Girning

I'm Back

2009-04-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

I know it has been way to long since I have blogged. Most of you probably thought I was gone for good. I thought I might be to. But today I have the urge to blog. Probably because I have so much to do right now and I'm avoiding it. Typical me style.

Okay, so update on life since November. Wow, has it really been that long?

-Finished that painting that I started so long ago. I'll post that pic when I can figure out where I stored it on my computer.

-Phillip and I have been dating for 9 months now!

-My sweet friend Kate and her man Brandon got married in Dec. I'll post some pics from that. Phillip and I were both in the wedding.

-I will be done with school in 6 weeks. Gasp! I have so much to do in those 6 weeks.

-I am looking for a job. Please be praying for this. I have a possibility, but it's anybody's guess to whether i'll get it or not.

-My little sister moved in with Suzanne and I in january. That's right all 3 sisters in one house. It has been an adventure.

-I have begun to do sound for Kids Village again and I love it. It's so great to be back!

Below is my sweet black lab Stella. She is just about a year old right now and is driving me crazy. I know a lot of her behavior issues are because she has so much energy. But here is part of the problem. She is for some reason terrified of cars. So the last time I took her on a walk she wiggled out of her collar and ran up to someone's porch to get away from the cars driving by. I live in a residential neighborhood, so not a lot of cars going by. So I decided to get her a harness to walk with, she can't wiggle out of that. Ha! But I was foiled again by my dog. I bought the new harness and put it on her. She hated it and within 4 seconds she had eaten through one of the straps. She has also recently been found on top or the trampoline in the back yard tearing it to shreds. Lord help me!

Phillip and I at Kate and Brandon's Wedding
Yes. Disco Fever apparently struck.

Phillip is in Guatemala this week. Please be praying for him. He is there to encourage the team that is living there. He will be coming home on friday :) Above is a picture of him in Guatemala this week.

Maybe A Little Early...

2008-11-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

I know it's a little early for Christmas music still, but I just had to share this song with you. I think it will completely revolutionize the way you think about Christmas music. And it will surely become a staple in your holiday playlists. This song brought so much joy into my life today and I'm sure for years to come. I hope it does the same for you. Enjoy

To get to the song...scroll down to the middle of the page that it links to and hit play.

Pictures

2008-10-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my favorite pics of us in Denver a couple of weeks ago. I just got them from my awesome friend Lauren who took these beautiful pictures.

Simple Design

2008-10-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

The more my artistic talent has grown, the more I am torn in my design aesthetic. In my paintings, I am meticulous, detailed, and try to be as close to perfect as possible. I love to have a lot to look at, much to draw you into the piece. But the work that I am most fascinated by and drawn to is very simple.

Design has always been a big part of my life. I could spend hours in Ikea just soaking in all the brilliant design compositions. Anywhere with good design really gets me, like anthropology. My goodness, I'm happy just thinking about it. It's like my crack...the drug...not anatomically (Chuck and Suzanne).

In my home, I want simple, elegant, good design. Problem: too much stuff. I either need a much bigger house to achieve the simple look, or I need to get rid of a lot of what I own. Problem #2: I am a poor college student with ghetto stuff and no money to update. Not that I have any desire to pay a lot of money for furniture or anything. I would be very happy with ikea bookshelves and curtains, but alas, I can't even afford that. So I have to work with what I've got. I have the organizing, redecorating/rearranging bug. Suzanne is going to love that...Hehehe.

So here is my updated picture of my painting. I know...they have hair. Oh yes...it is amazing. I am so close to being done. I just have a lot of little things to do, which means a lot of paint mixing. I am ready to have this done with. I have so many ideas just bursting to get out onto the canvas, but won't allow myself to start another one until this one is done. I would have about 12 going right now if I could.

This is an artist named Justin Quinn. These are all E's. So simple, intriguing, and brilliant.
Oh I want this room. I found this pic on design sponge today and salivated over it for a while. I especially love the dandelion picture in the back ground. The space is simple, clean, and designed brilliantly.
Jill Moser. This is an oil painting. One color, simple, so beautiful.
So the moral of the story kids.... Okay, so there really isn't a moral. But I will be doing some throwing out of stuff, rearranging of rooms, and attempting to simplify my paintings. Stay tuned for results. I think I will take some before and after pics of the rooms that I redo....ohh that would be so fun!!! Okay, i'm doing it. Suzi...buckle your seat belt and get ready for some change.

