Practice in writing.

Disclaimer: ignore this post. My brain needs the stream of consciousness exercise.

Oh glorious winter.

Here in California, the seasons are changing. Of course, by changing I actually mean that sometime within the next week there is a very slim chance it MIGHT rain. I have relocated to the glorious city of Long Beach, just a hop, skip and stumble to the beach where I can look out over the harbor and thrown my roots down into a tiny, beachy cottage. I like to think of my 500 square foot paradise as my dollhouse.

I have full time employment, which is a thing of wonder in this economy. Everything seems like it is fitting into place, however I cant help feeling like this life chafes and rubs me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely ungrateful. I know I am incredibly lucky, but its that persistent, nagging feeling that I'm not doing what I am supposed to, that is starting to get on my nerves.

I have expressed on numerous occasions my utter lack of desire to sit in an office and do paperwork. At one point in time I viewed it as my version of hell a la Dilbert style. Here I am, sitting on the floor of my office attempting to slow down the passage of time so that my lunch break will be longer.

I've been attempting to distract myself with various activities but so far, that has not panned out for me (CURSES, SINUS INFECTION). I think my brain has been flexed enough for one day. Perhaps I will delete this later but for now, I'll consider this an exercise in writing.

Christmas Window Shopping

Once again, my Christmas Wish list includes a printing press. This year, however it seems I am closer to my goal. Hopefully this time there will be more of a chance that I'll be able to afford what I want with a job and what not. I'm hoping to get a nice little table top etching press for my tiny one bedroom apartment that I share with my boyfriend.

I'm carrying around my lovely price lists from Takach, Griffin, Conrad and more. If anyone else has any suggestions for etching presses I should look into, pretty please let me know.

Last Saturday I went to a friend's gallery opening. He's tipped me off to a life drawing event held by a group of local artists that meet in various locations with a model. From what he told me of it, it sounds like it should be a pretty awesome event and hopefully he'll get me in next time it is held. It would be nice to feel involved in the local art community.
I've been working on a new woodcut lately with all the additional time I have waiting for Mike to get off work since we are sharing a car. I feel super productive.

Next post will probably involve X-mas and birthday shopping and the end result of my press hunting.

Bird Sketches.

We have a small aviary located in a our apartment complex. I decided to do a few quick little sketches while the sun was setting.

The first set are three different birds. One very adventurous bird decided that I was no threat and was kind enough to pose for me while I drew. The two birds viewed from below were less trusting and kept giving me the eye as I watched them.

So, after a particularly bad build up of stress I decided to relax with a little bit of sketching. One of the perks of living in my apartment complex is the aviary really close to our place. I took a sketch pad over to a bench nearby and decided to draw some of the birds. Unfortunately, it was already pretty late when I got over there so I lost a lot of otherwise good light.

However, one of the perks is that there was a cute little bird who adjusted rather quickly to my presence and let me get fairly close to him so that I could get some halfway decent sketches. Thursday is my day off so hopefully I'll be able to get in some more time to work.

Tools, studio and more.

My mother decided to clean out the entire garage and rearrange my studio space:

I have a shelf now! Exciting.

And lots of unused screen printing equipment.

My couch, my desk and my paper cutter. Those white things are my awesome drawers where I keep my ink and tools.

All my awesome tools and my desk.

Recently I have ordered a TON of tools from McClain's and the BarenForum mall. Slowly the packages have been trickling in from all over the world and each day I am excited to check and see if parts of my order have arrived.

So far my newest acquisitions are a 3mm Hangi-To knife, a 6mm bull-nose chisel, a 9mm chisel to be used with a mallet and a 6mm Hangi-To. And a deluxe mallet. Did I mention I am now the proud owner of a mallet? Both of the 6mm tools are the superior quality while my 3mm is part of my awesome professional set.

Mostly just missing my 18mm chisel which I hear is coming soon from the [Baren] Mall. Most of my excitement is reserved for the arrival of my FIRST BAREN. Go me. I went with a Murasaki Medium baren.

Alright so due to the demand on my twitter feed, I will do my best to get some sketches up of my comic-con experience. I'll be aiming for next week sometime.

Highlight of my day was having David Petersen the artist and writer for Mouse Guard explain to me a new printmaking technique. I was first in line to get a signature this afternoon when he headed back to his artist alley booth.

Its a shame he doesn't print much anymore but I LOVE his work.

Best. Day. Ever.