Some pics of hiking in N. GA a few weeks ago..

My obsession is hiking and mountains. And, you can't get that in FL. Sorry. I know.
So, at some point.. in a few years, after Andrew and I are wed....
we'll be moving.. to Colorado no doubt. Ft Collins sounds and reads as amazing.
I've only been to the SW end --Durango. Awesome town as well.

BUT.. in the meanwhile... we get away when we can.
N. GA is awesome.

So.. we checked out where the base of the Appalachian Trail starts.
AND... we're plotting when exactly we'll do the whole, more than 2,000 mile trail.
At some point. NOT TOO far away. :)

So.. here's some pics of our travel....

Holla.

I FINALLY did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;O)

You can look up your vehicle as well, over at:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

Automatic, Power package... (though didn't want it.....) V4..
got a GREAT deal on it though!!! ;O)

So yeah..... now... just gotta sell the old one for a few hundred...
Any takers on a beat up old 97 , V6,....white LX Ford Mustang!?!? Hey.. it's still good for parts!!!!! Come on...................

So with my new 2008 Yaris...
Better gas mileage.. here I come!
Better smog and greenhouse gas ratings!
Better everything!!!

Im Japanese now... babY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I will name my car something in relation to sushi...
mmm... which would be so so good right about now...

YAY!!!
NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

whoo Hooooooooooo

.. getting some stuff done...

In the process of looking to invest in more renewable art supplies.. less toxic... more recycled paper.. etc etc.. so much to think about.. it's all good though.

in the meanwhile..... a doggie sketch.

did an event on Saturday down in Melbourne to benefit the SPCA down there.. and I drew so many happy doggies!!! I had a BLAST! Looking foward to the next event down there......

more to come.. Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Teach-In

This past Wed, I got to be an honorary teacher, and talk to 6, third class rooms, for about 20 min a piece about me being an artist.

And, how I am also a graphic designer, and also still do traditional art.
We discussed what graphic design is, and how it influences them, and their parents with everything that they buy. From cereal boxes, t-shirts, backpacks,.. lunchboxes... things they could relate to.

We discussed animations and cartoons... we talked about the differences between 2/d and 3/d art... also talked about claymations and what they are.

We talked about how the computer plays an important role in taking their drawing skills, and taking them to an even higher level.

I touched up on how these things are all possible.. by knowing the programs and how to use the computer to have it do what you want....

and the best part of all,... I took it back to READING.
And how reading... is so so so crucial, not just in the art world, but in the world around them.. and to just do well in life, and succeed and make money.. and take care of themselves...

Told them how its a powerful thing.. and for them to read as much as possible...

It was such an awesome experience.
I got allll super animated myself about talking about this stuff to them.. and I asked them questions.. so they could participate with holding up their hands... I let them ask me questions...

I brought in my easel, and had a demo caricature sketch with me.. told them about doing caricatures.. and what an easel is... etc etc.

Just a glorious time.

I am obsessed with third graders right now.


As a teacher put it
"This is at a point in their lives when they're not learning to read, they're reading to learn."

And wow, does that make so so so much sense.
Its amazing.

You should have seen the faces of there kid's light up, when I was telling them about art, and cartoons.. and showing them examples of my work.. and telling them that Ive been drawing since I was 5....

Adn I was encouraging those that love art.... to stick with it...

etc etc.

A glorious time.

Cant wait to finish my BA degree now.
And make it all happen.

I love kids.

*OH, I also had on a shirt that I "made" with a screening process (cafepress.com).. anyway..
It has a HUGE RECYCLE logo on the back of it.. and I asked them if they knew what it was... some did.. and we briefly talked about how IMPORTANT it is to recycle.. etc etc.

TWAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really would like to go back sometime soon.. and talk to the other grades about this stuff..... all on a level that each grade can relate to of course.

Updates to come.

something...

more stuff to come...
crazy emo weekend.
it's fun being an artist, and a girl.
rollercoaster emotions! whooo!

art art art...

I received my last Communication Arts magazine in the mail yesterday.
Makes me kinda sad... but whatever, that's what hanging out at Barnes & Noble or Borders is for.

I canceled my subscription to just stop adding to the waste out there. Sure, I was going to recycle it anyway--one day. But, it's good to cut corners on paper goods when you can.

But, my God, what a beautiful mag. Inside, so many beautiful, pretty things. Typography, photography... everything amazing and artsy. ;O)

Makes me happy.

Art, art is so so awesome.

Love it all.

