Out with the 8!

So I'm Back!

And smelling a little like fish because i was helping my dad cook fish for our New Years dinner!
Or at least for now, revisiting my spontaneous blogging moods. But no, really I've been very busy recently with work and finally starting work on my stories. It feels so great to finally have some free time to work on the things I want to work on now that school is done. So much to say, so little patience to type it all!
Let me start this one off with something that dragged me down and kept me at a low for a decent while. A main reason why I haven't been blogging so much.

"I Failed..."

I'm not one who takes failure lightly. After busting my butt in my Photoshop class, I ended up failing. Not because of the quality of my work, although it could have used a little more effort, but because of my tardiness. I was working extremely hard to get myself back up in that class and I was confident I did. But climbing up from that hole I dug myself into, I slipped, through no fault of my own and I failed. It's a long story what happened, but all that matters is I failed.
I sulked heavily about it for a long time, even now I'm still annoyed at myself mainly because I won't be able to take that 2D animation class this upcoming semester. I was so excited to dive right into it. But I've regained a new found and well needed ambition and drive into this media. A drive I've been trying to find for a while.

"and I found it"

I had one of the best teachers I could have asked for, and I did not take complete advantage of it. But it was enough knowledge to get me going, and offered me something to hold on to. From this overstressed bottom I've sunk into, I can only make my way up twice as better and present myself in a much more appealing manner. Especially to this teacher that challenged me in my art more than any other teacher has. And I want to show him that I Am that A student that I've presented myself to all my other art teachers.

---

Back to the now.
I'm home on this faithful last day of 2008 where my year followed the literary symbolism of seasons in a sense. It started off with new beginnings;
progressing towards Spring a new short-lived love and the start of my college life until May.
Throughout the Summer I found myself surrounded with life and vitality and opportunities just holding its hands wide open to me. This Summer reminded me exactly how much I love who I am and the people that I have in my life; those who are worth my time, and those that I'd prefer on the sidelines or plainly just removed.
Towards the Fall, a new sense of loneliness came around and was filled with one of the most "shittiest" semesters of my life. If it wasn't for my painting class, I'm sure I would have probably hated it all. But then again, if it wasn't for my painting class, I'm sure my GPA this semester would look much more appealing than it does now.
And now the Winter, where things come to an end in a very gloom way revolving around me, my art and my semester. I felt horrible for a while and died a little on the inside to emphasize the season a little more. But of course as the year ended, a new life in me has opened up and I'm ready to take on bigger and better challenges. The mood of Winter still shadows over me, but its only a couple more months until I can fight the cold with my new found drive.
---

Wow, I have so much to write since it's been so long. But it would all just end up to random babbling. This blog is to open up the new year, the year that I'm looking most forward to because I have so many plans to do half the things I did this year twice as better. I have a lot to look forward to and so many things to get me closer to being that artist I want to be. Aside from the fact that '09 is my favorite number

"because Blastoise was the 9th Pokemon on the list"
(Fun fact about Johnny!)

but I just feel that so much has accumulated to what's in store for me in 2009.
And I'm ready for everything. Although its only 8:51pm right now as I type away towards the end of this final blog of '08, I want to say Happy New Years to close it.
And with it a fairwell song that says Everything I feel.

Gnarls Barkley - Going On
I've seen it with my own eyes
How we're gettin otherwise without the luxury of leavin (leavin)
The touch and feeling of free is untangible technically
Something you've got to believe in ('lieve in)
Connect the cause and effect, one foot in front of the next
This is the start of a journey (journey)
And my mind is already gone, and though there are other unknowns
Somehow this doesn't concern me ('cern me)
And you can stand right there if you want

But I'm going on... and I'm prepared to go it alone~!
I'm going on... to a place in the sun that's nice and warm
I'm going on, and I'm sure they'll have a place for you too
Oo-hoo-ooh

Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn't want what they need
I want nothing to do with (do with)
I am to do what I want, and to do what I please
Is first off my to-do list (to-do list)
But every once in a while, I think about her smile
One of the few things I do miss (do miss)
But baby I've got to go, baby I've got to know
Baby I've got to prove it (prove it)
And I'll see you when you get there

But I'm going on... and I'm prepared to go it alone~!
I'm going on... may my love lift you up to the place you belong
I'm going on, and I promise I'll be waiting for you
Oo-hoo-ooh

And I'm Moving On!

