Running, running.....

I mentioned before that some friends and I are doing our own little biggest loser competition. Well this week started my new workout week. I did cycling Monday, running Tuesday, gym workout on Wednesday and I went for a walk today. I've certainly been enjoying it.

I want to talk a little more about my run on Tuesday. I didn't just run by myself. I took my friend's dog Luna with me. Luna is a ridiculously adorable dog. She is a mutt, who is absolutely loveable and super well behaved. I'd adopt her myself if my friend didn't do so first. She is the sort of dog that just sits on a kayak when her owner is paddling away, she sits at the table at restaurants that allow it and doesn't try to take food, and she doesn't need to be on a leash. Pretty darn perfect in behavior and 50 pounds so just about the perfect size. Well, on a run she is pretty perfect too.

For one, Loony Luna is pretty high energy. She can run pretty fast at a sustained pace. However, she doesn't run as fast as she can, she is nice and runs my pace. Not going to lie, a dog being in better shape than you is more than a little blow to your ego but she kept me motivated. I ended up going 4.5 miles, walking only about a mile of that. That is pretty darn amazing. It didn't remotely feel like.

I learned some things about Luna on our run. She doesn't chase after anything except for rabbits. She is not a fan of traffic, so I will not be running along busy streets. Other than that, I forgot how crazy people are. Specifically one guy apparently was running out of gas. As I was running and had right of way (and he had no turn signal) we continued running. He was nice enough to yell "Get out of the way B$@#%! I'm about to run out of gas!" I was happy I had Luna for protection from crazies. Overall, enjoyable run.

On the downside, my laptop is dead. It'll take me awhile to get a new one. That makes me a little sad.

Turn the Pages

I remember why I do not go to the bookstore on a regular basis.

I walk in and I never quite remember why it has been so long. The other day, I was on a mission. I'd decided I wanted the Richard Castle "Heat Wave" novel. For those of you who do not know, the book was written by one of four popular mystery writers with Castle as the auther to follow with the ruse that the showhas taken. I thought this was wildly clever and had to read it. With a mission in mind, I stepped into borders.

After I quickly found what I was looking for I remembered that Ellen was on the cover of Shape. I decided to buy that as well. When I walked across the store towards the magazines there was a table of buy one, get one half off. After a brief perusal I saw that Julie and Julia and Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox were there. So naturally, I added them to my arms. As I continued they had a bin of books $4 and under. Upon inspection I found 2 more novels that looked rather amusing. Including King Dork and some book about a female in the Dada movement. I would also have you note that there were several books about Tiger Woods in this pack of misfits. I shifted to the magazine rack and got my Shape. I then remembered how much I wanted to buy "Eat, Pray, Love." However I decided I was already a little out of hand.

So, $60 and one hour later I was on my way home. I know exactly why I don't often go into bookstores. I'm already through the stuff I went in to get and I'm sure I'll get through it all quickly. It happens I guess.

Blast from the Past

So I read through my blog. Not every sentence of course but skimmed it. I write a lot about wanting to paint. I've failed pretty miserably on actually doing any painting for the most part. I think that will change soon. I've been trying to come up with some good ideas all day. Like I said, when you don't have the constriction of school, art becomes a little more difficult.

I once had this assignment to appropriate another artist. We could straight copy a famous artist or we could find a painting we really loved and take the basic idea and meld it with our own. I had watched a ton of Art 21 pretty close to this assignment and so I decided to pick one of the artists from that. I had really loved Michael Ray Charles paintings.
Like this one
I found one similar to it and came up with this.
Single White Female

The scale of this was pretty large if you don't see the person on the couch behind it. It's 5.5 feet tall and 4.5 wide. Largest painting I have still done to date. It inspired a lot of conversation about using out life experiences as a scape goat. Taking advantage of ideas about blonds. However, since I have been blond and single the majority of my life I think I have every right to paint about it. I was also just a little bitter the summer that I painted it. I believe Michael Ray Charles has the right to paint about the image of African Americans. he has dealt with plenty of stereotyping and strife. For what? All artists can do is commentate and expand on our experiences. This doesn't mean our art has to be the sort of in your face kind that makes people squirm, but if you are a part of the stereotype you have the right to. That is my two cents anyway.

