(Life) Blogging anew

I am now going to be blogging from my tumblr account. I have found that it is easier to build a good following there, & interacting with other bloggers is easier on tumblr- at least for me. 

Just so everyone knows! I'm not disappearing, just in the process of moving. 

(Life) Still Out There

I am still out here, I have just been very very busy.
I will soon, but not quite yet post some really good news- I want to wait for things to fall into place more. Right now I'm so happy & thankful.
Will be posting again soon!

(Life) Full time commitment

I wanted to share this with you all because sometimes it's nice to know what bloggers actually do besides blog. 

I work on my art & my blog part time, & work at a "real job" full time. 

My art & my blog are fun for me & my passion, & having a steady, reliable job is my other passion. I enjoy work, I honestly do. It gives me a sense of pride in myself. 

My art & my blog provide me with an outlet to be creative. 

Being a creative person doesn't mean you only have to want to have a job with art or fashion, in fact your creativity can give you a skill set that will greatly benefit you at any job. I love working, & then being able to come home & work on my art. Knowing I have a bunch of things I know how to do gives me confidence. 

I'm also writing this because, if you have just graduated college like me, you've probably realized that the world of "going to school" & the world of "I graduated & now I work" are completely different and change, even though it's in this case very good- can be extremely overwhelming! 

I'm grateful to have an excellent support system, and these are the things they have told me: 

-be proud of what you've accomplished

-it's okay to be nervous

-don't get too ahead of yourself

-count your blessings you already have

-life works out 

-don't stop your passions (like me, I keep working on my art! :D) 

-you do not need a job that matches your degree. (This is very true, all kinds of jobs can make you happy, and they make me happy) 

-don't give up. 

About that last tip, don't give up looking for a job. Sometimes it takes a while, but you can do it, anyone can do it. 

Hopefully I've shown at least someone that bloggers do normal things besides what they put on their blog, & maybe helped another recent college grad feel more confident :) 

Good luck to everyone, & may we all find happiness! 

(Art Days) Artists in Buffalo

I created a profile for my artwork on the Artists in Buffalo website! 

I discovered the website this morning at about 8am, and decided to call one of the women who is in charge of the site. She was so kind, & answered all my questions. Her name is Anne Bliss.

Only after calling her did I realize how early it was! What a good person to help me that early in the day- for real. 

I just wanted to post this up, maybe some other artists in the area may read this & go join the Artists in Buffalo site. 

It is free to join! Here is the link:

http://www.artistsinbuffalo.org/

You can upload your artist statement and 10 artworks & you can edit these at anytime.

I uploaded a few, here is one of my favorites I added:

I drew this about a year ago, I adore it. I need to draw more like this. 

Good luck fellow artists! May we all find happiness!!

(Art Days) New New New

I just added my artist statement to my blog! Its under the tab "Artist Statement" up at the top.
 And, on a side note- I am really purging my closet. I mean p-u-r-g-i-n-g. I am just keeping the things I feel best represent me. I do not need 20 dresses. Yes, I had 20 dresses! My goodness child.

(Life) The new Buffalo waterfront, Miss Josie's Antiques & the Army Navy Outlet

One of my favorite stores in all of Buffalo is Miss Josie's Antiques on Delaware in Kenmore. This store is the most amazing vintage store I have ever seen! They have clothing from the 1800's all the way up to more current vintage. 

I always love trying on everything when I go there & taking pictures of myself in all the clothes that I wish were mine! 

A very fluffy lovely feather shrug- I felt so luxurious. 

A beautifully detailed vintage bed jacket, that I ended up purchasing. I think it will look very unique with jeans and very pretty over a dress. 

Another one of my favorite things in Buffalo is the new waterfront development that has been going on! It's so thrilling, I love my city so much and I'm glad it's going through a revival. 

These pictures are from the waterfront from Ghallager Beach down to Times Beach Nature Preserve. 

I collect feathers, so needless to say I was thrilled to find all these. 

They have pieces from an old building set up to form a sculpture/seating area- pretty neat. 

A view of Downtown through a field by the Lake. 

The moving sculptures are so cool! 

A closer view. 

My Ma & I! She is honestly one of my best friends ever. When we hang out, she's so much fun I forget sometimes that she is older than me & my Ma. She feels like my friend whom I can always trust. I mean, we have our days just as all parents & children do when we don't get along as well- but 99% of the time we do get along. I'm very blessed to have her in my life.

Lastly, on one of my adventures I went to the Army/Navy surplus outlet right off of Seneca Street. I am forever and always coming back to shop here. They have really snappy basics and really durable bags/backpacks. Honestly how could you expect anything less from our countries finest? 

I purchased a wool sweater & an old army shirt with some patches still on it. I know the sweater does not fit into my no new clothes challenge (which is going excellent by the way) but it does support the men & women who keep us free. 

Here are a few pictures from the outlet, they are kind of silly: 

All kinds of uniforms/clothing from many different countries. 

