Day 120/365: Foreign.

Well hello ladies and gents.
Today has been a good day I suppose. Pretty lax. The paper route went fine. It thunderstormed like hell last night, but it stopped before I got up to deliver papers so that was good.
Our wireless internet is being weird. Our network isn't showing up in the list. Just the "linksys" one... that's the brand of our router, and my USB wireless adapter. We haven't called the phone company about that yet, but mom probably will tomorrow if our network doesn't start showing up in the list.

I packed my lunch and ate it at the lake today. It was pretty windy though, so why I chose to bring, among other things, a raw spinach salad, is beyond me. The spinach kept trying to fly right off my fork. I wouldn't mention that here except I found it rather amusing. I texted my brother back and forth and we joked about the "WIND DIET".
I biked to the library today and checked out three books.... and don't laugh at me, but one of them was a biography of Fred Astaire. I'm just curious is all. Thankfully, age is starting to ward off the rabid obsessions, but I do like to know a little bit about the singers, dancers, performers or whatever that I'm interested in.

I made the mistake of not bringing a backpack or anything, so I had to stuff two of the books in the lunch bag I brought, and I had to carry the larger book while I biked home. So that was fun.

Anyway, you didn't come here about that. You came to see some art.

I'd had the elephant idea in my head for a while, but today's theme being what it was gave me an excuse. I had part of this drawn up last night but did the substantial work on it today.

Also... I know I've already said this, but I have to say it again; it's really nice to finally have a scanner that can tell the difference between red and orange. Our old one had a terrible time with that.

Also, I do want to say that I realize that elephants are supposed to have tusks. I tried to put some on this one, but they just didn't look right so I left them out.

Tomorrow's theme is "for you", and I'm not quite certain what I'll be making for that... but there's a good chance that it will be Peter Gabriel related in some way. I've been listening to him an awful lot lately.

I should mention that the lyric featured in today's piece of art is from this song. I know "this is your life" is a pretty generic phrase but I want to give credit where it's due. Plus, I can't stop watching this video. It's dorky and adorable, and the song has a great message.

Anyway, I should probably do some dishes or something and maybe start contemplating what to make for dinner so I'll see you all later.

Day 119/365: Footwear.

For this theme, you're also getting pictures that I took today. They were taken less than two hours ago so they're brand spankin' new.

These were cheap flip flops I got on clearance at the beginning of fall last year. They were like... two bucks. I've been wearing them most mornings when I deliver newspapers so they're getting a bit worn up.

The red chucks I got for my birthday last year.

I don't really have anything to banter about. It's only nearing 10am, so there hasn't been a whole lot going on yet. I got soaked in the rain delivering papers this morning, which was actually somewhat enjoyable. I'm not sure why.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to carve designs into a banana peel using a small phillips screwdriver. Good day.

Day 118/365: Food.

The pictures I'm about to post for you were actually taken today. That seems to be a rare occurrence anymore, so enjoy it.
I know this is going to seem random, but do you ever wish you had someone else to fangirl over something with? Vanessa shares many of my obsessions, and my brother and I share some (albeit to a lesser degree), but sometimes I just want to geek and fangirl out over something that most of my IRL friends are not into and do not understand.

This is a time when you should be glad I have to get on our other computer to upload pictures, or you would totally be getting spammed with Peter Gabriel pictures.
Don't ask why I'm taking a sudden interest, because I'm not sure myself.

Anyway. On with today's pictures.

Using a small phillips screwdriver, I chiseled a heart out of an orange peel.

My first idea came upon me randomly when I was contemplating eating a banana this morning.

Carving into banana peels using... a small phillips screwdriver.

This is the other side of the same banana.

We've got two bananas left and I intend on carving a design into one more. I want it to be an intricate, trippy pattern though. This banana was basically just doodled on. With a screwdriver.

It makes sense if you don't think about it.

Anyway, I'm going to spam some of my deviantart people with pictures of stuff, and I need to be getting in bed, so I'll see everyone later. 

Day 117/365: Follow your heart.

Today, I have an eclectic selection of photos for you. None of the exact shots have been published before, but some of them are a few months old.

My family went to a really nice farmer's market in Des Moines, and this flower was at one of the stands.

This is a random dude that was playing guitar in the street at that farmer's market. His name is Finn Miles, but to be honest, I haven't looked him up or anything since that farmer's market. I did throw my last dollar into his guitar case though. And really I'm not opposed to trying to see if he's on myspace or something, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

An older shot of my box camera. I haven't known what to do with it before now, but I just submitted it without editing at all. I liked it this way.

This picture was taken at the end of March, when it was nice enough to go outside but it still looked pretty shitty out.

I was messing around on the beach. I drew a heart in the sand, and then decided to fill it in with pebbles and such. This is one of many shots I took of that, so if the set up looks familiar that's why.

Some flowers in a planter in Des Moines.

A city sidewalk in Des Moines. I wouldn't be opposed to living in that city at all. I like the energy. I know I'm going to sound quaint and Iowan when I call it the big city, but... it's got that great urban energy to it. Now, you know me. I love nature. I also love the great energy bigger cities like Des Moines have.

A building in Des Moines. Most of my shots are of nature or people, so it's nice to churn out a shot like this that I actually like.

Another shot on the sidewalks in Des Moines.

Someone stuck a Hello Kitty sticker on a parking meter, and I found that rather amusing. I would have liked to try to get a better shot of this, but my parents were walking rather fast and I was falling behind as it was. That is actually my dad in the background...

