Bear Hunt

I spent a couple of days trying to find a place to live. I really wish I hadn’t put this off. I haven’t even decided on the area I’d like to live in. It’s a huge headache and I’m looking forward to it being over soon.

Lately I’ve also done some illustrations for lyrics. I’m absolutely thrilled every time they get liked or reblogged. Once I abandoned my self imposed limitations about the form of the blog, it’s gotten much better and I’ve developed much more as an artist. Initially I was going to do each page as if it were a regular sheet of lined paper that I had doodled on and scanned in. I gradually started adding different elements, such as color and typefaces, until now I don’t feel undeserving when I refer to myself as an illustrator or a graphic designer. It’s lame and kind of surprising how often I’m the only one hold me back.

A Fire Upon The Deep

I’m trying to be ready to go to school. It’s a little daunting, although it really shouldn’t be. I’ll be 26 years old. That’s pretty old. I don’t even have a place to live yet. I have some ideas, but I don’t know if I want to commit to any of them. I should probably go out there on Thursday and check things out. What a headache. I’ve been out there so often the last month.

Here are some pictures of smoke I took with Jake the night he got back to Roosevelt, from Europe. I was inspired by the art for the latest Son Lux album, and some photographs by Alberto Seveso. I wish I had a camera as nice as the one I took these pictures with.

Reverse Engineer

I try to implement all these positive changes in my life. But the way I go about it is a little backwards. I want to be more assertive, engaging, and commanding, but I only manage to put on the facade by forcing myself to speak with a deeper voice and opening my eyes a little wider. The deeper change that yields these characteristics naturally is much harder to grasp. But that’s the only way to be authentic. Authenticity is more valuable than I every realized when I was younger. I thought that I needed to wear certain things and hang out with certain people, but I never realized that there was something happening on a deeper level. I know it now, but I’m still trying to find the right things to wear, instead of trying to be the right person to wear them.

The Falls

I don’t really have a lot of time to write much. I’m at work, and I’m struggling to maintain my routine of documenting and posting about my life. These are a few pictures from my trip down by Moab to a place known as “The Falls”. It was a good time. I’m sure that if I had been on the ball and posted these pictures sooner I would have some cool stories or something. I’m still trying to figure out if I should post these on Flickr too. And on facebook? I don’t want to have them in too many places at once. I’m trying to create some sort of order. Here they are. Pictures.

Professional

I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’ve let it kind of pile up until the last minute, and now I’m in crunch mode. I guess I didn’t think I’d ever have enough projects that I would need to take it seriously and not goof off. Now I have six plaques to make, a logo/business card, and a massive dvd slideshow project. I need to get my business cards printed. I think that will help me take myself more seriously.

I forgot my pen tonight at work. Plenty of nibs, but nothing to hold them with. I got the pencil versions of two plaques done, which I feel good about. I’m not even sure how to pronounce this name, but I’m pleased with how it’s looking.

I’m nervous about this one. I’m afraid the flourishes got out of hand and the letters will get lost. I guess I’ll see.

I did this one with the brushes I managed to bring. I cut this piece of wood pretty poorly, so I decided to use it to test out some distressing techniques I’ve been researching. I hope it turns out.

Change

I’ve noticed that sometimes people close to me are wary of certain changes I would like to make in my life. I’ve heard many times that I should just be myself. But guess what, myself isn’t getting me very far. I need to be my best self and I have learned about some ways in which I believe I could be fitter and happier. I think my new plan of action goes along with a saying that I read in The Game; “a rich man doesn’t need to tell you he’s rich”. It’s better to simply implement positive change without saying anything. I like to explain myself too much. I’m gonna stop. Right after this post.

Silian Rail

It’s been something of a productive night. I think. It might not seem that way later. I watched a stupid movie, sketched something that didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, and worked a little bit on some designs for a friend. I also made a business card for myself. I based it on Patrick Bateman’s card from American Psycho. I don’t recommend anybody watch it, but I liked his business card. It also inspired me to figure out a good facial cleansing routine and do more crunches… I may have missed the point of that film.

I planned my week out. I think I’m going to go to Provo on Friday to get some school, work, and housing issues solved. I need to do at least two name plaques this week as well. Additionally I’m almost finished with a personal illustration on wood that I feel has turned out rather well. I’d love to finish that. Oh man, I also need to figure out a good technique to create a “shabby chic” look for my work. I’d better not goof off too much. Meh. I like goofing off. But I think I’ll like being an adult more. I hope.

Beneath the Fire

Here’s the latest illustration to be summoned into being by my gifted hands. I feel a lot more comfortable calling this an illustration, and myself and illustrator, now that I’ve cleaned up my style and started using color. It was kind of a big adjustment. I’ve honed my skills primarily with a pencil and blank white paper. So when I seriously began to illustrate digitally I tried my best to recreate the medium I was most comfortable with. The name of my Tumblr blog, Pretty Sketchy, reflects my attitude towards the art I created. I’ve always thought of them as sketches, not illustrations.

This rhino was traced, I must admit. I’m experimenting with different methods and tracing is one of them. The lyric is from a song called Beneath the Fire by a band called Evaline. I’ve been following them for a few years now and their debut album was finally released last month. It’s worth a listen.

Waste

Soooo. I really thought that buying a domain name would motivate me to blog more. It obviously has not. I find it much easier to use the smaller and free-er tools like Flickr, Tumblr, and so on. But the key is just to do it. I wait for things to be perfect, and then they never seem to get there. I tweet a lot because it’s easy and I’ve learned to let go of my expectations.

I’m at work right now. It’s a little bit chilly and now I need to head back out into it to make my round and check the other homes.

My finger nails are getting a bit long. That’s gross.

I suppose that at some point things will start to emerge that are worthwhile. Maybe not.

Uh, I’ve been using a new tool called “If This Then That” (iftt.com). It’s a great central automation tool. I use it to tweet things automatically. I should also post my inspiration blog on here. Really bring it all together.

So that’s all for now. I need to write a thank you note to my Aunt. She sent me a book that I’m very much looking forward to reading. I’ll send her one of my handmade cards. That’ll be nice.

Detour

I love finding myself in places I didn’t intend to be. Sometimes the view is pretty great.