January Art Hop and Some Silmarillion Stuff

So yesterday I attended my first Kalamazoo Art Hop. It was actually a lot of fun! For someone who hasn't had a social life since May, it was definitely nice to dress up and go out and meet people. As I mentioned in my last post, I joined an art gallery in downtown Kzoo that goes by the name of "Lotsa Little Things." They have everything from jewelry to chain mail to vials of faerie dust to crazy folk paintings and more. It's a fun conglomeration of just about everything, and it's cool to see a group of artists come together like that.

I got to meet and hang out with several of the artists who are also featured in the shop. We talked about the merit of the new Hobbit movie, how on Earth they're making 3 movies out of it (I'm all for it btw), we chatted about old Doctor Who vs. new Doctor Who (they only liked the old ones, I'd only seen the new ones), and I even met a girl my age who talked to me about doing some collaborative stuff. I met a lady who I'm fairly certain was the twin of my watercolor professor from college. She's active in Native American rights and she works with a lot of different tribes, so I chatted her up about that for a while, since I spent some time on Native American reservations as well.

So basically. It was a great night. I'm so excited to get more involved with the crew, make some art friends, maybe make some cash on the side. Things are looking up in that regard.

On a completely different note! My sister is reading the Silmarillion (she's almost completely caught up with me and I'm fairly certain she'll pass me up soon) and has asked me to continue working on the series of Silmarillion illustrations I've been doing. So next on my list is none other than Melkor, who's basically Lucifer if we're comparing them to Biblical types. So we decided he'd look like a mix between the evil of a Balrog and the sly sleekness of Loki. Because if you're gonna be evil, you gotta look cool doing it, or no one would go for it. So here's a rough idea of what I think he'd look like. I was just playing around with armor and things. The final painting will be done in watercolor. Because apparently I like a challenge.

And Then Sometimes You Have Good Days

I'm writing this as my eyes are drooping further and further, and I should probably just call it quits and head to bed. But something happened today that I feel merits mentioning.

I had a genuinely great day.

I woke up early this morning because i had an interview at Chipotle. I'm not thrilled to be interviewing at restaurants, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, and this girl's gotta pay her rent. Plus, I mean, burritos. So I walk to the bus stop at 7:40- the sun isn't even up yet, ok? So like, it's FREEZING because it's January and that's just how things go in Michigan. I'm wearing pretty much every piece of hand-knit accessory I own and that wind is still finding its way to my fingers and ears. I could complain about the weather. But seriously, it was nice. I always love the feeling of walking around before morning light, like you're the first one to greet the day and the world is all yours. So I had that feeling as I walked to the bus-then ran to the bus because I was almost late- then baaarely caught the bus because it was actually on time. *le sigh* but catch it I did!

So long story short I get to the interview, it goes quite well. I'm looking pretty dapper in my dark denim and blazer ensemble, not to mention my rad new specs. The guy who interviewed me was pretty cool. He liked my resume which made me happy, because I was pretty iffy on it (still sort of am, but I'm workin' on it.) Also, our glasses were very similar. I didn't bring it up, but it made me feel better, like maybe subconsciously he'd think I had good taste so he'd hire me? I don't know.

Goal number 1 (interview for a job) Check. 

So after my interview I headed over to Starbucks because I found an extra $5 in my pocket. I have never drunk a cup of coffee so fast in my LIFE. But as I mentioned before it was freeezing outside.

Finally I get home and snuggle in with the works- sweatshirt, fleece pants, extra socks, a blanket, and the space heater pretty much blowing directly on me. It took me 3 hours plus to heat up. But in that time, I managed to FINALLY finish all the sketches for my children's book, which is one of the goals I set for myself this month. I still have a looooot to do before I can publish that book, but the hardest part is starting, right?

Goal number 2. (finish rough draft of children's book) Check.

I finally geared myself up for going back outside, and I headed downtown to speak with a couple who owns a gallery. I've been talking back and forth with them for a while, but today I finally just took some of my art down there, and they accepted it all (because they're nice people) and so now I am officially being represented by an art gallery! I am not yet a full member- I'm just doing stuff on commission, but once I get enough cash I'm going to go in for a full membership which gives me access to lots of cool perks.