I want to share an artist I recently heard about who happened to go to my high school. His name is Michael Vasquez and he too paints about his experiences. Check out his work.... Shown here
as well as this site that talks about the work!
It was very interesting.

Still deciding what to paint about. Hopefully will have actual artwork soon.

One thing I just love about.....

Blogging. It isn't so much the writing I love. Overall, I feel that is probably on of my weaknesses. It's not so much the sharing of my brilliant ideas, cause I doubt I ever really truly have those. It isn't even the fact that other people may read what I write, although that fact is kind of cool. I love blogging because to write about something I am forced to do a little research. So, on a day where I have seen all of two people at work I can catch up a little on the blogs I in fact follow. Can go here to Cup Of JO and find a link to some awesome jewelry that ultimately leads me here to the jewelry blog. This is how I find awesome new things that inspire me to get out of my lazy quagmire and start creating again.

It doesn't hurt that last night I went to an art show downtown. This is something I have not done in over a year! Sure, I've checked out a few galleries on vacation but I am not the one who recommended it. I have been realizing lately that I may, may have enough talent to actually sell some of my work. I just have been in this funk where I have not given myself time to do so. With a little encouraging from some friends I actually talked to the owner of the gallery last night to see when the next show will be so maybe I can submit something to hang next time around. I forgot the passion I had for all this. It has always been there, but I am an artist that goes through phases. After so much schooling in the subject I was left lost and without direction. However, I am ready to take hold of my art future and am reminded that 90% of the people who major in art drop it within 5 years of graduating. I will not be a part of that statistic. I'm going to give it a try.

As a side note, I don't remember how I got this link. I know it was through someone else's blog but keep reading this one. She is amazing at illustration. Frankly, I am just jealous.

We're painting the Roses Red

I recently saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D and in IMAX. I'd heard some not so nice things about the movie. It made me sad because Tim Burton movies tend to be some of my favorites. Bizarre settings, plots, characters and the like just tickle me pink. Somehow I always end up totally absorbed and holding my breath. I'm not sure why this happens but since I saw The Nightmare Before Christmas I have been hooked.

Like I already stated, I'd heard so many bad things about Alice I thought about not going. However, I just can't resist and I never take anyone else's opinion on movies. Often when people love them and they are award winning, Gran Tarino, Babel and Precious. Mind you I understand why people loved these movies. I just did not. I have to enjoy some part of a movie to say I like it. They were ok, I understand their merits from a film perspective but I did not enjoy them. They left me frustrated the majority of the movie. When frustration > enjoyment = I don't see the point of watching it.

I really enjoyed Alice in Wonderland. I can see why some people were less than impressed but I loved it. If you also want to go see a new 3D movie please go see How to Train your Dragon.

I recently decided I am going to read Alice in Wonderland. I am a little nervous to. Disney has a way of taking the true terror and oddities out of fairy tales. They water the stories down to mostly good stuff. Don't believe me? Look up the old tales and read the way they were really supposed to happen. When I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory I just didn't understand how the book could be so drastically different? However, Alice was one of my favorite stories. So I am determined to do it no matter what.

As a side note, I am going to try and get some more bowling pins painted in the next couple of weeks.

Vegas!!!!!

It is odd what sticks in our memories. The way our brains filter information is just fascinating. We have these little supercomputers which I am convinced contain much more information than any supercomputer created. Our brains control everything in our body. Take away a small part and there are massive repercussions. I say all this because I recently went to Las Vegas. It is a strange city and it was not my first trip. It really is the city that never sleeps. One thing that is particularly interesting is that the people who go there seem to lose all inhibitions probably induced by alcohol. It is by far one of the best places to people watch though. There are two main things throughout the trip I want to share.

1. Canadians are hilarious. Drunk or sober. At the poker table I was constantly laughing with my Canadian friend whose name I never found out. Then later that night my best friend, her parents and myself ended up at the black jack table with two rambunctious Canadians there for a bachelor's party. One was Derrik and the other was Sean. When we were absent of drinks they would scream "CockTails!!!!!!!!" It was fun.

2. I am always a fan of looking at new art. I found some art by Anja V. Some of these paintings are pretty awesome. Especially Koi 9 Panel. Take a look here.

I think that is all for now.