was a nice cool night but we dressed light and just wore jackets for the line. I haven't listened to Dir en Grey in a while (since I was 18 or so) but for nostalgia and for my first real show, I bought a ticket. The audience was mostly made up of teens between 14 and 18. Lots of youngins with intense makeup and way too much clothing for a packed show. We had some giggles at the fashion choices and also felt old because just being 20 put us in the minority of "older" listeners. The line was right near traffic and we kept getting honks. Some cars drove dangerously close. The Monster Soda truck swerved onto the curb and gave out free energy drinks to the teens. Nuts!
When we got close to the entrance, Jaymee and Diana took our coats to the car (which was only like a block and a half away, score!) and I held a spot for them. It was cold but it was the best choice as I became soaked through the show. The theatre was designed for about 300-500 people, I don't quite know the number for sure but it was small. Lots of little girls all shoved into the place. The first band was The Human Abstract. American and not that interesting. The audience had no energy for them and they generated none. Just some wanky looking guys, whatever. Some of the audience were fans though. During the break Diana gave us shoulder rubs and we made fun of people. Some of the shoving of the audience made girls put there hands up in "back off" motions. I jerked my thumb in a "you should get away from the front because you will be stomped" motion. Seriously, who enforces personal space when they are 10 feet away from the stage?
The crowd cheered for each Asian that came on stage and then stopped when they realised it wasn't a member of the band. I was screaming jokes about that something like, "YEAH ALL ASIANS LOOK ALIKE!" and "YEAH ROADIES YEAH!"
When Dir en Grey came on it went mental. Everyone crowded and pushed and clawed to get closer. Kyo, the lead singer, was shirtless and was so controlled in his snake like contortions. It was just mental. Screaming, pushing, elbows, sweat, arms, hands, bodies, fabric, skin, spit, everything together in one shifting waving mass. Kyo spat on his audience for the start and we reveled in it. I was mostly within the cluster with slight movement. We were not locked in place but we shoved onwards and forwards.
People had their cellphones and cameras out for such long portions. They just HAD TO PROVE how close they were and how awesome it was. I would rather just experience the show instead of documenting it to relive it. Can't relive something you barely live.
This lady behind me shoved me more than pushed me. I didn't elbow her in the nose but I wanted to. Every time I saw her, her face was grumpy and irked. Like she was dragged there by her boyfriend. She just didn't want to be close or anything. I pushed back into her a little harder than I was pushed. Seriously, why stand so close if you don't want to be touched?
The little girls put up a good fight. My hair was soaked and sticking to my face. I jumped and danced and screamed and screamed. I escaped to the back when their main set was done and scooted closer when they came out for their encore. I wish I was closer when the other band members came up for the last gestures but I had room to jump in the back.
The night was sweet and refreshing when I emerged. A guy chatted me up while I waited for my friends to show. We screamed each others names and jumped on each other in triumph of the show.
Fred Meyer's gave us sweet sweet liquid to consume and hydrate ourselves.
We sat in Diana's car and unwound. I called Chris and gushed the details. When we got chilly it was time to go home and crash.
The Thesis Presentations:
Jason: Brilliant. He knew how to word things and how to put together a slide show to explain what he was going to do. The room was filled with easily 40 people. Karen, Robin, and I sat on the couch and didn't have the best view but still got a good general idea. Jason is doing a life size sculpture of those spitting dinosaurs from Jurassic Park. It is on a wrecked car and will be spitting toxic stuff. It deals with childhood pop culture and the inclusion of radioactive material in it. He phrased it in such a way that it was perfect. He is an illustration major but he has already mastered all that there needs to be mastered in technique and examples of stuff. He is set for life that boy.
Natalie: Could have had more character sketches and a better idea of the final concept. There was some major nit-picking. I think the end result has some great potential. She was very nervous but as we asked, her thesis got more fleshed out. She is doing 15 illustrations based after the Norwegian story about the girl and the polar bear.
Matt: Beautiful slide show. Perfect amount of time spent in explanation and he really knew what he was drawing from to create the story. It is a steampunk comic about the relationship between two brothers. I think he will add more pages because 15 is such an odd number.
Maddison: He had a loop of ominous music playing while we filed in. His project is a sequential scroll based upon Lucifer's fall from Heaven. He was dressed like he was going to sell us Ice Cream and the under lighting of the podium gave him a very sinister look. Some people asked him some silly questions which seemed more about showing off their own knowledge of the subject. I wanted to ask how he was going to use the scroll aspect in its design.
Charlie: I sat next to Charlie's darling wife Karie. Wonderful woman. This was Charlie's oral final thesis presentation. Months of work lead up to this and he did not disappoint. He wrote a book and illustrated it and got it printed up through Lulu (print on demand service). It looks really nice. The oral was so personal and he really bared a lot of himself in the glare of the lights. He knew every word. There was no doubt. He gave us all pamphlets of his work as well. Goodies! Next paycheck, I think I will order a copy of his story. His art style is amazing. We all adore Charlie so much, I'm going to miss him.
I did about 6 sketches during the proposals and final. Plenty to ink and finalize!
During lunch Jaymee came up to Diana and started talking about the Dir en Grey concert. I decided to get a ticket if it was not sold out, and it wasn't so I got one. So quick with the Internet. The long lunch was long and I decided to change my puppet because the plaster just isn't working the way I want it to.
I only got about 10 minutes between getting home from the thesis stuff and going to Diana's. Karen was a doll and drove Robin and I there and back. Karen so rocks.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAHHH!!!!
it is time
Just spent the last three or so hours inking and the hours before that drawing. Working on my History of Design final. I might end up redoing it more like Aubrey Beardsley's style (it is a homage) because I'm not sure how strongly it reads as it right now. Still, needs to be finished. I am very pleased with the image on its own. Working big isn't such a daunting task anymore and my style shows.
Early in the day, Diana, Karen and I went to Powell's. I left my wallet at home. First we looked at Google Earth on Diana's computer because Google Earth is AWESOME. We walked all the way there but it was good company so the time went fast. Karen bought a copy of Illustration Now (twice she has gone to Powell's to get something that I bought the day prior). She found some great art books and some books to manipulate with her modified book art stuff that she does. Afterwards we talked about going to Powell's as a bookstore to explore and find new things and going to a place like Barnes and Noble to find specific things to read (sometimes Powell's falls short in the stock department). It is such a beautiful store.
I finished watching 3:10 to Yuma. Westerns are not really my thing but it was okay. It felt short and like it needed...more.
And yeah, pretty much worked on my project.
My bike tire now is lumpy. It doesn't ride evenly and it rattles if I go really fast.
Tomorrow is the day to check out Thesis a plenty. I shall have my sketchbook in hand for sketching (I have an assignment to do some "journalism" sketches and need to get working on them).
Happy Birthday Seiji!!
Early in the day, Diana, Karen and I went to Powell's. I left my wallet at home. First we looked at Google Earth on Diana's computer because Google Earth is AWESOME. We walked all the way there but it was good company so the time went fast. Karen bought a copy of Illustration Now (twice she has gone to Powell's to get something that I bought the day prior). She found some great art books and some books to manipulate with her modified book art stuff that she does. Afterwards we talked about going to Powell's as a bookstore to explore and find new things and going to a place like Barnes and Noble to find specific things to read (sometimes Powell's falls short in the stock department). It is such a beautiful store.
I finished watching 3:10 to Yuma. Westerns are not really my thing but it was okay. It felt short and like it needed...more.
And yeah, pretty much worked on my project.
My bike tire now is lumpy. It doesn't ride evenly and it rattles if I go really fast.
Tomorrow is the day to check out Thesis a plenty. I shall have my sketchbook in hand for sketching (I have an assignment to do some "journalism" sketches and need to get working on them).
Happy Birthday Seiji!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
winner
Saw a man in a yellow jacket but he didn't cycle through the max, thank heavens for that! First I sweeped up the store and wiped the mirrors. Paula asked why I was so nervous around her. I ran around the store finding stuff for this dudes exchange. No Gap cards. Even though we were busy I was still let off after only three hours of work due to poor sales. Saying we need 5 Gap Cards and five thousand in sales just seems to be expecting so much from people. Demanding more and more and more. But hey, business is business.
Got some sheets of watercolor paper and ink on the way home. I'm all set for finals now. Did a quick little drawing and gave it to Karen. Then she and I went to Diana and Robin's and chilled. Robin is working on a great painting. She gave us ornaments as gifts. How lovely! And then we started playing Munchkin. This game has gotten serious for us. We all know the rules now. Also, as for the second game, I WON!!! Finally. And it took several hard earned rounds to win it fair and square without people letting up. I did it! Yay! The third game went to 2 am and Adam joined it. He won I think, well Robin sorta won. It was a long night. I was expecting to do anything.
3:10 to Yuma has so many notable actors in it beyond Bale and Crowe.
It is Advent Calendar time!
Got some sheets of watercolor paper and ink on the way home. I'm all set for finals now. Did a quick little drawing and gave it to Karen. Then she and I went to Diana and Robin's and chilled. Robin is working on a great painting. She gave us ornaments as gifts. How lovely! And then we started playing Munchkin. This game has gotten serious for us. We all know the rules now. Also, as for the second game, I WON!!! Finally. And it took several hard earned rounds to win it fair and square without people letting up. I did it! Yay! The third game went to 2 am and Adam joined it. He won I think, well Robin sorta won. It was a long night. I was expecting to do anything.
3:10 to Yuma has so many notable actors in it beyond Bale and Crowe.
It is Advent Calendar time!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
copper
Quick study of two characters that are going to probably appear in my History of Design final. Breaking in the new brush.
Got my scanner working, just need to find the best setting to scan with.
2.5"x3.5". Ink.
v
Got my piece thumbnailed for History of Design. Going to draw some modern day Beardsley women. Did some quick ink studies of them as well. Started writing down ideas for the science friction paintings as well. Going to go with retro paintings of modern technological advances. Sort of how we live in sci-fi today type thing. It'll be cool. Not sure how big I will paint them but I might just do it my standard 10x14 size just because I have so much of that paper laying about. Need a large sheet for the Beardsley though.
Returned some library books and got one back. Used my new blinky light so cars can be aware of me when it is dark out.
Ate a turkey sandwich.
Read some Watchmen. Watched some True Blood, a HBO show about southern vampires. It's cute.
Molded some puppet parts but I'm not satisfied with them, thankfully working like this makes it easy to start again. I think I might go smaller than I thought. Hmmmn. Just need to keep working at it and eventually I will get there.
Returned some library books and got one back. Used my new blinky light so cars can be aware of me when it is dark out.
Ate a turkey sandwich.
Read some Watchmen. Watched some True Blood, a HBO show about southern vampires. It's cute.
Molded some puppet parts but I'm not satisfied with them, thankfully working like this makes it easy to start again. I think I might go smaller than I thought. Hmmmn. Just need to keep working at it and eventually I will get there.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Or maybe just an awakened determination...
Last day with the family. The time went by so fast. They got on the Yellow and ended up walking to my place so we took it easy for about an hour. Dad made some turkey sandwiches for us. Mmmm. Eventually we decided to just wander down towards Little Finnegan's and see where the rest of the day took us. Mom found a delightful cowboy lunchbox that she liked as well as some bike streamers. Big Finnegan's had a wonderful noisy ray gun that is the perfect prop. It was splendid. And the nice parents bought me the Playmobil Advent Calendar that my heart desired so strongly. It is now assembled and waiting to be enjoyed during my finals month (finals week is for suckers). I also got a new bike light because mine was stolen. There is a printed book exhibit at the library and included some Kelmscott Press selections.
Mom's ice cream cone fell apart when she was trying to undress it from its paper holder.
The massage chairs at Brookstone are lovely.
The crowds were very crowdy. Nordstrom Rack was insane, we were in there fore barely five minutes and we had to escape.
The last hour was spent in enjoyment of the Chinese Gardens. We had some late afternoon tea in the tea shop (as well as a mooncake and some dumplings). I had the Monkey King again (same kind of tea I had when I went there with mom a few years ago). We sat and talked about stuff, you know. Nathan took lots of pictures, of few of which I'd like to see. The family got to the train station just in time. We hugged and hugged and then they were off to Tacoma.
