Reading fake tv blogs and chatting about Christmas

5:54 AM 12/27/2013

I am amused by finding out that there is an actual blog for the John Watson character on
the BBC series "Sherlock" - the characters keep referring to his blog posts, and now I can
go READ THEM. There are other little fun tidbits too, like Sherlock's blog, and Molly the
Medical Examiner's blog. There are comments by other people in the show, and Molly's
blog shows the growing love interest between her and Moriarty (before anyone knew it
was Moriarty)
I'm very impressed and amused and have read about half of the entries so far. More than
just the episodes of the show, there are other tidbits too - rants and insights of things that
happen in the shows. (Like when he argued with the automated grocery till)
http://www.johnwatsonblog.co.uk/
In fact, I am inspired by the whole blog thing again, I'm going to post this very entry. (I
know, I THREATEN this all the time and rarely get anywhere!)
(I DO log my days often but rarely share them anymore. I felt ... jammed by the idea of
having to screen my thoughts for the public)

And now it is 6:00 am. I should go to bed. I'm just now beginning to get tired. Its
Christmas week and I am finally giving myself a break from commissions and other
responsibilities (mostly) But I still stay up verrrry late.

What else did I do today?
COOK! I made bacon, pan fried potatos and veggies, and green bean casserole. Perhaps
tomorrow I'll finally make Brickle (and send some to my sister.) I had threatened to make
the sweet dessert on Christmas day, but didn't get to it. I hung out with Sarah and Malcolm
instead. And later with Joshua and Christina. We played Scatergories and I got to show
off 'Norman', my new cute little friend who makes adorable noises and motions.  (Strange
little toy Dave got for me) My excuse is that I was such a tom boy when I was a little girl,
and never allowed anyone to say the word 'cute' within 20 feet of my presence. I've got
some catching up to do. (I also just ordered a plushie CATBUG, prompted by Dave with
an amazon gift card and a pic of it on my wishlist. For those who know who that character
is, you'll understand I had no choice. Once Cat-bugged, you are lost in this strange
obsessed mental space and crave more catbug.)
Here is a video of the little guy - he (she) is a toy called  Fijit Friends Shimmies, named 'Whirlina', but I re-sexed and re-named him to 'Norman' because it just felt right.

TREE!!
This is the very first year I have a CHRISTMAS TREE.
I do not know why I waited so long for one, perhaps because I never stay home on
Christmas, I visit my family. But last year we found one on clearance and so this year I
put it up. I LOVE putting ornaments on Christmas trees! Dad gave me a box of
ornaments he was saving for me, and Dave remembered to put mom's fascinating little
'broken baby doll' ornaments that creeped everyone out the year she gave them as gifts.
'Cathe, why are you giving us DEAD BABIES for Christmas?!' I MISS MOTHER SO
BADLY.

Ok, Time for bed, or for another segment of Fate's Carnival (Big fish game)... no. Its 6:22
am. Its bedtime. maybe.










P.S. Renamed the blog again, in anticipation of more randomness.

The Twin Blackbirds Have Landed, 2013 here we are

2013, you come to me like a new lover, 
promising a year full of adventure and beauty and creativity, if only I make the effort to stand up and embrace you.
Shine for me 2013, beckon me away from laziness and complacency. Kiss my cheeks and smile for me - for then I will want to show off for you, to create for your eyes and dance excitedly. I want to feel the rush of adrenalin as I hurry home to show you all I've accomplished each day. To feel your light as I wake up, ready to make the day proud... This is my wish. This is my wish for us, 2013, that we rise together and make great things.

Thank you 2013, for starting me off well, with direction. And thank you to the authors who are commissioning me for covers, the friend who showed me a path to a new job, and the university who changed their requirements, thus allowing me to teach there again.

Now all I have to do is stir up my self drive. To let my artistic and academic dreams scream louder than the comfortable couch and the glow of the computer.
 ___________________________  

THE TWIN BLACKBIRDS HAVE LANDED 

So Yesterday I got my very first tattoo. Did I start small? Did I start with a simple image? NO! *grin* I got a fairly large and VERY SHADED piece on my lower right leg and ankle.

