Gouache and Pufferfish

I was able to finish my puffer painting with no incident.
Took about 2 hours.
Gouache in sketchbook.

The view I had was not good for composition so I rearranged things a bit.

Originally I wanted to paint the dolphin-fish but my eye level was too low.

My puffer pal!

Pretty sky.
I kept expecting the clouds to move!!

AMNH FAIL.

Daya went out with a friend today and I didn't have plans but also didn't just want to sit around at home, so I went to AMNH to paint since it is so supercold outside and I didn't feel like suffering.

So, museum.
Trains are messed up not-in-my-favor so it took a while to get there.
Literally as soon as I got up the stairs to enter security stopped people from entering.
Something happened, I don't know what.

They had the doors closed for about 15 minutes.

When i went inside, I thought of what I might want to paint. I kept thinking of ocean life and thought that might be a good idea, something different.
So I went there.

I found my spot but had to wait because someone left their stroller where i needed to be and they walked away.
So I waited and they moved it eventually.

I set up.
I sketched the layout.

A girl, maybe 6 years old or so, came to watch too closely.
I don't really mind except she smelled very strongly of poop.

12 minutes go by......

Due to view restrictions I had to re-arrange the composition.
Thinking done.
Layout done.
Paint laid out.
Brushes out.
I'm ready for color.

Security then went around announcing everyone needed to leave the hall immediately because it's closing for an event.

So I had to pack up.

At that point I could have stayed til closing but I was just done, everything was against me today, so I left.

I'll go back tomorrow and try again.

*****
We have not heard from Ailey yet and I expected to yesterday if it was a yes.
But Daya's friend hasn't heard anything either.  They are both dancing at LaG together and her friend is also in the Ailey year-round program. So I'd think she would get in as well.

I feel better knowing someone else I'd expect would get in hasn't heard yet either.

Waiting for audition results can be really nail-biting!!

Soul-Crushing Anatomy Study Nite

Tonight was another meeting of the Reuters East Coast Art Group.
I didn't feel like carrying painting gear so decided to do some anatomy studies in an environment that made it a little more fun. Colored pencil in sketchbook.

I worked from this book that Simon said to get.
It is actually quite good.

The Fire Drill Rescue Mission

Daya left her lunch at home and texted me asking if I could bring it to her.
She is at school until 6:30pm today so that's a problem.
It's probably better that she doesn't pass out from starvation in pointe class.

Her lunch bag was deeply buried on her bed which is likely why she forgot it.
I couldn't find it the first time I looked.
I also added an extra protein bar to whatever she packed.  She'll be hungry.

As I was walking to the train she texted me to say there is a fire drill second period, let's try to meet outside.  And it actually worked out time-wise.  She said meet her by the main entrance.
So I went there and waited.
And waited.
It was cold.
Kids started coming out s l o w l y.

I did not want to wait while the whole school emptied out at that pace.
Especially since I know she was coming down from the 8th floor which might put her last.
Did not see Daya.

Then she texted saying they went out the other entrance.
So I walked down the block which put me behind the fire drill.

I ended up in the fire drill, stretched all the way down the block, trapped in a bunch of LaGuardians.
Finally found Daya.
Told her that if there is ever an evacuation emergency in that school, no one's getting out.
She fully agreed.

By the time I found her it was time for everyone to go back inside, so I finished the fire drill with her.
Daya showed me to her friends.

That is how I ended up participating in a high school fire drill instead of being at work like I should have been, and why my rescue mission took almost an hour instead of 15 minutes.

Daya is very lucky I am close by to rescue her; I had to do it last Friday as well because of her backpack.

Conflicted Cat

Isis had her teeth out today so I was home.
It's been a strange day all around. Rainy and dreary.
An off-routine day after a busy weekend.

*****
New Jersey
Saturday Daya and I went to New Jersey- she actually won a vacation from something she filled out at her 8th grade trip last summer! And it's actually legit.

It was a very nice day together but we both came home feeling oddly drained.
We know it was because of being in New Jersey.
Neither of us is good at doing New Jersey.

******
Ailey
Sunday was the Ailey audition.
Carey has been wanting me to hold her accountable for painting.
And that's always good for me because I found myself at the easel doing a studio painting!
Wow!!

Well, Daya came over and said "Mom you know we have to leave in 15 minutes for Ailey."
....
I did NOT know that because I was painting and lost track of time.

We got there early.
Even though Daya did get accepted into Bolshoi from her audition last weekend, she still has more auditions. She really, really wants Ailey.  I think her heart is there somehow in a deep way.
I also think she wants to see another acceptance from them especially after last year.

I really want her to go to Bolshoi because it is different training than she's ever had, and getting in there is a big deal.  Next year Daya will go to Ailey after school, in addition to LaGuardia.

