Girl with a Pearl Earring

I love this painting.  It is by Johannes Vermeer.  It was painted around 1665.  It is often called the Mona Lisa of the North.
I feel that while the Mona Lisa is amazing, this painting holds more expression.  I love the pose of the woman, the colors used, and her expression.

I leave it full of questions.

Sidewalk Art

I love finding new types of art that are more unconventional.  For example sidewalks.  It's not often thought of as a piece of art or as a canvas, but this video will change your mind.  Even knowing what it is and how it was made, I find it so amazing.  I think I would be one of those walking around the edge.

Julian Beever is an amazing sidewalk artist.  He has done his work all over the world.  Here is a look at some of his work.

Here is another one that is amazing.

Project Colored Pencils

I wanted to make jewelry out of colored pencils.  I liked the idea of the way we view colored pencils at different ages.  When we are young we think colored pencils are so cool and want all the colors available.  Then as we get older we think they are for kids (though I think most still think they are fun).  But as adults we realize the magic they hold.  I wanted to take their beauty and turn it into something wearable.  This way we can carry the innocence with us while wearing something original and fun.

Video 2

Here is another video by the same person, Maggie Stiefvater.  I think this one is even better.  I love how she is able to tell such a clear story using paper cut-outs.  I also love how deceivingly simple she makes it look.

More Paper Art

Here is another video clip using paper.  I think it is really fun and holds a lot of possibilities.  I really liked the addition of the handmade papers.

The End

Can you believe we are at the end of the year already?  Just one more month.  I always love this time of year, but yet am left a little sad because one more year has passed by...

Harry Potter Movie

Today is the premier for the first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  I felt like it was the best one so far.  The acting of all actors is so much better.  I also loved how true they stayed to the book.  The best yet!

Numa Numa

I am still not feeling well so that means another funny video.  I just love this one.  I remember when this was so popular.  I think it is so well liked because he is having so much fun and is inspired by this of all songs.  Again, this reminds me to keep an open mind.  Inspiration can come in many forms.

Charlie Video

A little off topic, but I am not feeling well and needed a bit of cheering up.  I find it so such a cute video!  I think the British accents make it all the more funny!

?

 Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.  Create.

More Dresden Quotes

Today I was in a very Dresden mood, so here are some more funny quotes.  Enjoy.

"I'd made the vampire cry. Great. I felt like a real superhero. Harry Dresden, breaker of monsters' hearts." 
— Jim Butcher (Storm Front)

That was black magic, and it was easy to use. Easy and fun. Like Legos." 

— Jim Butcher (Fool Moon)

"I don't believe in faeries!" 
— Jim Butcher (Summer Knight)


"She frowned at me. "You need some rest. You look like hell. And you're obviously tired enough to have gotten the giggles."

Wizards don't giggle," I said, hardly able to speak. "This is cackling."
— Jim Butcher (Changes)

"In the action business, when you don't want to say you ran like a mouse, you call it 'taking cover.' It's more heroic."
— Jim Butcher (Dead Beat)

"Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka."
— Jim Butcher (Changes)

She closed her eyes tightly. "I'm scared. So scared I'm sick." 

"You'll get through it." 

"What if I don't?" 

I squeezed her fingers. "Then I will personally make fun of you every day for the rest of your life," I said. "I will call you a sissy girl in front of everyone you know, tie frilly aprons on your car, and lurk in the parking lot at CPD and whistle and tell you to shake it, baby. Every. Single. Day." 

Murphy's breath escaped in something like a hiccup. She opened her eyes, a mix of anger and wary amusement easing into them in place of fear. "You do realize I'm holding a gun, right?" 

— Jim Butcher (Summer Knight)

"Beside me, Molly rolled her shoulders in a few jerky motions and pushed at her hair in fitful little gestures. She tugged at her well-tattered skirts, and grimaced at her boots. "Can you see if there’s any mud on them?"

I paused to consider her for a second. Then I said, "You have two tattoos showing right now, and you probably used a fake ID to get them. Your piercings would set off any metal detector worth the name, and you’re featuring them in parts of your anatomy your parents wish you didn’t yet realize you had. You’re dressed like Frankenhooker, and your hair has been dyed colors I previously thought existed only in cotton candy.” I turned to face the door again. “I wouldn’t waste time worrying about a little mud on the boots."
— Jim Butcher (Proven Guilty)

Almost Here

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is almost here.  I am so excited to see this movie.  It looks like it is going to be the best one yet.  I have always liked the other movies, but they haven't quite been able to capture the exact feelings of the book.  I think this may have accomplished that task.  In the meantime, here is a video to tide you over.

Draw With Me

So sad.  So sweet.

Dresden Quotes

I am a huge fan of the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher.  The main character, Harry Dresden is hilarious.  It is a fun, fast-paced, and sarcastic series.  It is one of those books where I am constantly bookmarking funny or memorable lines.  Her are a few of them.

"Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." 
— Jim Butcher (Storm Front)"


"Murphy hung up and I said, to the still-open line, "Hey, if you've got someone watching my place, could you call the cops if anyone tries to steal my Star Wars poster? It's an original." 

Then I vindictively hung up on the FBI. It made my inner child happy." 
— Jim Butcher (Changes)

"Ack!" I said.

Fearless master of the witty dialogue, that's me."
— Jim Butcher (Changes)

"The man once wrote: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. Tolkien had that one mostly right.

I stepped forward, let the door bang closed, and snarled, "Fuck subtle."
— Jim Butcher (Changes)

"We are not going to die."

