| For Donn and Kerry |
[Jan. 2nd, 2009|08:45 am] |
Originally published at neevita.net. Pictures don't crosspost correctly - if the entry looks like it's blank or doesn't make sense, check the original neevita post to view.
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A terrible photo of a beautiful new painting for the new year. Created for Donn and Kerry on their wedding day, Jan 1 2009. Congratulations. You guys rock. |
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| New paintings |
[Nov. 22nd, 2008|03:55 am] |
Originally published at neevita.net. Pictures don't crosspost correctly - if the entry looks like it's blank or doesn't make sense, check the original neevita post to view.
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This is the first of 3 new paintings I've done this week at the studio, and the largest. It's the same size as the first large scale painting I did for the Psychedelic show. It feels wonderful, like I'm vibrating with life, to be inspired to paint again.
Cheers. |
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| My first studio painting |
[Mar. 13th, 2008|11:12 pm] |
Originally published at neevita.net. Pictures don't crosspost correctly - if the entry looks like it's blank or doesn't make sense, check the original neevita post to view.
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Behold! My painting for the Psychedelic Show at LRS, about 90% completed, taken on my cell phone.
This is my first painting done at the studio, since I was designated a shelf for my paints and given free reign on the spare panels a couple months ago. I knew once I got my damn paints over there things would start happening. It took about two days after finally getting my stuff in there for me to get started on something. It feels so good to be painting again.
From white gesso to this in one night, I started around 7, and ended at midnight. The thin wisps in the upper right are actually all over the painting, in an iridescent paint that is only visible like that at the correct angle. I have made a few notes after studing this picture and will change a few things to balance the flow, and blend some edges, but otherwise, it’s pretty much done, and I fucking LOVE it!
This is the biggest I’ve painted thus far in my adult artistic life - I don’t know the measurements, but the step stool and knobless door sitting next to it hopefully help with the perception of scale. I once painted a room-sized backdrop in middle school for some dance, or something, but it wasn’t anything like this - cartoony grave scene on paper. This is the real deal, and I am feeling the deep urge to go much bigger next time. I am somewhat giddy over the possibilities.
Throughout the night, I visited and held space with my dearest friends as I worked - another first for me - while the energy and bustle of rehearsal for my favorite LRS show (The Red Show) sprinkled my senses in the background. It was indicitive of the sense of pure magic I had felt not long ago, as I ventured into my new life of art, massage school, and being on my own.
I found it meaningful, humbling and strengthening to have been working along side my favorite painter while creating this, laughing and joking with one another, particularly as he finished and signed his first painting of me (a bold and strong rendition of http://neevita.net/?q=node/5024). His painting recently sold, before it was finished, just in the nick of time for the studio financially. It feels wonderful to have contributed to that, and to be enjoying a comfortable closeness with someone I admire to the extent that I admire Jeff.
I am currently icing my arm, and smiling very, very big. School is nearly over. My skills, style, and confidence are solidifying. My personal focus is on my art and my personal enrichment. Charlie is recovering better and faster than any of us anticipated. I am simply adoring my life.
Now to figure out that whole ’money’ thing, at some point.. |
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| Untitled paint doodle 2006 |
[Nov. 17th, 2006|03:44 pm] |
Untitled paint doodle 2006
The usual acrylic, on 8x10 canvas
It is rippled because I washed the canvas board like a dish in the sink when my first attempt didnt work out so hot.
Totally indifferent about this one, which is better than hating it. Did it in an evening.
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Something bright on the steps of Seattles Courthouse.. |
[Nov. 16th, 2006|01:45 pm] |
See anything different among the majesty of the courtyard at 700 Stewart street in Downtown Seattle?
( Read more... )
I am so very very pleased and thrilled and excited!! I couldn't have BEGGED them for a better location. It's in front of the courthouse, which makes me confident that I won't be dealing with the vandalism that happened to Mono last year. It's in a huge courtyard setting against trees and leaves and grassy patches, it's in an area where people of all kinds will see it, and holy SHIT does it stand out! I saw it from a block away, but my phone wouldn't take a picture from that distance!
*happydance*
Go see it! GO SEE IT!!! 7th and stewart. GO!! it's lovely outside!
For google: Treecracker Tree nutcracker march seattle downtown seattle association northwest center courtnee papastathis courtnee papastathis COURTNEE MOTHERFUCKING PAPASTATHIS!!!
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Mono is in the news! |
[Nov. 13th, 2006|03:10 pm] |
HAH, I knew that google alert for "Papastathis" would come in handy some day.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/ae/291967_pigsonadock13.html
Now I know who picked up Mono from me. Hehe. And holy shit, look, they spelled my name right!!
******Article without pictures inline ******
Monday, November 13, 2006
Seasonal sculptures have locals hog-wild for ... bringin' home the bacon
By ATHIMA CHANSANCHAI
P-I REPORTER
Critics who say citywide fiberglass installations -- in Seattle, those would be pigs, nutcrackers and carousel ponies -- don't count as public art agree there's at least one saving grace: they're not around long.
They think the statues come and go, their ubiquity a temporary blemish on the urban palette.
They are wrong.
Years after 170 pigs infiltrated Seattle sidewalks, some still can be found in residents' gardens, in the lobby of Antioch University, in front of a police precinct station and even bolted to a Lake Washington boat dock.