~See more photos of the process on facebook HERE~

 But let me start at the beginning.

Many years ago, while pondering the universe, infinity, unripe bananas, creative paths, chimeras and dreaming... I also wondered what I would do should I lose a parent. What would I do to honor them or to remember them by? I determined that if mother ever passed over to the great beyond, I would get a tattoo that would make me think of her. I determined that it would probably be a blackbird. Or a bluebird. Eventually I landed on twin blackbirds - to represent us both. And it would inspire me to be creative.

Well, in 2011, that event happened way sooner than I could have anticipated. After about a year I decided to start seriously thinking about getting the twin blackbirds. About a month ago, I get a notice that my favorite tattoo artist and one of my favorite artists would be coming through Indy. Sarah Frary. As soon as she began tattooing, I KNEW that I wanted HER to tattoo me SOMEDAY. Her mark would not only remind me to stay creative - but to hold onto the sense of adventure I crave - reading about her travels of starting a life out west and exploring the inner and outer worlds are always an inspiration to me.

So the two desires came together.
Now here's the awesome part. Sarah's best work comes when she works free-hand. Her art and energy shine. I never thought 'freehand tattoos' made much sense until I saw what she was doing. Now I know that they make the BEST sense. We met up on the 5th - and thanks to another incredibly awesome artist/tattooist Amory, we had a perfect little tattoo studio atmosphere to let the art happen.

I told her the perameters of 'twin black birds' , she performed some hot sharpie action on my leg to make sure she had a direction to work in - and that I was comfortable with the general idea. YES.
Sarah Frary Style! *breaks into dance*

 I was not quite prepared for the sensation of getting a tattoo. No one can ever know what it truly feels like until it happens. Because its not just the pain one has to imagine - it is the pain combined with the acceptance of that pain as a journey toward a beautiful destination. At times it felt like cat scratches, at times like bee stings, and around the ankle, upper foot and calf it felt like a knife or razor cuts. But I just smiled, grabbed my upper leg and stared VERY INTENTLY at the wall, or the air in front of the wall. At times I was frozen, my mind very preocupied with processing the feel. What made things smooth was the laid back creative atmosphere. Amory was also tattooing another patron and another friend of theirs was in the room. The laughter and jokes that floated in the warm room made for a very comfortable, friendly and light hearted situation.

(...Funny enough as I write this, and have all my music on RANDOM, the song that is playing right now is "Fever Ray - Dry and Dusty" - and I keep hearing - "We are capsules of energy". I could write a small novel on how this fits, but I'll just shorten it by saying that Sarah is one of the people I think of when I listen to Fever Ray.) 
 
I am very very very happy with the outcome. I am excited that I decided to let my first tattoo be a freehand expression and collaboration between my basic idea and Sarah's hand. This could not have come at a better time. A heartfelt thank you to Sarah, the universe, Amory for the use of his studio and David for his constant love and support, and thanks for all the comments and love on fb after I posted the first picture. This was an important step for me. Like, leveling up on a video game. Wheres the level up music? XD

___________________________  

More Self Drive Please 

Yep, I changed the name of this blog BACK to the self drive thing. I feel it helps me keep at it.
I plan to try posting generally once a week, but my life is never on a schedule so who knows how often I'll post. January 3rd saw the first of my random art pieces.

"My Dreams are made of Gold" 9x12 mixed media on bristol paper.
 _________________________


In other news today, its Daves b-day! We had sushi with friends and it was grand. My b-day gift to him happens next Saturday when we see Mummenschanz!

Mother Daughter Art, Seawhite sketchbooks, and

Greetings Internet. Changed the name of this blog back to something 'self drive' related. Believe it or not, the title and will to post here because of the title actually makes me do more art. Huh. Interesting.
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This past Saturday was a mother/daughter show at the Renaissance Fine Art and Design Gallery. Even though my mother has passed on, it was the perfect place to keep her art alive! The owner has the best eye for art I've seen in a gallery yet - and she refuses to follow expected 'norms' for galleries. Her collection is Ecclectic and wild, beautiful and bizarre, traditional and non, she's not afraid to try new things. I love it!
Above is a photo of Dad and I at the show. If you want to see more, you are going to have to go see it in person! One South Range Line Road, Carmel, IN. 
Here is a LINK to the facebook page.  

by the way, as it was just mothers day, I decided to upload a few pictures of my mother on fb.
Here is the LINK.