My feelings for the day: great.
Warm and fuzzy.

Words for the day: Insane, enlightening, fast-paced, eye opening.. etc.

Oh, for those of you who didn't know, I started today at a small 3/d animation studio here in town....doing character design.. layout ideas... threw out some thoughts... more tomorrow....

and more to come. Should be a fun time ;)

And still making time for my art.. and myself... of course.

TRYING to do it all. Least it's like a 15 min ride from my house to get there--literally!

Yeah!
NOW... to make some time for h/w tonight.. running to the grocery store in the morn. OH.. and mowing the lawn before work... hmm.. should be interesting.. heh.

NIGHT............... me ;O)
****
horoscope for the night... interesting..
Your Horoscope for NOVEMBER 06, 2007

Like a tornado that comes whirling through your world, Maria, anything of yours that is not tied down is likely to get caught up, blown around in circles, and tossed hundreds of feet away. Prepare yourself for this wind by making sure that everything in your life is secure in its place. Do not go on to another project until the first one is properly pinned down.

excited....

super excited for tomorrow.. and what things will come...

Article about me Online......

Hey all!!!

If you're bored, theres an article about me online:

http://www.artcalendar.com/home.asp

This editor found me drawing doggies at a Petco near my house, interviewed me, and thought this would be a cool thing to write about.

It was going to end up in the Nov or Dec issue of the mag, but now MAY come out in Jan instead.

We'll see!

Hope everyone is doing well, no complaints here!

Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ;)

Fiorellino Giramondo - Videosigla

TOTALLY AWESOME!!! Used to watch this as a kid in Italy.. esp when we would go visit the family there!!! ;O)

Working up more stuff like this as well......

...

working on.....

And don't laugh too hard--this is how I started out. With a quick sketch... then scanned it in.. placed it on an underlying layer, and then started working in sections and in layers in Illustrator. I like seeing good results from rough beginnings. :O)

more to come...

For a consignment shop.... more to come with dogs.. this one happens to be mine, Chloe Bolton :O)... she's a Border Collie Mix pound pup!

Done in acrylic btw...and maybe 18 by 24 inch.. something like so.
Def had some fun with this piece... it really reflects her energy level...and well.. mine. :)

Done with this...

AND.. more updates to come :O)

Sleeping soon!?

Got some updates with art below... finally! :)

All done on a cold press stock... 9 by 12 or something... nothing fancy.
Bic Pen and Acrylic Paint.. some watered down to look like gouache/watercolor.

First one... figure it out whom I attempted a fun poke at.

Second... Andrew (the fiance) was outta town... and I created this while hanging at his pad.. and keeping his doggie-dog company...

Third... a piece created for a friend of mine. :)

Yeah!

I've got a painting that I've worked up of my dog to place up here.. possibly tomorrow...

OH.. and some doodles and sketches that I made while Joe and Danielle were in town.

So So So fun catching up and hanging with the art kids!!! Miss that bunch.
Sushi and laughter was had by all tonight... glad they didn't kick me out for being...... me.

Night!
... and now.. to attack that homework... Hmmm....

Randoms...

A doodle I did a while back.. of Ken with the red cap...and there you have a glimpse at "underground" DAN... as mentioned on Joe's bloggie... Dan and Ken are awesome... BUT.. Dan TOTALLY needs to get a blog... his sketches are pretty insane and just yell out FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

A doodle Joe B did way back when now... of Nate, me and him! Fun FUN!

A doodle Keelan did of me the other day after that big Disney gig.. heart it!

OK.. outta here.. more updates to come!!!
Have a great rest of the week alllllllllllllllllllllll!

Holla. ;O)
me me me

still working on...

more updates on this to come... time time time...
night!

working on..

hmm.. maybe 1/3 of the way done... hope to be done with this by tomorrow sometim..
a commission for a friend's mom...

fun.. fun...

and much more to come!
wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Maria!

so...

This is the only Carbon Footprint I would ideally like to leave behind... yes yes.. I was born in Italy, am half Italiana, and know how to burn some bread! Yeah! :O) This jelly is amazing by the way, totally organic red raspberry berry goodness.. mmmm!

This is yet another reason I am glad to be leaving Sea World... it disgusts me how much waste I see everyday... and yeah.. there are no recycle bins located near the trash... people aren't doing their part.. and it's upsetting. Sure, they may sort through this later... BUT... why not knock out a few steps in the process. GAH! Theme parks..... give me a National Park any day...can't wait to move out West....