Sigur Ros in Denver

2008-09-30T18:36:00.001-07:00

This past weekend Phillip and I boarded a plane for Denver. What an amazing difference from Texas in September. Everything was so beautiful from the weather to the scenery. On Saturday we went hiking in Pike National Forest. As you can see in some of the pictures, the aspens were starting to turn colors. My goodness I miss it already. We went and stayed with some awesome friends of ours, Evan and Lauren Perkins. We went out to downtown Denver on Friday night and had some really good Russian food. Yeah, Russian. I know that's random. We ate at this restaurant called the Red Square. It was really yummy. On Saturday afternoon we went for our hike, then took showers and went to the Sigur Ros concert at the red rocks amphitheatre. It was truly incredible. The weather was cold, but not too cold. The venue was amazing. If you have never been, then you should go. It was definatly worth it. During the concert there were the red rock to the side and back of us, starry sky above, and the denver skyline in the distance past the stage. If you haven't every listened to Sigur Ros, I would highly encourage you to check them out. They are from iceland, sing in a made up language, and are very talented musically. Then sunday morning, very early (4:30 am) we got up and headed out to the airport to catch our flight at 6am. We were running late and barely made our flight. Needless to say, I was a little cranky that early. But we were back in dallas by 8:30am and spend the rest of the day resting. Sadly, I never could get back to sleep on sunday and am still catching up on my sleep. But in all it was a wonderful trip. It was some rest that I desperately needed. It was so fun to see Evan and Lauren, and to get to marvel at God's magnificent creation.

Phillip and I in Pike National Forest
The Storm we out ran on the way down the mountain
Posing with some Aspens
Phillip and I at the Concert
Phillip, Evan, and Lauren in the bottom of the picture

Kate Has A Face

2008-09-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Well, she sort of has a face. She is still missing her lips and eyebrows which make her look a little freaky. But I think it is coming along well. I haven't had that much time to work on the painting now that I have started school, and I have all kinds of other art projects that have to be done. But the times that I have been able to paint have been extremely fruitful. I am hoping to get some more done this week, but who know if that will really happen. I don't have much time that is open for the rest of the week. I hope you enjoy seeing the progress on this update! Let me know what you think. I love getting feedback.

Hands

Face
Neck

Current State of the Painting.

Desires of the Heart

2008-09-04T14:33:00.001-07:00

Lately I have had no desire for the Word, or much desire to pray. I just seem to have a frustrated spirit a lot lately. I have no idea why. I find myself complaining all of the time, if only to myself. I don't even know why. Life is so good right now, the Lord has been gracious with me, and blesses me daily. But I just can't seem to enjoy those things. I am constantly picking out the little things that are frustrating or bad throughout my day. Ever Been There?

So here is my prayer, for myself.

"Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me --put it into practice. And the God or peace will be with you." Phil 4:8-9

So my war today is over my thoughts. I have to choose to dwell on the good things in life, on the blessings, and most importantly on the Gospel. Because Christ died for me, he saved me, and promises that all is for His glory and my good, what can I really complain about?

In an effort to get my mind going in the right direction, I'm going to list some good things that have gone down today.

1.Class went great. I really like screen printing so far. It's very fast, easy, and painterly. I love all those things in art.

2. My dog Stella is doing much better today after getting spayed a couple of days ago. She just follows me around and leans on me. Such a Love!

3. I made a delicious cake, that turned out better than the last time I made it, even though I took it out and let it cool before it was done, then had to put it back in the oven. How that worked, I have no idea. It really is amazing that anything I bake turns out well. I mess something up EVERY time, no joke, just as Suzanne.

4. I just got my hair cut for the first time in I don't even know how long, and I love it. It's so much better. It is shorter and actually has shape! Yippee!!!

5. I'm hanging out at Texas Roast drinking free coffee (because I work here). Mmmm

6. I get to see Phillip today for a while. Awesome.

7. I get hang out with at least one good friend that I haven't seen in a long time today in Dallas.

8. I am having a nice relaxing day, which I haven't had in a long time.

See, 8 things that are great in my life today. I feel better already. Maybe this will be my new strategy, write things down when I'm frustrated for no reason. I like it. Now I can see clearly, in writing, God's blessings in my life today. How could I possibly not praise him for all of that?