Watery Tastebuds

Holidays Holidays Holidays...
I've had such a busy week with work and school now that the holiday hours are rolling in. On top of the semester coming to an end in like two weeks. It's definitely a new experience of... busy-ness for me with all of these deadlines poking at my schedule. I have zero time whatsoever to do anything else. Right now I feel like its that moment towards the middle of a movie and you're holding your breath because everything is just being revealed and all of this tension built up throughout beginning to reach its peak... Bad example? yes? no?... well deal with it. I just can't wait for winter recess to come rolling by so I can finally work on my stories.

"but moving on..."

So I'm in my photoshop class now. Another thirty minutes and I'm up and out of here to work on more projects. I'm actually working on our final project right now, devising an idea for an "Artistic Statement". A piece holding a bold statement and offers message on something we strongly believe in as an individual.

I chose a stand on Proposition 8.

My idea is still in the works and I need to hit the mark with this in terms of the message. The main message I have so far is;

"Spend our millions on poverty and hunger.

Not on Ignorance and Hate.

Abolish Proposition 8!"

My professor said that I needed to expand more on the statement. Seeing as it's too general of a message and may not catch on with those who aren't entirely clear of the Proposition. I agree. Also with the visual message I'll need to portray. I definitely have my work cut out for me.
And I like it.

----oh and note to you guys reading this----

I'm making a shirt that I'm going to use a couple of supporting bodies on. One of my plans for the project is to take a picture of a number of people wearing the shirt and making a wall of the pictures in a wide scaled product.

----

But yes aside from my other deadlines this final a major focus of mine for now.

Also since I'm in my photoshop mode, I want to put up my latest project I handed in today. It was a website project promoting a cause you feel should be considered. The project was mainly a website concept seeing as we were making it with photoshop and nothing else. My cause is called the "Save the Pastries Foundation."

Here's the splash screen

Here's the concept of the site
and here's the two versions of the shirts I had fun making up

Okay.
I don't think I did TOO amazing on the site. I wanted to add a little bit more on the main page but I really couldn't figure out what before it was time to hand it in. But I'm happy I nailed the simple layout I wanted for the site. Overall I would consider it a rough draft of a potentially perky and illustrated site.
"It doesn't have enough 'Johnny' in it..."
I guess the most I could have done was put in a box for the cause description to even out with the foreground. Yeah... I should have done that.
::sigh::

"So christmas is rolling in"
and I'm asking for nothing but graphic novels.
So far I've listed these two

it's a shame I won't get what I really want for christmas.
(insider outsided)

But it's okay. Schools almost done. What more can I ask for?

Be Thankful for that Unfinished A

::RELIEF::

Finally a small light of free time for me this week. My increasing amount of holiday hours and projects really are pushing me. But it's good, it's a good experience non the less.
"No way better than the hard road I say."

So from the last post I definitely felt a heavy amount of pressure with school work and lack of time because of work. On top of the fact that I've been running on a max of two to three hours with my weeks and a little bit extra for my weekends. It hit me this week that the first tip I got from an adviser in terms of art classes was that; to Never fall behind on a painting class.

"woops..."

But anyways, so I sorta kinda finished that boat image. I put so much work into it. Definitely the biggest artistic challenge of my life so far. Although I didn't finish, my class seemed to enjoy it very much. Especially my teacher. Strangely enough, they hardly realized that it was unfinished, as obvious as the blotted portions were...

Here it is.
here's the original
I'm fairly happy with the turn out. It was an amazing sense of accomplishment to get the praise I got for the project. I really did put my heart into it with the dwindling hours that haunted me at each stroke of the piece. I came to class feeling defeated in that it wasn't finished and expected a B- or so. Which I would have taken Happily. But apparently it was good enough for my teacher to give me a straight forward A. Which I Did take happily.
I've been staring at this piece and getting sick of the fact that it's not done. And it will be! Once I find some free time for it. I'd love to put another couple of days of work into this painting. There's still a lot of major and minor details that I need to add. Over winter break hopefully. My friend urged me to enter it in a school contest. That of which, I will do.

--Oh and Please read--
But I can't take full credit for the image. Seeing as the caption wasn't mine to begin with obviously. The image is actually from a New York Times, dated July 31, 2005. I chose the image to paint putting my mind over the intimidating detail originally because I just wanted a painted version in my boring room.
With that said. If anyone knows the guy, or has the paper that has the guy who took it... DO tell me please. I've searched for him, or her* actually, online but to no avail.

