monochromatically speaking...

It is late and I am tired from doing nothing all day.

Slept in, as I deserved to do. Had a meager breakfast followed by fudge. Did my laundry. Did a late in the day portrait. Dad came home. We talked a little bit but then he had to snooze.

Had some chips and hummus. And more fudge. Watched Community with mom. Watched Pillars of the Earth and Fringe by myself. I'm amazed that hours just sort of...slip away after 11pm. Where did they go?

I'm spending the night in Seattle tomorrow, so there will be no post. But there will be a portrait. I'm in the last third of the project now. It still isn't any easier. All though rather, some of the techniques are not getting any easier. Whenever my work is unsatisfactory, I change styles or scale and often it works again. Did three portraits in a row that I am very pleased with, and I did them in not that much time either.

Todays Portrait Is: Michael Fassbender.

going to bathe Holly tomorrow

The sun came out again today! Hurray! Hauled out of bed at around 10. Had some oatmeal and tea. Ma was off doing something. Or was she home? No she was gone. Got to class on time. We went through the roles of producers and set designers and artistic direction in relationship to film making. It is spectacular that anything gets made at all! Takes so much coordination of intelligence to get it made.

Class got out a bit early because the teacher had a faculty meeting. It is such a quick class. I wish it was as long as Flash feels like.

More The Hobbit listening on the way home. Swung by Amy's Chocolate on the way out of Bremerton and bought a fancy salted caramel and some fudge. The caramel was faaantastic. Shared it with mom. The fudge is good. Not the best fudge I've had, but fudge is fudge.

Holly had a good vet visit. Gave her a brush. Watched some stuff.

Ma and I soaked in the hot tub for half an hour, and then watched Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It was a fun little flick.

How did it get so late? Blimey!

Todays Portrait Is: Michael Pitt.

I'm a rebel

Fuuhhh I hate Monday/Wednesday morning get ups. But they quite nice when ma makes me a lunch. Mmm! What a great mother.

It was a studio work day, and so I worked on the stuff and got the first chapter's worth of work turned in. I was tired but trucked along. Forgot headphones. Class was dead silent.

Ate my sandwich between classes, right in front of the computer. Well not right in front. I was leaning back and was no way close to getting a cucumber on the keyboard. I so don't care about "no food in classrooms" rules. Whatever, just don't eat OVER the keyboard.

I was falling asleep nearly in Flash. Got a bunch more meandering stories, but we finally got a little bit more into the program. Enough to know how to make a ball move across the screen. But she isn't doing THAT good of an explanation. Hence the drifting off and trying really hard to keep focused. I really miss Rose Bond as a teacher. After Effects looks, and probably is, about 20 times more complex than Flash, but somehow they were able to effectively tutor us in that from no textbook. Bah.

I really need to haul my stuff out of the mini barn. I think I'll work on that Friday. Saturday night I'll be in Seattle. Want to get more of my books sorted. Work on the things that have a place to go. Plus I want some of my warmer/nicer clothes on hand. I'm trying to be fabulous here.

FINALLY watched Nicolas Winding Refn's film Bronson. Yup, such a solid director. Love him. Tom Hardy is a great actor too, nearly unrecognizable.

Ma watched a romantic comedy that didn't seem to be that remarkable.

So, tomorrow. School. Then gotta draw some more watercolors.

Todays Portrait Is: the scary weird floating head of Michael Shannon.

I miss coach

Slept in nice and cozy like till 10ish. Had some tea and oatmeal. Got to class right on time. I decided to sit in the back, for a change of pace. Near Rufus, Marcus, and Eli. Borrowed a pen from Rufus (he has a mighty beard). Film Directing was more good lecture about lenses and "the line" and stuff. Lots of note taking. The class goes by really fast, I wish it was longer than two hours. Especially since the classes that are nearly three hours each both draaaaaag on.

It was a nice day today. Sun and a bit of warmth.

