Confusing

Life is so fucking confusing. Maybe others have it figured out because they've stopped trying to Figure It All Out, whereas I can't fucking let it go and I can't stop thinking about it and trying to make sense of it all. I don't know.

Thought for the day

Life lesson: 
People like/are drawn to other people who are unique and/or special, but if you're TOO different, they don't really want to have all that much to do with you. They'll find you fascinating, but in an at-arm's-length sort of way, in the same way they might gawk at something in a circus sideshow.

Have A Nice Life

"It doesn't have to be this way," zie said.  "You don't have to do this." 

"Yes," I replied.  "Yes it does.  And yes I do." 

And that was my final word on it.  

Time to say goodbye.

Title: Have A Nice Life
Year: 2011
Dimensions: 12 in. x 9 in.
Media: Ballpoint pen, felt-tip marker, colored pencil, pastel on paper

Baby Scarf - now available on the Second Life Marketplace

Prim babies were totally harmed in the making of this HOT item. Accept no imitations!
Features:

• Made with 100% genuine real baby.
• Fashionable winter accessory.
• Makes a great gift!
• Totally serious.
• Haute couture.

Check it out here!  https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Baby-Scarf-box/3000241

Baby Scarf

I made this in response to the controversy over "animal cruelty" regarding a FAKE/PRIM fox scarf made by Anya Ohmai -- read the article here: nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2011/12/faux-fox-fur-not-faux-enough.html

Comment thread is priceless. 

"What's fashionable about death?" -- Lyrical Popstar

EVERYTHING.

"It's ugly and gruesome. I wouldn't wear it unless I were trying to portray the sort of barbarian who wraps her bloody nature in the trappings of civilization, at which point it'd be a tell-tale indicator of the inner life of the wearer."  -- Arcadia Codesmith

Bitch, you couldn't HANDLE my inner life.

Also, if you're in Second Life, you can pick up your OWN Baby Scarf here! Only L$3! slurl.com/secondlife/Kress/231/151/154

** UPDATE**

Now available on the Marketplace!
http://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Baby-Scarf-box/3000241

Guinness beef stew.

(This makes a ton of stew, so you will likely have to cook this in 2 large pots.  Just split the ingredients evenly between the 2 pots; or, halve this recipe.  I personally like to have a lot of leftovers to freeze.)

Adapted from my friend Emi's legendary Guinness beef stew.  <3

This isn't really an exact recipe, just a basic guideline that can be adapted pretty much any way you want.

3 Carrots, 4 potatoes, 3 onions, 1 large yellow turnip, 2 containers of mushrooms, all chopped.
5 cloves of garlic, minced.
3 lbs of stew meat.
Flour (4TB), salt, pepper, garlic powder, other dried herbs in a gallon-sized ziploc bag.
6 cups beef broth or stock; couple pints of Guinness.
Bay leaf, red pepper flakes.
Bacon fat.
Butter.

Coat the meat in the flour/herb/spice mixture in the ziploc bag.

Heat about 1 TB bacon fat in the pot(s)over medium heat; add meat and brown on all sides, over medium-low; keep lid on to trap in moisture.

When meat is browned, scrape it over to one side and add a pat or two of butter; add chopped onions & coat them with the melted butter, and stir together with the meat.  Let the onions soften with the meat over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Then add minced garlic, stir, simmer for another few minutes over medium-low.

Scrape the bottom of the pot(s) with spoon and add the Guinness.  Allow mixture to bubble for a couple of minutes, then add the rest of the chopped vegetables.  Top off with the broth -- enough to cover everything, almost filling the pot(s) (leave about an inch of room from the rim).  Stir everything together.  Add a bay leaf and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.  Bring to a boil, stir, then turn heat down to low and simmer with lid on for about 3 & a half hours.  Check on it occasionally, stir, add more liquid if necessary.  Remove bay leaf before serving.

Shipping another print today

Blender gem thing

Just messing around with materials and lighting.

Blender monkey - using different light sources

Environment lighting combined with lamp lighting.

More Blender lessons.

Two renders of the same scene (using a monkey head preset) and 2 different camera angles.

Ho-Ho-Horrible Holiday Music Playlist, 2011

It has become a tradition of mine to compile a playlist of Bad Christmas Music and share it with the rest of the world.

Some of these are intentionally funny, some are horribly tacky and tasteless, some are overly sentimental/sappy, some are really geeky, some are god-awful and make you want to stick a sharp object into your eardrum, some are just... baffling.

