Endings and beginnings

Endings: Thesis is almost done...within the week.  Graduation is less than a month away!
Beginnings: Last Tuesday I was offered a full-time job after I graduate in May, so happy!
In other news: 
My wonderful boyfriend Andre surprised my with a beautiful bouquet of tulips for landing a job, working hard and just because he loves me!  When I got out of the library at midnight (Wednesday) he gave them to me!  :) ...Thank You!  They are lovely and make me smile!

I also got to have lunch with an old friend and BFF (who is trying to make it on Broadway) who was in town - Thai food, stories of past adventures and sharing of artwork.

some days you just need to go to the greeting card aisle and laugh

some days you just need to go to the greeting card aisle and laugh...do you believe in luck...i think people believe in it only if they have it.  as of late, i wonder if all this is a test of my character.  


last night i went to the greeting card aisle with my boy and laughed.  there is nothing quite like a funny card, or a series of them.  switching cards and laughing reminded me of so many times my mom and I would do the same thing.  some activities are timeless. 


yesterday was a day of donating to good causes...I texted money to my alma mater and also to one of my bestest friends...JW who is trying to make it in the big city and doing a good job at it!  He is taking his show on the road and I am so proud of him...I am so glad the world will get to see what it's like to hang out with jw on any random day through going to his show.  :)  le sigh.

More Art

Pictured to the far left is my art therapy apron, made with fabric crayons on paper and iron transferred. Inspired by Jack frost on my windshield.

On the right, my art therapy doll. Made of a wine cork, 2 types of wire, mirrors and sculpty. Of course it was suppossed to be made out of tape and I thought tape was stupid so I changed the rules, I do that a lot, not play by the rules...some things never change. :)

Finals tomorrow and Wed, then I will write more. Hello blogging friends.

Greg, enjoying the posts, hopefully the 4 of us can set up a Skype date?!

Recent Art

Some recent art projects.

The tissue box of superheroes to help you dry your tears

Superman, Spiderman, Captain Planet, Batman and Mighty Mouse

The Octopus Obsession

Glass Project

Painting on glass with paint markers

My Go America Design

Created for my Dad.

How does one make a flower vase masculine...

...put a FLAG on it :)

I don't think my parents blog, so hopefully this post doesn't ruin the surprise. Gearing upp to head to Augusta/Portland for Turkey Day!

Octopus Completed

Brooke and Octopus unite!

Octo-underside

My octopus art therapy hat!

So yesterday, my octopus took on a life of it's own. A long journey we have had together. Paper mache, pipe cleaners, wire, paint, puff paint, and egg carton sections.

Now onto glass, painting on glass, and painting my mask.

4 weeks and counting...

4 weeks left until the whirlwind ends and I experience a reprieve for a few weeks that will fly by faster than I think. Classes are still going well, and I don't feel like I am going to havea breakdown yet, so this is positive news! Aiming for straight A's, but don't know what I would do with myself if I got them anyway. Still thinking about Sweden as a possibility.

6 onesies sold! Business cards made and included in the sales. Enjoying doing art, for arts sake. Deciding I do not like oil paints, the smell is awful, lightheaded and clean-up is how can I put this....annoying (to keep it PG). My latest project, a series above, I used oil paint with printing and it greatly increased cleanup and dry time. The carving/print is of my grandmother, Mimi. Printed on tissue paper, in copper/silver, and printed on fine handmade paper. All very different.

The octopus hat should be done by Friday, photos to come. A paper machie project for Art Therapy, which could be used in a therapy session as a prop or a client could use the procedure to create something of there own. This hat has taken on a life of it's own, that's for sure!

Week 5 continues...

After many ours of homework, a graduate student decides to put a paper mache bowl on her head. You gotta have fun with the work, right? This is a work in progress (obviously). I thought I would post a picture, though, giving myself a break from the copious amounts of work I have.

Break over...

Week 5

This was my first attempt at oil painting. The application was a little thin, but I didn't really mind. I painted this at Michele and Mike's while Mike and 'Dre made dinner/watched the oven and Michele taught me oil painting. I am enjoying this painting thing, maybe you've got something there Greg! ;)

Week 5 is proving to test our knowledge of APA style, our endurance and dedication. I got it though! Got my first paper back and I got an A!

Looking forward to Thanksgiving Break, although I am not sure it will be much of a break! A few papers and projects due over the break. Not sure where we will be heading, only time will tell.

ME!

My first self portrait (ME!), possibly ever, but definitely first in paint. I used acrylics on an 8x8 canvas board. I don't use paint. This was outside my comfort zone, but I am glad I pushed myself. I do not feel comfortable with paint and I know I need to try more of it. With that said, more pushing in the near future. I felt I needed to portray not only my self, but also my personality, hence the expression.