So naturally I retreated to the computer right when I got home. Peeled myself away to watch another simple episode of Glee. Okay it isn't so wildly all over the place, but it still hasn't regained some of the fun the first season had. New Girl is un.watch.a.ble. Mom and I tried. I managed to force out a couple laughs, but it just is not a good show. Fox needs to cancel it and put back to back Raising Hope episodes. Now THAT is a hilarious awesome great show. Love it.

Crap, gotta get up early tomorrow. Baahh.

Todays Portrait Is: Charlotte Free.

boy I am tired...

It has been raining non stop all day. Hopefully that means I won't have to wash my car. ANYWAY, got up quite drudgingly. Stuffed my bag full of granola bars and almonds and set off in the rain to school. I leave for class at 9, so I can find parking without hassle, but this also means I arrive 30 minutes early. But that gave me time to notice somewhere along the line, the disc in my textbook had cracked. It is just the disc with files, so I copied them from someone else's disc for the purposes of the class.

We got a lecture on text and wrapping and kerning and leading for the first part of class, which was good. And then it moved into an open lab. I should bring some headphones to class, because it is way too silent in there. Tomorrow I'll work on finishing up the work, after class. All though I think we have lab time all day Wednesday. Hmm.

Anyway. Flash was long and dull. We got another endless lecture about teaching methods and technology. We got to see some past projects. Some were more impressive than others. This teacher, hopefully when she gets to teaching, she will be good, because right now the class just makes me boggle.

I put $20 worth of gas in my car, which didn't do much. Opened another account at the Kitsap Library, checked out The Hobbit and Palomar. Need some comics in my life again. And to start audiobooking it up again. Love me some audiobooks. I don't think I've listened or read The Hobbit. But I will now!

Watched Downton Abbey. Ate a nice salad and cous cous for dinner. I'm going to work on a typeface for Odd Owl, so that will be a great project. Now I just need to think about how to charge for it. How much does one charge for designing a type face? Hmm.

Todays Portrait Is: Gemma Ward.

walkies

Uhg just remembered I have class tomorrow. And it is late. Boooo. Oh well. I'll survive.

Slept way in. I fell asleep on my my arm so it didn't have any sense in it when I woke up. Or rather when it woke me up.

Had some toast and tea and finished watching Six Feet Under. The last of it. What a great show.

Showered. Nibbled on some cupcakes. Later in the afternoon, mom and I went to a park in Silverdale to take Holly for a walk. I think it was her first official on a leash in public type walk. Normally it is just to the end of the driveway and back. She did really well! Huffed a little at some people but smelt some dogs in a nice and pleasant manner. She is so mild tempered now. What a good old doggie.

Back at home I drew and watched telly and wasted the rest of the day. But I did knock out a bunch of portraits. So that is good. Boardwalk Empire. Breaking Bad. Downton Abbey.

Todays Portrait Is: Crystal Renn.

sister pine

Aww man, I waited too long in the day and now it is late and I am tired but I need to blog because I actually got out of the house and did something.

Got up early because I thought we would be leaving at noon and I need to get up at least three hours early to be prepared for anything. But it turns out it didn't need to be that soon. So it gave me time to do stuff. Huzzah!

Like neat toast and drink tea.

Then ma and I were in the car and off to catch the Bainbridge Island ferry for Seattle! It was a lovely day on and off. I drew up the map and gave mom directions, and they were super good directions too.

Anyway, we arrived at Linda's house right on time for the ladies tea! Sister Pine, Linda's daughter, was visiting. She is a Zen Buddhist nun under Thich Nhat Hanh, and is touring around right now spreading the word of thought and community and peace and all that great phenomenal wonderful stuff. I listened intently to what she said and we talked a bit about community and art and things. She had such a good energy about her. It was a real awesome pleasure to have met her.

Afterwards, ma and I stopped by the University Bookstore and I got Peace is Every Breath (a Thich Nhat Hanh book). Such a nice bookstore, though I prefer places like Powell's where you can find cheap beaten up used copies next to new ones. Much better to impulse buy lots of things, when it is set up like that.

We got stuck in traffic on the way out of town but made the Bremerton ferry with a few minutes to spare. My back had a crick in it all day. That sucked.

But meeting Sister Pine, that was spectacular.

