laid off comic

Look! Blogging the day of! And I drew something (see above). Maybe I'll just auto bio comic my way to success! That's what a lot of illustrators do when they are suddenly unemployed.

Anyway. Had a rough night sleep, Stayed home. Leaving the house tomorrow though. Sat in front of the fire. Drew. Listened to podcasts. Need to draw more, what else am I doing? Nothing, that's what.

Maybe I should get my booze handlers permit, just so I'm set for applying at different job places.

Ya. Mellow day.

it feels good to be making art

Saturday & Sunday & Monday

So in the past few days I have:

• Slept in, of course. That's what I do.
• I saw Krampus with Karen on Sunday. It was fun and well balanced. Had a lot of different things going but it managed too juggle them very well.
• Finished all my Yakult. 
• Shopped at Trader Joe's, where the cashier recognized me because my cool totes had come through her line before. She admired them again.
• Started carving a linoleum block to turn into a print for holiday cards.
• Cut up paper to print on for the block.
• Went to Sequim to shop for card supplies. Did NOT want to drive to Poulsbo, so I drove an extra five minutes. Sequim ain't too shabby a place. Got envelopes and washi tape at Office Max and a good stamp pad at Hopalongs? Doodlebugs! That's it. The lady didn't seem to quite get what I was talking about when I said I was printing a linoleum block and was a bit condescending in explaining how they stamp with ink pads, when all I wanted to make sure was that the pad was raised and not inset (a gel pad wouldn't work, my block is too bid).
• Still, nice to explore north a bit.
• Listened to podcasts.
• Ate irregularly.
• Ordered Christmas presents. Hopefully they'll all arrive before Christmas. Mom & Dad, don't open anything that arrives in my name!!
• Asked for Monday to be a chill day for me. Got the chill day.
• Watched TV.
• Went to bed earlier than usual.
• Finished the block and started printing.
• I'm printing 75 to start with, and there is currently 68 names in the address list, though I may not send cards to all the people. There's a few that are priority though.
• Pre-ordered my Star Wars ticket! Just have to make it to Thursday spoiler free. One day down, two to go.

In the next few days I need to:

• Work. Working on site on Thursday then going to see Star Wars.
• Work from home probably.
• Finish the cards and start getting them mailed out.
• Buy stamps.
• Doctor's appointment on Wednesday.

Ma and Pa: if a package arrives for me, give it to Celia to give to me when you see her on Thursday.

right?

Slept waaaay in. Didn't get up to much today. I deserved a rest? Except whoops I have to get cracking on my paper and my defense. Crumb cakes. But thats all I got to do now, but since it isn't drawing and tangible...it is hard to structure.

Talked to Madeline about how awesome Game of Thrones was. Had some oatmeal. And then later some pasta. And then later some salad. Went to Trader Joe's and got stuff. Watched tellie. Thought about all the stuff that I'm not doing and continued to not do it.

I'll do better tomorrow. I've been working really hard, right?

Right?

Todays Portrait Is: Ioan Gruffudd (yes, that is how you spell it, I checked).

doo doo doooo the other things that need doing

Didn't really touch on any thesis stuff today. Spent the day sorting out the apartment and stuff. Did a lot of dishes (though most of them were done by Mark and Kristen, I just did the rest of the accumulated dishes). Put away my laundry. Tidied my room. Put another henna wash in my hair. I think I'll go for the more red block of henna from Lush next time. It was a nice touch up. Didn't give me a headache like the last time, though I used considerably less of the stuff this time around. I just used the bit remaining from the block of henna I bought for the first dye. The color may be very subtle, but my hair feels good. Mmm.

The library is closed during Spring Break. Boooo. That is such crap. I can't believe how fast time runs out. But taking a chill day to sort to things was much needed.

Went to Fred Meyer's and got some soap and cotton balls and creme cheese and aluminum foil and other things.

Did a couple more portraits.

Been listening to Hunger Games. VERY good. Very invested in Katniss and Peeta.

