Still Here, Still Fighting

... Don't worry your pretty little faces, I am still here. I have been out of town, had my life put on hold by a stomach flu, etc. I am thiiiisss close to going to my local university to get my bachelors of fine art with a concentration in graphic design, and maybe a minor in creative writing. I have been emailing and calling and emailing about financial aid, a living situation, etc. So far I have next to no answers, but I have hope! I am so so close! No, this school is not my IDEAL art school, but at this point I think being strong means taking what I can get, and if it weren't for the fact that I may have to commute an hour one way everyday at first, I would be very happy. With my health issues, I know that's gonna be tough, but I don't really know how to give up on this, so, I will keep fighting.
      I just wish I could keep up with this blog in the mean time. I am trying my best to draw in-between all this madness, but I am not producing much that's worthy to put on here, to be perfectly honest. Mostly anatomy tutorials and gesture drawings, etc.
    But if you only knew! I have classes coming up soon! Classes! As in, I will have something to work on! Something to make me feel like I am making progress! I have been kind of stuck at home with health issues for two years now, feeling like I am getting nowhere. But, this lil artist still loves her art, and she isn't beaten yet. She has this foolish tendency to be obnoxious enough to have the audacity to keep going.
     Oh, yes, I get frustrated with the seemingly impossible task of finding money and a job and a living situation, but I can't help but hope that it's all getting very close now. Something is coming. Even if it takes its time arriving, whatever it is, I will always be here, and I am always looking for a way to do what I believe I should.
    I am so excited! Wish me luck, and of course, pray for me as I pray for you. You must be the most patient followers, and I do appreciate you. Very much.

P.S.
      Oh, and I am working on a story for Mouse and Dragon, and maybe Spider (Mouse is a kind of regular on my blog, when I actually blog, for those of you who don't know. Dragon and Spider aren't so much, but I love dragons, so, there you have it.) I have always thought they needed a story, and proper names, so now I am slowly slowly fabricating a world for them. I have no idea when it will be done, but if anything, I hope to finish something that I can at least illustrate a few scenes from someday.  

P.P.S.
        For a bit of added inspiration, here is an amazing speech given by Neil Gaiman on the making of art. Especially if you are an artist of some sort, click on this link. Keep making good art, no matter what.

School for Sacred Art

I just got back from the Church Teaches Forum today (where I heard preach such persons as Cardinal Arinze and Cardinal Burke), and while I was there a seminarian friend of mine handed me some information on this sacred art program in Florence. I would LOVE to do a program like this someday! So much! Sigh.... maybe someday. Florence would be the perfect place. I was only there a short time last year, and I know I benefited from that much alone. I can't imagine what it would be like to actually study there.
   Hmmm... I just got back, and I am rather car sick, and so yeah, that's my excuse for not having a new drawing on here for you. But, speaking of Florence, how about I post the quick sketch I did in front of Michelangelo's David? I think that's a good idea- one of the highlights of Europe, and maybe my life.

There it is! I drew from a master just like the masters did themselves!
   I have to say, Michelangelo intimidates me- I hear he was intolerant of slacker artists.... and man, he practiced what he preached! I cannot even fathom how one artist can do so much in a life time, and they didn't live as long back then. Another reason is that he loved sculpture and did it well. He considered it a higher form of art than painting. Well, I have yet to tackle sculpture at all, and so the sound of it sounds big and unattainable. I do hope to tackle it someday. Maybe in Florence.... or Ireland.
    I also hear he destroyed his anatomy studies so no one would discover his secrets. I may be wrong about that, but that sounds like something he'd do.
     Quote time. Hmmm.....

If in my youth I had realized that the sustaining splendour of beauty of with which I was in love would one day flood back into my heart, there to ignite a flame that would torture me without end, how gladly would I have put out the light in my eyes. -Michelangelo

And....

‎"The liberating encounter with forgiveness can be experienced even by a wounded heart, thanks to the healing power of God, who is Love." - *Blessed*Pope John Paul II

May 12th, 2011: So Much Luv

So.... I've been very busy. I've been job/apartment searching, and making school decisions that will change my life (maybe) etc. I've finally found an art school, I think. At least for now. I am going to O'More College of Design near Nashville. You are lucky this isn't just a post of these --> !!!!!!!! I have been waiting for this since I was about 8! And I am calm..... I hope that is good. I found a lovely room to rent with a very nice lady, and I have orientation this Wednesday. I have yet to find a job, and I need a laptop, but we'll see what happens. You just NEVER know. About anything really. :P But that is straying from the main point. I AM GOING TO ART SCHOOL!!! I will be a Visual Communications major, and I will be taking some fine art and maybe photography classes on the side. Now, just what IS a vis com major? Well, it's anything and everything, which is one reason why it is ideal/confusing. I don't know what exactly I will do with it, or what I will focus on, but I have at least a year to figure that out. I know I want to take their illustration, photoshop. animation, book design, and painting classes. I also want to take their Irish Studies course, and then participate in their Ireland Study Abroad Summer Program. Anyway, I am REALLY excited, even though I am calm.
     In the mean time, I got to visit my dear friend Emily this weekend, along with her family. It was her birthday last week, and so I made her this card:

Unfinished Card

Emily's Card/Trinket Collage

It was SOO good to see her and her family! I love and miss you guys! Thanks for sharing your hotel and your agreeable company! 

   So, I am going to orientation this Wednesday as a transfer student, and to be honest I am quite nervous... ish. I know it will be fine, but, it's been a year since I've done this school thing, and it's been longer since freshman orientation. I don't want to be a freshman again- but surely that won't happen. I am also taking my Dad to see the school for the first time, and I hope he likes what he sees.

   Quote time! (or the time where I feel like being a deep meaningful blogger, and so add a deep quote to make up for not writing something real) This one is rather appropriate for me, in more than one way:

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." ~John 16:12

This post is entitled "so much luv" because as much as change scares me, I have no choice but to face it. Love calls one to do so. AND because I found a lovely place to live at school. AND, because my lovely Mimi sent me a card and a ridiculous cute penguin baby book! *AND* because I got to see Emily! **AND** just because, just because.