Despite rumors otherwise...

I've had a bad past two months, sinus infection followed by a migrane...and topped off with tendonitis in my left hand.

I can't wheel-throw pottery right now, but I should be able to handbuild.

New artwork should be posted soon. I really need to update www.aprilparks.com with last year's work. I am behind. Joy.

On a darker note, Pippin, my ugly little gray male hamster, and the last of the litter I raised from birth, passed away earlier this week. He was 3 months shy of his 3rd birthday.

Current Mood: cranky
Current Music: Further Seems Forever: Like Someone You Know

http://www.mastersoffantasy.com/2004/artists.html

No clue which piece/pieces got in, but my name is on the list. Gah...along with a lot of people I admire.

Current Mood: happy

Long time no post...

Tonight was the Artist's Reception for my Senior Exhibition at the university. I had a good turn out (over 50 people) and sold 3 paintings.

Cat of a Different Color #1 and #5 were sold as was Uninvited Guests. All went for their asking price. I'm floored that my Wizard Ham sold at what I priced him. I also have orders for some of my stoneware plates.

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: Vlaad climbing his water bottle

Some weekends I feel like I get nothing done. I have another portrait about 50% finished for PA...that is if I only put it up as finished pencils. I think it may be worth painting in acrylics as color works (paintings) seem to sell rather well there.

I made the mistake of going to the pet store today just to look at hamsters. Look...right... My new hamster is a cinnamon and white male teddy bear with red eyes. I haven't named him yet.

In 3 weeks, my BFA show goes up. That means I have 3 weeks to get my self-portrait painted, the last 3 feline distortion drawings frames, and frames on the remainder of my paintings. I'd love to have my 2 bronze cats cleaned and ready by then, but I doubt that will happen.

Also, that commission matter is finally over with. I received the finished piece, after 2 and a half years, last week. It's very nicely done, but man am I glad that's over with.

In short, no new art, 1 new hamster and...anxiety.

Current Mood: busy

my computer is plotting against me...or it is sulking. Sorry for not capitalizing the 'm' in that first sentance, but about 1/4 of the keys on my keyboard won't work with the shift key right now. No capital z, x, c, v, and m, as well as other keys.

So now, Illustrator and Word consistently lock the machine up. Relying on Baulder's Gate to keep the computer functioning (don't ask...it works...it's weird as a bald porcupine, but it works), is getting real old (and doesn't work as well as it once did). If I see one more "blue screen," I will scream.

This is very much a problem as I have two website designs to work on this week. Time to drag out the back up computer (ug...not as good a machine as this one use to be) in order to keep working until the new beast gets here.

Current Mood: frustrated

How to make a tigermouse

Ingredients: 1 part intelligence 1 part humour 1 part empathy

Method: Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Add a little caring if desired!

Current Mood: creative

My lovely cinnamon hamster, Toby, passed away this evening. Like her mother and her sisters, she died from a tumor. She was the model for my wizard hamster paintings and numberous hamster drawings (most of which I've never uploaded). I won't lie...she was my favorite of my hamsters.

RIP Toby
April 11, 2002 - June 12, 2004

Current Mood: sad

I love my job. I like the people I work with. I'm very happy with my pay.

Life is good.

I spent last week in a swamp making and serving hamburgers. No, really. I worked the concession stand at the Marengo Suicide Swamp Ride. All of the proceeds of the ride (gate admission, t-shirts, concession, etc) go to fund Wish I Could of NELA Foundation to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. We had a good ride this year...but getting up at 4am and not getting home until 11pm is murder.

My 5 year old computer is on its last legs. After an escalation of problems this week, I think I'm going to bite the bullet and get a new computer. I've been dreading this, but I can't afford to not have a computer.

This weekend, I should be able to ART for a bit. I have a wizard hamster and a parrot cat to finish. Hopefully I can get around to doing a painted portrait for EMG PA. I need to work on humans/human-like figures and faces and that's the only motivation I can find right now.

Speaking of figures...I still have that self-portrait with cats to get going on.

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: Incubus: Megalomaniac

Work went great yesterday. I think the job will work out. My hours are from 9ish (or 930ish) to 4 with a 30 minute lunch (30 minuteish).

In other news...that 2 and a half-year-old commission still has not been shipped by she-who-will-not-be-named. I'm highly unamused. It's been finished for a little over a MONTH now. How hard is it to ship the bloody thing? You'd think after all this shit, she'd just want it out of her sight and to never have to deal with me again. The only thing keeping me from sending off another email is my severe dislike of the excuses I always get.

Of course, I should know after over 2 years that, tomorrow or the next day actually means "in 12 months after several progressively aggitated emails".

It's not that bloody hard to board, bag, and box a piece of art. Really...and in a month's time you'd think she'd find the time to mail the bloody thing. Business is business after all.

Then again, I have "friends" who don't understand that concept either. Business is business.

Current Mood: distressed

I'm officially a college graduate. Joy.

Current Mood: sleepy