Lots to Say

2008-09-02T09:19:00.001-07:00

Okay.... So much to say. I may have to write a couple of blogs today to get it all in. For some reason my computer won't let me rearrange these pictures, so just browse through them to get the progression. I am really excited with how fast the painting is coming together. I did all of this in about 6 hrs, which is really fast for me. I am really happy with how the figures are popping off the canvas. I am really liking the stamping better now that it seems to make the figures stand out more. Hopefully I will be able to have this one done by next week. I can dream right....

My sweet Stella is getting spayed today. Poor kid. I really hope that this takes some of her aggression out of her. That may be a pipe dream. She has so much energy and is just wild sometimes. I am trying to train her, but I feel so clueless. I haven't ever trained a dog before, and apparently I'm not so good at it.

This is a pic of when I brought Stella home back in March. My how she has grown.
I decided to put a reminder picture of what I am working from on my painting.

I started School once again this past week. This is my last year and honestly I can't wait for it to be over. This year is going to be so hard. I don't have that many classes, but the ones I do have are very demanding in every sense of the word. I have a hard time with enjoying the present. I'm always looking to the future and longing for what's next. I want to be working as an artist full time. I don't want to be making art for a grade and I don't want to be working in a coffee shop. But alas, I am where I am right now. I am trying to learn to be where I am, to love the Lord, to praise him, to grow in him in the now. It's hard to remember sometimes that God has me right where I am because he has my good and his glory in mind. It seems like I learn this lesson all the time...anyone else? If you know me at all, you know how scatterbrained I am. It's bad. Thank the Lord for my planner, I would be lost without it. I have written down all of my projects and papers due throughout the next 4 months and it is daunting. I have so much to get done. Life is so busy and I know that something in my life is going to suffer....currently it's my social life....I hardly ever see anyone. I hate that. I feel stretched at every end. I have so much to do and just enough time to get it done. And you say...isn't that a good thing? Well, sort of, but it doesn't leave any time to rest. Well, I think that's enough complaining for one day. I really do think that this semester is going to be good. I'm very excited about the artwork I'm making over the next few months. I am also excited about what the Lord will teach me throughout this year.

P.S. I just did spell check on my blog....no misspells....it's a miracle!

New Painting

2008-08-18T18:53:00.001-07:00

Oh yes...is there anything I really need to say here? My first self portrait done in a painting. I think it was quite appropriate that I chose to depict me in 80's fashion, since I am in fact a child of 80's. And the fact that I look absolutely ridiculous here makes it so much better. I actually finished this painting very quickly, in about 8hrs. This may seem like a long time, but I normally spend at least 20hrs per painting. I would have done much more detail work on this painting if I could have, but I am still very pleased with how it turned out.Kathryn and I with my ridiculous portrait.
We had my Dad and Sister at our house this weekend. We had Chuck, Ginger, Ruby, John, and Phillip over for dinner on Sat night. It was so much fun and the food was delicious. Above is a picture of Dad and John...I think they dressed to match.

Suzanne and Ginger

Kathryn, Me, Phillip
Me, Phillip, Suzanne
And after dinner, Ahhhhh.....Hammock Time. So very nice.
Well, it was until Phillip and I fell out of the Hammock. We all had a good laugh over that one.

What Now?

2008-08-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

So life if busy, to say the least. I am working two jobs, leading a home group, serving at the church, working on two paintings, dating, trying to have some semblance of a social life with my girl friends, doing recovery at the Village, and keeping my house clean. Busy yes, but manageable. Now comes the problem. I start school in two weeks, and it's going to be a tough semester. How do I do all that I am doing and add school in there? Well, I have no idea. I'll be done with recovery at the end of September and I'll have to stop painting for a few months. I may have one job, or two. I'm still working on that one. Either way, I still have to work a lot.

The Lord has put a desire in my heart to be a working Artist. I have had this desire for a while now, with really no idea of how to achieve that. Over this past year, the Lord has thrown so many opportunities and wisdom and advice my way. It has been so encouraging. So now I know what to do, but where do I find the time to pursue those things? If I do all of it now, like I need to, I may kill myself. But if I wait until after I graduate, I may be homeless. Which could kind of be cool. I would help my starving artist look and I would have truly suffered, and thus could make magnificent, meaningful art finally....Or something like that. I want to take every opportunity that the Lord has provided for me. I want to chase the desires of my heart. But at the sacrifice of what?

