100th Post: Ah, Winter!

Winter, the time when everyone becomes Eskimo ninjas, hiding faces in thick scarves and furry hoods. This can make someone look somewhat suspicious, especially when it is windy and we all squint at each other to keep the snowflakes out of our eyes.

And let's not forget the bubble-wrap coats that make us look like colorful marshmallows rolling across the snowy landscape.


Well at least it keeps us warm right? Here, today it is a balmy 15 degrees Farenheit, but almost every night it has been dropping into the negatives, causing ice to form on the inside of our windows. On Sunday I can attest that walking in 2 degree weather is not a comfortable temperature in a dress, no matter how long the hem falls. It makes me wish I had a car, and then I remember the thick sheets of ice that never seem to be taken care of, and I'm okay walking as long as it keeps me safe.

 By the way, this is my 100th post! Yay! I started this blog on October 13, 2008 ( I should have been updating more) so it has been going for about five years.

Christmas Wishlist 2013

 So, I wasn't going to put up a Christmas list, because it always makes me feel a little guilty to ask for things. I still love surprises! However, I also know how difficult is to find things for people, and so here are a few things I've thought of:

• Warm, cute hat(s)
• Scarves
• A new journal
• A photo album to put pictures in
• And/or a picture of the family
• Sketchbook
• Fun stickers

 It's cold out (I will write a separate post about that later), so anything warm is appreciated.

From last year, a list of things I am always happy to receive:

• Books (my favorite authors are Diana Wynne Jones, Roald Dahl, and Brian Jacques, Andrew Clements is good, and I also like Brandon Sanderson and I'd like to read more by Terry Pratchett) some specific ones I'd like to own are:
• Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
• Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
• Cute earrings (like animals, food, holidays, etc.) 
• I actually got turkey earrings last year, and they are adorable. haha =)
• Fluffy Socks
• Video games
• Movies (I like family movies; the companies Disney, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli especially)
• Art supplies

 A very merry Christmas to you all! I hope everyone is staying warm and happy this wonderful season!

The Croods

I give this movie a 4.3/5 stars.

I watched this movie yesterday with my roommate. Basically, a family of cavemen lose their home and end up traveling further than they ever have to escape the turmoil of earthquakes and lava from "The End" which is actually Pangaea separating into continents.

It is well-done, with clean humor and the animation is great. I think the animators had a great time, especially with the animals, as there is a gator-dog, an elephant-mouse, a turtle-bird, and many more. Perhaps the movie isn't historically accurate, but it is still fun and enjoyable.

The characters are excellent (include an overprotective but sweet father, a rebellious and curious teenager, and a clever newcomer who invents things like fire and shoes), obviously cavemen but with a modern twist. It is a great family movie and actually almost made me cry.

Main Art From Fall 2013

I just thought I should share some of the drawings I've done for my college art class this semester. All final pieces are included!

I have learned much about drawing and I feel like I have been improving. I now see the point of perspective, which I would always avoid in the past.

First Drawing! Cake shaded in pencil/graphite

Proportion assignment (where you use your thumb to measure) - Graphite

Clock construction drawing with perspective- Graphite

Construction drawing (shows basic hidden parts) of my waffle iron - Pencil

Shaded, labeled cylinder - Graphite

Interior in 1 point perspective - Pencil

Interior in 2 point perspective - Pencil

Exterior in 1 point perspective - Ink over pencil

Exterior in 2 point perspective (that's Rachel sitting there!) - Ink over pencil

Shapes using principles of design - Charcoal (one of my first times using it!)

Organic picture (actually a fake plant in the library) - Ink

Non-organic picture (my backpack) - Ink

Object Arrangement - Charcoal

Fruit Composition - Graphite

Final Composition (Draw from Life) - Graphite

These are my main pictures, and do not include my thumbnails or exercises (basic shapes like ellipses) .

Pre-Break Homework and Other Things

Looking back on my previous entries, I find that I use a lot of smiley faces - just something interesting to note.

I have been enjoying my classes, many of them English classes - since I am a declared English Major; for example, I have a creative writing class, a class devoted to reading Robert Frost's poetry (I have a huge book and a new appreciation for what he wrote), and a Literary Interpretation class wherein we discuss different ways to analyze a text (books, poems, plays ,etc.). I also have an online art class that I scan in my drawings for, and a religion class about marriage and family life called Family Foundations. It has been an interesting experience, and I have been learning much from these classes. If you want a poem by Frost or need an idea for an essay about a book, just give me a call! =) (there's that smiley face again)

A few people, mostly roommates, have expressed amazement - and also the fact that I am weird - for reading so many books for fun while I am at school. How do I have the time for it? I just do - I reply with shrugged shoulders - and I make time for it. For me reading a good book is refreshing and energizing (reading a badly written book is just annoying and frustrating, but I'm not talking about that right now), and being more of the type of person who stays at home rather than going out and being social, it becomes my main form of entertainment. But don't worry about me, I try very hard to get all my homework done for the day before sitting down and reading a book, so it's not like I'm ignoring my school work.

Thanksgiving Break is coming up, and I Am Excited. I'll be home for almost the entire week with fun family and free food. Just one more week! I plan to get ahead with my homework so that I don't have to worry about it over the break.