Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
VSA North Dakota Needs YOUR Help
As many of you are aware, last summer VSA National lost much of their federal funding and 75% of staff. This is un-flippin-'ceptable. Even if that were a word....
VSA is an outstanding organization for connecting students of all backgrounds with the arts. The support of the volunteers, organizers, teachers and aides is amazing, and bringing students with challenges to a place where they can express themselves, have a laugh, and take home a masterpiece is a life changing experience. Challenge students to think, create, laugh and explore- donate to VSA North Dakota - and keep bringing the arts into every life.
Come out on March 28th in Bismarck and help raise cash and awareness for a wonderful organization. There will be young soloists. There will be art. There will be food.
Got something unavoidable on the 28th? Donate away, right here, 24/7:VSA North Dakota
VSA is an outstanding organization for connecting students of all backgrounds with the arts. The support of the volunteers, organizers, teachers and aides is amazing, and bringing students with challenges to a place where they can express themselves, have a laugh, and take home a masterpiece is a life changing experience. Challenge students to think, create, laugh and explore- donate to VSA North Dakota - and keep bringing the arts into every life.
Come out on March 28th in Bismarck and help raise cash and awareness for a wonderful organization. There will be young soloists. There will be art. There will be food.
Got something unavoidable on the 28th? Donate away, right here, 24/7:VSA North Dakota
Monday, February 6, 2012
Why I Love You Guys...
If you stop by here for artsy stuff, this isn't going to be one of those posts.
Still there? OK.
Over the holidays, I had the chance to visit my grandparents. I don't get to do that very often these days, but since my grandad has been in poor health as of late, it was a necessary trip. They used to live on a farm that I thought was the most magical place in the world, full of sheep and cats and dirt and whathaveyou, and I remember, well, OK, I have a terrible memory, but I am pretty sure that it was the sort of place where a person could run about loudly without being shushed and hammer nails into things, even for no reason, and that's probably why I spent far more time out there than I really should have.
To give you an idea, and I swear, I'm not making this up: My mother used to take lots of photos of things. And on one occasion where it was not a grammatical error to start a sentence with the word 'and', she took this photo of the grandparents. So Grandad and I went out to buy a frame. (This was back when the mammoths roamed the earth and people still used film and you didn't have to plug in picture frames. You know, the Middle Ages.) Without a thought, we picked one out, and headed home.
Grandmother didn't like it.
She fussed about it for a bit before she gave the frame back to me.
OK. So... readers... you know how frames sometimes come with a picture already in there? Well, this one had 2 white-haired folks standing close to each other, smiling at one another. So I asked.
Me: Why are these lovely people smiling, and you guys aren't?
Grandad: Because those people are senile and out of their minds.
And that... is how grandad rolled. He was my hero of sarcasm and humor.
Now, if you fast forward a bit to December 2011, the grand'rents have made that move from the farm-place where they've spent the last 50-some years, into a 2-bedroom apartment type thing, and while my grandmother is tinkering in another room, my grandad and I are having a chat. Even though it's not easy for grandad to have conversations, he's sitting up and such, which is amazing in itself, because for my entire life, he's always been hard of hearing anyway.
Me: So, how 'bout those letters. Do you think anyone would mind if I had those?
Grandad: What letters? I thought you had a bunch of photos and letters.
Me: Not these.
Grandad: Why not?
Me: Aunt Lori. It had something to do with the fact that "DO NOT READ" is scribbled on top of them I think. Lori can be silly about that type of thing, heh.
Grandad: I don't care. Ask your grandmother.
Me: Hey Grandma. Can I have these letters?
Grandmother: No. Jess, those are love letters. Far too painful to read.
Grandad: What'd she say?
Me: No.
Grandad: Are you gonna read 'em, Ma?
Grandmother: No!
Grandad: Then why don't you toss 'em out?
Grandmother: No! You can't throw them away!
Grandad: Girl... that's why I drink in the mornin'.
And that is why I love you, and why I'm still laughing!
Still there? OK.
Over the holidays, I had the chance to visit my grandparents. I don't get to do that very often these days, but since my grandad has been in poor health as of late, it was a necessary trip. They used to live on a farm that I thought was the most magical place in the world, full of sheep and cats and dirt and whathaveyou, and I remember, well, OK, I have a terrible memory, but I am pretty sure that it was the sort of place where a person could run about loudly without being shushed and hammer nails into things, even for no reason, and that's probably why I spent far more time out there than I really should have.
To give you an idea, and I swear, I'm not making this up: My mother used to take lots of photos of things. And on one occasion where it was not a grammatical error to start a sentence with the word 'and', she took this photo of the grandparents. So Grandad and I went out to buy a frame. (This was back when the mammoths roamed the earth and people still used film and you didn't have to plug in picture frames. You know, the Middle Ages.) Without a thought, we picked one out, and headed home.
Grandmother didn't like it.
She fussed about it for a bit before she gave the frame back to me.
OK. So... readers... you know how frames sometimes come with a picture already in there? Well, this one had 2 white-haired folks standing close to each other, smiling at one another. So I asked.