Well kids, here is the moral of this story is that I have to choose between good things and necessary things. There will be much prayer in this decision as well as a lot of seeking the Lord's face to find out his will in this. I admit that I have no idea how to deal with this. I need to Lord. I need him to show me his will, to guide me here. I am praying that he will make those things clear to me. I would appreciate your prayers in this. Thanks for listening.

Oh and I will be posting more picture of the paintings I am working on as soon as I have a free minute at home when I'm not sleeping.

Finally an Update

2008-08-05T20:59:00.001-07:00

I am again sorry that I have left you to wonder what my painting must look like now. I have been painting when I can. But mostly I have been crazy busy. Every time I could use Suzanne's computer to upload pics, I was gone. Every time I was home to upload pics, she was working on her computer. It kinda put a kink in things. So I am now staying up late to update you. You should feel very special...because I am tired.
Okay... So here starts the new progression. I'm not going to explain all of these. Pretty self explanatory I think.

There it is. I know it's kind of freaky just having a floating head there and all. I have to finish the stamping before I can do anymore of the painting, because the stamp overlaps onto the canvas I need to paint. So I have to be able to paint over the stamps for it to make sense. I am liking the stamping more now. I think I may cover all the color and just do black and white now. Still working on the idea, but I'm very happy that it may be salvageable. I am so thrilled with how well the face turned out. Every time I sat down to paint I was frustrated at the way a certain feature ended up. But as always, I left it as it was to look at later. I still can't believe that I painted this. God is so good to give me the ability to do this. I am always so blown away by it. I am really excited to get more done. Hopefully I will have a lot of time to paint this weekend, but the weekend is already filling up. I need a vacation! Anyways, let me know what you think. I love getting the feedback.

Sorry I Left You Hanging

2008-07-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

So sorry I left you hanging on the painting. I have done alot of work on it in the past few days, but have not had the chance to upload picutres and blog. Life has been incredibly busy lately.
So here is update pic #1. I put in the background, with the help of my lovely friend Shaina, a pattern. Yes, it is a paper pattern. I have been using these a lot in my art lately, and I LOVE them. They give color, design, direction, and interest with very little work. I simly put clear gesso on the areas that I wanted the pattern to stick. Then I stuck the pattern to the canvas, trimmed the edges and put more clear gesso on top of it to keep it from ripping anywhere.

So I started on the face. It is still prett rough and needs so much more work, but I'm excited to see where it's going. I have been told many times that when you paint a face there should be blues, greens, purples, reds, yellows, and skin tones. I have yet to figure out how to do this. But I am going to give it a shot in this painting. I am going to put colored glazes over the face after I have done all of the skin tones. Hopefully I don't ruin the whole thing by doing so. We will see.
Gotta love experimentation.
Here is a close up of the face.
Okay, now for the fun part. I made stamps, then stamped the canvas. I still don't know if I like it. I have put black over all of the colors except the white and red. The plan right now is to stamp the entire back ground. I'm still not sure what the pattern will be, or what colors will show up. So many options. I really don't like it right now, but I think I can salvage it.
Here is a close up of the stamps that I made and stamed onto the canvas. You can also see the pattern paper better.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Oh To Create

2008-07-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

I am working on a new painting right now. It feels so good to be working on a new piece. I decided that instead of finishing the whole thing, I would update you on my progress as I work. I know that this may irritate some of you, like Suzanne. If that is the case, I am very sorry. Just don't look as my blog for the next couple of weeks until I am done.

Here is the image that I am painting from. Below is the first day's progress. All together I think I worked for about 2or 3 hours, but a lot of that is setting up. I probably only painted for about 1 1/2 hrs.

These are pictures of me in my class in South Dakota a couple of weeks ago.

Here is the first piece that I carved and printed. I think I spent about 1 hr carving this plate.
This is the second piece that I carved and printed. I spent about 8 to 10 hrs carving this one.
Here is the sketchbook that I made. I am so proud of this! I cut and sewed and glued all of this myself. So cool..... Awesome.

Practice Husband

2008-07-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

So I have fears about marriage. Shocking I know...

I worry about things like, what if I get married and it goes totally wrong and my husband becomes a drug adict?

What if after being married for a while we just get bored of each other?

What if the guy I marry is a terrible leader and I struggle with being submissive?