Daya always finds friends at the auditions now.
Her people are everywhere.
I think it's really nice for her to have friends at these things.

*****
Cat
Isis ended up needing six teeth out- all 4 fangs plus 2 more back teeth.

She's really really mad but otherwise ok.

Actually she's conflicted- she did start letting me pet her again but she growls to make sure I know she's mad at me.

After Daya went to bed she came over several times and said hello in her normal cat-way, I pet her, then she remembered she was angry and started growling again.

At one point she was literally trying to purr and growl at the same time.

It's completely ridiculous.

Vet bill: $990.

The Most Ridiculous Story Ever

Both Daya's school backpack and her dance bag are done and need replacement.
So on Saturday I ordered thru Amazon.

The bags were shipped in 2 separate boxes on one order. 

Since I am home today because of the cat, I was home when the mailman arrived with the boxes.
He rang the bell and I answered.
He said "I have two boxes for you but I can only give you one."

Huh?

I asked why would this be.

He said one of the boxes was mis-scanned at the warehouse and marked as lost.
I said "But you're holding it."
He said "Yeah."

He said he has to take it back to the warehouse to get re-scanned and someone has to bring it back tomorrow.

I said "That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard."
He agreed and called his customer service, who was unable to resolve the problem.

For the sake of time and sanity, and because ridiculous situations need ridiculous solutions, I said to him just give me the contents of the box and re-deliver the empty one tomorrow.

And that's exactly what we did- I opened the box, got Daya's dance bag out, taped the box up so he could bring it back to go through their system, and someone will bring it back empty tomorrow.

Gouache and Ailey

Waiting at Daya's Alvin Ailey audition today.
Gouache in sketchbook.
6th floor lobby area.

Bolshoi Acceptance

DAYA GOT INTO THE BOLSHOI SUMMER PROGRAM!!

I am ridiculously proud and happy.

This is especially remarkable because she went to the audition with ONE pointe shoe and so could not do the pointe part of  it.

AND SHE STILL GOT IN!

We still have  the Ailey audition so will probably be a choice between them.

Gouache and Bolshoi

Yesterday Daya had an audition for the Bolshoi summer program.
I had to wait for about an hour and a half, so I painted the waiting area.

I didn't finish, and since we had to be at school for a 2pm show (the audition ended at 1) I was on a real time limit.

I got this far on-location...... painting makes time go by so fast!

And I did the final layer today at home, I needed another 30 mins or so.

Daya forgot ONE pointe shoe for the audition.
Sigh.

30 Faces- Done

I completely and suddenly lost steam with 30 Faces in 30 Days after Will Weston.

But I wanted to see it through, so I did. Even if I am a day late. I just didn't have the energy last night, between the dishwasher and battling a stuffy-cold.

It felt a lot like homework.

But it was worthwhile and good practice.

I'm glad I finished,

Now I am going to continue with Will Weston stuff.

*******
DISHWASHER UPDATE:
Someone is coming on Sunday to look at it.
I had to wash all the dishes that were in there.

I have to wait til 9am tomorrow

My
brand
new
DISHWASHER
is
not
working
the
door
will
not
close

I HAVE USED IT ONCE

I think it was not installed correctly, and that one time running it shifted things.
I can literally wiggle the damn thing around.
One of the mounting bracket sticks out, the other one looks cut and does not stick out.

It was closing properly until tonight i dont know what the fuck happened but i'm pretty pissed off mostly because it's too late and I can't tell anyone about it.

New Dishwasher

It was the cheapest one available and it is maybe a million times better than the old one.
I LOVE it.

CAT UPDATE:
Isis growled and hissed for two days after going to the vet.
She finally stopped yesterday.

Sunday Tea

There are days when the perfect thing to do is go to your fabulous wacky bestie's place and have high tea.

I had terrible bus vibes getting over there, just dreadful, so since I was late Jackie was having a slice across the street.

I kid you not, the guy running the pizza place is actually named Rocky.

He's been there for 40 years.

Then we went to the Italian bakery (everyone really ought to have one, so sad if you don't).

We know how to have tea.

Kitty did really weird things for quite a while.

                            

Afterwards I helped move the bike Jackie got for her (adult) son.

It is quite large and very white, and also (surprise!) glows in the dark.

It was indoors waiting for the new cover Jackie ordered.

Her old one was stolen and she knows who took it because he was on the security camera,

Seriously who steals a bike cover?

Cat Repair Event

Isis went to the vet.

I have not taken her to the vet- ever- she hasn't gone anywhere since I adopted her in December 2012.

She went into the carrier purring.
I thought she'd be ok.

She was TERRIBLE.
She was so bad the vet said for future appointments I have to pre-sedate her.
This is an excellent idea.

Daya came along.
She got to talk about algebra with the vet and look at Isis' nasty earwax under the microscope.

