Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Today sucked.

This week, namely today, has been a bit of a challenge to get through. Things went down pretty much like this:

-Spent 4 hours asleep last night, even though I tossed and turned so it felt like less. Arguing with the boyfriend isn't a good precursor for sleep.

-Woke up at 6 to leave for a checkup on my eye, my first in 2 months.

-Spent 2 hours on a bus to get to the appointment.

-Spent 4.5 hours at the actual appointment. Lots of bright lights in my eyes and photos being taken by a nurse who clearly did not have any regard for how long it took her to take a total of 6 photos to give to my doctor for evaluation. She didn't even smile when I said that's what she gets for using a Canon when the buttons jammed up... On four hours of sleep that seemed funny to me!

-The eye that I'm nearly blind in is still stable; awesome! However I have a cataract that eventually I'll need surgery on to remove. It's kind of up to me when this occurs, but I can't make a decision until I update my prescription (no vision coverage and no real job makes this difficult) because I don't know how much the cataract is actually impairing my vision.

-There is still swelling. The way my doctor wants to handle this is by giving me a series of steroid injections into the back of my eyeball... While awake.

-My "good" eye has some concerning areas. This is news I did not want to hear.

So basically I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I may very well be blind by age 30. Not an easy thing to stomach, but I'm trying my hardest to avoid it and doing what I can to stay positive.

I tried to purchase a salad or a sandwich on the campus but they all had lots of meat on them, even though the coffee stand did have soy milk. Seriously, it's 2010! There are folks out there not thriving off chicken! Shit! 

My soy latte sucked.

Hopped back on the bus and it took another two hours to get home. Really San Diego?! Your transit system is balls.

I did get in some quality reading time though. My friend lent me a book she said I might like, so I'm nearly finished with it due to all the wait time today. It's titled "Wide Eyed" by Trinie Dalton. I'd recommend it. A few more pages and I'll finish it.

The more things aren't going in my favor in San Diego, the more moving back to Seattle seems like the easy (and not necessarily right) thing to do. I've been struggling here for so long and it's extremely trying. Lately though I think I've been getting two steps forward and one step back instead of the other way around.

Got some good news about my job, I might get more hours in the upcoming weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed. 

I got asked to go on a train trip to Portland in January. I would love to be able to go, getting drunk on trains along the West Coast sounds relaxing, not to mention that Portland is kind of a mecca for me.

I go through phases, every 6 months I either want to dye my hair black, or want to go platinum blonde. I bleached my black hair a little, and put a red dye over it. It's kind of auburn colored now.
Change is good.

This past week I've had sales from Etsy on 5 out of 7 days, which is a new high for me.

Was featured in a few more treasuries. I really enjoy treasuries, and I enjoy having my work treasured! Especially next to so many other talented artists.

The Second Time's The Charm
Dia De Los Muertos

I need a mantra. That sounds stupid, but I need a quote or something to think about when shit hits the fan. I suppose I found an ok quote in the book I was reading today:

"If you want comfort you should give up learning;
If you desire to acquire learning you should abandon comfort.
How can a person who wants comfort acquire learning?
And how can a person enjoy comfort who wants to learn?"
-Sanskrit Proverb

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Quick Update...

Hey guys... A few quick updates!

I started a coffincrafts fanpage on Facebook, add me!!!

 I am thrilled to be featured alongside other talented artists in the following treasuries on Etsy! 
Grounded Forever
Warm Autumn Glow
Pretty Red Rose
You Made My Heart A Hunter
Back To Your Roots
Elemental Me Northwest Treasure Chest
Camouflage
Welcome Home Welcome Holidays
Tech Support
Dominion

Oh, AND...

My artwork was featured in a couple blogs!

ArtSnark's blog features a piece of my artwork along with lots of spooky items to make a lovely fall collection.
And...
One of my photos was featured here.


<3

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Studio is DONE, and being used.

So, tomorrow I'm going to OB to meet with an art director at a local gallery. She wants to exhibit my artwork and sell my jewelry there, maybe even have me teach a class or two. I'm pretty excited and it's still fairly a new thing for me to exhibit my work, especially artwork and not photos.

The other night my friend came over and we started cutting up cardboard and making paper mache in my newly finished studio. She started on her Halloween costume, and I still don't know what I'm going to be. So I started on this, and am now at a little bit of a loss as to what direction I take with it. Paint? Paper mache? Clay? ???


The paper mache recipe we looked up online was flawed too. Gotta experiment a little to find what works best.

Anyway it's been fun so far, and I had another friend over to my studio tonight, we had drinks and talked about plans for making shit. 