After they've been sold at auctions benefiting local charities, some of their comrades-in-art grace corners in homes overlooking Puget Sound and porches in Phinney Ridge. A row of five nutcrackers on a roof overlooking East Marginal Way makes for an eye-catching commuter distraction, while other nutcrackers greet shoppers at Pacific Place.
"We do these things so often, we lose sight these are really works of art," said Anita Woo, spokeswoman for the Downtown Seattle Association.
In a slap to the face of most art critics who consider the statues to be the lowest of lowbrow, people snap up the figures with gusto, prompted by philanthropic urges and/or the need to prolong a sense of wonder.
This year's recipient of auction returns for the third consecutive year is the Northwest Center, a non-profit that provides services for developmentally disabled children and adults. Along with the Downtown Seattle Association and Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Northwest Center is poised to unveil today the latest platoon of 60 nutcrackers, the next incarnation of Seattle's love affair with seasonal art.
Beginning with fiberglass cows in Chicago in 1999, U.S. cities have in turn appropriated similar themes. Same pattern every time: take an animal or object, use it as a blank canvas and let the artists go amok. Soon, crabs skittered around Baltimore, geckos twitched around Orlando, horses lapped the city of Lexington, Ky., and big apples took the bite off New York for a little while.
Seattle's affair began with the Pike Place Market Foundation-driven "Pigs on Parade" in 2001, which raked in more than $400,000 in auction proceeds. Since then, ponies and nutcrackers have found their way off the public sidewalks and entryways they once inhabited into private homes, while some remain in the public domain.
Peter Buck fell in love with the pigs early on. His law firm, Buck & Gordon, was a sponsor of a pig with hog-themed watercolor renditions of well-known classic and modern art plastered on its generous body.
Boaters passing Buck's dock on Lake Washington slow down to gawk at a big pink smiling pig, impervious to the elements.
Buck bought "In a Pig's I-5" at a fundraiser and bolted it to his dock, the weathered maps on its body fading and cracking under the brilliant summer sun and the winds that whip off the lake.
"I totally believe in whimsy and serendipitous things," Buck said. "People love to come by and look at it. They love to be photographed with it."
The I-5 pig wasn't in the online or live auctions, having had its nose broken in the line of duty. It resurfaced at the fundraiser Buck attended in the spring of 2002. He bought another pig there that stays in his backyard.
While some swine left the state, others stayed closer to home. A black-and-white pig aptly named "Copper" -- a switch turns on a spinning light on its head -- sits in front of the West Precinct, a gift to the Seattle Police Department from attorney Anne Bremner, a former prosecutor whose clientele includes police officers.
She snapped up "Copper" on an online auction -- her only serious competition was a police sergeant. He backed off when he found out she was buying it for the department. For Bremner, it was important that the pig remain public art.
"I think that's why I did it. The thought of that pig being at someone's house as opposed to being in its rightful place with the Seattle police didn't sit right with me," Bremner said. "I hope they have "Copper" for a long, long time."
"We're serving a greater good than our own and this is about having something to share with the community," said Michele Norris, director of development at Antioch.
But for others, the public art has become the focus of their private collections.
The "Nutcracker March," which debuted last year, found instant fans in Mike and Renee Bang and their two daughters. It helped that the couple collected Steinbach and Ulbricht nutcrackers, a love they've shared since they first started dating 18 years ago. The Bangs will have their own version of a Nutcracker march in their home when they take their 40-odd collectible nutcrackers out of storage for holiday decorations.
The Burien family made a trip to Seattle to see the statues, taking pictures that would end up in one of their scrapbooks and photo albums.
"Museums and galleries, you can do those at any time, but this is a one-shot deal. It's unique," Renee Bang said. "It brings tongue-in-cheek to the city, a little bit of whimsy and adds a lot of color. What I like about these unique installations is that they're here and gone, like nature."
Except that for her and her family, they're not quite gone.
Mike Bang treated himself to one of the nutcrackers for his 50th birthday -- "Mono" by Courtnee Papastathis. It caught the family's eye because of the hand-cut black-and-white tiles that happen to blend perfectly with their home interior. Renee is campaigning for it to be the family's Christmas tree this year.
Over in Queen Anne, another couple fused their enthusiasm for a hobby to their art collection.
The "Crosswords Pig" was a natural fit for puzzle enthusiasts Heather Andersen and Leslie Christian, who bonded with the pig after seeing it in front of Benaroya Hall.
They put the pig in their house at first, decided its girth was too much and moved it to the deck, then the garden.
"It's perfect. It's kind of the centerpiece of the back garden," Andersen said. "It makes me smile when I come in the house. I think it gets people talking. They're aware that art isn't just something that hangs on the wall in the museum, it's something you interact with and it's part of our everyday experience."
Next year, the pigs make a comeback to Seattle in conjunction with Pike Place Market's centennial celebration and the Chinese Year of the Pig.
READER PIX
We have snapped photos of just a couple of fiberglass animals and nutcrackers we found around town -- years after they made their parade debut. We know there are a lot more out there living second lives somewhere else! If you've stumbled across one in a place other than its original spot, send your pictures to readerphotos@seattlepi.com.