Todays Portrait Is: Ryan Hurst.

salad days take two

It was so cold it started to snow today! What the hey? I don' want snow. Well, I guess snow would be nice actually. My room is just the coldest point in the apartment because the window doesn't shut fully at the top. I tried to hit it closed, but it didn't quite work.

Oatmeal and tea breakfast.

Wandered down to Fred Meyer to get some cleaning supplies. Swiffer wipes and bleach and stuff.

I like walking around listening to audio books. Too bad it is so horribly cold. It would be nice to do when it is sunny and I can catch some of that sun.

Uhg, I've eaten too many sweets. Now I feel ill. I think I'll eat a salad to finish my days consumption. I've been eating a lot of salads lately. Go me!

Another lame duck day. Tomorrow I'll work on the proof for the print exchange. Totally forgot about it. Erk...

Todays Portrait Is: Morgaine Faye.

gah Lacey is so talented

I like Thursdays. They are good relaxing days. Got up. Had a scramble. Need to get some cheese to make my scramble extra delicious.

Dried and put away the dishes.

Chilled. Relaxed. Kicked it. You know, that old diddy.

Went to school for a meeting with Martin. The advising meeting, which isn't totally needed now that I'm this far along (this is more for Freshmen and Sophomores). But anyway, talked to him about thesis a little bit and looked at my animations and some pieces I've done. It went quick and off I went back home. Relaxed. Snacked. Then went to see Lacey's show at the Gann Brothers. It was her thesis show and it was one night only, but still, a thing to attend anyway. It was mostly just Karen and Lacey and I, but the Gann brothers came and went and a few people stopped by. It is sort of out of the way and November isn't the best month for First Thursday.

I left at 7:45ish, after munching on cheese, meat, and crackers. Watched another funny episode of Community. Watched Fringe. Then I watched Near Dark. Not as good as I was expecting it to be, but oh well. Now I don't know what I'll do. Tomorrow I'll clean up the place and go to yoga and write up my thesis stuff.

spray and wait

In Oregon, you have to sign a form and get your drivers licence number written down before you can buy spray paint. And they keep it locked up. I just needed some black to spray my nerf. I accidentally said "I need it to spray some stuff for Halloween!" and when I realised what what I just said implied, I was quick to ad that it was for nerf. And since I got the kind that adheres to plastic, I think the guy could tell I was telling the truth.

I left my yoga clothes at home, but my jeans were stretchy enough for all the yin yoga. I went to the computer lab and struggled with AfterEffects. I had totally forgotten the instruction and I had left my instruction book at home. Tomorrow I will coop up in the lab and animate until I have to get ready for the party. I did finish my portfolio mailer instead. And it looks much better. So Sunday is all thesis day, as I don't have to worry about portfolio.

Went home. Went to Trader Joe's. Got some butter, eggs, lettuce, apples, frozen gnocchi and Gorgonzola (I'm lazy), beef, and flavored fluids. Came back. Mark and Kristen worked on their Harry Potter (Mark didn't want to be Arthur Dent anymore, BOOO!!) and Katy Perry costumes. I made brownies that didn't turn out. And spray painted my nerf! It took a while because each side needed about 15 minutes. Sprayed it about five times. Once on each side, and once again to tidy it up. Will probably spray it some more tomorrow. On the last time I accidentally locked myself out of the apartment (I was spraying it on a brown paper bag in the courtyard) and had to knock on the window to get let back in. Hahah. But the gun looks great and my costume is FINISHED! I'm so excited.

Now I'm just staying up looking at awesome movie posters.

I love my new comfy sweater.

Tomorrow I have obligations at noon, so that keeps my sleep schedule respectable! And with that done, I should be ready to work on stuff. Just go to school and animate and all that.

Since we don't pay an electric bill, we can have a space heater running all day. Wheee. Cozy apartment. It keeps everything a lot warmer than the rattly system in the building.

formaldehyde face

Thursday: designated bunking off from responsibilities day.