They had these funny little hats there! And these pretty intense helmets: 

I highly recommend visiting here. 

And, if you haven't been to Buffalo, it's a great city with a small town feel. That sounds contradictory but it's true. We have tons of Mom & Pop shops here and the country or Lake is only a short drive away. Buffalove! 

(Life) Getting myself back out there & dealing with nerves

Since my dear friend & grandmother figure Patricia Lukaszewski took a turn for the worst with her brain cancer & passed away, I have been giving myself time to grieve & I've been thinking about all the ways she inspires me.

She got her degree in Anthropology in her 60's and was a docent at the Burchfield Penny Art Gallery for 20 years- giving tours to visitors and teaching them about the artworks there.

I loved talking about art with her, and going to lectures with her at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester with her.

She always inspired me to do what I wanted, since she was 60 when she went back to school it showed me how fearless a person could be, & just exactly what a person can be capable of. 

She has left her mark big time on my life, I would not be who I am today without her. 

This week, I am being brave and going to an opening at a gallery by my home. 

I am excited to meet some fellow artists, and this show features artist's work from my hometown.

It's always wonderful to have artists to talk to. 

Networking is honestly nerve racking, but really anything worth something in life takes effort and I've found more often than not, things that make you nervous or excited-nervous have the greatest payoff. 

I love learning new things, and one of the best ways to learn is by actually doing things & exposing yourself to new experiences. 

One day, I hope to have a career that makes me really happy, as happy as Pat was when she was a docent. I know good things take time, and I've been having to remind myself of this the past few weeks. I just graduated in December, and have done very well for the short time I have had my degree.

I need to keep telling myself this more too! 

I just needed to write this post, by putting this down here, I have just lifted at least 100 pounds off my shoulders! Maybe this will even help another new graduate out there too, knowing they are not alone in how they feel. 

Everyone gets nervous about life. 

(Art Days) New Drawings

I've been drawing like crazy lately! Here are my newest works:

(Art Days) My Latest Drawing

(Life) No New Clothes Update & About Blogging

Recently, I was watching the Today Show & they said blogging is an excellent way to build up your reputation! Well well, I am doing another thing right with this blog of mine. 

They said it's the best way for people to get to know you aside from talking to you because they are regarded as truthful glimpses into a person's life. Often times second hand information is very un-reliable so reading something one typed out on their own is considered very reliable. 

Yay for blogging!

My no new clothes challenge is going swimmingly, I've only bought a new pair of shoes, two cami's & a basic tee-shirt. I wear out my tee shirts so quickly since I generally always have one on underneath a cardigan or my work shirt. Also, I have only bought them on sale or from a thrift store. I love thrift stores because it helps the local community, & you get cute clothes for great prices. & who in their right minds do not love a good sale?

I am going to be getting rid of some of my especially worn in shoes- le shock!

I normally will wear shoes until they have holes, but I figure it's time to grow up & let them go. 

That hobo-chic thing was cute when I was a care-free kid- but now I just look like a hobo.

I was thinking of sharing a piece of my current wardrobe & writing a little bit about it once in a while on my blog here- just to honor my no new clothes challenge & hopefully help me get inspired to wear the pieces & put them together with other items in new ways. 

This seems kind of odd for my blog, which basically is mostly about my art, but honestly how you dress yourself each day reflects who you are- just as your artwork does. 

About my art, here is a picture of one of my drawings in progress. It's coming along slowly but I'm really liking it.

So far the materials I've used are pencil & acrylic paint. I free handed this without reference because sometimes I just want to create something really unique, not just copy something over. 

Also, I've been trying my hand at another one of the Albright Knox's photography contests- inspired by Andy Goldsworthy. Here's a few of my entries so far, you can see the rest on my Instagram: @Wistful_Victorian::

That's about all for the moment, but as usual that changes so fast because I'm always keeping busy & having new ideas pop up in my head. 

(Life) Tuesday Tunes Day

I have been obsessed with listening to Adele lately. 

I've also been obsessed with ways to keep myself calm & not stressed out. My friend has brain cancer & I've been very distraught. So far taking walks & hot showers works very well, as does keeping up with my art & playing my guitar. It's a day-to-day struggle but I just keep in mind that no matter what happens she will be my friend forever & that bad things in life often are followed by great things. It doesn't seem like that now however- but I'm just trying each day to stay strong. 

(Life) Working on my art & wanting more

I work on my art everyday, & so far- since December I have: been published in Artvoice, been in a local galleries show, sold 6 paintings, had my work shown & sold at Record Theatre for Record Store Day & my work is published in a children's book. My photograph was chosen by the Albright Knox to feature in their pictures of nature series on their website & I have been given a solo show for January. I am extremely thankful for all of these things! I am also very proud of myself, because I've kept going along and making my work & constantly trying new things. 

