Grilled Cheese, Anyone?

Thats right, the chef is back in town. Janine bought the essentials and I'm back in my element. I planned on making them today, but Charles surprised me by making RIBS and I turned into a straight up CARNIVORE. Charles placed the slab in front of me and I started tearing it apart with my hands and dunking the meat into a bowl of BBQ sauce. By the end, I had sauce all over my face, hands, and shirt. So, tomorrow I will keep it CLEAN and HUMAN by making grilled cheeses for the kids.

Rhiannon & Peter.

Rhiannon wanted me to draw a picture of her with the infamous spieling Peter Pan from Disneyland for her birthday. I used crayons, paint, pen, and pencil on this.ALSO, I just watched the preview for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and I teared up/got chills. I AM GOING TO BE SO MIZ COME JULY 15th!

Self Defense.

Remember Rex Kwon Do from Napoleon Dynamite? That pretty accurately sums up my experience this evening in front of my house.Denise Sewesky informed me that she took a self defense class and decided to teach me about it/show me some moves. I was Kip. Denise basically beat the hell out of me, but luckily, no one was out/around so I just felt like an idiot in my own mind in the middle of the street. She showed me how to break elbows, wrists, and noses. It's all about SPEED and AGILITY. Each of her little moves, she barely applied pressure, BUT IT HURT. I should've said GEEZ under my breath in a lisp the way Kip does, but instead, my expressions did all of the talking. I'm feeling good should someone try to attack me. The final thing I learned is that if you are being raped in an alley, don't scream RAPE; instead, scream FIRE so "everyone comes out to look at the pretty fire." Thanks for the tips, D. Here are Denise and Proma bots.

Birthday Wind-Down.

I am so tired right now. My birthday was fantastic. Here is how I looked:I woke up early, received a package in the mail from Rhiannon, went to the mall to get some shirts, met up for slurpees with an ex-friend, went for pizza with the Cappello brothers, received a cake and nice gifts from Alex, went to Back Door for MORE pizza, went to the Melting Pot for dessert, got a nice purple V-Neck from American Apparel, spent the evening with Sister Shelby at Leo's, Jeremy and Alicia stopped by and Alicia got me an awesome little Katy Perry set of nail polishes, and now I am home! Here is a picture of Charles presenting me with RIBS from the grill smothered in BBQ sauce as he has two bones in his mouth serving as TUSKS:Here is a picture of the multi-tiered cake Alex made for me. It is FUNFETTI and has some lyrics from Lady Gaga's hit, Born This Way, on top that say: "Rejoice and love yourself today, because baby you were born this way!" I was SO EXCITED!I also received nice cards from Rhiannon, Alex, Alicia, Shelby, and my parents. I was so excited. I really do love cards. I was also policing my facebook all day and I wanted to thank everyone that wrote on my wall/liked my status AND major thanks to those of you that took the time to leave me a blog comment! Thanks for making me feel special throughout the day! Art to come tomorrow!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I'm astonished by how quickly my birthday arrives. Come 1:34 am, I will be 24; almost a quarter of a century old. I've been lucky & fortunate this year. 2011 started out bad, but it has become better (gradually). I've had several birthday celebrations leading up to this day & I feel so honored to have the people in my life that I do. I want to give special thanks to (in no particular order): Alex (835), Rhiannon, Sophia & Farah, Raechel & Carlos, Jeremiah Walton, Dave Roldan, Matt Benyo, Nate, Betsy, Amy, Kim, & my family. Each of you has done something for me (up to this point; the thanks will extend today) that a 'thanks' seems insufficient. Thank you for making me feel special pre-birthday. Today, I have a lot lined up & I'm excited for all of it. I'm definitely going to enjoy some pizza & all I can ask for is that I continue to live, make art, & be happy. I'd also enjoy some nice blog comments to come back to! It's becoming a tradition to revamp my illustrator self-portrait each year. OH! ALSO, THIS IS MY 500TH BLOG POST! Here's to 500+ & that you'll continue to follow my exploits in life & art. CHEERS! (CLICK TO ENLARGE; the colors are better!)

Nostalgia.

Shelby came over and we made this video. I expect only Shelby and Jordan to watch it and that's fine (it's long). This is our video to watch when we're both missing each other down the road. I basically just laugh and yell a lot. Big surprise there.

BE PROUD.

I figured I should probably post something I've made too. This is in my sketchbook. I made it from some nice black paper. I tend to look at it when I'm feeling insecure.MY BIRTHDAY IS ON MONDAY and I am scared at the moment because my leg feels like it's going to get a Charlie Horse and I HATE Charlie Horses because they hurt very badly and I cry a lot when I get them. Hopefully it doesn't happen.

Phone Photos.

