It gives me fabulous prompts of things to draw. I really got it for hopes that it will make me a better artist… making me draw things I would never think of drawing.
One of the prompts was a fire escape:
It’s a sweet escape.
I got so excited about drawing such a simple thing that it made me realize that sometimes the suburbs are kind of boring to me.
I miss seeing things like fire escapes on buildings.
Windows high up in the air with flowers.
Cats looking down at you.
Street hot dogs.
Happy Thursday every one… I’m going to get a hand cramp from all my doodling :)
Some people have relationships and all sorts of other ships.
I being a bit on the awkward side would like to take this time to announce that I don’t really do well in relationships… mostly because I have only have a makeshift raft of relations:
It stays afloat and everything… but it has no sides… it’s not really going to protect you from the water or sharks or anything. Actually it isn’t really helpful unless you need to be marooned on Gilligan’s Island… or you want to hang out with Tom Sawyer and Jim…
I think those last 2 sentences alone explain why I have a relation-raft.
Also the fact that today I am so excited to be able to stay at home by myself… explains a lot of it too. I mean I’ve just had something to do every night for the last 2 weeks… and tonight screams “Let’s wear sweatpants and watch romantic comedies while you illustrate.”
Any who happy Wednesday!
And how does everybody keep their relationships/rafts/buckets afloat?
I have always found the ladies of yesteryear amazing. Be they someone’s awesome grandma, a movie star, a was hero, a writer, or a pin up girl. My favorite things to read about them are always when they reflect on their life and their careers. They always seem to have it figured out, because they have been through it all, and lived it up. And also that is when people say crazy things like “Alfred Hitchcock stalked me.”~ Paraphrased Tippi Hedren. I suppose it’s because they realize the best things to be are honest… because it’s what happened after all. And why should they be afraid to be truthful? Also seriously Tippi Hedren… I’m sorry about Hitchcock… he was all sorts of creepy.
I get carried up in that story about Tippi sometimes, because most girls have been in that situation. Even in modern times. A superior who is all hands… Gross.
Now another one of those ladies who figured it out and lived it up was Bettie Page. Now I have always understood her to a certain degree. She not only has totally rad bangs like me (I’m going to say I never copied her bang style. I have actually had bangs since I have had hair.) She was really mischievous… and I have been called that a few times (a week.) And people are super crazy about her, (sometimes in an unsettling way) without ever taking the time to understand her as a person, not a visual object.
But don’t worry I won’t get too much into that. I’m here to celebrate the good. One thing I have always like about her is she always seemed to be having fun, and making the most out of anywhere she was.
Pretending to be attacked by a tree… happy.
Sitting with leopards.. happy.
In weird plastic-y outfits… happy.
Being straight up naked… happy
Wouldn’t it be great to be that happy all the time? I think so.
Well one of my favorite quotes from her is super important for both boys, girls, and people who like to be happy near trees (in or out of clothes):
Thank you for being you Bettie.
I have always liked that quote, it’s simple and true. Be yourself and never apologize for it. You will thank yourself for it someday.
Also.. bangs are fantastic, they may be why both Bettie and I are so happy… it’s just a theory.
Last night I realized it’s been so long since I have posted any doodle in this internetty world.
I guess it’s because I’ve been all out of sorts. I found most things in the last month turned all topsy-turvy. And for someone who’s life has been very boring and orderly for half a year…. I at first was beyond overwhelmed. Babies, health, my parents becoming utterly crazy people, my friends coming unhinged… and me becoming more responsible… SHUDDER.
And for most of the month I found myself worried about things I can’t control. Because there is nothing I can do for anybody. Not one single thing, except be my silly self.
Earlier today I heard my coworkers discussing the faces they put out to the world. They are different around friends, colleagues, their family. They have all these masks that they wear to fill in these different roles they create. I looked at them and didn’t understand, they responded by saying… but not you. “With Lauren… what you see is what you get.”
And I think I like that.
I’m a little too much. But sometimes you just need that little extra. And I think you should always be yourself… no matter where you are.
The only thing getting me through the last few days has been being myself and being okay with that. Also, I must add I do know some really great people. And when I think about them I can’t even help but smile… because they make me feel very wonderful. They make me feel like a gushy-gooey marshmallow… in the best way possible!
And that clearly segue’s into my gushy marshmallow doodle:
And that’s all I have to say. Be happy, love yourself, love everyone. And I hope that there is at least one thing today that makes your feel all gushy- gooey like a marshmallow.
It’s Tuesday. My project is late, and of course the printer isn’t working.