The clouds were overhead but no rain came down. It made for a rather pleasant walk to Powell's. I was just snug enough. I found a present for a someone someone amid the sale racks as well as some other things for me in the sale section (namely JPod, which had an approach in the narrative that intrigued me, a paperback of Atwood's Oryx and Crake with a Bosch cover , and the new edition of Illustration Now for $15). It wasn't that crowded but Powell's probably didn't have any Black Friday sales. The streetcar was packed and my arm was tired of reaching up and grasping the rail tight. I've done tight streetcars before and no one smelled so it was fine.
I assembled the Playmobil Advent Calendar, put some stuff away, put on a sweater, and kicked back. Tomorrow I am throwing myself at work with a profound vigor, yeah!
Mom Makes Magnificet Meat
Climbed into bed and then I remembered that I had totally forgot to write! Oops!
I was up way before everyone arrived and managed to put away the dishes, watch the new episode of House, wash some more dishes, and get everything in general order for the day.
The turkey took four hours and while waiting we played a game of Munchkin. I almost won but Nathan succeeded. Mom was willing to let me win but that isn't so much fun when you know it is going down. Dad made us some scrambled eggs and cheese. Mmm! After Munchkin we sat about and read and talked. I worked on my puppet and did a few prelimiary casts. It works! Sort of! Still needs some fine tuning and practice but in general I think this system will work for the structure of it.
We had a pretty standard Thanksgiving of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, salad, and home made apple cider. It was all very good and filling. My taste has broadened and I enjoyed the salad very much. All the left overs are going to be sticking around in my fridge so I shall be well fed for the next week. All that work culminated in a sort of quick, early afternoon feast.
It was followed by some more time spent reading and eating chocolate. We all gathered together and watched Black Sheep. I made popcorn and explained my process so that the joy of pan popcorn can be spread far and wide. Mom and Dad and Nate seemed to like the movie regardless of its violence. Whee!
Thanksgiving was nice. A simple little dinner and just about us getting together and enjoying it. Nothing too stressful. It was nice. Except for me not winning Munchkin.
I was up way before everyone arrived and managed to put away the dishes, watch the new episode of House, wash some more dishes, and get everything in general order for the day.
The turkey took four hours and while waiting we played a game of Munchkin. I almost won but Nathan succeeded. Mom was willing to let me win but that isn't so much fun when you know it is going down. Dad made us some scrambled eggs and cheese. Mmm! After Munchkin we sat about and read and talked. I worked on my puppet and did a few prelimiary casts. It works! Sort of! Still needs some fine tuning and practice but in general I think this system will work for the structure of it.
We had a pretty standard Thanksgiving of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, salad, and home made apple cider. It was all very good and filling. My taste has broadened and I enjoyed the salad very much. All the left overs are going to be sticking around in my fridge so I shall be well fed for the next week. All that work culminated in a sort of quick, early afternoon feast.
It was followed by some more time spent reading and eating chocolate. We all gathered together and watched Black Sheep. I made popcorn and explained my process so that the joy of pan popcorn can be spread far and wide. Mom and Dad and Nate seemed to like the movie regardless of its violence. Whee!
Thanksgiving was nice. A simple little dinner and just about us getting together and enjoying it. Nothing too stressful. It was nice. Except for me not winning Munchkin.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
playmobil, how I love thee
Ma, Pa, and Nate arrived safe and sound. Their train arrived early. I was lagging behind because the Max I was on had malfunctioning doors so we ended up meeting at the crosswalk at 1st and Everett. Dad was easy to spot, Nathan and Mom less so. We hugged and boarded the next train so they could check into their hotel. We crammed shoulder to shoulder in with our bags and portable cooler, thankfully the stop for their hotel was the one at the Convention Center. Dad scored a room at the Holiday Inn and they are on the quiet floor. No children allowed. We settled in and watched some TV (Cash Cab and a bit of Star Wars). Mom shoved snacks at us and we left to board the Max to go to my place.
We settled on having Bellagio's for dinner instead of eating out. We had the Garlic Chicken and it was good. We played Scattergories and Mom bested Nate by a few points. After that game, Nathan stayed behind reading comics while we went to Safeway to get the stuff I neglected to buy earlier. Udon, gravy, pie, tinfoil, and ice cream were ours!! Dad and I enjoyed some ice cream, he had chocolate sauce and I had this lavender honey that Adam and Karen made. Mmmm!! Mom was getting yawny so they all left early. Probably going to watch TV on their big screen. Ma and Pa are so adorable. Dad showed off some scratches he got from a battle with a thorny bush.
I slept way way in and had to drop off one of my three destinations. I opted for clay and comics (and not Trader Joe's). The clay was put into a backpack and by the time I was done my shoulders were an achey mess. I also got tissue, a new crooked liner brush, and some small watercolor paper. I stepped into Big Finnegan's (it is next door to Art Media) to see if they had Munchkin (they didn't) and walked out with a travel Scattergories set and a Playmobil Bicycle Policeman toy. I got the toy mainly because, for some reason, he had a gun. And it was cheap. In line I saw the most marvelous thing: a Playmobil Advent Calendar. Three different kinds of them! Each day you get a different toy for a set and there was a knight set, a princess one, and a pirate set. I really want the pirate set. They were not badly priced and I probably will rush out and get one once I decided I REALLY NEED one. Playmobils are the best toy because they include every profession and possible set.
Floating World Comics proved to be a cornucopia of must-haves. And with my discount I got a great deal on the pile I did buy. I got Tekkonkinkreet because I have been wanting it for a while, a slim Grant Morrison/Philip Bond, a collection of Becky Cloonan shorts, the new volume of Exterminators, and the new issue of The Boys. And it all came in $30 cheaper than you probably think it is!
Exhausted, I rode my bike to the Max and with the time I had I decided to just go home instead of circling by Trader Joe's. Which worked out for the better because everyone came in earlier than I thought.
We settled on having Bellagio's for dinner instead of eating out. We had the Garlic Chicken and it was good. We played Scattergories and Mom bested Nate by a few points. After that game, Nathan stayed behind reading comics while we went to Safeway to get the stuff I neglected to buy earlier. Udon, gravy, pie, tinfoil, and ice cream were ours!! Dad and I enjoyed some ice cream, he had chocolate sauce and I had this lavender honey that Adam and Karen made. Mmmm!! Mom was getting yawny so they all left early. Probably going to watch TV on their big screen. Ma and Pa are so adorable. Dad showed off some scratches he got from a battle with a thorny bush.
I slept way way in and had to drop off one of my three destinations. I opted for clay and comics (and not Trader Joe's). The clay was put into a backpack and by the time I was done my shoulders were an achey mess. I also got tissue, a new crooked liner brush, and some small watercolor paper. I stepped into Big Finnegan's (it is next door to Art Media) to see if they had Munchkin (they didn't) and walked out with a travel Scattergories set and a Playmobil Bicycle Policeman toy. I got the toy mainly because, for some reason, he had a gun. And it was cheap. In line I saw the most marvelous thing: a Playmobil Advent Calendar. Three different kinds of them! Each day you get a different toy for a set and there was a knight set, a princess one, and a pirate set. I really want the pirate set. They were not badly priced and I probably will rush out and get one once I decided I REALLY NEED one. Playmobils are the best toy because they include every profession and possible set.
Floating World Comics proved to be a cornucopia of must-haves. And with my discount I got a great deal on the pile I did buy. I got Tekkonkinkreet because I have been wanting it for a while, a slim Grant Morrison/Philip Bond, a collection of Becky Cloonan shorts, the new volume of Exterminators, and the new issue of The Boys. And it all came in $30 cheaper than you probably think it is!
Exhausted, I rode my bike to the Max and with the time I had I decided to just go home instead of circling by Trader Joe's. Which worked out for the better because everyone came in earlier than I thought.
A Level, hurrah!
In indication of my feast picture, Morgan said it was "A level work". It was the first thing I thought of after knowing not to do anything to do with food. We spent a lot of time talking and on break. We talked about chickens and owls and animals and hunting and killing your own meat. We also went over our portraits and pointed out some of the best likenesses (my Heather got mention as did Natalie and Lacey's portraits of each other). The last 45 minutes was just to draw Kate and draw it nicely. I worked on scribble shading and some contour. A very easy way to go into break.
We went over the exact same websites in History of Design. No one had the heart to tell her so we saw the same work and the same websites and heard all the same dribble. Karen and I played silent 20 questions (I was Cillian Murphy and a tee shirt, she was a blender) and also played a few sadistic games of hangman where we went to great lengths to draw the figures as we waited for each other to guess the very difficult words.
Student council is really good at sorting things out when there are only 10 people in attendance.
The critique in painting went smoothly enough. The jaw was too narrow and the cheekbones too high to be Keanu but it was very dynamic. James' looked more like him and was much softer. Jen cut her Clint Eastwood out and it was striking and awesome. She pasted it onto black paper and the whole combination just worked. After the uneventful critique, Farel's friend Zachary Flagg Baldus came to class and showed us his work. He went to SVA and has had a pretty solid seeming career since then. Lots of variance and commissions. He works in between computers and traditional a lot. His whole portfolio was so smooth and with a real clear idea as to how he wanted to present things. He used Seamus, a PNCA alumni whose last name begins with an H but I can't remember the rest, as a photo reference. Same dude who taught me how to bind books, small world eh? Our final is still unassigned for that class.
It had stopped-OH DANG I FORGOT THE CLAY AGAIN!! Tomorrow, I'll get it tomorrow. Yes.
My shift tomorrow has been cancelled so I can stay up late and sleep in! I could have done the morning thing but it is nice to have that burden off my shoulders. It gave me time to clean up my apartment. It doesn't look really like my place without the clutter but it probably is better for my lungs (the cough I get from dust has returned). I put up some more art work and put away the dishes and scrubbed the counters and sanitized stuff. My place is ready for Thanksgiving, now all the parents (and Nate) have to do is bring the grub!
We went over the exact same websites in History of Design. No one had the heart to tell her so we saw the same work and the same websites and heard all the same dribble. Karen and I played silent 20 questions (I was Cillian Murphy and a tee shirt, she was a blender) and also played a few sadistic games of hangman where we went to great lengths to draw the figures as we waited for each other to guess the very difficult words.
Student council is really good at sorting things out when there are only 10 people in attendance.
The critique in painting went smoothly enough. The jaw was too narrow and the cheekbones too high to be Keanu but it was very dynamic. James' looked more like him and was much softer. Jen cut her Clint Eastwood out and it was striking and awesome. She pasted it onto black paper and the whole combination just worked. After the uneventful critique, Farel's friend Zachary Flagg Baldus came to class and showed us his work. He went to SVA and has had a pretty solid seeming career since then. Lots of variance and commissions. He works in between computers and traditional a lot. His whole portfolio was so smooth and with a real clear idea as to how he wanted to present things. He used Seamus, a PNCA alumni whose last name begins with an H but I can't remember the rest, as a photo reference. Same dude who taught me how to bind books, small world eh? Our final is still unassigned for that class.
It had stopped-OH DANG I FORGOT THE CLAY AGAIN!! Tomorrow, I'll get it tomorrow. Yes.
My shift tomorrow has been cancelled so I can stay up late and sleep in! I could have done the morning thing but it is nice to have that burden off my shoulders. It gave me time to clean up my apartment. It doesn't look really like my place without the clutter but it probably is better for my lungs (the cough I get from dust has returned). I put up some more art work and put away the dishes and scrubbed the counters and sanitized stuff. My place is ready for Thanksgiving, now all the parents (and Nate) have to do is bring the grub!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Duchamp's Last Work
Marcel Duchamp did everything and thus he was able to do anything. His final work was an example of his marvelous devotion to the creation of art. When he threw himself at chess and became a master, he said that he would never create monumental art again. Everyone believed him and put out books about his work before he had died. His secret was a piece that spanned several decades’ worth of hidden construction: Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas. While many artists try anything, Duchamp is one of the validated few who could do everything.
Born of Marie-Caroline-Lucie Duchamp and Justin-Isidore Duchamp on July 28th, 1887 in Normandy, Marcel Duchamp had art as a birthright. Descended from an engraver and painter, he and his siblings grew up immersed in it. Of six children, the eldest four pursued everything from painting to sculpting.
