Post college life | What career?

Hello Everybody!

Welcome to the newly updated Myia The Bee!

 *oooooooh aaaah*

Photo: weheartit 

I've recently been in a not so fun place with work and "career" and things of that matter because the company that I work for has recently declared bankruptcy and they've closed 42 of our stores. There's a possibility of the company being bought out and that is good and bad because I'd keep my job (possibly) and most stores would stay open but, it's also bad because we have no idea if we actually would stay open or what we would do under new owners.

Honestly, we kind of all know that retail chains and stores are a bit of a dying breed but there are still tons of people that would rather shop in store than online for a number of reasons. 

But, until we know 100% for sure, it's kind of a nerve wracking idea.

Update | Life Started in May

Hi Everybody!

I'm not gonna lie, I started this blog post back in late July/ early August and I've been so dang busy but I keep remembering to add things to this and I just keep putting it off. How terrible of me, right? Anyway, this is what I've been up to this year since I've been MIA for over a year:

April:

I had my Senior Exhibition for my BFA show, and it went so fantastically I could cry. So many people came to support us and I sold a few pieces! My art teachers from high school and junior high school all came to support Allison and I (since we went to the same schools) and it was so amazing to see them. We talked about possible careers and what the job market in the art field looks like. A lot of smiles came from me that day.
Thank you again to everyone for coming!

My Summer Project

Hey Everybody!

About a month ago I began a project that I've never done before in this big of a scale. Family friends of mine, and fellow Hodagers asked me to paint a mural for them for their new bar they're putting in their house.

I was so happy that they even thought of me to do this for them! 

They wanted a tropical beach, palm trees and all, with a couple of chairs and drinks. The rest was pretty much up to my interpretation. 

Here's how I got it done:

Portfolio Update| Junior Year

Hey Everybody!

I figured since the semester has finally come to an end, I would post a cohesive gallery of everything that I had created this spring. 

So, without further a do, here's my work!

From my 3D Bronze&Glass Casting class:

 Our first assignment was to make glass "candies" from a candy box that we bought. This was to show us how the different types and colors of glass flit would show up in our castings. This was manly just an exercise so, they're not too razzle-dazzle.

For our 1st actual project, I had made 4 pinecones out of bronze. The prompt was to have an object relate to a place or a person or a memory. I used the pinecone to represent my relationship with Ryan as the pinecone came from our yard when we first moved in. There are 4 of them to represent how many years we have been together. I wanted to create a box that was similar to a house, and then have the pinecones inside. But, honestly the entire project was just thrown together because I couldn't come up with a solid idea on how to present it all. The pinecones didn't shine up like I wanted them to so they blend in with other pinecones (which is neat) but, not what I wanted. I think I definitely need a revival of this project.


The second project was some sort of contradiction or intersection as how things are not what they seem. I chose to use my face, glass, and bullets as a contradiction as to how calm my face looks compared to how chaotic the bullets look trying to get to the face. As another exercise to see how bronze castings were made I made my face out of bronze. I polished it up and flattened out any unnecessary nicks and bumps and used it for this project. I ladled molten glass into a makeshift box around my bronze face, so it would be sunk into the glass. I had also borrowed some bullet casings from my dad (thanks dad!) and while the glass was still molten I placed a couple of them in the surface. A few of them were so hot that they incinerated as soon as we put them in. I think it turned out really cool. I didn't get a whole lot of time to finish this piece as it took two weeks to anneal. So next semester I think I'll either purchase (or borrow from whomever would like to lend them to me) bullets or make some from glass or bronze and add them to it somehow.
We'll see.

Our 3rd project was about object transformation. I had planned on making a bunch, and I mean a bunch of bullets from pastel colored glass like pinks and whites to make them seem pretty, nice, and delicate.(This was my inspiration) So, they're something dangerous and a part of a controversial topic made to seem like something nice and pretty. I got a bit of a start on this project but we definitely ran out of time to finish. So, I will continue with this next semester.

Painting:

I've shown this painting here before, shortly after I had finished it (because I love it so dang much!) Definitely one of my favorites I had done this semester. It is oils on canvas And is 2'x3' in size.

