Create the Connection

     I believe that everyone, everywhere needs to feel connected. Think about it. All anyone wants is to belong, to be loved and to love...to be understood.

In order to graduate (like most Colleges/Universities) I had to participate in a Senior Comprehensive Review. As a Studio Art major, I had to create a cohesive body of work that embodied, not only what I felt strongly about, but challenged and pushed me with the skills I had learned the previous four years.

I chose a series of figurative, acrylic paintings that spanned to 10 feet long and about 5 feet tall (being only 5"2, that was a challenge within itself). When putting together this blog/website, I found the photos and artist statement that accompanied the art show. 

My twenty-two year old self wrote in April 2007 the following;

I have always been fascinated with the power of relationships. As human beings, we relate to one another through verbal and non-verbal gestures in order to provide meaning and focus in our lives. It is that human connection made each and everyday that is vital to our emotional growth. As a summer camp counselor, I dealt first hand with twelve and thirteen year old girls who constantly struggled with this human connection.

            Through my acrylic figurative paintings, I reveal the non-verbal gestures that identify the desire one has for a positive and successful relationship. Through a warm smile, a disgusted look, a helping hand, or a cold shoulder, these girl’s interactions are the epitome of the worldwide effort to feel connected; to feel alive.

It's been almost four years (eeks) since that Artist Statement and my "glory days" at Saint Mary's College. Since then, I know I have a better understanding about what it means to desire the connection. 

Maybe it's being in the "real world" and meeting new people in a big city; impressing the "boss-man" with a really great new concept; falling in love with a really great guy; or just enjoying and growing in the already amazing friendships I have proudly kept. Whatever it is, I realize that in order to feel connected, I must create the connection. 

Through painting, smiling, laughing, crying, concept-ing, listening, talking, loving...I try to create the connection. 

So take the time and ask yourself, what makes you feel alive; connected? How do you create the connection?

(see Paintings-Misc. tab above for more Senior Comp Artwork)

It's Friday, I'm in Love.

"I don't care if Monday's blue

Tuesday's gray and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love."

 ~The Cure

Finally Friday. Happy Weekend:)

What Makes a House a Home.

Considering the fact that I spend (on average) more time at said company, than my place of residence, I figured I would do my best to make it the most tolerable of spaces to spend some a lot of time.

So this is my house cube.

Nice, right?

So what makes my house cube, a home?

• An uplifting/encouraging saying, directly on top of my monitor. 
•  Some fun music boxes which include a Dolly Mama original stating, "It's not the Age, its the Hat-titude" as well as a porcelain musical turtle, dressed as Vincent Van Gogh (complete with band-aid over the ear and straw hat) 
• Oh and a fairy, with a hook. 

• A funny and really great picture of my Best Friends.

• A classic 30 Rock quote that directly relates to my life. And makes me chuckle. 

• A super cute photo of 2 out of 4 nieces and nephews.
• The purpose of Life, according to Henry Miller.
• And, the Love.

So, although I've done my best to make my cube a nice little place to spend a lot of time, let's be honest... 

There really is no place like Home. 

-

Do What You Love.

     Tonight, I picked up the aforementioned book and the page fell open with this statement;

          If you Do what you Love you'll never work a day in your life. 

Today, for work, I took a field trip downtown to be inspired. Apart of my job is to come up with ideas. A lot of my friends often ask, how do I do it? How do I come up with an original idea/concept that is different (or different enough) day after day, week after week, year after year (ugh years). 

But to tell you the truth, it kind of comes naturally. For one reason or another, I have been able to "train" my thoughts into thinking about things a little differently. 

Maybe it was the endless hours of doing fun and exciting new crafts when I was little. My friends and I (literally) did a different "project" (as my Mom would call it) at every one of my birthday parties until I was 18 years old.  Or maybe it is my Mom's constant preaching, "Anyone can give a gift, it's the presentation that is key." Whatever it is, guess I can attribute more than just my squinty eyes to Mama J. :)

While I certainly do not like my job everyday, I do love the fact that I get to be creative. And if continuing to be creative gets me to never work a day in my life... 

 

I'll take it. 

                                                                                                   

Da Bears

"Let's just say that da Winner shall be a certain team, from a certain Midwestern town that starts with a C, ends with an O, and in the middle is 'hicag."