Doctor Who was really awesome. A good fun episode. Sad there is only one left in the season and I've heard so many different stories about when the next season will be. Still, very good!

Now I am really tired and I can't believe that is the time.

OH, I also cut and sewed my San Juan Islands shirt into a tank top. It looks great. I should buy more shirts in larger sizes just to modify them to suit my needs better. It is a proper solution.

Todays Portrait Is: Lily Cole.

mats mats dock dock

Yay! Weekend! I haven't had a weekend since May or was it June? Ohh this year is going by fast.

Had a small breakfast of cupcake and tea. Then helped dad and mom haul fire wood for an hour and a half. I'm the one who tosses the wood from the truck and mom would stack it in piles for dad to stack in the wood shack thing. Then mom went and cooked and I had to make the piles. Worked for an hour and a half. Took a break. Worked for another hour. Unloaded three truck beds worth of wood! Was it three? Or two. Errr.

Either way, it was a lot of work. I got some stuff in my eye at the midway point, but I washed it out and all was well.

After wood, ma, pa, and myself packed up some cooking and went to Mats Mats for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. Dad showed them a slideshow of our San Juan island trip. Dinner was a casserole, a spinach salad, some green beans, and apple pie for dessert! There was a squirrel outdoors that kept peering in at our dinner.

We left at around 7, as dad had to get home and pack.

I watched Fringe. Tomorrow Dad is off to Brazil for the week. Ma and I will be going to Seattle to meet a Buddhist nun!

Todays Portrait Is: Anais Pouliot.

the landscaping in the lot is nice, even if it does take up would be parking spaces

Up late watching Six Feet Under (only two episodes left and then I am done with that series, though I don't think I can emotionally handle that right now, plus like I said it is late).

It is weird how I used to have class at 1, and I would sleep in till 11 or so. Back at PNCA. Now I have a 1am class and I am up at around 9. I chill and eat and get ready in my own time. But not having wildly different sleeping hours through the week is best.

In class Tim the teacher started going over the basic items about shot compositions and things. Some of it I know, some of it I don't. I like realizing how much I have picked up over the years. It isn't a half bad assortment of knowledge in my noggin, if only I could apply them to something. I was sitting in what felt like the middle of old drama between several students. Olympian/ASOC drama or something. Like acquaintances that don't really like each other. I think I'm going to try sitting in the back. The boys in the back at least have seen Drive, so that is a conversation starter.

It was rainy in the morning but the sun came out. I have the hardest time navigating where I parked my car in the new lot.

Back at home I did a substantial amount of nothing. And continued to do nothing till dinner. Mmm soup. Then I watched my downloaded telly, ma and pa went to bed at 8. Now I am tired and shall sleep. Tomorrow I help dad haul fire wood and then we eat dinner and Grandma and Grandpa's.

Todays Portrait Is: Lindsey Wixson.

slab

Ma and pa packed me a really nice lunch. Mmm! I left a bit before eight, so that I could get to school and find parking. And parking I did find in the upper lot. Got to class at around a half an hour early, so I perused the teacher's text and relaxed. The first chunk was lecture about Illustrator and the program and what this and that did. We took a break and then started working through the book. Some of it is really basic stuff that I know from using the Adobe Software Suite, but other things are good to know, and the fact that he is going through it part by part is really helpful.

During the between class break, I ate half my sandwich and gobbled some food.

Flash was one part lecture, and it was a Muybridge/motion/frames per second lecture. One I've heard before from Rose Bond. After break we watched a video called Film Before Film and it was all about zoetropes and glass plates and illusions and stuff, all the ways people entertained themselves before film. It was really neat. And then class was over.

Had a nice drive home. Chilled for the rest of the night. Dinner was a slab of turkey, corn, and broccoli. Mmm!

Todays Portrait Is: Daphne Groeneveld.

intense lecture class ahoy!

Even though my class wasn't till 1, I managed to get up at about 8:30 or so. Go me! Got my portraits done. Ate breakfast. All in good time. I put my face on, and drove off to school. Found parking easily and then realized I wasn't anywhere near the theater. So I walked over to the theater and saw the sign saying class was in the Business building. I was the first one there. Some interesting characters trickled in. We have a chuckles in the class, you know, the loud kind that makes jokes and already has previous camaraderie with the teacher. He settled down.