So here's this year's effort. Over 2 hours of amazing-ness. Just press play and...enjoy?

(** Not safe for work/children)

-- Here is the direct link to the playlist, if the embedded one isn't working for you:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA4771D1666AF3EA4

My first Blender-made sculpted prim!

My first sculpted prim made using Blender! Sculpted prims are a type of building block in Second Life. A 3D shape is first created in an external program, then converted to a UV map, then uploaded to Second Life and applied to an object to create that 3D shape.

If I had known it would be this easy, I would have done it forever ago!! Sheesh.

Finally learning Blender.

I found some great video tutorials for Blender, so I figured I'd fire it up and give it another go (I attempted to learn it years ago, but there weren't many good vids on it at the time, and I found it a bit frustrating).

It's still a ton of information to process, but fortunately my years of working in Second Life has made it easier for me to catch on, since creating content in SL is essentially a 3D modelling work environment.

Anyway, here are the first test renders of stuff I've been messing around with. Still a long way to go, but it's a lot of fun!

Older work: XI

One of my older works.  This one has a pretty long history.  It's also my first cut/stitched canvas.



Title: XI
Year: 2004
Dimensions: 31.5 in. X 30 in.
Media: Acrylic paint and thread on canvas.

Commentary: This piece has a lot of my history behind it. It started as a canvas I stretched for a painting class I took in college. The canvas was intended for a project that was barely started; only a preliminary sketch was ever done. I took it home with me at the end of the semester, intending to use it for another work at a later time. Another preliminary sketch was done on it and never completed. One night in a fit of rage I cut the canvas to ribbons with a box cutter. I didn't have the heart to throw it away, so I saved it. Some time later I moved into my grandmother's house and took the thing with me. I sewed it back together as neatly as I could and painted it with layers upon layers of gesso to cover the previously made pencil markings. I abandoned the canvas yet again until years later when I moved into a friend's. I finally completed it over the summer of 2004. I didn't add much to it; it needed to be cleaned to remove layers of dust and the stain of cigarette smoke. I added a simple coat of white and silver paint. I didn't want to detract from the simplicity of the stitching. In the end, I entitled it 'XI' because it took me eleven years to finally complete it.

It's Small Business Saturday! Shop local/small business!

Want to help support my art career?
Buy some of my art so I can purchase more materials to make more art!

http://www.nebulosus-severine.com/artwork-for-sale.html

Support Artists, Artisans, and Handicrafters this winter

My amazing and brilliant friend Bau wrote this passage in support of artisans and independent merchants.  This holiday, instead of stampeding into overly crowded stores to fight over mass-produced junk, consider patronizing your local artists and businesses, and give a truly unique and thoughtful gift.

Support Artists, Artisans, and Handicrafters this winter
by Bau-Ur Secundum on Sunday, 6 November 2011 at 21:59 

In your holiday shopping, please support your nation's artists, artisans, and handicrafters -- preferably local ones, for lower shipping expense and better community-building! But Etsy and Artfire are terrific too. So here's a wealth of great gift ideas: 

Hand knitted cozy hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, dog coats, and baby blankets (the sure way to get something in your loved one's favorite color!); 

Handmade jar candles, unscented or with the natural scent your loved one likes most (If it matches the living room decor, it becomes an ornament; if not, it's a great addition to the household emergency box, because jar candles typically burn for 15 hours or more!); 

Several sessions of massage from a local massage therapist; 

Local artists' prints, paintings, and cards. Consider a commission -- how about a sketch of your brother with his beloved cat? Almost all realistic sketch artists work happily from photos. 

A framed professional photo of a special building or landscape, or a really good photoportrait; 

Handmade herbal soaps, lotions, chap ointment, lip balm, shampoo, and perfumes; 

Locally produced maple syrup or maple sugar candy; 

Handcrafted repairs to an old bicycle, a broken pot handle, hiking boots, dear old damaged books, wooden chairs, car upholstery; 

Beautiful embroidery on a shirt or jacket or jeans; 

Fine soldering repairs to damaged jewelry, or custom silversmithing of a unique ring or pendant; 

Glass lampwork or Fimo or ceramic beads from a local bead artist; 

Home-made soft snuggly rag dolls and washable fluffy toy animals; 

An awesome custom paint job on a motorcycle, car, van, or truck; 

