Miscellaneous:

• Learn how to print graphic novels/comics with better quality instead of the ol' fashioned DIY xerox-method.

• Buy brand new filing cabinets and file to my OCD heart's content, with hanging folders, labels, and all.

• Buy drafting table.

Self-Therapy.

In spirit of this draw anyway post...




I am currently working as an AmeriCorps volunteer. I work as a daycare assistant in the morning and after school program tutor and assistant in the afternoon. As of late, AmeriCorps doesn't give me much time or energy to focus on my own artwork.

Before Christmas break at the end of 2007, I had the unusual moment of being able to sit down with a couple of the students and relax since they didn't have any homework to work on and I was able to enjoy drawing with them. This is one of the drawings I did when I was sitting at a table with them. Not a masterpiece at all, but it did release a lot of tension in me. Just the act of putting crayon to paper. It is freedom to me.



This was done a couple of weeks ago. In the daycare we had a PACT (Parents and Children Together session.) We had some stencils with paper and crayons out on the table, so parents could draw with their kids. And since the parents were in the room and I didn't have to concentrate so much on watching the children, I let myself go by picking up one of the stencils, and started to outline this picture of the girl. Added in details and shading... and before I knew it, they were playing Barney's "Clean Up Song" and I didn't want to clean up I just wanted to keep going with it. Of course, I had to be a good influence and stop drawing and help clean up the art materials.

One of the reasons I do love my job, is the ability to have the freedom to create like this without thinking too much. Very releasing, when I haven't felt like I have been doing my own art lately.

Updated Checklist.

• Learn some CSS during Christmas break (Between Dec. 21st-Jan. 2nd)

• Update website./Renew domain names by Feb. 14th.

• Create business cards in preparation for San Francisco show.

• Contact Dr. Katz in regards to creating website for Rheumatology Associates.

• Buy plane tickets/make hotel reservation for San Francisco.

• Frame artwork for San Francisco show./Make more copies of Morning Star #3/Ship copies and artwork to San Francisco on the third week of February.

• American Association Orthopedic Surgeons Conference/Art Exhibit March 7-9th, 2008.

• Create flyer for "Your Sunday's Best."

• Contact Monte in regards to buying art piece.

• Contact Shea in regards to lack of communication; confirm if she would still like for me to design her business logo.

• Create "tree piece" for Jeremy.

• Finish up "Rejection Project."

Project To Do Lists

• Learn some CSS during Christmas break (Between Dec. 21st-Jan. 2nd)

• Update website./Renew domain names by Feb. 14th.

• Create business cards in preparation for San Francisco show.

• Contact Shea in regards to lack of communication; confirm if she would still like for me to design her business logo.

• Contact Dr. Katz in regards to creating website for Rheumatology Associates.

• Create flyer for "Your Sunday's Best."

• Contact Monte in regards to buying art piece.

• Create "tree piece" for Jeremy.

• Finish up "Rejection Project."
  

• Continue "personal goal list."

Note to Self.

• Try to visit The Art Institute of Chicago before Christmas break ends.

Personal Goals

The rest of December:

-Learn some CSS during Christmas break (Between Dec. 21st-Jan. 2nd)

January/February 2008:
-Buy plane tickets/make hotel reservation for San Francisco.
-Update website./Renew domain names by Feb. 14th.
-Frame artwork for San Francisco show./Make more copies of Morning Star #3/Ship copies and artwork to San Francisco on the third week of February.
-Create/order business cards on Vistaprint before San Francisco show.

March:
-American Association Orthopedic Surgeons Conference/Art Exhibit March 7-9th, 2008.

maganda.org

i think it’s time

A Couple of Things in the Last Month and a Half

Piece for Jana and Curt's 6 year anniversary

1 conceptual sketch, 1 final drawing, final poster for ArtWalkRavenswood

Brainstorming sketch and a couple of in-progress rough drafts for Shea's logo

OTHER NOTES:

• More than anything I'd rather be with those who take risks and are constantly failing and/or making mistakes and keep going on and taking risks (even if a lot of those risks mean regretting something later) and having more stories and experiences with life then those who are too careful, secure, and cautious.
• I am experimenting using white acrylic paint and black india ink together; Using both brush and ink.
• I am now finally realizing how clean my comics could have been in the past and knowing the need for photoshop to cover up all those accidental ink drips from the pen, blotches, and fingerprints. So nice...
• Also learning to say no to projects because you know that you won't have the time to work on them and you don't want too much piling up on top of your table. Also avoiding the stress.
  

