NEWS!

Hi everybody!  fun updates...

1.) I was nominated for the state semi-finals for RAW's Artist of the Year award, the biggest indie art competition in the world. Artists were narrowed down from 100 other eligible participants based upon an online voting and a panel of RAW judges.  I also must congratulate my other Hartford Art School Alumni for also making it to the state semi-finals. I would be thrilled if any one of us are voted to continue on to nationals. I am permitted to hang only 5 pieces and I am going to make sure that a majority of the work is new and better than before.  I really think I have a shot at this, so I am going to put all my energy into this.

When:  November 15th 7-12pm
Where: The Russian Lady, Hartford, CT
Cover:  $15 if you purchase in advance, $20 at the door

How it works:

Everybody that attends gets one sticker per category.  You are permitted one vote for each category (performing arts, visual arts, photography...)  50% of public live vote and 50% judges discretion is what will determine who wins in each category.

If I go on to Nationals, the award ceremony is in L.A. and all 50 states will have artists as representatives.  So please, come, support and vote for me :)

and may the odds ever be in your favor.


ALSO, I am half way through my animation course I.  Trying to step up my a game for that.  I have two children's book contracts I am drafting up as well.  Cheers to feeling like myself again and making art everyday!

Oh, the places you'll go

Maybe I am being naive, but I do believe that at this tender age of 23 I should keep dream chasing. But the work I was doing combined with school, combined with trying to create new art, was slowing me up in all aspects of my life.

While I really enjoyed the opportunity to be the head of the art department and have truly grown from the experience, it was becoming too stressful and I was sacrificing my creativity far too much for my liking.  My school work has been barely getting done, and I have not painted since last april...

So after much thought,  I gave my two weeks notice and graciously resigned.  I realize some might criticize me for this saying I should be grateful as an artist to have found any employment at all or that I at least should have found a better job first before leaving.  However, I value my creativity a little more than some people do...and I am willing to put in the time and live a frugal lifestyle until someone truly recognizes it and appreciates it.

And that may happen sooner than I think.  I am not sure.  I had two interviews since I departed on Friday.  While of course I hope they work out, I wouldn't mind doing freelance and really boosting my portfolio for specific markets.  I feel like while my college education offered me versatility, but it didn't offer me much time to hone in on a specific market.  So, I am going to have to do this myself.

I hate that society is quick to judge your career path, but we are all so different. Some live to work, others work to live.  Some will stay at a company for 30 years, some will jump from place to place. I am learning there is no right or wrong answer.  All and all, we have the rest of our lives to find the job we love and excel in. And maybe you won't.  Maybe you'll find something that gets you from A to B.  But either way, you can turn that crap job's money into something you really love to do after work...or whatever you want.  At the end of the day, we all just strive to live well and prosper (yeaaaaaah star trek reference!)

And the best booster of confidence and evidence of this in the day to day,  is the book from doctor seuss, "Oh, the places you go!"  If you want to go read it right now, it will seriously improve your mood.  I recommend reading it with a glass of wine. Just for fun.  If you are of age of course :)