Art Every Day Month

It took me a while, but I feel better that I was able to post something representing each day of Art Every Day Month V. Moving during it made if terribly difficult to create art, and then temporarily misplacing the battery charger for my camera did not help either. By no means was I able to put my whole heart and soul into AEDM this year, but it has sparked my interest in art and helped rekindle the "artistic me" lost over the years. I was originally an art major back in the day. Art is back in my life and for that I am grateful. I am ready to dive back fully into the pool.

my week wrapped in brown cardboard boxes

my week
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

As of later today, I will be without internet connection for a spell. We are shutting off service in our soon-to-be-former apartment and our new service is not scheduled to be installed until December 8th. *sigh* I will be checking in periodically at my folks' house since I will be within driving distance for the first time in about five years. This hiatus of services will also make it difficult to post my Art Every Day Month stuff. I will have to do some catch up in December but I covered my ass through Sunday by posting four photos in the group today. See? Forward thinking!

Uprooting and moving again is bringing up stress and self examination, as it always does. I am riding the wave of it and seeing what transpires. That is really all I can do. Introspection gets deeper at these times, as does "future thought". What will the next chapter of life include? What goals will I reach? What will change? What will stay stagnant? Do not get me wrong, I actually enjoy the pensive and even the sometimes somber thinking. It reminds me that I am real, and being real is what it's all about. I am sure there will be some deeper posts forthcoming.

Since I dismantled our desk last night, I have been sitting here on the floor, amongst the boxes, with my feet falling asleep. It time to face the day, finish up the loose ends and finalize the packing. See you in a few days!

Cheers,
Meliss

packing, art, packing, raw food planning, packing and...uh...packing

packing packing packing
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

And taking some time to walk and take some pictures for Art Every Day Month. This picture is not one of them....these are boxes...no really...they are. Greg and I have been checking "to do's" off the list and slowly packing. We have got the rental truck reserved for Saturday and have a couple of friends and family helping on both ends of the move. Whew! Though the more the merrier. (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more)

As for my daily art, pictures have been the easiest way since most everything is in chaos. Well not total chaos, just unique disarray. I have also been doodling with my Sharpies (oh my, that sounds a little perverted out of context) and letting myself "play" with ink and paper. It has been quite fun. I will have to scan some of them to share soon.

Other than that, we have been trying to get some exercise in to our days and I am putting together a thirty-day primarily raw foods menu for the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just read through Ani Phyo's book, Ani's Raw Food Kitchen, which has some amazing recipes I am looking forward to making. We will see how we feel after thirty days and will adjust what percentage of raw foods work for us in the long term. That should also be long enough to detox our bodies, get past that initial ucky-detoxy feeling and see how good we feel. I will keep you updated as things transpire.

That is all for now, folks. Here are the pictures I chose for AEDM (lots more photos on flickr):

Cheers!

dusk through the window blinds

dusk through the window blinds
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

I have taken pictures through this window many times over the past year. I have no idea why I am drawn to this particular window as a photo frame, I just am. This is another submission for Art Every Day Month.

art every day month

curtain call
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

With things in flux, it has been a little difficult creating art every day. Today, I played around with the camera and posted three photos. Though they were quickly taken and altered with Picture it!, I actually like the way they came out. I think I will go draw now.

Cheers!

the art of leaving

gentle exit
Originally uploaded by misslissa13 Art Every Day Month Entry

We are back in Rhode Island for our final week as Rhodies. I say that slightly in jest, since I do not know if I feel at all like a Rhody. Perhaps it is because I have not lived here more than a year, perhaps it is just my stubborn resistance. Whatever it is, I have to say, I feel more Coloradan than Rhody, and more New Yorker than that.

All of the moving I have done, all the places I have lived and all the states I have resided have helped me learn more about myself. My time in Colorado had a profound affect on me. I moved there, not knowing a soul and only having been to the state once, and that was for my interview at Naropa. It was scary and exciting, hard and growth provoking. I loved every difficult moment of the experience, for it forced me out of my comfort zone and into deep self exploration. Much of the time I was also in the throes of a relationship that triggered a lot of self-doubt. On the other end, I would not have changed a thing.