Dear Lord...What if one of us commits adultery? Yikes

Some of these are irrational, maybe. Some of them I think are legitimate. These aren't all of them. I'm sure I could come up with a very extensive list.

But the Lord in his infinite wisdom decided to give me a Practice Husband to dispel some of my fears. And to teach me how to fight well and seek the Lord to heal my wicked heart, instead of trying to fix the other person. Easier said than done!

So my Practice Husband just happens to be my sister, Suzanne. We live in a little house that we love. It's just the two of us. We couldn't be more different, and growing up we never got along. We used to wake up fist fighting when we shared a bed at a young age. I am the artist, disorganized, messy, procrastinator, terrible at cleaning and budgeting, and I am very emotional. Suzanne is the type A, organized, get things done, planner, and is very practical, not very emotional. I know you may be having a tough time imagining the issues that might arise between the two of us, but I promise you we have had our differences.

We moved in together and had our nice honeymoon period. We got along, talked all the time, and never fought. That was nice, but quickly ended. We soon discovered our differences in personality, cleanliness, and the different things that really bother us. We fought for a good 3 months straight at least. We are both in Recovery at the Village after all of it. We very glaringly saw our flaws and our need to draw close to the Lord to be healed. We both had to learn to deal with each other with grace, love, patience, and servant's hearts. It's been a hard road, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We still have our differences, arguments, and frustrations, but we know how to deal with each other well. We now have a blast living together. I'm always excited to get home to hang out with Suzanne. We have more and more fun every day. It's so beautiful to see the relationship that God has blessed us with. It has given me a deep confidence in the Lord to bless me with an awesome Husband and a great relationship. One where we enjoy each other more all the time.

So moral of the story... have a Practice Husband! They are fantastic.

Can I Go Home Now?

2008-07-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am so very ready to come home!

My class is going really well. I have made a bound book. I have finished carving 2 plates to print. I'll be printing this afternoon, and will hopefully make another book tomorrow.

Other than that, it's not so fun. I have gotten sick in the past two days. It's a very strange sickness thought. It sneak attacked me yesterday afternoon. I felt great this morning, and now I feel bad again. Ugh.

My Mom, little Sister Kathryn (Happy Birthday Sister!), and my Grandmother are all at my house right now. I so want to be able to hang out with them this week. They are going to Canton. I can't believe I'm missing that. Canton is like my crack. However, it's probably good for my wallet that I'm not going.

Thankfully I will be home on Saturday, probably very late. I don't mean to be a complainer, I'm just bored.

I would tell you a funny story or something, but I got nothing. I'm hungry now and have to be back to class in a bit. So i'll leave now.

Shout Out

2008-06-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

I would like to give a shout out to Chuck and his mechanical and technical genius. He brought my Ipod back to life! I couldn't have done my two day road trip to South Dakota with out my little musical buddy. Thank you, Chuck!

Oh, and I'm here in SD now, bored. I would love emails, comments, or anything else to keep me entertained in a very small town.

Road Trip

2008-06-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

I thought I should give you guys an update on my life. So that you don't think I'm wallowing in depression any more. I'm doing so much better with all of that. The Lord has been merciful in renewing my mind so that I can once again function depression free. Let me explain this a little. When depression happens it is usually a result of some extremely stressful or traumatic situation. But after becoming depressed the brain begins to function in such a way as to stay depressed. Also, thought patterns are created that perpetuate depression. So in my recovery it has been important to seek the Lord in renewing my mind. I am so grateful and blessed that he has done so for me.

On a happier note, I got to spend a great weekend with my family last weekend. I went home to Borger for a friends wedding. The weekend was so relaxing, and I always have a great time with my family. As always there was a lot of cooking going on throughout the weekend. I wanted to share a recipe for potato salad that my mom (the gourmet cook) just made up on the spot. I don't ever like potato salad, but this I loved! I don't have exact measurements since it's made up, but here are the ingredients

Steamed potatoes

Thick Balsamic Vinegar

Jack Daniels Dijon Mustard

Cilantro

Shallots

Salt

Mayo

I am off to Vermillion, South Dakota this weekend. I will be traveling in a van with several other people on a two day (YUCK) drive to Vermillion. I am going to take a class at Frogman's Print Studio. The class is a week long, taught by a very talented printmaker. I will get a 3hr credit it 5 days. Pretty Sweet! The only thing I'm really not excited about is the two day drive each way. I will spend almost the same about of time on the road as I will there.

