Speaking of employment…...

Speaking of employment……

Currently, I am helping out at Brendan McGillicuddy's studio helping him fabricate a large sculpture piece for the Alberta Biennial. We have just a few days left to get this massive undertaking complete. It's fun, I get to do some hands on stuff and utilize my many wood working and sculpture skills. The gruelling deadline and long days really remind me how much value my training has been and how much I love hands on studio work above all else. I am having a great time and can't wait to see the completed work assembled and ready to ship to the show that opens to the public this Friday.

 Here is the team as we carve away the individual pieces for the sculpture.

I began teaching my Alberta College of Art and Design Drawing 1 course this week-end. I have a really good feeling about this group, they were open and friendly right out of the gate. Often, on the first day off class makes student feel a bit awkward and uncertain but the confidence level was high an the drawing skills were already above my expectations. I usually look forward to waking up early Saturdays to spend my time int he classroom, this also keeps me responsible and out of trouble Friday night.

These offcuts create beautiful lines and remind me of why I like drawing so much.

I have also volunteered myself as the room monitor the free Extended Studies figure drawing drop ins that happen after my Drawing 1 class in my classroom. It is not instructed, this should give me a chance to do some figure studies during the session. ACAD has also offered me yet another course opportunity this summer, and this time I get to teach painting, finally, my dreams are coming to fruition, I have been wanting to teach painting for some time, it should prove to be a nice and messy class which makes it extremely appealing and very fulfilling.

The organization of this clamp rack really excites my inner virgo nature.

I added the LinkedIn app to my cell and finally updated some of the employment information there. I guess it is about time, I do not intend to let this get out of hand like face crack however.

Brain drain, you figure it out.

***My thanks and Gratitude go out to  my friend KT (Karilynn) for going over my current grant application that I am writing for the AFA. It sure helps having another pair of eyes on ones writing and the improvements made makes me feel like I've got a chance. I have never written a grant for visual art o painting. The ones I've gotten in the past have been for media arts/animation. Fingers crossed this new Jury likes what I have to offer.

Re-visiting the first dragon

I spent the day off (family day here in cow town, presidents in the U.S.A.) In my audio adding sparkles to the dragons scales. I tok this painting back front he gallery in order to add some of the process I learned by working on the second one and in order to help them match each other better. I al also doing some work on the hair, face, hands and nails. Then I will give it a sign and a good dose of varnish. Let it dry for a day, then deliver it back to Motion Gallery for the unveiling of the pair on February 25th!

This picture can't do it justice, see my latest piece in person.
Here: Motion Gallery on Facebook.

I got some news today that I didn't receive a grant I applied for back in November:( However, rather than let it get me down...
I gave the granting officer a call to enlighten myself with some feedback.  They said I had very high marks and that it was extremely competitive. They thought my support material was fantastic, and my artistic merit scored high.  This was reassuring.

The feedback that I received will help me to apply for the next grant. They thought that since I was doing a lot of experimentation that I needed more time to do the things I am going to do. I can say that I will address this in the next grant, but I know I will be able to do it in time stated because I have no choice, my Show is in October. Professional peer artists think I should take more time to experiment. I really appreciate that sentiment, it is reassuring! So not getting a grant has turned into an empowering feeling that I'm going to kick ass and definitely get the next one- boo yeah! Plus as I continue to work on stuff my portfolio and support material get even better!