At 15, Marcel was painted the Impressionist scenes Church at Blainville and Landscape at Blainville. He departed from painting and worked on intricate studies of his siblings. A few years later his landscapes and portraits were included in shows. In 1904 he joined his brothers in Paris. Up to 1911, his portfolio amassed a varied number of studies from the monochromatic Red Nude to the well rendered yet still loose Portrait of the Artist’s Father. In 1911 his work took a turn towards Cubism and in that one year he produced over 18 remarkable paintings, including the studies which later lent to his infamous Nude Descending a Staircase. Cubist artists were not keen on his style, commenting that it was more on trend with futurism. Scores of paintings later, in 1914, he departed from the medium and turned to finding new forms of expression.
Viewing specific sculptures like To Be Looked at (from the Other Side of the Glass) with One Eyes, Close To, for Almost and Hour and the etching Oculist Witnesses were indicators of what his work would become. Many of his pieces were studies for longer, more lengthy works such as the 1914 painting Chocolate Grinder in his piece The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (1915-1923). Work like Bicycle Wheel and Comb exemplify his use of the readymade as a medium. In 1935 he did a series of rotoreliefs. Sixteen Miles of String was one of several installations. His production of work slowed in the Twenties and almost stopped in the late Forties and was limited to all but a few studies.
Duchamp’s love of chess started at around the same time his art career did. In 1923 he became much more serious in his devotion to the game and started entering tournaments. Through the Twenties he climbed in rank throughout Europe and participating heavily in the community by designing posters for events and writing articles for magazines. He approached chess as any other piece of art and played games for their beauty and not their brutality.
During the decades that he seriously pursued chess, his output of art was minimal and limited mostly to studies of Rodin and Ingres. After The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even, his individual work was more playful than a serious endeavor. To the world it was clear that he was done with art and it was time to consider his portfolio as a retrospective.
The sculpture Given the Illuminating Gas and the Waterfall wasn’t considered too highly when it debuted as it wasn’t placed in context with the installation it was a study for. It was one part of several sculptures in preparation for Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas; an installation revealed after Duchamp’s death in 1968. While he worked at becoming a master chess player, he worked on the installation in a hidden room in his New York studio. In 1965 he moved the whole secret project to a commercial building and finished it. The piece was assembled from found bricks and twigs, a door from a house in Spain, a hand constructed life sized mannequin, and a mural manipulated from photos Marcel took on a vacation in 1946, the time when he started this final piece. He had to slowly collect all the materials as to not raise awareness of what he was doing. The leather on the first mannequin cracked and the construction had to be restarted.
All while constructing it, he created a binder detailed the reconstruction which would eventually happen upon its discovery. It was his climax but it wasn’t just for him. The piece can only be viewed in one specific way and has only been photographed in one way. Images of the reinstallation are nonexistent. He left instructions and now the piece is permanently installed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In his manual he sketched how the doorway would look once permanently installed. Hundreds of photos and 35 pages of notes highlight the fifteen outlined stages of assembly. In the museum it is viewed as an old door and as you approach it a light turns on and you peer through holes in the wood. Through the peephole is a woman laying nude prone on the grass, holding a gas lamp in her hand. Her face is obscured by the silhouette of the brick.
The patience chess requires instilled the discipline required to embark on such a lengthy piece. There is no doubt in the honesty of his devotion to the game, but his pursuit helped ensure the determination needed to keep working on his masterwork. Having grown up with art, there was no other lifestyle present for him. Duchamp’s privacy on the matter of Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas could have only been achieved by such a childhood. In this day in age, only recluses are able to complete masterpieces that no one else knows about. Duchamp did everything and so he able was to achieve anything.
D’Harnoncourt, Anne and McShine, Kynaston. Marchel Duchamp. New York: The Museum of Modern Art and Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1973.
Tomkins, Calvin. Duchamp: A Biography. New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc. 1996.
Schwarz, Arturo. The Complete Works of Marcel Duchamp. New York: Delano Greenidge Editions, 2000.
Born of Marie-Caroline-Lucie Duchamp and Justin-Isidore Duchamp on July 28th, 1887 in Normandy, Marcel Duchamp had art as a birthright. Descended from an engraver and painter, he and his siblings grew up immersed in it. Of six children, the eldest four pursued everything from painting to sculpting.
At 15, Marcel was painted the Impressionist scenes Church at Blainville and Landscape at Blainville. He departed from painting and worked on intricate studies of his siblings. A few years later his landscapes and portraits were included in shows. In 1904 he joined his brothers in Paris. Up to 1911, his portfolio amassed a varied number of studies from the monochromatic Red Nude to the well rendered yet still loose Portrait of the Artist’s Father. In 1911 his work took a turn towards Cubism and in that one year he produced over 18 remarkable paintings, including the studies which later lent to his infamous Nude Descending a Staircase. Cubist artists were not keen on his style, commenting that it was more on trend with futurism. Scores of paintings later, in 1914, he departed from the medium and turned to finding new forms of expression.
Viewing specific sculptures like To Be Looked at (from the Other Side of the Glass) with One Eyes, Close To, for Almost and Hour and the etching Oculist Witnesses were indicators of what his work would become. Many of his pieces were studies for longer, more lengthy works such as the 1914 painting Chocolate Grinder in his piece The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (1915-1923). Work like Bicycle Wheel and Comb exemplify his use of the readymade as a medium. In 1935 he did a series of rotoreliefs. Sixteen Miles of String was one of several installations. His production of work slowed in the Twenties and almost stopped in the late Forties and was limited to all but a few studies.
Duchamp’s love of chess started at around the same time his art career did. In 1923 he became much more serious in his devotion to the game and started entering tournaments. Through the Twenties he climbed in rank throughout Europe and participating heavily in the community by designing posters for events and writing articles for magazines. He approached chess as any other piece of art and played games for their beauty and not their brutality.
During the decades that he seriously pursued chess, his output of art was minimal and limited mostly to studies of Rodin and Ingres. After The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even, his individual work was more playful than a serious endeavor. To the world it was clear that he was done with art and it was time to consider his portfolio as a retrospective.
The sculpture Given the Illuminating Gas and the Waterfall wasn’t considered too highly when it debuted as it wasn’t placed in context with the installation it was a study for. It was one part of several sculptures in preparation for Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas; an installation revealed after Duchamp’s death in 1968. While he worked at becoming a master chess player, he worked on the installation in a hidden room in his New York studio. In 1965 he moved the whole secret project to a commercial building and finished it. The piece was assembled from found bricks and twigs, a door from a house in Spain, a hand constructed life sized mannequin, and a mural manipulated from photos Marcel took on a vacation in 1946, the time when he started this final piece. He had to slowly collect all the materials as to not raise awareness of what he was doing. The leather on the first mannequin cracked and the construction had to be restarted.
All while constructing it, he created a binder detailed the reconstruction which would eventually happen upon its discovery. It was his climax but it wasn’t just for him. The piece can only be viewed in one specific way and has only been photographed in one way. Images of the reinstallation are nonexistent. He left instructions and now the piece is permanently installed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In his manual he sketched how the doorway would look once permanently installed. Hundreds of photos and 35 pages of notes highlight the fifteen outlined stages of assembly. In the museum it is viewed as an old door and as you approach it a light turns on and you peer through holes in the wood. Through the peephole is a woman laying nude prone on the grass, holding a gas lamp in her hand. Her face is obscured by the silhouette of the brick.
The patience chess requires instilled the discipline required to embark on such a lengthy piece. There is no doubt in the honesty of his devotion to the game, but his pursuit helped ensure the determination needed to keep working on his masterwork. Having grown up with art, there was no other lifestyle present for him. Duchamp’s privacy on the matter of Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas could have only been achieved by such a childhood. In this day in age, only recluses are able to complete masterpieces that no one else knows about. Duchamp did everything and so he able was to achieve anything.
D’Harnoncourt, Anne and McShine, Kynaston. Marchel Duchamp. New York: The Museum of Modern Art and Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1973.
Tomkins, Calvin. Duchamp: A Biography. New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc. 1996.
Schwarz, Arturo. The Complete Works of Marcel Duchamp. New York: Delano Greenidge Editions, 2000.
Monday, November 24, 2008
feisty
Just have a couple hundred words left on my essay. It is coming along quite nicely I must say. Found out some new things about Duchamp and I cross referenced them to make sure. Finished my Keanu portrait. I had to make the background black because it got so dirty but it is very striking, I'm excited for the critique. Finished my figure drawing assignment (the piece had to be no larger than 5"x7"). Mine is of Feist feasting on Faust (in honor of Thanksgiving it had to have something to do with the concept of a feast). Returned books. Yeah, it was a fairly productive day once I got down to-OH DANG I forgot to buy clay. Oops, well tomorrow. Tomorrow is my only school day and then I have free time for pretty much a full week. Lots of time to get cracking on my finals.
I left the apartment to quickly show Robin and Diana my feast picture and when I came back, Cece had left and locked the door. I figured I would only be gone for a few minutes so I didn't grab my keys or phone. D'oh! So I hung out with the girls for about an hour. Diana made some darling earrings for the sale and Robin made me some tea and they shared their ice cream with me. Lovely!
Finally, Thanksgiving. Took long enough getting here.
I left the apartment to quickly show Robin and Diana my feast picture and when I came back, Cece had left and locked the door. I figured I would only be gone for a few minutes so I didn't grab my keys or phone. D'oh! So I hung out with the girls for about an hour. Diana made some darling earrings for the sale and Robin made me some tea and they shared their ice cream with me. Lovely!
Finally, Thanksgiving. Took long enough getting here.
little green plant
My apartment looks so empty now that it is cleaner. Still has a way to go but it should be tidy enough (or tidy compared but still dirty).
Today was not so productive. A lot of time was spent being overwhelmed and not doing a thing about it. I am giving up on papier mache and going to buy some clay with which to make molds out of. I've done that before. Just going to make molds, poor plaster into them, and then peel the pieces out. It should take less time than this papier mache whatever. Tomorrow I am buying some clay. And painting because my painting is at school. No clue what the background is going to be, maybe I should just try to edit out the blips that happened.
Essay was...barely considered. Very bad of me but like I said, unproductive. It's that lethargy again. Bad bad bad.
Cece had been knocking over my jade plant and not telling me. Now it has lost a lot of soil and seems to be near death. I hope I can bring it back, I don't want my luck to die with it (as the legend goes with jade plants).
Today was not so productive. A lot of time was spent being overwhelmed and not doing a thing about it. I am giving up on papier mache and going to buy some clay with which to make molds out of. I've done that before. Just going to make molds, poor plaster into them, and then peel the pieces out. It should take less time than this papier mache whatever. Tomorrow I am buying some clay. And painting because my painting is at school. No clue what the background is going to be, maybe I should just try to edit out the blips that happened.
Essay was...barely considered. Very bad of me but like I said, unproductive. It's that lethargy again. Bad bad bad.
Cece had been knocking over my jade plant and not telling me. Now it has lost a lot of soil and seems to be near death. I hope I can bring it back, I don't want my luck to die with it (as the legend goes with jade plants).
Sunday, November 23, 2008
girl date
Portland coffee shops
futures decided over
lowfat chai latte
Met Jen at Coffee Time. She was shocked that I had not gone and so she requested, no demanded, that we meet and chat for a bit there today. Located in the posh 21st street district of Northwest Portland, it was quite the hip little joint. I rode a different way there and came upon some lovely little houses and some not so lovely hills. It is good to get a sense of what my city is like. I so rarely take the road less travelled. I arrived before Jen and ordered a turkey panini and a root beer float. I grabbed a spot and did a quick sketch of a lady sitting, chatting about school and how she should change majors. The coffee shop had walls painted with a lovely mural that contained pyramids, trees, mermaids, and much much more. Very beautiful, warm, and cozy. Jen arrived and we hugged. We both sketched and talked and ate panini. My sketches were loose with the intention to ink them in later.
I convinced Jen (with the promise that if she didn't like it, the next film would be on me) to see Let The Right One In with me. It is a Swedish Vampire film (the other tween vampire film out right now) and is playing at Cinema 21 and being students and a matinee, it only cost us 5$. It is about Oskar, a young boy of 12. He gets bullied and his parents are divorced. A strange man with a young girl move in next door to him. Turns out the girl is a vampire. They become friends. It is a very sweet little love story. The cinematography is amazing and when I felt a bit bored, I just relaxed and feasted on the colors and textures. It felt long and dragged a little bit. The action sequences were very subdued and utilized the strength of not showing what is going on to heighten the emotional impact. Bloody yes but not very gory. I liked it, and Jen did as well so now I don't owe her a film! I would still like to see more movies with her as she is a great movie buddy.