COMING UP
# Forty of the works in Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Nutcracker March" will be unveiled from 5:30 to 8 tonight in the lobby of Benaroya Hall.The event is free and open to the public. Artists will be on hand to talk about their original work on the statues, which will then be marched off to downtown locations, where they will be displayed Nov. 24 to Jan. 2.
# The eBay online auction of the nutcrackers will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20. They ship in January, or later, if there's any damage that needs to be repaired from their time on the street.
# For more information: nutcrackermarch.org, tinyurl.com/y4xc7o, downtownseattle.com
P-I reporter Athima Chansanchai can be reached at 206-448-8041 or athimachansanchai@seattlepi.com.
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Treecracker Progress: Topcoat me baby! |
[Oct. 24th, 2006|10:24 pm] |
Treecracker Progress: Topcoat me baby!
This coming weekend is the weekend we topcoat the nutcracker. Woo!
A couple people have shown interest, and I am accepting help from anyone who would like to come out and slop some highgloss on this badboy. The coats take 3-4 hours to dry, and I would guess with two people applying it will take maybe 20 minutes to cover the whole thing in a coat. I'd like to get 4 coats on if possible over the weekend.
If you want to stop by for just one, that's fine, but I'm also down for movies and video games and taco bell or whatever comes up to pass the drying time and company would be appreciated. To say I am socially out of touch would be a massive understatement, and it will just get worse next year when I start school in addition to my full time job.
Also, to warn you, the stuff is stinky and thinned with mineral spirits. We will be coating outside if the weather makes it at all possible.
The plan is to coat at:
10am 10/28 before training (no help needed),
3pm 10/28
11am 10/29
3pm 10/29
If interested, let me know what time you might want to come by. Thanks!
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Fire Flower |
[Aug. 13th, 2006|02:06 pm] |
This is not my favorite of the set, but people seem to really like it, so with that in mind I suppose it is done. I can't think of anything else to do to it, I think I'm just not satisfied with the strength of the lines or the little nubbies in the middle.
Once again, 6x8" canvas board and acrylic paints. I have one small board left.
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Green Flower |
[Aug. 12th, 2006|05:51 am] |
The flower is actually purple blue and white, but the background is the color I notice the most on this one.
It's another 6x8" canvas board painting, with acrylic paints. This one took me a couple days, it was actually very time consuming, even after I finally figured out what I wanted to do.
I really like it. This new style is suiting me. Nice projects to work on when I'm up all night alone to keep my movie schedule.
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Red Flower |
[Aug. 10th, 2006|06:25 pm] |
Something different.
I have a large canvas that's been painted this red, in trying to decide what I wanted to do with it, I used one of my little 6x8 art boards to make this little guy. It will be totally adorable with a frame.
6x8" Acrylic. The photo doesn't look nearly as good as the original. Background texture done with a fork. I don't think I'm done with the vase, I think I may put an Asian symbol or something on it. Originally was going to just be a silhouette, but I really liked the little white dots.
Posted from http://neevita.net |
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| Art Update: Charcoal |
[Mar. 23rd, 2006|01:43 pm] |
I did this charcoal drawing in 1998, the first year I was in Seattle. It's been framed in storage for years.
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| Stuff and stuff and lots more stuff. |
[Feb. 23rd, 2006|11:33 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | acting, acts, aerial lessons, arts and crafts, deviantart, health, modeling, music, performances, self photography, show me something beautiful, singing, teaching | ] |
I've been thinking about lots of neat things, doing stuff, feeling pretty good. Feeling pretty significant lately, or at least channeling significant thoughts. I'm in one of those spaces where most of what I think, I visualize as a quote, in quotations with my name by it (or sometimes, "anonymous"); Like all the stuff I'm thinking about is really heartfelt, intense truth that's worth remembering.
Thinking lots about the nature of 'freedom', and how what most people want isn't freedom at all but the quest for community, and how in fact I find it hard to believe that anyone I personally know can even fathom what true freedom would be like or how fucking lost and confused and alone it would feel.. and I've been thinking more about intelligence, and how it effects us as beings, and how it's caused us to become so far removed from the nature of things and the nature of what we are and what we really need in life to be happy.
Of course, I'm not writing it. I should be, but while I'm thinking it, I'm usually DOING something, and by the time I am sitting here and ready to write, I've absorbed it into my subconscious and don't remember how to say it. Like it's graduated to an instinct, much as how your skin absorbs a lotion.
I've been thinking about acting, thinking about the characters I want to play, and choosing a monologue for my last acting class this quarter. I've been deeply considering the roles I am drawn to and how that can show me what I myself need to work out further, observing my points of resistance and separating them from simple preference, fine tuning my radar for why I do the things I do.
I've been thinking about how I will have to change myself to be successful at acting, to be capable of becoming a truly great actor with the versatility and skill I'd like to have. From learning dialects, to using my stage fright, to being capable of releasing myself into a character, there are a lot of amazing and wonderful things to come for me because of my decision to finally do this.
I've also been reconsidering my view on my artwork, and how important it truly is for me to continue to let it mean to me what it does. How important is it really to suffer so intensely for it? Do I REALLY have to take it so fucking personally? Do I have to be so protective of it, so raw about it, do I have to let it stress me out? Do I have to fear what people will think of it, pine for acceptance of it? Do I really?
