Anatomy of an Artichoke

I'm no superman

2011-03-01T22:48:00.000-08:00

Neil and I made dinosaurs and watched Scrubs after work yesterday. Then I gave him the best haircut I've done to date. It was a good day. :]

DN: The Game of Rent

2011-03-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

Check out this sick-ass board game Casey, Bob and I made for the DN's housing guide. :]

The Lucky Losers

2011-02-19T23:42:00.001-08:00

Check out their myspace here.

Prog: Mechanical and Biological Systems

2011-02-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at a few programs I created for my programming for artists class. Both had to be based on existing systems and had to create midi outputs. The first is based on the eye and uses RGB values of random pixels in photos to create a song. The second is based on a tattoo machine and uses various inputs from the user to create a song as well as using those same numbers to create a visual output in the form of plotted data on a graph.

smoking in the girls room

2011-01-30T22:54:00.000-08:00

Programming! (for artists)

2011-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just a small update on some stuff I'm doing for my classes. So far we've done nothing substantial in photography, typography or drawing. But I am turning in my first programming project today! I made a program that lights up a grid of colored circles using random number generators to determine which lights to turn on. I can't embed the program itself, but here's a look at some of the architecture and what the finished presentation mode looks like:

And, as always, keep and eye on zombea365 for daily photo updates.

Quick Update for 2011

2011-01-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

So the new year has started, the new semester has started and I am slowly realizing just how busy my semester is going to be! I have four studios (programming for artists, intermediate drawing, photography and advanced typography) and one art history class (19th cent. European Art History). I think I can make it but I'm going to be spending lots of time in the studio. I'm going to try to keep this blog updated with things I'm working on for school, and I'll be moving my photo posts over to a new blog.

I've decided to start a new photo project blog where I post one photo every day for a year. I'm calling it zombea365. I just started it a few days ago, so wish me luck!

PHOTODUMP!

2011-01-04T21:48:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, I just got access to a card reader for the first time since finals week. This caused the giant photodump following this post. If you're looking for something specific, here's a handy little guide:

NYE

2011-01-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

2010: And the rest

2011-01-04T21:35:00.000-08:00

2010: Homaha

2011-01-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

2010: Molly's Grad Party

2011-01-04T21:16:00.000-08:00

2010: Boozemas

2011-01-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

Papermaking Final: Believe it or Not

2011-01-04T20:18:00.001-08:00

For my papermaking final, I wanted to something biographical, so I decided to base it on my tattoos. I wanted to turn it into a play on a Ripley's Believe It or Not exhibit. With this idea in mind, I came up with the concept of doing pairs of hands mounted like butterflies. I started with my own palm tattoos, then decided to add other designs from pictures of palm tattoos I found on the internet. I also chose to do two chest pieces: one based on my own chest piece and one based on a very simple chest tattoo I found on the internet. I made the hands out of lightly dyed yellow cotton pulp by using hand-shaped deckles made from tracings of my hand. The chest pieces were torn down from larger sheets of the same hand-made cotton paper. I used various colored threads to stitch the line work into the sheets. I then painted the sheets to give them a darker flesh tone and slashes of color where appropriate.

TWIP: Printmaking final

2010-12-17T17:17:00.001-08:00

Here are some photos I took while working on my Printmaking final. I'll post images from all of my finals as soon as I shoot them and find a card reader. :]

TWIP: DN banquet

2010-12-17T17:10:00.001-08:00

Some post-banquet photos

TWIP: Pinks's Birthday! And More!

2010-12-05T17:38:00.001-08:00

Pinks's birthday, random things we may or may not have "borrowed" from our evicted neighbors, self-portraits.

TWIA: FINALS! And other things.

2010-12-02T18:34:00.001-08:00

Lots of finals due next week, so I'll be spending most of my weekend in the studio. Well, except Saturday night, because that will be dedicated to dressing like a badass zombie killer and celebrating my awesome roommate's day of birth.

Anyway, for my printmaking final, I have two prints due. One is the experimental process proof I've been working on all semester. I'm going to add some texture to Oogie Boogie. Other than that, it's pretty much done.

The other is a three-color reductive woodblock print of Batwoman. Here's a peek at the first layer and the beginning of the carving process for the second layer.

I'm also working on my paper final, which will be a collection based on my tattoos. I'm going to do several sets of hands with stitched "palm tattoos." They will be sewn together in pairs and mounted like butterflies. I'm also doing three life-size replicas of my chest and neck tattoos. All of them will be covered in wax to give them a "preserved skin" feel.

Also, I have some shots of my last paper project. It was an installation project based around using different drying and casting methods to make 3D paper. I made a surreal landscape/cityscape out of forms cast from recycled bottles, boxes and cans. Here is a crappy phone pic of the whole thing followed by some not as crappy close up shots of some of the individual pieces.

TWIP: Thanksgiving

2010-11-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

Friendsgiving with former roommates, current roommates and good friends. Thanksgiving with my parents and my mom's new obsession with Wii Bowling.

tumbl with me

2010-11-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't already follow my tumblr, you should. I post a lot of process pictures of projects I'm currently working on. Like this photo of the Batwoman woodcut I'm working on right now.

I also reblog a lot of nerdy and awesome things about Walking Dead, Dick Grayson, Green Lantern, graphic design, zombies, Joss Whedon shows, Harry Potter, moustaches, the Bat family, Doctor Who, Kanye, NPH and whatever else makes me laugh or looks awesome.

:]

TWIA: School and work

2010-11-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

I didn't really take any photos this week, so this post is all art!

First off, some stuff from the DN. A glorious, orange Daren Keen and a pretty blue Beethoven. Daren is my normal, Illustrator stuff, but the Beethoven piece is the first time I've painted anything for the DN in a long time. I think it turned out pretty well.

Next up, some stuff from my printmaking class. First, the final of my Wolfman print. It turned out pretty adorable, just like I hoped. Second, getting ready to etch an image of Timm into my experimental process plate. I don't want him to get a big ego about it, but I love his giant beard, so I had to use him.

Finally, some stuff from my newest papermaking project which involved creating a research book about fibers that can be made into paper. Here are some photos of the pulp dying process, draining some cooked grass fiber, a sheet of the grass paper and finally the finished books.

TWIP: Nov 1-8

2010-11-08T18:06:00.001-08:00

This week: tiny bottles of alcohol, Noah's birthday and boredom at work.

a quick little update

2010-11-04T23:27:00.000-07:00

First, an in progress shot of a Captain Marvel illustration for a friend.

Second, an in-progress test print of my Wolfman wood cut. His face makes me giggle every time.

