More in the Sketchbook

I did this one while waiting for the internet guy to arrive. He was an hour and a half late, but at least now we have internet. I think it looks like a black lung, so that's what I'm calling it.

Less pod, more scribble

First things first, this is page #5 from the Danger Danger project.

And now for some other artworks unrelated to the sketchbook project.

This one is made up of 4 smaller sheets. I need to get some bigger paper so I can do these easier.

I seem to have found a theme....

First off, the newest Danger Danger page.

Next, some more just random scribbly things. I kinda like the graphite with the watercolors and white acrylic, but I need to figure something out that looks less like eggs and avocados.

Better photos make for better updates

Self-explanitory. Comments welcome.

This one is new. First page of the danger sketchbook. Not new, redone version of the so-called butt picture.

For those about to rock...

And by that I mean for those of you who have been complaining that I'm not adding enough pictures, here are some pictures! The first two are from the sketchbook project based on the terrible horrible impossible theme, "Danger danger." Keep in mind as well that these pictures are not of the greatest quality or detail, since I still haven't dug through enough of my stuff to retrieve any camera battery chargers, so I used my phone. 

 

These next two are just a couple of things I felt like messing around with. I'm trying out different things with line and watercolors and white acrylic to see if that could eventually be a big part of my "style". Opinions are much welcome, as usual, and I hope the colors aren't too messed up since I took these pictures at night, inside, under the horrible ceiling fan lighting in the living room, sitting on the duck foot stool. Critiques are much welcome, naturally.

Overachiever

I may have planned to do a bit too much. How about I work on the sketchbook and occasionally do some other stuff here and there and then post it? Sound good? Yeah, I thought so too. I have instead devoted my time to finding a worthy graduate school. So far I've requested information from LOTS of schools, and I'm even considering Edinburgh, of all places. I really don't know how Scotland would suit me, but man, I would love to find out. Anywho, I should start getting information within the week and then perhaps I can start applying.
It's weird, doing this again, and so long after the first time, when I was still at Taylor and still had so much to learn. At that time, I had decided I didn't want to do the grad school thing. Now, it would seem, I really really do. I'm ready for change, a new step, to push myself farther.
The only difficulty with the grad school thing is deciding what to study. I have always been bad at making decisions....

Danger, Danger?

The other day I was trying to get people at work to help me brainstorm about this whole "Danger, Danger" theme (which, by the way, is driving me absolutely up the WALL!) and so I was asking them, "What does danger make you think of?"
The responses were vague and varied, which I suppose goes along with the fact that the question itself was vague, but one thing stuck out to me. One of the managers said to me that there aren't specific things she thinks of, not concrete items, but more the way being in danger makes her FEEL.
Upon hearing this response, I sorta brushed it off but I keep coming back to it. I realized it's because I myself do so much of my best work based on my own feelings, so that's what I'm going to do. Think about dangers in my life (none that I plan on revealing, thank you very much) and put those feelings on paper. Maybe it's not what they want in this project, but "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." This is MY sketchbook and I will fill it the way I see it. More to come on this later, which hopefully means lots and lots of pictures. Now I just need to find my camera battery chargers....

Update - this is for you Alex

So I don't have any pictures yet because apparently all of my camera batteries are DEAD! Frustration! I have been sketching away, however, and it's been getting a bit easier to find ideas the more I sketch. The only thing left to do is find my watercolors... I am terribly lost in my art without them, as I am discovering more and more every day. In the meantime, I think I do have some pictures of some watercolors I did immediately before the big move that might be interesting. They're just abstract little things, some of which started out being inspired by peppercorns (which I inevitably spilled all over the place).

The Big Black Pit

I seem to have fallen into a hole. Somehow, once again, my bank account is in the red. There are no new jobs to be had, nothing interesting to be found for an Art major. The worst thing about it is that what put me in the hole was my visit home. I wanted to see my family. I NEEDED a break. But now I have no money and I WON'T have money because I had to take 2 days off this past work week, due in part to the visit and in part to packing and moving. Living in the city seems more and more worthless by the day.

Not so in the movies. Ever notice how things are so easy for the people we watch on that screen for two hours? Here's the formula. Intro, major crisis, redefine your self identity, become a huge success. When I think about how many times I've had a major crisis and ended up finding a new identity.... well I should be pretty freaking successful right about now, that's all I'm sayin'!

So now I've decided to start a few new projects. Ready for this?

Project #1 - The Sketchbook Library

I have decided to take part in something called the sketchbook library. Basic idea is that they send you a sketchbook and a very (VERY!) generic theme and you have to fill the book up with artwork based on the theme. Mine is called "Danger, Danger". Pictures to follow.

Project #2 - The Movie Ripoff

While I was home, I went to see Julie & Julia with my mom and sister. While the movie was, to me, extremely typical and at times disappointing, it did leave me with just a touch of inspiration. While I perhaps flatter myself that any of you would be interested in seeing me post ridiculous amounts of artwork, that's what will be happening. I am going to find a new something to create an artwork of every day for a year. This will commence tomorrow, September 3rd. Self portraits, strangers, animals, plants, food, the floor, the point is not necessarily the content but just to DO! The more artwork you create, regardless of what it is, the more easily you find your style and inspiration. So that's what I'm going to do. Any medium, any subject matter, it's all up for grabs at this point. And it's all going to go on this blog. That may eventually lead to some sort of name change for it. We shall see.

Project #3 - Reader's Challenge

At this point, you may be discovering that all of the projects are Art based, and there is a reason for that. If I am going to be an artist, I need to produce lots of Art, and I need to do lots of kinds in lots of mediums to be able to show myself as versatile and successful. So this project is where I need YOUR help. You may be a friend of mine or a complete stranger, but I need ideas and feedback. HONEST feedback. So this is what I ask: you, the reader, whoever you may be, send me challenges to create. Anything and everything. The more challenges I get, the more I will be challenged myself. Once I accept a challenge, I will post it and give myself one week to finish it. If I finish before a week is up, I will post the result for your judgement and critique and move on to the next challenge immediately. As for the critique, I need everyone that comments to be as honest as possible. Feel free to debate with each other and with me, I don't care, but I need as many opinions as I can get.

As of right now, 3 projects may be all I can handle. It actually may even be MORE than I can handle, but if all of you hold me to my word I think I can do it. Once the sketchbook project is done in December, I may be able to start a new one. If anyone has ideas for more projects, by all means, share them. As for this post, I think I'm done typing.