Whitney

Firstly, thank you so much to Julie and Serena who have checked in on me numerous imes since my last post. Your kindness and concern really and truly touches me deeply. Thank you.

Secondly, I'm doing well. My blog has been sadly neglected but what can I say; I have a Gemini Rising- I can be flaky.

Third: this post, juxtaposed with the previous one, is both ironic and very cool. Because, friends, I got an illustration commission. That means someone is paying me to draw, and what is cooler than that????

I have been commissioned to create a character for The Whitney Collection.

Here are the 2 samples I sent to them. They chose the straight haired one, so I'll be working this weekend to finish her in Illustrator.

I started the drawings Wednesday night. When I went to scan the first one in, I discovered much to my dismay that my scanner was dead with no explanation. I tried everything. Re-installed drivers, prayed, nothing. Dead. I tried for an hour and a half to resucitate it. So, since I had to deliver these drawings on Friday, I went and got another scanner yesterday. Bummer. $130. Carried the damn thing all over Manhattan. When I got home, my old scanner immediately started working like nothing ever happened. I guess the threat of replacement put it in line. At least I can return the new one.

Final digital image to come.

Feeling Failure

I had a stern talk with myself a few days ago. Except it didn't seem to make much difference.

See, here's the thing- I am feeling like a dismal artistic failure, and it's all my fault entirely. It's all my fault because I am not producing any work!

Life is short. And I have a gift, an ability. I can draw, I can paint, the art thing is part of my core nature...and I'm doing NOTHING AT ALL with it!

The last painting I finished was over a year ago!

Do I blame having a toddler? Partially- it's hard to do much of anything when she's awake. Or is it more that I am lazy and unmotivated, even more than I am tired? I don't know. If I really wanted to I would, right? And I do want to, I just...don't.

:(

Perspective

A very close friend of mine has a son who was diagnosed with severe emotional and psychological problems at the age of four. Ever since, he's been on different formulas of psych medication, therapy, etc. Last night she told me about something he did in school which is severe and disturbing enough to warrant putting him in inpatient pediatric psych care.

This is a very heavy weight for a parent to carry, on so many levels- physically, emotionally, and mentally. And she's a single mom with no contact/support from the father, too. My heart really goes out to her.

It kinda puts the normal, expected behaviour problems we have with our kids in perspective.