On My Desk Wednesday

Sugar Skull, Graphite on Vellum, Getting prepared for this evening's client.

Oh Hey There

I've resurrected my DailyBooth account. I hope to update more often than not, so if you're over there, go ahead and add me!

I spent the weekend celebrating the marriage of a near and dear friend. I was Matron of Honor and Maz was the flower girl, and by the end of Saturday we were spent. I'd love to share photos once I get a link to an online gallery.

As you can see from the photo link above, I've been reading an old favorite lately. It's been a few years since I've picked it up and it's interesting to see the passages I highlighted and underlined. If I remember correctly, I think my buddy Amber read it and also highlighted parts she liked. I bought a copy for my younger sister and well, I kind of hesitated giving it to her because of all the sex and drug references. I texted Amber with my concerns and her reply was, "Do you remember what we knew at age 16?" There you go. I hope my sister enjoys it as much as I do. It's got to be better than those books with vampires and werewolves, right?

Another thing I've been enjoying lately: Pink Floyd's Fearless. This song was played during the newly wedded couple's first dance. It was SO BEAUTIFUL (all caps needed!) and I tried my best not to cry. They didn't want to dance alone so after a few moments all the bridesmaids found a dance partner. I slow danced with my husband and to quote TPoBaW, I felt infinite.

I found an amazing cover on YouTube just a few minutes ago:





Thank goodness for the internet.

Wednesday Wishing

i heart Michigan necklace by tru.che on Etsy

I was born in Flint, Michigan and spent my first few years there. I don't remember living there, of course, but every summer I visit all my relatives and fall in love with the place all over again. Michigan is beautiful, no doubt about it. The weather is perfect during my summer visits, not as oppressing as Georgia summers (which is STILL going on, when will it ever cool off??). 

Michigan is dear to my heart. When I was a child, I would pick Michigan whenever we were assigned a written report on a US state. Nowadays, whenever I get some extra money (rare!), I try to plan a trip up north. I try my best to visit as often as possible. 

I want this necklace. I want a lot of things off of Etsy and I'm going to try to make a weekly post about the neat things on my wishlist.

OH! I made a new Etsy treasury featuring the letter E! Check it out! http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c9a02540e488eef91b9bb91/gimmie-an-e

Currently Reading

Little Children by Tom Perrotta
Latest Issue of Zine World
Various Zines from Parcell Press
The SlowExposures Program
Creative Inc. by Joy Deangdeelert Cho &, Meg Mateo Ilasco (Second time reading this)
Infinity Blues by Ryan Adams
Tattoo Machine: Set up, Tuning and Maintenance by Joey Desormeaux

What are you reading?

Another NaBloPoMo Fail

Well, it's been a few days of not posting and looks like I failed the NaBloPoMo challenge. Boooo. I always have good intentions and determination with these bloggin'-every-day challenges, but I end up missing one day, then the next...

Anyway! I don't have much art to show off right at the moment but I do have new business cards featuring my gypsy sugar skull painting! Hopefully, these will come in handy when I talk to folks about tattoos.

Late Night Screenprinting - NaBloPoMo Day Nine

Earlier this year I was asked to sit in during a meeting of the SlowExposures crew. Next thing I know I'm being assigned tasks, and look at me now: I'm up late, blogging about screenprinting the logo on twenty canvas bags.

My job is to get together "goody bags" for the judges and other fancy folks helping out with the photography exhibit. I could've just stuck everything in a simple school folder but I had a grand idea one day last week...how about I made exclusive SE bags for all our guests? And screenprint each of them myself! Yeah! I don't have anything else to do (sarcasm), let's add another thing to my to-do list.

In all honesty, I just needed an excuse and a project for my newly acquired screenprinting kit. I LOVE having projects and goals and challenges and I really enjoyed myself while I pulled ink through the screen. It was definitely a learning experience (use more ink! Buy extra everything! Don't let the dog walk on wet ink!) and I found myself thinking that maybe I'm more of a printmaker than a painter. I love the possibilities with making multiple copies of a piece. I love pulling away the paper or the screen to see a neat and orderly print. It's magic, I tell you. Magic.

NaBloPoMo Day Eight

I drove all around Middle Georgia this morning to buy twenty blank canvas bags for a new project I've started. I'm going to screenprint something on them, and well, once I started setting up the lamp to burn the screen, I accidentally bumped the light bulb and zzzzzzzzpppp! the bulb just blew. So, that means I'm not working on anything tonight, just getting caught up on LA Ink. I might clean up my desk a little and sketch some ideas. Or maybe I'll just take it easy tonight.

Finished Painting - NaBloPoMo Day Seven

It took about 11 episodes of Arrested Development to finish this lovely painting. It's still untitled, but I'm glad it's done. Watercolor and India Ink on thick watercolor paper. Approximately 11" x 14".

One day I'd like to get prints of all my watercolor paintings and offer them for sale in the Etsy Shop.

More Progress - NaBloPoMo Day Six

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Labor Day weekend! I had nice, easy weekend with family and it'll be hard to go back to normal tomorrow morning. I'm up late this evening, painting, and watching more Season 2 of Arrested Development.

Andy Warhol - NaBloPoMo Day Five

"If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, there I am. There's nothing behind it." - A. W. 

Latest Tattooing Adventures - NaBloPoMo Day Four

This week has been full of learning and tattooing. I touched up a friend's old piece and brightened it up a bit, then worked on my first ribpiece. My cousin Johnny sat like a champ for FOUR hours while I sweated through my first major tribal tattoo. I'm seriously lovin' this new occupation!

Coming Along - NaBloPoMo Day Three

Slowly but surely, it's coming along. Maz was drawing alongside of me. A great way to spend an afternoon.

Progress Shots - NaBloPoMo Day Two

Early morning, finishing the lines and listening to Radiohead's The Bends. Then a light coat of Transparent Yellow and Burnt Sienna. Finish laundry while waiting for it to dry.



Late morning, painting with india ink while watching Season Two of Arrested Development.

This may take awhile!

On My Desk Wednesday

New painting on 11"x14" watercolor paper, my biggest watercolor ever. First the india ink lines, then the yellow ochre underpainting. I had to step away from this one after an hour and a half of handling the thin paintbrush. I have to let my hands rest before going in to the tattoo shop this evening.

This month's NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) theme is ART, so OF COURSE I have to attempt this challenge! Here's to posting every day this month. Which is September, and well, how the heck did it become September 2010 already???

P.S. I've tried NaBloPoMo before and failed miserably. I hope to have better luck this time!