TWIP: Halloween and more

2010-11-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

Some photos from Halloween and pumpkin carving the week before including our kickass pumpkins, the best costume evar, adorable dino gloves and the creepiest home made mask I have ever seen. All things fitting for the best Halloween. Hope the holiday was as good to you as it was to us. :]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-10-31T17:37:00.000-07:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I love Halloween, it's totally my favorite holiday. Also it's my mom's birthday. Also, candy and dressing up like monsters... awesome.

Anyway, to business. First, some sweet fashion art for the DN.

This year for our Halloween party last night, the roommates in our house, plus a few extra awesome people, decided to have Jurassic Park themed costumes. We didn't get a group photo because things were crazy at the house but here is a look at the letters I made for the banner on Pinks' T-rex costume. It was pretty fabulous.

Next, my not very accurate but still pretty creepy Voldemort pumpkin.

Finally, today is the premiere of The Walking Dead on AMC. It's a zombie show based on the best zombie comic and continuing comic that is out today, The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. In honor of that, and it being Halloween, I dressed up as a Black Lantern version of myself for work today. :]

Dusk Till Dawn

2010-10-27T00:03:00.000-07:00

For my typography class, we had to design some minimalist movie posters. Here is my poster design for "From Dusk Till Dawn." I'm pretty happy with it. The color sceme is pretty swell. I think I could have tweaked the "teeth" more but It's late and this is due tomorrow, so I'm leaving it where it is.

TWI: Art

2010-10-26T13:01:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted an art update. I just got back my second paper project but I don't have any photos of it yet, so they'll go in my next art post. Instead, I have some lovely Printmaking updates for you!

This is the sketch for my first woodcut print, which I'm currently working on. It's a totally adorable Wolfman based on Bill Fick's illustration style. It's gonna be great. I can't help but giggle every time I look at it. LOOKATTHEFACEHE'SMAKINGIT'SSOCUTE!

This is the second proof of my final project plate. Here are the prompts/images starting at the top left. 1: Song lyric: Eyes like omens from Kimya Dawson's "Blue Like Nevermind" 2: Something that scared you as a child: the hand from Idle Hands 3: Something that evokes a strong emotion: beards make me happy :] 4: a pop culture reference: John Lennon 5: something you've never drawn but always wanted to: David Bowie 6: represent your favorite holiday/season: Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas 7: rebirth: Phoenix from Xmen 8: something created before you were born: Rorschach from Watchmen

PDX: Everything Else

2010-10-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

We did lots of exploring. Got lost on the train, totally Buxton's fault. Got lost in Buxton's neighborhood, probably our fault. Went to multiple Powell's locations and a cool second hand store. Played with Buxton's puppies and just had a lot of fun. Can't wait to go back. I love that city too damn much. :]

PDX: The Food

2010-10-24T17:22:00.001-07:00

We got lots of great food in Oregon, including seafood at Mo's with a great view of the ocean, multiple sushi places and of course VooDoo Doughnuts.

PDX: The Beach

2010-10-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

We decided to go to Cannon Beach, OR on the second day of our trip, because Pinks and I had never seen the ocean. It was pretty swell. Bob almost stepped on a crab, Buxton rescued a starfish, I almost fell several times and Pinks fed some seagulls. Buxton helped me out by taking the first few shots in this post.

PDX: Travelin

2010-10-24T17:13:00.001-07:00

Bob, Pinks and I spent Fall Break in Portland with Buxton. Here are some shots from the various modes of travel we used during the trip. Plans, trains, automobiles and buses.

TPS: the band

2010-10-10T21:00:00.001-07:00

I spent the weekend taking photos during a music video shoot for some very awesome guys from Kansas City called The Paper Suspense. I ended up with a lot of cool stuff, so I'm going to try to break it down to several posts. Here are some shots of the band.

TPS: One shots

2010-10-10T20:54:00.001-07:00

TPS: behind the scenes

2010-10-10T20:25:00.001-07:00

TPS: the night before

2010-10-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

TWI: Art

2010-10-04T19:34:00.001-07:00

I don't have anything new to post from my classes. I'm working on a lot of projects now though, so I should have some stuff to post next week. But here are a couple of sweet pieces from the DN. :]

TWI: Photos 9/27 - 10/3

2010-10-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

This week's post includes a trip to the park and First Friday tomfoolery.

TWI: Art

2010-09-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

In addition to my weekly photo post, I want to start uploading a weekly art post to keep track of what I've been doing in my studio classes and at work.

First off, here's some stuff from my typography class. I haven't really learned anything new in this class yet, but I really love typography, so I'm enjoying it anyway. Here is some work from a project where we had to use type to embody the meaning of certain words.

I've really been enjoying my printmaking class. I got to put Bowie, Rorschach and a great, big, bushy beard all on the same print. That's pretty awesome. Also, I got a shot of my final GL print, which looks pretty snazzy if I do say so myself.

These are some pieces from my super hero/ comic book collection for my paper making class. Overall, the collection could use some work but I've learned a lot that I can apply to other projects and made a few really cool pieces, so I'm not too broken up about it.

Finally, here's some DN stuff from the past week. Apparently I've been really into silhouettes recently... and sheep.

TWI: Photos 9/19-9/26

2010-09-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going to make an effort to post a some photos or pieces of art every week. So here is the first installment of This Week In Photos.

ToD: Bob gets a hurr cut

2010-09-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

DN Football

2010-09-26T17:27:00.001-07:00

Homecoming edition.

photoz

2010-09-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Some photos from my new camera set-up. :]

A few things

2010-09-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

The school year is starting up and I've got a few things to show off. First: a few photos of my current printmaking projects. Second: my first real DN illustration of the semester, the danger of lofted beds.

Also, Breen and Dickinson have been kind enough to let me borrow various camera parts so that I can pretend to be a photographer, so I'll have some new photos to upload soon. :]

inked plate

first proof

bowie!

My last Love post

2010-08-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day at the library. It's bittersweet. I hate having to go to work, but I did learn a lot here and did a lot of cool work. Today I spent the day taking photos in CYT and getting ice cream at the UNL Dairy Store. It was a good day. Here are some shots from my last day out.

Farewell Love, it's been an interesting journey.

Photoz

2010-07-19T15:38:00.001-07:00

Bob was kind enough to help me out with a shoot in Love/Music Library. :]

Bob is 21 today!

2010-07-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

took some photos at work.

it was boring. so i skipped out for a bit to meet up with the birthday boy at 5 guys.

he was not amused.

this is my "i can take photos like dickinson" shot.

clay has a camera too. he actually knows how to use it.

artsy photography is all about the angles.

omnomnom. happy birthday broseph.

