Winter Fun!

Practicing Hand Lettering

SkADaMo Days 5, 6, & 7

Day 5

Day 6

I spent the morning of Nov 6 making a Christmas card for a local child who recently learned his cancer treatment was not working. He may not make it to Dec 25, so his community is bring Christmas to him early. They've decorated the town with lots of lights and decorations, and a friend of the family asked that individuals send him Christmas cards. Cancer is a horrible disease, but seems even more evil when it shortens the life of a child. So my sketch is a reflection of how I was feeling: Lost and a bit blue.

Day 7

Thanks to the "check engine" light coming on in my car, I got to sit at the repair shop for about 3 hours. Good thing I grabbed my sketchbook before I ran out the door!

SkADaMo Day 3 and Day 4

Arrgh!! It's still the first week and I'm already a day behind!

Here are my sketches for Day 3 and Day 4. Enjoy!

Day 3

Day 4

2013 SkADaMo

I've decided to abandon NANOWRIMO this year. Instead, I'll be trying my hand at drawing 30 characters in the 30 days of November. Let's see how long I last!

Day 1

Day 2

Poems on the Fly: Day 3

Mean Words

The world is full of mean words
I'm sure we've all heard one or two
 
Maybe even three or four
Hundred
 
Thousand

Perhaps even more

It seems strange that a single word
Has the power to ruin a day
Bring up past pains
 
Make you shrink away
 
The world is full of mean words
Yet, I've seen kindness, too

A simple gesture

Seemingly so small

Bestowed on the downtrodden

Inspires hope after all


So

Will you believe the slimy syllables
As they slip from sullen lips

Or embrace the warmth of others
Whose love mean words cannot eclipse

Poems on the Fly: Day 2

The Lancer Lady
[Dedicated to the lady driving the black Lancer this morning.]

Speed, speed, speed!
You must have somewhere important to be.

Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze!
You think you can just cut in front of me?

Stare, stare, stare!
What are you looking at? My gorgeous hair?

Speed, speed, speed!
That was a red light, or couldn't you see?

Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze!
You're gonna get hit! Oh, gosh! Oh, geeze!

Stare, stare, stare!
Hello, again. Yup, I'm right behind you. Despite stopping at that red light and waiting in the long line of cars as the school bus slumbered up that steep hill, I still managed to get to this spot the same time you did. And, I didn't endanger any lives or any car fenders.

Idiot.

Poems on the Fly: Day 1

The Manatee

Of all the animals in the zoo,
The manatee is the one with the most to lose.

All the other mammals, behind their jail-like bars,
Can dream of a day when they will roam far.

There's always the hope of a prison break
When the keepers will scream, "They've escaped!"

And when that day finally comes around
The sad manatee will still be floating in his makeshift sound.

Unable to walk with his peers,
He knows his only chance of freedom is a flood of a thousand years.

Constant State of Mind

My mind is constantly in a state of analysis:

Am I following that car too close?

Does my hair need cut?

Is my geriatic cat limping?

But probably the most reoccuring thought is this:
What do I want to do with my life?

And following at a close second:
How do I reach that goal?

When asked about what interests me most, I tend to fluctuate between art/graphic design and writing. Some say it's really the same: the act of being creative. But I don't know. If it's basically the same coin, then why do I feel the need to choose one over the other? And why is it that I can be completely passionate about art one day, and the next the mere sight of my sketchbook makes me want to hurl it out the window? Why is it that on the commute to and from work, I can think of a million things to write about, but as soon as I reach my destination, I have no desire to pick up my pen and start writing?

Perhaps it has to do with what it means to write or to create art. Some say that whatever you create holds a bit of you within it. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowlings has been analysed up and down by psychologists searching to uncover the bits of the author sprinkled within the characters and plots.

