Illustration Assignment

I'm getting better at drawing. For my illustration techniques class we have to design a book cover for a poet's (we had a choice of five) chapbook. The final assignment will be done in stratchboard. (Which is hard!) I chose Emily Dickinson. Here's my initial sketch that I'm going to base my scratchboard on. I'm pretty proud of this sketch.

The Sun Hat That Wasn't

In celebration of Spring and eventually Summer and in hopes of this crisis called school ending soon, I decided to begin making some clothes. It's been a long time since I've knit or crocheted. I find I think better when I do (maybe it will help me think for these papers and finals coming up). Anyway (because I'm already digressing), I decided to make some clothes. Besides I've finally been added to Ravelry (yeah!) and I want to join up with Refashionista this May.

So Saturday I decide to start out with a sun hat. Now that my hair is in braids, I figure I won't get hat hair.

I decided to go with the Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn, the color is "Jewels". I said to myself, "It's cheap ($1.29/skein). It's cotton. I can wear it in the Summer. A hat will be simple. I will be too cool." I picked up Knit Simple Spring/Summer 2008 (any excuse to buy new patterns right?) because they had a few cute patterns that I wanted to try.

By Sunday night I knew I had problems. Yes that hat looked cute, but I was already on the brim and this hat was CLEARLY too small. I checked my notes, I had been following the adult size, I did the extra rows for adults... Apparently I have a CHROMDOMIUS MAXIMUS head. The hat was wwwwwaaaayyyy too small. So I had a choice...

1. Finish a hat that is clearly too small and that I"ll have to give away...

or 2. Rip everything out and start all over again.

Which did I choose? Let's say that I'm NOT in a giving mood. So that's where I am. Starting all over again. The pattern calls for an H/8 crochet hook and the crown increasing finishes at 72 stitches. So I've decided to use an I/9 crochet hook and I'll continue increasing beyond 72 stitches. I'll have to keep trying it on until I get it to I size that I'm satisfied with. At least I know that I'm going to look too cool in my hat!

Anatomy Study

I know, I know... I haven't posted in a while, BUT I HAVE BEEN DRAWING EVERYDAY. When I have more time, I'll scan those suckers and post them. I think I mentioned before that I'm studying Anatomy with Goog.

Well, it seems that The Computer Graphics Society has a forum with classes and member help also. So I'm going to do some drawing there too! FUN!!

Day 14

Just doodles, not even complete.

Day 13

I watched the movie Domino today after the cookies left. I did story boards for the first 30 seconds. There were so many cuts. I know, I know... I've got to get used to drawing these things. It's just a lot the first time out. I decided to count this as my official drawing of the day.

First Self Portrait & Day 12

Goog, at ConceptArt.org gave me an assignment to do a self portrait. I'm working on improving both my anatomy drawing (which is nonexistant at the moment) and my digital coloring skills. Goog is my mentor for anatomy. VRM1979 is my mentor for coloring. Because I'd like to do animation, digital film, graphic design, comic books, concept art, illustration, etc. I need to develop these skills. So I'm going back to the basics with mentors.

Unfortunately my self portrait really doesn't look like me..

That's okay. It's all practice. While I was browsing the Drawn website, I saw an entry about a guy named Avid Liongoren who was drawing and posting a picture everyday. I really liked his sites. He does the kinda things that I eventually want to do, combining animation and DV. He's got some really cool stuff.

I'm a little late getting started but I'll have this picture be part of my Draw365 project.

Catching Up On DVDs!

I'm in weird freaky overload right now. I watched Memento.

That movie just blew me away! I'm sure that I'm the last person to see it, but if you haven't seen it yet...

DAMN IT, YOU NEED TO SEE THAT MOVIE!










Then I finally saw Shaun of the Dead.








I think I like Hot Fuzz better.









Still a good time. A lot of good extras on that DVD. I can't believe that Simon Pegg,










is going to play SCOTTY in the new Star Trek movie. Wow!

The Dark Knight Movie

If you been to see the IMAX version of I Am Legend, then you know what I'm excited about. Apparently there was an extended trailer showcasing an awesome sequence between Heath and Christian. Don't worry if you don't have access to an IMAX theater, MTV will be showing the preview on their website starting this Sunday.

Until then, you can look at this...

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

I HAVE A MENTOR!

I think that I've mentioned that I joined the CONCEPT ART forums. Well, someone has answered my request (my plea) for a mentor. This person is a colorist and is going to help me with digital painting! You don't know how excited I am. I still need a mentor for figure drawing/anatomy, character design, perspective, environments/landscapes/worldbuilding, to be honest I need a mentor for %$&*^ing EVERYTHING!

However...

I'm pretty stoked right now. I've got a mentor!

Cock-A-Doodle-DEATH!

I went to the movies with Thugalicious yesterday. We haven't hung out in a while because I've been busy with classes. I pulled out a sketch I was working on and he name it...

Cock-A-Doodle-DEATH!

How cool is that!

Discovering Strange

I was in Barnes and Noble yesterday looking for some animal anatomy reference books (I need to understand REAL critters, if I'm going to make up my own), and I of course had to flip through the comics. I came across something that looked kinda cool...

Emily the Strange!

Then when I got home and took a break to browse the Computer Arts Magazine website, I found an article on her.

Now curiousity is peaked, so I go to visit the website. All I can saw is WOW! Who Knew? Apparently everyone else except me. That just goes to show I study WWWWWAAAAAYYYY too much and need to get out more. Today I'm going to pick up a copy of that comic. I'm definitely adding it to my TBR pile, but I'm putting it at the top. (I also want one of her cats!) Imagine having one of those on your bed at night.

Don't Disturb This Groove!

