It's Like Pulling Teeth...

Painting Assignment: Create a still life with some sort of alternate meaning.

So for this assignment I decided to tackle a fear I've had ever since 1st grade. My parents own their own dental practice so my siblings and I have basically grown up in that office and have seen teeth and the world of dentistry ever since I can remember. I love the dentist office, I actually find it sort of soothing... as long as I'm not getting my teeth checked. Enter 1st grade when I tripped over a coffee table and broke my jaw; causing me to get oral surgery and have my mouth wired shut. Ever since then I have had this irrational fear of people touching the inside of my mouth. I guess in a way I may be nervous of loosing my voice. My ability to communicate and share my thoughts and ideas. And to me the very concept of being able to take something like that away from a person is terrifying to me. Hence the teeth: Representing a constant pull in my life between comfort and anxiety.

Molars.

Oil and Acrylic.

Masonite. 24''x24''.

(The 1st two images are close ups. This was my first actual attempt at oil...)

Lunch Dates...

So I know I've been slacking on the blogging situation. But I swear it's not because I didn't want to... I've just been sooooo busy! Spring break is just around the corner and honestly, I couldn't be happier about that. Here are a few photos of the wonderful ladies to which I've had lunch with this semester...

Sarah always knows how to make me smile.

Not to mention boost my morale and get me in a better mood every single time.

These ladies say they hate my pictures.

But deep down I think they are lying.

Even though Chrissy hides from them...

The food this one makes me is like heaven in a bowl.

And these two brave the bitter cold when I want to get a late night, 2 am snack at Sev.

Because they love me.

I know--I'm lucky to have them all in my life.

Bookin It!

BIG NEWS!!!

My MACbook came yesterday!

It is beautiful, and wonderful, and so nice to have a computer again.

Hopefully now I'll be able to post more steadily.

Now off to sleep for a few hours...

Michael Patrick.

Brother-

Seems like yesterday mom was having me call you in for dinner. You of course are outside shooting 3's in the dead of winter, snow all around. Wearing your heavy coat.
Seems like yesterday I thought I was going to die of exhaustion due to you chasing me all around the car after I peed on your leg when I was 6.
Or the bloody murder screams from when I slammed your finger in the dresser when I was 4.
Or the time you sneezed cereal on me at breakfast.
From across the table.
Twice.
I remember going to your CYO games and eating HNJ fries almost every time.
Or when you shot your thousandth point and they put your name on the banner.
I remember getting to school late every single day of freshman year because you drove.
Or how you, dad, and I went golfing when we were younger.
I remember when you lost Rocky in the woodpile...
and he lost his tail.
Or how Mr. Thom yanked that box turtle off your chest.
Your bunny shorts will forever be immortalized.
Not to mention the numerous Mcflurry, Frosty, BigMac, and Arby's runs we've made.
I remember when you left for school.
And when you graduated.
Part of me wants to go back to the simpler times.
Back to 949 Penna Avenue where we could play countless games of cops and robbers, capture the flag, and whiffle ball.
And then there's the other part of me...
the part that says here we are:
23.
Grad School.
My 2nd year of college.
And Laur's last year of high school.
And I can't help but think about all the times we laughed.
And how you were responsible for 95% of that laughter.
And it makes me less nervous about the next 23 years.
Because regardless of what happens...
Laur and I will always have you there.
To make us pee with laughter.
And play midnight games of Sequence.

Happy Birthday Mike.

Because You.... (#9)

Christine.

Because you are from New Hampshire,
where you "Live free or die trying."
You are wicked funny. Most of the time without even trying to be. You introduced me to New England. I love how driven you are to become a writer... and how I brag to all my friends that you write for an actual magazine. And how you always dress so professionally.

Our awkward moments are some of my favorite. And I really don't know if I would survive school without you. Even if we do creep each other out from time to time. Parties are always better when Krizzy's present. And I can't think of a single time in my two years of knowing you where you've had a bad hair day.

Not to mention you share a birthday with my brother!
Hope your 20th was wonderful!!!

Cassowaries...

Etching: Today I pulled my first print in Etching. (This is actually a picture of my second attempt). Basically you cover the copper plate in a tar-like substance called gamsol, etch into the tar exposing the copper. You then drop it in acid for various amounts of time to get the different line qualities. This being my first etching, I was actually pretty surprised at how well it came out. But now I have ink all over my hands...

Wheel of Fortune...

Fact: Ceramics may quite possibly be the death of me. Particularly wheel throwing. I want to be good at it, I'd even settle for being halfway decent, but I have a feeling I'm a far ways away from reaching that goal. Oh well, I still have a lot of fun while working on it, and in all actuality find it pretty therapeutic. Not to mention how completely awestruck at how easy my professor makes it look in the demos. Photos: My attempts at making the "perfect cylinder"