RATGIRL

I swear I won’t open another post going “OMG I CAN’T BELIEVE WHERE THE TIME WENT” but here I am. Once again lamenting on how I never blog or share anything and what am I doing. But really, it’s been busy with lots of camping, running, art making, and honestly, my day job. Oh and parenting. But that part is fun and easy.

I did a poll on my instagram a few weeks ago and it seemed like a lot of voters liked my brush and ink work and wanted to see more. So I have been working on playing with that more, and branching out. I also decided I needed to get a little more disciplined with my personal work. After all this time, I feel like I have lost some authenticity and interest in drawing. I feel like I make stuff that anyone could draw. So I decided to go back to the brush and ink illustrations that I love so much. I have embarked on a book journey, just for fun of course, in which I am hand inking a whole book on stories from Beach days and growing up in Encinitas. I am trying to decide if any of it will bleed into Kaleb’s story, but I kind of want to keep those separate. It feels weird to feel vulnerable in putting out these stories. Like there is a lot of weird pain and not like “hee-hee-haw-haw” stories all the time. So I am learning to add in what I think fits and go from there. Like I added some bullying and a reference to changing styles of surfing. I don’t know if the whole thing can be positive, just due to it being kind of a slimy existence already. But it has given plenty of time to reflect and be like “man I was such a shit head”.

Here’s my in progress sketching and inking. Now you can judge how rough my sketches are before going in and filling it all out. I definitely have a hand warble right now that I am fighting. But other than that I am pretty stoked on the progress.

This is page one! Still learning and playing with shading and general proportions. I have a secondary sketch book going next to these while I draw, where I do some pre planning and thumb nail sketching. This does help edit while I go / remember what page was before…

I think I want to do more illustrations in-between the comic pages, just more full drawings of rats doing stuff, or locals / places that used to be in the area. So it fills it out more and gives more context.
Always open to ideas and fun like that. Really trying to not over think but definitely do anyway.
Thanks for reading!

SOMEthing

Happy almost July! Wild how quickly the time goes when the temperatures are scorching and you have a million things to do in only so many hours in the day.

Workyworky has been dominating the brain juice lately. I’ve been feeling like my daily work is a squeeze to make anything that doesn’t feel forced. Like, I have some blockages in my life, like I needed some rest and recalibration. But of course the neurotic in me, was then frustrated I didn’t make anything worth it. I did what every person does, and jumped to Youtube to dig for some creative peptalking. David Choe, love him or not, has a great YouTube channel and I found some great insights into letting the creativity come from a place of curiosity. Of course, being the insanely curious person that I am, I loved that philosophy and how he ties a lot of it back to some meditation practices and ideas that I’ve been cultivating over the last few months.
So off I go to the old playground (desk) and let myself rip it up with the watercolor. Layering, blurring, abstracting. Then that led to cutting things up and gluing and having myself a good time. So here are some fun results from the last few days.

Then of course, we finally have some stuff coming out this year, from the day job of Oakley. I had the honor of working on the Tour de France collection for 2024. You can find some of that work on my Oakley page
Inspired by the mountains, the peloton, and a subtle nod to Oakley and the dotted jerseys, the print is pretty simple but was effective for our needs. It’s been neat to see it on athletes as it has rolled out over the last few weeks. Get excited and I hope you all tune in!

Where / what is time?

It’s been a hot minute since I have posted or done a ton of work at all. We moved homes, took over full time parenting of my son, and basically just have been white knuckling life since February. But as time slows for a little bit of spring time, I have a feeling some good is going to come about. I have been doing a lot of prep / practice, working on patterns and some new art that I still am working through before I share out. So hang tight for that. I also am hoping to roll out some more patterns in my SPOONFLOWER shop, if you haven’t had a chance to check that out ever!
Party on, and stay healthy!

MORE MOREEEE

I guess I have been busy and up to no good this last week.
Blowing off steam of some longer work weeks, and high output, I’ve been deep in comics with no real end in sight.
Here’s a dump of everything I’ve had going lately.

I’ve been doing a lot of brush work in my big sketchbook, and loving the flow of it all. It’s nice to size up brushes and work in some different hand motions. Then of course, I got a new fountain pen and had to go squeeze that lemon for all the juice it may have. Boons of the adhd life.
But now I feel like I have a better vision of what I want to do with 2024! And that is, I think I will make some zines and start working on a small graphic novel. I’ve had some brain pathways going for a while now, and now I think I am ready to start putting pen to paper and going from there. I think it will be a fun comic about growing up in Leucadia, and the ebb and flow of gentrification and the environment.
So stay tuned for that super fun project!
Here’s a whole sketchbook dump for you below! It’s all the ink, not posted stuff, and pre-colored messy stuff. SO FUN (at least to me)!