No. No, I really don't. It's hard and awkward, but I've decided to remove myself from my art, look at it as a tool of expression rather than the essence of it. I want my paintings to be an expression of my soul, not a gaping bleeding piece of it that I crucified in the hopes that it might make you accept me. That doesn't do me any fucking good, it diminishes my spirit and knocks me down a notch, it's painful and it's irrational and it's NOT NECESSARY. Where my art comes from is not going anywhere. Thinking that if it doesn't hurt I'm losing it just wears down my avenues for expressing what I'd see always available to me anyway, if I pulled my head out of my ass and looked around a little.
My art isn't going to abandon me, and it doesn't have to hurt. I can do it when I'm in a good mood as well as when I'm in a stressy depressive funk. I've decided that the compulsion to wait until I have nothing BUT art is just another way for me to fucking procrastinate and be lazy, which has become more apparent in the last year or so that I've not been as depressed as often as I have been in the past. I've decided that every day doesn't have to be a fantastic art day, just as long as I do some form of art. I have decided to become a fucking professional. I've decided to go to fucking work.
It's been a long time since I was thinking about things like this. Lately I've been pretty much sailing through, enjoying my (still novel) ability to just calm the fuck down once in a while and live my life without constantly dwelling on HOW to live it. My acting class has really gotten my creative thought process working again, and reading WAR OF ART, though not apparent immediately, has rejuvenated and focused me a lot. It's a great, easy read, and I think every creative should read it over and decide what's in it that applies to them. You might go though the book thinking "Well, duh.." the whole time, like I did. But it has the power to transform, truly. I should mention, I didn't bother with the last chapter.
It's amazing how a slight spin on a notion you have already accepted will cause you to think about it differently. Like a closed ear hole being poked back open with an ear stud, simply emphasizing a different word in your favorite mantra can be the force that pops you through a new layer of skin and deepens its meaning. I learned that trick from the ever-amazing ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) duskfrog in the sense that a passage in a monologue can mean infinity depending on what word you emphasize, and like most of the things she says, that principle applies with most anything at all. I equate that lesson, as well as "You have all the time in the world.", as being the bulk of the knowledge that set me apart from the other people auditioning for the role I just got. That, and I took care to research her character so I knew what the director was thinking for her.
I shoot my first speaking role tomorrow. I feel calm. For now :) |
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| A box for toothy |
[Nov. 14th, 2005|11:34 am] |
After being inspired by his own box, scottradke was kind enough to send me the materials and the birds to make a box for my prized toothy ornament. I've yet to decide how I will paint and age the edges, but I'm pretty sure I like the glue the way it is all messy and stuff. The bottom piece broke in three pieces while cutting which actually made it even neater to work with.
I'll be filling the box with some kind of straw-like or hair-like substance to peek out around his face and possibly frame him in an even bigger box so he always has a backdrop like the one in the photo. I was thinking of hanging him but the wood is fragile and the shape is such that I would fear it falling and breaking.
Not really MY project but it looks neat and I wanted to show it off. In fact, immediately upon returning from delivering the monocracker in the rain, I went downstairs to work on this :P |
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| "Mono" proposal accepted! |
[Oct. 14th, 2005|08:42 pm] |
Holy Batalicious Batty Batiful Batshit, Batman!
"Hi Courtnee,
Congratulations, your Mono proposal has been selected by Moneytree Inc, one of the sponsors for the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker March event!"
*thud*
I moved the documentation of my progress to monocracker. More information about what this is all for can be found at http://nutcrackermarch.com |
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| Drowned |
[Oct. 10th, 2005|12:10 am] |
So far, the running total is 3 people who have said my painting "Bubbles" captures the essence of drowning. Two of those people have experienced drowning first hand. Makes me wonder if I have some history with it. Or maybe a future.
Come to think of it, one of my deep seeded and slightly irrational fears is of drowning - I won't get vehicles with power windows because I am terrified of being trapped inside a sinking car.
Hm. |
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| Consignment is a finicky bitch |
[Oct. 8th, 2005|09:16 pm] |
Well then. Apparently, if you want to sell something through a consignment shop for the fall, you need to make an appointment in freaking April. It was surprising at first, but as I stopped by the shops and found that all of them were booked solid for appointments until Jan, I seemed to recall noting someone saying they had to prepare early to get their fall and winter knits into the shops before the season. Combine that with the fact that they take over half of what it sells for..
I just freaking gave up and paid the $9 in listing fees to post on ebay. *sigh* Ebay just really doesn't work very well for me usually, but I guess it's better than nothing. Wish me luck. |
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| The Red Violin |
[Oct. 4th, 2005|02:28 pm] |
Jesus.
EVERY artist must see this film. It's so beautiful, tragic, touching, confined and yet so free. So REAL. It SPEAKS. It's cultivated, so tastefully dramatic and classy, such a perfect, perfect film. I'm having a hard time finding words to convey how touching and so profound this absolute classic is. Such an amazing, amazing experience, I didn't think I would ever find something that touched me where this story touched me. Things I don't understand.
I will think of this film a lot. Whenever I feel that I should stop making art because there is no point outside of my own selfish impulse to MAKE things. I may not see a value in what it is that I create, for myself, and 'people' may not buy it or even appreciate my work right now. I may not think it's good enough. I may not understand why I feel this compulsion to create these creatures when there seems to be no future for them.
