Autumn Arrival

As September draws to a close the weather seems to have finally caught up with the month we're in. Despite how chilly it's been I've been as active as ever. Today I managed to drop some more 'zines around the city and yesterday I made more magnets and prepared some new listings to go live on Etsy in short order.

*see Photos*

Outside of my art life and yet, still quite related, I've been going forward rapidly with my plans to move to London. My work Visa should be processed by the middle of October and on November 1st I'll be heading to London to start getting my bearings on where I'll be living and potential employment whilst there. The official move isn't until January, but as a hugely practical person, I figure it's a good plan to 'test the waters' before taking the plunge.

I have to say I'm tasting the anticipation of the move. As I peruse the blogs of other creative master-minds I find endless references to the fabulous, famous Big Cities of the world and how they contributed to their own personal growth and success. Most of them have been able to move to remote locations upon the arrival of great financial success, but it was their time spent in these cities that molded so much of what they do.

I don't have any set expectations for 2010, but I do know that I have always been a firm believer in experience being the greatest teacher and inspiration. As the ever so wise Dr. Seuss said, "Oh the places you'll go!"

As I plunge into all the potential of this move, I am wide awake to the possibilities, opportunities, and risks. I smile the widest smile as I think of all the people who have shown their support and all the ways I've been able to support myself to get this far. None of us know how far we'll go until we step off that edge. My goodness, what an adventure it will be to find out.

Rejection!

Threadless has informed me that my submission just wasn't quite right yet. I'm going to tweak it and submit it for the Critique. The link will follow once I've made time to do this, as it requires going to my parents house and using their computer.

In the mean time, I'm working on more sculpey stuff today and clay tomorrow. I'm preparing because Halloween is just around the corner and you know what that means: Christmas is coming!

As far as getting rejected goes, I feel pretty awesome about it. The author side of me is doing little jumps of joy because, quite frankly, any sort of communication is better than nothing. I remember when I got my first rejection letter and what wholly thrilled because it meant they actually opened my manuscript and read it! Oh, and on that note, I have heard back from the publisher regarding the submission I made to the anthology piece about people in the GBLQT* communities and accessing mental health services. *fingers crossed* Even if it's not chosen I'm thrilled that writing the submission has inspired the beginnings of a new novel for me. This will be fun because it's my first go at writing a fully non-fiction piece.

Oh! And that was a Mental Health thing, right? Well, this accessing mental Health services and being a recovered neurotic is opening up opportunities all over the place. There's this fantastic group called Opportunity Works (Aptly enough.) calling for artists to submit their work to a catalog. I've just sent my submission this morning. I've decided to submit my Tarot Cards for it.

Right, enough networking, time to create.

*GayBisexualLesbianQueerTrangendered/Transsexual...not to mention IntersexedTwo-SpiritedAsexualandJustPlainUnlabeled

Threadless submission!

Thanks to my fabulously talented Aunt C.C. for all of her help with formatting! I couldn't have done it without her! Thanks to Silas as well for his initial tutorial and scanning the image in the first place.

Now it's up to you, the public, to vote!

How to Be an Artist

As so many people know, I'm the kind of person who will accomplish a task without hesitation or procrastination. For years I've been dedicating myself to activism and the not-for-profit community with all this enthusiasm and spirit. After ten years of intense volunteerism and a little bit of employment, I've found my focus shifting. I've taken the past year to re-assess and in that I've determined the path for me is to do the two things I've been dreaming about since I was a child:

Art and writing.

I have the Youth Animation Project and my psychologist to thank for a lot of it, as well as my family. I've received so much support from those who know and love me, always hearing that my art and writing is incredible and should be shared with the world. After making 'Affinity' I realized how feasible it was to have that creative job. I'm not going to rely on this initially, in order to pace myself with it, but it's hugely exciting to think that, in a few years time I will be doing this full-time.

I have no doubts that this is an achievable goal, purely because the number one piece of advice I see from successful authors and artists is "Stick to it". It's the dreamers who get cast aside, the ones with an idea but no real motivation. The sort of people who think "One day I'll win the lottery" instead of thinking "I'm going to make myself a millionaire" drop out of the game. It's the relentless ones with a passion too strong to extinguish who move forward, learning and growing and expanding their horizons.

As my beautiful new tattoo says, as the ever so wise and clever Gandhi said:

"Be the change you want to see."

Etsy launch!

I've taken the plunge! Gotta say, it's been quite nerve wracking. Mostly just because it's a very real step in running this as my business. Annoyingly enough I have been so jumpy about it that I didn't edit my 'announcement' e-mail, which is terrible. Spelling mistakes abound as I'm typing on my parents annoying tilted keyboard. It's one with a split down the middle...I miss letters and type them out of order. Boo! Which is why this entry, thought started at their house, is being finished and posted from my lovely laptop.

I've also uploaded some more photos of my artwork to Flickr, which I've also posted here for your viewing pleasure. These are three pieces I did for my parents. The mask was a really fun project. I gave my mum a blank mask for Christmas, asked for design ideas, and the following year I gave her this custom designed "Leaf Mask". It's a design I'd love to do as a proper costume mask.