Traditional beadwork on a computer bag, messenger bag, gym bag, amulet bag, phone case, camera bag, or car sunshade pocket; 

Whittled wooden spoons and trinkets; 

Handwoven scarf, sash, guitar strap, necktie, or handbag; 

Lathe-turned bowls or cups from local wood; 

Really well-fitted clothing made by a local sewing expert; 

Moccasins or locally handmade sheepskin slippers; 

Locally created quilts and couch snugglers; 

Locally grown dried herbs and botanical decorations; 

Locally concocted hot sauce, barbecue sauce, chutneys, jams, and unusual pickles; 

A carved cane or walking stick; 

Home brewed beer and small-vinyard wines; 

Hunter's venison jerky or smoked fish; 

Farmer's co-op cheddar cheese; 

Local carpenter repairs to staircases, cabinetry, or wood floors; 

Local texture artist faux marbling, mural, or rosmaling on someone's wall or ceiling; 

Stained glass art -- anything from a tiny candle holder to an entire window; 

Locally made straw and cornhusk Christmas tree ornaments; 

Lessons in sketching, watercolor painting, tea ceremony, martial arts, singing, sewing, or yoga; 

Vase, dish, travel mug, or sink basin made by a local ceramic artist; 

A beautifully calligraphed poem, scripture, motto, or message of love fixed on a fabric banner; 

An airbrushed or original silkscreened tee shirt; 

Decorative painting on a screen door, address sign, pet carrier, or mailbox. 

*** A handcrafted gift like one of these is truly special. It is always more unique, more personal, more expressive, and probably more ethical than that corporate department-store thing made in China that crossed the Pacific on toxic bunker fuel. Please buy local art and crafts whenever you can, and -- for sure!--pass this reminder along to others. Thank you!

"There are no men like me. There’s only me."

Second Life self-portrait.

New Media art page update

I've updated the New Media portion of my webpage a bit to include a brief explanation of what Second Life art is. I do have a couple of pictures and videos posted to it already, but I'll be expanding it even more soon.

www.nebulosus-severine.com/new-media.html

Whilst browsing around Wikipedia today...

G+ suggested this after I uploaded the pic...HAHAHA!

New work in progress

A Day In The Life

So yeah... I'm pretty intense.
(2011)

Rage-faces from le Ragebuilder (www.ragemaker.net/); additional doodles, composition, and concept by me.

Artwork now available for sale on my website

I have updated my site to make my art available for purchase. The artwork I'm offering here includes original paintings for under $200, and prints for only $5.

Help support my art by buying some so I can go out and make more of it!

Check it out! http://www.nebulosus-severine.com/artwork-for-sale.html

YES

"The truth is this, ART in all its forms including writing, poetry, sculpture, painting, music, design, photographing, and more is an accumulation of knowledge. Each painting, novel, poem or photograph is the embodiment of the artist’s lifelong experiences, emotions, education, and intuition. For me, how long did it take, can be easily encapsulated, calculated and condensed into a simple answer… This is what I say, “A lifetime, this painting took a lifetime to paint.”
~Lori"

(From http://www.finearttips.com/2011/11/how-long-did-it-take-to-paint-that/)

Paintings for sale

I need to sell paintings to make more money so I can make more paintings, so that I can sell more paintings and make enough money to take on bigger and better art projects, gallery shows, etc., etc.  If you are interested in owning a piece of original art, here are a few of my current offerings.

(Click here to make a purchase.)



Title: All Loveliness Is Anguish
Year: 2008/2009
Dimensions: 11 in. X 14 in.
Media: Acrylic on canvas.
$250



Title: You Taste Like Memories
Year: 2011
Dimensions: 12 in. X 12 in.
Media: Acrylic and permanent marker on canvas.
$250



Title: I Am The Blood
Year: 2011
Dimensions: approx. 11 in. X 22.5 in.
Media: Acrylic paint and wire on canvas

$250

* SPECIAL FACEBOOK SALE * -
Become a fan of my Facebook page and get special, reduced prices for all artwork listed.

New drawing

Shot Down In Flames
Ballpoint pen and felt-tip marker on paper
Approx. 5.5 in. x 8.5 in.
(2011)

"Hey, I know you've been interested in me for awhile, but I'm not into you like that.  Also, is your friend single?"

THAT happened.

