Pieces from the end of the semester for life drawing

Below are some of the last pieces I did in my life drawing class. These were all two day (two class periods) poses. The bottom on is only after the first day, I haven't taken a picture of the finished piece of work yet. I placed them in order of when they were done, be warned there is some nudity down below, but nothing too graphic, in my opinion anyway. I guess after staring at naked people for so long all semester I just got used to it. It's no big deal really.

 

Fitness blog #3 & Summer News

Today (Friday) and Tuesday I went to a fitness class at my gym called Body Works plus Abs. I'm not sure if a lot of fitness gurus would think much of a LA Fitness class, but this is class is just at the right level for me with the instructor. She mixes strength training that targets certain muscle groups with cardio, and with other exercises likes squats and such. Lots and lots of beautiful squats. Then we do ab exercises at the end. The strength training definitely wears me out in a good way, and the best part is you pick your weights so I try to do what I know is going to be challenging. The cardio we do is much like what we do in conditioning for rugby, for example jumping jacks, high knees, burpees, mountain climbers, all the favorites. Haha, or not. Actually the cardio is the most challenging for me so far (go figure I always knew this is something I need to work on). I hope by continuing to go this class I will be fitter when rugby season comes around again.

I'm feeling mixed things about rugby right now. Again go figure, it's always been a love/hate relationship. I love the camaraderie, the kicking ass part, and the great feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment after a good game or practice, but I hate it when I feel like the worst girl on the field. I think I would love it even more if I was in better shape and was better at the basics. Getting in shape is really hard y'all! Like really really hard! Sigh, but you know what they say, if it was easy everyone would do it, right? I'm working on it, I really really want to be better for the fall and spring. If I'm not ready then it might be time to stop. I don't want to, but it might just be my time and focus on something else. For all the time I've spent trying to play rugby, it sure has given a lot to me that I have neither the energy or thought process to describe right now.

BUT on a happier note, I have so good news....well it could be good news I am not sure yet. On THIS Tuesday I have a consultation to see if I can get LASIK. I've always been scared of it, I mean they slicing into your freakin' eyes! But I'm tired of wearing contacts and since my parents are willing to pay for it, I'd be stupid not to. I have heard from my sister and mom that it really really isn't that bad and sooo completely worth it.  Also in other medical news, I will most likely be getting my wisdom teeth out August 3rd, which is completely scary to me because I have never had surgery before, and now I will be out of it while they slice my mouth open. Okay gotta stop thinking about it, that's gross.

Comic con madness.

No fitness blogs for a while, spent all of the weekend walking around at Phoenix Comic con with the occasional dancing and stair climbs.

Here's some pictures from the weekend, it was undoubtedly an experience to remember for a looooong time. I didn't have my real camera so all of these are from my iphone.

 Apparently I am doing this wrong, because Han Solo had the gun under the table. I dunno, haven't watched Star Wars in forever.

The second day dressed up as Shaun(a) of the dead.

Leela met up with Zapp Brannigan! No pity sex or other nakedness happened after that. Fans of Futurama will understand what I am talking about.

Actress Jewel Staite at her panel. Shiny! 

Upstairs at Hanny's downtown for some nighttime fuel and drinks.

Map of Arizona at the LEGO exhibit in the dealers room.  

Apollo 11 in LEGOs. 

Kaylee from Firefly!

Scalzi and Wheaton together again, hilarious panel! Yeah sorry this is the best pic I got.

The crowds at comicon. Holy crap they got really bad at some points, but it was still fun overall.

I wish I had more pictures, I was kinda lame with them over the weekend. Maybe I was too busy pushing thru the crowds, trying to find people, and enjoying the people watching to take that many. The first 3 I even stole from my sister. Haha.

Fitness diary #2

30 Minutes on tredmill at 1% incline, interval training @ 12:00min overall pace, with a few 30sec rests thrown in there.

3 Rounds of:
10 sit-ups
10 push-ups
10 squats
10 lunges

Still slow at the running but you gotta start somewhere. Need to work on the diet too if I want to burn off more calories than I take in.

