Laughing With Aspergers

Art Update

Hello, I have returned after an absence. Again. Except this time I've actually been productive. I've made 16 new paintings since the last post, and I am continuing to improve. Also, I have made my first capitalistic exchange. David's dad bought my owl from the last post. I'd definitely consider it the crowning achievement of my life so far. I do want to sell more, but at the same time I don't because I consider them to be my sons. :|

Here's a few of my new ones. I'd appreciate it if you told me which ones are your favorite, and if you'd consider these good enough to sell for a few hundred dollars. (I won't be offended if you say they're not)

From top to bottom, Bearded Vulture, Plum-headed Parakeets, Brown Pelican, Marabou Stork, Great Hornbill, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Roseate Spoonbill, Blue Cranes, Carolina Wren

~Christie

Art Rampage

This past week I've been on an art roll. I've made 6 paintings and they're all pretty dang good. I started painting this barn owl shortly after I finished the ornate hawk-eagle from the last post. It's hands down the best piece of art I've ever created and I'm super proud of it. Unfortunately, this means I've been slacking with my math. I can either do one thing at 100% or two things at 20%. This is also why I didn't make any posts during this time. I was too busy concentrating on art. It was worth it though.

              

 

 

A Work In Progress 3 (sort of)

I painted this Ornate Hawk-eagle recently.  I had planned on taking pictures as I worked on it but I completely forgot. He's supposed to be looking left, but I think I failed to convey that. Also, the cere should be closer to the eye, and the eye itself should be larger. Otherwise, I'm fairly satisfied with it. I haven't painted anything in years, so I'm kind of surprised it came out as nice as it did.

       

    sketch                                                                                   revised sketch                  

 

Also "cere" is not recognized by my spellcheck. This spellcheck is garbage.

 

 

Santa Comic #4

New stop motion app: PartyParty

 

"There is no school today."

"Oh..."

This was my first attempt with stop motion using the PartyParty App. I like it because you can change the filter and speed of the video. I made this after about 10 seconds of instruction. So, that is pretty easy.

Tip: You can select 4, 9, 16 or infinity photos for you movie. I always pick infinity. Not because I am using so many photos, but that way I can use any number of pictures I want like 8 or 12 (instead of having to get the exact amount of 4 or 9). 

My mom wanted me to compare different stop motion apps. But I figure if the first one I try is the best, then I don;t really have to waste my time comparing. 

Legos: Wiping the Smile Off Their Little Faces

Basically, this is really important information for only a small part of the population: People who have so many Lego figures they want to customize them.

So I have a lot of some of the same Lego figures because you can get a Spiderman figure in every Spiderman set. I thought it would be cool to just have a red plain face/head and I wondered if I could get the decal face off the Lego without wrecking the Lego itself. 

I could. 

You need Brasso, which is for polishing brass. We had to buy some at the gorcery store because we do not have any brass that we normally polish, apparently. You are supposed to wear gloves but I just powered through it without any and was fine. If your hands start to burn, then stop. (That is probably good advice in general.)

At first, I tried just wiping the Brasso on with a q-tip. But this took forever. Then I used an old washcloth that was kinda scratchy and the face came right off in about 30 seconds. 

See? 

This only 1 hour of screen time a day punishment...I mean experiment...we are doing this summer will drive you to putting skin irritating chemicals onto Legos to see what will happen. 

Book Review: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

 

I liked the book because a lot of the stuff in it I can relate to. And it wasn't too long.

This book is all about getting started on your ideas instead of just thinking about things. And I tend to think about things a lot. And then I don't actually do anything with all the things I thought about. And I kinda want to wait until I am good enough at drawing to get started on all my ideas. But this book helps me to see that I need to just get started on my goals and, in the process, I will get good enough. 

Since I read this, I bought a journal to write down my ideas wherever I am. (So I have to actually remember to take the journal with me everywhere. I'm working on that part.) 

I am going to keep a chart to make sure I draw every day. 

I wrote down my goals. 

And I made a list of things that inspire me. 

Mom asked if I want to go to any museums or anything. I said Comic Con. 

Here are the topics Steal Like an Artist covers. I think the be nice part is obvious, but clearly not everyone knows this rule. 

So, I recommend this book. And I am keeping it in my personal library and not with all the family books. If you know me, you know that means it is worthy.

 

Springtime

I'm pretty pumped for Spring. I can't wait to take pictures of all the critters with my dad's new camera. (That's me in the pic photographing butterflies last year.)

Yesterday, Katie and I took a walk in the woods behind our house and I saw a tiny centipede. It was pretty much the first critter I've seen in like 3 months. I also saw a great horned owl, and today a flock of Sandhill cranes flew over my house.

One thing I can't stand about spring is all the pollen that gets everywhere, including in my sensitive eyes. You know, pollen is like plant sperm, and it's in my eyes. That's pretty gross.

Early fall is actually my favorite season. Why early fall? Because starting mid-fall, daddy longlegs are swarming everywhere and I find them extremely repulsive.

I don't like winter because it's way too cold and it gets dark really early. And there's no critters outside.

I don't like summer either because it's WAY too hot and humid and disgusting.

So basically, there are like four weeks out of the year that I am comfortable with being ouside. 

 

Work in Progress 2

 So here's a step-by-step thing on how I sculpt stuff.

At least so far, since this is my fourth sculpture ever.

First, I figure out what I want to make. I chose a cheetah because I like cheetahs.

I used a picture from one of my books for reference.

Then I take out a lump of Sculpey clay and kind of make it into a smooth vertical lump. 

Then I put blobs of clay on for the backlegs and shoulders.

 Add more body parts.

 Face details. I took off the front leg and tail because it was getting in the way.

I use a stick to make fur. Also it has front legs and a tail now.

 Bake it.

 

Wait for it to cool off. 

 Paint it. 

 Paint some more.

There. The good thing about all of this is that it doesn't hurt my hand at all. Hurray.

Another Work in Progress post

New-Found Sculpting Abilities

King Penguin, Hector's Dolphin, and Red-breasted Goose

I got some clay for Christmas. I made these things. I think they're pretty good considering I've never sculpted anything before. 

     

I'm especially proud of this guy.