I started back up at work last week (for Extended School Year; no, schools in Massachusetts don’t have a three week summer break!) and contrary to my belief that it would grind my summer productivity to screeching halt, it actually gave me the external structure I needed to prioritize thing and motivate me. My biggest issue with executive dysfunction has always been task initiation, so sometimes having something externally imposed that forces me into motion can be helpful.
And helpful it has been — over the course of this week, I have almost completed the mural in my studio. It has been so, so fun and so gratifying to do — I haven’t worked in traditional media in something like six years — and I cannot wait to show off the full design, completed and in proper perspective, but for now, here’s a short little reel of my painting last Friday:
I’m also four fully rendered illustrations into my Feminine Archetypes series, with The Lover, The Huntress, The Queen, and The Mystic done, and The Mother Ready to be inked (have an older, unfinished sketch that’ll work for The Maiden; stumped as shit on The Sage, to be perfectly honest), and I feel good about it as one of the bigger personal projects I’ve undertaken. Working in a limited palette is always so much fun for me, and I don’t know why I don’t do it more often, but I probably should. There are a few sparse sneak peek and preview images over on my Instagram, if you are interested.
I’m also weirdly excited (???) to announce that my Big Personal Project might have to go on a slight hiatus, because I have been onboarded for a Big Collaborative Project that I m so, so, so excited about. I can’t really talk about it yet, but suffice it to say I am working with around 16 other very talented artists, and the project feels both gratifyingly new and yet also comfortingly nostalgic for me. I’m so thrilled to be a part of something collaborative again, especially one being spearheaded by a friend. Anyway, as I said, can’t speak too extensively about that yet, but I am so eager to share with you all when I can.
A Mini Edition of “Things That Buoyed Me Along This Week:”
1. Blue Prince on Steam
My wife, son, and I have been playing this game for about a week now, and it has been such an entertaining game! It was released in April on Steam, and we were initially introduced to it via Secret Sleepover Society. It intrigued Kira enough that she opted to stop watching immediately and buy the game herself. It’s a great little exploration/puzzle game, rife with lore, cool visuals, fairly intuitive mechanics, and enough lateral thinking to keep you busy. It’s not a fast-paced game — which honestly, I like — but it’s interesting enough that it’s kept my AuDHD 10-year-old engaged for each of our runs, which have all been an hour-plus. You can find it on Steam here (not an affiliate link/not getting a cut just really like the game, lol)
2. My recent sticker haul from Queer and Feral:
I’ve followed Queer and Feral on Instagram for a long time, and when I recently got my newest sketchbook, I knew I needed to get some new stickers for it, so over to Q&F I headed, lol. Love the quality of the stickers (the holographic ones are gorgeous, and there are lots and lots of fun ones).
3. The Murderbot Finale
Ahhhh, ok. Ah. Ahhhh. I’m so glad we got a confirmation of a Season 2, because — ahhh. I will admit I wasn’t 100% sure about Alex Skarsgård as Murderbot at first, but holy hell, he plays the uncanny valley and social anxiety/awkwardness so goddamn well. And I’ve got to say, I wasn’t quite on board with it just from reading the books, but I almost hate to say, I’m becoming a hardcore Murderathin shipper. I mean, that ending. Holy shit. Here’s a lovely edit, because apparently that scene broke other people in exactly the same way it broke me, lol:
I think that’s about it. For those of you local, please stop by The Essex Art Center to take a look at the Salon Show, and consider purchasing some art to support the organization, they do amazing work for both the youth of Lawrence, and the Greater Lawrence Community as a whole. We attended the opening this past Saturday as part of Fiesta en la Calle, and the art is incredible.
Also, speaking of Fiesta, shout out to Hey Emily Dee, one of the local vendors from whom I purchased this amazing print and sticker:
Until next time. Take care of yourselves, and each other.
All Your Crooked Heart 