Twenty-Seven

Today it's my birthday. It's snowing, it's Saturday, and later I am having sushi. Score.

Since the last post, I got my hair cut. While that was happening - and maybe it was the lighting - I was reminded of how dreadfully pale I am, especially in the winter. I'm hoping it was the lighting, although I am aware of my inability to tan at all. I looked like a ghost compared to my stylist, whose melanin is more ample with ruddy undertones than mine. At least my freckles don't betray me in the summer. But, really, that has nothing to do with my hair. For my hair, I now have bangs. See?

I've pretty much parted my hair the same way all of my life -- or at least as long as I've been able to "style" my own hair. At 27, I decided to switch things up and tell my stylist to have at it and be inspired. (I am certain that most stylists do not want a client to say that. Ever.) She asked if I wanted to keep the part in my hair the way it has been, and I said, "I want to part it either way now, I want something different; so whatever would look best." Viola: Bangs. It's a big difference for me and that's what I wanted. It feels strange looking in the mirror, so I'm still getting used to it. But I like it. Just thought I'd share.

Also, I've managed to work on some artwork that has been sitting, waiting for me, over the past few months. Although I am not totally satisfied with how things are going so far, these are merely works-in-progress. So I've still got time to change things up a bit. The first is a little bit of a mess at the moment, and still in the early stages of development.. which works out fine, since I'm still trying to refine this particular painting style I'm going for. I've also got to tweak the composition a little, either through re-painting areas or through color. We'll see. It'll be a while before the final piece comes to fruition (yay oils!).

As for the second piece, it is a pretty far cry from the type of work I've been doing over the past few years. For one, it's mostly blue, rather than yellow ochre. Secondly, and equally as obvious, is that there's a whale. If you know me, you could safely say that birds have been my animal-symbol of choice for a while. I put them everywhere. But whales? Whales have been bubbling up in my head for a little while now, and it's just been a matter of time for me to figure out how to portray them the way I want. This piece is only the beginning.

What I'm iffy on about this drawing, though, are the lines swirling around the whale. The idea is pulled from ocean current maps. Visually, it needs more work. Not sure what to do with it yet either, or how to refine what I've got. I'm using pastel pencils, and I think that if I were using paint or making an etching or even collagraph, I would have a much better idea where to go from here. On the other hand I think it's good for me to challenge myself with a different sort of medium.

Almost time to go have sushi. Since my girl kitty Autumn is wandering the apartment talking, I should probably go play with her a little bit before I leave. Perhaps tomorrow I'll work on the rest of that Bucket List from the last post, although one of two things could happen after I get home from church, that would distract me from such a thing as blogging: Dragon Age (my husband suggest I try getting an RP game for the Xbox so I would have a video game to play on my own; I should have declined since I know how easily I get sucked into those types of games. Final Fantasy Playstation games, anyone?); or hopefully working on necklaces to sell.