DOC-U-MENTING

Creatures, Creatures

No matter how strong your passions are, life simply will not slow down for you.
You say you want some extra time for yourself? Time to create? Time to
read? Time to see family and friends, time to catch up on letters and email?
Silly, silly you. Life doesn't care about that. Your to-do list means squat to life,
it just wants to pile on more, more, more, and you my friend, are supposed to
smile the entire time and assume, "Yes, I can handle this."
Truth is, you can. It just takes some trial and error.

Busy isn't even the word. Yet, despite all the chaos surrounding
my list of never-ending this and that, I have finished up three
new art pieces, which have already been added to shop!

More from A Creature for Every Letter of the Alphabet series:


T is for Toucan

I especially love this guy. He seems so intelligent and sweet
with that sly little beak smile of his. The original was crafted with
gouache, thread, and masking tape on a vintage poetry page.


H is for Humpback Whale

Isn't this hunk of sea life just adorable?
The transition of colors almost cast the illusion
of water flowing over his body. Such an inviting smirk too.
He as well was created with gouache on a vintage dictionary page.


F is for Fiddler Crab

I am obsessed with these crabby creatures.
That one big claw and other teeny claw fill me with giggles.
Mister Crab here was also created with gouache on a vintage
book page with the addition of thread and masking tape.




Thanks for the awesome comments and messages
you guys have been sending my way.
It's keeping me motivated to the max, haha.
Well, I'm off to ponder creatures, watch The Finals,
see friends, and work my butt off this week.
Till the next post my friends.
-Mae Jane-

Crabby, yet not crabby.

I've been a busy one again.
Working, camping, going to the beach,
working, sleeping, eating awesome food, etc.
The summertime drill is all.
The three of us ended up swimming around
in that lake with our clothes on. It was a grand time.
We forgot our bathing suits, ya know, so we went with it.

Now that I've had some free time, I've been making some progress.
New little drawings are in the midsts,
soon to be mishmashed into little vintage paper collages.
I've had some random critters on the brain as you can see.

Oh yah, and cheesecake, of course.

I'm trying to change my approach to blogging these days.
I used to feel bad for not updating as often as I should, or even could.
But now, I'm starting to not feel so bad. Less and less. It's my life, after all.
I always wanted to keep superb consistency with this site, for the sake
of those of you who are so awesome and support me along the way. 
Yet the truth is, life is busy. Damn busy.
And life isn't about sitting in front of a computer.
No matter how pretty your iMac is.
In short, I'm taking the blogging without obligation approach from now on.

It's not that I want to share less with you, or I'm giving up on the site,
it's just that life is moving, altering, a transitioning phase taking hold really.
I want to savor my days and share the truth with you as it unfolds,
not as I try to force it into measly blog posts just for the sake of updating.
I guess I'm not one of those people cut out for daily blogging. I tried though. :)

Yet, I have too much going on and too much to experience for that, I think we all do.
I do hope to share progress of work during the week,
and updates of a documented life when I can though.
And of course there will always be new artwork and adventures to share.

Reality is, this blog, this project of documenting has always been a personal one,
shared here to inspire others and well, document for my own reasons.
My life is taking on a whole new aura and I'm sensing myself slowing down a bit.
And I'd rather not feel guilty about that. :) It's time to enjoy our days.

I'm ready. Aren't you?

-Mae Jane-

Hello Job, Hello Summer

Oh where oh where have I been?

I've been stepping in ponds and chasing dogs.
I've been to the beach in crummy weather.
I've been to the beach in nice weather.
I've eaten chowder, clam cakes, and hamburgers.
I visited an abandoned military fort and climbed rocks.
I had a picnic with pickles and carrots and seagulls.
I've been upside down on roller coasters and spinny-rides.
I've gotten a sunburn three times.
I've had drinks by a late night fire.
I've attended a friend's college graduation party.
I sang my heart out to oldies on a road trip.
I planned my first camping trip with friends.
I cut my hair.
I watched the finale of LOST and still remain in denial that he is really dead.

   
    Among other things, I've mostly been working, working, and working. The new job is going well. The training was a bit overwhelming, what with being everyday and all day. But it was necessary. This week I finally start working my normal schedule which should feel nice to be able to get settled in a new routine, though I'm trying to avoid routines now. Dilemma dilemma..
   
    I've been so busy with trying to learn and remember things and not mess up at work that I haven't created any art at all in about a month. That makes me feel very empty. Tis why I've dedicated tonight and tomorrow to creating and brainstorming. And then shaking my bum to eighties music at night with the girls. Speaking of art though, some of my work is currently showing in a wonderful new gallery that opened in Brooklyn! Fact & Fancy at 75B Hoyt Street is having their very first show featuring over 25 undiscovered artists running from May 29th until July 11th. It's such an awesome gallery owned and operated by Christine and Danielle. Thanks again to them for asking me to be apart of it!

(My work is on the very bottom! :)

    And continuing on with my plans of getting back on track, some journaling shall be happening tonight as well. I gots myself a rather sleek and soft new Moleskine. It's perfect for writing stories from the core and brain. I also discovered a new book today. Feeding Your Demons by Tsultrim Allione. I wasn't looking for it, didn't know of it, yet it spoke to me from the shelves. And so tonight I read as well.

    Today was enjoyable, even if it was focused on errands and cleaning. Aside from the duties, I listened to classic rock (which is my all time favorite). I purchased fresh strawberries, Pink Lady apples, bananas, and key lime pie. I discovered the new book I mentioned. I helped a woman with her groceries at the market. I carried a 20lb bag of cat food effortlessly on my shoulder. I roamed Target and only bought what I actually went in for. I gathered up mushrooms, onions, and lemonade at the store. All because I woke up oddly early on my first real day off in a month. I am so glad to have some days off again. I've missed reading your blogs and twittering away on the interweb with you guys. I'm slowly finding my way again. I promise, I will have delights to share soon. Thanks for the sweet emails and comments during the past month. Hope you all are well!