There was a trailer for Darren Aronofsky's new film The Wrestler. I'm a sucker for Aronofsky so I plan to see it. The French A Christmas Tale with Mathieu Almaric looked heartwarming and entertaining.
We sat in Coffee Time for a little while after, digesting the film and our lives. Sometimes I wonder if I am getting pretentious, or maybe I am just growing into the type of intellectual that I want to be. Who knows. We hugged goodbye and I rode off into the cold, crisp night.
Watched a few episodes of Rome while inking the days sketches. I need to do a ton more because one of my assignments for Illustration is journalism sketches. I have to draw real life or something. I'll draw some Max people. How I draw them seems to go over well so I'll keep with my method. I see it as unrefined and others dig it. Oh well.
I made my finals list. Four weeks to do:
Essay about Duchamp
Homage to a designer
Puppet
Painting Final (whatever it is)
Float design
Journalism Sketches
Science Friction Final (once I decide, I'm still undecided)
and document my illustration and painting work.
Tomorrow I need to start in on my essay and clean up my apartment. Monday is for painting.
futures decided over
lowfat chai latte
Met Jen at Coffee Time. She was shocked that I had not gone and so she requested, no demanded, that we meet and chat for a bit there today. Located in the posh 21st street district of Northwest Portland, it was quite the hip little joint. I rode a different way there and came upon some lovely little houses and some not so lovely hills. It is good to get a sense of what my city is like. I so rarely take the road less travelled. I arrived before Jen and ordered a turkey panini and a root beer float. I grabbed a spot and did a quick sketch of a lady sitting, chatting about school and how she should change majors. The coffee shop had walls painted with a lovely mural that contained pyramids, trees, mermaids, and much much more. Very beautiful, warm, and cozy. Jen arrived and we hugged. We both sketched and talked and ate panini. My sketches were loose with the intention to ink them in later.
I convinced Jen (with the promise that if she didn't like it, the next film would be on me) to see Let The Right One In with me. It is a Swedish Vampire film (the other tween vampire film out right now) and is playing at Cinema 21 and being students and a matinee, it only cost us 5$. It is about Oskar, a young boy of 12. He gets bullied and his parents are divorced. A strange man with a young girl move in next door to him. Turns out the girl is a vampire. They become friends. It is a very sweet little love story. The cinematography is amazing and when I felt a bit bored, I just relaxed and feasted on the colors and textures. It felt long and dragged a little bit. The action sequences were very subdued and utilized the strength of not showing what is going on to heighten the emotional impact. Bloody yes but not very gory. I liked it, and Jen did as well so now I don't owe her a film! I would still like to see more movies with her as she is a great movie buddy.
There was a trailer for Darren Aronofsky's new film The Wrestler. I'm a sucker for Aronofsky so I plan to see it. The French A Christmas Tale with Mathieu Almaric looked heartwarming and entertaining.
We sat in Coffee Time for a little while after, digesting the film and our lives. Sometimes I wonder if I am getting pretentious, or maybe I am just growing into the type of intellectual that I want to be. Who knows. We hugged goodbye and I rode off into the cold, crisp night.
Watched a few episodes of Rome while inking the days sketches. I need to do a ton more because one of my assignments for Illustration is journalism sketches. I have to draw real life or something. I'll draw some Max people. How I draw them seems to go over well so I'll keep with my method. I see it as unrefined and others dig it. Oh well.
I made my finals list. Four weeks to do:
Essay about Duchamp
Homage to a designer
Puppet
Painting Final (whatever it is)
Float design
Journalism Sketches
Science Friction Final (once I decide, I'm still undecided)
and document my illustration and painting work.
Tomorrow I need to start in on my essay and clean up my apartment. Monday is for painting.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
in reverse (duh)
We were tired and came to a consensus that Robin won at Munchkin. She just sailed through getting level after level. Amazing! I drew some profiles as examples for vases Adam could potentially make. He also said he would make me a glass piece of bacon. Can't wait. I gave everyone the present I got for them at Trader Joe's: advent calenders! They were having a sale so I grabbed a bunch for my Munchkin pals. They loved it.
Did my laundry, watched the new episode of The IT Crowd. Ironman was playing at the film night last week so I missed out on that, it was Batman Begins this week. I didn't feel like watching it so I didn't stick around. Hovered over some people while they priced and put together their art sale stuff. Taylor is putting some of his work in it and is asking for a LOT of money. Like sixty bucks for something he just whipped up in history of design. Blimey! I worked on my Keanu portrait. Some time this weekend I will have to go to school and finish that up. Maybe tomorrow or Monday as I will have to go in and return some books then (that Karen very nicely checked out for me). James and I chatted after illustration.
Our in class assignment for illustration was intense. We were given 21 lines of a children's story, 16 double page spreads, and 13 people to spread them out between. I got a part from The Silly Knight where he was walking in the forest. Oh did I mention we had to draw these in about two hours? Yeah, it was a action packed 120 minutes. 20 questions were flying like mad. Our knight was based after Tom's drawing mostly (I tried to make a design but no one payed much mind to it). It was very fun. Our story was more humorous looking than the original but lacked some of the contrast. Mine was the only one in color (I left my ink at home and old had gouache but neglected to remember that I had black gouache which would have acted the same as ink almost).
Robin and I went to Safeway and got some of their Chinese menu for lunch. It was unsatisfying and tasted horrible once it got cold. Not worth the price.
Due to his newfound interest in installation art, I made an introductory packet about installation for Adam. Photocopies of sculptures and illustrations and excerpts from texts about the stuff. Also some writings of my own thoughts on it as a medium.
I wasn't selected for having the best of three for the fountain design. We had a judging panel critique where we did three at a time and the best of the three is going up on the Illustration wall. Madeline, Tabor, Janessa, and Sivonna had prize designs. Many people were missing from class (some people have missed what seems to be half of the total sessions). No rain!
Science friction was a rather general discussion about Watchmen. Just stuff about characters and what it means to be a novel versus graphic novel and all that. Next class should be a little more dynamic. I said some useless things. For some reason Blair ate his yogurt with chopsticks.
Did my laundry, watched the new episode of The IT Crowd. Ironman was playing at the film night last week so I missed out on that, it was Batman Begins this week. I didn't feel like watching it so I didn't stick around. Hovered over some people while they priced and put together their art sale stuff. Taylor is putting some of his work in it and is asking for a LOT of money. Like sixty bucks for something he just whipped up in history of design. Blimey! I worked on my Keanu portrait. Some time this weekend I will have to go to school and finish that up. Maybe tomorrow or Monday as I will have to go in and return some books then (that Karen very nicely checked out for me). James and I chatted after illustration.
Our in class assignment for illustration was intense. We were given 21 lines of a children's story, 16 double page spreads, and 13 people to spread them out between. I got a part from The Silly Knight where he was walking in the forest. Oh did I mention we had to draw these in about two hours? Yeah, it was a action packed 120 minutes. 20 questions were flying like mad. Our knight was based after Tom's drawing mostly (I tried to make a design but no one payed much mind to it). It was very fun. Our story was more humorous looking than the original but lacked some of the contrast. Mine was the only one in color (I left my ink at home and old had gouache but neglected to remember that I had black gouache which would have acted the same as ink almost).
Robin and I went to Safeway and got some of their Chinese menu for lunch. It was unsatisfying and tasted horrible once it got cold. Not worth the price.
Due to his newfound interest in installation art, I made an introductory packet about installation for Adam. Photocopies of sculptures and illustrations and excerpts from texts about the stuff. Also some writings of my own thoughts on it as a medium.
I wasn't selected for having the best of three for the fountain design. We had a judging panel critique where we did three at a time and the best of the three is going up on the Illustration wall. Madeline, Tabor, Janessa, and Sivonna had prize designs. Many people were missing from class (some people have missed what seems to be half of the total sessions). No rain!
Science friction was a rather general discussion about Watchmen. Just stuff about characters and what it means to be a novel versus graphic novel and all that. Next class should be a little more dynamic. I said some useless things. For some reason Blair ate his yogurt with chopsticks.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
yes, I am a kiwi
500 posts you guys, how cool is that?
Mom, pop, and Nate are reporting for Portland Turkey Day duty. I don't have my new work schedule so I hope it doesn't interfere too much with them coming and going. Wednesday they arrive, Friday they leave. Need to start cleaning now! So much stuff to stuff into my closet.
Of course it rains when I have lots of errands to do. Of-bloody-course. Needed the rain pants to go to school but it subsided enough when it came time for my errands. I don't know why biking seems so much more difficult this semester than the previous ones. It is really getting to me and I don't feel in better shape for it. Yoga was actually cancelled last night so it is okay that I didn't go as there was nothing to go to.
There was no model for figure drawing so we got an intense lesson about the face. A key thing we learned was that macrocephaly is synonymous with hydrocephaly. Morgan said that we should put emphasis in the jaw line over getting the eyes and nose and what not to look right. We traded spots all over the place and drew portraits of each other. I started with Diana and with each portrait, it got better and better. The one of Heather I think was the best in terms of expression and jaw. She is really pretty and is always well put together. And with that comment about the jaw line, my work got instantly better. I was excited with how well they turned out.
After that came my big end of semester review with Martin. I show him what I have done since our last meeting and he talks about my progress as an artist and illustrator. I had a massive pile to show him. Drawings, figure work, paintings, comics, more paintings, illustrations, and extra work. He said I had an ease about how I did things and it wasn't over worked. I was becoming more confidant with my use of watercolor and finding my style. It was generally very positive and he pointed out some of the compositions that he liked and what I should think about as I continue with my stuff. Generally I need to be conscious of how unconscious I am. Uhh yeah.
I got behind in schedule when it came to leaving school. I had to resort my tiny locker. All the contents were spewed on the floor and it made it difficult for people to get by. I really need to switch. Trader Joe's was most fruitful in the tea, apples, candy, gnocchi, and pasta department. Key Bank was not fruitful in the speedy service department. Took forever to get to me. Both tellers were very slow but the previously grumpy one seemed to have better customer service this time around. No condescending attitude at all.
The sun was shining as I rode on home, overloaded with coats and sweaters. I forgot to lock my bike up at Trader Joe's but no one stole it. Maybe because it was a mountain bike or the lock seemed to be near the location where it would be locked, or just no one payed attention. It was also right in the eye line of the flower shop people so not the most subtle place to boost some wheels.
Banana bread was go. I payed my bill. I ate my favored gnocchi and Gorgonzola and kicked back. I pulled the loaf out of the oven with only about ten minutes till I had to depart for class. When I cut it for Jen and Erin, it was steaming. They loved it. Bryan loved it. Farel loved it. Lee loved it. Erin loved it. Karen loved it. Well I think they loved it, I did. It was warm and hearty and sweet and awesome. It feels good when people around me are content. And it feels good to aid the bringing about of that sensation. I should cook more for my classes, like Brynne pointed out they are all REALLY starving artists.
My Keanu portrait is very bold and striking. Does it look amazingly like him? Not really. But it is colored the way I want it to and it reads really well from a distance (not so pretty up close but it still needs some work). It is blue on one side and red on the other and I am painting it in gouache. There are spatters in the background which I need to figure out what to do with. Overall, I'm excited about how it is going. Farel commended me on working at that size. I think it adds to the strong graphic quality of the painting (by having it so big I mean). Can't wait to scan and show you guys!
We played 20 questions. It wasn't raining when I rode back. Watched some more Rome, ate some dinner, relaxed in the knowledge that I won't be up till 1am doing homework.
Mom, pop, and Nate are reporting for Portland Turkey Day duty. I don't have my new work schedule so I hope it doesn't interfere too much with them coming and going. Wednesday they arrive, Friday they leave. Need to start cleaning now! So much stuff to stuff into my closet.
Of course it rains when I have lots of errands to do. Of-bloody-course. Needed the rain pants to go to school but it subsided enough when it came time for my errands. I don't know why biking seems so much more difficult this semester than the previous ones. It is really getting to me and I don't feel in better shape for it. Yoga was actually cancelled last night so it is okay that I didn't go as there was nothing to go to.