Closer every day…

Ok so in this whole, STYLE-MIX-UP-PARTY-TIME-NEW-ROUTES-LETS-GO, I’ve clearly started to draw with my brush pen and make sure I’m doing everything by hand. I am so burnt on the computers and the iPad with the perfection and blah blah. I want my stuff to remind you of like a cozy coffee shop, your mom’s cool kitchen and garden, and like, having a conversation with your older sister in the 90’s… so here’s my latest comic… about picking artistic personas. Mostly poking fun at instagram, and feeling like everything I see is just a repetition of something else I see…

I like to draw these dumb little comics to work through thoughts, flex styles, and kinda poke fun at things around me… I tend to try to do that a lot, and I don’t want to be seen as negative or like, annoying for pointing stuff out, I just like to laugh at it all.
Anyways, tomorrow this will be on instagram. So go like and comment there maybe…

WHATS BEEN HAPPNIN’?

Honestly, not a lot. Getting sick, being brain dead, likely elevating something in some realm or other because, girrrrrl let me tell you, I’ve been T I R E D. But that’s just the way of the world lately.

Honestly been working on my relationship with the digital landscapes, and social media. Feeling less and less invested in an image and more invested in making myself happy, and drawing how I want to, the endless pursuit. I, as always, have no clue what I am doing, and more am rambling back and forth to myself. Lately the comics have been calling, so the path has been experimental and really positive for me to expand in a way I always have really enjoyed. I like to stretch my boundaries in simplicity, or adding more depth, taking away things I may normally want. Do I like it more blocky? Do I like it less realistic? Frick if I know. But in these times I always remember my fave gal, Lynda Barry, and her comic ruminating on her two questions.

Anyway here’s a dump of all my latest work!

ENJOY

A YEAR OF CRAFT

As we step into the dawn of the new year, resolutions abound, and thoughts turn to rebuilding our lives. After a few years dedicated to my career, I've found myself yearning for the simplicity of my old handcrafted pursuits. The joy of sewing, knitting, and occasional beading had taken a backseat in 2023 amidst the hustle of professional endeavors. I realized that my focus had shifted too much towards work progress, improvement, and pushing my career to new heights. Sadly, the artistic essence seemed to wane as I forced myself to paint and refine my work.

In the spirit of renewal for 2024, I'm thrilled to announce my commitment to reconnect with the handcrafts I cherish. I've crafted a substantial watercolor journal to explore painting techniques and pattern repeats freely. Recently, I completed my first clothing item of the year and dedicated a significant portion of the Christmas break to creating beaded earrings and knitting small delights for friends. There's a list of exciting projects awaiting my attention, and I'm eager to dive into them.

Beyond the realm of hands-on creativity, I drew inspiration from TikTok, where talented individuals shared their journaling habits. As someone who appreciates a good notebook and journal, I've already organized my planner for the year, utilizing the STM notebook and case for pens. My race planning finds a home in a fitness journal, while work-related matters are neatly compiled in an A5 binder. To capture my creative ideas, I've designated a special "Make Stuff" notebook.

In the coming week, I'll delve into the specifics of each book, sharing insights into my organization system and highlighting some favorite journaling accounts. Join me in embracing a year of handcrafting, exploration, and creative growth. Here's to a year filled with passion and creativity!
Love you all!

Painting something new

As an artist, I've always found comfort in precision and detail. Every stroke meticulously planned, every color carefully chosen. But, recently, I decided to shake things up a bit and venture into the realm of loose painting. And let me tell you, it's been an eye-opening journey filled with unexpected joy and creative liberation.

The first step in this adventure was letting go of my inner perfectionist. You know the one - the voice in your head that insists every line must be straight, every shade flawless. I embraced the idea that imperfections can be beautiful, that the magic often lies in the unexpected. It was a bit like learning to dance without following a choreography; the freedom was exhilarating.

One of the most liberating aspects of loose painting is the absence of a strict plan. Unlike my usual approach of sketching out every detail beforehand, I found joy in spontaneity. It's like taking a road trip without a destination; you're free to explore, to change course, and to savor the surprises along the way. Trust your instincts, let the painting evolve organically, and enjoy the process as much as the outcome.

Sure, there were moments of frustration and doubt. It's natural to feel uneasy when stepping out of your artistic comfort zone. But, embracing the uncertainty and imperfection is where the true beauty lies. It's a reminder that art is a journey, not just a destination.

Break free from the constraints of perfection, dance with colors, and let the canvas be your playground. The world of loose painting is a celebration of creativity, a testament to the joy of expressing yourself freely. So grab your brushes, throw caution to the wind, and let the art unfold in its beautifully untamed way.

Happy painting!

Below is my experiment last evening. I tried to take pics during the process to show how it ended up evolving for me. I will be continuing to make more of these little practice pieces to test some styles and layering learning.

Journal 232

Welcome to my blog space for journaling, noodling, and sharing all the NON - IG stuff I just want to ramble on about.

Designed and doodled from my apartment - number 232, the jungle shoe box of creative mayhem. The kitchen studio that only cooks lame paintings, and a lot of stir fry. The moldy box of patience and brick walls, facilitator of creative subslime.

Tired of the doldrums? Join me here in Journal 232.
Cheers to 2024 - stay healthy, stay weird.

S