I feel EMPOWERED because I figured out how to send my phone photos to my email/computer. You're probably thinking 'what an idiot', but I only just found out about the marvel that is the 'search box' on my blog (thanks to Matt Benyo) in December; so this is a BIG DEAL. Here's 9 photos (from left to right):
1. Cody Buege after Grease.
2. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.
3. Me getting down on Jamba Juice in NYC.
4. Me being a hipster at Ram's with glasses that aren't mine.
5. Matt Benyo and I going to see Lady Gaga.
6. Post-Football in NYC Pt. 1.
7. Deborra-Lee Furness article.
8. Post-Football in NYC Pt. 2.
9. Rhiannon and I at The Bean.My awesome friend, Alyssa, sent me this photo of my shoes on display at my old stomping grounds, CCS. This is the reason I wanted to try to figure out how to send photos from my phone to my email. NOW I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING!

Dallas & Dracula.

I made this card for my friend's birthday. Dallas Green is on the front and I added Dracula from Forgetting Sarah Marshall on the inside singing Dracula's Lament.

Kenny Chesney.

Not a fan, but made this card for Amy's birthday. I used just about everything on this: charcoal, crayons, pencil, pens, and even paint. I also made it on wood which was pretty challenging. Well, he IS a country singer so he should look rugged.Guess what? MY BIRTHDAY IS IN 6 DAYS! AHHH!! SO EXCITED! :D

Post-Party Pt. 1!

I had a FANTASTIC weekend; I met Jason Segel and celebrated my birthday with great friends (and good times). Here is a photo of me after I got home:I was in the other room and then my friends, Amy and Kim, set up THIS awesome layout so when I came out I was totally surprised! It was like a kid's birthday!Betsy was last to show up, but then the fun began. I was treated inappropriately (and against my will) in a few photos by Matt Benyo and Nate. Some of these are Amy's:

Here is a vlog with special thanks, a preview of the cards I received (that were all HAND MADE & INCREDIBLE), a run down of the party, and birthday requests:

JASON SEGEL!

I JUST MET JASON SEGEL! I'M SO HAPPY! BEST BIRTHDAY MONTH EVER!!

John Bender.

Everyone's favorite criminal wanted to wish you a happy Friday! He's gonna load up, party, and he hates to destroy literature because it's so fun to read. Part one of my birthday celebrations begins TONIGHT. Hope everyone has a rad weekend!

Une Bonne Journée!

The title is supposed to say "A Good Day" and it WAS. My friend Alicia asked me if I would accompany her to visit a french woman she was meeting in Ann Arbor. Alicia was meeting with this woman to ask her about french food and culture for a report for one of her classes. WHY NOT? We arrived and met Cecilia. Cecilia is originally from France and makes pastries out of her licensed commercial at-home kitchen in Ann Arbor; most noted for her macarons (not to be confused with macaroons). While in her kitchen, Cecilia had us try something.

They were small, rice krispie-esque things. They also could be confused for the rocks in the bottom of aquariums. She had two pink ones, a white one, and a dark purple one. The pink ones were rose and lilac, the white jasmine, and the purple, violet. Turns out, they were crystallized flowers; LITERAL FLOWERS! She put one of them in a glass of water and IT EXPANDED INTO A FLOWER! She scattered a few on the counter and I was eating them like it was no one's business. The violet was my FAVORITE. I can't even explain what it tasted like, but it was so good. The other ones tasted like the smell of whatever flower they were. I bet my stomach looks like The Secret Garden right now. It's probably blossoming as I type this.

We talked about life and Cecilia explained her outlook and I was captivated. I was captivated by how strong, empowering, and how modest she was. She's exceptional at what she does, she's kind, and she cares about her clients and her product. She was so hospitable too. She showed us the art in her house (which she has an eclectic mix of) and showed me some art she's done herself (and she's not bad either). She asked Alicia and I if we would like to stay for tea; though I'd never had tea, we graciously accepted and Cecilia led us to her tea room.

As you may recall, I've been hoping for a tea party since THIS post. My dream became a reality today. The tea room was this lovely, quaint room that had flowers and giant windows; you can see it in the photos. We sat down and she brought out a tea pot with nice illustrations on it, saucers that had indents for your fun cups, and TINY spoons. Incredible! I was so excited! I kept lifting my pinkie in a dignified sort of way. Then, we dug into our macarons.

Today was a big day for me because I tried new things. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am PICKY. I was nervous about one of the macarons because it was white and covered with green tea powder. When Cecilia had us smell the green tea in the kitchen, I thought it smelled like seaweed or aquariums; it definitely smelled aquatic. The other two, violet (a beautiful, pastel purple) and milk chocolate with orange (a sort of orange creamsicle color), I would be fine with. I tried the green tea one first. The taste and texture of macarons is hard to describe. If you've never had one, try one. These pastries are huge in France. It's almost like a cookie, but not quite. The green tea one wasn't bad, but it was different. I then tried the orange and chocolate and it was incredible. The flavor was so BOLD and I saved the violet for last because I knew if i liked the flower treats, I would love the macaron (and I did). They're very light, but with lots of texture and flavors and they are delicious.

We spoke to Cecilia for sometime about French culture, food, dining, schooling, and etiquette. She said in France, it's about the flavor more so than the presentation and I feel that's where we, as Americans, are flawed. We focus more on the appearance than the quality and flavor. I have to applaud Cecilia's french flair and background that she brings here and imbibes into her pastries. I was on cloud 9. I'm counting this tea party as an unknown early birthday gift (since my birthday is in 11 DAYS)! We stayed for awhile, but after tea and sampling, we said goodbye.

