Valerie Pensworth - Fine Art + Illustration

(we played with some new fade to black polaroid film this weekend)

I’ve attempted many sketchbooks and only ever finished a couple. Something about them never clicked with me. I think it may have to do with the pressure and importance a couple of my art teachers tried to force on us. The sketchbook homework, like getting graded on your incomplete thought processes. Whatever my reasons are…I think I have finally found one that I like. Maybe its because its old and falling apart and I’m not overwhelmed with making it this impressive masterpiece. Instead I’m actually turning out ideas and planning a new project.

This project is kind of overwhelming because I’m making up my own technique and I only have a limited amount of money from my last show to invest in the supplies. So hopefully my trial and error period will be short lived!

I made homemade sweet potato gnocchi last night with sage, brussels sprouts, and walnuts!

I got the recipe from HERE.

Her finished product looked better than mine, but it was already getting late and I knew Matt and I would just be gobbling it up shortly, So i didn’t see the point in making them gorgeous. Maybe if I make them for a group I’ll mold those bad boys more adequately.

BYE

another fine weekend. Found a couple of new gems around our house. Dutch shuffleboard has been a fun afternoon activity. (especially in all this rain rain rain)

We went to see Daybreakers…yeah not much to say about that one. But I wasn’t expecting much.

However, we did finally watch Beautiful Losers last night. Matt and I had different reactions to it…in a broken inspirational way. It didn’t tame that internal tiger that lives in my gut, constantly scratching
“what is this all for?”
But it sounds like I am saying it wasn’t a positive reaction, which it was…more like a cold water splash to the face.

A vast life full of opportunities. But I have to create them and I will.

also, made some Gingersnaps with the molasses I bought for the slow cooked brisket tacos and slaw I made yesterday. I have never made any before and did a quick search. I stumbled across some relatively healthy ones. I even added some wheat pastry flour to make them even a little bit better for you.

recipe adapted from david lebovitz

also, my secret ingredient was a tiny smidgen of chinese 5 spice.

I don’t have the patience and/or dedication to build a fancy blog that highlights and features what people are making. I’m glad they exist. They certainly help spread the word of all the talents out there! But goodness, I just don’t get it all. These collections of things are sort of taking over. If everyone has so much access to everything…then the access becomes debilitating. Does that make sense?

I don’t even know what I’m saying. just rambling. I do think the equal access to useful and useless knowledge is eating our brains.
But then again…I use my internet browsers and tabs like I use a list or sketchbook. Its kind of weird. I keep tabs and tabs open to remind me of images and or projects. It can get kind of ridiculous when I’m working on something.

After a day of depression because 27 started sinking in…I’m getting it back together. IDEAS are pouring in and out. Trying to have the mentality that Woody Allen had. Instead of comparing my making art to the tragedy that strikes the world and how pointless it makes it seem…I’m trying to think of it in terms of the collective unconscious and that my art can bring positivity to the world. Like if positive energy was a giant pot that we threw stuff in…and the bigger and bigger the batch gets, the more it spreads. Tangent time apparently. Oh well this is my blog… and not many people read it.

on a lighter note….

these ideas are glorious and I can’t wait to start on this new project. I want to take this one beyond my expectations!

Happy Birthday to me!

artist: Henry Clive

Man, it was a pretty good weekend! We went to some antique stores on Saturday! I got an old journal to draw in and a ceramic kitty to hold my paint brushes. Then we went to a cute theater to watch THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS! (which i loved!) And since it seemed all of the good restaurants were closed on Mondays, we decided to go to dinner last night instead.

We went early for happy hour because are running super tight on the budget these days. Holy moly! It was an amazing dinner. We both left giddy as can be!

I don’t normally blog about restaurants but we will remember this meal for a long time and surely be going back! Matt got a three course meal for $20. And I couldn’t pass up the burger! I’m a sucker for a juicy med rare burger with blue cheese! The chocolate peanut butter caramel parfait, which we paired with candied bacon,…was um heaven. The victorian setting and the best server topped the whole experience off! So it was the best birthday meal I could have asked for!

But I still want a bday cake…so I’m going to try to make a small layer cake today! Gotta do something on my actual birthday!

a little later and VOILA!

Last night was a whole lot of fun! Thanks to all the troopers who braved the cold/windy night by bus or bike! Every thing turned out nicely! The lighted Major Arcana Tarot cards gave a nice ambience! I really wished I could have afforded to frame all the work this time. But it wasn’t possible! I need to learn how to make frames…or something.

Now I just need some good fortunes to come my way!

I’m going to put up all the new stuff I’ve been working on tomorrow! Get ready. Its a lot.