Vintage 3x5's

I am posting the ATC (top) that I made for Marie in Quebec. I hope she likes it! It was inspired by her love for steampunk. The word, "ego," is a tribute to my favorite novella of all time, "Anthem," by Ayn Rand. If you haven't read it yet, grab it and settle down for a nice read. It's less than 150 pages and well worth the time! :)

Making these little 3x5 canvas boards totally gave me a sense of accomplishment! The text and music backgrounds are just the ticket for someone who doesn't have a lot of stamps. This project was an attempt to create my own style and get away from sheer mimicry. Thank you, RachO113 for the inspiration! It was also the perfect springboard for a productive Sunday! I will be finalizing my poster for the Sun Valley, Idaho pharmacy conference--no time for art today!

August Art

I spent the last month watching several Ustream artists and I think you can see how their colors and techniques have inspired my work. I have been trying to make my canvases mimic the color wash effect and I have been trying different techniques, such as the lace stamp shown here.

The lace stamp was re-purposed as a three-dimensional element for this piece, which isn't quite finished, I think. I hope to stream the final piece on Monday. It too is a teeny weeny 4x4, a format also inspired by my online friends. I love the blue and lime colors. If only I could get past the feeling that it has to be "perfect!" This is the most restrictive emotion in the world and never fails to freeze me in my tracks.

ATC kick

I haven't quite figured out what I am going to do with all these ATC's but I really love making them. Today was a rainy day in Idaho Falls so I think I will do some more to cheer myself up.

Mixed Media

I've been on this amazing mixed media kick ever since I graduated, but I really think it's the accumulative effect of all those art-deprived years during pharmacy school kicking in. I've been buying new supplies, making great progress on some projects, and making artist friends online. My first ATC swap will be next month and I am so looking forward to getting some ATCs from all over the country! I've joined a Yahoo group to make friends and I follow a weekly mixed media Ustream show by a very talented UK artist, known as RachO113 on YouTube. Her work has inspired me all summer and the things I have learned by watching her videos have brought my art to the next level. I might try posting some things on this blog to try and keep it going. If you like what you see, please leave a comment--I'd love to read what you have to say.

Sleds and skiing

Danny traded a gun for one sled and paid less than $2000 for the other. Though they are old, they run well and are a total kick in the pants. My first day sledding, I thought I wasn't catching on very well, but my second time I felt much more confident. The worst part is the thought that the sled might get too hot--and to prevent this you have to go FAST. This allows the track to throw snow on the engine and cool it down. Problem being, going fast decreases the amount of control you have over the sled, so it has to be on a long, flat, straight stretch of trail. Riding a snowmobile gives you muscles you never knew you had, by the way! The picture of me skiing was taken at Bogus Basin on the Lower Nugget (a black diamond run). It was super steep--just look at the trees! But I made it down in one piece and I am very proud of myself! It might be time to start tackling more black diamond runs, too.

Exhausting

When I was an undergrad, I once asked a pharmacist what to expect of pharmacy school. He said, "The first two years they try to scare you and the last two are easier." Well, he must have gone to a different school than me... This second semester of my third year of pharmacy school has been the most difficult semester of pharmacy school to date. I still think I've had harder semesters, but the thing is that this is the stuff I will use on a daily basis in my job. The pressure is on to learn--and learn well. On the schedule this semester are pharmacy law, CNS pharmacology, Capstone Pharmacology Recitation and Lab, and Capstone lectures. I have definitely decided that C's are a very good thing, since as long as I can keep getting C's I can remain in pharmacy school. I'm counting down to rotations which begin May 24th. Wondering when I can get some studying in for that, because the last thing I want to do is have that 'deer-in-headlights' look when asked what the mechanism of Byetta is.

We've done a lot of fun things this year already...Danny has purchased two snowmobiles on Craigslist and we've been out on them twice now. It is pretty fun to be out and about in the mountains where there is tons of snow. I love snow! We've been skiing a few times and we've also spent a weekend in Sun Valley with Phil and Donna. Danny is planning a caribou hunting trip in Alaska for the beginning of September...we are both really excited about that. With all our travelling and studying, I've been unable to spend as much time with my grandparents as I'd like. I hope moving home to our Caldwell house in May will allow me to hang out with them more. Mom is in Guam until April 17th and I'm looking forward to seeing her when she arrives in Boise! Our cat, Lexie, is doing great. She has been a trooper with all our weekend trips. Danny is thinking of getting a puppy and I've expressed my reservations on that score--we'll be moving soon, we already have a cat, I like my couch whole, etc... Despite that, I think this is going to be one of those times when I'll come home to a puppy, a sheepish husband and the phrase, "it's better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission"...

Shopping with Grandma and Grandpa on Thursday was fun.  I found a bunch of binders and a couple of books at the DI and didn't find any clothes--it was definitely one of those "I hate shopping" days.  We had lunch at the Sunrise Cafe which is right down the road from our apartment and then hit up the Goodwill store.  I'm sure I could have found something to buy in the clothes section if I'd tried a little harder, but I just wasn't in the mood!  After that we went to my favorite shabby-chic store, Zella's, who has shops both in Meridian and Nampa.  She has super-pretty furniture painted in the shabby-chic style, but I know where she gets her stuff, and most of it is overpriced in my opinion.  Maybe someday I will be able to afford some of that stuff.  I found a great book-stand for my altered book projects--it is white.  Grandma went to Grapples by the sugarbeet factory and found a really cute brass-looking one for five bucks!!!  And I thought my $8 stand was a steal!

Beth came over and helped me study today.  It was really great to catch up with her.  I am hoping we can do it again soon.  I am also hoping to do really well on this test because it would be nice to get an A for once!