Art opening this afternoon: High Falls Art Gallery 3pm-6pm. I will post pictures afterwards. Friend throwing me a small reception to follow at his loft. Looking forward to it.

This is it.

This is it.

Everything has been building up to this very moment since last fall when I started looking at graduate programs. I don't know if I ever thought this day would come. Maybe I thought I would never do anything with my BA in art, or maybe I was scared to even think it. To think I could be happy and be getting paid for it. Don't get me wrong, my non-art jobs were happy sometimes, learning experiences sometimes and sometimes I made them artsy to satisfy my hunger. Either way, they ave made me what I am today, whatever that is :)

Today I packed up my new LL Bean backpack with Theories of Art therapy, The DSM IV, The DSM Made Easy and The Art therapist's Primer...a new chapter begins. I have opted to make my lunch in the morning and paint my nails instead. I hate soggy sandwiches. I cleaned out my desk, picked out my clothes and realized I missed Orientation. Sad, yet I had inquired multiple times and will not bring this guilt with me to school tomorrow. Three hours of ice breakers is forgivable i think.

With an empty tank of gas and a new backpack filled with lunch and large books, I shall head off to Pittsford, NY and start my next adventure into he semi-known, college student...ahem, graduate student. Thought of the many first days and last days of school this evening. My dad and I used to go to McDonald's and I would order a "greasy thing" aka hash brown and some sort of breakfast and we would sit outside on the round picnic tables and I would fret about being too early or late and pace a bit, while my dad told me I should eat before it's time to leave. No McDonald's tradition tomorrow, but my dad and I both agreed that's a good thing. Strata in the morning, homemade by yours truly today, while I had no idea Orientation was going on. At least I know what's for breakfast... I think I shall get Dre to make the coffee tomorrow as I seemed to have problems forgetting the coffee part of it, oh well, hot water anyone?

Calling all artists...

you know you hit a certain level of addiction when you have an amazing experience and think..."i need to go home right now and blog this!"

i hit that level on Saturday and if I hadn't already had plans, I would have been doing just that, running right home to blog. It all began Friday after my run. I took a quick jaunt around the neighborhood; it felt good; 45minutes later, I was making myself a vegetarian burrito and reading the local free paper. Calling all artists...

Calling all artists... I want to do this. I want to try. So I immediately started planning my project idea, which turned into a 2 hour nap on our newly acquired couch (thanks Mimi). Note to self: no project planning on the couch. I quickly started trying to make up for lost time, considering my art project needed to be submitted for entry and approval in less than 48 hours. nice. I have always enjoyed working under pressure. While trying my hand at watercolor, I realized although I could successfully finish this piece, I would need more time.

Saturday was a sea of photo editing, cropping, and running around town. Enlarging photos, matting, naming and framing with an occasional snack. 5:38pm I ran into the High Falls Gallery where I went to enter my submissions. Since they close at 6pm, I wasn't doing too bad! I was nauseous all day, uncertain if my work would be selected. As I watched the words roll of the woman's tongue, these are very good and you have very good prices, a sigh of relief.

...

I have realized that waiting to be notified of selection into an art exhibition, entry into art school or being in a critique is my equivalent to a job interview. Many people close to me are interviewing right now. I have a new appreciation for the stress they must be under. I felt like my entire being, who i was, was being judged. And the worst part is that you know that you are giving your best and sometimes you don't get the bone.

But this time, I got the bone! Opening Reception of "Contrast" September 26 - High Falls Art Gallery, Rochester, NY. 3 pieces, one me.

purpose

currently highly motivated to find my purpose. someone is looking out for me from up above. today in developmental psych our paper topic involves career development. finally a homework assignment that will make a difference in my life. it only took 8 years.

community service vs. art therapy, the next battle i must fight.
event planning and helping people or helping people through art.

this paper is going to decide my future. i can't wait to finish it.

the missing (art) link

Trying to figure out what to do with your life is kinda hard! and such a long process. I've decided I miss doing art, even just sketching JW in dance moves. "I wish I could go back to college....I'd sit in the Quad and think oh my god, I am totally gonna go far!" Yeah, how quickly dreams get replaced with paychecks and bills. Signed up for Abnormal Psych for the Spring semester. Hopefully after that class I will know if art therapy is something I want to pursue. Otherwise I spent $700 for nothing this year. I was a different person when I was doing art. I miss that person. A part of me is in hibernation I think. Suggestions always appreciated.