As part of National Novel Writing Month this past November, I crafted a story in which the main character ended up struggling with many of the same issues I have experienced over the years. They say to write what you know, right? The funny thing is, it was never intentional. I never sat down and thought about making my protagonist walk down a path similar to my own. And in all honesty, our paths aren't completely identical; rather the underlying themes are reflective of our own individual journey. Is it possible to write or create art without bits of you binding to it?

Are you a WYSIWYG?

A few days ago I sat across from an acquaintance, and I watched as his hands danced delightfully in the air, a common occurrence whenever he’s telling a good story. A buzzing sound breaks his concentration. His cell phone, wrapped in a bright purple casing—a color usually favored by teenage girls rather than professional men—bounced around on the wooden desk, letting him know he had a new text message. He held up his index finger, a gesture to excuse himself for a moment, and turned in his chair. Picking up the phone, he smoothed out his bright green tie and tilted his head back to read the message through his glasses. He chuckled and then turned his attention back to his story. As he crossed his legs, I noticed his argyle socks were brown and dark orange. I smiled to myself as I looked at his pink shirt and wondered if he cared that he was the epitome of a fashion faux pas.

Having known this guy for a while, I know that he doesn’t care what people think about his choices—not just in clothing, but in other aspects of his life as well. He once told me he liked the color pink… so he wears it. He doesn’t have an affinity for the color purple, but he does enjoy knowing where his phone is and the purple color makes it stand out, making it easier to find.

I have come to know that he isn’t one to conform to rules just because they are rules, and he has no problem with questioning the status quo. He makes no excuses for the things he finds humorous and treats all four letter words as if they were equal.

Over the past few months, I have begun to think of him as a WYSIWYG: What You See Is What You Get. He doesn’t seem like the type to put on a facade just to try and fit in with a particular crowd. He appears to be genuinely comfortable with who he is, and I find that quite fascinating.

Has he always been a WYSIWYG? Or is it something you can only achieve when you’ve experienced a bit of life? I admit, I would like to be a WYSIWYG, but I think that would probably require knowing who I really am. It would also mean being self-confident and believing that it’s OK just to be me. I’m not quite there… yet. Maybe I just need to go through a little more BS in my life before I finally say ‘enough!’ and turn into a WYSIWYG. It seems like an attainable goal, don’t you think?

The debate over gun control and the mentally ill

My reaction to Fox News Sunday: Captain Mark Kelly and Wayne LaPierre (February 3, 2013)

I like to keep the local Fox news on while I go about cleaning on Sunday mornings. And when the local news signs off, I typically change the channel to something mindless. This past Sunday, I was in the middle of laundry so I just left the channel where it was. Fox News Sunday came on, and the discussion of gun control was the main topic.

Captain Mark Kelly, husband of former Representative Gabby Giffords, spoke out about the Americans for Responsible Solutions group he and his wife has formed in an effort to lessen gun violence in our country. I agree with their group’s overall goal of lessening gun violence. However, I take issue with the ease in which Cpt. Kelly groups the mentally ill with terrorists and criminals.

Throughout his interview with Chris Wallace, Cpt. Kelly spoke about how stronger background checks and limits on ammunition would make it difficult for “criminals and the mentally ill to get assault weapons and high capacity magazines and guns in general”.

Cpt. Kelly added, “I personally don't believe that we should have, you know, the average person on the street, including criminals, mentally ill and terrorists should[n’t] have easy access to those weapons.”

I had hoped that the news of mental illness in relation to the recent tragedies around our country would finally bring mental illness awareness to light and provide for an open discussion. I had hoped that America would see that mental illness is real and that funding is a priority. It seems that my hope has turned into something much less desirable. Mental illness is being used as a scapegoat to take the focus off of guns.

The result is that many people—people like Cpt. Kelly—are now looking at those suffering with mental illness as potentially violent individuals. People we should scoop up off the streets and force them into mental institutions. It seems quite obvious that Cpt. Kelly knows next to nothing about the world of mental illness. Fact is, the percentage of mental ill who commit violence crimes is not disproportionate to the crimes committed by the general, “sane” public. Fact is, those with mental illness are much more likely to be the victims of crime rather than the instigators. Fact is, an average of one in four adults will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. Look around at your friends as you enjoy an evening dinner at your favorite restaurant. One of the four of you will or is suffering from a mental disorder. Does that mean they should be feared as being potentially violent?

