I recently had to get a job. While it isn't terrible to have to go to work, it leaves me less time than ever to concentrate on my 3, very demanding, studio classes and equally demanding (and annoying) Spanish class, and even less time to dedicate to my hobbies and a photography business I'm attempting to launch.
Up until the beginning of April I had been concentrating all of my efforts and free time on finishing 3 pieces to enter into the Young Contemporaries/Salon de Refuses competition. This is a nationally recognized, professionally curated student gallery, not to mention cash prizes. One of the pieces I was working on required me to design and carve 2 linoleum blocks, 8x10 inches in size. I'm currently enrolled in a printmaking class concentrating on intaglio, or zinc plate etching, so this was an extra project I chose to take on. Long story short, my lino cuts of a brain and heart, with a peach rice paper ching koh lay (I have no idea if that's an accurate spelling since google doesn't know either) ended up being chosen 3rd best in show for the Salon de Refuses. And I won $400. Score. So that worked out better than I could have hoped for. I really worked my butt off. I estimate 50+ hours went into the creation of that piece. The TA in my class was always around to offer critique and suggestions and I have her to thank for the ching koh lay. She took time out of her day to show me something we wouldn't be learning in class and I'm pretty sure that's why my piece was chosen.
Anyway, I've also gotten behind on my photography class. Simple fact, I have no time during the day and really no one to photograph. This assignment is a portrait assignment which requires natural light. I'm either in class or at work, or alone for the majority of the day and it's been difficult to locate willing subjects. I'll get it done though. I always do.
In the little spare time I do have I spend it recovering from being on my feet for 16+ hours a day and cramming in a workout so I can at least keep up with my health and fitness goals. I dream about Saturdays, which seem to be the only day Gerard and I have entirely to ourselves, with each other. We get a few hours here and there throughout the week but it's been difficult adjusting to not seeing each other as often. The weekends are really hard, except for Saturday. It won't be this way forever...this is just temporary.
Goals for this summer, or beginning at the end of this month when school finally breaks for a few months.
- take digital pictures
- hand out business cards (yes, I ordered and received them! horray!)
- update shop with prints and photos
- promote the hell out of a.m. photography
- hang out with my incredibly handsome boyfriend and enjoy life as much as possible
Here are some crappy iPhone photos of my print that earned me enough for a summer Redux membership, a nice evening out with my man and perhaps a new pair of flip flops (with some left over for saving)
From when I was carving the image under a heat lamp with a lino carving tool...this takes a while
Stoked that my print is hanging outside the Halsey Gallery right now!
Hard work pays off. WoooHooo!
