Oops

I went to the OMA like I said I would but accidently put the posted on my other site, Another Bucket. Go check it out though...Chris Rainier is pretty amazing.

Can't Wait Til Wednesday

The Oceanside art museum has a new exhibit going on...all about tattoos!! I'm going to go on Wednesday. Very excited. I find body art to be so amazing. I read this quote on the wall of the last tattoo shop I was in...and I want to share it with y'all.

"The tattoo is the mark of the soul. It can act as a window through which we can see inside or it can be a shield to protect us from those who cannot see past the surface."
~David Bolt

As Far As On-Line Photos Go

I could spend hours browsing the National Geographic's databse of potography. Undeniably, they have some of the best photographers in the world and the wildlife shots they capture are--of course--breathtaking.

And...even their portraits are killer...

Last Friday

I actually went and saw a play...not a normal occurrence for me.

But it was Beauty and the Beast...performed by high schoolers at Rancho Buena Vista High School. The did the Disney version. which happens to be one of my favorites so I went. And was quite impressed by how well they did. It was long...they added some songs...but the guy who played the candlestick cracked me up the whole time.

Like I Said On My Other Blog...

...I am really impressed by some of the work my classmates are producing. They are definitely inspiring me to push myself to do better work.

Those Photos Of My Altered Book I Promised

On A Side Note...

...since we have been talking about great artists--in particular great photographers, I just wanted to share some of mine.

Annie Leibovitz and Mary Ellen Mark (interestingly enough...not wildlife photographers--but beautiful portraits.)

A Couple Of Quotes I Picked Up Along The Way

"Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be."
~Duane Michals

"Photography is the easiest thing in the world, if one is willing to accept pictures that are flaccid, limp, bland, banal, indiscriminately informative, and pointless. But if one insists on a photograph that is both complex and vigorous, it is almost impossible."
~John Szarkowski

Another AMAZING Photographer

Is it lame to say that this guy's work makes me want to cry? Probably.

“In exploring the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, I am working towards rediscovering the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals. The images depict a world that is without beginning or end, here or there, past or present.”—Gregory Colbert, Creator of Ashes and Snow

I seriously don't think I have ever seen something so breathtaking. (Wait--I say that alot--don't I?) Oh well--in Gregory Colbert's case it is absolutely true. I love his subject matter...I love the effect...I love everything about his images. Love it love it love it.

Thanks Mom

So my mom was recently in Florida where she saw some work by this guy named Johnny Villaronga. His photography is right up my alley as he does some amazing shots of wildlife.
Check out his site:

wildnaturegallery.com

Seriously, some breathtaking photos.

What A Good Feeling...

...finally. Books. Equal. Done. Woo-hoo!

I am happy with how it (they) turned out and really can't wait for the mail.

They took a lot out of me...but I definitely am looking forward to any and all future book projects.

Still Here

Here's me in the lab looking at one of Zane's pages. (It was actually pretty good so I don't know why I'm making the face.)

As You Can Tell By The Time Stamp...

...here it is after 11 o'clock and I am still at school!

I know you are thinking this girl must be crazy--right?

Not so if you knew I had 2 HUGE book projects due Monday and Tuesday.

Then you are thinking this girl must be crazy cause she has a laptop with all the necessary programs on it.

Not so if you knew I was here with my buddy Zane who also has a huge book project due.  And that we ordered pizza...

...in fact, Zane's paying the delivery guy right now.

The O'Side Surf Museum

I love the fact that this guy's got a camera around his neck!

I Love Her!

The Mingei In Escondido

Oh Ya...And One More Thing...

...lovin' the altered book project. Had some trouble with the idea of de-constructing a book, but I ended up having a blast and will get a photo of it up here soon too.

Busy Little Bee

Let me just say...I have been museum hopping like it's going out of style.
Today alone I hit 6. (Thank-you Balboa Park.)

A couple of weekends ago it was the Mingei in Escondido (by the way, if you pay for admission there, you get a free ticket for their Balboa branch). They were having an exhibit on armadillo art. Silly sounding? Yes. But some really great pieces. Along with some by Niki de Saint Phalle, who is one of my faves.

After that, I shot out to the coast and popped into the Surf museum in Oceanside. Headed up to OPT (the camera/telescope store that also has a mini gallery in the basement. Some cool things there by a guy named Michael Vander Vorst.

I should be able to load some pics. soon. (I know the rules--but I took some anyways...and of the outside of the buildings and whatnot.)

Today, Balboa, which I will elaborate on later. Mingei, MOPA, Museum of Art. Also stopped downtown at the 2 MCASD buildings. Really cool thing--if you are 25 years or younger, you get in free. Thank-you Qualcomm. Had just enough time to stop at the La Jolla branch before they closed. Really trippy exhibit going on there which I will definitely get into more later.

The Animals Chapter

The Art And More Chapter

Page I Don't Know What (One Of The Chapters)

More On My Book

I'm so excited...a spurt of inspiration and creativity hit me in class just now. Could be the pressure of needing to show my pages posted on my blog.  I got a handful done and now I'm trying to load them but this is a disclaimer that blogger is still acting up and my battery is dangerously low.  If I don't get them all loaded, I will soon this week.

A Book Page For Chapter Yet To Be Determined

Cover Page?

Quartered

Phew.
Finally have my book idea. Solid book idea. Not just fleeting thoughts about how it might turn out. I have been trying to fit things together that weren't going to make much sense...until now.
I just recently turned 25 and for the first time in my life, I'm starting to feel my age and realize that those years have been PACKED with adventures. (It doesn't help that EVERYBODY thinks it's fun to remind me I am now a quarter of a century old.)

