Flickr!

I've added a link to my Flickr account, which I've finally cleaned up and filled with my art portfolio.

Check out the link on the right side of the page!

Business Cards!

I'm working on some new ones.

Actually, I'm working on a lot right now. I finally nipped over to Quickdraw to hole-punch a brand new ream of paper so I can start animating with the new light table.

I've also picked up some glossy photo paper so I can make a portfolio of my work. This sudden flurry of activity was brought on by a crappy shift at work and a random wad of Sculpey I found on the sales floor. Monday was the crappy shift, which left me in a funk. On Tuesday I opened and I was feeling quite put-out when I discovered the Sculpey sitting on a chair. I brought it to the back and set it by the computer. Despite being such a huge company, my work has crap computers, so, whilst waiting for the thing to load, I'd fiddle around with the plasticine-like clay. Eventually it resulted in a dragon and a wee pig, which I set up so they appeared to be contemplating each other.

One by one my co-workers began noticing what I'd made and commenting on my talent.

It's funny because I'm always talking about how weird it is when you first spend time with people outside of work. It's not that most of us are any different, it's just we only talk about work while at work, so we don't always get to know the things that make us who we really are. I notice it in my co-workers all the time, but I've always thought I've been pretty vocal about who I am, until that day. Suddenly I realized the source of my frustration was that I've been trying to be happy doing a job that isn't me.

So, yeah, I communicate well and I could probably be great in HR or as a manager or something, but being good at something in one setting doesn't mean I can't take it and apply it to something that is more definitive of my nature. I'll drive myself nuts trying to make that skill work in the wrong place and it took the small reminder of who I am (an artist.) to see what I needed to do.

So I'm grabbing the bull by the horns and I'm going to stop putting off what I want and what fills me with joy because I'm afraid of the work or because I think it will be too expensive. Even when I feel miserable, even when I'm in the worst sort of funk, I can, do and will still create artwork and stories. So it's about time I began sharing that with the world, properly, and promoting myself.

My desire to be without significant responsibility has ebbed in that I am feeling frustrated about not becing able to change how things go at my job. Well, none of us are ever really in control. That's what makes life fun. Every new moment, every new challenge, and every new swift kick in the butt from the Universe that tells us it's time to learn a new lesson and let go of an old attachment is a way for us to continue on a path of happiness with an open heart and mind.

C'est La Vie.

The Library!

So I stumbled across the most fantastic contest ever. Fantastic because it allows for full artistic creativity and it's being put on by the library so the focus is books.

The requirement?

Create an original piece of art in any medium that celebrates literature, books or the library.

Seriously!

So I set about painting about a month ago. I took a self portrait shot and did my first ever attempt at painting my Wolfy-Self-Portrait. It was really very fun as I prefer to do fur with pencil crayon, but the end result with acrylic wasn't half bad. I'm excited to submit it and really don't care whether or not I win because the experience itself was fantastic and something new for me so either way I've grown as an artist.

I'm in Edmonton currently but plan to take it in when I get back to Calgary on Thursday.

I'm submitting it to be included in the fundraising auction that will be held following the competition, so if anyone is interested in supporting the library and purchasing it, I'll keep info on the how/when/where here.

I have been doing art, I swear it!

I finally finished the first story in my Graphic Novel. I'm pretty pleased about this as it was a project I've flipped about in my head for years and never ventured to try out of the sheer frustration of it. You spend months working on drawing this thing that takes most people less than five minutes to read. But it's still totally worth it, I think. I know I did a lot of work on it and I think it's turned out quite well so I've no complaints.

I'm still working on the Tarot pieces but I took a bit of a break to do some art for a competition the library is hosting. The assignment? Create some art that celebrates The Book. I've done a piece on my usual canvas size. It's almost done and I'm really happy with it, but it needs a little something more. I feel like I should make it pop somehow, because, despite being brightly coloured (As is all my work.) it just doesn't seem like it's going to feel done when I finish the final bit of painting.

In other news, my dad and I made a lightbox! I can finally animate at home! I just need to get lightbulbs for it, and a few reams of paper hole punched for my animation stick. Then i can go to town!

So yes, the creativity continues.

The Star

So this dragon was my original personal design for my leg tattoo. Obviously that didn't happen, but I loved the drawing so much I wanted to use it somehow. I used the turtle I designed in The World so it only seemed natural to incorporate the dragon into my tarot paintings as well.

Fini

The Fool

Finished! Finally!

Today was the final day of four off in a row. I did some cleaning first thing, before heading out to my deck with my canvas and paints to finish another Tarot card painting. Now both the beautiful kitties in my life are displayed on either side of my bed.

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.