--Thank you--

Oh and here's one more piece I wanted to post.
My perspective project for my photoshop class.
I like it... sorta. But I think the sky makes the piece very loud. My teacher said that I should have made the sky going in one direction. Which did come to my mind. I was going to have it fading back in perspective into the vanishing point. Which I'm sure would have done WONDERS. But it was late at night, with 2 hours to go before I had to hand it in... late... And it just wasn't listening to me. Definitely gave up on it.
"Bad johnny..."

I'm amazed at myself though of how sloppy I am in this class. I always make the most retarded misses in editing and the obvious mistakes I have more than enough common sense to not make... and somehow I manage to.

Whatever, I'm over it!
I got a B+ because I forgot to give him my sketch.
"how annoying..."

Oh and I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Be thankful Be thankful Be thankful
Because I know I am.

I'm thankful.

Half Full

I've got a lot of things on my mind these days.

I'll need some time for me and me alone.
Blog more once all of this is alleviated.


I'm afraid, I'll never be.
the man I want to be.
the man, the man I need to be.

the reason for this fight in me.
the reason for this breath I breathe.
the reason for these shedded tears.

striving for this man in me.
the man, the man I need to be.
that I'm afraid, I'll never be.

-johnnyE

Just a quick entry

I just wanted to take the time to blog, before I pull this all nighter on this photoshop project. It's due tomorrow, and I have no excuse to not have it in my teacher's lap by then. Well... technically I do; but in the eyes of my teacher, it just looks like I... "bullshitted."
For the lack of a better fitting word.

Me working a closing and two nine hour shifts these past three days days - on top of the finance test I had to take the time to study for, will mean nothing to him. And I don't expect it to. All I know is that I'm responsible to have it in his lap tomorrow and I'm going to do just that.
I hope that I can pull a good enough job with the time I have. After dealing with such a rough week I had in terms of projects and due dates, me completing this project on time will not only relieve my stress of my grade but will put me in a better position with my other projects to hand in. Which is a really good shape for me to be in right now. Really Good.

+++

Oh and I also wanted to bring up this Graphic Novel/Manga I just bought yesterday after work.
The book is called "Solanin" by Inio Asano.

I've been so into it that I'm just speeding through the story. It was a random book that caught my eye and decided to buy looking through the graphic novels section at a B. Daltons in the mall I work in. I'm halfway through the book already and so far, I'm enjoying it very much!
The general idea of the story is of a group of teenagers, with the story revolving around Meiko and her boyfriend Taneda. They're trying to figure out their place in the world questioning if there's anything more to life than ordinary nine to five jobs that you find yourself settling with because you couldn't figure out any other alternatives. The story questions the true value of happiness and in a sense, what it takes to be committed and make sacrifices.

Overall I think it's a very cute story so far and definitely something you should look into if you want a filling light reading under a slow paced story with satisfying giggles.

----------- Edit -----------

So I haven't started my project yet.
It's been an hour since I posted and I ended up eating and spontaneously deciding to read Solanin. Then I found myself unable to put it down and decided to finish the whole book. So I did.

Productive
Procrastination
is Key!

I just wanted to say that, overall the story was good. Bittersweet is the word I'd consider about it. It moved me inside a little bit; about how life works and just how things fall through in the end one way or another. Maybe not in the way you predicted it, but they fall through. It's just all on your outlook on things on the way. There were definitely parts where I connected with the book that made my eyes water.

::sigh::

I liked his book... a lot.

"There's nothing cool about these characters. They're just your average 20-somethings who blend into the backdrop of the city. But the most important messages in our lives don't come from musicians on stage or stars on television. They come from the average people all around you, the ones who are just feet from where you stand. That's what I believe."
-Inio Asano, 2008

The Sketchbook Book And The Novel To Be A Movie

So I'm blogging directly from the Nassau computer labs.

I'm procrastinating on my Photoshop project before I have to head in to work at five. I figure I'll be here a while hoping to finish off the general layout of my perspective project so why not.

The main thing I wanted to talk about is books I'm interested in looking into. In the process of looking for inspirations for my project on yahoo, I ran into a blog by an author named Danny Gregory. The latest entry was of him talking about a book he had just completed called;

An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration From The Private Sketchbooks Of Artists, Illustrators And Designers

which holds 266 pages of a... plethora of sketchbook and journal pieces from artists, illustrators and designers all around the world. The video on his blog shows a flip-through of the pieces and artworks which has me more than interested in the book. I'm definitely looking into this one!

My curiosity has also been dragged into Persepolis.

I hadn't heard much about it until my friend Moho brought it up in a conversation of upcoming films based on graphic novels and after I had finished reading his copy of Watchmen around early October or so.

Which reminds me to get my own personal copy of that book!