Napkin from bar at Racine and Nelson.

Jeremy told me hold on to this when we were drinking last Saturday. I completely forgot about it until just now and it made me smile. I don't know what the back story is to this, but it still makes me happy.

More music.

Surfing on myspace, I just discovered Obadiah Parker in the last 20 minutes. It sort of brings me back to wanting to listen to Red House Painter's "Songs for a Blue Guitar." Just more music that is good to listen to when drawing or painting. Sort of has me reminiscing about Mkl and Paul; how influential they are to me when it comes to sound, music, and art.

*********************************

Reflecting back on having some beer with J on Tuesday night. It felt good talking about what motivates us to create. That being, it feels so much better creating when the piece is for someone and it has meaning because of that. That is my major reason of creating the things I do and it's hard for me to make something if it is not personal and without real meaning. Also conversations about sketchbooks and other art stuff where by the end of the night he just wanted to go home and read and I wanted to go home and draw. That is always a wonderful way to end a perfect night with a good friend.

www.drawanyway.com

Draw anyway...

Self Teaching Notes, Part Four

• Re-read Madeleine L'Engle's "Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art."
• Throwing back some beers with kindred spirit/like-minded artistic friend always reignites the need to create more.
• Drawing with black india ink and using white acyclic paint instead of white out gives a nice washed out painterly feel.

Penelope Dullaghan's "Set Sail," "Slow Down," "May It's"

set sail:
"I am procrastinating right now. Very much so. The truth is that I am scared. I’m scared of this new thing I’ve been asked to do… it’s uncharted territory for me and I feel butterflies in my stomach when I think about it…"

slow down:
"It’s like a freight train barreling down the tracks full speed. Working and doing this much all the time. I feel sometimes like I’m addicted to this fast pace… hurling my energy forward constantly. Living on momentum and adrenaline, and hardly ever stopping to just breathe and be..."

maybe it's:
"Maybe it’s a little bit of just not being mindful enough as I move through the day… I do work too much and too fast, sure, but I really do love my work. I love being creative and painting and all that good stuff..."

Focusing

Work on ideas. Step by step. Concentrate. Focus. You will eventually get there. Small things one at a time. Discipline. Projects will eventually be finished... if you Just. Keep. Going.

Books

• Robert Henri's "The Art Spirit"


• Elaine Scarry's "On Beauty and Being Just"


• anything by Leonard Cohen


• anything by Simone Weil

Nothing grows...

...without being nurtured, cared, and attended to.

Caffiene

I love the Coca-Cola buzz, the Monster Energy Drink buzz, sometimes that coffee buzz, particularly Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. (I like how when you ask for cream and sugar, the employees at Dunkin' Donuts give you a mystery concoction that is filled with nothing but cheap sweetness.) But then I realize overall how it makes my body more tired then when I was before I started consuming my caffeinated beverage. I would love to stop tiring myself out and learn to not be so caffeine dependant. Green tea makes things well.

Overanalyzing yourself...

...could potentially make you stop living and doing.

The need to keep creating, being... learning, growing as a human being. The ability to make mistakes, but not hating yourself for it. Experiencing.

Jandra

Getting exercise helps out my productivity a lot.

Having Jandra as a waterobics instructors is a tremendous asset to my energy and strength while living with an autoimmune disease. She is a great waterobics instructor. Sometimes her sessions end with Stevie Wonder, Guns N Roses, or the Cure. She will play a re-mix of Prince's "Kiss," with disco hit "Funky Town." She will play Lily Allen's "Smile." You can tell she wants to be there and she loves her job and wants you to enjoy your workout. She totally gets into it. You can see everyone in the swimming pool smiling and being into it. I love the Galter Life Center.

Documenting Ideas

I tend to lose ideas fast when I get them, thinking I can keep a mental note and will remember to write and/or sketch the idea down later.

I need to write these ideas as soon as the idea sparks in my head. Sketch it. Draw it. Take a picture of it. Capture it.