My thoughts in water color..... TAKE 2!

For some reason, as soon as Blogger started acting up yesterday, I had the foresight to take screen shots of what I'd written, so I could share it with you today. I have ONE MORE final paper due today, so outfit pics from yesterday and today will have to come later. Here is yesterday's post:

I'm feeling really, really happy today, so I hope these colorful paintings add brightness to your day. Also, you get to learn more about me: not only do I study the History of Art, but I take a stab at the practice of it every once in a while. Don't be too critical; water color is an extremely unforgiving medium with which to work. Enjoy!

- April showers bring May flowers -
- There was a torrential downpour last night, but it's beautiful outside today -
- I made this for my mom for Mother's Day in 2007. I am 22 years old, and her favorite gifts I give her are still the ones I make her.... I love that! -

- the Man and I just picked up our caps 'n gowns together... so weird, but so exciting and empowering! -
- I am graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (my name. how suiting?) in 3 days. Having gone to a really small, private, all girls school, I'd never seen what real school spirit was. "Dance by the light of the moon" is a line from my favorite fight song at UW. This painting actually serves as a sketch for a ceramic (terra cotta) slab box I made last summer. Being creative is the best outlet... take a stab at it. You'll be surprised how much you enjoy it if you really let loose. Painting is my primary form of meditation. -

- Cupcakes are not only yummy, but pretty too. -
- I am sitting in the library "working," and all I want to do is eat this sketch. -
- I fostered a puppy from the Humane society while attending Emory University in Atlanta, GA (I transferred there for a bit...). Her name was Cupcake, and no, I didn't name her. I miss her every day, but I know she found a good home (yes, I actually know this for a fact, I'm not just being a blind optimist), which reassures me I did the right thing by giving her up after I nursed her back to health. I'm happy she's happy... and that another family gets to enjoy all the effort I put into training her wild puppy butt ;) -

- I'm going to be a little bit naughty tonight, and that's A-O-K! ;) -
- A young lady with beautiful read hair asked me to design a tattoo for her. She wanted a "badass fairy," and this is what I came up with it. Even though it's not something I'd necessary want on my body permanently, I'm happy to know that my creativity makes others happy! -
- I'll leave you with this: I hope this little sketch inspires you to do something "badass" today. Break free from the shell that's blocking your creativity and express yourself in an artistic way that makes you feel AWESOME! - 

N.B. Painting is especially good if you have any issues with your heart. I highly recommend starting to learn (you can easily teach yourself; I've learned more from trial and error than I have in any of my art classes), and even grinding your own pigments/making your own paint from the very beginning. Go to an art store (or if you're near a university, go to the school store) and ask the person who's helping you to pick out a kit to make your own Sumi-e paint, and make sure you also purchase the right brushes and paper. [MAJOR TIP: The key to all painting? Quality brushes.] Sumi-e painting is an Asian style of painting, and a great place to begin!

<3 Madison

Day 3: Study Chic

I can honestly say that yesterday was the first time in a while that I felt truly productive, and I chalk it all up to my invigoratingly colorful outfit with jeans that were tight-fitting enough to keep me awake, and a top and cardi that were loose-fitting enough to provide comfort all day and night.

You know those days when you are absolutely swamped with work, and you keep chipping away at it, but feel like you're getting nowhere? Well, those days have encompassed my past couple of weeks.

So, without further ado, here is the outfit that kept me going for hours on end yesterday, so I could finish up my FLW architectural theory papers [please ignore the hair, as this is my "study girl" look... not that I don't throw my hair on top of my head all the time anyway...]:

Ta da!

Since I was so productive yesterday, I didn't have time to post, but I did manage to snap some great pictures of my accessories before I headed to a coffee shop to do work with a friend.

Necklace via CUSP in Georgetown

Shoes: 1937 via Madewell in Georgetown
Ring: a NYC boutique via a friend

You might be wondering why I'm wearing pants and a sweater on May 9th -- us UW students got jipped this year... no Spring! It went straight from Winter to Summer here in Madison, Wisconsin, ladies and gentlemen, but yesterday was the one day that felt truly Springy. Sunny, a few sail boats back on the lake, and an awesome breeze. Nevertheless, a "breeze" here isn't a normal one, so I was even a bit chilly in what I had on.  

What do you think of the view from my college apartment?! I feel so lucky to wake up to a pretty view every day.
Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin

My favorite detail of outfit #3 outfit that I didn't even notice until after I'd put it together is....

...all the POCKETS!

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts about this Madison-made remix that I was hoping that, even though this particular project isn't that hard in terms of # of articles of clothing/days to wear them, it would help me be less of a schlepper by forcing me to get dressed every day. So far, it's working, and I love the way I feel!

I hope my little project has inspired you to get out of bed and put yourself together at LEAST one day this week, even if you're swamped or stressed or anything and everything in between!

I also hope you take this little tip into consideration, as it is something I didn't even realize I did until this post!!: whenever you have a test or paper (if you're in school), or if you have to focus for a long time, WEAR JEANS! They'll keep you awake... I promise.

<3 Madison

P.S. Notice the posters on my wall? I graduate this coming Sunday with a degree in ART HISTORY. I love art. Besides the lake, another good thing about being in Madison, Wisconsin is being so close to the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's an architectural gem, and they have an incredible modern and post-modern collection. They have a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition until Sunday, too! If you can I highly recommend checking it out!

Some [photo art] o' mine

I'm feeling lazy today, again, as usual... but this time it's because I've been redecorating my apartment. More on how to "re-feng sui" your apt cheaply coming soon.

Anywho: I'm bored and being a major procrastinator, so I thought I'd share some of my recent, what I like to call, "photo art." It's a combo of photography, 2D elements of design, and color theory.

Detail from Casa Battlo, Gaudi

It's been a pretty rough month, so,

Outside of The National Gallery of Art in DC

going forward...

My next goal, after teaching myself Spanish with Rosetta Stone and books for dummies, is to take a course in photography!

What do you think of my photography skills thus far? Feedback always welcomed.

mystère du masque

I'm back from my trip! It was quite interesting, and I'm exhausted from traveling, so I'm just going to give you a little sneak peak of one of my favorite cultural aspects of Spain...

Even though I was in Spain, I was able to utilize my French fluency. The artist in d us that the main appeal of masks in Spanish and Venetian culture is the element of mystery. On my previous trip to Spain, I went to Almeria to study the artist Ibanez; his art features many masks [some even scare me a bit...]!the shop tol


...and speaking of "m. du m." -- I want M&Ms right now. S.O. to my sophomore year roommate, who started my tradition and obsession [I have a lot of those] with the notorious "M&M JAR!" P.S. Replacing "crunchy" for "pretzel" is not OK.