anne is an artist

Well, I just got out of a real so-so critique. It actually went pretty badly but I kind of knew it was going to so I really wasn't surprised. What is surprising is I don't care! In fact I am really excited about the next one. I think I realized during critique to not try to take photos that the teacher will like, because he probably won't anyway. I always do that on the first critique. But I guess you have to get a feel for what the rest are going to be about. So really I'm not sure what I'm writing about here. I'm not really distraught at all!

In fact, one thing that I have been looking at and frequenting lately is blogs from artists and not artists. What is the point of a blog? To keep in touch? Why do I enjoy reading about a stranger's day? It's like I am connecting and I feel I know the person, but in reality, I have no idea! Is this writing reflecting who I am? If this blog became really quite popular, would people start assuming what kind of a person I am? Do I really want people to read this? I'm not sure that I mind either way, but why make things like this public?

I suppose the main reason I have one is just to figure it out. Learn all the coding behind it to better serve my web design abilities. But then once it is figured out, how come I am still writing, especially when my writing has nothing to do anymore with technical aspects?

What is the point of blogs?

So I cut my thumb on a linoleum cutter. Then I went into the hallway to pass out. I always pass out when it comes to these sorts of things, so I was prepared this time. As soon as I saw the blood gush, I was like, "Welp, better go find some able-bodied teachers who can babysit me as I sit on the floor and be woozy for a while." I pass out all the time, not even when I cut myself, so I know exactly what it feels like right before I do. I also know that it's not a big deal and that it's just my body's sissy way of handling a small cut on my finger. Unfortunately, the teachers that I designated to watch over me in the hallway didn't know that, so security was inevitably called. He did bandage me up pretty good, but they were all saying, "Stitches!" and that was making me a bit more woozy. Luckily, after all the wooziness passed about 12 hours later, I checked up on my thumb. Stitches indeed! It is a pretty good gash though, so I don't feel as ridiculous. A little ridiculous, but not as ridiculous.

I started my thesis rolling! I'm using a combination of printmaking techniques for it, so at first it was intimidating, but now that I've started, I am not as panicked as I first was. Amazing!

I also received my final loan check from school. Since my ipod is officially broken I'm wondering if I should buy another one. It's been driving me crazy so far this semester by not having one. Maybe as a graduation present to myself?

Also I need to do taxes. And find out what happened to my refund from last year that I never received. Curious.

I ordered my postcards from Jakprints today. It was a pretty decent deal, and I used my first thesis piece that I finished in the design. I do hope the color turns out right. I have a feeling my card is going to be a bit color sensitive. It feels like such a transition! To be ordering postcards to promote your work. I've definitely felt the transition from student to professional a lot this semester. A lot more than I ever have, even when I had a real free-lance job. What a crazy ride!

Anyway, here's the first one that's finished--Actually there are still little details that I want to do to it, so it's not exactly done, but I cleaned it up digitally just so I could get the postcard out in time. I can't wait till they get here!

I got my postcards in the mail and now I'm going to send them out! If you would like a postcard, email me or IM me with your address (my aim is anneisanartist) and I will send you one, STAT!

In other news, I'm kind of getting to that point, where I'm illustrating and it's coming out (almost) exactly as I intended. Not that it is a perfect image, by far, but I am becoming more comfortable with what I am drawing and how and where my style fits in. Here's some recent stuff, it's an excerpt from a children's book. Here is how I interpreted it (click for a bigger view):

So here are a few pictures of the thesis process so far; I'm almost done! As for framing, I have to trim down the edges of the pieces, since they're all on huge slabs of masonite, but they are looking pretty good so far. The only thing, which you can see from the photos, is how highly reflective that glass is. I'm hoping that won't be as big a deal once I get some proper lighting on them.

Well, here we go! Everything is up and done, ready to go for Friday night! I am very excited to see that not only mine is finished, but all of the seniors are breathing easier this Monday. My family is coming into town to view the gallery on opening night, so that is also exciting! I am very tempted to buy a nicer camera, as if you look on Flickr at the rest of my gallery, my camera is showing it's age, and I would like some high quality photos come Friday. Does anyone know of any good deals going on right now for cameras?



p.s. - new layouts!

After a much deserved respite from artwork, Homework and MIAD all together (that last one's not quite true) I am ready to start drawing again. Summer has had many fun times, including new kittens, new jobs and lots of traveling. The highlights of course were trips to KC for family and Minnesota for the 10KLF festival, but I'm ready for the school year.



Except there is no school to go to! Luckily my new job is at MIAD, so I haven't fallen out of the art community yet. I'm finding it will probably keep up the ambition of making art at the very least. Some projects that I am working on are Art-O-Mat and MAILmeArt so wish me luck.

Enjoy the rest of summer!

So my mind has been SATURATED with art. Between my job, finishing up a gallery show and Christmas present ideas, I am art-ed out.



This is a sample of a show at the Art Bar- me and around 50 other artists are displaying. Of course this happened back at the beginning of November---some promoter I am. But I did get a chance to photograph all of them so I will post them on Flickr when I get a chance. I completed about 20 of them. There are still some up at the Art Bar, so if you have a chance, go look around. I am selling them for $40 a piece (but if you want to trade me, I'll do that too!) Unfortunately, I think this one sold. It was my favorite, but oh well. I need sweet monies for Christmas!



Either way, have a good holiday everyone, and I will see you (at the Artvs.Craft Fair tomorrow??) all soon!

I opened up my Etsy Shop! I will be putting original pieces of art work from thesis and senior year. After that, about every month I will update with new pieces. I work pretty small scale so they are nice and affordable. Go take a look and tell me what you all think!