 I think this one is my favorite from this semester. I was debating wether I should have the drips on there but I liked it without and I didn't want to ruin it if I ended up hating it. This one is also oils on canvas and stands at 3'x3.5'. I just love how 'pretty' it is and how feminine it is. #pastels4life

 

 This one was a bit of a let down. I was excited to get some painting done and found a black and white image online and wanted to do some sort of rendering in color. And well, the sketch was better than the painting and I just kept going back and forth with it as I pretty much hated what came out of it. In the end I think I'm going to paint over it or just forget about it all together. It's kind of a 'standard' canvas size and I felt really restricted so, I might stick to ignoring it. I also did a self portrait with this size and in this same style. It looks more like an underpainting so I would rather say it's unfinished...*le sigh

With this one, I didn't want to paint on another store bought canvas so I found some wood boards we had laying around and used them as a surface to paint on. I was looking through Instagram and oogling at all of the pretty script that people make and I wanted to do some myself. I decided to write some lyrics as the background in cursive, which is as close to fancy script as I'm going to get (for now). The lyrics are to 'The Rain Song' by Led Zeppelin and 'Nights in White Satin' by the Moody Blues Band. I felt like these songs went well with the mood I was trying to portray. Romantic, lovely, intrigue, enticing, etc. I was influenced by this photo I had found on pinterest, and this painting I saw on Fixer Upper. This one was kind of a tester project to see how I could pull off doing something different. Result: I like.


We also had to do one 'en plein air' painting. We went to Iverson Park to get some nature in us. I, myself, don't really like landscapes, but our professor loves them and so I think she was excited to just get us outside and enjoy it. And, I did enjoy that we were outside and I was doing something a bit out of my comfort zone, but I wasn't too happy with the painting once I was done and decided not to show it. I know I'll be painting over that one next semester.


And that, is everything that I had made this semester.
Happy it's over, but it went well and that is all that matters to me.
Hopefully the next year goes smoothly too.
6 years is long enough to spend on a bachelors degree.
#supersenior am I right?

BRING ON SENIOR YEAR!!!!

Hope you all have a great rest of your week!
I know I will because Saturday is MY BIRTHDAAAAAAY!!!
(yay!)

xoxo

Favorites | February

Hello Everybody!

All I can say is thank God it's March. I cannot wait for the day that I can walk outside without the need of some sort of jacket. Ugh. Can't wait.
Okay.

Spring is definitely my second fave time of the year. It's the time for rebirth and love is in the air.
And the sun also likes to come out of hiding, which is my favorite thing.
I can't get enough.

February has come and gone, so heres a peek into what I've been loving throughout the month:

1.  Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen in Black - This liner is fantastic for super precise lines and an easy cat eye. I've never used a liner that had a felt tip that was so precise and thin so it took me a bit to get used to but let me tell you, if you want a liner that stays in place and gives you a razor sharp line, get this one.
2. Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Jumbo Jet - (Clearly I've had a fun time at the Clinique counter this month) I tried this mascara once at work just because I had forgotten to put any on before work and OMG it really "fattened" up my lashes! If you've ever tried the Benefit They're  Real! mascara, it's similar in the way the applicator works, however, this formula is much more of a liquid so if you're not careful it will smudge. Honestly, I love this mascara and I'm hooked.
3. Blick Masterstroke Interlocking Bristle Brushes - I received these brushes as a Christmas gift from Ryan and I couldn't wait to use them. Look at how beautiful they are! I want to get them in every shape. I love the long, light, handle and the sturdiness of the bristles. They're fantastic for oil painting and I will only use these when I paint.
4. Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick #14 - I had recently been looking for a nude shade of lipstick as I'm getting kind of sick of a dark lip, especially since spring is right around the corner. I found this color (I believe at Target, I know it is sold at most drugstores) and instantly fell in love. It's my go-to lip color, and I wear it everyday.
5. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - I loved Rainbow Rowell's other book Eleanor&Park and picked up this one right after I finished it. I will say that if you're heavily into the internet world you'll most likely enjoy this read. It is about an 18 year old girl named Cath who is very much an introvert and writes fan fiction for a series she enjoys. It goes in depth to discuss social anxiety and gives you a peek into the world of someone who suffers from it. If you know anyone who is or may be suffering from any form of anxiety, I would definitely give it a read.
6. Etsy - I had recently gotten a new laptop and needed a case for it, and I found a fantastic shop that sells Apple product cases at a very reasonable price and they shipped super fast! I was impressed. The shop is called TopCaseUSA. I had also purchased my new gold nose ring from a shop called RosieDesigns, they specialize in small hooped jewelry. And I had also purchased a pair of pom pom slippers (honestly, you'd think that they'd be pretty easy to find but I guess after the holidays literally every shop is completely sold out, total bummer) from NenaKnit, and they're super adorable. If you haven't visited the wonderful world of Easy yet, I strongly urge you to get on over there.

