So here's what i've been working on lately. Fellow ICM volunteer sarah and i have been making a (nearly) life-sized replica of the minnesota iceman. It's going well! Here is a photo of what he looked like a few days ago.

His body is a combination of chicken wire, plastic bags, twist ties, wooden dowels, plaster, and this dry clay stuff that you mix with water and it turns into a substance similar to squelchy wet cookie dough. Sarah holds his head, which will be attached later.

I got to take home the hands and feet to work on. The skin tone i was trying to achieve was mummy-like. I think it came out to be more moldy-like. But he's supposed to have been stuck in a block of ice for some time, so i figure that's okay.

The most recent photos: Feet and one hand attached, as well as the head. Yes, his crotch looks pretty damp - i know what you're thinking, and no, he didn't pee himself. The clay isn't dry yet. Sheesh.

Face close up: i think sarah did a great job! Especially with the pig nose. One of the many features that makes the iceman unique. Soon he'll be covered in hair and his eyeball will be hanging out of his empty socket. More pictures soon.

In other news, it's official: voting has ended and the results are in. Thank you to everyone who voted on my shirt! Over 500 of you! My final score is a 2.15, which unfortunately, probably isn't high enough to be in the running. But who knows, maybe every shirt submitted this month had a low score and i'm still in the running (wishful thinking). We'll see. Although after having 30 chubbikins returned to me today that never got sold, i was hoping for a high threadless that score would cheer me up. I'm tempted to just bury my face in my pillow and not come out, but i won't! I'm just stuffing my face full of ice cream instead. Much better.

cute cat pic of the week

An oldie, but a goodie.

Well! I have been busy actually. I'm almost done with my new set of prints - just one more to ink and then add some color to all of them. I'll let you know when they're done and up in my shop! I finished my secret color aid project. It won't have to be a secret for much longer. I think it came out pretty nice, but of course, it looks better from far away. But as my mom pointed out, so does a lot of art. So true.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to find my chubbikins at Summer Island Studio in Brunswick. All the chubbikins that didn't get sold will be sent back to me. So if you want to buy them, you'll have to get them through me! It's depressing, but i understand. They just weren't a good fit. But if you're in brunswick, you should still stop by the store - there was lots of nice things there.

Alright kids, only one day left to vote for my tshirt design on threadless! If you haven't done so already, please vote for my shirt. Or if you have vote already, you could make another account and vote again! Too much? Oh fine... The link is HERE!!!!!!!!

threadless submission

Please vote for my design! I think it's pretty nifty. The concept of the shirt is the definition of Cryptozoology, which is the study of hidden animals. What if these animals are closer than we think? But really, my first thought was that i want to put Bigfoot on a shirt.

Wow, look at me blogging twice in one week! Haha. I think this blog needs a makeover. Maybe then i would be more inspired to write.

I've been really messed up with dates recently - i have no idea what day it is! I kept thinking yesterday was friday, and that the SyFy channel original movie Mothman would be on tonight. Sadly, it isn't. I have to keep reminding myself that it's actually on tomorrow night. So what's on tonight? Nothing. Poo.

I've started working on a present for someone - can't say who yet, in the off chance they might read this blog (yeah, right). Anyway, it's a collage and i'm using a paper called Color Aid. I had to buy a huge pack of this stuff freshman year at Pratt for LCD class, (that's light, color, and design for you folks not in the know). My professor LOVED color aid and made us use it whenever she could. She even went around after class and picked up all the tiny scraps that had fallen on the floor and put them in the big folder that she would bring out during critiques. She'd rummage through the folder and find a scrap of a similar color or different tone to one that we had used in our work, and she'd hold it up to the piece and ask how that different shade/tone/color changed our piece. But i digress... I used to be pretty good with it, and i had a ton left over from LCD, (i haven't used it since then), so i thought: what the heck! So i spent most of yesterday cutting out small shapes of paper. The feel and smell of this paper really brings me back. I should also mention that if you use this paper long enough, it can be toxic - i've been washing my hands a lot. If this project works out, i might try doing a portrait of Russell, and then if that works out, i might try doing custom pet portraits to sell on etsy. We'll see.

cute cat pic of the week

Ok, it's official: i am a terrible blogger. Sorry folks. So, i'm working on a secret project. I'm afraid if i talk about it i'll jinx it and it won't happen. Of course, that will probably happen anyway, whether i talk about it or not. I'm trying not to get too excited about it, but we'll see.

Almost done with my tshirt design. I'm not super happy with it, but maybe that's just me being a crazy artist. I'll let you know when it's up so you can vote for me. Please.

I have a new idea for a chubbikin. I think it'll be pretty fun. I know i shouldn't make more, since no one ever buys them. But i miss sewing.

Also, down to 788 songs to rate in my itunes. Of course, i just got a bunch of new music, so that number will be going up again. Oh dear.

I've decided to try my hand at children's books again. I was super excited to finally try out my fancy inks (that were backordered for months), and i was hoping to be inspired by them. I was discouraged though, because it didn't come out perfectly the first time i used them. Sigh. Anyway, i won't give up, and i'll try the inks again. Above are some tests i did with various materials/ methods. The first one is ink with a black outline, the second is ink with more detailed brown outlining, the third is watercolor and colored pencil, and the fourth is marker and colored pencil. Of course, they are just tests and not very well done. I'm not sure which one i like best - i don't really like any of them! But like i said before, i won't give up....yet.

happy easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you're all enjoying your bunny shaped pancakes and easter egg hunts. I've been featured on a blog! Check it out here. Have a nice day!