Struggles

2008-06-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

I want to come to you all tonight for prayer. I have been struggling with depression for a few years now. This past year I have been doing much better with it. I have been seeing a councilor and have just started recovery at the village to deal with the heart issues that go along with depression. But recently, I have been losing my battle. If you know anything about depression, then you can understand that just the fact that I am a little depressed makes me more depressed. I have the desire to withdraw from my life completely, especially the Lord. I know that this is sinful and will only make things worse. I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I work through this rough patch. Thank you!

New Art

2008-06-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have new pictures to show of the rest of my prints for my may class. For some reason I seem to be technically challenged when it comes to blogspot. So...my pictures are out of order and one is sideways. So bear with me here. I also have the progression of a painting I just finished. I always want to see how artists work, like if they start with the hair or something. I don't know, maybe I'm just a nerdy artists. I hope you enjoy it.

This is a self portrait. Hard to believe I know. It actually is very accurate to a picture taken of me (see above this picture)
OK, so here starts the progression.
Now with hair...
And then jump forward to nearly finished...I'm not so good at taking pictures as often as I should yet.
This is finished and framed. The background of the painting is old matchbooks glued to the wood. There is a bad glare on here. I couldn't get my camera to work well for me today.

This is Suzanne with the green stripe and light bulb above her to represent her new going green ideas she comes up with all the time. As you can see on her blog. She also has been complaining that I hadn't made any art of any of her stupid faces yet. I decided she looked dumb enough to be painted here.
This is my youngest sister Kathryn. Above her is her boyfriend of a couple of years. He is flexing his muscles and pulling his shirt back to reveal the ripples. They are both very easily embarrassed at even the hint of them liking each other. Which makes for a lot of fun and embarrassment throughout the family.
Ah, yes. This is my favorite one I made. It's another self portrait. Above me are several sets of eyes that are all making different expressions. Because I am always thinking about different facial expressions, or studying people's faces. Yes, if I have had any face to face time with you I can almost guarantee you that I have very closely studied your face. I'm sorry if this freaks you out... Just try to forget you read this.

89 MPH

2008-05-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend I am in Borger, tx (near Amarillo) for my little sister's graduation. It's great to be home for a bit. I forgot how nice it is to not have to worry about traffic getting in my way, be able to see the stars really well, not having to cook, or clean. It has been really relaxing so far. I have also gotten to spend some much enjoyed time with my grandparents that I hadn't seen for too long.
Today the high school tennis team put on a wooden raquet tournament. How could I resist. I played tennis in high school and have always loved tennis. So Kathryn and I went to play and got beaten pretty badly, but we had fun. But the highlight of the morning was the clocking machine they had to clock serves. My best serve was 89 MPH! Oh yeah, i'm amazing! The picture below was taken about 5 years ago when I was in high school. I was pretty good then too. Oh yeah!We are now all high school graduates! I still can't believe my baby sister is that old!
This is one of my sister's senior pictures. She's so gorgeous!!!

Puppy Update

2008-05-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Stella is now about 4 1/2 months old. She is growing like a weed. She's going to be pretty big. Although she is a puppy, she's normally pretty good. She is great on walks, she's potty trained, she sleeps in her crate every night without complaint. But, she does most defiantly have a mischievous streak. And apparently likes muffins!
Another one of her favorite past times is to torment Suzanne's cats, especially Fluff.
She also LOVES sticks. While her and Godiva are out in the backyard, Godiva is fervently chasing squirrels and barking at any by passers, and Stella is chewing on sticks, or grass, or rocks. It's ridiculous.
All in all, she is a great dog. She has a lot of personality, she defiantly loves life, and she is a handful!

No More Blockage

2008-05-16T12:57:00.001-07:00

My artist's block is now gone! Hurray! These are the two pieces that I created this week. These are images of my parents. What is above their heads are the things that are always on their minds. My dad grew up on a farm, so that is always on his mind, maybe just in the background. My mom loves to sew, cook, and garden. So above her head is part of a paper pattern, a dress form with an apron on it. The apron has a flower in the pocket. God is so good, he gives me all the ideas I have.