I don't entirely know much of what the book is really about -

Don't tell me either! I'd rather find out for myself thanks.

but I've been running into the book a lot. Reading and hearing random people talk it up and what not. So I'm definitely looking into it also as soon as I clear up my dinner plate of projects... and after my bladder stops acting up because of the medium cup of coffee I drank before my finance test today that I managed to spill with my earbud headphones...

But yes those are the two main books I'm really interested in looking into thus far. I also want to buy myself a book on Plato, but there are too many Plato books written already that I don't even know where to start with it. I just want a general book on his philosophies. So if any if you taking the time to read this far into my blog can suggest a good version of Plato, please don't hesitate to tell me. Otherwise I guess I'm on my own.

Okay, now to get started on that project!

Alleviated and Shakenly Motivated

::SIGH OF RELIEF::

So my stressful week seems to be waiving and things are beginning to look slightly brighter. Brighter in that things are starting to come along seemingly smoother. I'll keep a strong guard and focus up this time around to get myself back on my feet after my ridiculous streak of fruitless procrastination and scatterbrained nonsense.

To update on my art, the painting project I've been slaving on has yet to be finished. I put two and a half days (late night-all nighters) into it before it was due. The amount of detail the "boating docks" image carries is definitely something I underestimated. I'm roughly forty-five percent done, but here's how my progress looks like so far;

here's the original image
"I definitely underestimated the amount of time needed for this picture."

The dock detail forced a reluctant amount of focus out of me to just do the darn thing. But I'm very happy with how the dock came out. It looks like the painted version I saw in my head. The painted version that's So hanging in my room after I'm done with it. Definitely excited.
I handed it in today for a D grade, being incomplete. But my professor allows us two weeks to do a little extra on the piece for an even better grade with no deductions seeing as I handed the project in on time. A potential A that I'm confident I will get if I keep going with it as I did the past two days.

In relevant news, today being the due date of the project, another project was given a rightful birth. And little ambitious Johnny found another challenge. Take a look at the next piece I will be working on;

"It sure is a beautiful place"

I saw this picture and was instantly intimidated. At the same time though, I was in awe at the thought of a potentially beautiful painted version of the piece. So I had to do it. All it is, is me going against time. Time seems to be progressing itself to my arch-nemesis these days.

-------- A little more blogging, A little more personal-------

To take a step away from school for a bit,
something I would just love to do,
I've been really bothered by the fact that I haven't been able to work on my stories at all. Stories I wanted to work into comics to present to some of the artists in Artist Alley at Comic Con 09. But I've been told and told again by teachers that this position I'm in now, is the way a majority of an artist's career is going to be. Working with outlines set by other people rather than myself. Unless of course I was doing my own thing, but that's given.

Also, I've been considering taking a class or two during winter recess. It's definitely much more productive than spending it hanging out and working large amount of hours for sure. I'm sure I can make time for a lot of my social desires in between it all.

"I need to be much more serious than I have been.
I want this career really bad, and I haven't shown my worth to it."

I need to get on my with my spring registration asap as well. Tomorrow I'll be running a couple of personal errands. After my english class I plan to

• talk to the necessary advisers about the winter recess and my spring term.
• Head to the mall to pick myself up some ten dollar polos on sale from my job. Definitely excited for that!
• Then head to some book place to find a small little book-journal-diary thingy I can write my personal freewrites in; my poems.(I just realized that my laptop can crash any minute when my laptop froze during the startup earlier. Definitely need to get on that.)
• Then off to home sweet home. I have to take down three chapters of finance for a big test this friday.
• Hopefully then, I'll have some time to kill for some more brainstorming on what to do with my new photoshop project due this monday.
  

I need to get a better handle of the defining forces in my life. Burn that initiative and responsibility against my pensive and hesitant nature.

I'll end this one here. With a satisfied sigh of relief.

One Challenging Week Ahead...

This is me,

about to pull an all-nighter to get as far with the painting as I possibly can. I've been working on this piece all day since eleven a.m. this morning.

"with occasional... 'pit stops'... "

In order for me to get ahead of my projects, the only way is to pull an all-nighter tonight and maybe another on tuesday night... and that's a big maybe seeing as I have class from 9-3 that day. On top of having a closing shift right after.

Also, to add on to the difficulty of my task at hand.

I also have another project due this wednesday for my photoshop class. A project portraying a play of perspective and depth of field. Tomorrow my teacher wants us to spend the day creating concepts and ideas for the project.
My idea so far is of a person falling from the sky towards a city. Problem with that is, I'm definite that I do not have a fair amount of time to do the idea. So at that, I must withdraw and think up another, easier way to expand on perspective through photoshop.
Oh and I can't forget the three chapters I need to read for a big Finance test this friday.