This is my amazing Chloe doggie--got her at the Humane Society Pound about 5 years ago now.. she's awesome. I adore her... and I feel the love back. Pound Puppies are the best... not to mention Mutts rock! So so smart! And this is her "Baby Squirrel" toy! :)

This is how I respect my paint brushes... aw, yes... digital art is so less messy! (Yet... sometimes not as fun... ;)

Still needing to give out more of these bad boys... great deal though... ClubFlyers.com.... got 5,000 of these made, double-sided, color, under $100. :)

This guy.. oh man.. this guy wasn't so happy with his sketch... he was kinda SHOCKED as to why I gave him such a thick neck... I was like.. "Uhhhh"... and for the record... he has this HUGE smile... BUT.. denied me access to it for this picture.. I was like.. "Come ON Tough GUY!?!?" Those Miami-Russian born kids.. go figure?! And LOOK.. he's doing the head-cocked-back dealio... This isn't a mug shot.. BUT NOW, for your viewing pleasure.. he was DEF TRYING TO LOOK COOL! Poop. :(

THIS.. THIS!!! This is DEF one of my all-time faves ever... just cause the kid was awesome.. look at all the colors?! I mean.. his hair... his face.. total cutie-kid from Ireland! AND YEAH! Loved how this one came out.. and they all loved it TOO! :O) And this is why I love drawing!!! ;O)

This was originally a demo that I had this girl sit down for... her brother was getting sketched by a co-worker.. and I was bored.. and not on the score board yet. SO.. you know.. said "Hey.. can I just draw you for fun!?!" And then.. she loved it.. and bought it. AS ALL YOU KAMAN'S people know.. you're not to SHADE-IN a b/w sketch.. for fear that they might like it in B/w.. and you can't up-sell in color,.... OR just that.. once you shade it.. it's DONE and you can't technically go back and color it in.. without it looking all funky with the color.. like.. everyone will look like a Wolverine or something.. OR.. just the fact you're "wasting" time and money shading it.. BUTTTTTTTTTTT... I love to LOVE my art that I place MY NAME on.. so... I've been shading my stuff ANYWAYS... I figure.. no management is around to "yell at me".. I've worked here forever... and NOW.. I'm done here forever. SO THAT.. THAT IS WHY I shade my art! YES!!! I MUST!! Moving right along....

This was a fun sketch -- I really like how this one came out. And the best part is... the guy liked the sketch!!! :O)
YAY when that happens!!! :O)

The end on pics! More to come!!!


OH... so..
One day left after today at Sea World/Kaman's Art Shoppes...

Exciting!

NiGHT ALL! More posts to come in the future! Gotta work work work!
NIGHT!

Countdown at 4 days...

YEAH! So.. the countdown is at 4 days til I leave Sea World forever...
and... I have to share this one... this was a rejected caricature that I got today... I feel as though I got a good likeness on the guy... he didn't like it much.. OR.. should I say his MOTHER didn't like it too much..
SORRY LADY... I exaggerated it.... my bad!

I like the body I did... and I normally hate drawing bodies.. so... had to save this one! WHOOOoo HOO!

ANYWAYS... yeah yeah.. more posts to come soon! WHOO HOoooooooooooooo

night for now.. or is it!?

I quit my JOB!

That's right! No more Sea World... in one week. DONE.

And.. then... more time to myself.. and MY art.. and my freelancing.. and just doing what I NEED to be doing with my time. ALL of my time.

Be it with Caricature gigs... digital work.. paintings.. and even more so.. focusing on the kid's books of MY own... that I've had in MY head for so long now... I need to get them out out out of my brain!

FREEEEEDOM.

Good night ALL! ;O)

New cards...

For Jeannine... lemme know, babe! :)

NIGHT!

...

fun!

UPDATE:

Just got ENGAGED on June 10th to the GREATEST GUY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOOO HOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

no wedding date....

just excited to tell everyone....

awesome.

night all.

Maria :)

updates...

TIRED....

but was on a roll.. and couldnt stop!!!

Some minor changes may be made--say with colors and fonts.. and perhaps a few small other details...

shall see.
:)

Good night all! ;O)

whoOHOOoo :)

and now to work on the menu...

another one :)

working on...
like the font treatment?

ideas

Some minor changes in layout, and font faces.
Matisse is to the far right.

I modified my font some.

still playing around..

with small details, colors, and also, overall layout of gator.. and then, to incorporate the text with imagery...

night!