Start of Summer

Soooo many sketches going right now.  I've started on every 2D piece, with the exception of one.  

Right now I'm working on more chickens!  I'm adding these to my Papaw's piece.  I took the first two at his house (his rooster and chicken), and the last one is my aunt's friend Marilyn's rooster that I photographed last summer. 

Papaw start. 

1st layer of Ben's piece is down. 

Working on Amelia's. 

Milo collaborated with me on his piece!

Amelia's 1st layer is near done.

cannot get a better photo, but in real life this looks like a geo. 

Started aging and coloring the metal for Rebeka's portrait.  This is round one. 

Round two, unexpected patterns emerged.  This is a metal topper to a wooden table from my great grand dad's farm. 

17th anniversary of my brother's death.  I put out new flowers.  They're a mix of his favorite colors and my mom's. 

Parker got up the tree in the front yard. 

She was a little scared on the way down.

Old Lady 'Lo is still doing great.  She's been ravenous, and we have to hide food (*side effect from her meds).  She's sassy as ever though, and let'n you know what's on her mind.

Parker had her girl scout banquet.  She's on to her second year of Daisies

Moo said "we're brothers", he wanted to dress like Daddy.

related.

They made me cookies for Mother's Day.

... and Ben made me this cake. 

We went to Montessori's Spring Celebration

Milo's studio sang "I am my own sunshine"

We had Milo's parent/teacher conference this week.   He is doing so well in math and even helps the other kids.  He's more focused and is starting to fly through the language and math work.  So happy for him and excited that he'll be back with Teresa and Mary next year! 

Parker's studio sang the mosquito song.

Parker's conference went really well.  Her teachers said Parker can really engage you in conversation and that she loves learning.   She's beyond ready for next year and will be moving up to the 6-9 year old studio.  

Parker and her buddy.

I think he was rain dancing.

They were so upset to leave the bouncy house, that we made our own in the living room. 

Complete with Zelda, popsicles, and popcorn.

A Start

Over analytical and indecisive... or rather too precious about each step...  It's naturally who I am, but I've got to make it work.  Right now I feel it's not working.

I feel another growing pain coming on.  I've been diving inward a bit more than I'd like, so of course coffee propels me into some productivity.   Crutches for now. 

Emily and I met and went over all the pieces that I'm currently working on.  Everything is ahead of schedule, but I'd like to push faster- just more time for details in the finishing touches later on.  Allergies and a mood shift have slowed me down a bit.  I gave myself a rest today, but I'm up and working tonight. 

Every time I hit a writer's block, I hang out with Ben and the kids.   Making something simple or doing a craft like braiding Parker's hair really helps.  It's good to stay in the making process, but to give yourself some distance.  

Moo has been going to his occupational therapy, and he loves loves loves it.  We sneak in a lunch date just the two of us.  I really love the time I get with him, he has a bigger voice when there's no one around to compete for my attention.

Peeves in the window.  I've also been tinkering with cameras again to give myself a small break, but to keep myself active in making. 

This is the board I'll be using for my Papaw's piece.   It has four knots on the right, he was one of four children.  And it has 6 knots on the left, he had 6 daughters.   I am struggling with this, because it's such a mix of the different pathes I take when composing a piece.  It's much further along now, and I'm just going to have to trust myself and push forward. 

Basic first layer for this piece, still just a sketch.  There will also be a 3D version- a sculpture installation. 

I started on Amelia's piece and talked with Emily on where to head with Milo's. 

Up & at 'em

The semester is over.


I celebrated passing my last German class with some Hoptimus.


Then there was a two day period of complete decompression.

My finals week, Lola has 6 seizures... 4 of which were grand mals.   She lost a tooth on the last one.  Talk about putting things in perspective.  While I cared about my grades and projects...  It all seemed rather minuscule.  All I really wanted was for Lola to be ok, to be Lola.

Her lab tests came back great, so when the vet doesn't know what's wrong with your dog they tell you it's a "disorder".  AKA  seizure disorder, AKA your dog is seizing and we have no clue why.   They put her on seizure medication, which has worked like a miracle.  Every day Lola got a piece of herself back, and she was one more day seizure-free.

She went from pacing the house for hours on end, confused...  going outside and staring blankly at the yard, terrified...   to finally taking  a bit of a run, getting her bark back, and recognizing us.

There are some holistic options we are considering as well.  We take Lo' back to the vet in about a week.

We took this about an hour before her first seizure.  She seemed completely herself up to the point she had it.  I went to let Ben in through the garage and turned around when I heard a "thump".  Lo' was convulsing wildly in the hallway, it felt so surreal.

Double down'n the coffee lately.   So now that I had my decompression and all is well with Lo'...  Onward to the Fellowship!  

I started my Fellowship with IUS.   I was awarded a grant for 15 weeks worth of work and additional funding for all my materials.   SO very grateful, it feels cheap to try to explain how much I appreciate this opportunity. 

I'm working under my mentor/professor Emily Sheehan.   She's been such a foundation to my growth, and I appreciate her pushing me in every direction that she does.   Brian Harper is also helping me out, and I'm pretty excited to have his feedback as well. 

Okay, Okay... so it's going to end up about 10 portraits and 5 installs.   Sounds nuts, but I can do it.  I already have two of the portraits about 75% complete, and 4 started.  So there's really only 4 more to get going on.    

Here's my base: I'm exploring "windows" and "shadows".   Short-hand that's the subconscious, the unconscious, and the discarded parts we seek to bury down deep and hide.   I want for the show to give people a feeling of connection to their fellow man.  I want to help them explore the shared human experience through these honest and raw moments that each subject shares.  

I couldn't get my Papaw off my mind.  I've been sitting on a portrait idea for him for over a year now.   He's been really emotionally raw and open with me lately now that his health is in decline.   He wasn't on the original list for my series, but I can't escape him lately.   I keep thinking about being fatherless and how he was so supernatural to me growing up.  He was crafty, classy, but feral/wild. 

Going to expand on him a bit more when I post the portrait I have started.  So to be continued. 

I also am getting Amelia's portrait started.   My lil' nimbus,  my witchy feral mama.  

Also this guy, my Moo.

Ben and I shot some photos for my cousin Austin's prom this past weekend.

Cousin's girlfriend.

My cousin and his best friend. 

Earth Day!

We planted a baby dogwood tree for Earth Day!  The anniversary of my brother's passing is coming up on Mother's Day.   We always planted a dogwood in his memory, so I'm happy to be growing one here at the house now.  

Parker sang "You are My Sunshine" to the tree to help it grow.  

Lo' loved all the sunshine!

We also hung a new bird feeder by our front window so the kids could bird watch from the living room.