Wedding Guide

2010-07-11T21:39:00.001-07:00

Check out these sweet, sweet pages I made art for/designed for the summer wedding guide.

Wedding Guide Preview

2010-07-10T17:11:00.001-07:00

The Summer DN Wedding Guide comes out on Monday. Here is a little sneak peek at the colors/icons that will be on the front page. The bouquet is pretty much terrible, but I really hate making flowers in Illustrator, so that's to be expected. I'm really happy with the other three though. Click on the image for a full size view.

shameless self-promotion

2010-07-02T08:43:00.001-07:00

I've got a few self-promo things to mention here.

First off, a little event that is happening today:

ZOMG! Some art by zomBEA.
Some of my paintings are being displayed at Crescent Moon Coffee's new location in the lower level of the Apothecary building (140 N. 8th St.). There isn't really anything new but it will be a cool display of some of my favorite work. The paintings will be up for a couple of weeks, but the reception is tonight at 6pm. The Jazz Agenda will start playing at 7pm. AND Crescent Moon got their liquor license not too long ago, so you can get a beer or some wine while you check out the sweet, sweet art.

Secondly, the new UNL Libraries site went up yesterday. This means that some of my graphics are on the site now. My favorite ones are the titles graphics for the libraries home pages. You can check them out by clicking on any of the library names here. I also have a few other graphics scattered across the site, so if you're truly curious, you could go on a hunt for those as well. :]

CYT

2010-06-25T10:38:00.001-07:00

I spent Wednesday taking bad photos at C. Y. Thompson library on East Campus. Turns out, one of the "models" was a kid I went to high school with. Small world.

(organic farming is fascist)

Love.

2010-06-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

The library can be incredibly boring. I was sent out to take photos of the Media Services room, but spent most of my day wandering about Love. Actually, who am I kidding? I spent most of my day in the comic/graphic novel section of Love South. They have some pretty interesting books down there. The beauty (and humor) can be found in the details.

Engineering Library

2010-06-07T13:59:00.001-07:00

robots, in space!

engineering jokes

how round is your circle?

lolz, ghetto dn bin

Jazz in June

2010-06-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

Well the summer DN has started up once again. This year I'm designing, not doing art, but I do get to do the Jazz in June covers again. This is the third year in a row. I didn't think we could top last year's series, but this year's covers are looking pretty sweet. Here is the first cover which came out on June 1st and a look at the cover for the second issue which will come out on June 8th.

Library Photos Pt. 2

2010-06-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some more photos from my shoot last week. These are from the Mathematics Library and outside Love Library.

Bonus photo: Did you know the Geology Library has a whole section devoted to dinosaurs? I was pretty stoked to find this out.

I am going to make it through this summer if it kills me

2010-05-31T23:40:00.000-07:00

Gonna probably make layered cut-out prints of my Iron Man illustration this week or next week to hang in the house somewhere. I need something to keep me from getting too stressed and freaking out this summer. Even then, I might not make it.

Work Things

2010-05-27T20:10:00.001-07:00

So, I got a job working for the UNL libraries this summer. Except, it's not as boring as it sounds. I thought I would be working for the circulation desk or reshelving books, but I was offered a job with the web and development department. So, I get to make graphics and take photos for the web site, which is pretty cool. I did my first photo session today, here are some shots from the Geology Library.

A few cool things

2010-04-14T18:06:00.001-07:00

First, the sweet, sweet poster that my roommate Clay Lomneth and I put together for QAC's Day of Silence event.

Second, I got to draw Ironman for the DN. I love my job.

ART!

2010-02-03T17:31:00.000-08:00

Another sweet little illustration for the DN. For a story about some art exhibits at the LUX center.

I love my job

2010-02-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

Today's post is one of my favorite pieces of art that I've done for the DN in quite a while. When I saw the slug "a-dinosaurs" it made my day. The fact that the story involved natural disasters too just made it even better.

FCP: Spacial Thinker

2010-01-25T00:30:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a series of fake concert posters for a few months now. I'm hoping to put them up as part of the art show that Clay and I are planning to have at the house before we move out. Here is the latest addition to the collection:

The heavy Crown

2010-01-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

you were the queen of everything
for one night in the drink
the Crown is your only crutch
you Royal burden
but it’s oh so heavy
when your head tips
and it all comes crashing down
your kingdom for a clean rag
the coke was just the sugar
taken to make the medicine a little sweeter

The DN Art Department: We're kind of a big deal

2009-12-14T01:37:00.000-08:00

Bob Al-Greene, Adam Ziegler and I made this kick-ass board game for tomorrow's front page of end of the semester issue of the DN. Sometimes I really love my job. :]

Sleep

2009-11-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

I sleep under bodies
Hanging from hooks and wire
Under the women who give me courage
And the men who inspire me

I sleep to the sound of your voice
It seeps into my dreams
I dream of your laugh
And that sly, sly smile

I sleep through my classes
I drift off in the middle of a…
I write love letters to you in the margins of my notebooks
I draw thumbnail portraits on the covers
I am failing English because of it

I sleep past noon
I wake up when sun is setting
And I feel like I’ve wasted another day
I’ve wasted almost all my days

I sleep always
But for some reason I am compelled to stay up all hours of the night
Maybe I am nocturnal
Maybe I am an owl

I sleep inside of you
In the deepest, secret parts of you
I will always keep your secrets
I will hide them where I hide my own
I will hide them in my dreams

DN Art Dump

2009-11-18T18:23:00.000-08:00

2 names: Part 2 of 2

2009-11-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

The conclusion.
Check out Part 1 here.

* * * * * * * *

Andy is standing on a bridge that overlooks a train yard in west Baltimore. The cars are lined up, waiting to be hauled off to their destinations. The railways split and cross each other like a maze of twisting metal, like rivers snaking towards the sea. It is dusk and the dozens of rows of blank cars are lit with a deep orange glow that make them look like they are made of fire, a labyrinth of flames waiting to be explored.

Andy leans over the railing and focuses his camera to snap a photo. He hears a long, low whistle behind him. “Shit, wouldn’t it be great to bomb all those?” Byrd walks up from behind him and steps up on the bottom rung of the rail to get a better look. “Can you imagine? I’ve got to tell Germ about this.”

* * * * * * * *

Germ is wearing all black, from his coal skullcap that gives Byrd a peek at his auburn hair to his gunmetal doc martins. Byrd is following him, dressed in a similar monochromatic outfit, carrying her favorite bag that is packed with the tools of her trade. She is following Germ through the train yard. When she went to tell him about it, he somehow already knew, and had a plan.

