My Logo!

So I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a logo design.  I think I'm finally happy with this one.

Back up your files.

Last Friday my hard drive died.  It's completely gone and I lost all of my files and some programs I had obtained...  I never thought it was necessary, but trust me, it really sucks when you loose every thing.  There are hundreds of pictures I'll never get back, and thing I never knew I needed until I didn't have them anymore.  Back up your files, it's a lesson I learned the hard way, but one I won't soon forget.  My boyfriend is so awsome and let me borrow his laptop for a few days, but I can't wait to have mine back.  

I enjoy painting elephant butts.

Protect, Mixed Media.

This is an image I created in the Fall Semester of 2007 at Mass Art.  It's probably my favorite thing I did all semester.  I like it so much because I was able to accomplish and sense of depth, which is a challenge for me.  When you get right down to it,  you have to admit, those are the most beautiful butts you have ever seen.  Oh, and by the way, I really love elephants.  And, yes, yes this is not actually something I created for the World Wildlife Fund... but you get where I'm going with this...

Shoals Marine Lab- Artwork

Nightshade, Watercolor on board

Emperor Penguins, Colored Pencil

Gull Egg, Watercolor on board

Oh, by the way, Gull Egg (my favorite of the three pieces) was published in Shoals Marine Lab's, September 2007 Edition of The  Appledore Times.  Quite thrilling to see your work like that in print!  Purple Nightshade is indigenous to Appledore Island, I actually found this on my first day there and took it right to class to draw!  The gull egg I believe was that of a Herring Gull, it was remarkably intact!  I do hope to do more some day with this colored pencil technique, but for now watercolor is my one true love.  

Shoals Marine Lab- Cornell University

In  August 2007 I took a class at Shoals Marine Lab with Cornell University on Appledore Island.  It was completely different from anything I've ever done before.  I went with a friend of mine, Laura Warecki.  We lived in cabins that were just the bare bones of a shelter.  There was running water and electricity, but there was a great need for conservation of both.  The island is a Gull Protected Breeding Ground.  (Please note: there is no such thing as a "sea gull", ornithologists will get quiet huffy about this!)  (Above: Appledore Island, photo by Laura Warecki. Copyright 2007.)

The gulls were a mixed colony of Great Black Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls, both of which are quiet common on beaches all along the East Coast.  However, these were the largest and most vicious gulls I've yet to encounter.  It's also interesting to note that gulls don't seem to sleep, the are awake and calling to each other all night.  Also, August is just about the time when the baby Gulls have grown enough to wander away from the nest and try to learn to fly.  This was very funny to watch and extremely cute to see the "flying babies" but Mom was never too far away for long, and didn't take it lightly if you got too close!

 But more about life on the island!  All of the electricity comes from a large windmill, and it was very windy there.  We stayed for a week and were asked to only shower twice during that time.  I did earn an extra shower though, when a gull chemically assaulted me on the fly by... most unpleasant.  Also, all showers were "navy" style, meaning; turn the water on, get wet, turn it off, soap up, rinse, get out.  Although it was august it was fairly cool temperatures since we were in the middle of the ocean.  Honestly thought, living this way for a week really taught me what I needed and what I didn't.  It opened my eyes to ways I could save water and electricity and I will remember that lesson for the rest of my life.  

The class that I was on the island to take was taught by team of two very talented biological and medical Illustrators named Bill and Claire.  Also assisting them was their graphic designer friend Jim.  Bill, Claire and Jim work in the medical and educational market, mainly on text books.  They demonstrated many media, and innovative techniques within the media.  I never knew that colored pencil could be so striking!  Oh and if you can, you should go! 

http://sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_bi.html