There is are only 2 things I can do
1. Play Musical Printers and Try to get this drawing printed for my boss in the next 20 minutes.
2. Join the Circus
The silliest answer is the one I would most happily choose. Then people could discuss it when I don’t show up tomorrow. I can just imagine it….
Shocked Coworker #1: “Where is Lauren?”
Shocked Coworker #2: “She isn’t in? Did you wait longer for her to show up… she’s always late.”
Observant Coworker: “She left all her drawings, and the metal scale next to a strawberry stained note saying she’s left for the circus”
A hush spreads over the room.
Shocked Coworker #1: “She left food in the fridge. It’s mine.”
And then much like the conclusion to the tv series LOST, I will never be discussed again in the valleys of San Gabriel.
I will leave behind a hummingbird feeder, and assorted doodles of cats. I will take everything else… For my chic new gypsy wagon.
I would miss my big girl bed, and of course wi-fi. But I can always loiter at some circus adjacent starbucks after I master my new circus-y skill.
What would that skill be??? Well, I don’t really know. I don’t think I would trust me as a tightrope walker, or a juggler of swords. I could probably sit on an elephant like a champion. I am good at waving and climbing… so Elephant sitter on-er it is!
Let’s go with that thought… Lauren the Elephant Sitter. I would sell literally dozens of tickets.
Maybe I should stay with Architecture a little while longer.
Circus dreams
Happy Tuesday everyone. I hope your printers are working with gusto.
Today I’m going to tell you a story about when I was in school…
When I was in school I was a good student… which really surprised people because I seemed really unfocused in nearly every lecture class I had.
I just really was good at comprehending the subject matters I studied and once I did… I didn’t have all day to hear the lecturer talk about alabaster in its various applications, I just daydreamed until the hour-forty five had passed. And of course I had read the textbook the day before, so I had all my day to not think about trying to memorize anything but stuff I wanted to.
Now all my daydreaming probably would have been just fine, had I not forced my weird imagination on my friends, especially Jimmy. He wanted to pay attention so badly and all I ever did was distract him. I would spend my time sending him drawings of Jamba Juice cups, Lambs that were striped, and well taco’s and how much I wished I was eating or building a place to hold tacos and not be in that class.
So dedication time… this Doodle goes all the way out to Jimmy who is like many miles away from me right now, but could probably use a laugh:
My favorite part is when he finally gave up on learning and just doodled back instead!
Quite candidly internet, I would list distracting people as one of my finer qualities. If you spend time with me the next thing you know is that it could be hours… or even years. And there is going to be sketchbooks of doodles to go along with it.
Now I must return to some doodles that I am working on like super seriously!
I wasn’t going to post today but… I haven’t been posting all that much lately. And I actually got some time to draw today, and I’m just so happy I had to share it.
My sister-in-law asked me to draw the sad tale of her beta fish Guido and his unfortunate run in with the Goldfish Mafia of Missoula Montana.
It appears Mr. Guido was 86’ed by the golden scaled crime lords… and she just wanted to share the story in graphic form.
Gangster fishes! I have had a few goldfishes in my lifetime and I can tell you they are very much exactly like this. When we cleaned out their tank there were just tons of mini aquatic weapons…
And, even though my scanner is a bit on the fritz, I used my fabulous new notebook that I got from a fellow blogger Edwin at the Awkward List.
I’m in love with this notebooks that you can get at emnote!
But isn’t the idea of something magical just kind nice? When do we decide that we’re too cool to smile at a big lollipop, or for spinning around in an a-line dress, or even just eating a really good cookie with a chilled glass of milk. I think that we all deserve a chance to enjoy something for no particular reason, or with no explanation.
And no one should make you feel weird for it.
Today I saw my coworker had this game and the name of his city in the game was “Etopia.” What a serious name! It’s a city you are playing with in a game… it can be named anything!!!
He told me, “I’m sorry its not Pegasus-rainbow-flower-anthia.”
Now this could have been not nice, in fact it is a kinda a backhanded compliment.
But this comment only made me happy… I mean isn’t it good that he thinks of flowers and rainbows and fictional flying creatures in association with me. Anyways, quickly–I will add here that I still don’t like knowing how magic tricks are done… and try to forget about “reality” when I see them. I mean, if it’s a fantasy why not just get caught up in it?
And now onto the sketchy part… simply I dedicate this drawing to all the people I know (in real and online) who make me happy. Regardless of any bad times, when I’m really in a happy moment:
Viciously Sweet 