But I think I do it because deep down, instinctually, I know that what we create continues on in some form of energy. Whether I burn a painting I despise to refresh my ghost or give it to someone who loves it or sell it to fund more expression or let it sit for years waiting to re-emerge when the time is right or donate it to those less fortunate than me, my creations live on, and many will out live me. They are in effect, my children.
I remember once, as a very small child, my mother tearfully told me I was her masterpiece. She told me this in response to my informing her that I wished I'd never been born. As early as I can remember, I had an extremely morose self image. Being alive wasn't my choice, I was so angry at how selfish she had been to create me in order to mold and manipulate me into her fuckin 'masterpiece', and felt incredibly wronged by the situation I was born into. She was a pianist and a painter as well as a psychotic abuser, why couldn't she have focused on the former? All those things aside, I think I understand what she was trying to say now. And I live on, though not in her sight, and I will outlive her.. probably.
I think every serious artist strives toward their masterpiece, the expression encompassing your soul, the perfect balance, the pinnacle of what it is you try to affect through your art. I can only hope that my masterpiece has as long and full of a life, and touches as many people, as the The Red Violin. |
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| RIP, my fuzzies |
[Oct. 4th, 2005|11:27 am] |
*sigh*
It's been a long time since I've been able to find my arm fuzzies. My awesome wonderful comfortable kickass arm fuzzies :(
I think they are gone and it's a little ridiculous how bummed I am. I made them in Toronto and I haven't seen the yarn since, don't know what brand it was or anything.
RIP
*sniffle* |
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| Illustraion Friday: Roots |
[Sep. 6th, 2005|12:15 am] |
Pencil line drawing mucked up in photoshop.
It's completely not what I had invisioned, but I'm simply not skilled enough to do what I'd been thinking of. As usual. |
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| More |
[Aug. 28th, 2005|10:40 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | arts and crafts, circus, costumes, fitness, makeup, modeling, music, performances, school, show me something beautiful, singing, teaching | ] |
I want more. There are so many things I want to do. I was told to make a list. So...
Things I am already working on:
I want to be a decent aerialist, who gets to be in shows once in a while, with costumes and real lights and a fucking stage.
I want to get into theater, making costumes and wigs and things, doing makeup, stage managing.. whatever, I can do most anything with minimal learning curve. Still stick with the volunteering to get my fix of that.
I want to continue releasing my music.
Things I know I would be good at:
I want to learn to paint, learn some real skills.
I want to take drawing classes. I know I can draw, already, but I could draw better, and have it make sense.
I want to learn to spin yarn.
I want to learn to make wigs from scratch.
Things I hope I can be decent at:
I want to be an actor.
I want to learn to make wine.
I want to perform music/singing. Open mics is step one. *big breath*
I want to learn perl
Things that I think I want but can wait for:
Knitting cafe
New York (I want to visit Europe first, and I can visit NYC too)
I want to race bikes, but I think I would kill myself currently.
Other things that come to mind, but are still just ideas:
Writing? I've also thought about making hand crafted greeting cards and shit, but other people kinda have the drop on that.
Social issues. I'd like to start a foundation for something. Abused kids, maybe. As long as I never have to deal with any of them. I hate kids. But I know what it's like to be an 'abused' one.
Performance troupe?
College?
And with all this, the intangibles, which I am also currently working on:
I want to have sex again. And I want to fucking enjoy it.
I want to accept a compliment. Really.
I want to let people look me in the eyes without a feeling of impending doom.
I want to be nicer to myself.
I want to be nicer to others.
I want to not feel so fucking alone all the time.
I want to learn how to not hate myself.
I want to believe I can do all these things.
Time to make a plan. |
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| Hair Update: Blond dreads and yarn |
[Apr. 22nd, 2005|11:05 am] |
I really can't say enough good things about unluckymonkeys yarn. I fucking love it. It's great for everything and it's so unique. I've had "Brown paper packages tied up in string" laying around here for an age, trying to figure out what I want to do with it. Welp..
I put some in with my blond dreads. This was the result:
The dreads are mostly a blond which color looks like 613 mixed with a dirtier blond (most natural colors I can get at Western are blends), a few 613 for depth that no one will notice but me, two Burgandy DE's for accent and a bunch of "Brown paper packages" tied in the front after the fact. I guess there are worse things I could have done this morning, after waking up at 8am groggy but unable to sleep.
I am still in a daze. :/ But it is BEAUTIFUL outside, look at those rich colors my point and shoot took.. No editing at all.
Of course, the photos don't do the hair justice. But they come close.
Get your own painted lady from Sam here: http://www.samiamru.com/crafts/spinning/paintedladies/ |
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| Doodle |
[Apr. 15th, 2005|11:28 pm] |
Sharpie. Freehand. Sucks. |
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| Meh.. Hurt my knee and knitting sucks. |
[Feb. 7th, 2005|12:59 am] |
Still up. Don't want to be. My knee is bothering me.
I have issues with my knees in cold weather, especially when I run or jog from a cold sit. Usually I get about three good steps before I tweak myself, either in the knee or the ankle or both, and that's about as far as I got today, but the 'tweak' is a bit worse than normal, the top of my knee is swollen and I can't bend it past 90 degrees or so. Well, I can. But I yelp.