This was the first time Germ asked Byrd to come with him to do a piece in over a year. She was overly eager to say yes and now she was stuck being his lookout. But she didn’t really mind, she was just excited to watch him paint again.

Germ had scoped out the yard earlier that day and had picked out a small string of cars with two tankers at the end. He would do a throw-up piece on one of the tankers, and his tag on the other. Byrd follows him through the twisting rows of boxcars to the two tankers. Germ sets down his bag and smiles at his two blank canvases. He puts on his black latex gloves and pulls out a spray can.

He paints in long, broad strokes, creating a maze of line work. The white paint forms a shadow of the piece to come, like a specter waiting to solidify. He sketches a nest of fat lines, twisting around each other in knots and loops. Protruding out of the center and ending in great, fat arrows. Just as the piece begins to take form, Germ hears a shuffling sound from behind one of the tankers. He drops to the ground and peers under the car. He can see two pairs of shiny black shoes matched up with two bright oblong spots made by flashlights.

“Shit” he murmurs under his breath as he hops to his feet and throws the can and gloves back into his bag. “Hide,” he whispers to Byrd. But before they can even look for a hiding place, they hear another shuffling sound behind them. They turn around to see two more pools of light heading in their direction. “Let’s get out of here,” Germ says, turning towards a gap in the cars and hurrying through it. They hear muffled shouting and louder, faster shuffling. They are being chased. “Run!” Byrd says, and the two take off down the row. After about 20 yards, they hit a T in their path. Byrd takes off to the left as Germ heads right. “Damn it,” he mutters. They shouldn’t have separated. Always work in teams. Always.

Germ can hear more footsteps behind him and he speeds up. As he peers back to check on where his pursuers are, he turns a corner and runs into a brick wall. He tumbles to the ground. “Fuck!” he says and scrambles for his bag. He pulls off his mask and hat, stuffing them into his bag before pulling out a Canon Rebel.

Suddenly he is sitting in a pool of bright light. He can’t see who is pointing the light at him, but he hears a stern voice coming out of the darkness. “Stand up, and drop the camera!” it says. “You’re kidding right!? Do you have any idea how much this thing costs?”

The officer lowers the light, but is now pointing a gun in Germ’s direction. He can’t believe what is happening to him. His mind is racing. He thinks of Byrd. He wonders if she got away, if she is safe. He sets the camera on the ground and stands up, putting his hands in the air.

“Vandalism is a serious crime,” the officer tells him as he lowers the gun. The same speech Germ has heard a million times. He pulls out his wallet and hands the officer a business card. “I understand that sir, but I’m a photographer, shooting a photo story for The Sun, I had nothing to do with this.”

* * * * * * * *

Byrd is running down the rows of train cars. She has lost her bearings and has no idea how to get out of the yard. She ditched her bag in one of the open boxcars, so she doesn’t even have a cell phone or flashlight to light her way with. She hears the crunch of footsteps over gravel behind her and jumps under a train car, deciding that it would be better to hide than get herself even more lost. The footsteps stop. She cranes her neck, trying to see where they are, when she feels something scuttle across her hand. She turns just in time to see a rat running past her face. She screams and jumps out from under the car. She is blinded by a flashlight. “Got you,” a deep voice says as she feels someone grab her from behind. She kicks and screams, trying to get away from him, but it is no use; this cop is as big as a tree.

The cop with the flashlight, a short, thin, waif of a man, leads them through the maze of boxcars around a corner where an officer is holding a flashlight on a man dressed in black. “We found his accomplice,” the tree-like man says. Byrd’s looks at the man in the spotlight, expecting to see Germ, but furrows her brow in confusion when she discovers Andy in his place. Andy wasn’t with her tonight, why would he be here? Then she recognizes the hoodie and Doc Martins that he is wearing. “Germ?” she whispers under her breath as her eyes grow wide.

* * * * * * * *

“Shit,” Andy thinks to himself. He can’t believe they got caught, not here, not now.

The officer takes Andy’s card and studies it carefully.

“Andy Hayes?” he asks. “I think I’ve seen your work. Did you take those pics of the fire on Madison and Howard a few weeks back?”

“Well, yeah” Andy says and laughs nervously.

“I know some of the men that were in that building. You did a fine job representing them.”

“Thank you.”

“What are you doing here, at this time of night?”

“Well, you know, I’ve heard there has been a lot of graffiti going on in this yard. I was hoping to get some pictures of someone in action. It’s kind of a hobby of mine. I’m doing a street art photo story.”

“Oh… and do you know this girl? Is she one of your ‘street artists.”

“Oh, Lindsay? Oh no, she is just my assistant. She’s here to help me look for cool shots.”

“Lindsay?” Byrd mouths angrily in Andy’s direction. He ignores her and focuses on the officer’s questions instead.

“Well… you are trespassing you know. Even if it is for the paper,” the tree-like officer says.

“Oh really? We didn’t know that, we’re sorry,”

“Marshall, give them a break,” the officer with Andy’s card says. “And let that girl go, I think you’re hurting her.”

Marshall releases his grip on Byrd and she rushes over to Andy. “Just your assistant!?” she mutters through pursed lips. “Shut up,” he whispers back.

“Well, we’re going to let you go with a warning,” the lead officer says. “Just don’t go wandering around here again.”

“Thank you officer. We won’t. Let’s go Lindsay,” he says, pulling her away from the group by her arm.

As soon as they get out of sight of the officers, Byrd breaks free of Andy’s grip.

“What the fuck was all that about? And why the fuck didn’t you tell me you were Germ?”

“We all have our secrets Byrd; I don’t even know your real name,” Andy says as he starts walking towards the gate of the rail yard.

“That’s not the point!” she yells, throwing her hands into the air and following him. “The point is that you deliberately hid who you are from me.”

“What we do isn’t exactly legal Byrd. I can’t have Andy’s name tainted by that. I have a career you know.”

“Speaking of, how the hell did you do that, get them to just let us go like that?”

“You can get away with a lot if you have a camera and a press pass,” Andy says as he smirks and walks through the gate.

MUSTACHE TUESDAY!! [part duex]

2009-11-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

I do ridiculous things at work.

Katie Briggs, the Design Chief at the DN, and I decided to start a new tradition at work: MUSTACHE TUESDAY!! (AP Style dictates that MUSTACHE TUESDAY!! always be fully capitalized with two exclamation points.)

I got so excited about this week's installment of MUSTACHE TUESDAY!! that I decided to make a poster for it.

Here's what I came up with:

2 names: Part 1 of 2

2009-11-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

This is the first half of the final story that I wrote for the fiction writing class I took last year. I'll post the other half some time next week.

