Coming Right Along...

(10.21.14)

Last night I was able to actually turn off the distractions and focus on the projects that occupy my mind!

You may remember my Inspiration Everywhere post a few weeks ago where I showed you some research I started in pursuit of finally returning to a project I started in 2012. I have wanted to make some prints stylized after the great art made by the Bread and Puppet Theater Company. 

The subject matter for this print series came to me while attending the best church in the whole world (located in Cincinnati). You see, the Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati has some really awesome tenants of faith. These tenants include core values that resonant with me beyond my wildest dreams. So, in response to my feelings I set out to make art so celebrate these values: 

Love 

Spirituality 

Integrity

Service

Abundance 

Consciousness

Mindfulness,  

Dynamic Energy!

Two of the sketches from 

And, as it goes with me, I chose to sketch ALL of the words at once and when I failed to finish, gave up entirely. So my sketch books has nice ideas for a lot of these values but still has empty pages waiting for inspirations.

This time, in 2014, when that whisper of inspiration for this project returned, I was bound and determined not to get lost in the enormity of newness. 

Though I wanted to go out and buy the largest linoleum I could find, all the paper I would need, the Speedball ink and roller and cutting tools, I forced myself to scale it back. 

I set out to make ONE PRINT AT A TIME. (brilliant, right?)

I borrowed tools from another artist instead of buying new.

I bought only a small piece of linoleum and no ink and no paper: one step at a time! 

This scaling back prevented me from becoming overwhelmed and I have actually been able to START ONE PRINT put one step in place before the the next step is started. 

Here's where I am: 

Pick just ONE inspiration at a time!

Outline the drawing with charcoal.

Transfer the charcoal image to the linoleum

The transfer didn't turn out too well the first time so I wiped it off and tried again.

Sharpies are the best! I traced all of the charcoal lines with black marker.

Now I have a great reverse image of the original!
Next step is to cut away the grey.
I will post more pictures as this project comes along.

LOVE is in the air.

And LOVE is on the bus...or at least that is what I could gather from the oddly matched duo in front of me on the Metro this afternoon. I knew it was love when the lady donning a washed out Starter jacket turned to ask me for a pen (which of course I was more than obliged to offer her, I love the people on the bus).

Quickly, however, her perhaps less-than-sober, equally under-dressed companion says, "I don't need a pen; I have a mind like a steel trap." Which really meant he had the ability to repeat things aloud. Over. And over. And over some more. (Actually, I also have memorized her digits, but don't worry, I won't be messing up his game any time soon. I swear.) My favorite part of their budding romance: when he asked if he could come to her sister's house and drink some beers. Why her sister's house? Because he is a gentleman. Why beers? I don't know, he didn't say, and I would HATE to speculate.

I am still working on the logic of that one.

And while I am feeling a tad snarky, let's just talk about public displays of affection. There is something creepy about watching total strangers (both to me and to each other, but for this serendipitous seat selection) nuzzling each other. (Nuzzling: you know, the head-butting thing a cat does to show affection, similar to that of a 2-year still working on the whole speaking-intelligible-words bit.) Perhaps this gesture is endearing in the privacy of one's home, but it strikingly repulsive on the bus.

That is all I can muster for today. More adventures to come!

"The best times of your life have not yet been lived."

(02.06.2011)
If the fortune cookie accurately predicts the future and the best times of my life have not yet been lived, then I cannot wait for the future!!

This weekend, Jen and I opted for a "stay-cation" -- one night in Columbus and the next in Cincinnati. No working, only playing. It was a fantastic vacation away from life!!

There is something about Columbus bars that are unlike anywhere else I have visited. Maybe it is just my luck or perhaps the general "awesome" of the people I spend time with, but all night people came up to us, introduced themselves with a firm handshake and shared hilarious good stories.As a result of Friday, I had to find the YES dance on youtube and I now have watched this wayyyyy too many times.

Our no-work weekend continued with Barrister's Ball (aka Law Prom) in Cinti. It was equally eventful and full of out-going, friendly people who made us feel right at home with inappropriate dance moves, awkward stories, and a zest for life. Jen has an internal magnet that attracts dancing gay boys. Need I say more? There is simply nothing better than two days of dancing and late nights.

Here's to more fun in the future.

Teeth.Are.Supposed.To.Stay.Put.

(02.17.2010)

I have been putting off finding a Cincinnati dentist because:

1. I don't know what health insurance coverage I have through the school

2. I don't know how to figure out what my health coverage actually is anyway

3. I don't really want to go to the dentist, it is a waste of time.

However, after my bus ride home today, I have changed my mind about #3. Here's the set up: riding the 31 with me, there were two women, lovely people I am sure, but they were talking about their teeth rotting and falling out. One lady was visibly missing at least 2 teeth in the front and commented "Last time I had health insurance and went to the dentist...." (I think to myself, I am lucky to have insurance...I should use it before its gone) and then the next lady whose teeth I could not see, comments on the ineffectiveness of dentists in her situation because "I bite into a piece of white bread and a tooth will fall out" (eee! sick, I think to myself. I don't ever want to have that happen). I am going to the dentist. ASAP.

Snow, snow, snow!

(02.11.2010) I know its not the 5 feet of snow that DC got, but the half foot or so on the ground in Cincinnati has been fantastic! On Tuesday and Wednesday my classes were canceled. I enjoyed the free time by sledding, shoveling and building a snow monster. And sleeping. A lot. The rumor is that there is more on the way for Valentine's day! I can't wait!!

What happened to craft night?

(11.23.09) I had the good fortune to go to two craft fairs this weekend. It was good for my Christmas shopping, bad for my wallet. Also bad for my motivation to study for law school. I would really prefer a life where I made scrapbooks, cards, and put beads on strings instead of studying who gets repaid first when someone goes bankrupt. Sigh. I long for the creative connection. I did spend a few hours making cards and wrapping gifts after the craft fair, so there's a start!

Here's a link to more fantasy animal busts

Wiener Races

(09.18.09) Only on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati would hundreds of people gather during their lunch hour to watch wiener dogs race to the finish line. And let's be honest, (1) it is the only reason I left the house today and (2) if I had a dachshund I would have been training her for months to win this competition. And it was quite a competition, there were over 60 dogs entered in the race!! This race kicks off Oktoberfest. And what makes you think of drinking German beer more than watching German dogs barking and chasing each other?