Trick or Treat...

Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!

Happy Halloween!!!!

(Picture of Em and I back in the day. Costume courtesy my wonderful mother.)

If You Can't Stand the Heat...

Then Get Out of the Kitchen!

3D Assignment Review: Talent Show

-So on Wednesday my 3D class and I put on a talent show! Each of my classmates had a 5 minute spot to fill with some sort of talent. We had a range of demonstrations from caricature drawing, to book binding, and even smore making. We had a few people play musical instruments and others telling stories or reciting poetry. For my project, I decided to host a cooking show. "5 Minute Meals" consisted of me making a strawberry, banana, pineapple smoothie and chocolate chip cookies. 

I built my set out of cardboard-- complete with sink and oversized cardboard blender. I tried to tie together people's love of humor and food and actually improvised the entire performance! But luckily everyone really seemed to enjoy it. So much so that we may expand the kitchen and turn it into another project where the entire class films their own "dorm cooking" segments and puts them on youtube!!! I also got some really nice compliments from Jude after class... and I'm pretty sure I want to take another sculpture class at some point. So glad this week's over though. Now i can relax for a day or two. (Gotta love no classes on Fridays.)

Photos are of Corrie, Kelsey, Cait, and Brianne who came to help me build the island on Tuesday night. 

Blinded By the Light...

So today in 3D class we had a talent show... My project went really well, but I'll post more about that later. In the meantime I thought I'd share some photo's from my friend Jenni's project. Her talent involved a quick discussion about her camera and how she described the ins and outs of basic photography. She then proceeded to set up a backdrop, give everyone a blindfold, and take portraits of the entire class. I loved this idea. And the overall concept translated beautifully in every single portrait of my classmates. 

This second portrait is a picture of my professor, Jude. I absolutely love this class and I owe a large part of that to her. She really has a way of making everyone feel like their work is amazing... even if it could still use some work. And I think her positive attitude and enthusiasm for artmaking is really starting to rub off on some of the kids in her class, which is always a major plus. 

(Photos  courtesy of Jenni Kowal.)

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea...

Current Status: Sleepy, but optimistic.

-I just got back from Club Tech, where I spent the better part of the night in the graphics lab. It's raining in Philly. I walked home in it, but I didn't really mind all that much. Today I have three classes, have to go grocery shopping for smoothie ingredients, and build an entire kitchen out of cardboard by Wednesday. Should be fun. Wish me luck! Now for oatmeal!!!

Picture This...

Ok--I know it's cheesy. But I originally wanted the portraits to just stand alone. Next to each other, but during an in progress critic they thought I should put it in some sort of context. I was going to do a yearbook (too much work), a play bill came up (none of these friends act), and a sketchbook seemed like a last resort. So I thought about it, and I figured a cork board was at least a step above a sketchbook. All done in photoshop.

Can't Stay the Same...

So you may remember a few of these portraits from my Rainbow Connection series. Well, I reused some of the original sketches in my new computer project that utilizes photoshop. And let me just reiterate--I don't know how graphic design majors do it?! They must have the most patience ever. Anyways, I scanned the sketches in. Used various colors in the pen tool. Scanned in paintings for the background, used picture's of Brielle's actual hair, and actual yarn I knit.

Brielle.

Brianne.

Anila.

Malcolm.

(I'll post the final project in a little bit...)

Come on & Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road...

Drawing Homework: Texture.

I decided to spend a few late night hours on Liacorus Walk in order to finish this assignment. I can't believe that this is the first homework assignment I've drawn outside this semester, everything else has fallen under still lifes or interior spaces.

Conte, Vine, Compressed on Strathmore.

It's going to be a very long week. Things to do:

1) Lino-Cut Prints for 2D

2) Photoshop Project for Computers

3) Make a kitchen and buy smoothie ingredients for 3D

4) Sketchbooks for 2D

(In that order.)

"Now I know How Noah Felt..."

That's what my mother said in response to the torrential downpour that plagued Philly today. Gotta love her. 

Tonight was a good night, despite managing to somehow get absolutely no homework accomplished.  Mom, Dad, and Mike came down to visit. Mom and Dad dropped off my bike and some much appreciated goodies. We then headed over to Manyunk where we had dinner at this really nice restaraunt that I can't seem to remember the name to. Mike and mom had the salmon stuffed with crab meat. Dad had steak. And I had seafood verdi. Soooo good. But even better was just being with my family. I missed them a lot. 

I even got to see Mike's new house and play with TREY!!!!! He is getting soooooo big!

Now off to bed so I can hopefully get up early tomorrow.

Step On Up...

Drawing Homework from last Week: Perspective drawing. 

-It's weird how different professors can be sometimes. Tom Vance is the complete polar opposite from Helen Bayley, but as more time passes I'm finding I've learned a lot more from both than I had thought I would. This particular piece was actually worked into more and tweaked... I fixed a few of the wonky orthogonals but didn't manage to take another picture.

Fortune Telling...

Here is another 3D project from earlier in the semester. The assignment was to create a gift for every single person in the class that told them a little bit about yourself.  I chose to make fortune cookies for a number of reasons:

1) I love food. 

2) Chinese happens to be my favorite take-out food. 

3) I love the idea of fortunes. 

4) Some of my favorite memories/traditions/conversations from last year centered around chinese take-out.

