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.
hi
Monday, November 24, 2008
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.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
sleep has come back to me for the time being
Actually slept through the night. Thanks peppermint flavoured melatonin!
Had an apartment check with Robin. Things checked out.
Had a complete breakfast with two slices of buttered black sour rye, an apple, some emergen-c, and oatmeal. Delicious and filling! I love granny smith apples.
My comic is all thumbnailed and laid out, all it needs is the pencils and inks and colors. It shouldn't be that difficult as the panels are small and I ink fast.
Did some more papier mache with the recipes given to me by mom and Michal. How come it takes so bloody long to dry? I want to build these parts quicker, but this is for a final so there isn't the greatest rush. I am just doing the heads now so I can test how the plaster lays on the papier mache. I want it to be smooth and I am going to decoupage white tissue over it to get a veiled effect. Only the eyes will be painted. I'm going to do the same for the hands. It will be a marionette.
Watched Atonement. DEPRESSING!! It was also really unevenly balanced. I didn't feel the regret so much. It needed about another half an hour. I also didn't have the subtitles so I didn't know what she said to the soldier with part of his brain exposed. Err yeah.
Had an apartment check with Robin. Things checked out.
Had a complete breakfast with two slices of buttered black sour rye, an apple, some emergen-c, and oatmeal. Delicious and filling! I love granny smith apples.
My comic is all thumbnailed and laid out, all it needs is the pencils and inks and colors. It shouldn't be that difficult as the panels are small and I ink fast.
Did some more papier mache with the recipes given to me by mom and Michal. How come it takes so bloody long to dry? I want to build these parts quicker, but this is for a final so there isn't the greatest rush. I am just doing the heads now so I can test how the plaster lays on the papier mache. I want it to be smooth and I am going to decoupage white tissue over it to get a veiled effect. Only the eyes will be painted. I'm going to do the same for the hands. It will be a marionette.
Watched Atonement. DEPRESSING!! It was also really unevenly balanced. I didn't feel the regret so much. It needed about another half an hour. I also didn't have the subtitles so I didn't know what she said to the soldier with part of his brain exposed. Err yeah.
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