Ate my oatmeal (need to make another Trader Joe's trip). Watched They Live for costume prep. Went to William Temple House for costume finishing. Picked up a shirt that works better than the one Karen is loaning me, as well as a tank, two belts, and a super comfy gray BDG hoodie. Always something good at William Temple. No glasses though. So we walked to Goodwill. No sunglasses there either! We shared some Skinnidip frozen yogurt because neither of us have had it. I got about four brain freezes. Then we went to Walgreen's. They had some "close enough, can't be bothered to look around more" glasses. It's weird, the shirt I got is XXL but it fits pretty well. Maybe it is designed to be tight, so someone like me who favors loose shirts would buy it larger.

It was misty rainy. Went back home. Did laundry. Ate a tuna sandwich. Watched a hilarious episode of Community. And made a four day work list. It isn't so bad, so long as I keep to it. And there is plenty of room for "chilling out".

Put on my costume bits. It is looking good. Just need to spray paint the gun and I am ready to kick some 1988 butt at BT, Karen, and Phil's shindig. All the cool kids are going, sure to be a riot.

Friday. Go to Trader Joes. Go to Ace Hardware and get spray paint. Paint gun. Yoga. Animation. I don't know how much animation I will do, but I will get a start on it.

Saturday. Go to the special animation showing at Cinema 21. Some of the shorts may be up for Oscars. Finish up animation. Halloween PAAARTTYYY!

Sunday. Work on the portfolio (get it finished, shouldn't take long). Work on slide show (eek should take a while, I'll bring my audiobooks with me, almost finished with The Strain). Work on the write up for my thesis. The page or so about it.

Monday. Print my portfolio. Double sided. Tricky. Work on slide show. Work on pieces for advanced illustration.

Tuesday. Turn in stuff. Work on advanced illustration some more.

Wednesday. Turn in animation. Relax. Turn in piece and portfolio. Relax some fore.

Thursday. Do nothing. As it will be Thursday again, before I even know it.

hamburger helped

Rolled out of bed. Made myself some delicious bacon and eggs and tea for breakfast. Watched Terriers.

Went down to school and hung out with Karen for a bit. Girl talked. Went down to Chipotle for lunch, but I didn't order anything. After that I did my animation for class. I'm on top of it! No rush or worry or having to find a station to work on later in the week. Hurrah!

So I got to animating my rings and watch. In terms of objects that represent me, these mementos do a pretty good job of it. I kept pretty solid to the drawn increments that were part of the assignment. Which helped keep the speed the different rings rotated at constant. I dig it. Listened to The Strain some more. Onto the 7th disc, out of I think 11. Sweet!

Went back home. Went to Trader Joe's. Got some beef. Did the dishes. Made Hamburger Helper. I was curious and wanted to try it out as I never had it growing up. It wasn't anything too special but it made for a filling dinner. I wanted to make brownie mix as well but we are out of butter. I'm real healthy tonight. Ha.

Got caught up on QI. I really want to watch Vanishing Point.

I should have gone out and done something. Decided against going to Matt's birthday. Ho humm.

Time to eat an apple and crack open Packing for Mars. Space travel is interesting but it is spending a lot of time on psychology and gravity. I just want to know how they poop in space!

making some plans

Uhm today. Yeah. Another lazy day. Went to school for yoga but found it cancelled. Boo! Oh well.

Took a walk to Fred Meyer. Half way through The Strain now. Got some hot dogs and bacon and eggs and other stuff. It was a brisk walk, but refreshing.

Loafed about a lot.

God I'm really bad at productivity.

This whole "no assignments this week, just think about stuff okay?" thing...no good.

Maybe I'll get off my duff tomorrow and go down to school and animate. Would give me an excuse to listen to more audiobook. That would be swell. Need to think of how to make my animation assignment a self portrait. OHHH! I could highlight and animate my trademark jewelry. The symbols of the connections to my family. The watch from dad, the ring from auntie, ring from great grandma, ring from cousin. Yeah! Hmmm. Ideas are good.

Tomorrow night is Matt G's birthday. That might be something to do.

Looking forward to bacon and eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Eat that! Go animate! Feel good about stuff. Yeah.

Also need to document my teeshirt.

kitsap grrlz

Mom is in Hawaii! I want to go to Hawaii! Not fair.