I'm happy because I like meeting new people, experiencing new things, and learning. If anyone is interested in doing a class or wants to make a trip out to get some pastries, let me know. Here's some photos in the tea room:

Motivation.

I'm taking a break for today. My sleep is fixed. Meh. I wanted to share this awesome illustrated link about what motivates us. Maybe you've already seen it. I hadn't. I know it's 10 minutes, but it's a guy drawing on a board so it's fun to watch. Enjoy!

"GREAT SCOTT!"

This week's pick on The Hallway Show is Christopher Lloyd! I had to go with Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown in Back to the Future. I spent 7 hours on this cut out and got crazy with the textures, but I haven't done a good cut out in a while so I thought this would be the perfect time to do so. I like the progress I'm making with my work lately. I hope it continues! What do you think? Click to enlarge!

The Weekend Update.

I wanted to thank everyone for supporting me on my Lady Gaga post Friday. The comments were overwhelming. I appreciate all of the positive reinforcements! :)

How was everyone's weekend?! Mine was swell. I had a date with Russell Brand (I wish). I saw ARTHUR. Matt Benyo asked me if the reason I loved it was because of RB, but no; it was a cute movie (doubly so if you love RB). I wanna see it again.I went to a rendition of Grease: The Musical at Matt Benyo's old high school with Nate and Megan. The dancing was my fave. I wanted to get on stage and do the hand jive. The Pink Ladies and Cody Buege (he played Kenickie) were the best. Afterwards, we went to this bar called the Crow's Foot or Crow's Nest. It was great because 1) They had AMAZING pizza and 2) THEY HAD KARAOKE! When Sweet Caroline came on, EVERYONE IN THE BAR SANG IT (and they did the BAH, BAH, BAH's AND the SO-GOODs)! I was smiling so big! Then we went to a party. I got home around 2:30 am and slept til 8:30 pm Sunday. When I woke up, I helped cook tacos. I shredded the lettuce. Splendid weekend!

MY BIRTHDAY IS OFFICIALLY TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. I WANT CARDS.

Lady Gaga.

I entered a contest (thanks to Matt Benyo for informing me). V Magazine wanted art submissions and the winning piece would run alongside Lady Gaga's column (she's their new columnist). Well, I didn't win, but I felt like I made some real illustrative progress with this piece. THAT'S OKAY, V MAGAZINE, I AM A WINNER IN MY OWN EYES AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. You should leave a comment. The only person who comments anymore is my dad and he does so anonymously...I got this on this LG tumblr! People are liking & reblogging it! HOW EXCITING! :)

If Not Now; When?

Quotes.

When I read books, I write down what I like. Here's a bunch of random quotes that I've read or seen. I didn't do anything fancy with these because I have so many. Maybe you'll find a quote that inspires you. Click to enlarge!

The Santa Clause!

Tim Allen was the pick over on The Hallway Show. I thought about doing Buzz Lightyear, but I loved the 1st Santa Clause. It was great. Here's my ode to Tim:I got to see 3 of my favorite people today: Alex, Matt Benyo, and Nate! I haven't seen Matt and Nate in 2 months! I filmed this embarrassing video. Watch this one first so you can understand mine. Don't mind my Doc Brown hair. I'm a mess in general in that video. Matt Benyo and I FINALLY watched Disarm together! We had some squeeze-its (those fun drinks) before we left too. FUN!

Definition of Success.

I came across this video on Ted.com about success. John Wooden explains the difference between winning and success and one of the things he learned from his dad was "you should never try to be better than someone else". Check it out.

Love & Brand.

I use my sketchbook as a place to draw, but I also plaster it with quotes and phrases. I believe it's important to surround yourself with positive, inspirational, and motivational phrases and yes, those are my 3 favorite brothers (JONAS).I used an old letter from a friend as the letters. It's artistic recycling at its finest!I've been on a Russell Brand binge like no other. I watched every interview, but THIS ONE is the best because he says CHELSEA in it 6 TIMES (1:25, 2:03, 3:07, 3:50, 6:04, & 7:23). That is for your reference and for MY future reference when I want to hear him say it and pretend like he's talking to me. It also reminds me of talking to Taris. I miss Taris. I digress, here are some cute shots of Russell (from another interview). Did you know he likes cats? ME TOO. #meanttobe.

Signed By Dallas.

Jeremy shot a photo of the painting I did that Dallas Green signed. It's pretty cool knowing he liked it. Too bad he didn't buy it or something. Click to enlarge!

I'm An April Fool.

I was excited about the arrival of April (it's my birth month), but that enthusiasm has waned. My friends are super busy. It's not their fault; I understand they work and school is important; I just wish that my birthday didn't coincide with end of the year finals. I want this birthday to be great, but I don't want to get my hopes up either.

I saw this quote and wanted to put it in my sketchbook. I searched for an hour in various magazines and newspapers and cut them out. I think it's a great quote.