My cat just fell asleep on my hand so I'm typing this title with the other one.

Alright, my work situation update I guess it passed due.

Previously I was working as a short order cook and as a server at a banquet hall. I was called by a temp agency and offered an office job so I took it. So I proceeded to work two full time jobs and one part time job for three weeks because I am a kind-hearted person who believes in giving a full two weeks notice.

So now I work at the banquet hall and in the office job. It is a company that scans old patient files from doctors and puts them into electronic format. I scan on a high speed scanner. All. Day. But it's work in an office environment and will look better on my resume. And I had to get out of the restaurant that kept our tips and forced me to work even while I was sick.

Soooo that's that. I have no idea how long the contract is actually going to be or if I'll become permanent but I don't plan on being there for too long.

Meanwhile, I am going to repost this painting I posted a while ago, as I have a better photo.

 

 More paintings to come.
P.S. My brother gave me a wicked awesome scanner for my birthday so comics are also to come.

<3 Lenore

Taboo

So a friend of mine from art school, who is also from Newfoundland, now lives here in the area. Which is great, I have someone to motivate me to be doing something with my art and to go through all the scary things together.

So on Thursday we went out talking to some galleries in Hintonburg. Everyone was friendly once we got them talking (a few were cold at first), they all gave us advice and an idea of what they do in their galleries and what kind of artists they take on. We went to the Orange art gallery who told us to come in the next day and bring our art.

So, being extremely nervous, we showed up at 11 am on Friday with paintings. And they weren't there. We waited ten minutes, and as any true Newfoundlander would do, popped to the bar next door to grab a beer. With our nerves sufficiently stewed in alcohol we went in and they were finally there.

They are moreso a commercial gallery. Which is all fine and good, every gallery has their niche. But the woman told me straight up, she couldn't sell my art. Nudes and figure works almost never sell in Ottawa, and Ottawa is a very conservative city in general.

Here is an example of one of the more recent pieces I've done to give you an idea what the direction of my art has been:

 

So to give this piece some context, I will tell you the direction I am taking right now. I for a few years have been working with addiction and sexuality. I am a raging smoker and I've been dealing with alot of feelings associated with this. The lighter has become a symbol of this addiction. It isn't the addiction itself but it's something as necessary as the cigarette. And while lighters have other purposes smoking is what is brought to mind when one sees a lighter. It is a smokers best friend.

This painting is an attempt to represent not only the passion and necessity for the addiction but also the taboo surrounding it.

Anyways back to the original story, the Orange gallery told me to go check out the Patrick John Mills gallery. So over we went, and went in to talk to the guy running it. This gallery seemed moreso like the kind of place my art would fit into.
So I am making a disc full of images whilst working on some more pieces to bring over there.

Also I have decided to start blogging more. And as this blog started as a safer blog concentrating on crafts I was doing, it is going to take a different direction. Because of some of the followers I've accrued I haven't been my raw self posting exactly what I am thinking and feeling about my art. But this blog is going to become an embodiment of who I am, and I hope my followers will grow with it.

I am also going to become more active in commenting on other peoples posts, so expect to see my face a little more!


Anyways. Thanks for reading!
<3Lenore

Quarter century today!

Okay, so I'm writing this post beforehand because I have a feeling I will be mad hungover on my actual birthday (plans to go out Saturday night and party like someone in their early 20s for the last time! with my work friends who are all 19 and 20, they think I'm old) but I am setting this to post on my actual birthday.

Quarter of a century is a big scary age. I thought turning 20 was horrible because I was supposed to be responsible to some degree, but 25 I think is an even bigger one. I've had a degree for well over two years, I should really be pulling shit together now. So where am I do you ask?

Well in the last year I abandoned the place and the people I love the most (St. John's, Newfoundland which I to this day refer to as home) to move to Ottawa in hopes of starting some sort of life for myself.

With the help of my awesome brother, I moved up here knowing no one else. I got on my feet little by little. I worked a hell of a lot. I made friends. I found an awesome house and ended up with an amazing cat by sheer fate. I have moved from waitress to cook to now working in an office and today I received an e-mail telling me I'm on a shortlist for an admin assistant position with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. That's right governmenty job, people. Why I came up here.