Hope March treats you all well!

I know the weather here is looking super nice for the days ahead (50 degrees and up!)

Have a great rest of your week!

xoxo

All Hands on Deck.

Hello Everybody!

Hope your February has been good to you all. 

I'm actually pretty happy for it to be almost over, not that it was bad or anything, just not wanting to be in another Winter month. Bring on Spring!

Spring means all the friggen' snow melts and my birthday will be coming up...yay!

So far this semester has been nothin' but smooth sailing. Honestly.

I only have 3 actual classes and they're all over before 2 o'clock everyday. 

Jelly man?

Thought so. 

Although I'm a little bummed that I don't have an actual printmaking class this semester (don't think it would've been the same without Bob anyway) I am interning for the two temporary instructors, who drive from Oshkosh everyday which seems like a total pain in the butt. So thats where us interns come in. 

Here's what I've been making so far this semester:

Close up detail of the Right hand.

Getting there

This is a bronze casting of my face!

Obviously it's a little dirty yet from the mold and what not but its so neat!

Super heavy too. 

I can't wait to show you all what it looks like when its all polished and clean.

I still have to figure out what to do with it, but when I do, I will definitely be posting more pictures. 

I'm still only a couple of weeks into the semester but there is still lots of opportunity to make a lot of great things! 

I hope.

Hope the rest of your February treats you well!

 And remember:

I also need to remember this one from time to time.

xoxo

Fancy Shmancy Artsy Party 2016

(Is what it should really be called.)

Hello Everybody!

This past weekend Ryan and I went to an event put on by my university called Arts Bash. 

In a nut shell its a party where students and people of the community come to show art, buy art, eat a bunch of food, drink some stuff, watch some great entertainment and walk around in pretty clothes.

I should've taken more pictures of everything there...*note to self for 2017*
One of the things I should've taken photos of was the food. YUM. I think my favorite was the tiny grilled cheeses from Father Fats Public House. If I remember correctly it was some sort of cheese and truffle mix. They were de-lish-us!
My second favorite would definitely be the local favorite from Politos, the mac and cheese pizza. Can't go wrong with that one.
I also ran into my 5th grade teacher, *shout out to Ms. Huntington* glad to see her again!

There was plenty to sample overall especially beer. Most of it was courtesy of Point brewery,  and O'so brewery, and they never disappoint with their selections.

I had a print of mine for sale in the gallery. 

We stopped at the gallery first to take a look at everything before it was sold and I couldn't find mine. It was sold already! I was super excited. Although, it didn't come as a complete surprise as it was one of my favorites.

(Imagine it with a simple black frame)

My cousin, Allison, and I. Dang we look cute.

Everyone who had pieces in the show put in really great stuff and half of the proceeds go to our school's art department. 

(And we definitely need it)

A view of the entertainment from the NFAC balcony.

My outfit the night of. I paired this lovely black dress with a pair of cute maroon flats and a maroon beaded clutch. 

I had a great time, enjoyed great food and met a bunch of great people. 

Great.

I definitely recommend buying a ticket for next year!

P.S. Thank you to the wonderful woman who loved my piece enough to buy it! 

Hope you all are enjoying your week and have a lovely weekend!

xoxo

I'm told debt is worth it.

Hello Everybody!

Haven't been keeping up with my blog (like I said I would *hangs head in shame*). 

But, I've been super duper busy with school and other life things have been giving me grief, as always, and haven't thought about it to be honest. 

Anyway, here's a little bit of what has been going on in my life. 

Halloween didn't have much going on for me as I had thought it would have. I didn't have to work which was a bonus, so my friend, Mel, and I went to lunch, in costume (I was Jessica Day from New Girl and she went as lazy batman), spent too much on candy, and then she helped me hand out candy to the kids. I got about 45 trick-or-treaters this year, which was pretty good considering it was rainy, and pretty much every other town had their trick-or-treating on the same night. Afterwards we watched Hocus Pocus, classic, and had a pretty relaxing night!

Mel in her batman onesie.

In early November, one of my close friends, Van, came home for a visit and we had a great day in Point looking at antiques as Tyler and I found horrible cheap gifts for each other. I totally won. 

