There's an artist in everyone...

I'm a terrible musician. I can't carry a tune to save my life. I'm totally tone deaf and as a result I'm the one person at Karaoke guaranteed to make everyone feel better about their own singing.

This wasn't always the case. As a kid I was part of the school choir and I had private singing lessons that helped me improve. I took band as an option for one year in Junior High, learning the basics of playing a clarinet. And if you give me a guitar and about 20 minutes I'll remember how to play 'House of the Rising Sun'.

It's not that music completely eludes me. I know, if I was passionate enough about it, I could probably be a really talented musician. But I'm not passionate about it and a lack of 'natural' musical talent doesn't bother me.

A self portrait
I didn't wear my glasses so I had to practice
going by shape alone

Now, I have met a few people who are naturally very talented at playing instruments or writing lyrics, but most of the musicians I know have had to work really hard at it. Music is hard work! All creative pursuits are.

Yet there's this strange belief that I encounter again and again that, despite having any proof to back it up, persists in the minds of those who hold it. It's this belief that people are born artists. That an artistic person has some inherent ability to draw or sculpt or paint or sing or write lyrics etc. That creative talent is something you're born with and if you weren't well, sucks to be you, there's simply no hope.

This sort of belief baffles me because saying, "I can't draw so I'll never learn" is like saying, "I can't speak second language so I shouldn't bother learning one." 

Artistic talent is not a personality trait.

It's a skill.

No one is a born architect or surgeon just as no one is a born dancer or portrait painter. There are exceptions - there always will be simply because there are so many people on the planet - but the nature of an exception is the rarity of it. Even those with a supposed 'natural' talent will struggle in some aspect. We all have room to learn. But it's less that we have room to learn and more that we have the capacity for it. Learning is a never ending process and something we all have a talent for if we put our mind to it.

A Self Portrait in Abstract

"Wisdom is not about how many experiences we have...

Wisdom is not about how many years we have lived...

It is about how many lessons we have learned"

'A Self Portrait in Abstract'

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.

May the First

"Let's celebrate spring with a crazy little things called...." -Jonathon Coulton

Woke up at 6:30am, wrestled the kitten and was thoroughly delighted to see the sun shining outside.

Showered, ate a gluten free bagel and started laundry. Ran to the bank to deposit my tax refund, ran home to put the tax refund on my Line Of Credit. Patted self on back for a job well done.

Enjoyed the sun with the kitten. Delirium frolicked, I took photos and planned out a sketch for a self portrait.

Checked movie show times and let the masses know when and where and how much.

Drove (without stalling) to Shoppers to mail a letter. Went to my parents house to find bacon on the stove. Checked e-mail and read what was at least the tenth text message wishing me 'Happy Birthday'.

Went to a massage with me mum. Mellowed. Bowed and recited thanks to a little Buddha statue in the room. Loved the energy...

Pre-purchased tickets to the movie and perused a clothing store to kill time before our 12 lunch reservations.

Lunch at Nick's with Nick and mum. Had the most fantastic Caesar salad, steak, prawns, rice and veggies with blueberry cheese cake for dessert. Danced int he parking lot afterwards to show my glee. Was given tickets to see the Dalai Lama by the 'rents!

Picked up Trevor and Sasha to take back to my parents to get my Pony to take them back to my place to get Trevor's jacket with ipod. Walked with Trevor and Sasha in the sun over to the Co-op. Said goodbye at the corner and went over to buy cream.

Got home and made a perfect tea. Began working on sketch.

Went online to see if a British bird was there. Chatted for a good long while, met some of her mates and showed off my birthday dance. Allison and Jon came home. Introduced my mates. Laughed til my cheeks hurt. Said goodbye.

Hung out with Allison and Jon and worked on sketch until realizing it was time to go.

Drive to the theatre (without stalling!) to meet Jasper, Jeans, K-Dawg and Krystal. Went in and asked if it was ridiculous to expect to be seated for the seven o'clock showing when it was only six. Found out the theatre was open and we were welcome to sit. Claimed a row and went outside to *glee* and wait for people I held passes for.

Had Laura, Sherina, Trevor, Allison, Jon and Chris show up as well.

Salivated over Hugh Jackman in jeans. Salivated over Hugh Jackman int he buff. Salivated over Hugh Jackman blowing things up. Salivated over Hugh Jackman popping veins when he's angry Wolverine.

Rarr. *shiver*

Drove Trevor and Jasper to Oolong for tea. Cielia, Silas and Shannon joined us. Spent a lot of time laughing and smiling. Cheeks continued to hurt. Got mis-matched socks, shoe laces and Killers CD's from Jasper. More fabulous mix CD's from K-Dawg and Krystal. A picture ball from Shannon.

Decided it was time to dance because my dancing shoes were itching. Laura, Jasper, Jeans and Sherina joined me at Twisted. Got a brilliant hug from DJ Crazy Steve. Danced for an hour, rocked the cage, crashed and burned at midnight.

Drove Jasper home, singing along to the music we blared.

Woke up today at 8:00. Tidied the howse in preparation for the parents arrival.

Parents arrived. Brother arrived. Allison and Jon arrived. Pancakes, bacon and eggs benny were consumed. Tea was made, sun was enjoyed. Delirium climbed a tree. Makutu did it first. Delirium climbs another tree. Delirium got stuck in the tree.

Bid farewell to the family. Allison went out and Jon went home. Sat outside int he sun, finished self portrait, soaked up the glorious sun.

*smiles the widest smile*

The Best Birthdays are full of the Best People, the Best times, lots of sun, kittens and Hugh Jackman in the buff.

"Guardian"

I discovered I had a talent for large scale paintings. I'm just not patient enough for tedious details, I suppose. It happened quite accidentally.

One day I was shopping at Inglewood Art supplies (I recommend them highly, especially if you have a Friends of CJSW card and/or are an Art Student.) and I was going to buy a bunch of small canvases. I came across one that was a much grander scale than I had ever used. The decision was instantaneous. I splurged!

The result was a dragon climbing a telephone pole, a street corner in the back ground. To look at it now I can see how my skills have improved in time, but it was definitely an important step towards using the right material.

I have an obvious knack for sculpting, but painting has always been something I've enjoyed. I found myself more frustrated than anything, however, when I decided to paint an image from my head and ended up with less than exemplary results. Acrylic is definitely my paint of choice, although I've dabbled successfully in water colours. So my next challenge was the Right Canvas. Well, the Right Canvas for me, when it's not canvas shoes, is BIG.

About a year and a half ago I purchased the biggest canvas I'd ever used and began a self-portrait fantasy piece. It went through many phases and sometimes I thought it would simply never be done. Well, inspiration struck over the last week and voila!

"Guardian"

Acrylic on Canvas