Frog Baby G-Ma

When I moved to New York I stayed with my best friend for about 8 months. I go through Air Mattresses like…like floss?? Pretty fast, so we slept in the same bed often. Neither of us really minded. We’ve got soul ties you know. All of this is besides the point.
Basically I moved here with nothing but clothes. Normal. Most people do I would assume. As I was moving into my apartment another sister friend of mind was leaving D.C to start Law School in Detroit. I was blessed with all of her furniture basically. This included this very Art Van-esque painting. I say Art Van because if you’ve ever been, they have some pretty cool things in there but they all have the same vibe. If you know you know.

Fast forward a year later, a week ago specifically and I have drawn over this painting. A just before bed impromptu session, ( although I had been talking about it for weeks ) letting the faces reveal themselves to me as I go. There was a large space at both ends where my doodle kind of naturally ended but I felt the need to fill. Since the painting lives in my room and it has the ombre effect it felt fitting to put a sleeping woman across from a waking woman in this space

I’ve also got real beef with Sleep. but that’s a different post on a different day

The most interesting part of all is the “Frog“. Dead center, this frog revealed itself and I would be lying if I said I didn’t try to fight it. It initially didn’t feel “aesthetically pleasing”. Very quickly I lost that fight. I love “losing” the fights I have with myself. It’s never really a loss.
Anyway, Frog Baby has an expression that I haven’t quite figured out yet. Not sure if I need to either.

I think its important to note that My grandmother LOVES frogs. Not in a creepy porcelain doll collecting kind of way but very classy. They’re planted around and outside her house in a very thoughtful way. (See pictures below)

To conclude, I am protected. Frog Baby G-ma holding me down.

I gifted her a very beautiful mask from the Ivory Coast out of a Chipotle Bag. It made me giggle. Spot the frog in the back ?! :)

One A Day

Like the vitamin, But make it ART.

Early November I began documenting each day with a drawing.

I had once again collected things from my job that I can use in the future (the future never comes, i.e: I am a bit of a hoarder) but this time I had a strong discussion with myself that I was not allowed to take anything home in my already stuffed bag unless I made a plan for it at that very moment.

What to do with over 100 6x6 cardboard squares?
Draw a lil somethin somethin

An easy project to remind myself to get out of my head each day.

The first dilemma began when I didn’t “finish“ a drawing before bed. Another discussion with myself had to be had about letting things be and focusing on the process. I did what I could that day before my energy ran out. That’s okay.

Then, I missed a day.
I spent the Sunday I missed trying to fix my new Industrial Juki that decided to sew backwards. Amongst other things done that day, drawing just wasn’t on my mind. Carving a stamp to emboss on velvet was though. So I did that. I photographed it with my Fuuki camera and decided that I would print it, attached to the 6x6 cardboard square and that would be my One-A-Day.

One-A-Day, to keep the therapy away.

{Seriously: I strongly believe in therapy. I understand this isn’t always an option for a multitude of reasons so finding HEALTHY outlets to express yourself and your feelings is the next best thing. Take care of yourself.

I mean it }