Opening Reception - "Paint the Ta Tas" Breast Cancer Awareness Group Show

Come see the show that has been gaining a bit of recent infamy in the Manchester, CT area!
Opening reception: Thurs. 17th November, 6pm-9pm
Manchester Memorial Hospital Art Gallery, 71 Haynes St., Manchester CT

-- Town official: No 'Ta-tas' in town hall
MANCHESTER, Conn., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The general manager of a Connecticut town said he will not allow a "Paint the Ta-Tas" breast cancer awareness project in the town hall lobby. 

Manchester General Manager Scott Shanley said he supports the message of the Manchester Art Association's "Paint the Ta Tas-Celebrating Life" exhibit, which would have aimed to raise breast cancer awareness with painted and decorated life-size plastic torsos in the town hall lobby, but he decided not to allow the exhibit due to the possibility of someone being offended by the artworks being shown in a public place, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Tuesday.

Sponsored by the Manchester Art Association, 'Paint the Ta Tas' is an exhibit to celebrate the lives of those touched by Breast Cancer and the battles they face.

All work may be for sale, and artists have been asked to donate a percentage of the proceeds to Relay for Life of Manchester.

I have set my piece, 'The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten' at $500 and will donate 50% to Relay For Life of Manchester if it is sold. A preview of the exhibit can be found by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.302318263127797.98553.289012297791727&type=3 

Exhibit runs until 1st December, 2011. Gallery hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hope to see you there!

Open Studio Weekend!

My setup in the Artspace Hartford lobby:

New painting

Title: Thou Shalt See My Scars
Year: 2011
Dimensions: Approx. 16 in. X 25 in.
Media: Acrylic, permanent marker, and wire on canvas.

When I stand before thee at the day’s end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing.
~ Rabindranath Tagore



(detail)


(detail)

New painting

The Devastation of Inner Longitude
Year: 2011
Dimensions: 8 in. X 15 in.
Media: Acrylic, permanent marker, thread, and wire on canvas.


(detail)


(detail)

Open Studio Weekend - installation day

Preview of my paintings for Open Studio Weekend

These are the paintings I've selected for Open Studio Weekend.  Three of these are new.  One, not pictured here, is already hanging in the main gallery.

More details about the show here --

http://openstudiohartford.com/

...and also here:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169962586425313

New painting - first look

New painting, Thou Shalt See My Scars - just completed tonight.  More pics and details to come.

New painting

You Taste Like Memories
Year: 2011
Dimensions: 12 in. X 12 in.
Media: Acrylic and permanent marker on canvas.

Preview of new painting I finished tonight.

Better pics and more info soon.

New drawing

You're Not Real, Girl
Ballpoint pen and felt-tip marker on paper
Approx. 8.5 in. x 11 in.
(2011)

More prints for Open Studio

Just picked up my final prints for Open Studio! Hope to see you there!
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169962586425313

Wooo, pears

10-min breaktime Still-life!

Art Patronage Wanted -- UPDATE

Open Studio is rapidly approaching, and I have made some excellent progress toward being ready for it. I'm getting the last of my prints done in the next few days, finishing up paintings, etc. Thanks to your generous contributions, I have been able to check off almost everything on my list of Stuff To Do!

I do, however, have a few more additional expenses -- the biggest of which will probably be the car rental I need for Open Studio Weekend (Nov. 12-13). I will need the transportation from Friday afternoon/evening through Sunday night, not only to get myself there, but to bring all of my art along with me.

Any contributions that you can make for this fund would be really, deeply appreciated! I hope you can all come to the event as well, I would love to see you there! The opening reception for Open Studio is on Thursday, Nov. 3rd from 6-8 pm, and Open Studio Weekend is Nov. 12 & 13, from 11 am to 5 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public. Please check out this link for all of the event details! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169962586425313

If you are willing to make a small donation to my art cause, please follow this link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZALQ6JJ9TWTRY
You don't need a Paypal account to donate -- most major credit cards are accepted.

Thank you SO MUCH in advance!

Expenses Checklist Progress:
-- Business cards -- DONE!!

-- Printing costs for art prints -- DONE!!

-- Mats and frames -- DONE!
-- Website costs -- DONE!!

-- More molding material to fill the other half of the Bunnyken casting (I underestimated and didn't buy enough the first time I ordered it) - DONE!!!
-- Plastic/resin or other materials for filling the finished mold
-- New folio to archive new drawings -- DONE!!