The film directing class will be all lecture. Learning the terminology. Learning the language. It will be lecture, and I'm looking forward to it. It is all previsualization in direction. Unfortunately it is part of a three part program, so I won't take part two and three (as I should hopefully have moved on from there). After class I got a notebook and some sweets.

Then I stopped by Rite Aid and got some facial cleanser (trying out Cetaphil) and a new hair clip because the last one broke.

My car is behaving well.

Dinner was a baked thing with soup. It was good soup.

Ma and I watched Glee. It had a few laughs and a few good numbers. Raising Hope was the big star on the night. Hilaaarious! Such a charming show with a great class.

I think film is the class I'll be most enthusiastic about.

Todays Portrait Is: Kristen Holden-Ried.

drive Drive drive

Got this pounding headache out of nowhere, but I took a couple Advil and it seems to be going down.

Alarm went off at 7:15, rolled out of bed an hour later. Dad made me a delicious salmon sandwich for lunch. Munched on Cheerios on the way to school. I should have left a bit earlier, because even with the new parking lots at Olympic College, at 10am it is all full up. I ended up parking near the curb in the art parking lot section. Sort of okay but not really.

Wandered around the art room section and eventually found the elusive 113. I have sort of missed the mixed bag of students that show up for Olympic College courses. Returning students, moms, running start, all sorts. Pretty much the opposite of PNCA's skinny scruffy crew.

First class was Illustrator with Jonathan. Got a nice long lecture about how he doesn't care if we miss class (or rather he doesn't care about finding reasons for this and that, he isn't going to track us down) and got a lengthy talk about how to save stuff and some basic this and that. We start in on Wednesday. My textbook better arrive soon. Should be an interesting class. Lots of projects.

Class ended early, so I went to the library and had a great little chat with my old boss Michael. Caught up a bit on all the changes. Olympic College now gets funds for students who complete, not for the number of full time enrolled students. LAAAME. Because I'm full time right now, but they get no money for me because I'm not going to complete (all though I already got my degree four years ago).

After our little chat, I sat on the lawn where the Humanities building used to be and read and ate my sandwich.

The next class was Flash with Clydene. Some of the people from the first class were in this one, and we did proper all around introductions. There is a Digital Media Arts program now, well there was and now it is closing down. What the hell OC?

The class was mostly a lecture about the history of Flash and file sizes and vectors and then got into a PC vs Mac rant, and those are always exciting. Each serves a purpose.

Taylor, a guy who was three years behind me at Klahowya, is int he class. Recognized him right away.

Had a nice drive back home. Chilled for a bit and then went to Silverdale to see the movie Drive, one which I have been anticipating for months. Nicolas Winding Refn is fast becoming one of my favorite directors. He just knows how to put stuff together. Yeah, that wasn't the most articulate thing I've said. It was so beautiful. The colors vibrant but not distracting. The actors great. Sometimes a bit overwrought but generally awesome. The action had a punch like nothing I've seen in a while. Solid film. Can't wait till Refn's next.

Ma and pa tucked in to bed when I got home. I did the internet thing. No homework yet.

Oh dang, I have to do a portrait. I'll do one tomorrow before school. I don't have to leave till noon, so I'll be sure to get up early. Time to get a sleep schedule again. I think my goal will be a 7:15am alarm Monday-Thursday.

Todays Portrait Is: Ben Whishaw.

can't be bothered

Boating in the San Juans was fun, if a bit cold and cramped and cold at times. It was a long trip and I took no notes and I really don't feel like summing it up, it would just be the most generic blow by blow account any way. Sailed out of Anacortes, Jones Island the first night. Then Friday Harbor. Then...? Somewhere near Orcas I believe. Then Sucia. Then near Olga. Then home again. No swimming.

Anyway, sorry there isn't a proper post but I'm not in rhythm of posting right now. Tomorrow I start school again, so that will be something new to write about.