A BIT OF SERENDIPITY
involving
SEAWHITE OF BRIGHTON Sketchbooks



When I went to deliver the art at the gallery, the owner was chatting with a friend who had  randomly stopped in. Just as he was leaving, he gathered his things, picked something up and his sketchbook was uncovered. It was big, black and SQUARE. I gasped and pointed 'Is that a SEAWHITE of BRIGHTON Sketchbook?!?!' - He exclaimed his confirmation that YES indeed it WAS a Seawhite of Brighton sketchbook, and how did I know about them?!

I found and became addicted to them while living in England.


We both agreed that they were the best sketchbooks in the world.
He teaches art in Chicago, but is originally from England. While he is not an official distributor, he does buy about 12-15 at a time, and sells them to his students.


I was overjoyed to have met the man and I hope to see him again! Also, now I know who to contact for my sketchbook fix. *grin!*
I have 2 more empty books on my shelf, thanks to my friend Erich who found and bought 3 of them while he was visiting France. It might be a few years before I need another one, but who knows!

This is my current Seawhite of Brighton book. Its a bit roughed up because when I went to see "The Devils Carnival" in Chicago, I had to fight through rain and hail before getting into the theatre... and I had the book with me. (as I always do). I don't mind - it adds character (my common excuse for everything) and guess what... its not ruined. :)

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ONTO THE ART
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Speaking of the DEVILS CARNIVAL, (AWESOME AWESOME SHOW by the way!!!)
GO SEE THE TRAILER! ~ LINK ~ 
While attending, I did a few drawings for the attending creators and those involved. A little gift giving as a trade for bringing wonderful bizarre cinema to the public.

This is one of 4 drawings I made... while waiting in line to shake hands and get autographs and meet and greet. I've already done a bit of meeting and greeting of Terrance Zdunich while at conventions, but this time I also had the pleasure to meet Emilie Autumn, Darren Lynn Bousman, and finally a proper meeting of Spooky Dan who has been traveling with them on road shows since Repo. 

These pieces of paper were the ONLY DRY things I had on me, as I had them in a protective sleeve. Hurrah! 


So.
Currently working on a book cover but I don't want to give it away. Here is just a tiny sneak peek.

I also ordered some 5" x 7" boards to paint on.
I plan on spending some quality time making some kick-butt small works of art, and I'll share more info down the line! I played with a few of them today. Color, texture, and character experiments.

Also, something to help with inspiration in the studio:
A WURLITZER. Given to me by a Juggler, found out about it from a clown. <3 Thanks Krembo and Rash... of the BLUE MONKEY SIDESHOW. (go watch a VIDEO :) )

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That is all for now. Until next time!

*FWEW*
That update was long overdue.

Life on hold, rest in peace mother Catherine

Greetings.
My art blog has not been forgotten, and here is why.

I realized that I had not yet posted here about my mother, who passed last Thursday.
You will have read most of this if you're on my facebook, or deviantart or livejournal - I just posted at those last two. I felt the need to copy it here too - so I can cover all my bases.
I am curious if or how my art will change after this.

In loving memory:
Catherine Burris
June 24th 1949 - February 17th 2011
ages 61.
She was too young .

Since March of 2010, she had been ill with various problems relating to lungs and rheumatoid arthritis.

Mother was a grand artist.

She was surrounded by family on her last day, and in her last hours, at the Hospice center in Columbus Indiana.
I think I may donate a painting to them in her memory.

Our family is doing fine - we have had cries and laughs and cries and more laughs as
we prepared for her passing.
I am composing a list of her likes and dislikes, as a way to process this and remember her.

If you are local or knew her and would like to know the details of the services on Saturday the 26th, let me know.

I am keeping her website up, and I will edit it later to make it a memorial.
Check it out to see some of the art she was doing:
Catherine's Gallery

I will miss you greatly mom.