Amazing mural in downtown Stevens Point. This saying really resonated with me. 

Van, myself, and Leah. I'm holding the dumb gifts Tyler got me. I got him potato shaped salt and pepper shakers. Sorry Leah, you have to use them too. (photo credit goes to Tyler, kind of :)

It was a nice weekend to forget about school and work for a while. (Sorry I was a crabby butt, and thanks for the succulent, Van c:)

For those of you who see me after a long while and ask the age old question of, "how's school going?" Well, my answer for you as of today is, pretty good.

Am I stressed out because of the work load? (which is a normal load by the way) Absolutely.  Do I enjoy my classes? Four of the five, I am thoroughly enjoying. The fifth one is pretty much mandatory for graduating so...yeah.

Next semester I will only be taking 12 credits, and only 9 of those I will actually be in a structured class, as the other 3 I will be a printmaking intern, which is pretty exciting!

Heres a peek at my artwork that I've been working on so far this semester!

I promise to keep y'all updated about how everything turns out after this semester is done. I know there's about 3-4 more weeks (omg!) of class left. 

So, still plenty of time to make more! 

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, and rest of your Autumn!

xoxo

My Non-Haitus Break

Hello, Everybody!

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't been posting lately like I said I would have and let me take this moment to sincerely apologize, but as of now school is definitely most important! 

I got away from my blog for a couple of months to really focus on school and work and to really freshen up everything else in my life. 

So far, school is going very well. I haven't stressed about a lot of things yet, even though mid-terms are going on now. I did get some not so fantastic news from my advisor last week though. He says I am not eligible to graduate until May of 2017, which is a huge bummer for me. That means that I'll have been in college for 6 years, working on a 4 year degree. On a bright side, I guess that gives me more time to actually focus on my art career and develop who I am as an artist. I'll also have more time for work, which makes my bank account happy. 

My first painting of the semester.

My printmaking class, which is very small (only 5 of us!) have been working with Tom Uttech, an artist from Saukville, which is near Milwaukee, on one of his prints. We're printing one of his prints in different ways and are trying to get exactly what he is looking for. He recently came up to work with us on the prints, and wants us to come and see his studio (which is so cool of him!). He enjoyed working with us all and was very impressed with our skill, he wants to hire us to do more prints for him. Can I get a heck yeah? We each get an edition of the print after we are finished (which can usually run from $400-$600!). 

In late September, I gathered up a few friends of family, and family members and threw my parents a Surprise 25th Anniversary party. The greatest part of it was having my brother, sister-in-law, and niece come to town to see everyone. I didn't expect many people to show up as I took the lame way out and just did a Facebook invitation and contacted everyone else through other family members. I also did it a bit short notice as I was still unsure if I was going to throw it. Ryan was down for fixing up the house to make it party ready, and it was a success, they were definitely surprised. 

I had my brother go pick them up, which they figured was their surprise, and once they got to my house they were totally surprised by everyone being there. The food was fantastic, thank you sooooooo much to everyone who brought anything and thank you all again for sharing their special day with them!

(sorry for the bad quality, photos wouldn't edit)

Preparing for a party was an extreme stress fest. Sorry to everyone who had to deal with me for the few days leading up to it, totally unsure if I could do it again. *groans*

Stress levels went completely back to normal after that week. Just focusing on school and work, and making Ryan happy. The weather is definitely changing here, I think today's high was something like 56? We put up our cornstalks (thanks again Jake&Chrissy!) along with our pumpkins to give our house the ol' razzle dazzle for the trick or treaters. Gotta make my scarecrow and carve our pumpkins now. 

As I type this, I'm listening to Tommy James & The Shondells, drinking some cranberry lemonade and baking some pumpkin spice cookies, while I'm burning my newest candle from Bath&Body Works called 'Thankful' and its absolutely amazing. So amazing, I just bought two more online! And you know what else, they're buy one get one FREE! What a friggen STEAL! So, get your butts to Bath&Body Works to stock up on all of your favorite Christmas scents because they're in! 

Okay, enough exclamations. 

This coming weekend is Halloween and I'm super excited for my costume this year. Last years was cool too and I actually got to wear it somewhere. This year I was hoping to wear it to work but since I have off, the Trick or Treaters will be the only ones to see it. 

I'll post a pic or two here for your viewing pleasure. 

So, stay tuned!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

xoxo