"Bird Woman" is hanging in my parents library. I've just recently found out that my dad counts it as one of his favourite pieces. This was done when I was in a very experimental place. I was playing with acrylic, learning about its application and developing my style. I did this with my hands, for fun and to loosen myself up. I like to think of it as reversible, actually. I think it looks like a flower when it's the other way round.

"Stegosaurus" was another gift for my mum. In this piece I mixed my sculpting with painting. I absolutely adore this work. It's always going to have a fond spot in my heart and I'm extremely pleased with the delightful reaction it achieved when I gave it to my mum.

The last photo is of four little Hippo magnets I made yesterday. They too will soon be available for purchase through Etsy, so keep watching if you're interested. Of course you needn't use Etsy is you don't want to. Anyone who lives locally can drop me an e-mail and arrange a private sale.

A busy art filled week!

It's Hump day!

Finished the "Element" shoes (Other than laces, which I've got to decide on still). I'm really happy with the design. It's just something I sort of came up with on a whim. When it comes to painting shoes I prefer to do custom orders since someone has to like the design I've chosen for the shoe size if I pre-paint stuff. The pairs I used for "Hermes" and for "Elements" were extras I had from a few years ago. I decided to just go for it and paint them with something I thought might have high appeal in general. They'll both be available for purchase through Etsy when my page goes live. I'm planning on launching it next week. This will coincide with the release of *glee*, my promotional art 'zine! Thanks to my absolutely wonderful mother, I've got 20 colour copies ready to hit the streets.

Watch for those and remember to Fan me on facebook and/or add me to your Twitter if you want more updates on my artwork and how to get some.

Also photographed in this entry are some more magnets I've done week. These little Sculpey creations will be available through Etsy.

Now I'm gonna rest a bit from typing. Karrie Arthurs of Blackbird Electric added to my personal art collection yesterday so my arm is quite sore.

Clay sure is fun

I've been working on my dragons again. I forgot how enjoyable clay is to work with. I decided to best myself by making the largest dragon I've ever attempted. I don't know that she'll survive the firing because it's difficult when they get so big, but I'm pleased with the result none the less. I've got something pretty brilliant to show for a few hours work.

To that end, I'm thinking of hosting a few Clay Classes at my Howse. I'm trying to generate some interest. I wonder how many people would attend some lessons in how to make clay animals for a fee if all the supplies (clay, glaze, tools) are provided, along with the firing?

Anyone interested in taking lessons, let me know.

Side note* If you's want to follow what I'm up to more closely and see more of my art you can Fan me on Facebook or add me on Twitter! Just follow the links on the right side of the page.

Fabulous News!

Higher Ground Cafe in Kensington has contacted me about displaying a piece for their showcase. *result!*





I've also joined Twitter, as you can tell by the new link on the right side of the page.





A side note: I've still got those three slogans running on Threadless for potential publications. Help me out by going to my previous post and clicking on the links to vote on the slogan you like best! Still no t-shirt designs of my own but my uncle will be tutoring me in Photo shop tomorrow so I'll be all over it like a cat on nip by next week.





Oh yeah! A new pair of shoes. Size 9.5 men's. I measured them with a tape measure. they're exactly a foot long. *laughs* How perfect! I'll be adding them to my Etsy shop, which will be going live at the beginning of October.

I call these "Hermes" footwear.

A new venture!

For those of you not familiar with Threadless Tees, they are this very fabulous company that allows artists to have their work turned into t-shirt prints. These prints are limited, unique and generally very awesome. Thanks to my BFF I am the proud owner of a few fabulous Threadless Tees. Thanks to my pushy psychologist, I'm going to stop just wearing them and start submitting ideas.

I began this process already with a few choice slogans. Thanks go out to Mara and my Dad for inspiration.

You can help me in this endeavour by voting on them! Sign up at Threadless and have your say on whether my slogan choices are awesome or not!

http://typetees.threadless.com/score/1662156/Be_Aloof_Your_country_needs_more_Loofs

http://typetees.threadless.com/score/1662163/You_Lick_Fish

http://typetees.threadless.com/score/1662236/Hallucinogens_has_not_affected_my_slightest

Animorph...

Furries everywhere will be giddy.

I discovered, shortly after posting about my animation, that a few folks from the Furry community had stumbled across 'Affinity'.

It's true that my art is reflective of a 'Furry' style. I like to think of it as illustrative and whimsical. Plus I'm just really terrible at drawing actual people.

Anyhoo, I am awesome at making masks and I'm completely chuffed with my latest one. I have wanted to make this 'costume' for ages. I think calling it a costume is sort of silly. Everyone knows I'm a wolf at heart, if not in the furry sense at least in having a strong affinity with the creatures. I've been drawing my wolf-self since I started at YAP and now I've sculpted it.

Just gotta do the tail and I'll be done.

And no, I'm not actually a Furry, but even if you're kink isn't my kink, that's O.K.

Custom masks starting at $75.