Andy is cornered in a train yard, trapped by a cop between the rows of boxcars and a brick wall. He has his camera in his hands, and is standing in a pool of bright white light. “Drop the camera!” a stern voice says. “You’re kidding right!? Do you have any idea how much this thing costs?” He can’t believe what is happening to them. He can’t believe they got caught, not here, not now.

* * * * * * * *

Andy is in the streets. His lanky frame is dressed in all black. His Canon Rebel K2 35mm hangs around his neck and sways as he darts into a dark alley. It is nighttime and the streets are that eerie kind of quiet that isn’t quiet at all. The kind that makes it seem like every thing is alive, like everything is dangerous.

Andy works freelance for The Sun, the Baltimore newspaper, shooting whatever spot-news he comes across, getting a few bucks here and there whenever he gets an especially great photo. But what he really loves is to shoot the city, the people in the streets and the art on the walls. His passion lies in his art, just like those taggers. Sometimes he will sneak out late at night, following them, hiding with them in the shadows, and photographing their fresh works.

Andy is working with a girl who goes by the name Lady Byrd. Always work in teams; always have a lookout. That’s what Andy read in some graffiti book once. So Andy is here, being Byrd’s lookout.

Lady Byrd is a short, solid girl, covered in tattoos. A deep-orange octopus fighting a pirate ship covers her left arm, from shoulder to wrist. Three of the tentacles spread across her body, twisting themselves around the skull and swords on her chest. Her other arm is Japanese themed, a geisha smiling and holding the severed head of a samurai, standing over a koi pond, which spills onto her hand. A branch of cherry blossoms spreads across her back and onto her right shoulder, dropping their pedals onto the smiling geisha. Andy assumes the rest of her body is covered, but he wouldn’t know and is almost too afraid to ask.

But Byrd’s tattoos are all covered now; they make her easy to recognize. She is wearing a black hoodie and dark cargo pants with lots of bulging pockets. She is carrying a small duffle bag full of paint, stencils, brushes, markers and whatever other tools she may need for her trade. She is quick and quiet, and loses Andy several times as they slink through the alleyways.

Andy is crouching in front of a dumpster in a dark alleyway, after losing Byrd for the third time that night. “Byrd!” he whispers nervously, “where the fuck did you go?” “Shut up and get down!” she whispers back as he feels her hands on the back of his shirt, pulling him behind a dumpster. He tumbles into a pile of cardboard boxes. She giggles and helps him back to his feet.

“You need to learn some stealth, man,” she says as she turns towards a blank spot on the brick wall next to the dumpster. “This is it,” she says. “Where are we? Is that Pearl Street?” he asks, pointing to the north end of the alley. “No, it’s Paca. There’s a gallery entrance just over there, everyone will see it.” She sets her bag down with a light clinking thud and pulls out a paint can and roller. Andy watches as she starts working. She rolls out the bright yellow base and then pulls out her spray cans. She starts sketching the line work for a blue bird when a faint crashing sound comes from around the corner.

Byrd’s hands freeze as she turns to look at Andy. His shock is mirrored in her eyes. “What the fuck man? You’re supposed to be lookout!” Byrd says, throwing her stuff in the bag and shoving it behind the dumpster.

She pulls Andy by his shirt collar to the other side of the dumpster. “What are you doing!?” he whispers franticly.

“Shut up and follow my lead.”

She pushes him against the wall and wraps her arms around his neck as a man in a black hoodie enters the alley. He pauses when he sees them. “Can I help you?” Byrd asks in a voice that mimics that of a snotty valley girl. The man laughs. “No need for the show, I’m no rat.” He starts to walk away then pauses and turns towards them. “By the way, the paint on your hands is a dead give away, try wearing gloves next time.” As he walks down the alley, Byrd notices he is wearing a rather full backpack that makes a familiar faint clinking sound with every step.

Byrd smiles and turns back to her work. Andy snaps pictures as she adds great flourished wings to the bird. Her hands are surprisingly steady for the speed at which she works, creating swirls and textures that collapse into each other and reemerge like a sea of blue feathers. She stands back to look at her work. The large, feathery wings are a stark contrast to the sleek, sculpted cobalt lines of the body. She nods in approval and pulls a marker out of her bag. She scrawls “LByrd” in large, loopy letters near the left wing. She ends the tail of her “y” with an arrow, like the tail of a devil. She smiles and slings her bag over her shoulder. It makes a faint clinking sound as it comes to a rest at her side. Andy snaps another photo and the two slip off into the darkness.

* * * * * * * *

Byrd enters Germ’s worn-down house. It is a small, off-white building, packed between two identical houses. The railing is missing from the front step and the siding is turning gray with dirt. She is here to check up on him. It’s been awhile since she has seen any new work from him on the streets, and she wants to make sure he is ok. They have been partners since the beginning of both their careers. They have to look out for each other.

Germ is an artist. If you asked him, he would probably deny it. He would tell you he is a tagger, a poster bomber, a stencil maker, not an artist. But he is. He throws up huge pieces that defy gravity. He is stealthy and fast and patient. He is tall but limber. He can slip in and out of alleys and hop any fence. He always wears a mask, usually a black bandana covering his nose and mouth, and a baseball cap or beanie over his head. All she can see are his intense, pale blue eyes and occasionally a curl of his reddish-brown hair poking out from under his cap. Byrd used to think the mask was to keep out the fumes, but he wears it even when he isn’t painting. This used to make her uneasy, but it is a trait that she has gotten used to now. In fact, she doesn’t think she would even recognize him without it. Germ is a master of an underappreciated and deviantised art form. Germ is a graffiti artist, a king of the streets.

But right now, Germ is in the basement. The only light in the room is the desk lamp that hovers above the old, beat-up drawing table. Germ is sitting at the table, a dust mask covering his nose and mouth. A sharp, chemical, burning smell stings Byrd’s nose as she walks closer. She coughs and Germ wheels around to look at her. She notices he has drawn sharp, pointed teeth on the front of the mask with a sharpie. She doubles over with laughter. He gives her a look of annoyance, the kind that you give to your little sister who wont leave you alone, and turns back to his work. He is using a wood burner to melt designs into a thin sheet of plastic. The plastic makes the stencils easier to carry and reuse. You can roll them up and shove them in a bag instead of carrying around huge pieces of cardboard. He is cutting two large music notes. Byrd doesn’t bother to ask what they are for; she knows Germ wouldn’t tell her anyway. He is secretive about his work, even around her. She doesn’t know why, but this fact bothers her a little.