In the same show, Wayne LaPierre, chief spokesman for the NRA, discussed the idea that mental records should be made available for background checks when purchasing guns. First, the NRA often points to the Constitution of the United States for their right to keep and bear arms. Did they happen to miss the part where we, as Americans, have the right to privacy? Does a person with glaucoma have to disclose that information when purchasing a gun? No? Doesn’t having an eye disorder make it dangerous to shoot a gun? Hmm.

Secondly, statistics show that nearly 50% of those with mental illness go undiagnosed. LaPierre points out in his interview that law-abiding people would essentially be the victims of background checks, getting “caught up in a bureaucratic nightmare” while the criminals bypass gun regulation by purchasing guns illegally. I would have to argue the same point applied to the access of mental health records. A law-abiding individual with a mental disorder on his or her record (whether under control or not) would become the victim of such regulations, while the undiagnosed pass the record check. I’m not suggesting that potential criminals lie only in the 50% of undiagnosed; I’m just pointing out that even if mental health records were made available, they would be largely ineffective.

Despite my own personal objection to guns, I don’t believe that more gun control is the answer to preventing the tragedies of late. Nor do I believe that the mentally ill are any more likely to commit these crimes than the average person. I honestly don’t know what would have prevented the innocent deaths from occurring.  Perhaps an article posted on the Facebook page for R.I.P. Sandy Hook Elementary School Children says it best:

The answer does not lie within changes to the state or government, it lies within ourselves. If we truly want to create a world of peace, it would require every single individual to have a change in their nature. A change in the way we view each other, and a change in the way we act. What is the solution? How would we do such a thing? I honestly wish I knew.

As this debate continues into the foreseeable future, I hope that we stop lumping those with mental illness in the same category as criminals and terrorists. They are not one and the same. There is already a stigma surrounding mental illness in our country, oftentimes preventing individuals from seeking the help they need. A stigma that causes individuals to suffer silently. Likening someone with a mental disorder to a criminal or terrorist will do nothing but perpetuate the problem.

I Hate Snow

It snowed yesterday. A lot. So much that I slid three times in the first mile of my commute. After nearly not stopping at an intersection, I decided that I would let Mother Nature claim her victory and went home.

Illustration

As promised, here are a few of my illustrations from the past. Enjoy!

The Waiting Room

As I sat in a waiting room today, I looked around and noticed that everyone (aside from myself) was busy either playing a Nintendo DS or completely absorbed in their smart phone. I noted one solitary magazine on a table across the room, and a box of not-so-gently used children’s books underneath it. No one was talking. The only sound came from the little boy’s Nintendo game.

As an introvert, I’m perfectly fine with the lack of chit chat in the waiting room, but it leads me to wonder how far this fascination with technology goes. When I was a child (not THAT many years ago) we couldn't watch cartoons in the car while our parents carted us back and forth. We marveled at the little machine that would tell us who called while we were away from the house. Phones were attached to the wall or had super long antennas that would likely put an eye out if you weren't careful. We learned about our friends face to face—or through the rumor mill. We took photographs with a camera, with film, that had to be developed. The one-hour photo service was amazing.

I’m not against technology. I embrace it with arms wide open. However, I do wonder about the kids of today. Are they being exposed to too much technology at too young an age? As these tots grow into young adults, will they possess the social skills needed to interact? Will it even matter?

I guess I’m just an old soul at heart. I long for the days when the perfect afternoon included running around on my grandparents’ farm without a care in the world. We didn't have to worry about our virtual farms or digital cities. Getting a phone call from a friend during summer break was exciting. Receiving a letter in the mail from them was even more special. Declaring boredom got you sent outside, into the fresh air and sunshine, to ride bikes with the neighbor kids.