Macaulay Culkin

Oprah Winfrey

Ken Watanabe

Sam Rockwell

Trent Reznor

Lynda Barry

old school is new school

Ooff, I am tired. Up late drawing portraits and I will be getting up early tomorrow to finish my packing.

Got up at noon. So bad at getting out of bed. Pretty soon I'll be getting up for school. Baaah.

Finished my watercolors for Morgaine in the morning, then I resolved my school stuff and drove to Bremerton. Car drove perfectly fine. Olympic College is so much larger, and different, now. A lot of shiny looking buildings. Went to the Student Services area and got a new ID and parking permit. Swung by the book store and found out which text books I need. Only one, but it is pricey.

Got some fast food on the way back home, and that opted me out of dinner.

Folded my laundry. Packed the majority of my bag. Hauled down about 2/3's of my books from the minibarn. I am organizing my books in a "have read" "haven't read" and "currently reading" sections. All though comics, text, and art books are different. I'm trying to not start any new books till I finish one.

Then I watched British panel shows and worked on portraits. Now I get up in like...six hours.

Todays Portrait Is: Clint Eastwood.

.........gone yachting!

first hinges, now roofing nails

Another sleep in day. Need to get to bed earlier...though I need to work on some portraits too.

Had protein bar/tea breakfast. After I did my morning rounds, I went up to the pump house to finish the roofing. Only an hour's shift today, but it was an hour in the sun, and on a dark roof. My bum was quite warm from sitting. And I got quite sweaty as well. But the roof is all nailed up! And that ended up being the last of my work for the day. Took it easy in door for the rest of the day.

Read Ma's paper and edited it a bit. Hot tubbed. Had a lasagna dinner.

Tomorrow I drive into Bremerton and get my student parking pass and new ID and see what books I need for classes. Then I do some clothes and pack up for yachting!

Todays Portrait Is: Steve Buscemi.

chisel meet wood

Bleuuuhh. I am tired. My sleep schedule is all out of whack, even though I set my alarm for 9am every day, I snooze it for a long long time. Like I did today.

Dad made poached egg on toast with melted cheese for breakfast. Mm yum. So good. I did my internet rounds and then at 1:45pm, I joined him at the pump house for a day's worth of labor.

For the first three or so hours, I just chiseled and sawed out the area where the door hinges are going to go. Some of the hinge locations were easier to saw out, some were tricky. I'm not much of a sawer. I took a break and then it was back to work, this time helping with the roof. I sat on the roof and aligned the tar paper, and then started nailing in the shingle thingies. Tomorrow there will be more nailing of shingles. It is bound to be very warm.

Afterwards, mom was on the computer so I wasted time downstairs. Then she started making dinner. We had cornish game hens and stuffing and beans and salad. Mmm! Yumm. After stuffing ourselves, we three watched the new Doctor Who. Which was very depressing! A very dark episode and the Doctor is becoming quite the dark character. I just want everything to be happy again for Amy and Rory and all the characters. Amazing how the budget has improved on the show though...

Now it is very late and I've done four portraits. I need to do about six more before we leave on our yachting trip on Tuesday. We are going yachting in the San Juans for a bit under a week. That will be fun. So I gotta get the portraits up in the queue. Last trip of the summer. Then I am back to school. Yay.

Todays Portrait Is: Will Fichtner.

yup

I was on call today for helping Dad with the pump house, but he never needed a second hand.

I stayed mostly inside. Computer stuff. Did some paintings. Did nothing that needed doing today. Really need to haul my stuff out of the minibarn before the weather goes.

Need to get caught up and ahead with portraits again, as we might go camping.

Didn't feel like sunbathing today.

Ma worked on the computer.

My stomach gave me issues.

Sorry, don't have much else interesting to write about today.

Todays Portrait Is: Jude Law.

sixty years!

Dad's 60th birthday! That is a mighty big landmark, considering how many animals he has been attacked by and how often he works with power tools.

Got up before 11, all though that wasn't my gift to him. My gift is still in the mail.