* * * * * * * *

Andy is hunched over a sink in the dark room in his basement. An eerie red light highlights a series of photos hanging from a cable that is strung across the room. They show the silhouette of a woman leaning on wall, smoking a cigarette; a group of middle school boys, sitting on the stoop of a brick building, stern looks on their faces as they squint into the sun; an old man in too many layers pushing a shopping cart through a damp alley. A lock of Andy’s wavy, auburn hair falls into his face as he submerges a piece of paper into a tub filled with fixer. He lets the paper soak for a minute before pulling it out and squinting at it as he holds it to the light. He smiles and clips it to the cable. The figure of a short, solidly built girl is visible on the print. She is standing near a brick wall, one arm raised above her head, holding something flat to the wall, the other is poised in front of it, with a spray can in hand.

* * * * * * * *

Germ is standing in a dark alley near the entrance to Expression Art gallery on Paca St. He is looking at a big blue bird with flourished wings sprayed on the wall near the dumpster. Byrd’s piece. He pulls a stencil and some black latex gloves out of his backpack. He puts on the gloves and sprays two red music notes by the bird’s beak. He over sprays them, letting the paint drip down the brick wall. Above the bird he writes, “creatures in cages still have wings and songs” in a tight, rounded font that flows with the swirls in the bird’s wings. Next he pulls out a marker and writes “GERM” in angular red letters next to Byrd’s tag. The marker is filled with a special kind of wet ink that drips and runs in ways that mimic the over sprayed notes. He stands back to admire his work. He stares at it for a moment then smirks and walks away.

* * * * * * * *

“What the fuck did you do to my piece?” Byrd screams as she descends the stairs into Germ’s basement.

He smiles as he crosses the room to pick up a can of paint. “I gave it a message,” he says.

“You should have asked me first.”

Germ laughs. “Would you have told me not to do it?”

Byrd pauses, caught off guard by his question. “Well… no.”

“Then what does it matter?” Germ says, walking towards his drawing table.

“That’s not the point.”

“No, the point is your stuff is pretty but has no force behind it.”

“What!?” she yells, her voice rising with disbelief.

“You have things to say. I know it. You don’t shut up about your ideals, so why not use them in your art?”

Building a Better Badguy

2009-10-31T11:52:00.001-07:00

I couple of nights ago, my roommates and I were discussing our all-time favorite villains and my answer had been Col. Hans Landa from Inglorious Basterds. He is just so incredibly evil and nonchalant about it. He just doesn’t give a fuck.

Col. Hans Landa: Now if one were to determine what attribute the German people share with a beast, it would be the cunning and the predatory instinct of a hawk. But if one were to determine what attributes the Jews share with a beast, it would be that of the rat. If a rat were to walk in here right now as I’m talking, would you treat it to a saucer of your delicious milk?
Perrier LaPadite: Probably not.
Col. Hans Landa: I didn’t think so. You don’t like them. You don’t really know why you don’t like them. All you know is you find them repulsive. Consequently, a German soldier conducts a search of a house suspected of hiding Jews. Where does the hawk look? He looks in the barn, he looks in the attic, he looks in the cellar, he looks everywhere *he* would hide, but there’s so many places it would never occur to a hawk to hide. However, the reason the Führer’s brought me off my Alps in Austria and placed me in French cow country today is because it does occur to me. Because I’m aware what tremendous feats human beings are capable of once they abandon dignity.

However, last night we watched Psycho and I am extremely torn. I forgot how disturbing it is to watch the unassuming, and quite hansom, Norman Bates turn into a total raging lunatic. With Landa, you know he is evil from the very beginning, the very first scene of the movie shows exactly how terrifying this character can be. With Bates, on the other hand, you’re handed this slow evolution from this adorable, sweet and naive young man into a psychotic serial killer.

So now I am torn. Which character is a better villain? The sweet, dashing young man turned insane murderer, or the completely heartless baddy who shows you just how horrible he can be from the very beginning?

epic graphic design win

2009-10-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Scott Nelson and I put together a pretty sweet News page last night with a little help from Jenna G.

Ch-ch-check it out:

You can see the pdf here.

MUSTACHE TUESDAY!!

2009-10-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

"AP style dictates that MUSTACHE TUESDAY is always in all caps." -Katie Briggs

"It hurts like a band-aid." -Max Olson

"OMGCANWESMOKEWEARINGMUSTACHES?!" -Briggs

"Your mustache looks ridiculous." -Bob AlGreene

I love my job.

Dorothy Allison

2009-10-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

just may be my favorite.

"Two or three things I know for sure and one of them is that change when it comes cracks everything open."
-Dorothy Allison

our story

2009-10-07T00:35:00.001-07:00

I made this cover for a compilation of history reports in my Intro to GLBT Studies class last year. I rediscovered it when I was putting together a portfolio for a graphic design interview last week. I really like this design and thought it deserved a little bit of the spotlight.

Promises.

2009-10-06T23:54:00.000-07:00

My world is changing, drastically. It’s only recently that I have become fully aware of this, and have stopped fighting it. For better or worse, I can’t change what is happening. All I can do is move forward, and make decisions that will hopefully lead me where I want to go. I’m making a few promises to myself.

I promise to only make promises that I intend to keep.

I promise to let myself feel, because it’s not okay to try to make yourself numb all the time.

I promise to let myself make mistakes, and to always learn from them.

I promise to keep learning, and to keep teaching others.

I promise to remember that as much as I think I may know about the world, there is so much more that I don’t know.

I promise to be open to new experiences.

I promise to stop worrying so much about things that are out of my hands.

I promise to laugh every day, especially when I am feeling stressed, or out of control.

I promise to let others in, and to let others help me.

I promise to share the things I love with the people I love, so that they might understand me better.

I promise to only hold other people up the standards that I hold myself to.

I promise to let go of the things that aren’t important, and to hold on to the ones that are.

I promise to never give up my dreams to fulfill some else’s.

I promise to read every day.

I promise to carry a sharpie with me everywhere I go, and to write messages of inspiration to encourage others.

I promise to let myself see the magic in the ordinary.

we speak smoke

2009-09-15T16:51:00.001-07:00

new cutest sig evar?

2009-09-08T19:07:00.001-07:00

SPACE LAW!!!

Cutest Sigs Evar

2009-08-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

DN things

2009-08-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hey hey. We're getting started on the fall semester here at the DN. Here are a few cute things from the Back to School issue. =]

Also, here are a few left overs from the summer DN, including my first political cartoon evar.

Summer update

2009-08-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

The book has been printed and delivered. I haven't seen it yet, but Timm says it looks good. (Yay!) I think he will be bringing it by when he gets back from Seattle so I can scrutinize it and make adjustments for the next printing.

I'm working on creating some prints and small paintings to sell on etsy. I'll update here as soon as the shop is up and running.

