This is Where the Time has Gone

Honestly I haven't felt much like blogging. The weather has been too intoxicating to be sitting at my computer for hours upon hours (because I do more than just blog when I decide to start up this old thing--the computer, not me). Perhaps it's because I have more personal [good] news than art news and I try not to get too "dear diary" in here. It's not like I haven't been sitting, just not at my computer, haha. My crafting/work table is in front of my living room windows, so I have great lighting, fresh air, etc. Now with the Netflix streaming into the Wii I can have many options of inspiring background noise (two words: DARK SHADOWS)! Also something to help me be more creative/productive is this week (starting yesterday) I will go dry. Not one drop of alcohol. (what was that statement about no "dear diary" entries?) Ironically enough my boyfriend and I went to my favourite bar (Stocks & Blondes) yesterday to inquire if they serve non-alcoholic beer (i.e: O'Douls) but no luck. So we ate dinner there instead :) I hear you're supposed to lose weight when you stop drinking, but I don't think it works if you substitute drinks with food!

So, what is happening in a more art wise way? I had another gallery show at 1901, so I have more paintings to show off. In this show I did more of a creature feature. I did end up repeating "Feed The Birds" merely because it fit into the theme. The two paintings in a previous post, "Austin" & my Untitled Frozen Ghosty, were part of the show. Here are their companions:

Sophisticate

She is a drawing I am constantly working with and have always wanted as a painting. When I first created her she was to be part of an on-going series of illustrations, but I never got around to it. However, I've been told by a couple of people that I should make a cohesive collection of paintings/illustrations with this theme/style.

Untitled Fright

A painting that was first featured in Gothic Art Chicago's Kilter Magazine. And this actually sold at the show to a fellow artist (http://www.judgehydrogen.com/)

Ogre

He's kind of this lab working, child molesting creature. I almost want to keep working on this. Perhaps make the background more dirty and add a few more features to his face.

Cure

Basically an emotive self-portrait (if that's the correct term). I was having trouble with her mouth when my boyfriend suggested having her mouth stapled or sewn shut. Which automatically reminded me of a Tales From the Darkside episode. It featured an obese woman who was trying, to no avail, to lose weight. Her last attempt ended in her hallucinating that food felt pain and were talking/living creatures so she couldn't bear to eat anything. The episode ended in her sewing her mouth shut. However my version of Cure is more of an alcohol statement, as you an see my lady is a bit yellow from liver failure :P

Bride

This is a work in progress, but I featured it anyhow. I also have a couple of other ideas for this particular subject so I think it'll end up being a great series to work on. This is based off a crack in the subway that I took a picture of and this is what my Rorschach interpretation is. Actually, alot of my creature paintings are based off of spots/stains/cracks/wall paper designs where I do a Rorschach-esque analysis and see all of these weird images.

As usual some of these are on sale at my Etsy shop, so by all means check it out. They are also up on Deviant Art if you'd merely like a print. http://eraserhappy.etsy.com/
http://eraserhappy.deviantart.com/

There should be more updates sooner than later. I have a craft faire at The 1901 Gallery/Theatre this Sunday (June 6th) from 3:00pm-8:00pm. (1901 W. Belmont, entrance at Wolcott) I'll be featuring some new products. Jewelry, charms, keychains, buttons, etc.

Comments are always welcome. Take care everyone.

Gothic Craft Faire

The Nineteen Hundred & One Gallery/Theatre Presents:
The March Craft Fairy
A Monthly Gothic Arts & Crafts Faire
the 1st Sunday of every month
Sunday, March 7, 2010
1901 W. Belmont Ave. (entrance on Wolcott), Chicago
3pm-8pm
Over 15 of Chicago's Gothic Crafters & Artists,
Jewelry, Candles & Incense, Dolls & Toys,
Hats & Parasols..., Baked goods, and other Unique items.
Coffee, Refreshments & More!
All Ages
$1 Donation
www.myspace.com/1901crafters
and find us on facebook: the nineteen hundred & one gallery/theatre

