We spent a beautiful weekend in Montréal. It was great to practice my French and, luckily, I found it came back quickly. Plus, the whole city is practically covered in flashcards, as most everything is spelled out in French and English. We explored the Musée D'Art Contemporain de Montréal, among other things, but mostly spent the weekend walking, familiarizing ourselves with the city. It was my first time visiting, and by the time we had to leave, I very much wanted to stay. Only a four-hour drive, but vastly different than home. Small businesses and odd eccentric shops were thriving, countless diners, cafes and small restaurants to explore, music and art everywhere, a city that promotes bicycle-use, red wine that smells like brie cheese, and an overwhelming number of generally friendly, patient and beautiful people. It was just beginning to get cold too, but there wasn't snow. It is one of those northern cities that's made for winter. I bet it is gorgeous. The plan is to go back soon.
Animal figure drawing was fun! The rabbits were brought by the local SPCA, and I think I will start volunteering there...yay.
I entered a few paintings into the Madison County art show a few weeks ago, and I was delighted to have had two of them place. These have been seen before, but the ribbons are new! First and third for Josh and Alex, respectively. There was an awards presentation Friday, and my mother was gracious enough to document this event...shlumpy but happy, I stare into her piercing Carl Zeiss lens, and ask myself, why she is photographing me and not just the paintings. (Alex's face makes the local news)
I offered to do photo coverage on some of the alumni events for the Dean's office so here are little layouts of some of those shots. The first group is from the opening of "The Original Art of the Funny Papers" at XL Projects downtown. Brad Anderson and Robb Armstrong were two of the attending alums. The second group of photos is from an Industrial Design Alumni panel discussion held downtown at the warehouse.
New Job! This one, thankfully, is longer term ("indefinitely") and may actually be what keeps my portrait project alive. It let's me sleep a little more and it puts me in contact with exactly the people I need help from to make the project happen. Thanks Karma. And thanks University College. 
My accidental sketchbook is a Steno Book. And it is being filled with animal appreciation relaxation sketches. I've been doing this all day. I'm done with people portraits for a little while, unless the project gets a surprising and sudden second wind. And I've never really worked on landscapes or animals in oil before. I think it could be really beneficial. I'm grabbing a tent and heading out to the High Peaks Saturday. Maybe I'll even take a day off. 
The Project continues...
This is a fairly large canvas to kick my butt back into gear...it's my transition piece to get me back in the swing before the big projecto begins. Now lacking a social life, I'm left with two things to do: work and work. It's proving very conducive to inspiration and follow-through. Thank you Jupiter in Aries for finally showing up (astrology...I can't help but love you).
Someone was practicing Yann Tiersen upstairs in Crouse College.Today was a great day.
My emailbox and phone wait for a highly anticipated answer to arrive.
A canvas has been readied!
I feel momentum.
These are by a new-found inspiration, Dmitri Belyukin, who has been a very big part of the motivation and direction I am taking with a new project. There is so much to learn, and always will be.
Twiddly dee...first day at work. I've been listening to the piano performance majors (or perhaps just one of them) practice all day upstairs. It's been lovely. For many reasons, today was a slow day...getting familiar with papers and numbers and ways of doing things. But these things don't take more than an hour. I read some news...it seems there will never be a solution to the voting machine problem. And the Middle East still has many unresolved issues. This is not news. 
Sometimes I get discouraged because I don't spend nearly "enough" time with a sketchbook...but all of my intended-to-be sketchbooks end up being covered in about this percentage of writing over drawing anyways. I should just start calling it a journal...of sorts.
I have no access to a scanner here, nor do I have my camera. I can't upload any new images so I'm left to clearing out my media files and bringing back some old things.
Training continues...
Craftdiddleumptious.
Lots of time spent playing and relaxing in the last couple of days. A 43 mile bike ride has left me stiff and loungy on the couch, uploading and editing photos. A week until job training. That leaves the next few days to finishing up the business card prints and the portrait.
A job offer!
I am happiest when I'm busy.
My first leg of the trip started out with a train to Buffalo-Depew that was running an hour and a half late. And when faced with a long wait and blessed with company while doing so...one has no choice but to draw the company...even if it is made up of strangers.