So while I am still no where near the position of having a career or a life, I think I'm at least on the track. I miss my friends back home dearly, but I have grown even more fiercely independent than before.

So what do I hope for the upcoming year? Well I'm going to steal something from one of my best friends in the universe, Sarah. I'm going to have a list.

Twenty-five at twenty-five

1. Exhibit something in an art gallery: I've had many things exhibited before but not since I graduated.  
2. Make an epic meal: It will be tough to top some of the stuff at bacon party, but I will try. See photo.
3. Get a professional massage: No. Seriously. I have worked five 85-90 hour weeks this year (two in August and 3 recently) and I am soooore. I have never had one.
4. Get one respectable full-time job that I can live off of comfortably: Is that too much to ask? 
5. Go on a vacation to somewhere I haven't been: While I have done some traveling in my life I haven't done enough. Ideally I would love to go back to Europe, but maybe this year it might be more realistic if I just pop five hours over to Toronto and check that out. 
6. Get back to St. John's to visit: I've been trying since I left
7. Start a webcomic: When I first moved here I started drawing a webcomic but as I worked more and more jobs that petered out. This year I will do it, damnit!
8. Ice skate on the Rideau Canal: I went to winterlude last year and didn't even skate on the canal! I've always wanted to do it since I was a kid. Ideally I would like this to be while on a date with a cute boy.
9. Go camping: This was the first summer I didn't go camping since my parents felt I was old enough to trot off into the woods unsupervised for a night. Not letting that happen this year. 
10. Lose weight: I lost 25 pounds last year, but I could afford to lose a bit more. I've seen way too many of my family members health be compromised because we are a genetically overweight family. 
11. Get my teeth fixed: Soooo many teeth problems. I just got dental care for the first time in three years! Git 'er done.
12. Make sure my friends all know how much I love them: I'm generally pretty good at that you can always be better. : )
13. Make 10 close friends in Ottawa: I've been working hard on the friend thing since I got here, but I need some really close ones in this province. And I'm greedy for pals.
14. Buy a camera: I feel like this will be a necessity in a life as a Visual Artist.
15. Get my learners permit: YES I'm 25 and I don't know how to drive, shit happens okay?
16. Apply to go back to school: Imma do it. Whether it be Graphic Design, Advertising or stupidly a Masters of Visual Arts, Imma do it. 
17. Sell a piece of art: Doesn't matter to who or how much. 
18. Try 10 new foods: That one was totally stolen from Sarah.
19. Make my own website: For my art. More professional that way.
20. Break a bad habit: In a perfect world it would be smoking, but there are many others I can work on too.
21. Learn to walk in heels: I feel like if I'm going to be a professional this has to happen. I bought a pair the other day let's see if I break my neck
22. Have a clean room: If you know me you'll know this is legit a yearlong process.
23. Fight for something I believe in: I'll let you know as soon as I figure out what I believe in.
24. Stay independent and motivated: I've got it now, I have to keep it. 
25. Always be 100% who I am: I'm pretty good at that too, but I don't want that to ever change. : )

 Well that is all folks. Happy my birthday! I will update you as these things get accomplished. Meanwhile, after today you are all free to start getting excited for Christmas. ; ) 

<3 Lenore

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And then there were twoooo

I am back down to two jobs (hooray I get to sleep again) so I have more time on my hands! Kind of. I am currently running the three weeks of errands I couldn't even think about because I was working so much.

This includes making art, there are a few paintings that need finishing touches then I will post them!
I also purchased The Business of Art by Sandra M. Hawkins at Wallacks the other day. It was exactly the kind of book I was looking for and can never find: with information on how to get your art into the art market, how to network, how to get exhibited, legalities, etc. etc.

The only thing is that the book is only about 35 pages, and it was $36. Sadly pricy. But I guess for a book of stuff no one else seems to deal with I guess what can you do.


Anyways will hopefully post some art in the upcoming week!

<3 Lenore