Artist's Block

2008-05-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

I've got a case of artist's block going on right now. I just started a maymester class today and it has given me a great dilemma. I have to made 8 individual prints in 12 days. In the last print class I took the professor was not a big fan of the images I chose to make. Actually he critiqued everything that I was meaning to do through my work. In this print class, I have the same prof, and he will approve or disapprove me from being able to actually go on in my major this summer. So in this class, I decided to go another way with my work, in order to impress my prof, and therefore get a good grade. So in class I was today sketching some and came up with a very intriguing idea to explore. I showed it to my prof, but he didn't like it because the two images were too different and seemed like two separate ideas. So he suggested that I go with one idea and run further with it.

So I really have been trying to do that, but I'm stuck. I'm really excited about the idea that I came up with today, and I can't seem to come up with anything else I like. I have been looking through photos, sketches, old drawing, paintings, and even looking through the house to find something I'm interested in to print. But I have come up empty handed.

Now here's the question. Do I go with the idea that I am really interested in or the one that my prof likes? If I go with the one that I'm really interested in then I'll make a great print. If I go with the one that my prof likes, then i'll get a good grade. Should I be true to myself as an artist? Or should I do what will get me out of school?

Nudist Colony Questions

2008-04-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

Please understand that I have no desire to come in contact with a nudist, much less become an active member of a nudist colony. Nonetheless, I do have questions about how their culture works.
Are there rules about how much clothing you can wear?

Can you wear sock, shoes, and gloves, but not shirts, or pants, or underwear?

If you wear clothes, are you looked upon as strangely as a nudist would be in like Dallas?

Is there a larger than normal bubble of personal space?
Is it 6ft instead of 3ft?

At what age do you tell your kids about sex?

What is an acceptable nudist colony greeting...a handshake...a HUG?

Do nudists only settle in a very warm climate?

As a woman in a nudist colony...if you enter the colony at a young age...do your boobs hang to your knees by the time you are 40?

How do you handle an embarrassing rash?

Is embarrassment even an issue if you decide to live in a nudist colony?

Do you marry based on physical endowment rather financial endowment?

Are teens scarred for life after going through puberty in a nudist colony?

Is starring inappropriate?

Are they allowed to sleep under blankets?

Are there stalls in the bathrooms?

Are the showers communal?

Do they wash their furniture like we wash our clothes?

Are there rules about what position you can sit in?

Do you have to sit with your legs together, or crossed, or is sitting indian style still acceptable?

Are children scorned for life (like the Amish) if they grow up and start wearing clothes?

Is there some super nudist colony scotch guard for their furniture fabric?

Is lingerie sexy in a nudist colony?

Can you wear a wedding dress when getting married?
If so does it have to be see-through?

Are they like that bapstist....No Dancing Allowed!!!?

How do nudists deal structure social gatherings...especially with teens?
Do they segregate boys and girls?

How does a nudists colony church address the issue of modesty?

Can a nudist wear a poncho or do they have to have a clear unbrella when it rains?

Interesting Fact: If your parents are living in a nudist colony, you must be naked when you go to visit them. This brings a whole new fear to meeting the parents of your girlfriend/boyfriend for the first time.

2nd Gallery Show

2008-04-20T12:57:00.001-07:00

Suzanne and I enjoying the night
Vampire lips and candy cigarettes

My painting of Olive Oyl
My painting of Popeye
Sarah, Kathryn, Lindsey, Suzanne, and Me at the Soda Gallery with our sodas

Kenna and I

Shaina and I.

My paintings are now located at the Soda Gallery in the Bishop Arts district in Dallas. We had a great time last night enjoying some of the 250 varietys of soda and old school candy.

Paintings and Conviction

2008-04-20T10:54:00.001-07:00

So last night I had the opening for my second gallery show this year! Praise the Lord, he is good. I will post some pictures from that as soon as I can get my computer to behave. It's so amazing to be able to show my artwork. And also completely a work of God that it happened. He has given me a vision to show my artwork in galleries. Also, to draw people to the Lord and to questioning their hearts about God's love through my artwork.

I don't know how much you know about the art world, but this calling is not an easy one. In the world of art all things are embraced, even the most bizarre, except for Christianity in any shape or form. Muslim views are fine, as are Catholic, and devil worshippers. But not us crazy Christ followers, we just might bring down the entire world down with that stuff. (did you catch the sarcasm in that last statement?) Because of all this, getting people to question their hearts to see if the love of Christ could be possible in their own hearts, is very difficult to do and still be taken seriously as an artist.