Gee, maybe I won't be making it to muscle conditioning tomorrow :/ A lot of those exercises are very hard on my knees to begin with.
In other news, I finished my first knit project, and I pretty much hate it. It's a moss stich scarf, the skein of yarn was $27 CAD before taxes, and it's ugly, and too short. It looks like something a person would buy for $4 at goodwill. May as well have flushed the money down the toilet. Story of my fucking life lately.
I also finished a hat, which I wore today, and I'm not so sure I like it, but I know I like it better than the scarf. Maybe, since I made the hat for myself, someone will want to fucking buy it, because it seems whenever I make something to sell no one wants a thing to do with it. *grumble*
I was finally able to start drinking water again about an hour ago, after stuffing myself with a metric ton of canadian chinese at the Mandarin Buffet with littlehoudini. I was far too full and very uncomfortable. I ate an entire dinner plate of deserts, to give you an idea. |
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| My Art Studio up for viewing at vrseattle.com |
[Dec. 28th, 2004|10:36 pm] |
In between packing and finishing up my last Seattle-based dread order, I took an hour of the day or so to welcome Brad of vrseattle.com into my home to take a pan-scan of my art space, which is really just a not so glorified unfinished basement :)
You can see the VR of it at http://www.vrseattle.com/html/vrview.php?cat_id=227&vrs_id=vrs1068
As you can probably deduce from the photo, I'm still not feeling much better. But thankfully, I found inspiration to clean up that space before I left because of the shoot.. so there you go :P It was amazing to see that equipment in action, that shits pretty hard core. I'd die for the tripod he had, it was epic.
The 'tour' starts in the corner of the wall I use for my photography - I'm sitting about where I take most of my pictures. If you look at the joist above my head you can see where I put screws in about a foot apart from each other to hang my dark burgandy velvet backdrops, which are folded and stacked under the towel rack sporting my current order of double enders :P
It wasn't until I looked at this VR that I realized how much I use this room for. It's tool storage, junk storage, a painting studio, a mask making space, I make my boxes here, store my bikes in here, make wigs and dreads. Man, I should really get a heater in there so I like being down there a little better, but not much point now. I won't be back til it's warm again.
Not looking forward to flying with a cold. Not at all. |
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| Art Update: Hello Kitty box |
[Dec. 7th, 2004|03:27 am] |
I made this for a friend, it's a holiday gift. She is totally not expecting it. Shhh.
I drew the characters freehand in pencil, outlined in sharpie, painted, then outlined in sharpie again. She still needs to be varnished. The size is about 8" wide, 5" deep and 5" tall. It's a good sized box.
More cam shots, real photos later
This box and others like it are not for sale due to the copyright infringements involved in such matters. |
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| Art update: Wall Mask for Jason |
[Nov. 26th, 2004|12:11 am] |
The base red is beautiful, but I would have liked the details to be a little cleaner. I was limited to the supplies I had on hand, and with what I had to work with I think it's really nice.
Will look great on his wall, regardless. |
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| Art Update: Wall head |
[Nov. 23rd, 2004|03:09 pm] |
I still can't get back to the repeatitive stress of dreadmaking cause of my hands, so I painted instead.
It's a three dimentional wall hanging. I got it at a display store when I got the grid and hat hooks to store my wigs in the basement. She was a little crusty but worked out into a pretty neat art project.
I am considering painting a canvas similarly to mount the piece on, but we'll see. I have not decided if I will sell it, keep it, or gift it, but I doubt I could get what I feel it is worth to me in sales. Typical eh. Anyway, that's the latest. |
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| Art updates: Progress |
[Nov. 9th, 2004|03:01 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | arts and crafts | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | fine | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | My dear husbands snoring | ] |
The 5 mask forms I bought myself for my birthday are on their way :D They will become christmas presents in short time.
Come to think of it, I spent the birthday money my dad sent on Christmas presents, too. So it was a birthday full of getting things for other people. That always feels nice.
I finished ana's painting today, this is her christmas present. The photo does it no justice whatsoever. The background is a gradient from a deep green, to blue, to red.
I also made progress on FridaStarFighters wig, and made a painting of a little goth girl with wings and a bleeding heart in her hand. *snicker* I'm so tragic!
Tomorrow (well, Today actually. Less than 11 hours from now in fact) will be the first time I've been on the rope for a mentionable amount of time since the Halloween show, and also the first Acro class I've taken in a good while too. I'm excited to go, even if other people aren't. I really want to play with the hand balancing stuff. |
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| General life update: So many interests, so little .. time. |
[Nov. 7th, 2004|09:01 pm] |
So many things I want to do lately.
Two wigs to work on by the end of the month. Then a set of 60 complicated double enders. This will be challenging and fun.
Got a few photoshoots to do. Nothing's scheduled yet, but there should be a few fun photo updates in the near future, with pictures I didn't actually take myself!
I want to try my hand at making myself a unitard after being inspired by some really badass fabric. I'm sure that will be a time consuming and obsessive nightmare..