Materials: I used wood glue to laminate pieces together. Then used a ban saw to cut out the cookie shape. Finally I bought 20 actual fortune cookies, took out their fortunes, put them in the wood cookies, and repackaged them in the original wrappers using packaging tape.

The Caste System...

You may remember my post a few weeks ago about making a packaging tape mold of Keiran. Well here is the lone picture I managed to get of the finished project. It is a response project to a famous sculpture. (My artist was Tom Friedman.) And it's actually not even the finished project... 

See the middle body is filled with leaves and actually tumbled over spilling out the leaves. I liked it so much I left it for the critic, which my classmates really enjoyed. It was moved into sculpture bay for safekeeping due to the Wolgin Arts Prize dinner banquet. Apparently they needed to put trash cans there... yeah, I know. Anyways, I was pretty happy with it. And 3D is actually starting to become my favorite class this semester due to a combination of things; Jude, my classmates, and interesting projects. I really feel like I'm challenging myself, which is refreshing.

Materials: Packaging tape. Leaves. Cinder Block. Wood/Dowel Rods. Rubber bands. 

Green With Envy...

So for 3D class last week Jude came into class and told us we had 15 minutes to create a musical instrument. Rachel and I ran to the loading dock and found some scrap wood and made wood blocks... what else!?! We then had an hour to create and learn a whole marching band formation as well as two songs. We then headed over to Temple's Community Garden for the ribbon cutting ceremony, where we preformed! And if you follow this link HERE! you will see a picture of Rachel and me looking at the garden in an article for the Temple News. My friend Keith picked up the newspaper this morning and informed me that I was in it!  The garden is part of a senior sculpture major's project... It is actually incredibly beautiful and impressive knowing all the red tape he had to go through with the university in order to create something like this...

Dear Blog...

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I've been neglecting you recently. It just happens to be really hectic here right now. And while I'm sure you are asking yourself why I haven't been sharing stories and pictures of why I've been so busy... it is partially because I've been soooooo sleepy and partially because I just got lazy. I'm sorry blog, don't be mad... I'm going to try and be better.  And to prove it, here are some photos of things I've done recently.

Went to Eastern State Penitentiary with the gang + Lauren + Drew.

It was by far one of the coolest/spookiest/more unexpected things I've done since being in Philly. But I loved it.

Had more adventures during a jam packed "Sibling Weekend!"

Went to the Italian Market for the first time!

Debated whether to get Pat's or Geno's...

We got Pats.

Little sister helped me in the Studio before she went back to Harrisburg...

Finally found out where this mural was and saw it in person. I have loved it since I saw it in Mike's mural book from Philly U. 

Had dinner with Mike at the Nashery...

And Hannah came too!

Spent a really really really cold and long night cutting wood with Corrie and assembling a 3D project.

Spent a lovely night at the Melting Pot with Miss Gibson and the other lovely ladies.

It was my first time there and I got the honor of sitting next to the birthday girl, Miss Mary Penxa. Happy 20th Mar!

And on top of all this I've been doing sooo sooo sooo much work for my studio classes. Stressing out about classes for next semester. Working on mountains upon mountains of homework. Going to lectures and galleries. And pulling numerous all nighters. But, it should get better soon.

-Jimmy

Wrap It Up!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU KEIRAN!!!!!!!!!!! 

For putting up with me and letting me put packaging tape all over you for my 3D project!

This Little Light of Mine...

So last night we headed over to the skate spot across form 1300 and decided to light sparklers. Just because we could. Soooo much fun.

Mercedes. I'm sorry for almost burning your eye out.

Reenacting a Harry Potter duel.

I think sparklers are my favorite kinds of fireworks.

Christine was full of all kinds of hilarious one liners tonight.

I love this picture of Corrie...

Cheeky...

Computers Assignment! And with it, yet another all nighter in the tech center. We had to scan our faces into the computer... then using Illustrator illustrate ourselves. This is my end result, mainly because I'm really tired and need some sleep. Being one of the most computer illiterate people on this planet, I'm actually pretty amazed I could do this. Over all time: Over 7 or 8 hours.

Friday Free Time...

Best news ever! My little sister decided to visit me at Temple this weekend!!!!!!! 

 She seriously makes my day, and not going to lie, I've been feeling a little down recently. I don't really know why, I'm just kind of in a funk recently. But my wonderful sister always makes me feel like an amazing person. I think thats just something I admire most about her... her ability to truly and honestly be nice to anyone. 

We just got back from a fun filled Friday night in Old City! We went for First Friday. Laur liked all the street venders, and I have to agree they are definitely my favorite part too.

It just so happens that this weekend has been dubbed "brothers weekend" because a lot of our brothers are visiting. 

(I'm taking this time to point out that I tried to get the name changed to "sibling weekend" because Lauren is clearly not a boy, but was strongly vetoed.)

We stopped at a little cupcake bakery in Old City. Where a various assortment of cupcakes and cookies were purchased and then swiftly consumed.

It was also in their parking lot that Cait decided to break into impromptu dances and posing.

Alex and Corrie were happy they had baked goods. But not happy I had to take this picture three times.

My camera was frustrating me. And tonight just further proved why I will never in a million years become a photo major. 

So to cheer me up we stopped off at the cookie truck. SOOO SOOO GOOD! And I'm a little ashamed to say that this was my first successful visit to the cookie truck this semester. 

But it was so worth it!

Laur agreed. 

I love her so much. 

Tomorrow... off to the Zoo! DickBlick! and possibly South Street!