Growing up in a house with a forbidden photocopier must have given me a complex. Why did we have a photocopier? Basically, my mom got it to quench her organizational thirst. But it wasn't long before I figured out how to use it, and more importantly, how to abuse it. Unfortunately, my parents soon discovered that toner was expensive, and mass production of my funny faces wasn't very economical. Thus, I was banned.

And so, this complex has resurfaced in my adult life. Above is a scanned self portrait (the foreground is my hair). Oh, the things I think of... when left alone with a copy machine.

These are just some random still lifes. For the record, the egg was cracked onto a transparency.

Homage to Swingline. Yes, I have the notorious stapler from the cult classic, Office Space (it actually came inside a used desk I bought). Using motion, I created some interesting effects. 

Some of my favorite earrings and rings. The image to the far left is the original scan. The two on the right are patterned repeats of the original.

My mom grew up in the White House ... not that White House.  It's the one located in Montgomery, Alabama. It got the nickname because of its stark contrast with the other plantation style, red brick homes in my Nana's neighborhood. Built in the 1950s, the modern facade bears no windows and displays a lattice porch on the second floor. My family adores this house and it occupies a large portion of my fondest childhood memories.

So, when our office held a silent auction, I bid on a commissioned drawing by one of our architects. He collected several pictures from me, asked a few questions and ta-da! A beautiful keepsake for my entire family was created. I made photocopies and framed them in Ikea's best. Christmas presents for everyone. 

Inspired by a woman who makes stamps, featuring peoples' houses, I decided to turn my drawing into a stamp too (I just used Simon Stamps). My plan is to fold some paper into cards, stamp them with the drawing, bind 10 cards with 10 envelopes, and package them in a muslin bag (stamped as well). So be on the look out for the finished product.

A while back, a colleague invited me to a "life drawing" class. Since I like to draw still lifes (see previous post), and I could use the practice-- I thought it would be fun to draw some fruit and such, in a group atmosphere. So, I accepted. And, we did draw fruit... some melons, twigs and berries... if you catch my drift. Basically, I thought our class had been interrupted by a streaker. 

I had never drawn nudes in my life, and to be blind sided like that really caught me off guard. You see, I have a terrible case of the "Laugh When You're Not Supposed To" Syndrome. Throughout my introduction to the art of the human form, all I could think was, "That person is NAKED!" Not to mention the fact that everyone else was so intense, and serious, and mature... well, LWYNST Syndrome was boiling inside me. 

But, by some miraculous act of God, I was able to compose myself and began seeing ding-dongs, ta-ta's, and who-ha's as shapes and shades of light and dark. Since I never had much formal training as an artist, the sketches are pretty elementary, I suppose. However, the whole experience really enlightened me and has given me a new appreciation for these complex vessels we inhabit. 

Since I posted my sketchbook, I thought it would only be appropriate to follow up with some sketches. I'm not a medium snob, so an ordinary ball point pen (Uni-ball is my favorite) works just fine. I like to draw just simple everyday objects, doodles really. It's very meditative for me, like running, music or gardening is for others. I'm not very good, but I enjoy doing it so much, I keep at it. 

(more sketches after the jump)