In other news, here are a few things from summer DN. The first looks much cooler in person. We need to get a less shitty scanner for the Art Department and the second I just think is cute and like the shading.

Progress

2009-07-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

Timm's book gets sent to the printer tomorrow. Here is a preview of the layout for the cover, section titles, bio and portfolio pages.

AND here is an illustration I made for the DN today. It's for a story about whether or not a professors clothing choices affects the way students perceive them.

InDe-what?

2009-07-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well hey, I'm designing a book!

As it turns out, my good friend and tattoo artist Timm McKenny wanted to get a coffee table/portfolio/picture book of his tattoos and travels to sell to all his adoring fans. Now, it just so happens that I have some experience doing page design, so Mr.McKenny asked me to design his book. (Also, he is cheap and knew I would do it in exchange for lots of free tattoos.)

Anyway, I'm almost done with it. And, I'll post a few sample pages from it later this week. If all goes as planned, and Timm doesn't request too many changes, it should go to print next week! =]

In other news...

I made this really cute card for my Dad for Father's Day that I've been meaning to upload for awhile but I haven't really had time until now. So, here it is:

Summer DN Art Dump

2009-07-12T16:26:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I do things at work that I am really proud of. A lot of the time I just do things to get paid. Feel free to guess which are which.

Jazz in June

2009-06-18T18:44:00.001-07:00

Well hey, I did some covers for the Jazz in June issues of the DN. Check them out:

Daily Nebraskan

2009-06-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping busy this month doing some illustrations for the Summer DN. Here is some highlights from my work so far.

This piece is for a story about a music festival in Omaha featuring Lincoln bands. Check out the story here.

This one was for a centerpiece about outdoor activities in Lincoln. It included stories about frisbee golf, bike trails and golf courses.

Here is some cute stuff from the fall and spring semesters last year.

Illustration by Bob Al-Greene.
Colors and photoshops by me.

Happy (late) Mother's Day

2009-05-14T09:50:00.001-07:00

I painted things for my mommy. Yes, I'm vain and put myself in there, but I added a blackbird too... so, you know, I'm not THAT egocentric.

Well hey there

2009-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

So, this blog was originally set up to discuss my art project for my GLBT studies class. However, since I never really finished that, and I still really love the title of this blog, I'm just going to turn it into a general art blog for things I like and such.

Here is some stencils/stenciled art that I've been working on recently:
(And by recently I mean in the course of the last year.)

This last one actually was part of this project. It's a series of self-portraits ranging from my junior year of high school to this year. It shows growth and change, and the fact that our identities are fluid and constantly changing and evolving into other identities.

IconII

2008-11-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

IconII

We are the writers of our own history
We are the witnesses of change
Both good and bad
And we are taking part in it ourselves
We record the timelines
And we make men into immortals

What is the most important event of your lifetime?

We are living in the history books of our children
We are on the edges and in the margins
We are writing the stories that they will study one day
What legacy will you leave for them?

We are fighting to offer them a better world
Just as our parents did for us
And their parents for them

Take up arms, be the catalyst
Burn down the bureaucratic hypocrisy that controls our lives
Write your own story to pass on to those who need it most
Just like we have needed the stories of those before us
Pass on the strength that you have pulled from your predecessors
Light a fire in the hearts of a new generation

Write a story of revolution
Write a story that you can be proud to look back on
Become an immortal in your own right

First, I would like to discuss the title of this piece. It is titled “IconII” because it is the second icon in the series. Where “IconI” was based off a religious icon, this piece is based off a pop icon. Presidents in the modern day, and throughout history have been a part of pop culture. Obama is no exception, especially among the youth of today. Obama’s online campaign and mobilization of youth voters contributed greatly to this fact. Queer art often focuses on politics, and the ways the government is working and changing. The fact that Obama has been elected is monumental. It is one of the biggest and most historical things to happen in my lifetime. This fact makes me reflect on Dorothy Allison’s recent visit to our campus. She told us that we are writing history right now. We have to keep record of our lives so we can teach the generations after us about them. This is a small part of my own record keeping.

November Update

2008-11-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

November 1
Brain storming 1 hour
Self portrait- Sarah’s beard and makeup, no other covering?
Portrait series?
Gender identity- photomanip combining male and female parts (find people to photograph (art and sindu? Justin and elaine?)
Bi- painting shadowy figure playing claw game with men and women stuffed animals inside, addresses biphobia
Lady in red painting
Gender roles- putting traditional men and women in the “wrong” settings
Something with Timm!

November 3
Love Library Research 1 hour
Searched and Checked out books:
Blake, Nayland, Lawrence Rinder and Amy Scholder. In A Different Light: Visual Culture, Sexual Identity, Queer Practice. San Francisco: City Lights Books, 1995.
Horne, Peter and Reina Lewis. Outlooks: Lesbian and Gay Sexualities and Visual Cultures. New York: Routledge, 1996.
Hovey, Jaime. A Thousand Words: Portraiture, Style, and Queer Modernism. The Ohio State University Press, 2006.
Sherry, Michael. Gay Artists in Modern American Culture: an imagined conspiracy. University of North Carolina Press, 2007.

November 5
Obama Painting Concept and Sketching 1.5 hours
I decided to start a painting of Obama. Queer art often focuses on politics, and the ways the government is working and changing. Also, the fact that Obama has been elected is monumental. It is one of the biggest and most historical things to happen in my lifetime. This fact makes me reflect on Dorothy Allison’s recent visit to our campus. She told us that we are writing history right now. We have to keep record of our lives so we can teach the generations after us about them. This is a small part of my own record keeping. I wrote a bit of poetry to go with this painting, and I think I might add some of the lines to the background of the painting itself.

Finally, I'll leave you with an exerpt from the written piece as well as some photos of the sketching stages of the painting.

We are the writers of our own history
We are the witnesses of change
Both good and bad
And we are taking part in it ourselves
We record the timelines
And we make men into immortals

Artichoke Parts I, II, III [2, 3, 4]

2008-10-26T23:34:00.001-07:00

Artichoke Parts I, II, III

What is in a label?
An artichoke by any other label,
is still as complex.

I created this piece to further explore the ideas multiplicity of identity and labeling. The artichoke has come to represent layering of identies in my mind. As such, it represents to me what a heart usually represents to other people. It is the essence of a being, the core of who they truly are. By transposing the labels on the diagrams, this piece is meant to show that the two are interchangeable, and are really one in the same. It shows that one idea can be viewed and described in different ways. It all depends on how we choose to label them. The idea of labeling is one that is rooted deep within queer culture. We both label ourselves and are labeled by others. But that doesn’t mean that the two always match.

