slap dash comics

sierra's costume party

she turned 24, and themed the celebration as "versus" thinking that people would dress with a partner. superman versus batman. spaghetti verses enchiladas. no one expected anyone to come dressed verses their own, monstrous trousers! all lips, teeth, and ooga booga eyes were hastily handcrafted by yours truly. mum, thanks for the childhood sewing lessons!

out my window

watercolour sketch

drawing

scottish time

here is a clock for y'all- now you can know how asleep i am! if i could be eating breakfast! if i am in studio! i know it is just what you have always wanted.

it is snowing!

second day of snow here- yesterday it was quite light, today it is coming down! looks like it will stick...

(i went to the studio this morning to have a pre-exhibit meeting, then went to my space to work. i couldn't get settled, it was so cold. i picked up my stuff, and went back to the flat. as i ate lunch and worked the snow began! now i have an excuse past my poor circulation!)

here it is

my first print here, my first print using a steel plate. the process is the same, essentially, just with acid that is extremely corrosive (as opposed to being sort of corrosive.) it is a lot less expensive. the image is a sketch of what i saw out of these windows:

oh! what a beautiful lab! there are six presses, all different. one is from 1830 and has more excess, flashy metal decoration than anything i have ever seen. it is topped with an eagle, life sized, clutching a spooling ribbon and plaque stating: "yeah! print some pictures, fools!" {sic}
that little chair and desk is my studio. apparently i am allowed to work on the gunky floor too...

flocks of prep school kids...

this is the top floor of our historic mckintosh building. there are six of these little desks for private study time. out of the windows you see this:

some of my fellow international students also enjoyed the view. you can see turbines in the distance, windpower fields.

my first week of school

i worked collaboratively with a couple of my fellow second years. we were assigned a large spool of wool thread with the purpose of making an installation that was particularly engaging to architecture. we traced where the table cloth reached the floor on the right side and the legs of the two chairs that were originally in the space. tracing these objects repeatedly, like an obsessive drawing, was meditative. as the layers grew, we let the string determine where it lay, how tightly it bordered the previous string, et cetera. we were able to work for a long time, producing the largest, most solid work possible. as the count of thread increased, the more it began to resemble textile, the purpose this thread was initially attended for.

currently it is still in the space it was made- hazel and jillian's studio. they have resumed work there, and are treating it like a carpet. the chairs were thus moved before these images were taken.

i eat kale like you for breakfast!

in huge scottish quantities!!!!


scotland has it right: student discounts everywhere- especially at your local organic food shop! mmm basil infused tofu... mmm rhubarb yogurt... mmm massive squash.... mmm second best jam (to my moms!)

hoorah!

i survived.

yesterday, i walked into our classes studio with no idea as to who my class was, what their work could be, or what our agenda was. all i really found out through that meeting was that in two short weeks, we are having a public show that must consist of semi-integrated individual work, and that we are running every aspect of the show ourselves. teamwork!

there was no real introduction that happened, but right after the lecture broke and students began to dissipate, a friendly girl walked right up to me and the other exchange students and invited us for a drink. she was so quick and friendly, we all agreed. it was delightful! we went to some rock-pub and had chatted about who we were and where we originated- art was not brought up. for as curious as i am, i am glad we didn't discuss it. i am not yet ready to discuss what i think i want to do, and how. i am facing a bit of a block!

also, i spent the day doing a full blown steel etching tutorial for independent study. i enjoy our tutor, but the workshop was hours long, and almost all of it a repeat of previous learning. but! i have made a print!

tomorrow!

tomorrow, being monday, is the first day of my third-year scottish art eduction. last friday was my last day (of a one week period) of my second-year education. i have been reviewed and been permitted to join said group, and am very excited! and very nervous!

like being new to any school, i have been learning about programs, teachers, and peers through peer conversation. that means a lot of student to student complaining and gossip (naturally!). so far, i have been steered correctly when visiting other school's libraries: "just be quiet and polite, do not mention your home school, and they will let you use their copier..." when ordering lunch at the student pub: (yes! a college with its own night club/bar! animal collective is playing there tuesday!!!!!!) "pakoras for a pound! good deal! hamburger for a pound. bad deal." nice. helpful.

when i've asked students what to expect about meeting my class, they sort of stiffen up. it seems they as a group need a good deal of convincing to believe art, and thus, myself will be a worthwhile addition. "i've seen before, kid (insert clint eastwood's squint across the horizon)... you'll do good... they'll stay cold."

meh. i'll let you know how it goes.

for derek

skeleton keys! they are my realio trulio keys to my flat!

edinburgh

when i first arrived, i was invited to an orientation through arcadia to get acquainted with scottish culture and my school program. it was held in edinburgh, a medieval town (a quite large one) about a fifty minute train-ride away from my home in glasgow. most of our time there was spent indoors in various meetings, but we did go on a few interesting walks to sight see and dine. these images were taken my last morning there- i was able to escape the program, and in freezing conditions, get quite lost and have a marvelous time.

i loved the train! it was quick and very modern, and of course a beautiful way to take in the scottish landscape. i rode with a friendly girl who grew up in a tiny village far out of glasgow- we shared snacks and talked about our school experiences and how important and fantastic traveling was.

the last three images are structures that i found when peeping through various closes (otherwise known as allies), the first two are of a very old memorial tower and carnival.

before i left

i meant to say a better goodbye...

here i am!

the longest flight has yeilded the best home: i have wonderful flatmates and a beautiful flat. more photos will come later.

the first day i arrived, yesterday, was new years. i knew i should have been tired from the 18 hour journey ( i nearly missed every flight connection) so i had a brief nap before going out to a dinner party and then to the GSA's club. the dinner party consisted of a few of sierra's friends from school/life, all of whom were very likable and welcoming. the club was fun too, i supose it was my first time ever being in such n establishment. there was the expected loud, fun music, some dancing and good conversations. all in all it was a good night. (the 40+ hours without sleep and then the nights activities were not the best combination. i slept almost all day today to make up for it.)

i am so anxious to go out and really see the town during the day, explore some shops, see some people, and begin to get some necessities.