Love, love,
Mae Jane

Thank You Letter "M"

The Frenzy Mountains


Mustache Power

Thank you letter "M" for do you not only begin my name, and those sweet things known
as marshmallows but you also begin the words for two of my favorite things,
mountains and mustaches. Yes, I love the earth and it's elevated glory
as well as manly facial hair. I'm a fan and I pay honor to you both.

CREATURES FROM THE ALPHABET

New series in the works:


B is for Buck


L is for Lion

A Creature for Every Letter of the Alphabet series

More to come soon.
Will be adding prints to the shop this week.

    Mae Jane

THEME: ARTISTIC DIRECTION

Recent journal work, reflecting on the theme of reinventing my artistic direction:



I want to concentrate on elements of collage that blend nicely,
creating an infusion of reality and dreams as well as creating simple,
delicate pieces that evoke a moment, or temporary emotion that
lingers within it's bare page.

I want to try new mediums and techniques, adding less, subtracting more,
aiming to find a focus with tools and methods, creating madness
from the methods that become trial and error, but mostly, to not
be afraid to try something different.



What is nice is that some of my friends have asked me to make custom pieces
for them. My goal is to achieve their desired creation while adding my own
artistic touch that sets it apart, yet that still relates in some way, to the
work that I already do and will begin to create.

Brainstorming, brainstorming!
Check The Little Fawn for new work!

;mj

Habitual Habitats

As you can see I have been drawing quite a bit.
Forcing myself to draw just a little bit every day
is really starting to pay off. Creating weekly themes
enables me to find a workable limit and create something
I probably wouldn't have thought of initially.

This week I'm focusing on Habitual Habitats.
This refers to homes that are created in nature by habits.
Such as birds living in man made bird houses, fish living in
water bubbles, or fireflies getting caught in glass jars.





Being from New England, I naturally have a strong love
and appreciation for trees and all that relate. This is
perhaps another reason why Autumn is my favorite season.



Hello podlings! I was attempting to draw an acorn at first,
and low and behold, two twin podling sisters escaped onto the page.



Obviously, they are my new love.

I hope to be back with more.
Concrete thought-filled writing will be coming soon.
There hasn't been much of that lately.

xxo; Mae Jane

POSSESSED

"An artist is a creature driven by demons.
He doesn't know why they choose him
and he's usually too busy to wonder why."
-William Faulkner

 

I want to apologize for the lack of updates and journal work lately.
I've been consumed by so much, so many responsibilities, goals,
emotions, burdens, desires, fears, engagements, and social
activities. With this week finally starting as the first full week
of the semester, I'm starting to feel the weight. I already have
so much reading and writing to do, and that doesn't bother me,
really, but in order for me to stay on track this semester, I need
to start off on the right foot.

I'm going to take a mini break for a few days every now
and then to devote to my courses, and not to mention I also work a
regular day job as well, (which was part time and is now going
up in hours, which is also a good thing). So the truth is, I'm going to
be a little frazzled with trying to balance everything in a new way now.
I had a certain schedule before, more free time, so I had my own
method to the madness of how and when I worked on my projects,
but now I need to reorganize myself, and rework my days so
that I can manage to accomplish everything it is that I want to do
that day. I have a lot of goals, too many, and usually, a
handful going on at once, and I love that, but I need to
avoid the crash and burn. Especially now.

I will try to update as often as I can, whether it be daily,
or every few days, I will say or post something until I can
at least manage to create some order to the chaos.
I have lots of little inspirations I am already collecting
from my courses that I'm eager to share too.

I will also be needing to devote some of my time towards
my artwork again. I feel myself growing and heading
in a new direction, taking what I know and fall back on
and combining it with new ideas and depths.

I'm trying to end up on the path of complete
acceptance, with an embrace for life, and every
moment as free and magical as possible.

I am done worrying about the past.
I am done worrying about the future.
I am in the here and now and that is
where my attention should be.

So, please pardon my moments of disappearing.
I can promise though, that with these little breaks
I will be spending more time in my journals and
discovering new wonders to share with you all.

I can only grow as these days pass.

XXO: Mae Jane

RECIPE: LOVE THYSELF!

I've come to realize that the more I grow, age, and live, the more I change inside and out.  In ten years I won't have this perfect baby soft skin. In ten years I won't have this luscious (not completely frizzed out) hair. In ten years I will have some wrinkles, my face will look different, older of course, but different nonetheless. As a woman it's almost terrifying to know I won't look this way one day. Now I can almost understand why all those sad girls used to get cheesy Glamour Shots back in the day. If you're only going to look that good for such a small portion of your life, you might as well capture it and cherish it. So, you know, you can show the grandkids one day, "See? Grandma wasn't always this haggard and gray!"

This is a recipe about self-admiration and loving everything about your physical self. This is a chance to portray yourself in the way that you feel best describes you without just a mug shot of your face.



I was first going to print out a photo and collage around it and rework the whole thing, but I'm out of color ink. So I decided to make my best attempt at painting a self portrait. This, I realized, turned out to be better, because I had more control of what come through on the canvas. I didn't try to hide what I didn't like about myself, but just simply made the best resemblance I could. Then I added around it, which then completed the real me.


Subtle Yet Messy

based off of this photo:

ehh, sort of close!
good thing i'm really not that orange.

So, in anyway that you see fit to fully express your outside self, do it.  Be it in your journal or on canvas, or doing a themed photo shoot.  Just be sure to document it afterwards, or make the creation itself the documentation. 



xxo; Mae Jane