As for leaving RI, I am slightly saddened about leaving; feeling like this experience is not quite done. It is also sparking twinges of missing Colorado. Moving back to New York is also stirring up many layers of emotion. Frustration, excitement, nostalgia, hope, joy of being closer to loved ones, stress of moving, thrill of new beginnings...it goes on. Most layers are positive and I am curious as to what these next few years will bring. Greg studying acupuncture, me studying nutrition, starting my therapy practice, being grounded in a single place for a few years, getting to see the people I love on a regular basis and having new opportunities are just some of the things I am looking forward to.

Change, as always, is happening, outside and within.

art every day month

Art Every Day November 4_2007
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

Here is my November 4th submission. It is also my last day being on call for my job since tomorrow is my last day working there. No calls all week until today, and sheesh, I have had a few. Nothing like going out with style. Well, I managed to do some doodling in between phone calls and box packing. At least I am multitasking and being productive....and I have the doodling to keep me sane.

art for november 2nd and 3rd

So this, my second and third entry for the Art Every Day Month, come from a laugh we were having yesterday evening. My coworkers, boss, Greg and I went out for a "going away shindig" after work yesterday. We enjoyed our time at the new location of a restaurant and bar called Cuban Revolution in Providence. Decorated with radical decor and art, we laughed at the idea that Chris, our boss, would probably love to have a stencil-like art piece of himself in the office depicting the same style as the one by our table. So, of course my mind ran with it. I came home last night and printed out a photo I have of boss-man. I then converted it into an pen and ink drawing in a stencil-like style. That was as far as I got last night.

Today, I took my chances at playing around with Photoshop, a program I have zero experience with. Under the tutelage of Greg, I was able to create an extremely similar-to-the-piece-at-the-restaurant version of my boss.
Thank goodness my coworkers and boss have good senses of humor, and they appreciate mine. This Art Every Day Month project is a lot of fun. Until tomorrow....cheers, Melissa

and a little sadness creeps in and is painted

i see fishes
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

A slight sadness has crept into my stomach this morning. This is the second to last day at my job in Providence. I am going to miss the kids I have worked with this past year, most of whom are really great kids with really tough lives. They were born into chaos and this chaos seems to perpetuate even more chaos. Many of them will be in my thoughts for years to come. I will wonder and hope that their lives have turned around and that they have come out stronger or at least relatively unscathed. I know many of them will not; I am realistic. But I am also hopeful. None of them are a lost cause.

What can I say about my coworkers....they are an amazing group of gifted, caring individuals. Strong women and insightful men, all possessing amazing and unique personalities and the ability to laugh and stay balanced (most of the time).

Change happens and I love it! No stagnation, always growing and moving forward, enjoying each step of the way. Luckily, I have decided to participate in Art Every Day Month (AEDM) to keep me grounded in this major transition time. I found this idea from Leah on her blog. She has been quite an inspiration to me. Check out her blog, her art is lovely, as well as her journey through life. Here are the basic guidelines I loosely copied from her blog:

November 2007: Fifth Annual Art Every Day Month
Guidelines:
Rules are simple: Make art every day for the month of November, post it on your blog if you can, and have fun with it! Art is loosely defined here, just be creative in any way your heart desires (painting, collage, doodle, drawing, clay, poem, video, music, knitting, whatever!) Even if you just make art every week or once this month, the goal is simply to bring more creativity into your life. November 2007 is the 5th year of AEDM. Feel free to join in the fun! Be an Everyday Creative, Be Creative Every Day!

You can "sign up" by leaving a comment on her AEDM post. I did in order to hold myself accountable and not flake out on this. Art is therapeutic for me and this is a good way to continue getting back in touch with that side of myself. Please let me know if you are coming along for the ride. I will be keeping you all updated as to what I am working on. For yesterday's work I want to share this:

Is it art? I do not know. The other day I was gathering my snacks and lunch to bring to work. While getting a bag to tote these yummy delights, I walked back and noticed the lovely array of colors I was planning on consuming that day. I was struck by the variety. Unfortunately, the photos came out a bit blurry, which I did not realize since I was in a hurry to get to work. Alas, after work, the palette had already been consumed so I could not recreate it. I am glad, though, because this was unplanned, spontaneous art that just occurred in my daily grind. Life is amazing, we just need to take those moments to see it's awe.

I look forward to sharing this AED Month-long journey with you. I have curiosity of what will transpire throughout the move and my increased access to my art supplies, many of which are stored at my parents' house in New York. I also look forward to seeing what others are creating for this month (and beyond).

Cheers,

Melissa