One Day...

So I always set these goals for myself. And I have to stop.
What, stop making goals? Yeah, well if you make the same goal over and over and over again and never get anywhere, you would want to give up too. I mean, just check the dates on these blog posts. Big time lapse, right? Ha. And I started the year off saying I was going to write more, post more, and get myself out there. Well it's time to face reality. I don't have time to release myself into a blog post like I want to be able to. One day I will. I hope soon. I really do love to write even though no one's out there listening. It's kind of comforting knowing my thoughts are out there, forever in internet space, for someone to read sometime, maybe long after I'm gone. Or for my future kids, grandkids, and great grands to find in the future...I want them to know there mom and grandmom had so much more inside her. For them to remember me as being someone special. And to maybe dream about knowing me better like I do my Grandma Ginger and my grandpa Buck Buck. Because let's face it, there's always something more that they aren't telling you. A mystery.

With all that said, I can't stop setting goals. I'm too stubborn. So here it is. I want to try to continue writing on here. Hopefully more frequently this time. And also am starting this sketchbook challenge thing, and hope to post progress on here. I won't be starting tonight because I am in college (which consumes 92% of my life, and work the other 18%) and have a test tomorrow and a few studio projects that I really should be working on but I got inspired to write and sometimes you just have to let it all out. And sometimes there's no one listening. Or maybe I'm the only bloke out there with friends who don't answer the phone. I really should make relationships with better people. But I'm so stubborn, I just can't give up.
I won't give up.
If I give up, what is left?
Nothing.
I can't give up.
I won't give up.

I will go study.

summer

here is another poem, or what have you.

ironically written right before the frustrated Laundry and Money...

Vitamin D

at the end of the day

Skin still warm from the <sun> absorbed on a river bank,

smells of Summer, must in the bedroom of our old humble rental

noticing black spots on your hands and arms as Ink has become a part of you.

Realization of being an Artist.

Being Happy.

And knowing what will make your Life.

I walk to the sink in my underwear

turn on the faucet, letting water engulf my hands

feeling the cool water against my face

I Breath.

I Breath Art.

And I don't want to ever Breath anything Less.

                             --K.ASH.

My life as it is now.

i have entered uncharted territory.

the only way to explain is to publish it the way it has written in my head over and over all week.

 yeah, didn't know i write occasionally? well, as you will find as you read below, there is a reason why. but really, why not?

Laundry and Money

I think of doing Laundry

and my Dog's fur against my face as she naps, her my pillow

a fan blowing, tickling the bottom of my feet

The Moment is slipping by and all that I can think about is...

                                   MONEY

                        not enough

                        never enough

                        i'm not good enough.

My Mind Is Consumed.

I cannot move. Desperatetomoveandunabletobreath.

drowning in a sea of doubt and debt to better myself to The Standards. The Standards.

The Standards that They say will make my debt go away. SomeDay.

I don't understand.

My Dog sighs. And I long to be a Dog too.

                          --K.ASH

let's face it, i'm no Allen Ginsberg or e.e.cummings, Walt Whitman or Jack Kerouac. but this is how the past three weeks have been. i feel like i've been just making excuses as i have abandoned my blog over and over again. i swear it's not you, it's me.

by the end of the day, i'm out of creative juices. i finished my spring semester in april, and the monday following i started may term. it's been a crazy three weeks of print and photo etching. don't feel too bad, i abandoned my sculpture as well for the past month. i feel awful about it, and look forward to getting back started on it.

BUT...

in other news, speaking of sculpture, my dragonfly has been recognized as an official waypoint mark, and has been written about in the Shelby Living magazine!

CLICK HERE!

i'm featured on page 9.

but, i will say, that is an awful picture :)

thanks to whoever is reading...

INSTACANV.AS/MYDEARCLEMENTINE & update

Hello Everyone!

I have disappeared for a few weeks due to finals and all the prep for finals. But I now have an etching to post, and another one almost finished. And also progress pictures on my SECOND public sculpture, that will be installed behind the University of Montevallo's Carmichael Library (hopefully around the end of May 2012). Buttt, as mentioned in my bio, have a big interest in photography. My dad got me an iPhone recently, and I have being Instagram obsessed!!! It's such a great way for me to keep up with my friends, myself, and express a little bit of my creativity every day. I've been using it as inspiration and encouragement for many projects. It's also nice to see how creative my friends are, as well as the many other Instagram users. With all that said, if anyone out there is actually reading this blog, PLEASEEE visit the URL:

instacanv.as/mydearclementine

and help me get my gallery open faster, REQUEST GALLERY OPENING!

I promise you won't be disappointed! Basically, not only will it allow other people to view my work, but also gives the opportunity for people to order a canvas of one of my images! I'm very excited about trying to get this going and every bit of help would be awesome. Also, if you request my opening, and you decide to open one yourself, comment with the URL and I will gladly return the favor.

Thanks to my anonymous viewers :)   

Sculpture

Environmental Sculpture: Temporary Installation

Found Art Sculpture: Permanent Installation at Ebenezar Swamp in Montevallo, AL.

It is constructed completely from old car parts and random metal pieces found in my grandparents backyard. My grandfather collected and restored old cars for 60 something years, and he gave me free range to anything I could use.

*I am currently working on another permanent installation at the University of Montevallo. It is a sculptural bike rack. Pictures to be posted when finished.

**Also, many more pictures of other sculptures to come.

Printmaking

Color Reduction Woodcut a.k.a. "Suicide Cuts"
Title: Maeva the Great
Edition of 6
$25

Black and White Woodcut
Title: Sweet Memories
Edition of 6
$25

Line Etching
Title: In the Sun
Edition of 5
$35
*this etching has different versions in aquatint


*monoprints and more etchings to come.

A little about the artist...

My name is Kirsten Bowman and, as you might have gathered from my "about me" section, I am an artist.

To be a little more specific, I am currently pursuing my BFA in Sculpture and Drawing at the University of Montevallo. For my first few entries, I want to post a few portfolio examples of the work that I do. Each post will have the media as the title and then pictures and captions of the work to follow. As my interests continue to grow and become refined, more work will be posted.

I currently am part-time employed as a cashier and also as a Mary Kay consultant (if anyone needs any make-up, face wash, or consultation). Ultimately I hope to be able to have my art as my full-time job, as most artist do. But for now, I do take commissions! Work that can be commissioned or sold will be indicated by bold letters, followed by measurements, cost, and if prints are available.

Also, constructive criticism is welcome! Please feel free to comment about anything posted! I love to hear feedback :)

Thank you!
(whoever is reading this)

Sincerely,
K.ASH