I've decided that since this book is supposed to reflect myself, I should just make it how I am. I'm not structured, nor am I organized, nor am I one single theme. Ok, so the book will actually be better than how I am cause it will be those things. And more. So much more.

Sketches, photos, scans of those little tid-bits I've picked up over the years, snippets of my witty humor...I want this book to subtly be fun and creative and a bit kooky. Just like me. And I will section it off...perhaps in quarters? Something that can serve as a bit of an autobiography, as well as a portfolio of sorts.

I know it will be an attention grabber. And keeper. You'll never know what will be on the next page. Ah yes...a real page-turner indeed.

I Know Excuses Are Like Assholes...

...everyone has them and they all stink (I think that's how the saying goes)...but anyways, here's mine:
Without getting too graphic on the goings-ups of my week home sick...long story short...here it is Monday night and do I have book pages to post? Noooo. But good news--I started story-boarding my book in a sketchbook to get my thoughts all out while I still figure out InDesign (Blatner is just not as interesting to watch as Orwig).
I'm slightly worried that I have aspirated some of my yakking and will be battling pneumonia shortly, but at least I can lay in bed with my trusty lap-top and do more than blogging.
I like this blogging business...but too much typing does hurt my fingers.

One Down...79 To Go

The Time Of Day The Temperature Drops

...Sunday afternoon.
After a whirlwind of a weekend...and I'm supposed to have 6 pages of my book completed in 2 days. I'm starting to panic. There seem to be a number of things--all hopelessly time consuming--that I have to have done by Tuesday. My mind is not in my head right now...it is stuck in the clouds trying to make sense of the past 4 days that has left me feeling like I just got off the zipper ride at some ricketdy parking lot carnival.
I think my best course of action would be to devote some much needed time to learning InDesign. That way at least when my book ideas become clearer to me, it should be breezey to put them together. At least I am not short on material. If only photos would organize themselves...

Chop Down This Tree With A Herring

Ah....what can I say about Oliver Herring?

Honestly...not much.  It all happened so fast.  I was quickly responding to a text message and by the time I had looked up and my eyes adjusted...the video was over.

Now time to do some googling...

...first, let me put away the cell phone.

Language As Art

Being a language so different from our own brings such an elegance to these works.

Perfect Shades Of Gray

When creating something that looks like it was created someway else, sometimes you find the art in the process.

Oh Ya...His Name Is Kjell B Sandved

Tom Cool

I have this poster, framed and hanging on my wall.  It is called The Butterfly Alphabet. I can't remember the name of the photographer right now--but I was thinking about it while looking at Tom Scott's work.  

In my poster are the 26 letters of the alphabet--all photographed from butterfly wings.  This guy had captured everyone (photo--not butterfly) by carefully paying attention.  It took him years to make this and its absolutely amazing because he didn't touch a single subject.  Just sat quietly and waited.

I think its all about seeing things in a different way when it comes to photography.  Something as simple as the beach or a butterfly can become so much more beautiful than one could imagine if you look at it with the right eye.

Real Photography

I'm actually sitting in class right now.

Thank God for laptops.

I had to stop in though because I was just blown away.

Our beloved Chris Orwig has taken photography to a whole new level.

Auto-aligning and auto-merging his heart out...blending the "good" from 2 different photos to make an ultimate mega-good-photo.

Where's the spontaneity?

Will there be such a thing as a candid when you can mask away the "funny faces"?

I don't know how I feel about this.

I'm not really sure I'm diggin' it.

My Book?

Welllllll........
I have been so excited over this project. I can't wait to have a book of my very own, published, full of my very own photographs.
However...knowing what it will be about is a completely different subject.
I suppose a book full of my journeys and adventures with animals would be appropriate. If I wasn't an artist, I would go back to bird training.
I already have enough volumes of photos and stories in which to fill many publications so perhaps that would be a good place to start. I also think my time with my birds has really shaped who I am today.
I can't wait to see this project take flight. (Haha...I know that was lame but I had to say it.)

The Sagmeister

There is something to be said about writing on the body.....

Jupiter Sucks

My Buddy Dave

(that's of course if he doesn't mind me calling him "Dave"....or "my buddy".....)

I don't think David Carson would mind though, he is a pretty cool guy. (A little kooky---but I like that in a man *winkwink*).

I especially like his little plain boring white cards with the little plain boring black font saying little plain boring words. Have you ever text messaged someone with a smile on your face 'cause you're joking but they don't see that and respond by calling you an ass? Carson reminds me of this. Sometimes, all you need is the right font to really get your point across. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, other times a font is.

I prefer direct person-to-person interaction because actions do speak louder than words and things can so easily get lost in translation. Stupid smileys don't help when you're texting. Someone texts you to ask you out on a date (lame by the way) and you really don't want to go and you text back "maybe" and accidentally send a winky face with it and you're headed for trouble. But if you could send a text that says "I'm *coughcough* sick" and the text font is all gray and droopy and just feels like it's dripping with snot--you're problem is probably solved.

First Blog Take 2

So Tuesday marked my devirginization into the blog world. However...my brain had an accident and the email address I used to create it wasn't even a real one (howd' I manage that one?) and when I tried to log on again I couldn't even get my password right (even though it was painfully obvious).

2 days later....viola! Finally I think we might have figured it out. Sometimes all it takes is a glass of wine to bring things into focus. (Just kidding....it was actually tequila.)
Tomorrow, or at least sometime in the near future (before Tuesday)...I promise to write--I mean type--about Helvettica. Hell, maybe by then I will have something cool like a google image and some bio info. Although...that would of course mean some more tequila. *wink*