I often wonder what our society would look like if we all had to unplug for a few days. Something to think about, I suppose. 

My Admissions Statement

Since I'll be chronicling my adventures of online college, I thought I'd start out by sharing my admissions statement. Unfortunately, I was the process of submitting all my information to the college when I heard about the Sandy Hook school shootings. I found it difficult to get the news out of my mind, and it reflected in my writing.

December 14, 2012

As I sit here and try to write my personal statement for graduate school, my thoughts are in Connecticut with the children and faculty of Sandy Hook Elementary School. What has happened in the past twenty years that has led to such a violent society? More importantly, how do we change it?

Today, more than ever, I am reminded exactly why I write. I write to ask individuals to look for solutions other than the most obvious. I write to start a debate about the pros and cons of any situation. I write to open communication between adversaries. And sometimes, I write to express my heartache when violence pervades our lives.

To me, communication is vital, whether it be written, oral, or visual. When society fails to communicate, assumptions are made, decisions are ill-informed and solutions are difficult to find. I’m reminded of a game played in childhood, when one person whispers a sentence to another, who whispers it to his neighbor, and so on, until the last child in the class states the sentence out loud. By the end, the original sentence is so twisted and tattered that it wouldn’t recognize itself if standing in front of a mirror. As children, the game is good for a laugh or two; as adults, the consequences can be much grimmer.

My goal in pursuing a Master of Arts in Professional Writing is to reach people through my writing and hopefully make a difference. One of the causes I am most passionate about is the stigma surrounding mental illness. I have witnessed so much needless suffering due to our society’s view of what it means to be mentally ill. I want to take what I learn at New England College and apply it to writing for businesses and organizations that seek to educate our society on the facts. It is my goal to help others live fuller, more peaceful lives.

My background in writing started out fairly similar to every other American child. Beginning in elementary school, we learned about nouns and verbs and how to form agreeable sentences. In junior high, we groaned about diagramming sentences and conjugating irregular verbs. Somewhere in high school, though, I learned that writing had power. A well-written article on a hot topic published in the school newspaper could set the entire student body abuzz and cause the administration to shift anxiously in their seats. A good essay on an exam could mean the difference between an "A" and a "C". A thoughtful prose about the importance of a college education for a kid raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains could get you a scholarship to a four-year university.

Professionally, my experience in writing has been more on the editing side. After college, I took a position as a proofreader and graphic artist at my hometown newspaper. Since then, I have waivered back and forth between theatre management (not for the faint of heart) and the publishing field. Working in the theatres afforded me the ability to take college classes during the day while working evenings and weekends; yet the publishing industry is where I feel I thrive most. Today I work for a technical communications company, and while my title is Production Artist, I do much more than paginating documents and placing art. I check manuals for style consistency, grammar, and clarity. I also proofread manuals and create final files for the clients. At the end of the day, though, a part of me just aches to write.

A new year. A new direction.

My blog address might lead one to think that I'm all about design and whatnot. Well, I am. But I've decided to put graphic design and illustration on the back burner for a while.

 

I will soon be starting on a new adventure. I have found a college that offers a masters degree in professional writing online. It has always been a goal to get my masters and the college I selected seems to be a good fit for me. I am a little nervous, though. The rest of my cohort started in the autumn and have completed two classes: an introductory course to professional writing and a research course. The research I'm not overly concerned about, as I take pride in being able to sniff out the most obscure information. The intro course, however, is another thing. Part of the program requires keeping an online writing portfolio, which my classmates set up in the intro course. I'm sure someone will help me out and share the information I need, but I hate feeling like I'm behind before I even start. Which I guess is why I'm transitioning this blog from design/illustration to writing. Perhaps it will help ease my mind a bit. :)

 

Don't fret, however. I still plan on posting my adventures in the crafting world as well as my doodles and scribbles. Check back soon!