"Things Don't Have to be Complicated"

First blog post of 2013 and I have some exciting news to share! I recently had "Feeling Small in this Mechanical World", a piece from my master's thesis, published in the latest book put out by SMITH Magazine and TED Books. The eBook is called "Things Don't Have to be Complicated:" Illustrated Six-Word Memoirs by Students Making Sense of the World and is officially on sale for all iPads, E-readers, etc. There are a ton of sweet and talented students featured in this book that are all separated by grade level and I am honored to be a part of it. My painting actually finishes off the graduate work section at the very end of the book - saving the best for last, as mom would say.

There is a short blog post on SMITH's website about the work (including a link to purchase the book) and TED has a post featuring an interview with Larry Smith which includes a quote of my memoir in one of his answers. This has been in the works for quite awhile and it feels great to see the finished product, I really hope everyone gets the chance to download it.. SMITH is a great, creative community to support!

Textiles and Memoirs

Hello hello! Life is as busy as ever and time really flies after graduation, let me tell you. It's already been over a month since I moved my tassel from the right to the left for the second (and final?) time and so far I've spent some time traveling the seas of the Caribbean with my love to celebrate graduation and being an adult, reading and re-reading all of my student loan documents while breaking out in a cold sweat, and applying to more art and design jobs than I can count on my fingers and toes.. and a half a dozen other people's fingers and toes too. Sadly this is going to be an all text post, but to that end I have two important announcements to make:

1.

This week I started working at Cranston Print Works as a freelance designer. The atmosphere is peaceful and everyone is extremely nice and helpful. My first assignment is for Valentine's Day and I'm excited to see where it goes, I will say though that I'm always totally cool with drawing chocolate and all things love. I've never really done textile or pattern design before so I'm currently learning as I go and enjoying the journey. There will be more to come on this subject in the near future, for sure.

2.

Today my interview with SMITH Magazine was posted on their website, front page! (For future reference when I'm no longer on the front page, the blog can be found here) The interview is mostly about my thesis work which has everything to do with their mission, and just answering their questions was enough to inspire me to make more visual work revolving around six word memoirs. I will also have more information on my involvement with SMITH's new ebook within the next few days. The interview is 100% worth reading though, if I do say so myself, so go do that while I go cuddle with the dogs before bed. Goodnight!

Masters: check!

You might be wondering why it's been so long since my last post and I have a number of reasons to give you! This list includes but is not limited to: preparing for the thesis exhibition (mounting, framing, bubble-wrapping, trucking), hanging the thesis exhibition (what a long day!), preparing for graduation (making SVA logo earrings for the ladies in the MFAI department, picking up my cap, gown, and hood, running around like a chicken without a head, etc.) actually graduating, and celebrating lavishly with my family afterwards. The ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall this past Thursday, May 10th (this also happened to be the date of my parents 26th anniversary!) and everything went extremely well - my name was pronounced correctly and I did not fall or even wobble in my five inch wedges, it was everything I dreamed of and more.

With all of that said, I can officially announce that I have my Masters degree! It has been quite the journey, of course having its ups and downs, but I'm happy to say that there were far more ups than anything else. It's hard to believe the two years have come and gone already but the one thing I can hold onto for a bit longer is my studio on 21st street - until July, at least. Before I get too emotional, let's move on to the fun part: pictures!

These are the eight original paintings + book that I have in the exhibition.

SVA logo shrinky dinks before baking...

And the SVA logos after baking.. they came out too cute!

Much more perfect than I had anticipated

I personalized an earring card for everyone and they seemed to be a hit!

Inside Radio City on graduation morning, everything seemed to glow red...

while my parents and I were just glowing in general.

And just for fun, Matt happened to get a picture of Marshall and I hugging on the big screen, right after I was handed my diploma.. what a moment!

WORDS 74

I just got the exciting news that one of my short memoirs titled "The Birds" is going to be published in WORDS 74, due out this coming fall.

The story is about a friend and I at a young age hatching three eggs that we found in a nearby birds' nest. It's a rather sad memory but makes for an interesting read (if I do say so myself). As an animal lover and true grudge-holder, it's something that I regret to this very day and am still slowly learning to live with.

I'll be sure to let you all know when it is finally published and ready to read!

Good Morning, Michigan!

As some of you may know, I am currently on vacation in Michigan visiting with Miss Kottie Gaydos, only the best roommate one could ask to spend their entire undergraduate life with. It only took a year since we graduated for me to be able to visit her, but here I finally am! On Wednesday I flew into Detroit and made this illustration on the plane. It was an extremely short flight so it filled the time well...

It was inspired by the lovely weather I was flying into as opposed to the gloomy Jersey skies I was coming from...so really it should say sunny detroit I suppose. Oh well.

Also If I'm quiet on here for a few days, now you know why!

Studio #28

For my first year in the MFAI program all of my things lived in studio #28. It's not the biggest of the spaces, nor the smallest. It fills up with sunlight in the afternoon but can't compare to some others that have skylights. It sits near the kitchen, making trips to the watercooler quick, but lunch-time and dinner-time are always quite noisy with conversation. It was just an average space, a good studio for me, but soon I must bid it farewell.

I'll be moving on to #8, the current storage studio that no one has loved for years. It sits near the computer area which will make for conversation and gossip central at all times except for lunch and dinner time, the opposite of what I've grown used to. I promise to make it the best and coziest that I can and although I'll be looking out of my imaginary window, I'll still be unbelievably grateful to not be in a crowded cubicle where four studios are smushed together anymore.

Here's to the last day of classes of our first year!