Currently I am trying out the new Albright Knox photography challenge, I'm not too sure I understand it- but I am trying my hardest! & I am going to enter some of my work in the Erie County Fair. Besides these things I am always looking for new art exhibits calling for work & for other contests to enter.

I am so blessed but I still want more! Not in an ungrateful way by any means, but I just want to be successful and happy. I know I can do it, & I know success takes time- I have been successful so far for the short amount of time it has been since I have graduated my undergrad school- but I want to keep working at it until I achieve even more great things. I love art so much, I have loved it my entire life.

It's natural to want more of what makes you happy- and I just want to make more art & enter more shows & do more commissions! I am having so much fun & I am so happy & thankful. 

(Life) Photos of Chautauqua

(Art Days) I'm Published

The children's book I illustrated for, "Benjamin & the Bully" is all bound & going to be handed out to school age kids in the area as part of Danielle Flanigan's grad school thesis project! I'm so grateful & happy! I put together this wee collage of pictures of the finished book:

She did a great job of putting it together, I cannot wait to show my friends the book in person. 

(Life) Tuesday Tunes Day

The Goo Goo Dolls new album "Magnetic". Enough said. 

They are my favorite band ever- picture is from the Buffalo News. Just go listen to this album. 

(Artist Style) What I Wore, no new clothes

My outfits from this past week. My no new clothes challenge is still going great!

I really love my over the knee socks from Sock Dreams, it's been rainy & damp this past week & they've been coming in handy. 

Yesterday my Ma & I went to Chautauqua- it was so much fun! I took tons of pictures, that I will put up in another post. 

I wore the last outfit shown above to Chautauqua. I always try to look nice, unless I'm sick. Then I try to look at least presentable. I'm mentioning this because we stopped at a small gallery & while quietly talking to one of the workers were very rudely interrupted by a loud young woman dressed in a long bright striped tube dress thing, wearing clunky engineer boots & a purple cropped jacket- eew. I mean it's one thing to run up to the woman we were speaking to, and grab her into a hug while yelling "OMG hello!!!!"  And thus end our conversation rudely- but it's another thing to dress in such a way to try your hardest to seem artistic this making yourself look like a tacky spastic fool. 

This young woman was so loud & rude & badly dressed. She was loudly proclaiming her latest artistic adventures while stomping around in her large boots. My Ma & I were so offended at how she interrupted us, & at how she thought she was so much better than everyone. We were also mad at the worker because suddenly she ignored everyone besides this young woman. 

We just left without buying anything. I'm not saying it would have been any better had the young woman been better dressed, but the forced "artistic" outfit she had on made her seem even more annoying. 

This is one thing I hate about for lack of a better term " artistic " people. Not all people who have artistic talent dress this way- but for some reason it's a group of people that does have more badly dressed persons than other groups. 

Just because someone can draw or paint or what have you isn't an excuse to completely opt out & dress like a complete fool- or for that matter act like one. 

Talent is a gift & I believe you have to present yourself in the best way that you can to honor the fact that you've been given that gift. Not wrap yourself in the craziest attire you can find to shove it in people's faces that you are in fact creative. 

I appreciate individual style, but there is being yourself- then there is having a complete disregard for trying to look nice & professional. It's almost as if one is saying " I'm talented & better than you so I don't have to try to look nice or listen to societies ideas about what looks nice because I'm above all of you & your pedestrian views don't apply to me- because I'm better! " 

This way of thinking gets one nowhere, there are appropriate ways to act & dress for each situation. Not because society is trying to keep you "down" but because fitting in sometimes & showing people you don't need to be different 24/7 are the things that make society & human relationships strong. Being a good person & working on your talents will make you stand out- not the way you can make the craziest outfit nor how loud you can be. Also, dressing nicely helps others relate to you! People can see that yes- you do in fact have a lot of talent but yet you dress like they do. Maybe you have a certain flair with how you dress but you're not so different as to be off-putting. 

These are my views on dressing, I get other people might think I'm a bit snotty- but would you give your business to someone dressed as a circus clown & acting like one, or to someone well dressed & well behaved? 

My rant is done, for now at least! 

Besides that crazed woman- our day was so lovely. 

(Art Days) My photo!

My photo from Instagram ( @Wistful__Victorian) is featured on the Albright Knox's website! 

It's of a leaf laying on concrete, go check it out I'm so proud! 

Here's the link: 

http://www.albrightknox.org/news-and-features

/features/article:06-08-2013-your-nature-photos-week-2/

(Art Days) Instagram

From top left:

Working on my summer to do list

My latest finished painting

No new clothes challenge 

My drawing in it's beginning stages

Baby geese!

A close up photo of a flower

My new pin from Melissa Buckley

My drawings

No new clothes challenge

Other's pictures I like:

A building with ivy & a tower

Stripes

Drawing of two girls

I love this moon!

Her hair!!

Moss

George Harrison

That. Vintage. Dress. 

A very true quote. 

(Art Days) Photographs of Flowers

These were taken at a local plant nursery- Rudolph Galley & Sons