"But I do wonder if a down-easter, sitting on a nylon-and-aluminum chair out on a changelessly green lawn slapping mosquitoes in the evening of a Florida October-- I do wonder if the stab of memory doesn't strike him high in the stomach just below the ribs where it hurts. And in the humid ever-summer I dare his picturing mind not to go back to the shout of color, to the clean rasp of frosty air, to the smell of pine wood burning and the caressing warmth of kitchens. For how can one know color in perpetual green, and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness?"

Tumultuous times!


Not the best scan?

Cousins looking angry

Girls can draw pirates too

A few new things.
Precollege is done, but the next two weeks will not give me much reprieve. Pennsylvania then camping in Virginia. Lots to think about.
I also managed to get a children's book job- the story is about a pudgy, awkward bunny who does strange things in a zoo. Sounds like something I shouldn't have much trouble with.
Til next time

Peaches

Finished my spring sketchbook, moving on to the watercolor one. I plan on making a new sketchbook that I can keep at the same time to do pencil/pen/dry media stuff. Doesn't look the same on the watercolor paper.


Various Precollege associated people

Awkward girls in their underwear






Dangers of owning an iPod



Horse Drawin'

Portrait night, with Precollege kids. These were each about 5-10 (about 20 for the bottom ones). I work much better when I work fast and don't overwork stuff

More portrait night

and more portrait night. The kid on the right is from NPR, and doesn't always look so demonic

It is hard to think of anything concise I could possibly say about Precollege. I expected to work hard, and I expected long hours and everything else. I expected to have fun with friends who were also working. But, I didn't expect that the experience would change me this much.

I feel like the past few weeks have been a time of unexpected, strangely drastic growth. Not that I am older and wiser now, but that I'm more aware of certain things. Seeing people who are where you just used to be (high school) is a pretty eye opening experience. It makes you aware of how much you've come, and also how much you still have to go to be anything close to how you want to be.
That, and I have felt a great change from being in situations that are just outside your comfort zone. I don't think I ever want such a mind numbing comfort zone again. I feel a lot more inspired and honest when put in new situations with new people, with new things to learn and think about. I think the way I am now is how I've wanted to be for a while. To be able to be seen as more than just my first impression (librarian, nerdy, snobby, freckly.). To finally loosen up, live a more raw and immediate existence. Will this all change when I come back for school for real, for junior year? Is this kind of life only specific to these 4 weeks? I don't know, but I really hope I can maintain this. Maintain friendships, work ethic, everything else. I feel like things are starting to change, and even if I'm not sure how, I feel strangely ready for whatever happens.

Cauliflower



Just bought a new watercolor sketchbook. Hopefully it will force me to become much more direct with my watercolors. Less overworking, just straight honest brushwork.

Some other various sketches.




Precollege has been a very interesting experience. The days are passing far more quickly than I had anticipated. I'm halfway done with all of my teaching responsibilities, which is a bit of a shock. In many ways I hope the last 2 weeks don't fly by. I really enjoy our situation as a TA. Nights off to draw or go out, and the work we do have is all academic based. All of the living issues, the RAs have to take care of. Part of me is almost kind of apprehensive about starting next school year, we have way more responsibility and pressure to get better.

But I feel like I'm becoming obsessed with drawing and illustration again. I had never really gotten away from it, but now I feel like I've come back to it with a new kind of enthusiasm. I hope we keep it up.

In an unrelated note, I like this article