Hey guys, this blog kinda died....maybe I'll post here again but if you really want to keep a constant update on what I'm up to (why would you want to?), go here




OK, thanks, namaste.

Double the Art, Double the fun!

Hey!  This Friday, June 1, I will be at two galleries, drawing zombie portraits ALLLLLLL night!  Well, to about 10pm but still.  I will be there with Daniel Whitfield drawing all you lovely people as the undead.  $5 per each portrait.

We will be starting at Heirloom Gallery 6 pm and then heading to PermaDirty Project Space at 7 pm.

Hope to see you there!

Adventures in Linocutting a.k.a. So Much Blood

Hello!  So I have not been posting regularly because I have been busy with the comic book.  It's been really crazy but there is a ton of stuff to do before the launch party in June (date still yet to be disclosed).  Since I didn't think it was enough to have that and school (transferring and finals! Oh, joy!)  I decided to start working on more art work for myself, specifically for a small works show also at the Claremont Packing House.  The bookmarks will be available, some Bromance prints will be there and a brand new one!  The Scott Disapproves Sticker (pictured above).

For those of you more in the know, you will recognize the lino block in the bottom.  I have never used one or made one before so I was starting from scratch.  I did some light researching before starting to make sure I wasn't totally buying the wrong thing (can't I just buy a rubber stamp?) and wasting a ton of money.  I found a few things but there were holes in a lot of the explanations that I guess I just had to figure out myself.  I bought a multi burnishing, cutty thingy (I still don't know what it's called, yes correct me fine, but it's finals week and will not be accepting any new information at this time) and a lino block, pre-mounted (because I did not wanna deal with that ish).  I took it home and took one of my favorite images from the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel, which I had appropriated and tweaked for my own usage.  Now to start cutting with sharp things!!!  It was going pretty well until I had realized that the text I had written was not mirrored (which meant it would have printed backwards).  Oh yay.  I had finished the whole block at the time I realized the text was wrong.  Which is funny because I took so much time making sure the image was mirrored correctly.  So I got rid of the text and re-did it.  I think it looks a lot better this way so I think the accident was actually a little bit of a blessing.  I'm using a water-based ink on an adhesive cardstock and you can see the results in the photo.  I'm really proud of it.  It took a while to get used to putting the weight down evenly (I'm pressing this by hand, so it's kind of hit and miss) and the paper being textured does not help.  Other than that, it was a fairly successful project.

Now for the blood!  The multi tool came with little rubber discs for stamp-making.  I felt super proud of making a whole block I was like "oh tiny rubber disc!  You think you stand a chance against me and my mighty cutty thingy!?! FOOL!"  and as I cut into it, my tool slipped and I stabbed my hand.  It seems rubber and lino have different resistance strengths.  Who would've thought?  So, of course I freak out because a) it really hurts and b) I bleed a lot.  I have thin blood so it flows fast.  Whenever I get a cut, it looks way more dramatic than it is, but I guess some panic trigger is set off by the sight of all that blood and I freak out.  Anyways, I'm all neosporined and bandaged and will be fine.  Stay tuned for more exciting events that are less boring and mundane than this post.  Thanks!

Anthem for a 21 year old Teenager

Hello! There's been a lot a lot going on, which is why I haven't posted. For what that was, refer to theplagued.net for details. But I do want to mention the latest show at PermaDirty project space. It's a glorious show about Teen love, angst, and pubescent awkwardness. I love this topic because I feel very attached to my teenaged years. I think everyone can identify with how awful but how wonderful they were in retrospect. I think it's the only part of our lives where we feel emotions to their fullest, which is sometimes bad. But I think it's something adults lack and is sometimes important to love a little too much sometimes.


The photo is a bookmark that will be available at PermaDirty. If you get the content, like the post.

Shh...

Some new, secret things are afoot...

Vampire Love

A little something I drew for a monstrous valentine's day show.  Enjoy.