"Isn't my week going to be fun-filled with turtles and lollipops."

Jealous? I bet you are...

One Anxious Monday

OKAY
So things are beginning to lift away from my shoulders slowly.

"Being behind in art classes is not a situation people should be in."

Especially me.
I finished my Photoshop midterm. I had some trouble sleeping last night because I was so nervous about the criteria. Nervous because I wasn't sure if I had completed it in the way my professor wanted me to in terms of the criteria. The project is a loosely based self-portrait in that it didn't have to require your face exactly. But a collage of things that represents you. I don't think I pulled it off as well as I envisioned it, but it's fairly close.

But here it is, take a look for yourself.
In class while we were waiting for him to make a drop folder, I began seeing a couple of things I missed... Like the background and the front building. I definitely should have did some color corrections on them. At least the building. They looked fairly better on my laptop than it did on the mac desktops we use at school.
"So that's a fail on my part again..."

The buildings and colors represent what I love to be around. Eye-catching hues and and bright welcoming buildings... Time Square at night as an example. How flashy and flamboyant the scenery is. It's just completely breathtaking and makes me want to strive for that place with bright lights and amazing buildings. These are a couple of the two things combined that brings out the passion in me on several levels.

The main thing I was going for in terms of what the picture represents is me, as you can see, looking down these roads for me to venture in as I progress. There are places open for me that I have yet to dive into; be it mediums, places, experiences, etc. Things that can only catalyze me to the matured artist I want to be. Represented as blank - yet to be color areas - until I can truly fill it in.

I could have done a bit more to expand on my vision.
Definately.

"Awesome and spontaneous ideas always pop up right after the deeds are done."

I'm expecting at least a B on this project.

On top of other things now is my new painting project.
That's due soon as well. I'm a week behind because I missed one class like 2 weeks ago for this project. But it's okay, I should be good with it all. Take a look at my new acrylic challenge that's about 20% in completion...


I hope I turn this into something that I can hang in my room.
I feel like a painted version with all the blues is definitely me.

Amiguously Gay Halloween

WOW
I had the Best Halloween of my life as of yet. It's amazing how one comedic franchise can bring so much celebrity attention to your day. Which franchise do you ask?

THE AMBIGUOUSLY GAY DUO!!!
We got so much love and attention last night, it was unbelievable. A taste of being a celebrity brought to us by some pretty hot set of tights and leggings. Courtesy of American Apparel.

But unfortunately things must end, and put in a fancy antique trunk that weigh's half the earth's weight for no apparent reason. This year was definitely a year to love and remember. Next year, seems like its going to have a lot of things going for me.

"Fifteen minutes of fame, you did me well"

Now back - to getting back on top of my art game.

I have reached the land of BoGar

I've been a horrible horrible blogger...
For the past 10 days since my last entry, I've kind of been overwhelmed with school work and what not. I've been having some trouble prioritizing my works. Stressed is the key word.
"Irresponsible being the second..."

I'll start of by saying that today, for the first time ever, I went to the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. I'll continue by saying that it was awe-inspiring and that there's a chance for the world not to corrode under pollution if only we treated our parks and streets just as sacredly as the Botanical Gardens.
Imagine the possibilities...
It's just a great place to be. Especially for people like me who likes an adventurous scenery and climbing random rock formations. Because there were a lot of large rock formations that pleased me immensely. The picture below was at the Rockefeller Rose Garden after I had climbed up the pillars for a great angle for shots. Then I thought
"hey, I want to be in a picture with this background!"

::click::
(awkward smile much?)
The park truly is a mastery of nature and shows what forms of life we can actually promote to make the world so much more greener. Everything about the park was simply amazing.
Everything aside from the overpriced food and NOT having any Inro Containers for sale in the gift shop. I totally would go an extra mile for one right now. If you don't know what they are, they are these:

"Inro Containers were like the fanny packs of the Edo Period."

Samurai's would usually have them hanging right from their belts. The container's main purpose to them was to hold their medicine. What the rest of the people used it for is beyond my limit of interest.
"I just really really want one!"

The three on the left were quick sketches I did in the room once they had caught my eye. Pictures weren't allowed unfortunately. I was kind of paranoid the guard would kick me out because she had walked in right when I started sketching away.
The one to the right is my own design I did for fun and to kill the final hour before we had to get on the bus. My Inro Container would carry my Inks, Markers and Pencils.
"What Would YOUR Inro Container Contain?"