I've gained a bit of weight in the last 6 months, a little over 10lbs and I'd like to drop that plus some more. I'm hopeful that I can, but if not at least I can always get fitter.

fitness diary #1

2 miles on the treadmill at 1% or .5% incline: interval running @ a 12:00min pace overall

1500m row in 10min 30sec at level 7 resistance


Not a bad start, need to keep this up!

slow progress is real progress

So like many girls do, I was dreaming about my weight and size back in high school. Who doesn't! But you know what I realized while day dreaming of yesterday, I am probably healthier and fitter than I was then! Definitely fitter, no question about that. I couldn't run more than a block, and I definitely didn't have any significant muscle mass. You can laugh because I know I am still quite squishy looking, but I can feel the things that rugby and working out have done to my body. I can do real sit ups now, I can run over a mile with no problem! I've gone from a couch potato to a fitness novice. I sometimes forget how far I have come until I go hiking or work out with friends or family who don't play rugby. Sorry guys, I still love you! <3 But it's so true.

Don't get me wrong, I still think if only I could shed some of this extra poundage so I could be faster and speedier and look a little better in a bikini, right? However, I am still proud of myself for where I have come, which was coming from nowhere really. Before I starting playing this crazy sport I had no idea what it meant to push myself physically. Also, the stereotype is true, it often is more mental than physical, it's about pushing you body where your mind doesn't want you to go, and having your mind decide you will live through this and you can do it. One day at a time, because slow progress is real progress, and I know I always have room for improvement. 

the week that was a hot mess

This post is a bit more personal than the rest, so read on if you want...

recent drawings from class

 I'm back with another update with more drawing from my life drawing class. Definitely more nudity below so just a warning, but that's what comes with the territory of an art class that focuses on the human anatomy. The whole nude drawing thing is becoming so normal to me, I don't even think twice about it anymore. Anyway, below you can see some drawings from our leg/feet series, gestures (which are quick 5 minute or less drawings) and a long pose drawing.

The two below are for my homework, we had to draw 5 hands and 3 feet. I modeled for these myself. :) Didn't bother to try to convince someone to model for me.

a valentine's day wedding

I didn't have a special valentine on February 14th, but I was able to experience something much lovelier. My aunt Stacy got married in a beautiful and quite large ceremony on Valentine's Day, and I think everyone from church must have been there! She said she wanted to get married on that day because it would be cheesy and wonderful. Agreed! It was decorated in a pink Victorian style and her dress matched perfectly. Her friends and family at church were so helpful and resourceful, providing food, decorations, and more. I heard my aunt and her fiance wanted more a small ceremony but their friends wanted to throw a bigger party for them. I am glad I was able to take a couple days off of work and travel to see the wedding and my family members. Then for the rest of the weekend I spent a quiet and peaceful couple days with my parents at the house up in the high country.

At the end of the night.

10 days and counting!

Someone reminded me today that it is 10 days and counting until my East Coast vacation in North Carolina! I had forgotten it was so close being distracted by personal troubles, work, and school. Suddenly my not-so-great day was instantly brightened by the revelation! I am so freakin' excited for a change of scenery and the opportunity to hang out with one of my best friends.

arms and hands series

Our next week in my life drawing class focused on arms and hands. Hands are notoriously difficult to draw, they always end up looking deformed, or stubby, or too small. We learned that to draw hands effectively you need to draw them a bit bigger than you think they should be. It's bit of illusion actually, they just look better in a drawing that way than they do life size.

Here are my attempts at drawing arms, hands, and fingers.