Anyway. Thursday. Designated recovery day. Slept in. Ate some gnocchi and Gorgonzola from Trader Joe's. Caught up on Fringe. Season 3 is awesome! All odd numbered episodes take place in the alternate universe where Olivia from our universe is brainwashed to think she is that Olivia. Even numbered episodes have the evil Olivia infiltrating in our world. It is awesome. The episodes have the standard fringe science arc but the added mystery of the two Olivias. It is great.

Community was excellent. Hilarious. The actor who plays Troy has fantastic timing.

Kristen is getting almost better. She washed dishes and I dried. I tied up my room a smidge.

Didn't do much but I have a good idea for what I want to do for my animation. I should get on that in the next couple days, just so I don't rush it and get all stressed.

Oh yeah yoga tomorrow! Gotta remember that. I had to forsake yoga on Tuesday for animation. There was no way to do both and have reasonable time left.

Amazing how I was all "yeah join a gym!" two weeks ago. Where did that enthusiasm go?

I want to go somewhere warm. There is a gap in my window that lets in a perma draft.

ITCHEEEEEY

I'm so itchy and I don't know why. My thighs and stomach mostly. Places where I haven't put my new Dream Cream (the sampler of which didn't affect me at all). I wonder if I'm having an allergic reaction to my detergent, though why would that be affecting me now after months of wearing washed clothes. I have some Gold Bond creme, and it helps. But I want to know why I am so itchy? I did change body soaps, but it is the same brand. ARGH.

Slept in. Oatmeal for breakfast. Went to Trader Joe's. Got some frozen veggie medley, chocolate croissants, battered halibut, a new Trader Joe's bag (they also have freaking rolling bags now! with wheels!) bananas, apples, and so on. Had a nice fish, salad, and orange juice late lunch. Gotta get vegetables back into the rotation.

Kind of did nothing. Was feeling a little down for no reason I could identify.

My care package came! Pocky! Bed skirt! SOCKS! And other goodies. Thanks ma!

My friend Jay is moving to Oakland soon. Booo! But if I move to Monterey, then I'll be near a friend.

What is this about Monterey? Well, I'd like to go somewhere not Portland after I graduate. I like the city, it just isn't a place that I feel totally connected to. It just isn't where I want to be. Monterey sort of has a nice ring to it, and it was nice the one time I went there before with Mom on one of her little retreat thingies.

Anyway, yeah. Just sort of laid about. Watched Community. Episode wasn't up to snuff. Watched Outsourced. Not funny. Watched Raising Hope. HPublish PostILARIOUS! Reminds me of Fox programming 2002-2005. Not perfectly family oriented with good actors playing interesting characters.

Tomorrow I have some stuff to be done.

day off

Yay a day to do nothing! Just to check out and watch TV and put my still sprained ankle up.

What Not To Wear, Top Gear, Police Academy. I really gotta get rid of cable before school starts. It is just too damn easy.

But tomorrow I have some tasks to do. Whoo!

Uhm yeah. Did nothing. Put away nothing more. But it felt good.

School starts in two weeks. Damn summer went by. I got next to nothing accomplished. Oh well.

genesis part one

Tuesday

Another sleepy do nothing day. Sort of.

I met BT outside Portland Art Museum at 2pm to go see R. Crumb's Genesis at Portland Art Museum. He illustrated in comic form the entirety of Genesis. It is a pretty epic feat. He even drew it on the back of French comics because he likes that type of paper most of all. The show is the entirety of is original art. It is epic. There was someone dressed as Batman at the show as well. And someone idly remarking that R. Crumb has dabbled in comics a bit. Haha.

I got caught up in reading it. Well bits here and there. Really looked at the art. Lots of whiteout. Lots of fine details. Lots of Crumb looking women reenacting Genesis. Really spectacular show. And it is a good illustration. Not at all mocking of its source material. BT and I didn't talk so much while looking at the work. It was just a time to observe and be thrilled that work of that type (comics) is in such a setting (uber museum). We took a break with the first floor and drew in the sketchbook the museum provided.

"It is amazing that no one has called out hey BT yet," Trillian said as they sketched on the same page.

"Yeah that happens a lot," BT responded.