Thinking more and more about having a "Craft Night". I need to find a better name for it though, "Craft Night" sounds restrictive of alcohol, loud music, and chaos that will ensue. And "Craft Night" at my studio won't be with popsicle sticks and friendship bracelets, no. 

Anyway, going to get back to the madness that is my life right now...

Started a new job (super part time) but it's fun and the owner may let me sell jewelry there as well which would be a great opportunity.

Now my blogging is getting in the way of my drinking...

Have a good weekend all!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Inspirations, etc...

 I thought I'd share a few of my recent inspirations...

MUSIC-
I've been listening to a lot of T.Rex, Built to Spill, and Fever Ray.

Marc Bolan (of T.Rex) was sure an interesting guy, and goes largely unrecognized in America. He does have a few radio-friendly songs, I'm sure you've heard a couple. I enjoy that he was border-line obsessed with something he never fully grasped. It's poetic that he sings about cars in nearly every song, yet he never learned to drive, fearing a premature death. He was killed in a car accident at 30 years of age. His music makes me want to hop on a train with a backpack, directionless, vagabond-style.

Built to Spill, I've always liked them. Lately they never stay out of my head for too long. I remember in high school I refused to pursue an otherwise “cool” guy because he didn't know who they were. Looking back, that's really funny. I was so into music and since moving from Seattle to San Diego, haven't really found many new bands to get into. Seattle has such a vibrant music scene, there's only one venue I really like in San Diego, and it's rare when a really good band plays. Russian Circles is playing later this month, super excited to see them again.

Fever Ray is new to me. She reminds me of Bjork, mixed with Portishead, and maybe Enya (gross!).
I've never really been into Electronic or however you'd classify her music, but it's definitely catchy. Still not sure if I really “like” it, but I've been listening to it lots! Her voice is sweet, and her lyrics crack me up.

“When I Grow Up” - Fever Ray

When I grow up, I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That’s what I’ll do, throwing out boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me
When I grow up, I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That’s what I’ll have staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me
I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
with dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad, I never liked a sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you
I’m very good with plants
When my friends are away
they let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
for a minute or two
then back on my feet and cry for you oooh oh
You’ve got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling and arms too long
I wait for him to catch me
Waiting for you to embrace me



BOOKS-
I'm re-reading “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville, I recently found a similar book titled “Heart Of The Sea” that's based on the same tragedy in Moby Dick. I wanted to re-read Moby Dick before reading the other book because it's been years, and is largely responsible for inspiring the tattoos I have. My entire left arm has an “Ocean Peril” theme; at the top there is a giant squid taking down a ship in a splashing sea. There's an anchor on the inside of my arm, and at the bottom a pin-up style lady who's being devoured by an angry looking great white shark. Lots of waves.

I also just picked up my favorite book again. After loaning it to a friend I finally got it back. I've read it maybe 3 times and always appreciate reading it because it gives me an interesting perspective on life in general. “Breakfast of Champions” by Kurt Vonnegut. Read it. You won't be disappointed, and if you are it's because you don't appreciate good literature!

ART-
Currently I'm really inspired by Shepard Fairey, AKA the guy behind the “Obey” artwork. I do appreciate his artwork, but what's more inspiring to me is that Shepard, like myself, is a type one diabetic. I've recently undergone loads of complications after having the disease my whole life, and it's cool to read about another artist that's been in my shoes yet continues to pursue his artwork unapologetically. He's also a marketing guru in my opinion. He's been commissioned by the White House for Obama's inauguration artwork, and most people know him as the guy behind the controversial Obama face with the word “Hope” underneath it. He started his empire through grassroots street art and now has work hanging in reputable art museums.

I love Jeremy Fish's artwork too. I'm starting an illustration series loosely inspired by his artwork. Most of his work features mutations of animals/skulls/hobbies/objects. I own two of his t-shirts, and really want his book soon! He has a distinctive style, and operates the clothing line “SuperFishal”.

Lately I've also been a little more focused on “Dia De Los Muertos” style artwork. Since moving to San Diego, I've grown to appreciate the style a lot more than I did in the Northwest. My recent trip to Texas was similarly inspiring, tons of hand painted ceramics and Southwestern artwork. The advent of Halloween is fueling my work as well.

My good friend just started her Etsy shop, if you're into Day of the Dead style work, you'd love her stuff! It's called Inferno Creations. I own a few of her pieces and love them!


In other updates, I just spent a load of time re-photographing my jewelry on Etsy. I like the approach I took, but am unsure if the results are what I wanted them to be. As much as I like to call myself a photographer, product (mainly jewelry) photography is so difficult for me! I suppose that each time I photograph jewelry differently and I'm not satisfied, it's only adding to my learning experience. Frustrating though!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I'm going to spend mine doing some housework and getting to some custom orders I've been putting off for friends and family.