Nature Concentrated

Another sketch from the zoo. He only sat still for the first couple minutes of the sketch before getting up to go do zebra stuff. That’s the only thing about drawing animals: you have to work fast and have a good memory.

I walked over to the zoo today for my illustration class. These are some quick sketches I did. While drawing this one, I overheard two grown people wondering aloud if Komodo dragons really breathe fire.

…

I think it’s time to lay off the OC and change the channel to a documentary or something, folks.

Mood : pensive  Listening to : Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around the Bend

I’ve been approached by a girl from work whose husband works for Channel 5 here in Memphis. They need a picture of the NBC peacock riding a bike and running with sneakers on for a jersey that someone is going to wear in a marathon taking place sometime soon. This sounds like fun and that it might be something I can use to make some network connections.

I got a call last night from the girl that her husband’s boss mentioned wanting to hire a graphic artist. This is great and all, but the problem is that I’m not the kind of graphic artist they’re looking for. I’m an illustrator, so I draw stuff. They’re looking for someone to arrange type and images for ads and flyers, which falls under graphic design. I hate graphic design. I am qualified for the job because I know the programs inside and out, but I am clueless when it comes to really effective typography and I don’t want to be enticed into a job that will require me to drive regularly into Memphis, and won’t utilize the skills I’ve been trying to build in the illustration program for the last 3 years. I would very much like to work with them when they need something drawn like now, but I’m not looking for a full time position with a company when I can eventually make much more money freelancing on my own time.

What it all boils down to is that I don’t want to become a graphic designer who just happens to be able to draw.

I recently started collecting the necessary materials to start silk screening. I took an intro printmaking class last semester, the last assignment of which was a silk screening project. I wound up spending more time on that assignment than any other done for that class.

Now that I have my massive drafting table, I have the room to accommodate a silk screening set up. It took me a bit to get the materials I needed, but a family connection at the local wholesale printing supply center enabled me to get most of it in one swoop. The most difficult parts to acquire were the tiny aluminum registration pins that keep your paper aligned during runs of multiple colors. But a lucky Ebay auction yielded those for cheaper than usual. The only things lacking now are some wood screws and a hole puncher

So soon I hope to start making some t-shirts and incorporate screen printing into my paintings.

Mood : busy  Listening to : Van Halen - Panama

Midterms are this week. I have a dentist’s appointment today at 10:30, then a rendezvous at school to get some work done. I expect to spend several hours there today. Then I’m supposed to be at work tonight. The math equation leaves no room for sleep!

I have to finish a lithography printing today and make watermark paper for my papermaking class. Then research on 50 illustrators is due for Thursday. Which I have not started yet. As well as another painting and expanded conceptual research on my thesis piece.

This week I also have a birthday which I foresee no time to celebrate. ;__;

Next week, spring break, I have to schedule to get my wisdom removed.

I started thumbnailing my concepts for my thesis piece for the BFA Exhibition. It’s taken me a while to figure out what I want to do, but I finally settled on a piece (or two) based on the myths “The Children of Lir” and the Western swan maiden myths or the Japanese celestial maiden myths. The metamorphosis themes have always been my favorites and the plan is to use the concepts of the myths in a setting of my own creation. I’m looking forward to working on this one.

Mood : busy  Watching : Pretty in Pink

This is a new blog I will be keeping to chronicle my art-related chatterings away from my personal livejournal. There’s of course not much here right now, but soon, this will be split between my artfully deep thoughts and photoblogging of my oh-so-refined and talented art work.

Stay tuned!