I took over 100 pictures today all around the park. Most of the pieces I figure I would use for my upcoming photoshop project which is a self-portrait abstracted-collage-in your own style-representing yourself... kinda thing. I have the image set in my head of how I want it. And if I pull it off right, I'm sure I should atleast get a B++. And I really need to because I haven't done so great on the last two projects because I'm a total Photoshop newb. Atleast I have more pictures as references to scenery.
But anyways, one of the pictures I took ended up being my wallpaper! Take a look!

I took this in the Conservatory and it looks Amazing.
I had just knelt down to get the angle when the lady, (originally being in the right), started walking. But she went so well with the picture that I just had to take her with it. So I waited until she was in the perfect spot. With that lovely blue jacket, it was great that I had caught her right next to the red set of flowers.
"Flowers really do make you smile"

OH!
Speaking of smiley's, I also finished reading Watchmen two days ago!
Alan Moore, you are one storytelling God! It was such a great story and an amazing Graphic Novel to have. Once I return this copy to my friend, I'm buying my own copy and cherishing its... yellowMoore-y goodness. Then I'm going to buy another book to read. Maybe another Graphic Novel? Sin City? Bah, I'll just dig in forbidden planet or something.
"I need to read more books. More books indeed..."

Sigh. My week has been too long. Note that I'm only stating the positives of my randoms. But OH! here's a negative I'll throw into the mix.

BLOOD MANOR!?
Total hype. I was so disappointed of the 15 minutes of...
crap-ness... I went through.
WELL, it wasn't entirely crap, it had some good scares. Smart ones at that. But Tim Haskell's projects are SOOO much better and definately has you more in the mix of exactly what is going on. On top of that, no ridiculous hourly waits. In our case last night, three hours... But it was all in good fun.

Atleast in the end we got this video that we'll most likely expand a little
more stupidity under.

Shmoverfield

Now to head off for another sunday.
A Sunday of Ambious Duos and Tektoniks.

So the Painting Sucks...

"For once Politics has come onto my side."

Seeing as the "amazing" history making debate is taking place over at Hofstra University. Nassau being the neighboring school was also affected by all of the closed roads to both colleges. So to my joy, classes today, were cancelled.

Last night I contemplated on how I would make use of my day today seeing as I had no work either. I had the huge urge to head to the city for another episode of my solitary artist ventures. I was just going to train around for my day, seeing as I'm working with these lovely monthly unlimiteds, and sketch the scenery. Buildings, local parks, things that just catch my eye that I could use for my future stories.
One of which I'm working on right now is my story called
Animal Crackers.
Here's a quick markered/inked sketch I did
watching Heroes this monday.
There are supposed to be five of them but I haven't decided on
what the fifth mask will be.

"Elephant? Zebra? I'm not sure..."

But I won't tell you any details as of yet. Just know that I wish to put it in my school newspaper as my entry.

But yes, Ultimately I decided to stay home today realizing that
I have other obligations to tend to first.
Such as studying two chapters for my Personal Finance class,
my picture editing project for my Photoshop class
and finally finishing the final touches to the Sisly painting
that I'm still hating myself for putting off for so long.

But anyways, I've finished it and here's the finished product.

This is the photocopy my teacher had us use.

and here's the original Sisley.

I totally failed at second right half of the floor. I went through 5-6 layers of doing it over and over that I just let it be.

"Maybe I'll retouch it in the future when I'm over hating that section of the painting..."

I realized after taking the picture that my impatience really shows after finishing the floor. The rest of that right corner of the painting looks like absolute crap...
ugh whatever I'm so over this piece... Now to hand it in late and get a C or something...

"Thanks Mr. Negative!"

Oh well moving on.
:)

New week, Looking forward

OKAY.
So I've had an interesting week of sorts. Slightly stressful... well actually, moderately stressful. But interesting non-the-less.
For my art club this week, the third meeting of the term. All we pretty much did was hang out and get to know each other a little more. The attendees doubled this week and I can only look forward to the trip to the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx! I need to dig deeper into this world of art that I've let slip by my non productive teenage life.

The college newspaper "the Vignette" (pronounced, "VIN-YET", to my discovery) offered the art club to hand in stories and strips for the newspaper. Once I heard the offer, my mind just exploded with a yearning to work on new ideas and stories. Stories in which I've held in the un-dusted areas of my mind and cobwebbed pages of my concept notebook. Yet I stand on rocky stilts with it all seeing as my skill in story telling and play, i feel, leaves a lot to be desired. But I'm confident my friends can help me clear the murky waters.