THE VERDICT
1 ear infection
2 swollen fangs
0 urine drops collected
3 blood tests
1 container antibiotics
1 tube ear ointment
1 extremely angry cat. no, not angry.  ENRAGED.

OMFG

And the estimate for dental surgery in 2 weeks:

                           

Pebbles thinks Isis deserves all of it.

***********

In order to put some meaning into my life I got on Discord with my ESO guildie Cas and we had an art date. She did (college) homework and I did a soul-numbing anatomy study from Bammes.

Anatomy studies are so boring.

                                       

Friday Night Figure Drawing

I went to figure drawing, was tired but it was ok. Much better to go.

I'm tired of the way I'm working in graphite, might switch to charcoal to change things up.
One pose all evening.  I easily reach the end of my knowledge to take the drawing further, anatomy is my issue.

We talked a lot about observing first, then light under-drawing and getting the bulk of forms in space.
It's good for me to slow down.

Face detail. I actually got a good likeness.

The lighting was really weird.

Simon always has book recommendations, and I usually get them.
I asked if I need Artistic Anatomy if I already have Bammes and he said yes.
So I got it.

Overwhelmed

I have been so overwhelmed this week, I can't find my center, or rather I can't keep it..... I feel stressed.

Honestly my blog has been stressing me out because I'm so behind, and that Will Weston post is why.
Now it's done.

Work is INSANELY busy.

I helped a LaGuardia parent with a Facebook problem and as a result of helping her the person who was in charge of doing all the Facebook stuff (not the mom I helped) offloaded the entire role of LaG PA Facebook Person onto me going forward. I did not intend or ask for that- but she was really dying to stop so took any opportunity-- Well- I don't actually mind so I agreed, if it was something I could not do I would have said no.  But I'm ok with it.  I don't know what to do yet, but I'm not sure that matters very much to be honest.

My dishwasher is scheduled for installation on Tuesday, yay!
The kitchen is getting a small re-vamp.  Both Daya and I are unhappy with it, and that is stressing me out too.  I can't do much but everything in here is so old it just all needs touch up.

And we need a kitchen table, and just to re-organize things a bit.

To be honest a lot of it I haven't been able to do because I either don't know how or I need help, or both. Oh, and also because I think painting is more important.

Daya is being really helpful and without her help it likely wouldn't get done.

I'm also behind in 30 faces in 30 days- to be honest Will Weston just blew it away completely.
It's so basic and elementary compared to his information, which I'm slightly obsessed with at the moment.  But I'm going to finish the 30 faces on time.

Who Am I?

I have been at my job for almost 14 years.

14 years.

14.

years.

Today I got an email from HR saying they need me to fill out the I-9 and verify my identity and right to work in the United States.  I have to bring identity documents so they can look at them in person.

Also, my REAL ID Enhanced Driver's License which proves my citizenship (I paid extra for that) is NOT ENOUGH ID....... so I have to dig out my birth certificate to show them, even though I had to show my birth certificate in order to get he license in the first place.....................

14 years people.

My Paper Angel

Look at what Tammy sent me....
This is incredible.... a bunch of my beloved and discontinued Richeson paper AND a gorgeous painting!

Thank you Tammy you really put a massive bright spot in my day/week/month/heart.

Monday AMNH

Monday was a day off so Daya and I went to the museum of natural history.
I'm glad she actually agreed to go; Daya doesn't like to hang out with me so much these days.

We have always had such nice times together at the museum, but she wasn't really into it. 
I felt really sad.

We saw the new space show and got astronaut ice cream.

FYI the new volcano movie is really boring; they should just bring back the cool fish movie I wanted Daya to see but it's over.

Will Weston Workshop

I did a 2 day very intense workshop with Will Weston, who is a wizard.

There aren't really words for it, so here are a bunch of pictures with a TON of info in them, a massive information dump which is very fitting for the lecture.

If you are interested in Mr. Weston's materials, head on over to Drawing America, where you can get his lectures and some classes online.  It is extremely worthwhile.  I need to work with these materials for a while- he says it takes 4-6 weeks. It's overwhelming so I need to slow it down and just do a lot of homework.

ALL THESE DRAWINGS WERE DONE BY WILL WESTON.

















********
My work from the workshop was pretty crappy for the most part.
That's ok, workshops are meant to be learning environments and change the way you work.  They are not meant to produce finished results. To be able to draw well requires that you draw and draw and draw and draw and draw and I don't do enough and my anatomy is seriously rusty.

Musicians are not precious about practice scales, or most of their practice as finished- drawing is exactly the same.

These are my drawings.  Most were 5 minute poses, a few 10s and the arms/hands and faces were 2 min poses.  The multi-figure poses were composition exercises with storytelling, each was a 5 min pose we had to arrange.  I think I forgot to photograph the arms/hands page and I'm too tired to go back and do it.