There was no model for figure drawing so we got an intense lesson about the face. A key thing we learned was that macrocephaly is synonymous with hydrocephaly. Morgan said that we should put emphasis in the jaw line over getting the eyes and nose and what not to look right. We traded spots all over the place and drew portraits of each other. I started with Diana and with each portrait, it got better and better. The one of Heather I think was the best in terms of expression and jaw. She is really pretty and is always well put together. And with that comment about the jaw line, my work got instantly better. I was excited with how well they turned out.
After that came my big end of semester review with Martin. I show him what I have done since our last meeting and he talks about my progress as an artist and illustrator. I had a massive pile to show him. Drawings, figure work, paintings, comics, more paintings, illustrations, and extra work. He said I had an ease about how I did things and it wasn't over worked. I was becoming more confidant with my use of watercolor and finding my style. It was generally very positive and he pointed out some of the compositions that he liked and what I should think about as I continue with my stuff. Generally I need to be conscious of how unconscious I am. Uhh yeah.
I got behind in schedule when it came to leaving school. I had to resort my tiny locker. All the contents were spewed on the floor and it made it difficult for people to get by. I really need to switch. Trader Joe's was most fruitful in the tea, apples, candy, gnocchi, and pasta department. Key Bank was not fruitful in the speedy service department. Took forever to get to me. Both tellers were very slow but the previously grumpy one seemed to have better customer service this time around. No condescending attitude at all.
The sun was shining as I rode on home, overloaded with coats and sweaters. I forgot to lock my bike up at Trader Joe's but no one stole it. Maybe because it was a mountain bike or the lock seemed to be near the location where it would be locked, or just no one payed attention. It was also right in the eye line of the flower shop people so not the most subtle place to boost some wheels.
Banana bread was go. I payed my bill. I ate my favored gnocchi and Gorgonzola and kicked back. I pulled the loaf out of the oven with only about ten minutes till I had to depart for class. When I cut it for Jen and Erin, it was steaming. They loved it. Bryan loved it. Farel loved it. Lee loved it. Erin loved it. Karen loved it. Well I think they loved it, I did. It was warm and hearty and sweet and awesome. It feels good when people around me are content. And it feels good to aid the bringing about of that sensation. I should cook more for my classes, like Brynne pointed out they are all REALLY starving artists.
My Keanu portrait is very bold and striking. Does it look amazingly like him? Not really. But it is colored the way I want it to and it reads really well from a distance (not so pretty up close but it still needs some work). It is blue on one side and red on the other and I am painting it in gouache. There are spatters in the background which I need to figure out what to do with. Overall, I'm excited about how it is going. Farel commended me on working at that size. I think it adds to the strong graphic quality of the painting (by having it so big I mean). Can't wait to scan and show you guys!
We played 20 questions. It wasn't raining when I rode back. Watched some more Rome, ate some dinner, relaxed in the knowledge that I won't be up till 1am doing homework.
time table/party time
Today has been really busy for a Wednesday. Remember when Wednesday was just "ohh I got up at 1, it was nice, yeaaah."
Well work, for just four hours, seemed like a lot. A couple times the desk got really packed with people. A nice accented lady didn't quite get the concept of buying a jacket for a kid at the adult store. A German man bought some great shirts. A lady who we tried to be helpful with (maybe overly so but she seemed like she was going to buy something) asked us if we were doing so because she was black. My first accusation of semi-racism while working a retail job! Hurray! It was just me working sales so I was pretty busy with greeting and putting things away. I think I did a good job serving the customer. Made a little mistake in the cash department but that was voided. Got to use a walkie talkie to call Gloria forward a couple times. I had it clipped to my pants and all that jazz. Working with Steve and Gloria is nice, I don't feel as afraid or intimidated and thus I can work a little more smoothly and without anxiety. I had my eye on this medium sweater for a certain little kid but then some lady bought it. I need to jump on the sale racks a little sooner. A lot of things were not marked down, oooohhh!!! Guess it takes longer than five hours to do that job.
The max paused just long enough to let people off. I was running towards it and the lady closed the doors and I waved and she waved back as she started moving. More often than not, the max drivers pause for runners. It would have set her back five seconds to do a good deed. What a grumpy woman, no karma for her!
I didn't do yoga. I got back at around 6:30 and to get to school for it, I would have missed half the session. It sucks but I was also very exhausted from work. A little downtime was all I needed to kick it with Robin and Karen at the Illustration Party!! All us majors got together in a room and mingled while our work and teachers work was displayed around us. There wasn't enough bad work to go around (the teachers were supposed to put their stuff up). Madeline was there and I indicated several people of mention and notoriety. I knew mostly everyone there so I felt pretty jolly with myself about that. In no order, with a few exclusions due to faulty memory, those present were: Charlie, James, Karen, Robin, Jen, Daniel, Maddison, Bryan, Bryan's Girl, John, Farel, Joseph, Alex, Madeline, Annie, Martin, Daniela, Chad, Dominic, Janessa, Janessa's Boy, Leo, Jason, Terry, Natalie, and Matt. I'm forgetting at least four people, but it was a sizable crew. Yeah Illustrators, we rock!
A little Pictionary was played. Karen, Robin, Jen, and I cornered Daniela to find out more about our newest teacher. Cornered? Surrounded? Something between those two. I found out that if she were stranded on a desert island and could have only one fast food place, it would be Burgerville.
Karen drove us (being Robin and I) there and drove us back. We all hung out together and griped and chatted. I interrupted Karen a little bit but I don't think she felt too frustrated or mad at me about it. Did she? Did you Karen?
Afterwards, we hung out at Diana and Robin's. Diana wore a TOTALLY mismatched red stripey shirt with green plaid bottoms. What was she thinking?? Geeze, honestly.
I managed to get my response written and posted early so that is taken care of for Friday. Gathered my implements for tomorrow. I have a lot of errands that need running in my four hour window. It goes like this:
11:00 meet with Martin.
11:30 go to Trader Joes (apples, tea, bread, pasta)
12:00 Key Bank
12:15 Home
12:25 Banana Bread
1:45 take Banana Bread out of oven (take time to relax and eat lunch, possibly consume some gnocchi and Gorgonzola from Trader Joe's)
2:30 (no later than) go to PGE to pay electric bill
arrive at PNCA before 3:15, ready to paint Keanu and be awesome!!
Well work, for just four hours, seemed like a lot. A couple times the desk got really packed with people. A nice accented lady didn't quite get the concept of buying a jacket for a kid at the adult store. A German man bought some great shirts. A lady who we tried to be helpful with (maybe overly so but she seemed like she was going to buy something) asked us if we were doing so because she was black. My first accusation of semi-racism while working a retail job! Hurray! It was just me working sales so I was pretty busy with greeting and putting things away. I think I did a good job serving the customer. Made a little mistake in the cash department but that was voided. Got to use a walkie talkie to call Gloria forward a couple times. I had it clipped to my pants and all that jazz. Working with Steve and Gloria is nice, I don't feel as afraid or intimidated and thus I can work a little more smoothly and without anxiety. I had my eye on this medium sweater for a certain little kid but then some lady bought it. I need to jump on the sale racks a little sooner. A lot of things were not marked down, oooohhh!!! Guess it takes longer than five hours to do that job.
The max paused just long enough to let people off. I was running towards it and the lady closed the doors and I waved and she waved back as she started moving. More often than not, the max drivers pause for runners. It would have set her back five seconds to do a good deed. What a grumpy woman, no karma for her!
I didn't do yoga. I got back at around 6:30 and to get to school for it, I would have missed half the session. It sucks but I was also very exhausted from work. A little downtime was all I needed to kick it with Robin and Karen at the Illustration Party!! All us majors got together in a room and mingled while our work and teachers work was displayed around us. There wasn't enough bad work to go around (the teachers were supposed to put their stuff up). Madeline was there and I indicated several people of mention and notoriety. I knew mostly everyone there so I felt pretty jolly with myself about that. In no order, with a few exclusions due to faulty memory, those present were: Charlie, James, Karen, Robin, Jen, Daniel, Maddison, Bryan, Bryan's Girl, John, Farel, Joseph, Alex, Madeline, Annie, Martin, Daniela, Chad, Dominic, Janessa, Janessa's Boy, Leo, Jason, Terry, Natalie, and Matt. I'm forgetting at least four people, but it was a sizable crew. Yeah Illustrators, we rock!
A little Pictionary was played. Karen, Robin, Jen, and I cornered Daniela to find out more about our newest teacher. Cornered? Surrounded? Something between those two. I found out that if she were stranded on a desert island and could have only one fast food place, it would be Burgerville.
Karen drove us (being Robin and I) there and drove us back. We all hung out together and griped and chatted. I interrupted Karen a little bit but I don't think she felt too frustrated or mad at me about it. Did she? Did you Karen?
Afterwards, we hung out at Diana and Robin's. Diana wore a TOTALLY mismatched red stripey shirt with green plaid bottoms. What was she thinking?? Geeze, honestly.
I managed to get my response written and posted early so that is taken care of for Friday. Gathered my implements for tomorrow. I have a lot of errands that need running in my four hour window. It goes like this:
11:00 meet with Martin.
11:30 go to Trader Joes (apples, tea, bread, pasta)
12:00 Key Bank
12:15 Home
12:25 Banana Bread
1:45 take Banana Bread out of oven (take time to relax and eat lunch, possibly consume some gnocchi and Gorgonzola from Trader Joe's)
2:30 (no later than) go to PGE to pay electric bill
arrive at PNCA before 3:15, ready to paint Keanu and be awesome!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
oh frabjuous joy
I shared my banana bread with my figure drawing class. It was a huge hit. I'll make the second loaf tomorrow and dole it out again. It is nice to have such a favorable response to the things I make.
We have moved on to shadow now as well as a more diverse range of mark making. Our drawing was made up of lots of little marks that noodled into creating a soft idea of a form. It did look really soft and round and human once I got to the end of the drawing session. The final drawing was a combination of contour and that technique. Karen wasn't around for us to do our usual joint drawing. Morgan went over the puppets and our progress (I need to start all over again as I didn't do the papier mache right). I have so many ideas, I just need to commit to one and do it.
During break I printed out some Keanu Reeves pictures for my painting piece. He is so sad looking. In class I tried drawing him and he is harder than he looks. Charlie gave me some great advice about trying to copy the shadow shapes instead of the facial lines and instantly my preliminary sketches improved. I gave my little presentation on Duchamp's last piece. It sort of wasn't as good as my Beardsley presentation but oh well. Class was discussions and more examples of design that she doesn't explain the relevance for. Oh great, this artist did everything and every style but what does that mean? Oh I have to figure it out for myself? So much for being taught...
Painting was devoted to the creation of our recognizable person picture. JAMES IS DOING KEANU REEVES AS WELL! That little idea thief. Well, his is about one fifth the size of mine and will be totally different once I start the painting. It took me all class to sort the sketching out. No one has said it looks like him but can instantly recognize James' (his also says Keanu). Once I get it painted it should hopefully come through. My sketch is very light. I think the dimensions are 18"x18". Possibly bigger. It is really big. Farel's David Lynch looks like a slightly sun tanned Lynch but none the less recognizable. Jen is doing a very badass Clint Eastwood that probably follows through the most with the "editorial" part of the assignment. Amina's Anna Nicole Smith echoes the images of the Virgin Mother in all the wrong ways but it looks nice thus far. Bryan is doing a very overly stached Neitzsche. Erin is embarking on a spooky, owl eyed Vincent Gallo portrait. No Karen or Erin from Alaska to be had. It is a fun assignment and due pretty soon but I am itching to work on it more so finishing it shouldn't be a problem.
After class was time for Rome! Second season! Yay! Violence! Cleopatra! Period costumes! I love it. Heroes is ridiculous. Sylar as a love interest? Really Daphne and Parkman isn't believable and Claire should have kept that "I'm the catalyst wheee" stuff to herself.
Oh, Jen, Erin and I went to the new Safeway for a late lunch snack. I got a slice of cake. It looks like Whole Foods when you enter it but the aisles are distinctly Safeway. No more overprices Pearl Market for us anymore!
No markdown shift means no 4:30am alarm. It also means I may not make Yoga because if I stay till 6:00 then I'll get home at 6:40 and by the time I get to school, Yoga would be half over. There is an Illustration Party at 7:00 which I may attend instead. I love Yoga but I would also like to chill with the Illustration Crew. So many choices!