 ~ Superfan Bob Swerski, (George Wendt)

Go Bears. 

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Living Artfully

           "Life is a work of Art and we are its Artists"~ Sandra Magsamen


One of the main reason I decided to start a blog was to really feel creative. Now, for those of you who know me, know that 90% of my job requires me to be "creative". Don't get me wrong, brainstorming ideas, coming up with random trinkets, gifts, etc. are great. But let's be honest...how many fairy/wolf/dragon/angel products can there be in this world?

Anyways, I found this book, "Living Artfully" by Sandra Magsamen, and the subtitle hit me. Create the Life you Imagine. Hm. Imagine that. Creating a whole life, just the way I think it should be. So then I started thinking, Am I really living the life I imagine?

Taking the time to actually stop and think about how I imagine my life is quite daunting. And a little bit stressful (Also fun and exciting).

So being on the closer end to 30 rather than 20...I figured now is as good a time as ever to start creating the life I imagine.

Here's to it!

25 Things.

Because I'm new, I figured I should probably tell you a little bit about myself. So looking for inspiration, I came across this gem of a "note". This list of 25 things is what my 24 year-old-self thought people should know about me. Posted on February 23, 2009 and now, almost 2 years later, I'd have to say that all 25 things remain completely true.

With an addition to #17 (Not only do I love love. I love being in love. (the best)) As well as a disclaimer to #18 and for that matter #19.  (I'm still working on it..slow and steady wins the race.)

Enjoy:)


1. I am a true spaz at heart, and tend to over analyze almost everything to death. God bless my patient friends.

2. When I am driving by myself I often pretend that whatever song I am singing to in the car is apart of my new hit show on Broadway. (I sometimes even add the dialogs between songs)

3. Because I find myself doing the previously mentioned, I seriously laugh out loud about how crazy I am/must look, especially if someone was in the car with me.

4. Almost daily I come to the realization about how ridiculously funny/odd my job is and sounds; cluttering the world, one sculpted resin collectible figurine dragon fairy at a time...

5. I want to live everywhere for a year.

6. I can start a dance party where ever I go..I almost always do.

7. I wish everyone I knew and loved lived in the same place.

8. At the same time I love that I have friends/family all over the place so I can go visit.

9. I am a big fan of the weekend get away...well let's be honest..any sort of get away-ness.

10, I am an even bigger fan of the impulse airline ticket purchase.

11. I am not afraid of dying, but more that I will miss out on EVERYTHING.

12. I love meeting new people and asking questions.

13. Everytime I go back home to Ohio I NEVER want to leave, even though I know I love being in Chicago.

14. I have never really liked playing on a "team" sport, i.e. basketball, softball, because I am too afraid to be the person to lose the game. I much rather prefer doing individual events like swimming and running.

15. I hate when people are mad, especially at me.

16. I almost never finish all the food on my plate. I have to leave at least a small bite. It's not that I don't like it or not hungry...I just get bored with it and end up picking at something else. This often drives my best friends crazy.

17. I love love. Really. Almost to the point of obnoxiousness.

18. I feel bad for things that are probably about 95% not my fault or even anything that I can control. I think its a catholic guilt thing?

19. Because of the feeling bad I say "I am sorry" all the time. I even say "Im sorry, for saying Im sorry" its annoying and I hate it and i am really trying to quit.

20. Things happen, random and crazy things, in my life that I honestly have no clue how or why it comes to be. It almost always ends up being a funny "life story".

21. I so badly wish I could be one of those cool hippy types that just has a backpack, camera and sketchbook and goes off and sees/saves the world.

22. I honestly love hanging out with my family..never a dull moment of laughing and giving each other a hard time.

23. My friends are probably my most favorite part of my life.

24. I love being spontaneous and often justify doing things because it will make a great story in the end.

25. I can't wait to see where I end up.

Hello World!

(trumpets sound!)
Here it is! My very first post to be put out into the cosmic forces! Well, the Internet. But still, it's kind of a big deal. A lesson in humility if you will. A realization that I am just one small voice ready to take on the world! 


Okay okay, maybe not the entire world. But My world. Which (I think) is pretty great. 


So I hope you enjoy my journey in words (and in paintings, songs, lyrics, quotes, photos, etc.) for what it's worth. The good, the bad, the funny, the creative and (my most favorite) the love.


Hello World, so great to see you!