I finally got some clay and Plaster of Paris to make my face cast and start making from-scratch sculpted character masks. I'm excited to do that but I really need to get some damn work done first. But at least I have the stuff now, and a few extra canvas' cause they were on sale. *hint* Gallery style canvases in large sizes make good gifts for broke artists *hint*
I need to finish the paintings and masks I have promised to the few people I am doing Christmas for this year, decide what to place in trapecia's box, figure out who gets the store bought things I've already gotten, and make goats_ecx's candle which I've owed him since he bought me the candle making set for Christmas last year. I have to also figure out what I'm getting my husband, my dad, and my mother in law. Meh.
I'm excited to be taking a class at SANCA which focuses solely on Acro and Handbalancing, I'd like to integrate some hand balancing into the act I do in Musica Vitae. My abs are much stronger now than the last time I tried to do any balancing and I can actually do a few cool looking things, even though I can't invert, so I'm stoked.
I'm also wanting to work on a bit of duo trap with aerialscribe if that works out. I'm feeling good about being able to keep my training up while The Cabiri is on vacation for some very important remodels during the month of November (which is probably a little prelimenary since I have no idea how much it's going to cost to do what I want, but whatever). It's nice to feel good about my direction again anyhow.
I'm planning on taking out another massive loan to go to perfromance school out of this country. I haven't decided which one yet, but I'm leaning toward New Zealand as a really cool place to go. I need to talk to more people about their recommendations before I make any hard core decisions, but I've already gotten in touch with CPIT about training there and had them mail me their application. I'm already to the point that it will be hard to be accepted in any hardcore schools (Like Montreal. Man, I wish :/ ) because of my age and lingering injury, not to even mention my lack of natural flexibility, so I'm feeling a real fire under my ass to go do what I've been wanting to do while I still might get a little bit out of it. And it's a great time to get the fuck out of here for a while. |
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| Art update: Performance masks for the Cabiri |
[Oct. 27th, 2004|12:53 pm] |
These are my first attempts at mask making. I have a lot of room for improvment. I thought they were ok, but the pictures show otherwise. The blending of the paint is terrible and the cuts are VERY off center. I'm really disappointed in that, and I didn't notice how bad it was until I took photos of them laying down. :/ Bleh.
I got the plastic form from Alyssa Ravenwood, in Portland. She also taught me how to cut and decorate them in a workshop I took last weekend but have yet to sit down and write about. She is an INCREDIBLE mask marker. Check out her works at http://ravenwoodmasks.com.
Deceptively good picture..
( Read more... )
Better luck next time I guess. |
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| Art update: Inspired by blue |
[Oct. 26th, 2004|05:16 pm] |
And one of the tue color (but blurry)
Blue: Peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, cold, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
Very much where I am right now. |
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| Art Update: Crochet hat and glove set |
[Oct. 15th, 2004|10:35 pm] |
I made these a while ago but didn't get pics since I didn't have my neat fake hand from ebay yet.
I wear these most of the time.
 |
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| Art Update: "Butterscotch" |
[Oct. 6th, 2004|08:31 pm] |
This is my second crochet hat. Took about 4 hours, according to Scott who was on messenger when I told him I was starting another one. I might end up making little glovlets to go with this one, as it's so fuzzy and beautiful.
I worked with three yarns this time, instead of just one. Thank you ana for confirming my yarn changing method :)
Should I sell them? Would anyone want them? I've emailed a rummage organization about getting a table in November, I wonder if I should try to make some cool hats to sell, considering they take a fraction of the time my wigs do (so far). Come to think of it, it would be really nice to hear from those people so I can get to making things for the sale if I'm 'approved', whatever that entails. I've got so much shit goin on right now I'll need to know within a couple of days to have a good amount of stuff to try to sell. |
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| Art Update: "Sola" |
[Oct. 6th, 2004|03:50 pm] |
I have successfully taught myself crochet, and made my first hat. It took about 5 hours from the opening of the book to finished hat.
I don't really like it because it looks just like something ana would have made and I dislike ripping people off :/ I don't think that I will be as diligent in creating crochet things because I just don't feel that I'm able to be original. One thing is for sure though, she has an amazing grasp of shape creation that I just don't seem to have. When it's not stretched over a wig head, this thing looks like the cat barfed it up, and it's very difficult to imagine having actual control over the shape of a piece, like say.. to make mittens.
Anyway. Finally sat down and figured it out, thanks to running out of the hair colors I needed to finish my wig comissions. My order came today, so I will be back to wigmaking tonight or tomorrow. |
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| My first Voog hat |
[Sep. 30th, 2004|12:29 pm] |
Yay! My first Voog hat has arrived, along with a bunch of cute things like helo kitty stickers! I went downstairs and took some photos. I felt like doing some classic looking stuff, similar to anas pictures that she takes. I even threw in a "Sears portrait studio" looking one. :P
I like it. I feel very french and dignified wearing it. Stuffy almost. Hah..
ana thank you very much for the crochet hooks, what a thoughtful extra to include in my package. This hat does not itch at all btw, woohoo! |
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| Art Update: "Fashion Bug" |
[Sep. 20th, 2004|08:45 pm] |
It is compleeeeted.. two pockets and a handle, even. Made out of an old shirt. haha.
