new dimensions

drawings of little things, medium things, and large things.





still films.

cosmonaut

as some of you may already know (really, only the 'burghers), i'm working on a few things in the coming weeks. jaren and i are planning on renewing our lease come august 2011 (which is really just around the corner, frighteningly) and given that, i've taken our rental-improvement-ideas a bit more seriously as of late. here's what's on the plate for the summer months:

• perhaps the most important project i have in my mind is cosmonaut, a literary and art zine i'm planning on creating. i'm finding that i constantly need to be creating something, or at the very least THINKING about creating something, in order to be remotely content. i've gathered a few local friends - all poets, artists, writers, musicians, readers, or like-minded folk to contribute ideas and material for this quarterly? monthly? zine.
• i am about halfway finished with a roll of film in a disposable camera for my contribution to AMLP (A Million Little Pictures) a traveling photo exhibit comprised of none other than a million little pictures by Art House Co-op, the same lovely people who brought to you the Sketchbook Project. i will have them developed and sent off in june and will provide highlights on here, my flickr, and my facebook.
• i also apparently joined a friend's band last night in a state of heavy inebriation. i will be their drummer and keyboardist, though i know not how to play either. stay tuned.
• the ever-evolving canvas that is my apartment will see a big change in the near future. since i'm unable to afford an authentic victorian headboard for my bed, i will simply have to resort to painting one on the wall. who knows how this may look, but it will be in mint green, copper, and may possibly involve some collaged maps or newspapers. if i'm not feeling completely lazy, i may fashion some sort of half-canopy near the head of the bed. unfortunately, this might be easier said than done seeing as i don't have a ladder to affix any fabrics to the ceiling.
  
• i will also make my own drapes (the pre-reagan-administration venetian blinds were destroyed the other day) and cover jaren's decrepit TV stand in obnoxiously adorable patterned papers. it will most likely end up looking like your dead grandmother's couch. again, i can't afford a new TV stand so will just have to settle for a DIY upgrade.

these are really for my own reference, but also for your voyeuristic entertainment in case you've been wondering what i waste my time doing. i will gladly accept any help, advice, or ideas with home improvement, screen printing, or zine-making/distributing (though i would appreciate it if you didn't send me to apartmenttherapy.com).

a late posting of a valentine's day gift

(the back of the photo album)

a couple new things

i realize i haven't updated this thing in something like a year or so. anyways, i'm now in pittsburgh living with jaren with our adorable kitty taro. i've been sans employment for a couple months since i've been here, though fervently applying and making my own work.

anyway, whatever, i'll just get to the good stuff - pictures! i realize i posted some photos of my eclipse prints before, but i never actually showed the finished product, so voila.

the finished product of my eclipse series- a handmade scroll book! approx. 10" by 5 ft.


Waiting for a Paycheck, Pt. 1
etching, graphite, and aluminum foil. i think about 10"x14".


Waiting for a Paycheck, Pt. 2
etching, graphite, paper collage. also 10"x14".

last, but not least, a totoro collage! a present for a dear friend of mine:
That's it for now. It's Friday, a balmy 62 degrees, and Radiohead's King of Limbs has just been released. Stop reading my blog and go enjoy the day already!

works in progress

After toiling away at this series of prints for the last two years of my life (admittedly, I was employed full-time at an office 45 minutes away, but still), I've finally finished. For the most part. Anyway, I have some photos of the work in progress here. And, dear readers (if there are any left), I'll need your advice on this one.

first run (3 plates printed out of 5)

first run, at a different angle

second run (all 5 plates printed)

second run, at a different angle

Specs: 10 inches tall by 10 feet long (unrolled). Each plate is 6 by 6 inches.

(Thanks, LG camera phone! I'll never leave you for an iPhone.)

So now, the question at hand is whether or not to execute it according to my original plan or not. My original plan was to create a scroll book, much like Japanese (or just Asian actually) scroll books of eras past. I wasn't sure what to use for the handles, but I was considering a few options: making my own out of large wooden rods from Home Depot (maybe 1-2" diameter), using thick branches (also 1-2" diameter) and sanding/painting them (most likely white or black), or just buying pre-fabricated (or repurposed) handles a la eBay or whatever. The other option, suggested by a colleague of mine, is to crop the scroll and use shelf glass (from IKEA or Home Depot) to frame it. This could work and would be conventional, but it wouldn't be nearly as fun as a scroll. What do you think?

Also, not sure whether or not I should try to sell it. I'm trying to create an edition of three, so if I did, I would most likely charge a lot (considering time/money/work put into it). If you're interested, I have a ton of proofs that I'm willing to part with for like, ten bucks a pop.

Thoughts?

125i Silk in SF

so i've made it back from the west coast successfully without contracting swine flu or being sex trafficked (don't ask - they've both become irrational fears of mine). while i spent the latter half bed-ridden and under hotel arrest, i still had a lovely time visiting my san fran pals with my housemates.

also, due to my permanent bad luck, it started raining the day after i got there. it hadn't rained in san francisco for two months.

i was at least able to take advantage of the dreary weather and managed to snag a few photos with my land camera - both in color and chocolate film. so far, i've only scanned the four color photos i took (destroyed the rest of the film :( it seems to be more fragile than the 100 chocolate).

an old theater in richmond, natalie's neighborhood

tennis courts in golden gate park (my personal favorite)

fire escapes on a clear day in the haight (1st photo)

fisherman's wharf (which would've been a completely miserable day had
we not spent the afternoon at the aquarium)

love,

me

julie doiron & fred squire

i hate to be a braggart (well, no, actually i love it), but...

julie doiron and fred squire just crashed at my house last night.

(if you don't know who they are, google them or see the mount eerie album, "lost wisdom")



also, since i like to advertise albums when they are wonderful:

julie doiron's new album - i can wonder what you did with your day

my personal favorites are "the life of dreams", "consolation prize", and "borrowed minivan". (and fyi, it sounds especially nice on wax.)

cheers!