Even though I'm bogged down with SO MUCH SCHOOL WORK, even though I never have a free moment at my job (that's not actually true, but go with me on this), even though I should be concentrating on "serious" shit; I went ahead and joined a few online art groups today.

Flickr (to host my art)
Concept Art
Deviant Art
Draw Anyway
Illustration Friday
Drawn!

At the ConceptNArt Forum I joined the Beginner's Corner and posted some charcoal's I had done. Now I've got a good marker of where I've been so that six months from now I can marvel at how far I've come.

These are the pictures I posted:

Sketch #1



Sketch #2



Sketch #3

The Meth Minute

I'm supposed to be doing homework. I've actually got a *^R^$!-load of work to do, but while looking for some inspiration for one of my Foundations of Design class projects I found this...



I CAN'T WAIT until I take animation! Why wait until I take animation, why not do it on my own? I'll tell you why... I'm taking 18 credit hours and I'm insane (Triple majoring in Art/Graphic Design, Music/Jazz Improvisation & Gospel, AND Special Education). I'm sooo swamped right now. Why am I on the computer? I've got to get back to reading about Special Needs kids. Later!

SIDEWINDERS!

I haven't finished my Penelope Blouse yet, but it's July now. I really want to do the Six Sox KAL, so I've started today. I've decided to do the Sidewinders! Here's my swatch... Isn't it cute?

I went into the stash because 1) I really wanted to get started and 2) I'm buying some yarn for a cardigan project later in the month (I didn't want to be greedy).

I LOVE variegated yarns and I've been looking for a reason to use this Red Heart Sport. The color in crayon. I think the sidewinders will look good in this yarn.

The Answer to My Aches!

Potomac Massage Training Institute | Massage Therapy education and training in Washington, DC

I am SOOOOO doing this! With my condition, massage would be a good thing! At these prices I might be able to afford to do this ONCE-A-WEEK! How decadent!

Achy!

Boy, I am achy today! It's the meds, of course. I had to take them last night. It makes exercising in the morning HARD. I was only able to 20 minutes of yoga. I was so stiff, I could do my favorite poses.

I meet with the nurse today around 11am. I think it's a waste of time, but I guess she needs to make sure that I'm not about to kill myself or something like that. I will say these meds make me very weepy. Unfortunately it happens at the WEIRDEST, MOST INCONVENIENT TIMES.

Kick Butt Kicks Crap!

I just finished doing the Kick Butt video. Although Kristoff St. John is nice to look at... that video SUCKS! No variety, no challenge. I didn't pay that much for it, and I can see why. I'm going to keep doing it this week (Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday) just to be sure. I could just be spoiled by Billy Blanks.

Hard Evening, Good Morning

I hate taking my medication. It really sucks having to give yourself injections and Interferon gives my muscles the shakes and the chills. However, when I think of the alternative (brain attacking itself and being back in the hospital), well I just grin and bear it. I've started taking Tylenol PM about 30 minutes before I give myself an injection. I only woke up three times last night from the muscle aches/chills. Believe it or not, that's an improvement.

Although I was achy, I pulled myself out of bed. I'm getting better at the Salamba Sarvangasana pose and the Halasana pose. I think I need to open up my back more to really get Halasana. I can't seem to get my feet to touch the floor.

Jumping rope is still taxing, but today I did 54 jumps before I fell. It seems still just jumping for 1 minute. What's the saying? "Slow and steady wins the race." Well, I'm not racing, but I've got to start somewhere.

The Tae-Bo Extreme almost killed me. I stayed in there for the whole 56 minutes! I'm glad Billy Blanks is so comical and makes me laugh, otherwise that tape would be unbearable.

I had some lowfat waffles, sugar-free syrup, an apple and some peppermint tea for breakfast. I'm starting to get used to the low-fat waffles, but sometimes IHOP still calls my name.

I'm off to take a bath. I really need it. It's a good thing that blogs don't have "smell-o-rama".

Life May Now Begin Again!

Whew! Work is done, (for the moment). I don't start working summer school until July 6th (prep day) and then it's July 9th thru August 6th. At least it's half a day.

My drawing class ends next Thursday, June 29th. I can't believe how HARD it was! I also can't believe how much my drawing has improved. I still have an art history research paper to write for that class (it's due next Tuesday), and I still have that Special Ed final hanging over my head! I really need to get that done.

I've decided that I'm going to start knitting some socks on July 1st. I can finally join the Six Sox Knit-A-Long for the last month. By the end of next week, I should be done with the Penelope Blouse--that's one the needles now. I really want to try those Sidewinder Socks. They look like a lot of fun. I'm seeing them every! Now I just need to find the right yarn. I really should use something I have in the stash!

On the weight front, I've joined Weight Watchers! I've lost 4.6 pounds so far! Yeah me! You'd think that was enough, but you know me. I'm going to the gold. I'm going to...

COMPETE IN FITNESS COMPETITIONS!

Yes, I am crazy. My first big goal is to go from the 151 that I weigh now, down to 125 which will be my pre-contest weight. That's definitely a year-long project. Don't worry, I'm doing this healthy--eating right, exercise, and a lot of water. A 1/2 pound a week is slow enough so that this is PERMANENT weight loss.

If that wasn't enough, I still have to do my writing, my music, and some type of art every day. What's the saying, 21 days makes a habit? Well day is more than half done and I've got to leave for class in an hour, but tomorrow... WATCH OUT!

Really, I'm doin' it this time. Don't look at me that way!

FINALS HELL!

I'm stuck in limbo for the next two weeks. I've got finals and reports that I'm cramming to finish. Once that's all done, I'll FINALLY have time to write in my blog, read cool stuff, compose psychadelic music, and create really cool crafts!

Really, I'll be back better than ever...PROMISE!