My Inner Artist is Showing...

My greatest apologies are extended to those who may or may not have been checking in on a regular basis. Life has expanded and clouded my vision.

So, here is an update:

Current Location: Columbus, MS
States visited in the last week: California, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee
Money received from graduation: $1,600 and 50 Euros
Sitting Next To: My little sister and older brother, watching a "Downtown Columbus" commercial
Current Time: 10:18m pm

Today I visited a few of my aunts "artist friends" -- Ms. Margaret Smith (a wonderful teacher, painter and doll house constructor) and Mrs. Elane Goodman (incredible folk artist and RN surgical nurse).

While looking through Elane's studio, I fell in love with one particular piece. She calls these beauties her "books," which are essentially cloth pieces with beautiful hand-stitching. This one was done in flower form (each set of petals folds up individually, as shown on the right).

New Additions to the On-Going To Do list:

• Learn to sew anything without a pattern (inspired by my Aunt Wilma)
• Learn how to frame my own artwork
• Become a wonderful cook/baker (gotta work on that...)
• Write thank you cards (a general rule)
• Try my hand at watercolor embroidery
• more to come...

 Again, I promise not to stay away to long next time. Vacation is over on Sunday, and I will get back into my routine.

Ta Ta for now,
-A

Rhode Island School of Design

Alright, I am going to let my excitement leak all over the page now...

RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) is my new motivator. I have decided today that I will be applying to art school next year, and among those I will be applying to RISD! I am officially obsessed with the school and want so badly to attend their "Dual Degree Program."

RISD's Dual Degree Program is a program they have where a student is allowed to double major -- one Fine Arts degree at RISD (in my case Illustration), and one other degree at Brown University (in my case Environmental Science). As you all probably do not know, I applied for Brown University (my absolute, hands-down dream school) this past year and was deferred and then rejected... but could this be my chance to not only attend Brown, but the #2 ranked art school in the country?!

My heart has literally leaped out of my chest, packed a suitcase, and moved to Providence, Rhode Island.

I could not be more elated that a program as magnificent as this exists and is available to me (well sort of... I have to get in first.). The only catch is that I:

1. Have to be accepted to RISD. A very difficult and competitive art institution. And...
2. Also have to be accepted to Brown. A very elite, unique Ivy League University.

Details...

I will be starting a portfolio this summer and as soon as admissions open up in September, I will begin working on my application (they have criteria that must be met in an applicants art portfolio).

Please let the odds be in my favor this time. I am worthwhile I promise. To all you followers out there (if any), here are the links to RISD's and Brown University's websites.

Link: http://www.risd.edu/

          http://www.brown.edu/

Let's leave it to fate... I will post my artwork when I get it photographed in the next few weeks.

-A

Pineapple Planting

Did you know you can plant and grow a pineapple? I DIDN'T.

HOW COOL IS THAT.



How to plant a pineapple:



1. Cut off the top of the pineapple
2. Place top in a dish of water and move (what I call) pineapple hair into sunlight. Leave for three days.
3. Plant the top in a pot with well fertilized soil and wait. Wait for 24-36 months.
4. You're done! Enjoy your delicious, mouthwatering home-grown pineapple!

Like this....

Then this...

And you get this!

Link: http://www.tickledred.com/planting-a-pineapple/

What's Amanda Watching?

        Crew Training videos for Beanscene Espresso... I now know how to make every kind of coffee drink known to mankind.

Check it out on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BeansceneEspresso?ob=0

        Alright world, I did owe you a cool post, and if growing a pineapple isn't cool enough for you... well, I don't know what I will do.

Gutenacht,
-A



Brief Note

To update you all on  my very eventful life:

• Today was my senior picnic. It was pouring rain.
• My sternum is still in pain from the car accident
• I might work at a wonderful candy shop called Sweet XO in Agoura Hills, California -- the managers really like my spunk.
• I must read about plot, character, setting and theme tonight, which is why my post will be so short.
• Sadly, I must go now, but I will leave you all with this:

Nifty pictures (of places I must visit):
       Link: http://accidentalmommies.com/fantastic-and-amazing-pictures/
Nifty Word:
       Vigesimation (v.): the act of killing every twentieth person

What would cause the need for a waord like vigesmiation?

Ciao
-A

Watercolor Magic

Hello all,

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my absence. I believe I owe a bit of an explanation. Here is where I have been the last few days:

Mon. 16 - Fri. 20: 6,000 point Advanced Anatomy Final Exam -- 5 days, 3 hrs/day plus 2 hrs of work

Fri. 20: My boyfriend, Taylor, came in from Arizona (where he is residing) for the weekend

Sun. 22: My boyfriend and I got into a car accident -- T-boned a cab. Not pretty.

Mon. 23 - Tues. 24: Recovering from accident/ drove Taylor to LAX (lame excuse... I know)

       Anyway, let's get back on track here... in the midst of these crazy adventures here in Southern California, I also became slightly obsessed with watercolor (not that I wasn't already). I am currently planning on purchasing a set of Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils (set of 36) and getting started myself -- much thanks to this incredible artist:

Her devianart: http://agnes-cecile.deviantart.com/

        I was completely blown away by her style and expertise. One day I will be as talented as she... right after I master violin and climb Mt. Everest.

Personal Note -- Bucket List:

• Ride down the Grand Canyon on a donkey
• Go on a meditation retreat in Indonesia

Thank you for your patience and ever-so-loyal love...

Here is a little piece of artwork I like to call my own:

Medium: Sketch and Wash (painted graphite)

Year: 2011

Ta Ta for Now,

-A