I Touch the Fire and it Freezes Me

I abhor Winter. Let me rephrase that: I hate Winter in certain locations of the planet; namely where it’s f-ing cold. The problem is I have a circulatory disorder, Raynaud’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynaud%27s_phenomenon [quite patriotic, isn't it?]), and it’s not merely uncomfortable but can be quite painful. It’s also a tad scary–the thought of (my own) amputation is not a pleasant one. I can hold onto a steaming cup of liquid without feeling that it’s burning me. For someone who works with their hands this is a living nightmare. My hands are usually numb/tingling which makes drawing and painting difficult. This doesn’t just physically affect me, there are mental afflictions. This year has been pretty bad–I feel as if I’m developing a phobia of being cold. The idea of freezing has gone beyond not wanting to be uncomfortable; it has reached a level to where I will not leave my home for the fear of my body reacting negatively to cold and mentally feeling miserable due to this.

My art suffers greatly in the Winter. The last time I drew anything was a sketch for a personal project. It was the cover to a collaborative sketch book that I’m trading with my best friend. Every year it’s a vicious cycle of playing catch up with all the ideas I’ve had throughout the Winter but haven’t been able to complete. I also feel as if I have to brush up on my skills because I’m out of practice. Spring is a time of renewal/rebirth/starting over/anew, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t the kind of renewals that are intended.

However all this isn’t to say I’ve been completely unproductive. I’ve been able to be more active with on-line art communities. I’ve also been taking advantage of sitting on my ass in front of the space heater to get alot of sewing done. I’ve been making arm warmers, wrist bands, alternative styled knit hats for babies/toddlers, and pouches/bags. Sewing is still difficult, the numbing makes me very fumbly, but it’s doable and not as disappointing/frustrating as not being able to draw. Pictures of my current crafting aren’t up because I’m doing an assembly line style production, (as my boyfriend references it), of crafting. I make the items–as many as I feel possible, and then the next day(s) I’ll accessorize/decorate them. My goal today is to make a mess of my living room with all my fancy beads, laces, and doodads to do just that. So pictures should be posted in the next day or so.

Exposing Thyself

This will probably be my fifth attempt to have a sort of on-line journal; technically a second attempt at a blog. Years ago I was going to do a goth themed blog–writing reviews on gothic pop culture, (is that an oxy moron?), art, and posting about material goodies. I wrote one post and never blogged again. My problem is I detest writing, and I don’t like on-line journals. I feel it exposes too much of myself in a medium I’m not comfortable with. I prefer to show my inner sewage visually, not verbally. I’m also a perfectionist. I feel I can’t sit here for hours editing my entry. To me these are rough drafts and I don’t do rough drafts. I either finish something completely to it’s utmost potential or I set it down to become shuffled around, torn, lost, or (when I had pets) the work either became products of digestion or became bowel placemats. Either way, rough drafts are synonymous with shit.

Paradoxically enough I can’t escape writing, and even do it as a side project, (what can I say, I’m a sadist). I am an on-going contributer to the Chicago dark arts publication, Kilter Magazine ( www.kiltermagazine.org/ ).

They were gracious enough to feature some of my art in their Fall 2009 issue. Which leads to me to the reason I’m attempting another blog. A) I feel it will strengthen my skills as a writer, and to not procrastinate as one. B) It’s more exposure as an artist. For the past few days I’ve been joining, and re-establishing already existing profiles, on networking sites. I can’t express enough how much I want to be involved in the arts industry. Not only would it be wonderful to make it my full time “job” but to be surrounded by the creative brains, (Hey, we’re talking about the distant future here. We are all going to be a bunch of soft blue-glowing brains in sleek floating jars.), of the art world. C) This will allow me to make more connections and friends in the industry. I love waxing poetic with other artists and learning from them. I’m self taught and I tend to run into trouble during certain projects. It’ll be nice to have others to turn to when I need advice. At least, that’s a hope of mine–if anyone out there decides to read this.

My number one goal for this year is to have income revenue from my artwork. I work part-time in retail, which helps me survive and allows me to purchase what I need for arts sake. So now it’s time to take what I have and turn it into profit. It isn’t easy, you have spend alot of money in order to earn it; I’m prepared.

Thank you for reading. Suggestions, comments, followers are more than welcome. I’ll be posting other sites that I’m active on so that if you’re a member you can add me as a contact.

-Case