A minute later they heard a familiar voice.

"Hey BT," said the familiar brunette, notorious for his sketchbooks.

"Hey August."

Really funny how that happened so soon after I remarked on BT's popularity. It is true though. Every where someone knows him. Anyway. After the sketching break, and observing we were only half done with the museum, we decided to call it quits for today. As PNCA students we get free admission to the museum, so no biggie if we want to come back again any time.

We parted ways. I went home. Finished left over thai food. Watched Blade. And for some reason I dozed off around midnight.

Wednesday

Started throwing things away. I need to get boxes. Once I start packing, I can start moving things around and organizing. I don't quite know where to start when it comes to packing. I was thinking of emptying out my closet first. Then books. Go for the things I obviously want and need to keep.

Spent the day inside. Watching stuff. Eating hot wings and cake. Think I'll curl up with a book in a few. Karen and I are going to hang tomorrow, it is also First Thursday. Whoo!

Need to get on packing. I might end up here through Fourth of July.

you won't take me alive Mary Kay! okay maybe a little...

Looking at my over a thousand blog posts still amazes me.

I set my alarm for 9:30. I hit the snooze a couple times but still ended up sleeping in till noon. Darn.

Helped clean apartment. Sanitized and wiped down the kitchen counter and kitchen and bathroom floors. Need to borrow the vacuum again. Rolled the borrowed lounge furniture back into the lounge.

Harmony was having a little Mary Kay shindig and I remembered it just in time. Brought her a housewarming poster. She lives on the 22nd floor in this building on Harrison. Beautiful view.

It was fun. I have never had a proper facial before, so testing all the products and getting a really good scrub on my face. It was nice. One of the exfoliants was beyond amazing. We tested it on the back of our hands and man on man did it make that sucker soft. So many beautiful products. I did get a 3 in 1 cleanser though, because the stuff I've been using doesn't seem to do anything to my skin. I still break out and my pores are still clogged. And in the little demonstration, you only need a little bit of the stuff to work, so it should last. I want great skin and to age wonderfully. If I'm going to spend my youth pasty, I'm going to spend my thirties flawless.

Couldn't stay long as I had to homework it up. Read more of the essay. Well, trudged through it.

Then Katie and I watched Breaking Bad. And I watched The Pacific. Late night television double feature.

I just realized I have another Homeland piece due in two and a half weeks. Shoot. I thought it was later in the month. Oh well. Need to think about wilderness I guess. Think tomorrow I'll loiter at school during the 11-5 break and read. And nap. As it is 1am and I have to get up in six hours.

something something

Sat in Starbucks for an hour and a half struggling to read Eye and Mind. I got through about 3/4's of it, but had to stop when it just seemed to be going in circles. It is about painting, but it is written in I think the 1950's, so a lot of what he is talking about in terms of art has changed a lot. Still, fascinating.

Katie and Cody were filming some stuff for Katie's thesis at our apartment. She is doing a mock 90's infomercial about her fake company Trypanon. Phil and her friend Ali were playing the Asian couple in her video. It was about 20 minutes of Phil saying the same line and Ali and he staged a fake fight. I kept to my room mostly as the lighting equipment took up what space remained in the living room.

Our apartment looks well trashed right now. So much shifting about and the kitchen isn't looking too proper. Tomorrow will probably be a day of cleaning.

Watching Schindler's List. Only about 2/3 of the way through it. Last day of Spring Break. I did so little. I should have been brought along to Hawaii.

what a spectacle!

I drew another Odd Owl promo flier today. This one featured a spectacled owl wearing spectacles and smoking a pipe. A lot of detail in the feathers and branch. Took about two and a half hours.

I've been pretty consistently getting up at 11:57 or so. Before Noon.

Need to write up an invoice for Carmen. She agreed to cover my cost of materials and whatnot. Pretty awesome as we never discussed that possibility when I started (which needs to be something I need to get into the habit of asking for).

Friday is gone. Now I just have Saturday and Sunday. Wrote out my next week to dos. Mostly just reading stuff. Need to get on that.