Butters stared up at me, pale, his eyes terrified. "We're not?"

No. And do you know why?" He shook his head. "Because Thomas is too pretty to die. And because I'm too stubborn to die." I hauled on the shirt even harder. "And most of all because tomorrow is Oktoberfest, Butters, and polka will never die."
— Jim Butcher (Dead Beat)

"I parked in front of the Field Museum under a NO PARKING sign. There were a couple of actual spots I could have used, but the drive was even closer. Besides, I found it aesthetically satisfying to defy municipal code."
— Jim Butcher (Dead Beat)

"Nobody can be bad at everything. There’s no such thing as a perfect screwup."
— Jim Butcher (Mean Streets)


"Don't call me a dinosaur. It isn't fair to the dinosaurs. What did a dinosaur ever do to you?"
— Jim Butcher (White Night)


"Are you always a smartass?'

Nope. Sometimes I'm asleep." 

Paper Castle

This is a paper sculpture I made from a book.  The idea was to transform a book and recreate a scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  I want to try some more ideas for other books.

Paper + Sun = Awesome

I am always amazed at what paper is capable of transforming into.  There are so many possibilities, but I never thought I would see it move on its own.  Take a look at this amazing video.

Rings

These are some rings I made for my jewelry class.  I like the simplicity of the designs.  I was working on making a statement with color.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Niki.  I hope you have a wonderful one.

Make a wish!

Chalk Board Animation

Here is another fun video since it's Friday.
I find it amazing what people can create with only chalk, a chalkboard, and a video-camera.  I also love that it can appeal to a wide range of audiences because of the simplicity and the universal subjects and ideas.  Enjoy!

Pendulum

Many people, especially writers, think Butt + Chair = Writing.  They think it is easy.  They think writing is so easy.  (I know this from personal experience, my sister is a writer of sorts.)  But sometimes, for me all Butt + Chair = is Pendulum eyes.  What is pendulum eyes? It is when your eyes go back and forth, like a pendulum. As your eyes go back and forth, you can feel the time passing you by.  Tic.  Toc.  Tic.  Toc.

I Love Harry Potter

I Love Harry Potter.  It is my absolute favorite book of all time.  I love how much it can influence other people, things, and especially art.  I feel this song expresses this sentiment really well.

Friday

My plan is to give you something fun to see on Fridays!  Since today is Friday, I wanted to start it off with a funny video.  The song is called "The Humans Are Dead" by Flight of the Conchords.

Inspiratation

Inspiration can come in all forms: artwork, books, movies, music...
Today, for me, it came in the form of a song called "Murder In The City" by the Avett Brothers.

I particularly like the line: 

Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing

Like the love that let us share our name

Rone' Prinz

Rone' Prinz creates jewelry.  I met her at the Des Moines Art Festival.  I am a huge fan of her work.  I love how she see transforms ordinary things, and how her pieces have sculptural qualities.  They take on a life of their own.  

Another Favorite

These are some of my favorite photos by Duane Michals.  

I love the mix of text and art.  I find them very inspiring, creative, and fun.  

"Madame Schrodinger wonders if her missing cat is 

or is not inside the box." 

  

"The cat, which may or may not be inside the box, 

wonders if Madame Schrodinger is 

or is not outside the box."

"This photograph is my proof. There was that afternoon, 

when things were still good between us, and she embraced me, and we were so happy. 

It did happen, she did love me. Look see for yourself!"

Chairs

This painting is by the artist Jerry Brem.  I love the way he see things differently.  Instead of coloring the chair and having a plain background, he does the opposite. He leaves the chairs as a sketch and has a colorful background.  He feels the process of painting is more important and wants to leave it up to the viewer to finish the piece.  I love this because it leaves it as a blank canvas in a way.  I can finish the story.  I also love how the subject is of chairs because I have had to draw so many chairs for my drawing classes.  It is fun to see them in such a fun light.

The Colosseum In Flames?

We see great architectural sites like the Colosseum so often; we sometimes forget they are places of history and great works of art.  I was reminded of this on Thursday 16th, when the Colosseum looked like it was up in flames.  It was really an installation project designed by Thyra Hilden and Pio Diaz.  They used giant projectors to create the illusion that the Colosseum was on fire, which cost nearly $700,000 to build.  They did this "to draw attention to the fragility of cultural heritage sites."  This made me realize why we need to preserve these amazing sites for future generations and to remember their beauty and importance.  I loved their quotes below.

"We wanted something to symbolize destruction and creation at once. We wanted to question whether something should exist or not and what the heritage means to us," said Diaz.

"What would happen if you destroyed a museum or building, is the culture gone? Do we need to build it again or do we have the same culture as we had before?" he asked, as images of flames were projected from the Colosseum's entrance arches, making it appear to burn from within. 

One of My Favorites

This is an oil painting from the Impressionist period, titled Paris Street; Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte.  I love the mood that this painting sets.  I also love how the artist reflected his love of photography in this work, especially with how the further, the more out of focus it becomes.  This is officially one of my new favorite paintings.

This blog is primarily going to be about art and books, with a bit of this and that thrown in. I grew up in a house full of books, artwork, and art supplies. Now it has become a part of who I am.

Both art and literature inspire me. Everything from the book I'm reading, to the movie I'm watching, all the way to the squirrel running by. I also find many inspirations from other artists, authors, books, artwork, and blogs. Anything and Everything. I want to share some of this and more.

Welcome. This is me. Enjoy.