Made my own breakfast. Then I sat on the lawn and read for a bit. Trying so hard to get some sun, though it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Though, I do have some tan lines. So I must be a couple shades darker. And my legs are not deathly pale either. I guess I am getting some sun, I just need to keep at it.

I later on called Madeline and we talked for almost two hours, probably my longest phone call on record. It was nice to catch up with her on all things nerdy and literary and televisiony. She really needs to come up and visit me. That would be awesome.

The call ended and dinner was served. Scallops! Mmm! On pasta. With some dip and vegetables and cake with lemon dressing. It was all very delicious. Dad opened the rest of his presents. Once summer is over, we won't be able to eat dinner outside anymore. Rain and cold. Boo.

Ma and Pa watched Burlesque. I watched my other stuff. Tomorrow I shall work on art! And sunbathe a bit more. Gotta get on the sun while the sun is good.

Todays Portrait Is: Robert Downey Jr.

a night in Pulali

Tuesday:

Such beautiful weather. Perfect Pulali Point weather.

Got up and packed up the travel cooler with some cheese and this and that. Went to Trader Joe's and got some taco fixings and these delicious granola brownie bars. It was sunny and brilliant. Ahh. Then I went to Bremerton and picked up my friend Sam at the ferry. I have to ship in my friends from across the Puget Sound. Ha.

It was a nice drive to Pulali Point. Sam is attending UW and hasn't really explored this region at all, so I gave him some quick Kitsap facts. At Pulali, we swam first. His first swim in the hood canal! He dipped his hand in and said it felt fine, but when he got in past his knees, that was a different story. Still, he swam out to the raft and I am very proud of him for doing so. He is a cool guy though, I shouldn't be so condescending.

After the brisk swim, we had some toast and tea and played Battleship and Boggle. Then we took a little hike to the observation booth lookout thingy on the rock. We sat on the rocks for a good long while and looked out at the water. The seals kept peering at us, and one came up into the water right below us. That was awesome. Dinner was tacos! Yum! We watched a bit of a horrible Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. movie on TV before retiring to play more Boggle. I was never quite good at it, but then I was informed I was combining letters all wrong.

Todays Portrait Is: Sean Bean.

Wednesday:

For the first time ever, I was the first one up at Pulali! I scrambled some eggs and made tea and we enjoyed the meal outdoors looking out at the water as another beautiful day began. Sam helped with the dishes. We opted out of another swim and instead hauled the double kayak down. Dustin, Celia's friend, is visiting. And it was good to see him, however brief it was.

We paddled down a little bit, but the wind was starting to pick up, so we returned before it got too hard to paddle against. It was still a nice little excursion. We drank more tea and I cut Sam's hair. Really. He asked if I could, and when I said I would in all likelihood butcher it, he said that that was fine. So I cut his hair. I cut a lot of it off. It went from 4-6 inches to a little more than one. It actually turned out...well not spectacular but not awful either. Could use some more work. But that was still fun. An odd little event. After that, we packed up and locked up Pulali. I decided to drop him off at the Bainbridge Island Ferry, just so he could be familiar with that crossing as well. And just our luck, a ferry was in dock and unloading cars as I pulled up. Hurray!

We said our fairwells and I returned home, less Ma and Pa get too lonely without me.

The work dad has done on the pump house is awesome. Ma made a lovely chicken/pea/home grown potato dinner. Mmm. I caught up on the Internet while Ma and Pa watched the hilarious Big Trouble. I've seen that movie so many times.

Today's Portrait Is: Emma Stone.

enjoying dem rays

I accidentally turned off my usual alarm clock, so I slept in. Again.

Dad made me fisherman's special. Mmm. Ma was on the computer doing her computer things. I spent a lot of time on the lawn and on the porch just sunbathing and reading. Got some actual sun today. Tan lines and all. Though not burned. That is good. Dad made hot dogs for lunch. Mmm.

Dinner was salad and then ice cream. It was so good. We watched 3/4's of Iron Man 2 on Netflix, but then it froze so we called it a night.

Tomorrow, my friend Sam and I are going to Pulali for the night. I'll blog after that. Yay swimming!

Todays Portrait Is: Peter Dinklage.