I didn't remember all the drawing times for these so I didn't include them, but usually around 40 minutes each. That last one was the most difficult to draw and drove me crazy the first 20 minutes!

self portrait for class

One of the 3 classes I am taking this semester is a photoshop class. Having no previous experience with the software I am struggling, but hope to catch up and do well in the class. Our first major assignment was to create 2 selfportraits. I really don't like the other one, but I'll post the first one I did.

After a few hours and tutorials later this is what I came up with. Lisa took this photo of me on New Year's Eve so props to her for making me look so glowy and pretty. : ) All I did was crop the photo, then add a some festive brush strokes and glowing lines to make it wintery Yep, thats about it, thought I would share.

life drawing torso series

Don't think I've mentioned it here but I am taking 3 classes this semester at community college. One of them is a life drawing class, with yes, nude models. It is a class required for digital illustration, which is my current area of interest at the college. Our first full week of drawing was the torso series. We weren't obligated to draw head, arms, etc, just the torso and neck focusing on proportions, muscles, and structure. Here is a sampling of the work and no, it's not really safe for work, they are nude of course but not overly graphic by any means! :) Click read more to see the pictures.

because my cat is so cute

Remy humored me the other day while I took some photos of him.  These pictures aren't really necessary but they make me happy. How could you not fall in love with this tabby and white cat with his big eyes, giant eyes, little head, and  raccoon tail? I dare you to try not to!

 

home in the high country

 Last year my parents bought a home in the high country of Arizona. It's a relaxing place to get away and spend quality time with the family. I've been up there several times, the last time for Christmas. The house is also close to Prescott and Jerome, which allows for some quick trips to historical towns. I wouldn't mind going up there every weekend if I had the time.

The donkeys below don't belong to us, but the neighbors. They are quite friendly and will come up to us to say hello. The views as you can see from the pictures below and after the jump are fantastic. They are close to down, but are on 4 acres in on the outskirts. There is such quiet out there at the house, a silence that it is relaxing and beautiful. Although we haven't had the house for that long, it already feels like home. 

birthday surprises

Wednesday was my 25th birthday, and I got a few nice surprised through out the week. 

The first surprise was a box of treats my coworkers made for me. First she lied to me and told me she would be out of the office that day. So I wasn't expecting anything special, except for a decorated desk which our team at work does for everyone on their birthday. Instead she made these awesome cupcake shoes.

I also got some beautiful birthday flowers from an admirer. :) I took them into work so Remy wouldn't eat them at home. I wish I could have them at home too, they smell nice because of the pine in them and they are nice too look at.

 

After work my date and I met my parents, sister, and brother in law for dinner at Macayo's downtown. As you do at Macayo's, I stuffed myself full of Mexican food. Mmm...yummy. Then afterwards, our group minus the parents went to The Handle Bar on mill where I got a couple of delicious cocktails. 

On Friday I got a letter from my longtime friend Nellie from North Carolina. It was a super cute birthday letter where she went through every year of my life and noted a big event that happened. It was so thoughtful and totally made my day. It was another nice suprise to add to the list. I should also mention I got gifts from my sister, parents, and grandparents, and are definitely thankful for those too.

Yesterday I also got a very unpleasant surprise, the flu. I woke up with a slightly sore throat but since I felt okay went to work. Very quickly things went down hill from there. I got cold, tired, and sore within hours of being at work. I also developed a hacking cough and fever. By lunchtime I was miserable and couldn't focus. At 3pm when I finished whatever I was working on I left. I just don't know how it came on so fast, but I'm pretty sure I have the flu. Some nasty bug has been going around the office, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised, and maybe I should have gotten a flu shot.

Lately I have been going on a crafting spree. It makes me so happy to be doing something creative. I've tried a new technique using mod podge and decorative papers. There are so many more possibilities of things to create, it leaves me inspired and eager to try more. Here's a look at what I have done lately. Warning this is a long post because I haven't updated in a long time:

This is a secret Santa present I created for one of my coworkers. I was so happy she ended up liking it because I wasn't sure about her artistic tastes.

More pictures of projects in the rest of the post.