Me: Why are these lovely people smiling, and you guys aren't?
Grandad: Because those people are senile and out of their minds.
And that... is how grandad rolled. He was my hero of sarcasm and humor.
Now, if you fast forward a bit to December 2011, the grand'rents have made that move from the farm-place where they've spent the last 50-some years, into a 2-bedroom apartment type thing, and while my grandmother is tinkering in another room, my grandad and I are having a chat. Even though it's not easy for grandad to have conversations, he's sitting up and such, which is amazing in itself, because for my entire life, he's always been hard of hearing anyway.
Me: So, how 'bout those letters. Do you think anyone would mind if I had those?
Grandad: What letters? I thought you had a bunch of photos and letters.
Me: Not these.
Grandad: Why not?
Me: Aunt Lori. It had something to do with the fact that "DO NOT READ" is scribbled on top of them I think. Lori can be silly about that type of thing, heh.Grandad: I don't care. Ask your grandmother.
Me: Hey Grandma. Can I have these letters?
Grandmother: No. Jess, those are love letters. Far too painful to read.
Grandad: What'd she say?
Me: No.
Grandad: Are you gonna read 'em, Ma?
Grandmother: No!
Grandad: Then why don't you toss 'em out?
Grandmother: No! You can't throw them away!
Grandad: Girl... that's why I drink in the mornin'.
And that is why I love you, and why I'm still laughing!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Sauropod Tutorial
Because who doesn't want a sauropod tutorial? Seriously?
How to Draw Horses on sale now
only 12.95 [link]
How cool is that?
You crazy jokers are amazing! I cannot begin to express my appreciation for the flood of amazing horse-art filling my inbox! Nope. Couldn't. If you'd like to skip this small token of my affection, feel free, there's no money in it anyway. Anybody still out there? Brilliant! Because honest, I love you, and your art and laughs of awesome proportions. And to Team Sophie, Eva, Karl and Helen. You know who you are. And you know I'd be in a nutjacket if I was left to do this all on my own. Seriously, we owe them all a scotch.
only 12.95 [link]
How cool is that?
You crazy jokers are amazing! I cannot begin to express my appreciation for the flood of amazing horse-art filling my inbox! Nope. Couldn't. If you'd like to skip this small token of my affection, feel free, there's no money in it anyway. Anybody still out there? Brilliant! Because honest, I love you, and your art and laughs of awesome proportions. And to Team Sophie, Eva, Karl and Helen. You know who you are. And you know I'd be in a nutjacket if I was left to do this all on my own. Seriously, we owe them all a scotch.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Owl Jointed Dolls and other reasons to be an artist
Because I'm sure this is the quickest way to get invited to swank parties in the Champagne region... a jointed owl doll.
It was one of those, "I HAVE TO MAKE THIS, NAOWAH!" type moments I am prone to having, for which I reserve the right to not have to explain to anyone. When I look at him, I think of all the other productive things I needed to get done this week. Time well spent, I think.
I dunno how you put a price on this much awesome, but he is for sale. He'll be on display at the Bismarck Art Gallery through the end of December. Brilliant! (Want to see s'more pics of Iagan? Click here to head to the 4Dog gallery.)
It was one of those, "I HAVE TO MAKE THIS, NAOWAH!" type moments I am prone to having, for which I reserve the right to not have to explain to anyone. When I look at him, I think of all the other productive things I needed to get done this week. Time well spent, I think.
Monday, November 14, 2011
How To Draw Horses
Fo' realz! It's out! It's hitting bookshelves as we speak. It's the only reason to get out of bed that I can think of. How to Draw Horses - Everything you ever wanted to
know about drawing horses,
hardware, history, & mythology.
Complete with clear, step-by-step
instructions and information on
costumes and armor from multiple
periods in history from around the
world. Anatomy and action,
wagons and wedding coaches,
it's all in this book!
And it's only $12.95. Take two, they're small! (It would be awesome if) ALREADY A MILLION COPIES SOLD! You can order a copy online via 4 Dog Arts, Amazon, Etsy, and several other fine retailers nationwide. If they don't carry a copy in your local bookstore, demand it. Nicely. Want to order a copy and have it personalized? Just say the word. Need a third option here for closure? I'm on it.
Seriously. I thank you. For real.
And it's only $12.95. Take two, they're small! (It would be awesome if) ALREADY A MILLION COPIES SOLD! You can order a copy online via 4 Dog Arts, Amazon, Etsy, and several other fine retailers nationwide. If they don't carry a copy in your local bookstore, demand it. Nicely. Want to order a copy and have it personalized? Just say the word. Need a third option here for closure? I'm on it.
Seriously. I thank you. For real.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Lost Dog. Not Book Realted. Probably.
In a complete diversion of my attention, we found a new face in our yard this evening. (If you were out hunting north of Richardton and lost your dog, fear not.) I took the liberty of making up some lost-dog posters that Rocko says I should not show to anybody. He is likely correct.
The thing about dogs is, they're rather on the honor system. I do my best. Hope he sticks around.
The thing about dogs is, they're rather on the honor system. I do my best. Hope he sticks around.
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