Second Painting Eva!

So, remember when I said I would post good work and bad work for drawings? Well. I'm exercising that clause. Here are paintings #2.1 and #2.2. Posted here, the hand, at least, doesn't look so bad, but let me tell you: in real life...be afraid. Be horribly afraid.

I'm not discouraged. I'm going to pull up my socks and start again on Tuesday.


Yes, I am wearing a scarf in my own house.

You're it!

So I did this meme thing on Facebook and it just screamed "free blog post!" so here it 'tis:

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. I have never been outside of the US. Not even Mexico or Canada
2. I think the American spelling of "realize" looks all wrong.
3. Until very recently, I was under the impression Audi was spelled Outie. Like the belly button.
4. Legally, my name is spelled "Ashely"
5. When I was at my best friend's house in elementary school, I careened out of control down her vertical driveway on her pedal backwards bike. There was a wooden wall at the end.
6. I knit. A lot.
7. In 3rd grade my partner wanted to leave our project as an example for the teacher. When she left for the day, I grabbed it to take home. She came back in the classroom right as my teacher was asking if I was taking it. I said yes like a giant doof and my partner gave me the biggest death stare of my life. I ended up throwing it away out of guilt. That day has haunted me ever since.
8. When it comes to art, I get really competitive. To a fault. It's very unattractive.
9. If coffee were a man, I would marry him.
10. I would be happy if it rained 24/7, as long as I never had to leave my house.
11. I have an irrational fear of people dressed up in costumes. Disneyland, Halloween, Santa Claus. Not. Happening.
12. That said, one of my fondest memories of Biola is of the Biola eagle mascot coming to our dorm room and chasing Katelyn down the hallway.
13. School supplies are my guilty pleasure. I'm a sucker for the pencil aisle.
14. Mashed potatoes and garlic bread are my two favorite foods. Given the opportunity, I will live off of them.
15. I have seen every episode of Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Voyager. Because, you see, I'm a geek.
16. I love my job.
17. I'm applying to two art schools. Both are on the ocean, just not the same one.
18. When I was in Jr. High, I would put on a microphone headset and pretend I was mission control in my room.
19. For 9 years of my life, I was absolutely convinced I was going to be an astrophysicist.
20. I sort of make an effort to draw every day.
21. I have 24 cousins.
22. If I could pick anywhere in the world to visit it would probably be either 1) Italy, 2) Scotland or 3) England.
23. A.W. Tozer's "Knowledge of the Holy" is probably one of the best books I've ever read.
24. "Beauty and the Beast" is one of the most romantic movies ever created.
25. I have seen "Pride and Prejudice" (with Collin Firth) and "Persuasion" (with Ciarán Hinds) more times than I can count (at least once a week) and are, as far as I'm concerned, the absolute best Jane Austen movies ever created.

I'm tagging neighbour, carissa and linell. Go!

I'm a Fake

Alright everyone. You're going to think I'm full of empty promises, which is actually true. In this case, though, I'm really sorry I can't post a drawing, not because your lives are so much worse because of it, but because I don't have the time to really draw today. I have a paper and project due tomorrow morning and it's weighing heavily. Anyhoo, I'll just have to make up for it sometime.

An Awkward Day

I had to go back to high school today. I found out last minute that Ringling wants high school transcripts and I had to go pick them up. I had hoped I would never have to step foot on that campus again. Not because it was a particularly bad experience but because that chapter is closed, sealed and buried under 5 tons of dirt with a large man sitting on top. I was gross, I was awkward and I was a sissy. But I had a healthy respect for authority, all of which came rushing back to me as I drove into the campus. We're not talking about haha-butterflies, we're talking about on-the-way-to-the-blood-bank-butterflies.

When I walked into the counseling office it was like I was 15 again and not an adult speaking to other adults. I stuttered and broke out in a sweat and laughed awkwardly about, "I'm applying to Ringling. What's that? Haha, no, I'm not running away to join the circus (cheesy smile)." Idiot.

Afterward, I went to Target, naturally, and accidentally insulted a handicapped man. I was going to go down the cheese aisle when I realized there were 4 people, 2 carts and 1 giant electric store wheel chair. I made my usual, "Uh, engh, mm, nevermind" stammer and veered down another aisle. One of the non-chair ridden people I think obviously joked about how I had something against handicapped people. The wheel chair man didn't laugh.

All of this, however, was compensated for at work where I met with practically 4 clients and got positive feedback for my designs. Whoopee!

I'll post my drawing of the day tonight when I get back from class.