We have moved on to shadow now as well as a more diverse range of mark making. Our drawing was made up of lots of little marks that noodled into creating a soft idea of a form. It did look really soft and round and human once I got to the end of the drawing session. The final drawing was a combination of contour and that technique. Karen wasn't around for us to do our usual joint drawing. Morgan went over the puppets and our progress (I need to start all over again as I didn't do the papier mache right). I have so many ideas, I just need to commit to one and do it.
During break I printed out some Keanu Reeves pictures for my painting piece. He is so sad looking. In class I tried drawing him and he is harder than he looks. Charlie gave me some great advice about trying to copy the shadow shapes instead of the facial lines and instantly my preliminary sketches improved. I gave my little presentation on Duchamp's last piece. It sort of wasn't as good as my Beardsley presentation but oh well. Class was discussions and more examples of design that she doesn't explain the relevance for. Oh great, this artist did everything and every style but what does that mean? Oh I have to figure it out for myself? So much for being taught...
Painting was devoted to the creation of our recognizable person picture. JAMES IS DOING KEANU REEVES AS WELL! That little idea thief. Well, his is about one fifth the size of mine and will be totally different once I start the painting. It took me all class to sort the sketching out. No one has said it looks like him but can instantly recognize James' (his also says Keanu). Once I get it painted it should hopefully come through. My sketch is very light. I think the dimensions are 18"x18". Possibly bigger. It is really big. Farel's David Lynch looks like a slightly sun tanned Lynch but none the less recognizable. Jen is doing a very badass Clint Eastwood that probably follows through the most with the "editorial" part of the assignment. Amina's Anna Nicole Smith echoes the images of the Virgin Mother in all the wrong ways but it looks nice thus far. Bryan is doing a very overly stached Neitzsche. Erin is embarking on a spooky, owl eyed Vincent Gallo portrait. No Karen or Erin from Alaska to be had. It is a fun assignment and due pretty soon but I am itching to work on it more so finishing it shouldn't be a problem.
After class was time for Rome! Second season! Yay! Violence! Cleopatra! Period costumes! I love it. Heroes is ridiculous. Sylar as a love interest? Really Daphne and Parkman isn't believable and Claire should have kept that "I'm the catalyst wheee" stuff to herself.
Oh, Jen, Erin and I went to the new Safeway for a late lunch snack. I got a slice of cake. It looks like Whole Foods when you enter it but the aisles are distinctly Safeway. No more overprices Pearl Market for us anymore!
No markdown shift means no 4:30am alarm. It also means I may not make Yoga because if I stay till 6:00 then I'll get home at 6:40 and by the time I get to school, Yoga would be half over. There is an Illustration Party at 7:00 which I may attend instead. I love Yoga but I would also like to chill with the Illustration Crew. So many choices!
Monday, November 17, 2008
jen be warned, it's a work blog
Work let me go early. Well not so much let me go as told me to go because we were getting no business and it made more sense to not have as many people working. Why pay for 2 when you only need 1? Oh well, still a few hours of work is a few hours. A lady came in and returned and asked to rebuy some stuff so she could get a discount. It was very sneaky and I asked a manager about it. We allowed it just because she had bought the items an hour earlier. I didn't like her, she looked like she is used to telling people stuff and getting her way. Another lady came in with her son and was overjoyed at our selection of simple basics and how they were priced in pairs at awesome discounts. She kept exclaiming how we were a goldmine and had exactly what she was looking for. Her boy, Jake, was really nice. I had a good time joking around with how we were going to keep him as a mannequin and teach him a sales pitch. Also offered him some stickers we keep under the desk which I assume go to good little kids who behave. It was a nice experience to have. Not all kids are vile.
My shift started with a rundown of how good Yesterday was and how many Gap Cards we need to get (I didn't get any as most people had them or had cancelled them or didn't want a credit card). I went to use some of my fifty percents off after my early shift (I got my paycheck a few days ago, huzzah!). I went to the unmentionable section of Gap and was properly fitted for some unmentionables. Turns out, like most women, I was wearing the wrong size of unmentionables. So I got some awesome discounted ones that fit like a dream! Which was after trying on like 10 others that were not so dreamy. Anyway, I hit up the sale and sweater section as well and walked away with some awesome 5.99 tees marked down with my 30% off. God I love having a discount.
I watched A Scanner Darkly while thinking about who I am going to paint for my painting. I drew a couple images of Robert Downey Jr, he is harder to draw than he seems! I'll have to sketch more and see what happens. Maybe during History of Design. Which reminds me, still need to find that website and figure out some talk about Duchamp.
I found a printer/scanner in the trash room. Now I just have to find out if it is the printer or the scanner part that landed it in the trash room.
My shift started with a rundown of how good Yesterday was and how many Gap Cards we need to get (I didn't get any as most people had them or had cancelled them or didn't want a credit card). I went to use some of my fifty percents off after my early shift (I got my paycheck a few days ago, huzzah!). I went to the unmentionable section of Gap and was properly fitted for some unmentionables. Turns out, like most women, I was wearing the wrong size of unmentionables. So I got some awesome discounted ones that fit like a dream! Which was after trying on like 10 others that were not so dreamy. Anyway, I hit up the sale and sweater section as well and walked away with some awesome 5.99 tees marked down with my 30% off. God I love having a discount.
I watched A Scanner Darkly while thinking about who I am going to paint for my painting. I drew a couple images of Robert Downey Jr, he is harder to draw than he seems! I'll have to sketch more and see what happens. Maybe during History of Design. Which reminds me, still need to find that website and figure out some talk about Duchamp.
I found a printer/scanner in the trash room. Now I just have to find out if it is the printer or the scanner part that landed it in the trash room.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
a few hours of no motion
Caught up on sleep today. 3am-8:30am and then 8:35-9:45 and then 10-12 and then 12-1:30. Then it was time to get up. Oatmeal and left overs have kept me sated.
I looked over my schedule for next week and I don't have many things due; a mini presentation on Duchamp, some reference pictures for a painting, some float design sketches, and a response to something I've been recently rereading on my own time. That is quite nice, I can even get a jump on things. My Duchamp paper is getting planned out in my head so I should make a rough draft summary thing for it. I'm not psyched about the float design. Building bridges? Argh, how hokey. No wonder the Rose Parade is loosing interest with the younger folks.
Now I am just sitting all cozy like in bed reading. Time Traveler's Wife is good but the writing in the middle isn't as good as the start. I think it is showing some of the signs of being a first novel, whatever that means. Almost as if she used up her great descriptive powers to set the scene and doesn't know how to continue it. But I'm keeping with it. The movie must have been delayed because I know it was supposed to come out around this time and there isn't even a trailer for it. Weird.
I work from 2:00-6:30 tomorrow. That will be nice, I'll get out and about.
So, who is visiting me for Thanksgiving?
I looked over my schedule for next week and I don't have many things due; a mini presentation on Duchamp, some reference pictures for a painting, some float design sketches, and a response to something I've been recently rereading on my own time. That is quite nice, I can even get a jump on things. My Duchamp paper is getting planned out in my head so I should make a rough draft summary thing for it. I'm not psyched about the float design. Building bridges? Argh, how hokey. No wonder the Rose Parade is loosing interest with the younger folks.
Now I am just sitting all cozy like in bed reading. Time Traveler's Wife is good but the writing in the middle isn't as good as the start. I think it is showing some of the signs of being a first novel, whatever that means. Almost as if she used up her great descriptive powers to set the scene and doesn't know how to continue it. But I'm keeping with it. The movie must have been delayed because I know it was supposed to come out around this time and there isn't even a trailer for it. Weird.
I work from 2:00-6:30 tomorrow. That will be nice, I'll get out and about.
So, who is visiting me for Thanksgiving?
circles to circles
Well work was great. It went really fast. I was kept busy. For a part I tidied up the denim and made sure to ask everyone if they needed anything. I need to be better about pointing out sales but I don't quite know where they are yet. Mel and Melissa stopped by after they had some fun spending the discount at Old Navy. Steve and I talked about Star Trek. There was a few times of about 20 minute stretches of constant helping and after I was just WOOOOH and exhaled. It was exhilarating and working with Steve and Gloria is wonderful. Some days and times are just better than others. It was clearly a busy time and they needed my help. I think I handled myself well, I just smiled and did my best. Sadly I left a woman on hold for a very long time. That was my main mistake. I bought something for someone (a gift for someone Gap Kids appropriate). Here's hoping it fits and if it doesn't, well that is what gift receipts are for.
It was straight home, straight into party clothes, and then straight to the pre Thanksgiving. I wore my nice dark blue dress with a pink sash and some heels that I can't quite walk in. I was the first to arrive, followed by Phil and then Robin, Melina, and Diana. Adam and Karen cooked a lot and so much food was laid out. Karen's friend Adam was there with his twin roommates Kody and Kurt. Jim arrived with some of Adams friends whose names I forget but there were two of them. And we all fit in Karen's apartment! Lots of chairs stuffed together. I shared the comfy chair with Adam for a bit and then later shared it with Jim. It took a while to get the conversation rolling but eventually we did. Apples to Apples was played. Robin beat us all. People left in small clusters and once it was down to the core group the conversation turned to weird stuff and then politics and then I developed a huge headache. I hear so much of this same circular dialogue, I would like to hear something new.
Jim and I walked to the Max and chatted about school and whatnot. Very chilly night. When I came back it was just Adam, Diana and Karen. Diana and Karen were in a heated debate or conversation or dialogue about something. Adam and I talked about art and where he could potentially take his glass within the contexts of art right now. I told him about installation art and he seemed to really dig it, like it opened up this new possibility for his creation. I like talking about artistic creation with him; it's a fresh perspective.
My banana bread wasn't really consumed, but I will bring it to class next week and people will enjoy it then.
It was straight home, straight into party clothes, and then straight to the pre Thanksgiving. I wore my nice dark blue dress with a pink sash and some heels that I can't quite walk in. I was the first to arrive, followed by Phil and then Robin, Melina, and Diana. Adam and Karen cooked a lot and so much food was laid out. Karen's friend Adam was there with his twin roommates Kody and Kurt. Jim arrived with some of Adams friends whose names I forget but there were two of them. And we all fit in Karen's apartment! Lots of chairs stuffed together. I shared the comfy chair with Adam for a bit and then later shared it with Jim. It took a while to get the conversation rolling but eventually we did. Apples to Apples was played. Robin beat us all. People left in small clusters and once it was down to the core group the conversation turned to weird stuff and then politics and then I developed a huge headache. I hear so much of this same circular dialogue, I would like to hear something new.
Jim and I walked to the Max and chatted about school and whatnot. Very chilly night. When I came back it was just Adam, Diana and Karen. Diana and Karen were in a heated debate or conversation or dialogue about something. Adam and I talked about art and where he could potentially take his glass within the contexts of art right now. I told him about installation art and he seemed to really dig it, like it opened up this new possibility for his creation. I like talking about artistic creation with him; it's a fresh perspective.
My banana bread wasn't really consumed, but I will bring it to class next week and people will enjoy it then.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
long days are not a stoppin'
Blah blah blah women's clothing sexualizes us waah waah waah. I'm so tired of the constant feminist ranting in my lit class. Everything is against women!! Arrrgghh! As true as it may be in some contexts, it is just a constant irking. The class had minimal conversation about the book and it was mostly about women and stuff. I'm probably coming off as an anti-feminist but really I prefer to focus on issues like the lack of pockets in jackets and how pink is the color of women.
Critique for the comic was a write-on-sheet type of thing. It was really nice with just a few helpful comments. A lot of people were frustrated with theirs. Robin had a great one but she is so anti comic. Almost hurts my feelings how much she hates them. I was dead tired and swaying back and forth. I tried to nap during lunch. I showed Chad the wall murals from Belgium. He assigned us the final project. Turned stuff in. It wasn't that eventful really, I think everyone had a lack of focus. Also a studio at the end of the week sucks. Next semester my studio is at the start of the week. I don't have any three class days, just a different studio right after the graphic novel class and a break between math and painting.