"Boy am I filled with cheap metaphors today"

Moving on, it was later that Tuesday that I realized that I really have to learn to better prioritize my time to hang out and my time to work on my projects. On top of fighting my relentless urge to procrastinate. I found myself attempting to pull an all-nighter on that painting project which I should have let myself be done with a week ago... Now I've almost finished it, but I'm in the process of retouching it to make it look its best before I hand it in for a late grade... I really messed myself up last week.

"I can't freaking believe that I pushed it off for so long...
SOoo annoyed..."

To have made it worse, I ended up not being able to pull the all-nighter seeing as I only had 2 hours of sleep the past two days before and ended up deciding not to go to my classes that Wednesday. I woke up feeling extremely low about everything that I just didn't want to do anything with myself whatsoever.

After all of that had blown over, I felt slightly more relieved seeing as I didn't have school the following day. With it, I took a personal day to head off to the city and buy myself some art supplies for the future projects I plan to work on. The main item in mind was a fairly sized sketchbook for me to draw comic pages and story boards on for the "make an impression at artist alley at comic-con" project. I ended up buying a 13X9 sketchbook and more Micron inkey pens.

"I need to control myself with these ink pens and markers..."

That personal day to soho and treks around union square was something that I really needed. My mind had grown so erratic and just so... Unorganized that I found myself crumbling under my personal pressures. I've had so many things just biting at my mind that I just needed things to keep my attention focused and happy.
And nothing did it better than buying comics again ^^.
I dropped by Forbidden Planet and picked up

The Sword 10 and 11,


and Eternals 5...
I was mainly excited for the Sword because I'm such a big fan of it all. Eternals I just got into and totally wish I had bought the series of eternals before this one at the BigAppleCon I went to earlier this year. But it's okay, the Lobster Johnson comics I bought instead was wayyy worth it. ^^ But I'm behind on so many issues. I was following so many marvel storylines...

"Ugh, I'll catch up on Comic-Con 09! when I WOW! someone at artist alley..."

::fingers crossed::

and last but notleast, my main perk of the week was me and my friends heading over to the Nightmares Haunted House over at Delancey.
Oh-my-GOODNESS did I have a blast at Nightmares. Nothing better than being in pitchblack hallways with your friends being attacked by in your face "monsters" that smell like dirty laundry. It was such a rush.
But I was horribly disappointed by the second part; Legends... I practically walked through that whole thing just waiting for something scary to happen... The maze they had last year was so much more fun. Plainly put, Nightmares was a blast, Legends... uhm... in the past... yeah.

BLOOD MANOR HERE WE COME!

But yes that was mainly my week. A little rough at the start but all in all, some time of fun to drop some of the stress does no harm but make you spend money that you shouldn't be spending. Also we did take a trip over to Beacon's Closet over at Bedford in Brooklyn. I was amazed at how down to earth and just... urban everything and everybody was. I felt like i was in an indie movie shoot or something because the place just seemed to... down to earth. I saw so many sites that Thursday but of course, I had forgotten my camera at home. I would have colored up this blog so much more than it is now...

Until next time! (hopefully not another sunday)

Concepts and A Kindled Flame

Maybe.

I should just consider this my sunday blog... Because I usually find myself blogging on sundays anyways.

"yeah... no not really"

Any-whos, to update on my works.
This whole week has been COMPLETELY unproductive in terms of me and my art.
I found myself mostly in the city with a bunch of my friends and contemplating on halloween costumes for a party. But in terms of concepts and ideas, I've bled out a couple more on my fun little book of concepts.


The book that I hardly touch. I've had it for... I'd figure almost two or three years now. With a set of my ideas and stories and what-not. Not a lot has happened to it since... I find myself focusing more on perfecting my art than perfecting my stories. Which I'll definitely need to work on as time goes by.
But I'm happy I added on more depth to this story I'm doing dealing with cloning and the the controversies of it all. I've had the story for a while now but there's so much I want to add to perfect it for everything to just work through.
I titled it "Clone Wars" around 2004-2005 when my ideas were at it's infancy. Which unfortunately it still is. But now I feel like the title would just sound completely uninspired with what I'm trying to give off in this piece so it's in the works. I even made my first serious comic book under it.

"Oh and also"

The New York Comic-Con is coming up soon!

Well, not really... in like 100 something days

"I forget..."

All I know is that I got an email from them telling me the updates and the countdown and whatnot and I realized.

