Archive for August, 2007

missing the beach

This piece was created with children’s book illustrator Kelsea Parks as a collaboration.

Kelsea moved to Charleston, South Carolina this month, so she won’t have to miss the beach anymore.

home buying

I didn’t want to talk about this until it was finalized, but I don’t like to keep quiet. David and I are in the process of buying our first house and we’re both very excited.

It is a little (1,337 sq ft) townhouse in north Austin, it has a mini back yard, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, and it’s 2 stories. It was built in 1980, so it is a little outdated but it will be fun to update.

I snagged some photos from the listing (so that is not my furniture), but haven’t had a chance to take any photos with my own camera, yet.

I have already made a list of the things I want to update. First thing to go will be the popcorn ceilings, followed by new paint inside and out. We haven’t decided which updates are going to be done next and in what order, but some of the more expensive and time consuming ones will have to come later (like hardwood flooring and making the attic space livable).

Walls and Ceilings
• Remove popcorn ceilings
• Remove dining room wall paper
• Paint all walls light gray, paint ceilings lighter gray, paint all trim and doors white
• Replace outlets
• Install crown molding in living and dining
• Paint and seal the outside
• Paint the garage

Flooring
• Tile the bathrooms
• Re-tile the entry way and fireplace area
• Install wood floors

Fixtures
• Update all light fixtures
• Update all 3 bathroom mirrors
• Update all doorknobs
• Update all faucets
• Window dressing and blinds

Kitchen
• Install new counter top
• Install small glass tile back splash
• Buy new kitchen appliances
• Install new kitchen sink

Misc.
• Remove half bath sink and cabinet to install pedestal sink
• Update two full bath sinks and vanities
• Front and back yard landscaping

men are from mars

David and I are so different. We were sharing a slice of chocolate cake today when I asked “How is chocolate so good?”

We both answered at the same time: David said “Chocolate is what I think God’s love would be like.” and I said “This is what I think the Devil’s semen would be like.” Sinful.

canon digital camera fun

adventure dad and weddings

My dad loves kayaking, fishing, and being by any water in general. It seems that his dogs are now really into it as well! Check out Bella in the pink polka dot life jacket, and Cookie with the pink heart tag. This picture was taken by my dad’s fiancée, Andrea, with my dad’s very cool waterproof digital camera.

For the first week of October, David and I are going to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for my dad’s wedding. Very exciting! David and I have never been to Mexico but all of the photos we’ve seen and stories we’ve heard from people make it sound wonderful.

I bought a new bikini to celebrate the occasion and also because I had not bought a new bathing suit in about seven years. I blame that on living in San Francisco and Wisconsin for a few years, where swimming causes acute death symptoms.

It will be fun, and I will be sure to have SPF 70 with me at all times (for David, because he is VERY white).

short haired cat

David and I got a new cat this week. OK, I lied, but it FEELS like we got a new cat!

David took Mojito in for a haircut and he looks SO LITTLE now. His short hair is so soft, I can’t stop petting him and rubbing my face on him with no fear of chocking on long luxurious kitty hairs.

Mojito was developing some knots and matted hair on his back. I had tried to cut some of it out myself but I was afraid of hurting him. I’ve never had a cat before who’s hair matted, but Mojito doesn’t clean himself as much as other cats do. I blame it on him being taken away from his mother too early. Maybe he never learned how to do it well.

Has this happened to your cats?

the last pharaoh

Queen of Egypt.

This one is a very old piece. My technique was still rough at the time, but there are many elements of this one that I still like. I look at this portrait as one of the fist and most important building blocks of my style. The coloration of the skin is something I have continued to do in a similar fashion. Also, the proportional differences in the body, taking note of the delicate hands.

Do you have old work that you always look back on?

my filmmaker man

UPDATE: David’s film won “Best Script” at the 2007 San Antonio 48hr Film Project

David and some friends participated in San Antonio’s first annual 48 hour Film Project this month. Their comedy was received beautifully, everyone in the theater was laughing. I was so proud!

The 48 Hour Film Project is a challenge where teams have 48 hours to produce a short film (4-7 minutes). All creative work—writing, shooting, editing, scoring—must be done within these two days. Each team draws a different genre from a hat and incorporates certain necessary elements into the film to ensure the validity of their deadline.

I hope you enjoy David’s film as much as I did.

Blinding

close to closing

In ten days we are going to be closing on our house. I happy and stressing out at the same time. I hate packing and moving, it’s one of my all time most hated things to do, right up there with putting my clothes back on the hangers.

I’m also not looking forward to all the work that needs to be done to the place. Since both David and I will be learning how to do all of the tasks as we go, I predict that it will take a LONG time to get it right.

Wish us luck, I’m nervous.

more pets please

Have you guys seen how adorable these fennec foxes are? I totally want one but I’ve read that they are a handful to care for. They only grow up to 3lbs and are the size of chihuahuas. They are very spunky, active, and smart, but can destroy furniture to make their nest. If I worked from home, I think I would get one in a heartbeat!

investigate me

I had a dream the other night where I was younger and at some kind of school. Gil Grissom was there too, of course he was quiet, intelligent, and strong. I had my camera with me so I started taking photos of him, I was trying to pretend that I was taking photographs of other things too, but he saw what I was doing. He disapproved of the photos because our relationship was supposed to be kept secret. What a deliciously forbidden love we shared.

free textures

You guys know how much I love using textures in my illustrations. Good high resolution texture images can be hard to find. But I’m providing a list of free texture download sites where you will be able to find them in one spot. Some images will be larger and better quality than others. As always, please watch out for and obey copyright laws on usage.

Free texture images:

• Texture King
• Texture Warehouse
• Mayang Textures

• Image After
• Forrest CZ
• GR Sites
• Got 3D
• 3D Links
• Free Photoshop
• Urban Dirty
• Web Ground
• Pixel Poke

the art of Fuco Ueda

Fuco Ueda, a Japanese surrealist painter, uses acrylics to create intensely saturated colors in a world of female fantasy surrounded by bees, birds, and other creatures.

Her use of extraordinary skin tone colors remind me of my own work, while the liquid movements remind me of another one of my favorite artists, James Jean. Ueda’s paintings tell such vividly strong stories. They draw me in and make me want to lose myself in their dreamscapes.

Can someone who speaks Japanese, please contact Fuco Ueda and propose to her a website redesign. Even give it to her for free if you have to, because her Geocities site is atrocious.

homeowners

20% nervous and 80% excited, I hold in my hand a house key to David and my new home. Some things I found out about the place today:

• The big tree in the front yard is a magnolia tree. I can’t wait to see it bloom.
• Our next door neighbors, an elderly couple, just painted the exterior of their home bright green with white trim.
• There is a library within walking distance. This made David very happy because just last night he mentioned that he wishes our new place has a library close by.

I can’t wait to get a paint roller in my hand.

Yes, the key really has the night sky artwork on it.

getting the crew together

There is now a crew of three additional set of hands coming to help us paint and de-popcorn the house. Since this weekend is extended with Labor Day, David and I are hoping to have all the painting and de-popcorning completed by Monday evening. I hope this plan will work out well, because I would love to have another set of projects done before moving in completely at the end of September.

Project set numero two is called The Tile Trouble Trick which includes tile in three baths, kitchen, entry, fireplace, utility room, and maybe the exit to the backyard. The TTT is a scary prospect, much learning needs to happen for a successful and timely completion of the TTT.