Recent Artwork

Below are some photos of some recent artwork that has been keeping be busy while I look for work and take time off of school. All of the pieces were made from mono printing with veggie scraps from dinners and drawing and painting was added to create a final piece.

Loving the Winter

I've discovered a new love: winter. While it doesn't beat out summer or spring, I am having a ball with this new season, so foreign to me. I suppose it also helps that I don't have to wake up early to shovel out my car, since I don't have one. I have, however, had all the good parts to explore: sledding, making an igloo in the back yard and riding the motorcycle in it if you can believe that.(Above, me sledding on some freshly fallen snow)

(Our igloo that we have been working on in the back yard)

New York in the Winter

(Central Park in the winter)

Though we had only been home (Boston) about 15 days, we headed back out to visit some friends in the NYC. We also had planned to check out an International Motorcycle convention that was taking place that week.

(Our future get away car)

(My future toy)

One of my favorite parts of this trip was spending the day outside in the snow in Central Park. We walked around for hours while it snowed and visited the carousel, the castle and finally ended up at the Natural History Museum. It was a great way to spend our last day in New York.

Don't forget the positives.

When I got home today from school I started telling James about my day and by the end up it I realized that he was looking kinda upset. I asked him what was wrong, and he half smiled and said that I had just rattled off a list of the day's bad spots. I realized that I had completely forgot to mention the part about hanging my artwork in a group show, which went really well.

Lately, I have been getting so stuck on the negatives. For this particular occasion I think I may be coming down with a cold, or at least fighting it off. That always leaves me a bit drained. So I'm doubling up on my vitamin C and taking my vitamins and going to give myself some extra care.

In general though, I think it's just so easy to get stuck on the bad stuff of life, so over the next week I'm going to be paying careful attention to this, and hopefully can kick the habit. In life I think it's all about what you do with the bad stuff that helps determine where your life goes and the quality of it. I for one would prefer to have a happy life, so I'm not going to get stuck on the low points, but instead try to transform those moments. That's my goal at least . Stay positive.

Artwork Up.

Today I installed a piece of artwork at school for a group art show. It feels good to be doing something so familiar and something I know very well. I chose to display a piece that I think I wrote about earlier, the bindle stick or "hobo bag". The reception for the show is next week, so I will take a picture then and post it up.

It feels good to be focused on something other than my feelings for a change. I'm really looking forward to the end of the semester.

Therapist, I am not.

While it's been a while since I've written here, it has mostly been because I have been in a bit of a mental debate. I have decided to take next semester off from school to reconsider whether I want to be a therapist or not. While I feel like I had consider this before, there is nothing like the experience to show one the opposite.

Over the last 2 months I have been working at Tewksbury State hospital, which I was really excited about, until I started. And it was probably after I learned of the severity of the patients problems that I started to realize that I do not want to be trying to heal these people. While I do want to make the world a better place, I am not sure I want to do it this way. I am a very sensitive and emotional person and doing this work leaves me drained and depressed.

So my plan is to get a job after I return from Florida and to work and make art. I'll be staying in Boston because there are still a lot more opportunities up here than in Florida. In addition, this will give me the option to continue the program if I realize that it is where I want to be. I've also been looking at another program at my school called "Community Arts" which is a masters in Education. It's a shorter program and would redirect my work back to the type of work that I had been doing. I think education is a better place for me.

I'll keep you updated on the process. Right now I'm feeling really good about this decision, and everyone at school has been really supportive too. It was difficult at first to not feel like I had failed, but the truth is that I'm glad I tried it and would have never really known otherwise.

Ticket Booked.

Well, I have my ticket booked to return home for the holidays. I'll be making my departure down there on Dec. 18 and my return is expected (although not yet bought) Jan 1, 2009. So i should have about 2 weeks to spend time with all the people I love and miss from the SoFla area. I have to say, I'm rather excited. I've actually always wanted to be able to come "home for the holidays" so its pretty exciting to me.

As it gets closer I'll start talking to everyone to see what the best dates are to see people. I do know that I'm probably spending Christmas Ev, Day and Post in Orlando. So other than those days I'm pretty free.

I look forward to seeing everyone in December!