Goal number 3. (get into an art gallery) Check.

And on top of that, I did a small ad campaign on Facebook and got 13 new likes today! It's not a TON, I know, but honestly it's more than I've been getting, and hey, I'm that much closer to my goal!

So, friends. Life might give you some really crappy days. But from my experience, usually that just means you're on the right path, and if you're patient and persistent enough, life will make up for those crappy days with a few days where you really feel like you won.

me looking happy and cute and totally not hipster-y

Onward and Upward

Sometimes you just have days that do not go as planned. And sometimes the best thing you can do isn't trying to "find the silver lining." Sometimes it's about looking back on that day and telling it "HEY. You thought you could kick my butt, but I survived you, FOOL." Ugh. Today is one of those days where nothing particularly horrible happened, just a lot of sort of crappy-ish things that added up and over-flowed what was apparently so already-repressed feelings.

I've been alone for a week because my sister (who is also my roommate) is still back home getting spoiled by my lovely parents. So I'm already feeling the lonelies. I also have no life, so have not actually set foot outside my apartment except when I have to go to work. Lazy days are awesome. But they get sort of annoying when you have a whole week of them. So today I get ready, decide I'm going to actually run some errands. NOPE. My boss texts me and tells me I was supposed to work TODAY, not tomorrow. CRAP. Miscommunications are just never ever fun. And I somehow end up on one side or the other quite a lot with these things.

I have an interview tomorrow. And I have to get up early. I hate getting up early. But I really need money. Because...uh...artist. *le sigh* So I got in a fight with my sister's printer (because mine is still being a b-word and won't do anything) and.....YES. I had a ROW. with a MACHINE. (if you get that reference you're awesome.)

BUT. I got my resume done, which was one of my goals for this month. I'm pretty happy with it but I'm sure there are things I need to fix. It's only 11 and I am exhausted so I am just going to leave you with this painting I finished today.

In regards to this painting- I have no idea where the concept came from. I just drew it up one day because I thought "seahorses are so freaking awesome" and then I thought "dude they'd be perfect to ride into a sea battle." Oh, my silly little brain.

25-ish Days of Art...13-20

IT IS NOT EASY TO MAKE ART WHEN YOU ARE ON VACATION AND LEAVE ALL YOUR ART SUPPLIES AT HOME.
Well....I DID add a few new guys to my arsenal:

Posting this photo because I love my markers, and because I actually look cute.

Did this for a friend, it's her favorite verse

Drew this while looking at my messy hair in a mirror

Drawing some Elf jewelry, yo

I'm on a nautical kick. I just want to travel, guys. And maybe become a pirate.

Um. I love whales.

So many wonderful stories begin with a simple "the."

Happy New Year!

Well it's day one of the New Year. So like everyone else, I'm sitting here thinking, "hmm. Maybe I should set some goals for myself." But in all honesty, I don't really know where I want to be in a year. There are just so many things that can happen in a year, even moreso in the field of art. So I guess, for now I'll post at least a couple things I know for sure.

I want to have my children's book finished this year. And I mean finished. Illustrated, published, the whole nine yards. I want to start distributing it and seeing if I can go anywhere with it.

I want to get a T-shirt design published. Or a wallpaper design. Or something. Just. I want to get my name out there. For real.

I want to hit 1000 likes on my Facebook. I only have 360 right now. Friends of friends of friends right?

I want to have my website designed and working. It's a very important part of an art business, I know. So why haven't I put one up yet? Um. Because I'm poor.

Mostly, I think my resolution is that I want to stop making excuses. There are plenty of reasons to not finish my book, to not get this done and that done. I just want to start seeing results, and I think I am at a point now where I know how much I have to work for it. And I am starting to accept that.

Anyway. Onto ART! Things got kind of weird with the holidays. I know I'm trying to update this blog at least every week, but sometimes that is HARD (did I just break my "no excuses" resolution in the same post?) So. Art art art.

My first painting of 2012. I want this to be a year of light and purpose for myself, as well as everyone else. So let us start this year with the Sun. I am actually quite pleased with how this turned out. It's another illustration for the Silmarillion, which I think is going to end up being a sort of long-term project for me. This is Arien, who is the Maiar chosen to steer the vessel of the Sun.