Where the Magic Happens

Okay, first of all, I'd like to make clear that I love my job(s). But, like any love, it drives me crazy. The worst is that few people get it, thinking that freelancing and working from home means I can goof off in my pajamas all day. And while I may be in my pajamas, I still have work to do, and living and working in the same space can prove difficult. Above is the picture of my "studio" which is actually the corner of my bedroom. This is why I'm the only person over the age of twelve who has a twin bed by choice. And while things are a bit cluttered, the commute is easy and I'm already home for lunch. The pajamas help too.

Sour Faces!

One of the cool things about making art is being an artist, hanging out with other artists, and collaborating to make "Art!" My neighbor Justin is a filmmaker, whose latest project I had the pleasure of being a part of. He's posted a rough cut here, enjoy!

Creative Revolution!

Creative types everywhere rejoice. This reminds me of a teacher in high school commenting after the opening of my design debut, "Everything was beautiful, but why theatre? Why don't you become a doctor or something where you use your brain? You're so smart!" Yup. And people think I left early because I'm brilliant... it was more like running out of a room before I threw up. 

Watch this, pass it on.

A Little DIY Humor

I'm all for the DIY movement, though I've only stuck my feet in the proverbial pool. Although, there's this weird tension between DIY folks and old-school craftspeople, and being a little bit of both can be a bit awkward. Now, I'm an equal-opportunity critic, but my biggest beef with the DIY community is taking themselves too seriously (it's on par with self-righteous bicyclists). Again, I dig DIY (AND ride a bike), but you can't tell me you're a serious crafter because you knit and felt vaginas or screenprint owls with umbrellas on aprons. It's all adorable, clever and fun, but let's keep a little humor about this, eh? 

http://www.regretsy.com/

An Excellent Idea

Think about all those empty storefronts on Chicago Avenue and so many artkids to fill them...

Check it out.

Fashion Porn

Oh. My. God. Check out the duds in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers' upcoming Vintage Couture and Accessories sale. Every girl needs a take-me-out dress, but these might knock out your date altogether. 

I also visited the Isabel Toledo (the fabulous designer who did Michelle Obama's inauguration outfit) exhibit at the Museum at FIT in New York. Talk about inspiring, I keep dreaming of making myself a copy of her apron dress, which is SUCH a Whitney dress anyway. So many projects. I technically have all this time now (I left my day job!) but somehow time and creativity are inversely proportional. Sigh. 

Color Schemin'

I've been known to complain that there just aren't enough colors; you're designing your characters' palettes only to realize that there are no colors available to you that are quite right. Even when (and perhaps especially) you render in paint, where there are theoretically limitless options. I'm always struggling with color, and falling in and out of love of one or another. Color is fantastic when it's good and terrible when it's not good (like saba nigiri). After contemplating a heirloom tomato I'd brought home from the farmer's market last summer, a friend of mine noted the gorgeous colors produced by nature, and that any manufactured likeness would just be wrong or not nearly as amazing. I've been testing this theory, and see his point, but I've also seen some exceptions. These are some great fruits-of-the-earth color palettes; let's contemplate. 

Testing...

Every adventure has a beginning, right? Even if they're awkward. In an attempt to streamline my answers to the ever-coming "did you make that?" "where'd you get it?" "a dollar? no way!" line of fire, a blog. Dedicated to the master thrifters, muses and paint-under-your-fingernails crowd. And my mom.