A dead moth I saw on the sidewalk. I'm not sure why, but I like this picture a lot.

Now, I know today's selection is kind of random but I chose to post each of them for a reason. I'll leave the interpretation up to you. To quote the late, great Freddie Mercury "If you see it, dear, then it's there.". You'll probably hear that quote from me a lot, but it's one of my favorite quotes. I like knowing where an artist got their inspiration from, or why they might have written a song, but I also like being able to interpret their work in my own way.

Anyway, tomorrow I have to deliver massive Sunday papers, so I'm going to hop in bed and rest up for that. I would have liked to be in bed already, but mom, my brother, and I watched Star Wars and I had a mountain of dishes to wash. XD

Tomorrow's theme is "food".

Day 116/365: Follow the leader.

I had today's drawing drawn out and partly inked yesterday. I hope to keep up this string of having things prepared ahead of time. I like being able to feel good about what I post here... Not slightly ashamed because I'm having to use old pictures.

Now, I can't guarantee that this streak will go on forever, but I'll try to milk it for all it's worth. I will continue to use photographs, but when I'm on a drawing kick, I just have to go with it.

This didn't come out as good as it looked in my head, but I think it still came out pretty well.

It was inspired by this song, which is fucking gorgeous.

Pay no attention to the slideshow.

I know I'm on a Peter Gabriel kick right now, but the song is gorgeous, and the lyrics are amazing. And so is his voice. 

Tomorrow's theme is "follow your heart", and I was thinking of doing a little series of photographs about that. Or possibly using some older ones, but ones I haven't published anywhere yet. I'm not sure. I just feel like I have enough trippy drawings with rainbow colored hearts and stuff. I have been wanting to do a series of still life photos anyway. I used to do that sort of thing a lot, now I usually fall back on spontaneous shots that don't take any set up.

Anyway, I'm off to brainstorm ideas for tomorrow's theme. 

Day 115/365: Flowers.

I sketched, outlined, colored, and scanned this drawing yesterday. I am rarely that well prepared, sadly. When I'm this far ahead, it gives me a chance to spend more time working on a picture, which in turn means I don't have to post a bunch of old photos or some doodle in MS Paint that I spent ten minutes on. In fact, I already have already done a basic scratch paper sketch for tomorrow's drawing.

I know I can sometimes be fleeting with my crazes, obsessions, and the like, but I listened to Peter Gabriel all day yesterday. Mostly just one song, but as I said yesterday, it's been a long time since I've been so inspired to draw within such a short time frame. I'm seriously already trying to brainstorm what Saturday's picture will be. I might be getting a tad ahead of myself, but I figure... I have to keep coming up with ideas so I'll have something to go off when my art block comes back (I'd like to say "if it comes back", but I know it's bound to eventually).

That's why I used to draw and ink pictures in my sketchbook and just leave them uncolored for a while, so I'd have something to go to when I had art block. The only sketchbook I have left has gigantic pages so I've been drawing on typing paper again. I get paid in about five days, though. Most of that money will go towards my fine, and I have to pay the guy who filled in two days for me when I was out of town. I am going to keep 20 bucks out. I want to buy a pair of sunglasses, a new sharpie pen (they don't bleed like the markers do), and possibly a new sketchbook. There are also a couple of cheap things I want to buy on Amazon.com.

Anyway, I can see I've done enough rambling so let's get on with today's picture.

We recently got a new printer/scanner, and it is so much better than our old one. It can actually tell the difference between red and orange. That doesn't apply to this picture, but all too often when doing rainbow colored trippy art, I'd scan it only to discover that it looked like there were two giant blocks of orangey red right next to each other. And I can be quite picky when it comes to my art. 

But... yeah. Tomorrow's theme is "follow the leader", and I have sketched an idea that relates to the song "Here comes the flood" by Peter Gabriel. 

I hope you don't get tired of hearing that name because I'll probably be throwing it around for a while. :)

Day 114/365: Flare

Today's theme doesn't involve a flare so to speak, but more of a flare lit by a song that I've been listening to all day. And that flare made me want to draw.

Considering the horrendous art block I've been having, wanting to draw anything is welcome, so I decided to fudge my rules. Besides. I think it counts. Just because today's theme is flare doesn't mean I have to draw a giant fire stick. Hell. I might even cheat and use "flair", and I certainly do have a flair for drawing what you're about to see.

Inb4 "You draw too many trippy colored hands".

I am aware of this. But! Most of the hands I draw have the fingers spread apart.

Anyway. The lyrics are from this song.

I have literally been listening to it over and over today. I just can't get enough of it right now. And honestly? I don't care. Because I churned today's drawing out, and I already have the full pencil outlines of tomorrow's drawing done, and all while listening to the song on repeat.

Also, I have a new crush on Peter Gabriel. I can't help it. Odd British musicians are a weakness of mine. 

And,  if you're new to my blog, I should explain that when I call someone "odd", "weird", or anything of that sort, it is a compliment. I almost always use those words in positive context. I myself enjoy being off kilter and like other people whose brains operate on a different wavelength. And Peter Gabriel is one of those people, to me anyway.

I'm going to go search for a thin black marker or pen that I can outline tomorrow's drawing with, since the sharpie marker I used for today's bleeds too much... the lines get thick and gross, and for a picture with no intricate details, that's just fine, but it would fuck up tomorrow's drawing... The theme tomorrow is "flowers" by the way.

Anyhoo, until tomorrow.