Artichoke Parts

2008-10-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

I finished three illustrations for the collection today. Below is a picture of the sketches and reference photos. The first illustration is of two artichokes and is meant to be a title piece for the collection. The other two illustrations are line drawings of a cross section of an artichoke and a heart, but, the labels on the two are transposed. I'll post the actual illustrations once I scan them and write up an explanation.

IconI [1]

2008-10-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

IconI

I am not my heart.
My heart is meat.
My essence is an artichoke.

I created this piece to represent multiplicity of identity, which is a theme that I have a lot of interest in. In "The Event of Becoming," Jewelle L. Gomez wrote, “But people are not artichokes. It is very helpful in a therapeutic situation to peel each leaf and get to the heart of what has formed personality. But in human social interaction it is by exploring the full construction and interaction of the layers of character that we find the heart. To twist an old geometry principle – the whole equals more than the sum of its parts.”
I am a queer Christian artist. While these are just a few of my identities, these are the ones I chose to portray in this piece, as well as the idea of multiplicity as a whole. I chose the image of “The Immaculate Heart of Mary” because I always thought it was interesting that in a lot of Catholic Icons, it is the heart that is emphasized. The baby Jesus is holding a piece of steak to represent that the heart, like our bodies, is just a piece of meat, and it does not really define who we are or what we do. Mary is holding an artichoke because artichokes represent multiplicity and layering of identities in my mind.

Research Journal 1

2008-10-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

(This is an entry from my research journal. It contains my ideas and personal notes about my project.)

September 24
Researching Queer art and brainstorming projects. 4 hours.
http://www.queer-arts.org/
About us: “Until the recent advent of Queer Studies, the History of Art has omitted most material of direct relevance to lesbians and gays. Much has been suppressed, much has been lost due to neglect or censorship, and a great deal has simply been overlooked. QAR is expanding the range and depth of knowledge about contemporary and historical queer art, and making this information freely available on our website.
We realize that artistic identity is molded by myriad factors, an amalgam of gender, racial, ethnic and sexual, to name a few. But we also know that honest artistic expression by the queer community plays a role in combating homophobia and advancing the principles of intellectual integrity.”

After looking though several of the galleries, I have found that exploration of the self, especially exploration of the self in the context of sexuality, is a big theme. This makes me wonder, what makes queer art queer. Is it because the artist is queer, so whatever they make is queer? Or does a piece have to be set within the context of queerness to be considered such. Would a painting of a bird be as queer as a painting of a man in a dress? Surely one could justify the bird as queer in any explanation they want, but is it the intention behind the piece, or the creator of the piece that makes it queer?

This page displays many different types of art. These include painting, illustrations, design, writing, and photography. I hope to be able to include several of these mediums into my final project both to show that queer art comes from all directions, and in all forms and to test and display my own creativity and skill. I want to create small written pieces to accompany the larger pieces.

Other ideas for illustrations/paintings
-Multiplicity of identity- artichokes and hearts
-icon w/ artichoke heart
-artichoke technical illustration
-parts labeled as identities
-artichoke and heart with labels switched
-Individual expressions of sexuality and gender
-bisexual/pansexual playing claw machine with men and women in it instead of stuffed animals, or men and women shaped stuffed animals
-queer/trans- half man half woman face, man’s face on a woman’s body, bearded man in a dress!!
-my gender/queerness- sarah kuiken knits beards out of yarn, maybe she will teach me? Or make one I could use in a photo shoot? I’ve always wanted a beard… “beards over babies!”
-challenging gender stereotypes (SUPER old-school gender stereotypes)
-bearded manly man (probably Timm) in a skirt/dress, sewing/knitting/cleaning/doing laundry
-recreation of the picture in the couple book? Suited man and beared man in dress: put a woman in the suit instead, for another twist?
-woman jackhammering/plumbing/digging a hole/fixing a car, covered in dirt/grime/oil
-androgynous person doing androgynous things
-secret hiding/feeling trapped
-gagged and/or blind folded with handkerchiefs
-blindfolded lady in red reference photo!
-bondage (duh! Too obvious?)

October 3
IconI. 12 hours of conceptualizing, researching references, sketching and painting.
For my first painting (IconI) I chose to depict the idea of multiplicity of identity. In "The Event of Becoming," Jewelle L. Gomez wrote, “But people are not artichokes. It is very helpful in a therapeutic situation to peel each leaf and get to the heart of what has formed personality. But in human social interaction it is by exploring the full construction and interaction of the layers of character that we find the heart. To twist an old geometry principle – the whole equals more than the sum of its parts.” I really liked the idea of an artichoke as a heart. The image really stuck in my head. My first idea for the painting involved placing an artichoke into a chest, with connected veins and arteries. But as I thought about my own multiple identities, the images of religious icons stuck in my head, especially the icons where saints and other religious figures were holding their hearts. As I searched for such images, I found “Immaculate Heart of Mary,” which is an image of Mary holding the baby Jesus and they are both holding hearts. (http://www.aloysius.com/) I decided that I wanted to create a twist on this image by replacing Mary’s heart with an artichoke and Jesus’ with a piece of raw steak. The baby Jesus is holding a piece of steak to represent that the heart, like our bodies, is just a piece of meat, and it does not really define who we are or what we do.

One way that I like to brainstorm is by talking to other people. I will bring a basic idea or concept to a friend, and we will talk through different ideas or images to portray it with. One person I talk to a lot is my best friend Tim. He is really good at helping me refine my ideas to something concrete and powerful. He helped me come up with idea putting the piece of meat in Jesus’ hand. He also let me paint in his room until 7:30am and pushed me to finish the painting when I just wanted to take a nap.

I think I lost my original sketch somewhere at the DN, and my copied sketches are in Timm’s room still. But I am attaching a photo of the finished piece, as well as a photo of me working on it, the painting it’s based off of, and some reference photos I found for other pieces. I want to put all these types of things into a portfolio of sorts for my final project.

In order to create a decent collection, I plan to create at least one piece a week. My first piece was IconI, my next piece will be 1-3 illustrations that focus on the same theme as IconI. They will also use images of artichokes and anatomical hearts, and I hope to display them as a set with IconI.

How to proceed: Create artichoke illustrations. Contact Sarah about acquiring a yarn beard, or a pattern to make it. Solidify and find reference photos/sketch thumbnails for other ideas. Go to the library to look for non-internet references.

in the beginning

2008-09-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Well, this whole thing started as an assignment for my GLBT studies class. We get to design our own final project centered around our own ideas and interests. So, for my project, I decided to research themes in Queer art and create a small collection based on the themes I find. I decided to create this blog to track my research and other progress of my project.