WonderCon 2012: The Aftermath

Wow.  I'm still a little awestruck about WonderCon happening.  It was such a fantastic experience.  I'm very grateful to everyone who came out and said hello to us and especially grateful to those who bought an issue or some of our merch.  I am thankful for the people at Forbidden Panel and to everyone who helped us with our first everything.   Believe it or not this was my first time at WonderCon.  So going to WonderCon for the first time with my first comic book ever is pretty wild.  Thank you thank you thank you!

Comic-Con maybe?

THEY'RE HERE!

THE FIRST OFFICIAL PRINT OF MY COMIC BOOK IS HERE IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD!!!

theplagued.net

Great Success!

Howdy!
There are so many things to talk about I'm not exactly sure where to begin but here goes.

First off, the second PermaDirty opening was a great success.  Above is one of the painted cakes available for consumption (and man were they good).  I got to look very Mad Men-ish (I look for any excuse to get ridiculously dressed up) and draw zombie portraits of people with my boyfriend.  The final score was 15 for me and 11 for him.  Outside the gallery, Eric Spicer was doing wood carvings, there was a large community painting and my friend Jason was watercoloring superheroes.  Inside there were tarot readings, button making, a live musician who was this adorable little girl who sang like an adult, a print press, screen printing, body painting, live American tattoo and live Maori tattoo.  It was super intense yo.  I think my personal favorite was the Maori tattooing because it was so fascinating and so visceral to see someone getting ink chiseled into their flesh.   Amazing.

Secondly, I won an award!  I'm sure many of you have not heard of it, but I was rewarded as local emerging artist of the year.  It's a great honor for me, and it comes at a strange time in my life, where I am abandoning the label of art major.  It's surreal to say the least.

Thirdly, WonderCon approacheth!  Holy crap, man.  It still really hasn't sunk in that I'm going to be there signing and running a booth and trying to sell a comic book that I'm a part of.  It doesn't seem possible at all, and yet, my co-collabo is making a ton of stickers and merch to sell.  Jeez.

Anyways, as you can see from above, I have been busy like nobody's business.  So if I don't post very soon, please be forgiving.  Ain't no rest for the wicked....

Road to WonderCon!

Hello you!
So in case you didn't know I have a comic book that I co-created with Daniel Whitfield called The Plagued.  You should check out the 6 page preview that is up at Forbidden Panel here.  I am very excited for this because I received my WonderCon schedule.  Seeing the actual of email of when I'm going to be at the booth kind of sealed the deal for me.  It's like now I'm allowed to feel excited about this and I am, very much so.  If you're at WonderCon, come by and say hello.  I'm not sure which booth (or where it is exactly) I will be at but there will be more details as the date nears.

Also, I will probably post until you get sick of me but remember that the PermaDirty 2nd opening is this Friday!!  Be there for tarot readings, zombie portraits, live tattooing, community drawings and merriment.

Pinterest or Why Can't I Just Do It A Little Bit?

Hello!  I haven't been here in a while due to illness (boo) and busy business (boooo).  But I hope you all had a very good Valentine's Day!!  I'm currently working on a top secret piece of art that hopefully I will get to share later.  But it's pretty private, especially in this internet age so no showing yet.  In PermaDirty news, there will be another opening and I will be doing zombie portraits alongside my boyfriend!  It will be a good chance for us to promote our comic book and I hope to see you all there.  Also there will be linocuts, probably a postcard bot and many other fun art things.  Click here ---> PermaDirty March 2nd to see the event on Facebook!  But if you don't trust me, it will be at the Claremont Packing House on the 2nd floor on March 2nd at 7pm.

And now for the title.  Yes, I have fallen into the Pinterest pit.  It is soo soo soooo addictive and I don't know why.  I wish I could tell you why but I really don't know.  Is it the wonderfully hipstery photos of clothing?  Is it the amazing pictures of home?  Does it encourage my biological clock to blaringly announce that I need to plan my future because of all the wedding photos???  I don't know.  But I highly recommend it.  At least, if you don't like being on the internet without being there for an hour or so.