Mom and Pop and Nate and Rubie are enjoying Hawaii right now.

ants on a log in a bog receding into fog

Just looked at the clock and saw it was 1:49am. Time to blog and sleep!

Pile of bacon, eggs, and plain old buttered toast for breakfast. Big champion hearty no need to eat while working breakfast.

Then I went to school to print! My ideal was two colors at the minimum. I managed to knock down all three in four and a half hours!

I made the green celery layer from a combination of two premade inks that were very viscous. I used some transparent base to make them more usable. That layer went really smooth. I was printing almost the whole size of my screen and had no pressure problems. Guess I am getting stronger.

Carmen was working in the studio, as was Pilar and Lynda Wysong I believe. Christy was printing clear ink on the back of paper to prevent it from curling.

I am doing a three color reductive print, so I used the drawing fluid to draw the peanut butter layer and sat back and read and let it dry, then applied emulsion and let that dry. Then exposed it and washed out the drawing fluid, which blocked the emulsion so it came off where I wanted to print.

The brown for the peanut butter came mixed right off the shelf. Perfect! Another smooth printing run. Did the emulsion steps for the raisins. Put on the mix CD that is always in the CD player.

Carmen asked me for my opinion on her piece and I said it looked like an architectural plan had imploded. She said that was what she was going for.

While waiting for the raisin layer to dry, I computered it up a bit. That layer went just as well. The purple came right off the shelf, but I had to add a little transbase to get it moving. All in all, the Ants on a Log print turned out to my liking. If it is recognizable as being what it is...I will find out.

Home! Six Feet Under! Relaxing!

At 6:40, Katie and I departed for hot wings. Phil met us outside the Goose and we caught the Red Max to the Yellow Transfer. Then took the Yellow to Fire on the Mountain on Interstate. Took a long time getting there, but the wings and company (BT and Karen) were worth it. Tots, fries, and onion rings were also ordered. I didn't get spicy, just BBQ flavor and water for me. Actually, Katie bought my wings because she ate some of my lasagna. How nice.

BT drove us back to Phil's place (who lives a few blocks from us). Karen collected her houseplants. Phil and Andy have a huge apartment. HUGE!

I sort of got us (Katie and I) sidetracked on the way back to our apartment. There is a freeway between Phil's place and the Goose and I went the way that doesn't cross the freeway. Still, it was a good night for walking.

Spent my night cutting out the celery, peanut butter, and raisins. So much cutting...

Tomorrow is Odd Owl drawing day. Hurray!

"this isn't our first rodeo"

Man, I am addicted to Six Feet Under. Best show I have seen in a long long time.

Katie and I went to Grocery Outlet today. It is quite an expedition. We had to bring a suitcase and all our durable Trader Joe's bags. The max came with no waiting. It was a brilliant beautiful day again. And not the type of day where it is really sunny but totally cold. Grocery Outlet has such great discounts. Picked up eggs and bacon and lots of other stuff. Tidbits and snackums. Having one of those wheeling shopping carts would be classier, but a suitcase does just fine. We also filled two bags. It was quite a haul.

Watched more Six Feet Under. Sat on the couch and read a chapter of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. So very depressing. The couch was so soft, I sort of fell asleep. Now I've woken up again and am going to get more reading done.

My tooth hurts. Whenever I floss my teeth just feel numb and brutalized. My teeth are crammed really tightly together, so it takes some effort to get the floss in between them. I should really go to the dentist. Haven't been since I started at PNCA...

live plant LLLIIIIIVEEE

Read a bit of chapter four of Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee. I'm depressed already. Just read and relaxed. Tidied up the apartment a little bit. Watched Six Feet Under. Ate food. Drank tea. Read some more. Three day weekends are totally wasted on me.

My jade plant fell apart. I was about to toss it but some friends suggested I try sprouting it in some water or something... grow roots. So I am trying that. I was fairly devastated that it wasn't working out. So here is hoping... I want my beloved jade to live!

Phil and Katie went to hockey. They came back and we watched The Hangover. We drank wine and stayed up till, well, 2:45am chatting. Now it is time to sleep. Tomorrow is a day for more hard core reading.