(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: