Oh Yeah.

Tons and tons of new projects. I know my resolution last year was to be more on top of my e-game, but that fell through, obviously. It's hard for me to spend time on things like photo documenting and writing about my art...because I get so wrapped up in creating it. It consumes me. OH WELL HAHA.

My new year's resolution this year is simple: don't get sick. I'm exercising and taking vitamins and using hand sanitizer. I am taking a holistic approach to health care. If I can't afford it, then I will be my own insurance.


As for my NYR of last year, here's the final verdict, a year later:

1. I did raise my credit score substantially = WIN
2. My student loan debts are under 6k and I paid off my hospital bill = WIN
3. I did train for, but did not participate in, a century (100 miles on a bike) = WIN/FAIL?
4. I did not update my blog very much = FAIL
5. I did have an exhibition in May and it was awesome = WIN

I didn't do it all but I did okay! I'll take it!

Well, I just watched The Cove.

The belief that human beings are somehow better, or more important, than everything else in the world is a toxic and illogical way of thinking. To pursue whatever we want to have at whatever the cost isn't just stupid, it's ecologically unsound. When we go out and cut down trees to put down bigger parking lots, or overfish the seas of the world without taking into consideration the damage that might cause to the environment or the local ecology is, in its own right, self-destructive behavior. By putting our immediate needs before the needs of everyone and everything surrounding our decisions, we're cutting off our own legs. Eventually all the consequences of our actions will catch up to us and we'll not only be risking the extinction of species of animals, but also the extinction of humans. You can't fuck with one part of the food chain and not effect everyone else, after all it is a CHAIN. We are all linked together. If it's bad for one person, it's bad for everybody.

Dairy allergy?

So over the past few years I've developed a milk allergy. Up until recently, it never bothered me that much. My face would get hot and I'd sweat a little bit on the bridge of my nose, that was all. Never enough to actually deter me from consuming anything with dairy in it. But lately, for some reason, it has spiraled out of control. I'd break out into hives, puke, and spend the rest of the evening on the toilet. I think I'm still okay to eat stuff like bread or anything with a tiny amount of milk, but things like cake, creamer, and yes....cheese, are becoming completely off-limits. I know, I know, you SHOULD weep for me, because it's a fucking tragedy. I already can't eat red meat, but I've never missed it. I swear to god, if I become allergic to fish or chicken, I will kill myself. I'm already having a hard time finding joy in life without cheese, if anything else is taken away from me....I will lose it.

So I'm on a quest, I'm looking for dairy-free blogs and recipe books, trying to make a general lifestyle change, because for the past few weeks I've had the "fuck you, milk allergy!! I EAT WHAT I WANT!" attitude, and let's just say...it has not gone over well. Basically, I'm sick of feeling sick all the time, and I think I'm ready to change my diet.

I bought some benadryl, goat cheese, and a boatload of toilet paper to celebrate my last day of dairy consumption. I will be incapacitated for the next four hours. Thank you, and goodnight.

Negative: A Triptych

Well, what do you guys think? I'm only moderately satisfied with it. But then, I'm never 100% satisfied with anything I ever do. I think that's the key to continual improvement. I know now what I would've done differently, but that's neither here nor there. The important thing is that I tried something new, and with some tweaking I could have a really cool new way to work.

Well, I'm starving, so I'm going to grab something to eat before I drive to Texas for memorial day weekend. Nothing major planned, just a lot of relaxing. Oh, yeah, and I have a job interview on Tuesday with Performance Printing, which is kind of perfect since I will be super chilled out from all the lazing around I plan on doing. Wish me luck!

Processes.

So I've been working a lot with tape lately, and just kind of exploring what I can fully do with it. Usually what I do is throw some paint down on a piece of wood, put tape down and cut it away. I decided to reverse the process this time though, to create the image in tape first THEN put the paint down, and peel away the tape, to create a negative image of my drawing. Here's me working on it last night:


God, if this doesn't sum up my life I don't know what does. Computer, Gray Owl coffee, tape, paint.



I finished the art part of it last night, now I just have to get it hang-ready and I'll be showing it at Studio Zen for the next few months.

I'll post images of it when it's done.

Dustbowl Stuff!

So here are most of the paintings I had put together for the Dustbowl Arts Market which was at the Norman Music Festival a few weeks ago. I wanted to make everything really affordable to so I worked kind of small and got all my frames from the thrift store before refinishing them.


Definitely NOT Inspired by China


Anglerfish


Definitely NOT a Self-Portrait


Cuttlefish


The Mayan


Eel


In Utero


Definitely NOT Mickey Mouse


Vulture


The Haitian


And of course while taking these pictures my little man tried to help. By blocking the light and pawing at everything, of course.

Cuz he's special like that.


Everything I didn't sell I'll be putting up on my etsy, which is still in the making so I won't post the link, but as soon as it's ready I'll let everyone know. That's all for now!

Onward and upward!

So much has happened since my last update. We hosted another art show at Studio Zen, first off:




Poster designed by me. I participated in the show this time, and I feel like I've had somewhat of a breakthrough because I really love working this way:





I have big ideas for what's next.

Me and Olivia (aka REGAL CREATURE) are putting together an etsy to sell our wares on, so once that's up and running I'll post links. Here's our logo (also designed by me):



I love that Boo is our mascot.

I also recently participated in the Dustbowl Arts Market, here I am in the early morning chilly as hell and waiting on my partner in crime to show up:


I had a lot of small, affordable paintings at the market, and once I've edited the pictures of all of them I'll make a separate entry for them.

Anyway, I have updates on my biking progress but I'm going to make a separate entry for that too. In other news, I'm trying to move ASAP, could be as soon as two weeks and as late as September. Who knows! More info on that later too. Love you all!