Yeah, it's for sale. $65 and it's yours. It's 5.5" square and 3.5" deep. If no one wants it anytime soon I'll probably make a wig to go with it or something :P |
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| Art update: "Anime" box |
[Sep. 18th, 2004|12:04 am] |
I feel like I need a colored haze over it, gonna work with a watered down acrylic I think. But, it's gotta be cool, cause I found an upskirt image in a comic to use :)
Eventually need to put handles on these things..
 |
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| Art Update: Third box |
[Sep. 17th, 2004|12:12 pm] |
I suppose I should start naming these at some point..
the inside is a pretty purple :) |
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| Art update: Made my first box, "The Dreamer" |
[Sep. 16th, 2004|03:32 pm] |
In between making a set of double-enders for a client, I managed to make my first balsawood box. I've named it "The Dreamer", and it's a gift for my husband. It still doesnt have the hinges or handle on it and needs a final protective coat, but this is the first box thingie I've made:
I used various papers and tissues, mod podge, black acrylic paint and stamps.
I think I went a little overboard on the stamps and there are a few things I need practice with, but all in all I like it. I would like to add an LED to it, since the top is translucent, as shown in the last picture.
I am happy with it, being that it is my first project of this kind and as usual I had little instruction before attempting to do it.
I've also finally made an art space for myself in the basement. I have all my shit down here now, including my old laptop for music and net access. I can do my hair, my candles, my boxes, my photography, my chrochet (learning how) and pretty much anything else besides aerial in my little space. I'm working on making it more comfy, but so far I'm fine now that I've shop vac'd all the damn spiders. Most importantly, this means I don't have to clean up all the time, and my house will no longer be a total artfart hellhole constantly. Hurray! |
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| Goodie update: Back to School art show at WingNut |
[Sep. 11th, 2004|12:54 am] |
Woo. Yay for corvida and charmed_art for inviting me to this. I picked up another neat trinket. Who knew art shows could actually be like, fun?
( 2 more and blah blah blah )
I also met shadowdaddy for the first time by chance and ran into butterbee for the second time today at this show. I think I will make their monthly themed events a staple on my calendar.
And christ do I feel like a little dork using so many fucking lj user tags. What kind of self respecting geek am I getting caught up in all this LJ shit anyway. tsk tsk on me. |
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| Realization: It is hard to let go of your babies. |
[Sep. 9th, 2004|03:44 pm] |
Since I put my latest wig up for perusal, I've had three offers to buy it and I just can't seem to get behind the idea of letting it go.
I considered that it was a money thing, but I've come to the conclusion that it's simply a matter of my ability and excessive mood swings. If these people were offering $500 I sill wouldn't really want to sell it. There's something about my art, something about how I can't be artistic all the time, how there is a magical feeling I have to have to make things that I think look good, or sound good, or whatever, that makes it incredibly difficult for me to sell the things I make. That, and if I like something, the instant gratification factor is murder on my impatient self, so I'd generally rather create more work for myself than give up something I already have and enjoy. :P
This is why I was so amazed at the prices I paid at the art show in Portland last weekend.
It's different for custom orders that start out being for another person. But the things I make for the sake of making are often being made for myself, and it's really weird when faced with the reality that in order to make more neat things for myself I'll have to sell what I already love. Especially since I don't REALLY know if I will be able to make another that I like as much.
Some days I can draw, other days I can't manage stick figures. Some days I can paint, and others everything I try to do that involves a brush looks like complete crap, including makeup. But really, the most extreme of these is my music. I can only make music when I'm suicidal or otherwise extremely distressed, and while this fact makes me fairly complacent when I am not able to be musical, it still sucks that I can't create when I may want to.
I might be updating all the time with new things I've created, but actually being satisfied with anything I do is incredibly rare. A lot more so than one might think.
So yeah. Don't know the point of this. Just talking to myself, I guess.
I'll probably end up selling the fucker anyway. We're broke. |
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| Goodie update: Fun in Portland |
[Sep. 5th, 2004|12:11 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | arts and crafts | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  refreshed | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | David Bowie - David Bowie-Black Tie White Noise-7- | ] |
No sooner did I get home, I left again.
This time to a craft fair to meet blueella. I also happened across some awesome stuff!
( Pictures and descriptions of the awesome things I got today! )
I had a wonderful time meeting and talking with all the artists I purchased from, and I couldn't believe how reasonably priced their works were, particularly the masks. Everything I have from them is original and pretty and unique in it's own way, and all of them manage to be my style. Shows how scattered I am eh?
We also hit the outlets and got lots and lots of socks on the way down there. :) Such a wonderful and inspiring day. My husband was even able to make the drive with me, his condition is improving a LOT!
Lastly and bestly, I am so happy to have finally met and had the opportunity to support Lana. She is such an inspiration to me in so many ways I just can't express how much I admire her without being concerned that I'll sound like a freaky stalker. So I'll just say that I love her to pieces and I would totally bare her children if I could and leave it at that :P Oh, and I'm totally fucking stoked that I finally have some stuff that she's made. |
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| Wigs and a headpiece |
[Aug. 17th, 2004|11:54 pm] |
Wore my human hair wig today. Looked all 'normal' and shit.
And made my cap for the show, in a about 3 hours from a swim cap base.
The camera doesn't begin to do it justice. I've yet to decide how to decorate the ears and finish lining the cap with a black glitter goop, but it's pretty much done besides some minor tweaks. I only hope that the glitter glue dries just how it looks wet. It'll look perfect that way. |
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