Eat My Heart Out....or My Brains

Hello!  So there have been many zombies, I know but I'm just a gory kind of gal.  I've never been into Barbies, or delicate lace dresses or anything like that.  My earliest memories involve a lot of battle royals between toy dinosaurs and little plastic sharks.  But enough about me.  Tomorrow I will be making zombie portraits for the opening of the Eat My Heart Out Show at Chaffey Community College.  It will be held in the lobby of CAA.  There will be free food and live music and of course, the Chaffey Art Organization (oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that I'm the vice president of that.  Haha.)  Anyways, it's at 6pm.  See you then!

Eat My Heart Out

Zombies, Zombies, Zombies!

Hey everybody!  So really quick my boyfriend wrote a story.  Then that story became a comic book which is going to be published soon!!!  aaaaand I did the cover and the lettering (I also spent countless hours talking to him about it and listening to him talk about it.....I'm not saying I deserve a medal but y'know....just sayin)  Ch-ch-check out the preview!

The Plagued

I Won Some Internets!

The PermaDirty opening was a great success!!  It was so, SO much fun and if you missed it, I really feel sorry for you.  I spent most of the night making buttons and redirecting people.  Kind of acting as the receptionist which is really fun for me.  I was also really stoked for all the people who sold stuff!  I think in the society we live in know, people don't appreciate buying the actual, physical thing anymore.  But it made me happy to see that there are still people who appreciate art and that want to support artists and galleries.  So next time guys, if you missed this one you DEFINITELY have to go to the next one.  And even if you don't like art (which, why are you here?)  there is free alcohol.  I don't drink but I know how much some people appreciate the vino.  

Last bit of business, here is a story about the show.  It is supposed to be published in the IE weekly as well but...ch-ch-ch-check it out!  My drawing is the cover image!  It's wild seeing it there.  Thank you to Cynde Miller again for inviting me to be in the show.

IE Weekly - PermaDirty

Busy but Not as Busy as Before

So, for the past few weeks, I have been ridiculously busy.  Like REE. DICK. YOU. LOUS.   I started school (at three schools), trying to apply for a transfer to Loma Linda University and was involved in putting together two different shows, one at school and one at the Claremont Packing House.  This week has been all about knocking down the very last of what I have to do so I can focus on school.  Tomorrow, I will be able to party and relax and enjoy the fruits of my labor.  The PermaDirty Project Space will open it's inaugural show called This Is The Dirt.  I know I posted about it before but you will hear it again.  I am selling prints there of my Monster Move trinity pieces and some Bromance stuff.  Also, there are many other lovely artists who will also be selling their wares/sharing their stuff.  If you are in the area, check it out and if you need incentive, I might have a little somethin' somethin' for free. Peace.

A Little History...

So I figured I should mention some stuff about who I am and why I have this blog.  I am an aspiring artist and I'm doing so by not being an artist.  I used to be an art major, and to make a long story short I stopped doing that because it was killing me.  I just couldn't stand being constantly evaluated about something that is so subjective.  And it wasn't anything like "oh technically, you're not a talented artist" or stuff like that.  It was the constant questioning of who I was and why I was doing it.  That is what made something I love become work, and I didn't like that one bit.  So now I am trying to get into business at a fancy shmancy University while trying to be a fairly successful artist.

And now for why I have this blog.   For one, everyone in the art world (and even in the regular world) asks if I have a website.  Rather than sending them to facebook or Twitter or whatever, I figured I would have a place that is pretty safe ground for people to be exposed to me.  Remember kids, safety first.  Secondly, I do occasionally have something important I want to say to the world and sometimes I want it to be longer than 140 characters.

So here goes nothing and I hope you all find something of interest here.

PermaDirty, so much dirty.

For my first actual blog post I figured I'd pimp some stuff on you all. This is a show that some fellow artists and I will be in and you should totally see it.  It's curated by Cynde Miller and is located on the second floor of the Claremont Packing House on 1st street.  If you don't know how to get there, use Google Maps.  If you can't use Google Maps find someone who can.  The opening is February 3, 2012 at 7pm.   Go, it will feel good in your eyes.
Perma Dirty: This is the dirt

Nice to meet you

Hello.  Nice to meet you.