With how often I have to postpone coffee dates, I think we can safely assume that there’s no time for life. So now that we’ve got that nonesense out of the way, let’s move on with reality.
New Projects
The first thing worth mentioning is this NETT (New Emergence of Tacoma Talent) that I started with my friend, Lydia, and B2 Gallery (who showed my work last October). You can find the info on Facebook (you’ll have to search for “NETT”; I can’t seem to make embedded links work on here…). It’s a gathering of artists for critiquing, sharing, getting people into galleries, general work time, etc. The first gathering was a big success and loads of fun. If you’re in the general area, you have got to stop by. It’s going to be a monthly meeting with a Saturday morning every two weeks dedicated entirely to critiquing and working on projects. Uber-fun. We’re also doing “challenges” to keep each-other motivated to create. This month it’s five sketches/drawings and one completed piece of art with the inspiration, “Communication.” I need to get that done…
I have started a project with my sister – we’re sharing the WordPress site, SlushBucket – where we’re doing an exchange where we create a piece of art with the same medium on the same size of paper. We ended up keeping a shared element in the drawing, too. Here’s a preview of my half of the first exchange:
As you can see, it was Bic Ballpoint challenge 🙂 8×10 inches each. So! Once I get her half of it in the mail I’ll be able to get a good scan of it and post it. Next challenge: Sumi ink, must contain bones. I’ll keep ya’ll updated.
I’ve been having fun exploring speedpainting videos on YouTube, and came across the work of Agnes Cecile:
It looked like so much fun that I can to make an attempt at stealing her style. I failed utterly at that, but have still had plenty of fun.
And also:
I have a few commissions that were/are going great. I’ll upload all of them in a separate post when they’re all done and received (soon).
“Odd Trio” was purchased, but I offered to finish the drawing before I sent it off to him. So here’s the finished piece (small changes like the right arm finished and stuff):
New Equipment
Woot.com is one of the best websites EVER. No joke. My new equipment includes an AMAZING 17-inch, quad-core HP laptop that actually handle Photoshop like it’s not big deal. It was also a screaming deal. And you know what about Woot.com blew my mind? I ordered on, like, Saturday night (so they would have shipped Tuesday at the soonest), but by Wednesday, I had my laptop delivered by overnight FedEx (and shipping is always a flat, $5). A couple days later I got a “Your Order Has Been Shipped” e-mail. They beat their own system to get it to me.
My last computer didn’t even have a battery. This one lasts for 4 hours and is beautiful. I named him Jeff. And I love him.
My eyes look weird in this photo because the sky was gray and that makes my eyes very pale. Don’t worry – there is usually pigment in them. Can’t say as much for my skin…
My dad was awesome and bought me a new Wacom (pronounced “Wack-um,” apparently) tablet for Christmas, so that, in addition to Jeff…well, just expect to be seeing a lot of digital collabs between me and my beautiful partner (Jeff is my better, prettier half).
Also! This last weekend I was in Portland (Oregon has no sales tax) and I stopped by Dick Blick (…again, no sales tax), and saw that they had a 20% off sale. I HAD to spend more money and replace my dinky children’s drafting table with THIS:
Pain in the ASS to assemble (thanks for your help, mom!), but oh, so pretty. His name is Wilbur (yeah, I’m bringin’ that name back). It’s a flippin’ dream to work on. And, because it’s glass, it can double as a light-table. I love him. Those are new watercolor brushes, too. They are soft and I petted my face with them so much that I think I ruined them with my icky human oils 🙁
New Job
At My Final Wish! Check out MyFinalWish.net and see what the work entails. They just got an office set up for us and it’s only a 25 minute walk from my house. I’ll post some work once I’ve got it finished. More info to come as it develops; it’s a new business 🙂
Still working at Uncorked Canvas in the Harbor. That’s going well as always. Created some new paintings for them that you’ll just have to visit their FB page to see 😉
I’ve also been working with my friend, Liza Brown, on chalkboards for local restaurants. Busy work.
Otherwise, I’m busy with commissions, helping out grandma (and trying to get her into assisted living, which is, apparently, a lot of work), and trying to do these things in a timely fashion (which is a lot of work). But…I’m doing art, so that’s all that matters 🙂
A Little Life
LOL. Surely you jest.
And this has nothing to do with anything: ever have so much to do that you instead spend hours working on a long, involved blog-post? No one? Yeah, I don’t know where I got that…