Mix Tape

In lieu of a drawing, here's my very first painting ever. EVA. Actually, that's a blatant lie. I took watercolor last semester, after all, but this is my first painting painting. In a medium I'm excited about (acrylic). Excited enough to practice at home on these cute, tiny little canvases.

Something else I'm excited about: I have a friend at school who just gave me a giant mix tape currently drumming in my ears, hence the headphones in painting picture. I trust this friend's taste in music because she works at Dimple Records and as everyone knows, people who work at record stores are decidedly cooler than the average citizen.

If you're interested, I'll update on my favorites.

Tomorrow

Feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'm giving myself a day off from the drawing. I'll be back to it tomorrow, I promise.

Duty Calls

The man on the left is the superior court judge for our county and I just got a jury summons that may or may not be postponed. Heh. I'm sure this is significant, though I can't figure out why exactly.

Looks like Back of the Head Sunday is inadvertently reinstated. I'm watching "The Importance of Being Ernest" and my vocabulary is somewhat altered by their peculiar way of carrying on conversations.

Weekend Curiosities

I'm re-discovering some Andrea Bocelli. When I was in my pre-teens and everyone else was sobbing over the gorgeousness of N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys, I was listening to Andrea Bocelli on my Walkman tape player. His new stuff just isn't the same.

A peculiar artificial lemon scent has followed me around today. It was on my right jacket sleeve, my mom's left thumb and my uncle's hand. All are were so overpowering it was starting to make us a little nauseous. No word yet on the source of this anomaly.

I'm spending this weekend in my pjs, knitting and eating brownies and garlic bread. I. Love. It.

It's also raining, key ingredient in knitting mood. Stay dry my little bloglings.

New Mediums, New Horizons.

HAHAH. Creepy.

Neighbour finally got a new MacBook (courtesy of the best in-laws in the world. I only hope I'm so lucky) and we have explored the world of video iChat. Actually, right now. It's very cool but mostly just awkward. I have to be really careful I don't accidentally do something embarassing because I forget someone is watching me.

I have officially gone to all of my classes this semester and let me tell you: I'm going to be the well rounded art queen of the world. This may be an exaggeration but the fact still remains that I will be learning so many new techniques and mediums this semester I'm not sure I will be able to contain myself. Spring 2009 here I come!

A Drawing A Day #1

So about 7:00 when I started drawing, I was mentally kicking myself for this brilliant idea hatched by someone who was surely not me. Drawing? Every day? Even when all I want to do is knit? Well, yes.

Once I started going though, I got a little excited. I re-explored posemaniacs.com. It's the most fantastic site for an art student in the whole. wide. world.

The point: this is forcing me to draw when I desperately don't want to. Which, after all, is when I need to draw the most.

Also: I need to make it known that garlic bread is the #2 best food in the world (behind mashed potatoes). I practically ate it for dinner tonight.

One Drawing. Every Day.

So, I've seen some people do the "Photo a Day" thing where they post, of all things, a photo a day. As a matter of fact, I have a couple in my Bloglines. Well, while photography is great, I may even call it a hobby some day if I can ever figure out what I'm doing, I'm not actually a "photographer" and it's not exactly my career goal. But I do want to do something like that, and since it's time I buckle down and get serious (that whole New Year's resolution issue) I thought I'd do a drawing a day. Good, bad, ugly, big, little, embarrassing or not: one. per. day. It'll keep me humble while simultaneously boosting my confidence.

There's only 10 minutes left in this day and there's a TV show calling my name, so I'm going to officially kick off the Drawing a Day tomorrow. Is that a cop-out? That may be a cop-out. Tomorrow. I'm sticking to it. You will be my accountability.

Today? Yeah, Pretty Historic

Today was Inauguration Day and still is for another 45 minutes. I'm going to be honest. I didn't vote for Barak Obama and I don't agree with many of his policies. But as I was watching the oath of office and the festivities surrounding this significant day, I couldn't help but swell with pride and get just a twinge emotional. The elections are over, the country has made it's choice and we have a new president. Now, more than politics, more than personal views one way or another, I have a responsibility now. A responsibility to give our new president the respect he deserves and to, most importantly, pray for him. I absolutely, sincerely want this new administration to make wise decisions regarding our country, its people and the world. But as some are saying: tomorrow, we'll get down to business; today, we set aside our differences and party.

Odds and Ends

For some reason I've had a craving for garlic bread since yesterday morning. When I got up today, I decided enough! My mom and I have gone through about an entire loaf and other than that little incident with the broiler, it's turned out pretty. darn. good (if i do say so myself).

