Drawing Class, Spring Semester 2006

OK, it's taken me a long while to finally post this. But here they are, my drawings for this past semester, as promised a long, long, time ago.

By the way, you should totally check out Haleigh's site and look at her awesome artwork as well.



We'll start with some sketches:






And now the drawings:





OK! There are more, but this is all I will include this time. Hope you enjoy... I am in the process of making an actual updated blog, since I'm finally back in Chicago.

Can You Say, "Scam?"

Lately I've been searching through the web trying to get a good price on a new lens for my camera. I've also been browsing eBay for some equipment. I am amazed at how many camera scams there are on google and eBay. For example, Geniuscameras.com, who offered the lens that I want, which retails at $1600-$1700, at a mere $1400. This excited me, but I did my research. SCAM. And how about all the scammers on eBay trying to sell the magnificent Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II digital camera for $1000 each? Very suspicious. Considering this camera retails from $6000-$8000. (16.7 megapixels, people. Yes, it's expensive, but it's meant for professionals. It is AMAZING.) I feel bad for people not intelligent enough to research who they are buying from. And also for those people who will be judged for such horrible scams once they DIE! Ugh.

On a lighter note, I'll be posting some of my drawings once I can get some good digital shots of them. Josiah's bringing his digital cam to my house on Thursday, so maybe by this weekend I will have a few up.

My Photo Memoir

Here is, as promised, some shots from my final project in my color photography class. My teachers (the lecturer and the darkroom teacher) both loved it, and I'm pretty pleased with it myself. Here goes, starting with my artist statement (aka the intro page to my album).

"This project is created in loving memory of my grandparents, Ivan and Evelyn Epley, who both passed away in 2005. Losing these two very special people has left my family with many things: objects, responsibilities, and most of all, fond memories. Rummaging through the boxes of their personal belongings brings a sense of a rich family heritage, a legacy of hardworking farmers, dedication, faith, and love. This project’s purpose is to show the connection between what Ivan and Evelyn left behind and the makeup of my family, so that we may look back in fondness and understand the significance of this couple that influenced us so deeply."

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus, Please.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah... are you singing it in your head? I know I am.

I am finished with my first year of college and I'm back at home in Iowa!

Well, actually I'm sitting in Panera bread to take advantage of the amazing bagels and free wireless internet. But it's still home.

My days, though much less stressful than during finals week, are still pretty busy:

Job searching. I had an interview with Karmen (a wonderful Waverly photographer) today, and she is going to give me a day or two per week working/shadowing her and her assistant. I am definitely thanking God for this, because Karmen wasn't even looking for someone. She doesn't need someone. But out of the goodness of her heart, she is giving me a small job. I cannot wait. I also have a second interview at Home Depot on Friday, and hopefully they will hire me for 30 hours a week or so. Need to make some money, people!

Sorting/unpacking/repacking. I'm trying to go through all the stuff that I brought back from college. I had WAY too much stuff. Seriously. My parents brought their beautiful 2005 Honda Pilot to pick me up, and with my futon and television, all my clothes, and odds and ends, we couldn't fit it all. Josiah had loaded his stuff into my car and we had to sandwich as much of the rest of my stuff in there as possible. We got it all in... "easily" as I told Josiah (what a joke. More like "barely".) Needless to say, I was the designated "blind-spot-checker" for my love. So my room is totally loaded with stuff that I'm putting in plastic containers for next fall. Yay. Can't wait. Thank goodness I have two and a half months before I have to move it back. Ugh.

Sleeping. I think all those late nights have begun catching up with me. I could probably sleep 20 hours straight for the next week before feeling energized. Oh well, such is life. Can I include that as part of my busy schedule? It does consume hours and hours of my life.

Next post, which I'll probably post yet today, will be some pictures from my final photography project. Maybe some of my drawings will be posted soon as well.

GLAD TO BE BACK!!!

Almost...finished...

The school year is about to end. Three more days of classes. Know what that means? Many things:

- I am very fatigued. Late nights, early mornings. Lots of work to do. Photos to print, books to construct, value studies to draw, ONE more test, science, to study for.

- I am eating very well, for two reasons - I need the food to stay awake, and I'm TRYING to use up all my food before Friday.

- I am baking 2 boxes of brownies on Wednesday night. (See above.)

- My greatest desire at the moment is to pop popcorn, paint my nails, and watch a movie, and finish off with ice cream.

- My second greatest desire is to take a long, relaxing walk in Grant park.

- I want to come home now. My stuff is pretty much packed up.

- I want to stay here. Funny, huh? It's all because of the parks. The trees are all in full bloom. All the streets are lined with flowerbeds with tulips. The lake looks blue and inviting, rather than icy and full of death. Chicago is best in the spring, summer, and fall. At least I got most of the fall part, and a taste of spring.

- I am somehow extremely emotional, laughing AND crying within the same 10 minutes. Just ask Josiah.

- I am starting to make statements, like "this summer I want to..." as if it's new years day and I'm setting my resolutions.

- I am starting to wonder how I'm going to make enough money to survive next school year. Anybody wanna offer me a job? That's above minimum wage? It's hard coming from Chicago where I am paid $8.50/hr to settling for something so far less.

- As of Thursday, after 12:50pm, I'm sortof officially a college SOPHOMORE. Woah. Isn't that special.

Strange Happenings in Dreamland

Lately, I have been having really strange dreams. Not that this is very abnormal for me... My dreams have always been weird. Like the time that I dreamt that my brother Adam pulled a lever in the haymow that unleashed a leopard onto him that tore him to shreds. Or the time I dreamt that I was in the ending scene of Star Wars episode II with my ex-boyfriend. But lately, my dreams have had a very college-oriented strangeness to them.

Sunday night, returning to Chicago from a weekend of shooting over 160 photos for my final photography project (of which I will post pictures from eventually), I dreamt that all the photos that I had purposely over-exposed (to get more vibrant color) turned up to be a magenta/white graphic design on my contact sheet, therefore I had no pictures to use.

And last night, I dreamt that I awoke to a phone call from Josiah, saying, "Hey babe, where have you been? I still want to come over and hang out with you tonight, but you haven't been answering your phone" And then I look at the clock and realize I slept until 7pm, missing the final test for my first class and the final science lab today. Scary.

Needless to say, I'm a bit stressed about finals, I have loads of work to do, and on my bulletin board is a well-planned-out schedule that includes a bubble-bath next Thursday night. Eight more days until freedom, nine more days before moving back to smalltown Iowa.