Chad let us out early so I went home, gained my energy, and went to see the new James Bond movie! Which isn't that good! The action is choppy and low class, there was one shirtless scene and the movie tries to have his tight white pants make up for it. I guess it works as a continuation (it literally takes place 15 minutes after the last movie) but on its own it is just not as good as Casino Royale. Had some good explosions and pretty good Bond Girls. The villain was sort of pathetic looking (played by Mathieu Amalric) and not really all that convincing as bad. Really disappointing and I don't think they weighed on me being tired.
Great new Watchmen trailer. Same for Star Trek (yay for Simon Pegg as Scotty!).
Picked up some library books (The Botany of Desire and a Winsor McCay book) and did some grocery shopping. Made some of my famous banana bread for the potluck Thanksgiving tomorrow. Should be nice, I guess. Lots of people that I don't know so I'm a little wary. Crowds don't do well by me and crowds of people I'm unfamiliar with? Yikes!
Diana won at Munchkin. Again. She makes such a fuss when we try to bend the rules to make it difficult for her. Her sister Melina is in town. Very nice lady. Karen and Diana had some RA duty and Phil, Robin, Adam, and I all grilled Melina. She wants to be a Veterinarian and all our artist talk was probably a bit frightening. Or weird. Probably weird. Phil threatened to lick Karen's elbow.
Critique for the comic was a write-on-sheet type of thing. It was really nice with just a few helpful comments. A lot of people were frustrated with theirs. Robin had a great one but she is so anti comic. Almost hurts my feelings how much she hates them. I was dead tired and swaying back and forth. I tried to nap during lunch. I showed Chad the wall murals from Belgium. He assigned us the final project. Turned stuff in. It wasn't that eventful really, I think everyone had a lack of focus. Also a studio at the end of the week sucks. Next semester my studio is at the start of the week. I don't have any three class days, just a different studio right after the graphic novel class and a break between math and painting.
Chad let us out early so I went home, gained my energy, and went to see the new James Bond movie! Which isn't that good! The action is choppy and low class, there was one shirtless scene and the movie tries to have his tight white pants make up for it. I guess it works as a continuation (it literally takes place 15 minutes after the last movie) but on its own it is just not as good as Casino Royale. Had some good explosions and pretty good Bond Girls. The villain was sort of pathetic looking (played by Mathieu Amalric) and not really all that convincing as bad. Really disappointing and I don't think they weighed on me being tired.
Great new Watchmen trailer. Same for Star Trek (yay for Simon Pegg as Scotty!).
Picked up some library books (The Botany of Desire and a Winsor McCay book) and did some grocery shopping. Made some of my famous banana bread for the potluck Thanksgiving tomorrow. Should be nice, I guess. Lots of people that I don't know so I'm a little wary. Crowds don't do well by me and crowds of people I'm unfamiliar with? Yikes!
Diana won at Munchkin. Again. She makes such a fuss when we try to bend the rules to make it difficult for her. Her sister Melina is in town. Very nice lady. Karen and Diana had some RA duty and Phil, Robin, Adam, and I all grilled Melina. She wants to be a Veterinarian and all our artist talk was probably a bit frightening. Or weird. Probably weird. Phil threatened to lick Karen's elbow.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
spoil sport
Well my Jet Ski picture went over well. It didn't award much discussion. I blahed on about Eli Roth for some reason. I talked about a lot of things today for some reason. I ramble when I'm tired. Blah blee blah. Some nice pirate pictures. Karen's was painted wonderfully, Diana's was greatly rendered, Lacey was of course awesome. Her lines are so smooth. She is going to be in Graphic Novel with me. Booyah!
We moved onto pencil in Figure Drawing. I wasn't able to get contours on all of them but the move in medium shows my improvements in skill. The last drawing, Karen and I drew on the same picture at the same time and near the end Diana joined us. It looked really cool though very off.
During break I looked up Bruno Paul and Edmund Dulac to decide which to do for my sketchbook reproduction. I settled on doing close up studies of parts of Dulac's work. Try to get better brushwork over composition. Technically not what we are supposed to do but I'm too tired to care right now and it's only 11:31pm! I didn't get a good sleep last night. Sometimes it is nerves, sometimes it is Cece not being quiet enough when she comes and goes.
I had set my stuff down on the library couch and left to do some computer work (nearby, all my stuff was still in sight). I went to sit and rest and some people were having some INTENSE RELATIONSHIP ADVICE CONVERSATION. I figured they would either tell me to buzz off or move or be really quiet but they kept going with their exchange of advice and problems. Karen was napping near them as well. It was weird how private it was and how loud they were during it.
There was an opening in Pearl's schedule so I slipped in and sorted out what I'm taking next semester. Kurt is only teaching the alternate Illustration Studios now. I will have four different teachers through my four semesters in my Sophomore and Junior year. Chad and then Daniela, Martin and then maybe Daniela again. I really don't like that switch. I came here expecting and wanting a year of Kurt and a year of Martin. Sure different teachers breeds variety but you also start fresh each Semester and don't have the familiarity to build up a relationship through a year. It is really hard to be brutal and grow when you having gotten past that boundary with people in critiques. It takes ages and a semester just isn't enough. Argh. So I switched my Illustration Studio. Also I am saving the internship for the summer or my Junior year because I need to find out where I want to go first and then apply. I have no idea and the school doesn't have a list. You just pick and they help you get it. I'd much rather do it when I have the time to devote and I'm not busy worth school and work. So I added Relief & Screen with Yoshi to my schedule. In talking with Pearl, I decided to just go for it and take classes even if I don't need them to graduate. It is the same price to take 4-6 classes so I might as well take 5. Why not? I'm here to learn so I'm going to learn! Also I think this printmaking medium might apply more to my style than the previous one I learned.
Painting was more nude models. Jen made me blush. In conversation it was revealed that the model was the same red head dreaded lady who I briefly met during my pre-college experiences at PNCA in 2006. Small world! I think. Our new assignment is to draw a portrait of a recognizable public figure. I was thinking Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr. or David Sedaris. The first because I have no guff with him and would like to portray him as so, the second because he has a great face with lots of character, and the third doesn't need explaining.
Finished painting my comic. Looks sloppy. It is decent from a distance but I just don't feel that dandy about it. I'm not too stressed about critique though, everyone is so damn nice that they'll never say anything too harsh. Not done with Handmaid's Tale (Even 100 pages a week is too much for me and too slow a pace for this class) but I can still respond to it. I just can't talk about the end and I am not looking forward to having it spoiled for me in class tomorrow.
Jen said that my blog has become less interesting recently and is just Gap Gap Gap. So, what should I do to spice up the blog? Include stories about Ninjas? Gossip about fictional PNCA students? Post more art? Tell lies about Jen?
We moved onto pencil in Figure Drawing. I wasn't able to get contours on all of them but the move in medium shows my improvements in skill. The last drawing, Karen and I drew on the same picture at the same time and near the end Diana joined us. It looked really cool though very off.
During break I looked up Bruno Paul and Edmund Dulac to decide which to do for my sketchbook reproduction. I settled on doing close up studies of parts of Dulac's work. Try to get better brushwork over composition. Technically not what we are supposed to do but I'm too tired to care right now and it's only 11:31pm! I didn't get a good sleep last night. Sometimes it is nerves, sometimes it is Cece not being quiet enough when she comes and goes.
I had set my stuff down on the library couch and left to do some computer work (nearby, all my stuff was still in sight). I went to sit and rest and some people were having some INTENSE RELATIONSHIP ADVICE CONVERSATION. I figured they would either tell me to buzz off or move or be really quiet but they kept going with their exchange of advice and problems. Karen was napping near them as well. It was weird how private it was and how loud they were during it.
There was an opening in Pearl's schedule so I slipped in and sorted out what I'm taking next semester. Kurt is only teaching the alternate Illustration Studios now. I will have four different teachers through my four semesters in my Sophomore and Junior year. Chad and then Daniela, Martin and then maybe Daniela again. I really don't like that switch. I came here expecting and wanting a year of Kurt and a year of Martin. Sure different teachers breeds variety but you also start fresh each Semester and don't have the familiarity to build up a relationship through a year. It is really hard to be brutal and grow when you having gotten past that boundary with people in critiques. It takes ages and a semester just isn't enough. Argh. So I switched my Illustration Studio. Also I am saving the internship for the summer or my Junior year because I need to find out where I want to go first and then apply. I have no idea and the school doesn't have a list. You just pick and they help you get it. I'd much rather do it when I have the time to devote and I'm not busy worth school and work. So I added Relief & Screen with Yoshi to my schedule. In talking with Pearl, I decided to just go for it and take classes even if I don't need them to graduate. It is the same price to take 4-6 classes so I might as well take 5. Why not? I'm here to learn so I'm going to learn! Also I think this printmaking medium might apply more to my style than the previous one I learned.
Painting was more nude models. Jen made me blush. In conversation it was revealed that the model was the same red head dreaded lady who I briefly met during my pre-college experiences at PNCA in 2006. Small world! I think. Our new assignment is to draw a portrait of a recognizable public figure. I was thinking Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr. or David Sedaris. The first because I have no guff with him and would like to portray him as so, the second because he has a great face with lots of character, and the third doesn't need explaining.
Finished painting my comic. Looks sloppy. It is decent from a distance but I just don't feel that dandy about it. I'm not too stressed about critique though, everyone is so damn nice that they'll never say anything too harsh. Not done with Handmaid's Tale (Even 100 pages a week is too much for me and too slow a pace for this class) but I can still respond to it. I just can't talk about the end and I am not looking forward to having it spoiled for me in class tomorrow.
Jen said that my blog has become less interesting recently and is just Gap Gap Gap. So, what should I do to spice up the blog? Include stories about Ninjas? Gossip about fictional PNCA students? Post more art? Tell lies about Jen?
four nudes (in class)
Four poses over two days worth of work. Each pose given to work from was around an hour and a half (give or take fifteen minutes).
10"x14". Watercolor.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
not Gap enough
Rough day at work. I operate best at the "tell me what to do and I will do it" type of chores. So I did it. This was my first time working off the sheets and I had no idea where most of the things I was looking for were. Took me ages to find a bloody fair isle set of mittens and the belts that are tucked away (no wonder they are marked down, no one can see them and thus no one will buy them). That wasted a lot of time so when it came to marking down the sale racks (continually, I know I'll be marking the same striped shirts down next week) it ran over the allotted time. Markdowns are supposed to take five hours and should have taken Brandon and I two and a half each. It took me about four and a half hours and he spent three. Argh. Paula told me that it seemed like I had been taught three different ways to do it and asked why it took me so long. I mentioned how much time was spent trying to find things when I'm still not familiar with the store (because they have me doing markdowns for most of my work and its the same sale racks and I'm not allowed to roam the floor much but I have a cashier shift this Saturday and it is during a sale, scary!!). Her last comment was a, "you can't wear those shoes again" in regards to my dirty white Chucks. Sadly those are my "clean" Chucks. Now I have to see if my Sketchers and not so obvious that I can wear them (we can't wear nonGap obvious shoes, Converse are sold at Gap). Damnit! So yeah, I wear a men's size 5 and a women's size 7 in Chuck Taylor Converse All Stars. Black is a good color but I'll accept anything really. Then again, Christmas is ages away and I have lots of work to do. I'll probably use my discount on a pair from The Gap. My designated "work shoes". It was a crummy shift. I can only go so fast when repricing a crammed rack. OH and Paula didn't like the radio I had on. Mariane liked it and Brandon didn't seem to mind. She came in and was all, "This is all mellow, where's the Beyonce? We should get our blood pumping!" Jazz is much better than Hannah Montana. Paula is nice but the way she phrases things isn't the way I'd phrase things.
Oh! And this lady was asking for boys sizes of this jacket and telling me about how all the girls jackets were under stuffed and of lesser quality because girls are not expected to play or be in the weather as long as boys. I said, trying to be nice, how girls fashion has more layers, but she wouldn't let it go. Everyone who helped her in the quest for that size 12 heard about how bad the girl jackets were. The last twenty minutes of my shift was spent at the register helping a person after another and trying to sort out all that code stuff. Karen you lied, it doesn't tell you what to do!!
I was glad for that shift to be over. It rained all day and I was nicely damp on both my Max rides.
