Lovely Autumn

Available here.

More macro:





So I've been wanting SOOO MUCH to make a zine (or a million!) for the longest time but never really did. The truth is, I don't know exactly what a zine really is. There are lots available online and I have bought electronic ones from time to time (because independant zines are awesome), but still don't quite understand it all.

Does it have to have information? Writing? Lessons? Advice? Education?

But then I consider the Sketchbook Projects - thousands of people filling up these little booklets based on a theme. I realize now that those are zines and I've already made two of them.

I actually miss the first sketchbook project I did, it was kind of cool.

New project?

Step by Step Painting - Dreamcatcher

Yesterday was a total write-off; I bravely marched off to a dentist appointment (read: dragged) only to sob like a child throughout the entire process in front of everyone during what was just a routine cleaning. Dental-related childhood trauma aside, I think I'm turning into a big whiny baby. This is the only logical explanation.



Afterward I was just too exhausted to do any of the other things I wanted to do (finish painting, label prints, ATCs) and ended up spending the entire rest of the day on the couch. Even Minecraft was too complicated yesterday.



We did watch Fear Dot Com out of curiosity, and it truly was terrible in every way possible. If it wasn't for the torture scenes you'd think the characters were just cardboard cutouts.

Anyway:



Dreamcatchers. They've been getting attention lately. Listening to people talk about how tacky they are as a decor item makes me cringe slightly. But then again, maybe a crucifix hanging on the wall would be considered tacky, too?



I originally had a different plan for how this painting would turn out. I expected some lines, a window setting, maybe a glimpse of the outdoor scenery. But this is much better. I like how the "night" oozes in. I like how the feathers are surrounded by a different "energy", as if the nightmares are trapped inside waiting for the burning sunrise.


Available in my etsy shop.

Where is my burning sunrise?

New Journals

I assembled three journals last night (!). The reason I am actually doing this (apart from fun) is so that I will have something more to sell at Crafty Affaire than just art and prints of art. I mean, these are art; they are each one of a kind and handmade. But they are functional art!

Revery Journal:




Today Journal:


Golden Birds Journal:




These books will available at Crafty Affaire in White Rock this december, but if shipping is no issue to anyone, I have a journal listing on etsy. Just tell me which specific journal you want (here is a list of the others).

With the sudden appearance of Fall comes eternal darkness. I can't believe it's another six months of taking drab photos by light bulb.

This is probably going to be it for journals until one of them finds a loving home <3

Journal Flip - Believe

The "Believe" journal is full, so I made a quick journal flip video for it.

It's very scary putting things on the internet. I mean, I'm not afraid of anything being pushed around or taken or whatever, because that is a silly thing to worry about. It's more of an extension of that "fear of rejection" thing.

Which is really just another silly thing to worry about.

I need to learn how to make videos. I chose this song because... doesn't it sound kind of like mariokart64???? I swear it's like a classier Koopa Troopa Beach. Love that.



Every time I finish a journal, I feel anxious.

Not just because now I have to work with something new and unspoiled, full of blank pages that might not achieve their full potential, but also because it's another "thing" floating around the house.

I look at my old written journals and how each one contains a few years worth of memories. With art journaling, a book seems to contain no more than a few months worth. So I hyperventilate when I think about the sheer volume of books I'm going to be dragging around as I age.

SO MUCH STUFF.

But for all I know someday maybe I'll be famous or something and then I could just sell them. Or they'll turn into dust before I do. Either way is fine with me.

Sketchbook Project 2012 - finished

Cover:


A couple of my favourite pages:



I did not rebind the book or change it in any way, actually. I did worry about halfway through and decide to do a running stitch over the binding just in case it decided to fall apart though.



I don't have a whole lot to say about it, really. I really like it and will be sad to see it go. I just hope sending it away will be actually worth it. If people look at it then it's okay, but if it's lost among thousands of other books...

I did not sign up for the scanning service, mostly because I already have a scanner and the images are up on flickr if you want to see the whole thing.

Overgrown

Available here.

I haven't been painting very much since... um... well gosh I guess the last one was Second which is entirely too long ago.

I think I'm getting the hang of this mixed media stuff... finally. It's like a whole new world has opened up for me.



Despite how long this little painting was in process (maybe two weeks?), it was probably only an hour or so of actual work, but I like it. I like the texture of the thick paint pushed through a stencil. I like the subtle shimmer of the gold pen. I like making collages out of book pages (this one contains a page from Orwell's 1984 - I need to buy some old books soon so I don't ruin the ones I actually like).



I don't think I quite "get it" yet... heh. I've been so foggy lately that I don't know exactly where I was going with this painting, and maybe that's all there is to it.

Foggy brain.
Heavy body.
Restlessness.
Standing still while the whole world evolves without you.
Being a few years away from 30 yet working a job more commonly suited to teenagers while acquired skills go unused.

Well maybe that last one is just me.

Endless Rain

I finally listed Endless Rain in my etsy shop. I really like this one. It looks fantastic in a snappy black frame.



This weekend was pretty weird. Milo kitty went to the hospital due to some urinary tract issues, and if you've ever met my cat, you'd know that it wasn't a great experience for him. He screams so loud when strangers are around it's like carrying an angry wolverine in a cardboard box.

I have no idea how they shaved his leg before sedating him. NO IDEA.

He came home last night, just waking up from his ordeal (oddly bathed and clipped...), and it was frightening to see him wobble around unable to move half of his body. His silence was unnerving. He's only just getting over it this afternoon.

But Maggie kitten doesn't recognize his smell and so it's pretty tense up in here. I can't imagine what that's like... to be a cat. To look at an old friend from a distance and go "oh hey, Joe! Nice to see you - *sniff sniff* Wait, you're not Joe. What are you doing in my house? GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

Joe: "...Why does she keep YELLING AT ME? *sob*"