This weekend was a very satisfying weekend. Mark and I stopped at the White Whale Collective and were very impressed! It is a group of MIAD grads that are investing in a gallery space and putting on shows. Mark and I both bought artwork! Next time they show if anyone lives in the MKE area, check it out!

I have finally finished moving into the apartment. Now I just need to organize and rearrange. I am really struggling with whether or not I paint. It was just painted a boring white, so it's got fresh paint. But who can stand white?

April 1st is tomorrow----and I don't have to pay rent!

Other than that I am working on my own art work, everyone else around me seems to be waking up from their post-graduation slumber and making artwork. And the Thesis Show is coming up! Art is in the air. Maybe love too, but it isn't very spring-like outside, so we'll stick with art.

So I've been hearing the buzz around this Orphan Acts bill for a while. I never really thought that it would come to light. It sounded too ridiculous. But alas, it seems like it is seriously going to pass. Oh great.

So for those of you who may not know what it is, here's the Anne Summary:

Essentially if I make a piece of artwork and don't go through and legally register every piece I do, it is pretty much up for grabs.

OR if I do register a piece and copyright it, all that good stuff, if whoever wants to use my piece can't seem to get into contact with me, well, they get to use my piece anyway.

" H.R. 5889, The Orphan Works Act of 2008, was introduced on April 24, 2008 by House Judiciary Committee Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Berman of California, full Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith of Texas, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee Ranking Member Howard Coble of North Carolina. It limits the remedies in a civil action brought for infringement of copyright in an orphan work. It amends Chapter 5 of title 17, United States Code, (Copyright law) by adding "§ 514. Limitation on remedies in cases involving orphan works."

Section 514 is the new limitation on remedies which the Orphan Works Act will impose on any copyrighted work wherever the infringer can successfully claim an orphan works defense, whether legitimate or adjudicated by courts to be conclusive.

• The Orphan Works Act defines an "orphan work" as any copyrighted work whose author any infringer says he is unable to locate with what the infringer himself decides has been a "reasonably diligent search." In a radical departure from existing copyright law and business practice, the U.S. Copyright Office has proposed that Congress grant such infringers freedom to ignore the rights of the author and use the work for any purpose, including commercial usage. In the case of visual art, the word "author" means "artist."

• This proposal goes far beyond current concepts of fair use. As acknowledged by the Register of Copyrights it is not designed to deal with the special situations of non profit museums, libraries and archives. It is written so broadly that it will expose new works to infringement, even where the author is alive, in business, and licensing the work.

• The bill would substantially limit the copyright holder's ability to recover financially or protect the work, even if the work was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office prior to infringement.

• The bill has a disproportionate impact on visual artists because it is common for an artist's work to be published without credit lines or because credit lines can be removed by others for feckless or unscrupulous reasons. This is especially true of art published in the Internet Age."

For those of you who still like to read up on stuff like this, here are a couple of blogs that I think hit the nail on the head:

• Act on Orphan Works Bill NOW!!!!!


• Logo Factor Design Blog


• Photo Business News & Forum

Of course, you'll notice all of them are opposing the bill. Sorry about that. As an artist I'm a bit biased.

Then lastly, please send a letter to your appropriate representatives. Even if you aren't an artist!!!! You know someone who is creative and this will help them. Bad at writing letters like I am? Never fear:

• Plagiarism Today - Draft Letter
• Legislative Action Center - Illustrators Partnership of America

THANKS ALL!

So this is going to be the look and feel of my new portfolio site. Eventually I will be getting some sweet flash animation up in there, but until then there ya go. I believe it has all of the essentials.

The parents are coming up next weekend! I'm going to try to paint my apartment in nice hues of orange and purple before they get here. Does anyone know of some cool goings on in Milwaukee?

Speaking of Milwaukee, here is a pretty nifty site by MIAD alum: MKEArt.com. There is a lot of potential here and it looks like they are off to a great start. It makes me wonder why hasn't anyone thought of it before?

Coming soon to a post near you: Felted illustrative portraits. Dig it.

Illustration Friday: Wide.

Again, on a Tuesday! hee hee.

So there has been a lot of talk about public art in Milwaukee. Especially with the "Bronze Fonz" and all of the of the outrage that has come with it. While I am not necessarily a fan of the Bronze Fonz, I also don't necessarily consider it art. Ultimately it doesn't bother me, I know I'm probably going to take my picture in front of it sooner or later, and I most certainly wouldn't close down my shop because of it.

There are other "atrocities" that are being planned for this city that are making some people question Milwaukee's tastes.

"What do we do about all of the bad art that is being installed in Milwaukee?"

So here is probably where Milwaukee artists will shoot me, possibly with good reason. I don't really care what in the world art you want to install. There, I said it. Every city has bad public art. I'm not sure that I've seen anything that I would consider that great. When people talk about the Bronze Fonz, I don't get upset about the eyesore that it will create.

HERE is what I am upset about:

Milwaukee's PRIORITIES. We are raising thousands of dollars to put up art work that we are all just going to argue about. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Yet, the Milwaukee Public School system has gotten rid of its art and music programs due to funding. Now then, raise money for whatever in the world you want. It is your money. But don't you see something incredibly wrong with this picture?!?! In my incredibly humble opinion, I think both Milwaukee artists and Milwaukee(as a city that raises money for bad public art) should be ashamed of itself and these pointless arguments they are having. Get your priorities straight!

Yikes. So I've been a little bit heavy on the "issues" in my posts as of late, so here is a totally light-hearted observation:

I watched Hannah Montana to see what the fuss was about.

I LIKED IT.