"I can make an impression on the artist alley!"

I have... like 100 something days to work on this new sketchbook I planned.
Which is almost four months of me, buying this new sketchbook and making comic panels and short story strips and pieces to show them my talent. Whether I shine or not. Or simply just blink a couple of blinding whites, I have nothing to lose and gain only the critiques of the comic industry men themselves.

"I have to do it!"

The flame burns brightest at the spark of opportunity.

Sundays and YesterSketches

"SUNDAY WE MEET AGAIN."

and I'm behind once again.
But it's not Sunday's fault I forgot my camera yesterday to take pictures in the city with for my Photoshop project due TOMORROW.

There were so many great captions that I saw with the potential of a damn A+!
The project is mainly doing color selections on a grayscale and what not. Still in the basics of photoshop thus far into the semester.

So I decided to head to the city yesterday and meet up with a bunch of my friends. Otherwise I had planned to stay home to finish the Sisly painting and then work on other projects...

"...like my photoshop one..."

Now I'm technically behind BUT it's okay. I had a good time yesterday with friends AND I made some good loving with my sketchbook.

LOOKIE!


"I Love the way these markers are working for me!"

The first one was fun doing because the guy was practically right in front of me on the train and my friend was being very conspicuous, continuously poking at me that he might be looking.
I made the other Munny's ear too big. But its okay. Then I realized how flamboyant I made it's highlights. And the Ikaris Munny that I would love to make! I wanted to do a project with them and do a whole superhero collection of them for a project. But that's something I'll do in the future when I have more extra free time and extra cash to spend on all of those Munnies.

"OH!"

And definately looking forward to reading
WATCHMEN.
My friend gave me his graphic novel because I've been missing out on a lot of amazing reads because I don't take the time to dig through any form of literature...

::scratches head::

Art Club Fun

The first thing I want to say for this entry is that

I JOINED THE ART CLUB!

I know, I know. Big woop, anyone can join. But for me it's something special because it's the first time I've actually gotten involved in such a thing.

"And I'm SO set on it!"

Like I'm really trying to throw in ideas and inspirations to whatever task we are going to present in terms of representing the club to its full extent. I'm so excited for everything about it. Especially the random trips to random places, mainly museums here and far. Last year the club actually had gone to Philadelphia! I forgot for what but heck, thats Awesome anyway!
This October we're actually set on going to the Botanical Garden in the Bronx. I can't wait to get closer to the people and share artworks and visions and just expand my mind and talents even further.

So today, since most of the clubs have just settled and started a small group, Nassau held the Student Activities Fair where all of the clubs in the school come together in one huge lot and just represent and try to bring in more and more students and have them more involved. Personally, aside from the breakdancing club, I feel like ours was one of the most attractive booths set. Everyone was hanging out doing their job mingling and talking up how amazing the art club truly is (::wink::). What made it even better was that a couple of us (three including me) had some artworks to represent some styles and views the club had. We even had a bunch of food from our leader who works at Starbucks.
Fresh food in terms of small coffee cakes, banana nuts, glazed watchamacoffee cakes - that gets thrown away every close because they always serve their products fresh... Dunkin' Donuts does it also... and Auntie Anne's.... I think Pretzel Time... and any other companies you can think of that I can possibly digress the topic about how wasteful they are...

"but, mmm... Starbucks..."

We had coffee, balloons, really bright table cloth... and to top it off we had a small print making demo where two of our members printed the art club flyer design on tshirts. I wish I had brought my camera to show how we had everything displayed in our gallery made up of 8 pieces taped on a mobile chalkboard.

"It feels AMAZING to finally be so involved"

Here are the pieces I made though. I had promised the club I'd work on 3 large pieces to present for everyone on Tuesday. Pieces I started from then til late last night...

"Alll last night..."
(allowing me only 45 minutes of sleeptime until my eight o'clock English class...)
"and I'm still awake... why?"

All in that order. I actually liked the way they all turned out, except maybe the middle one... Which looks much better in the picture than actuality. They're mainly self portraits fun and exciting to catch the eye and represent the art club through a saying.

::SIGHhhhh::

That whole hour of just promoting the club was just so much fun. Then I had work two hours later where I had to fight against my horribly fatigued body to work against seven more hours before I sank deep in my bed...

OH so UPDATE on the painting!
Take a look.
I'm not gonna say much for it now but that I'm happy with how its turning out but of course.

"truly I can't stand looking at it because the unfinished piece is just SO obnoxious..."


"Go Sisley!... ..."