The Lord has very clearly laid out for me how to do this. Very Clearly! But in all honestly I am afraid to do it. Afraid that to do it would mean the undoing of all my hard work to get where I am. But in truth that is all blasphemy. I have done nothing to get where I am. In all honestly, I hesitate to start every painting I do, because I am afraid it's going to be terrible, because I still don't really know how all my other ones have turned out so good. My talent is all God's, I can truly take no credit for it. My fear only shows my lack of faith in my Lord.

Last night at church, Matt Chandler was talking about the body using their spiritual gifts to build up the body. He was naming off lots of people in my church that are doing just that in a beautiful way, some of whom I know. He even named off a girl that is an artist at UNT that is using her art to further the Kingdom. This stirred in my a discontentment at my own failure to engage others with my gifts, despite the fact that I know very clearly how to go about it. I feel very strongly that this is God's mercy upon me. He desires that I live life to the fullest (john 10:10) and in that place I will be most satisfied. It is for my good that he has made me discontent. In order to move me to honor him with the gifts he has given me.

Spurgeon

2008-04-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight I have been thinking about how easily my affections for the Lord are twisted to love the shadow instead of the form. I am so frustrated with myself over this. I hate that I am so easily swayed by my emotions. I want to be chasing after the Lord ravenously every moment of every day. But so many times I find that this is not the case. I am ashamed to say that there are days that when I climb into bed and peer over at the bible by my bed; and I realize that I have not even had a passing thought on the Lord.

There are days when I feel melancholy, like I do often, and I feel that the Lord is far away. Because of this I pull away, instead of chasing the one thing that will satisfy me and bring hope and joy back into my heart.

Counseling in doing wonders on this front...but still I struggle sometimes.

Well, to come to the point of this blog. I wanted to share something with you that has greatly impacted and challenged me lately. I hope it does the same from you.

This is from a sermon preached by C.H. Spurgeon at the age of 20. Amazing

"It has been said by someone that,"the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I believe that it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child is God, the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his father.

There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in it's immensity; so deep, that our pride is drown in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the though, "Behold, I am wise." But when it comes to this master, finding that our plumbline cannot sound its depth, that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with solemn exclamation, "I am but of yesterday, and know nothing." No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God.....

But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe.........The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, ernest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.

And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatory. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial. as a devout musing upon the subject of the godhead. it is to that subject that I invite you this morning."

C.H. Spurgeon

Book Addiction

2008-04-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

So my sister Suzanne is a book addict. No kidding. I live with her and hang out with her alot outside of home....and I still can't figure out where she get's all of these new books. She reads really fast, too. I guess that's why she can feed her addiction with such gusto.

So, to demonstrate my point, let me tell you a little story.
Tonight I came home to find a new book on the coffee table. Not really surprising. I find them all the time. Really I hardly registered it....until. Suzanne mentions the lady that lived in our house before the couple we rent from bought it. More like refers to the fact that she has since passed on. She then proceeds to tell me that we got a package in the mail that was addressed to the woman who has died. So to be helpful (?), she opens the package. Much to her delight, she finds a book in it accompanied by a letter explaining that the book is a free thank-you gift to the woman. Suzanne then decides that the woman is dead, and won't be needing it. So she gleefully cracks open the cover and begins to read.

I must say that you have stooped to a new low when you are stealing books from dead people.

I haven't had that good of a laugh in a long time!

STELLA

2008-03-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

This is my new puppy Stella. She is a black lab mix. I think maybe she has a little border collie. She is so incredibly sweet. She sleeps alot and eats more...puppies! Her fur is so fuzzy and soft. She is about 12 weeks old and almost as big as Godiva, Suzanne's dog. More to come on my puppy. I'm sure some funny stories and and great pictures.

Girning

2008-03-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

So I thought that I should explain the name of my blog. One of my family's favorite games to play when we get together is Balderdash. Which if you have never played it, it's amazing. The aim of the game is to make up definitions to very obscure words in the English language and get people to vote for your definition rather than the real one. So this past Christmas we were all together playing Balderdash and we came upon the word Girning and thought it was just absolutely hilarious! Girning- To Contort One's Face In A Comical Manner. This perfectly explains the painting that I am so passionate about making. So I was really excited to find this word. So let's make this more fun....try to work the word girning into your vocabulary this week!