Well, Portfolio Day was a little bit of a bust. And by bust I mean I was left behind at the meeting place, eagerly clutching my portfolio. Yes. That's right. I waited for an hour and a half only to find out everyone had met then left about 10 minutes before I got there. It wasn't really anyone's fault, just a bunch of miscommunication on everyone's part (except mine. I was the victim, only the victim). So after I had a pity party in the form of sugar-free hazelnut, all was well. I just made sure to show my portfolio to as many family members as possible to make up for the loss. From what I hear, there were so many people and so little space I would've had to swim my way through the crowd, something I usually prefer to avoid. It worked out after all.

I have at least 5 knitting projects going and am so excited about all of them. I'm finally knitting a shawl. It's going to be great.

Tomorrow is the first day of the semester! 3D Design and Painting, look out!

Plaids and Stripes

So, uh, pretend I didn't post until 9:22pm because I was just so dreading the end of color week. Which is true. But not really the reason.

Here, some plaids and stripes:


Portfolio Day is the reason I haven't posted until now. It's tomorrow in San Francisco. I've been gathering all of my work and making it sort of presentable. I've been to Kinko's twice today. I think I may have worn out my welcome on the second visit. Poor guys.

Pinkish, Day 4

Tomorrow is the last day, plaids and stripes!!

Yeller

Once upon a time I would have said yellow is my least favorite color. I think now though, it's in my top 3 colors I would marry. If, of course, colors were cute men.





Yeah, I would be happy with a whole color week dedicated to yellow.

A Smidge of Purple

It was hard. But now I'm finding little micro-purples around my house. A handle here, a piece of font there. I can't stop seeing color!


Arbuckle's...where have I seen something like that before?

Color Week: Blue

Day #1, blue. I'm so excited to look at all the other pictures!




Tomorrow is purple. Gosh. That's going to be a tough one. I might have one sort of purple thing in my house. Looks like I'm going to have to take that one out to the streets.

Growing Up

So hearkening back to my small New Year's life crisis. I'm realizing that I'm getting older, not younger. Well, obviously. It's hitting home and it's about time I do away with some childish things. Become more of an adult. It's a big switch, it means I can't say some things any more. Things that are sort of my trademark. Like, "poo face" and "Ohmagosh!" It means I'm going to have to say goodbye to things like chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and say hello to more mature things like Cheerios or...Special K. I may have to put away my beloved bright green Converse, though I'm not quite ready for that big of a switch yet. It's all in preparation for my transition into real life because no matter where I end up next year, I'm going to have to take care of myself and possibly others. I need to be prepared.

Oh, and one last note on the age issue. I do know I'm definitely into the time in my life when "you've grown" no longer means, "you're taller." Family members be warned.

Color Week #2! (for me)

Oh. Man. You guys. Remember color week from a while ago? Well, Curious Bird is doing it again and I cannot wait. Also: I have* a good camera this time!

It starts on Monday 12th!

Monday: Blue
Tuesday: Purple
Wednesday: Yellow
Thursday: Pink
Friday: Stripes or Plaid

*Read: took from, and will never return to employer.

Babies Everywhere!!

I knew it would just be a matter of time before my plethora of married friends would start having kids and people, it's happened. I was walking around at Target today and suddenly the kids seemed so much cuter. Their screams seemed a little less abrasive and all I could think about was knitting baby sweaters and little hats. I am so. excited. I can finally use up some of those impulse baby knitting patterns on my Ravelry queue.

Resolve. Not just a cleaning product.

New Year's is hands down my least favorite holiday. New Year's Eve is the worst of it. I can't help it, it's a sickness. So normally, I'm in staunch opposition to New Year's resolutions, something about the fact that no one really keeps them. But since everyone else is doing them and I'm a bandwagon kinda person, here's my short list (for maximizing my chances of success) of New Year's resolutions.

1) Be more organized. Please. My room is begging me.
2) Learn, or make steps to learn an obscure instrument (Ex: banjo, ukulele, accordion, didgeridoo)
3) Be more disciplined (which really, encompasses #1 and most anything else I could list here)
4) Gain the nickname, "The Finisher" for my amazing aptitude for completing knitting projects.
5) Tend less towards the cynical

I also realized today that in a few months I will be 23 years old. 22 is okay, I've had time to get used to it, 23 is a whole new ballpark. 23 means responsibilities and maturity. 23 means starting real life. I'm considering starting to lie about my age.