Inked and colored my Jet Ski Pirates. Inked in what I had sketched for my comic. It just needs a few panels sketched and colored. It is a lot of work to be done tomorrow ontop of other stuff but I think I'll go for a minimal, solid color palette over a highly rendered one. I'm not being lazy, solid colors are tricky as well because you have to be more choosey!
I put on my rain pants for the journey to yoga. I am so dedicated to getting bent. Yeah! There were about 12 people during this session. Esteban was there, Olivia called me Trillium but as I couldn't remember her name until someone mentioned her later, I didn't correct her at the time. Getting the jist of it is swell enough. I have no muscle definition whatsoever. I don't know where my muscles went. Hopefully they will come back.
I treated myself to some Bellagio's pizza for dinner (and it will carry over to Breakfast and Dinner tomorrow). So warm, so good.
Oh! And this lady was asking for boys sizes of this jacket and telling me about how all the girls jackets were under stuffed and of lesser quality because girls are not expected to play or be in the weather as long as boys. I said, trying to be nice, how girls fashion has more layers, but she wouldn't let it go. Everyone who helped her in the quest for that size 12 heard about how bad the girl jackets were. The last twenty minutes of my shift was spent at the register helping a person after another and trying to sort out all that code stuff. Karen you lied, it doesn't tell you what to do!!
I was glad for that shift to be over. It rained all day and I was nicely damp on both my Max rides.
Inked and colored my Jet Ski Pirates. Inked in what I had sketched for my comic. It just needs a few panels sketched and colored. It is a lot of work to be done tomorrow ontop of other stuff but I think I'll go for a minimal, solid color palette over a highly rendered one. I'm not being lazy, solid colors are tricky as well because you have to be more choosey!
I put on my rain pants for the journey to yoga. I am so dedicated to getting bent. Yeah! There were about 12 people during this session. Esteban was there, Olivia called me Trillium but as I couldn't remember her name until someone mentioned her later, I didn't correct her at the time. Getting the jist of it is swell enough. I have no muscle definition whatsoever. I don't know where my muscles went. Hopefully they will come back.
I treated myself to some Bellagio's pizza for dinner (and it will carry over to Breakfast and Dinner tomorrow). So warm, so good.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
beauty and the bedraggled
No model showed up for class. For the first part we hung out in the Feldman Gallery and discussed the paintings there. Morgan didn't like them at all, said they were immature or something like that. I can kind of see what he means by that as they don't seem to have that deep of concepts but are executed really well. Morgan, not the teacher, was very vocal in his disapproval stating comments about low contrast and not being crisp. Then when we returned to class and some people put up their homework, his was low contrast and not crisp. Ha ha!
I registered. Right now I am signed up for five things but only 12 credits (the internship doesn't have any credit listed for whatever reason). I am taking: Illustration Studio I: Word + Image with Kurt Hollomon, Illustration Painting Techniques: Digital Media with Joseph Cross, Graphic Novel with Daniel Duford, and Beginning Mathematics with Shawn Cardwell. Also there is in the Internship but that needs to be sorted out ya.
Karen and I quickly whipped up some Comic Club posters. She did the lettering, I did the picture. It isn't too shabby for a poster I must say. The meeting is tomorrow but I can't make it as I am scheduled to work till noon. I told Taylor I won't be able to make it so he has to supply the paper and all that jazz.
History of Design held my interest! We are getting to some of the modern designers and some of the images presented were wonderful. Margaret passed around a copy of Idea Magazine, a Japanese publication devoted to type and type related things. I did do a little excitement hop for it. Wonderful piece of print! She likes my thesis so now the bar has been raised. Our final project is to do a homage to some piece of design, I'll probably do something from Beardsley or Gulbransson, those two are my boys.
The MFA's were gathering around free coffee and mix CDs. I grabbed a mix CD and chatted with Matt for a little bit. Student Council was mostly a conversation about clubs and I put in my two cents about having clubs take a more active role in formation before asking for money.
We moved on to nude modeling in painting. Hurray! And we had Anna for a model. Hurray hurray! I did two nice little paintings with colored backgrounds. I'm quite pleased with them even though they are not as smooth as I would like. I think I'll do the background different on the next set. Karen painting conjoined hair twins, Jen drew one sitting on the other (and looking fabulously anatomical), Lee did some more groupings, Erin from Alaska is trying out the fur while Erin the Bartender is trying out the lines, and Bryan made her look like a wood nymph of sorts. Or something, it looked cool. The first half of class was silent while the second half had some nerdy conversation about Spaced, Anonymous, and Scott Pilgrim. I asked Farel how he felt about being scheduled for 8am classed next semester and he didn't know that he had been scheduled that early. Like most days our conversation took some weird turns but it was a nice class. We take long breaks, as evidenced by my ability to post the picture before I had painted the second.
I left both a plastic bag AND my rain pants at home. It was raining through most of the day and my seat gave me bum quite the chill, which was nice considering how warm I got ontop with the jackets and weight of the bag keeping me insulated and steaming. I sloughed off my clothes and took a hot shower and now I'm just going to sink into bed. No work on homework tonight, I'm exhausted! I have most of tomorrow to ink so I'm not worried (I work another mark down shift and have Yoga in the evening which should provide a nice break).
I registered. Right now I am signed up for five things but only 12 credits (the internship doesn't have any credit listed for whatever reason). I am taking: Illustration Studio I: Word + Image with Kurt Hollomon, Illustration Painting Techniques: Digital Media with Joseph Cross, Graphic Novel with Daniel Duford, and Beginning Mathematics with Shawn Cardwell. Also there is in the Internship but that needs to be sorted out ya.
Karen and I quickly whipped up some Comic Club posters. She did the lettering, I did the picture. It isn't too shabby for a poster I must say. The meeting is tomorrow but I can't make it as I am scheduled to work till noon. I told Taylor I won't be able to make it so he has to supply the paper and all that jazz.
History of Design held my interest! We are getting to some of the modern designers and some of the images presented were wonderful. Margaret passed around a copy of Idea Magazine, a Japanese publication devoted to type and type related things. I did do a little excitement hop for it. Wonderful piece of print! She likes my thesis so now the bar has been raised. Our final project is to do a homage to some piece of design, I'll probably do something from Beardsley or Gulbransson, those two are my boys.
The MFA's were gathering around free coffee and mix CDs. I grabbed a mix CD and chatted with Matt for a little bit. Student Council was mostly a conversation about clubs and I put in my two cents about having clubs take a more active role in formation before asking for money.
We moved on to nude modeling in painting. Hurray! And we had Anna for a model. Hurray hurray! I did two nice little paintings with colored backgrounds. I'm quite pleased with them even though they are not as smooth as I would like. I think I'll do the background different on the next set. Karen painting conjoined hair twins, Jen drew one sitting on the other (and looking fabulously anatomical), Lee did some more groupings, Erin from Alaska is trying out the fur while Erin the Bartender is trying out the lines, and Bryan made her look like a wood nymph of sorts. Or something, it looked cool. The first half of class was silent while the second half had some nerdy conversation about Spaced, Anonymous, and Scott Pilgrim. I asked Farel how he felt about being scheduled for 8am classed next semester and he didn't know that he had been scheduled that early. Like most days our conversation took some weird turns but it was a nice class. We take long breaks, as evidenced by my ability to post the picture before I had painted the second.
I left both a plastic bag AND my rain pants at home. It was raining through most of the day and my seat gave me bum quite the chill, which was nice considering how warm I got ontop with the jackets and weight of the bag keeping me insulated and steaming. I sloughed off my clothes and took a hot shower and now I'm just going to sink into bed. No work on homework tonight, I'm exhausted! I have most of tomorrow to ink so I'm not worried (I work another mark down shift and have Yoga in the evening which should provide a nice break).
ketchup makes everything edible
My comic is sketched out. It needs inks and colors of course but I have plenty of time to devote to them. Also my pirate pictures is sketched! That also requires at least the minimum of inks but that will go fast. There is piracy from the legendary golden Zocchihedron to Bela Lugosi's corpse. It's awesome. Those two things are my major projects this week (I have another artist sketchbook due but those don't take me long).
Returned some books to the library and checked out a new pile. I also put some books on hold like Michael Pollon's Omnivore's Dilemma and Umberto Eco's On Ugliness. I saw a lady with a dagger face tattoo. It was on her cheek and it was glowing (well tattooed to look like it was glowing).
I looked at the class schedule. Sadly History of Printmaking is not being offered in the Spring. I think I will wait for it as none of the current history classes interest me. Right now on my slate is Illustration Studio, Illustration Painting Digital Techniques, Graphic Novels, and the internship. Not the official names but thats what I'm signing up for. Another thing will probably be added. It is a Monday-Thursday schedule. Three day weekends are nice. Math might be added on (oh Dad, I don't think I'll need a refresher for it as they don't teach the same math at regular school).
I kept busy today, pretty good. Quantum of Solace is coming up and Let The Right One In is playing at Cinema 21. Swedish vampire flick, sounds good ya?
Returned some books to the library and checked out a new pile. I also put some books on hold like Michael Pollon's Omnivore's Dilemma and Umberto Eco's On Ugliness. I saw a lady with a dagger face tattoo. It was on her cheek and it was glowing (well tattooed to look like it was glowing).
I looked at the class schedule. Sadly History of Printmaking is not being offered in the Spring. I think I will wait for it as none of the current history classes interest me. Right now on my slate is Illustration Studio, Illustration Painting Digital Techniques, Graphic Novels, and the internship. Not the official names but thats what I'm signing up for. Another thing will probably be added. It is a Monday-Thursday schedule. Three day weekends are nice. Math might be added on (oh Dad, I don't think I'll need a refresher for it as they don't teach the same math at regular school).
I kept busy today, pretty good. Quantum of Solace is coming up and Let The Right One In is playing at Cinema 21. Swedish vampire flick, sounds good ya?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Marge, is this a pimple or a boil?
Glorious sleep in Sunday. I'm giving the heads time to dry fully before putting on another layer. They needed turning over because the bottoms were still very wet while the tops were really dry.
I'm all done with that season of Rome. I wonder what is going to happen in the second season, I thought they would take longer to off Caesar. Overall it had a great setup for the finale. Wonderful show.
Has anyone gotten their discount cards yet? I'm wondering if the ink smudged on the mailing addresses.
Had a work meeting tonight. They grilled us about the Gap Cards, the general appearance of the store, and about shop lifting. It's weird how difficult they make it to check someones bag if we think they shoplifted. We did a couple customer scenarios. I played a person who was grabbing clothes and shopping and not stopping at all. Met all the other employees. It's a really small store. I picked up another shift on Saturday so I'll have 9 hours plus the 3 tonight clocked in for this week. I'll be getting a paycheck soon. Whoo! It was a long sitting period listening to stuff. It really gave me a wide scope of how much I need to learn about the various tasks around the store. Folding is key.
Karen drove me home and after I posed for some reference pictures. She, Adam, and I talked about things over rice. Diana stopped by. It was an...interesting conversation. Not really fit for the PGness of this blog.
I have this bump on my hand that I don't think is a callous (as it is in a spot that I don't rub). Might be a boil or a wart. They said it doesn't look like a wart but it doesn't pop so I'm not sure that if it is a boil. Hnn.
I'm all done with that season of Rome. I wonder what is going to happen in the second season, I thought they would take longer to off Caesar. Overall it had a great setup for the finale. Wonderful show.
Has anyone gotten their discount cards yet? I'm wondering if the ink smudged on the mailing addresses.
Had a work meeting tonight. They grilled us about the Gap Cards, the general appearance of the store, and about shop lifting. It's weird how difficult they make it to check someones bag if we think they shoplifted. We did a couple customer scenarios. I played a person who was grabbing clothes and shopping and not stopping at all. Met all the other employees. It's a really small store. I picked up another shift on Saturday so I'll have 9 hours plus the 3 tonight clocked in for this week. I'll be getting a paycheck soon. Whoo! It was a long sitting period listening to stuff. It really gave me a wide scope of how much I need to learn about the various tasks around the store. Folding is key.
Karen drove me home and after I posed for some reference pictures. She, Adam, and I talked about things over rice. Diana stopped by. It was an...interesting conversation. Not really fit for the PGness of this blog.
I have this bump on my hand that I don't think is a callous (as it is in a spot that I don't rub). Might be a boil or a wart. They said it doesn't look like a wart but it doesn't pop so I'm not sure that if it is a boil. Hnn.
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