From Across the Sea

Last weekend was just so great!  Cody's friend and boss, Nick Ballon, stopped by good ol' Tallahassee on his way to South America to visit his former assistant.  Nick was the photographer that Cody worked for last semester in London.  We were determined to give him a very American experience, and I think we may have succeeded.

Wednesday night we had a great homecooked meal, compliments of Cody of course, and Thursday night we went out to some very college, very American bars.  Friday morning I made pumpkin waffles in celebration of the first day of fall (SO EXCITED), and then we were off to explore the city! We went to the top of the capitol building to see the view of Tallahassee from twenty-two floors up, and then travelled across town to Cody's favorite lake.  Cody was testing out some old Polaroid 4x5 film that he was able to snag, Nick was experiencing Tallahassee's nature at its finest, and I was just there for the ride.  Saturday was a day of grilling and college football with friends ("I've got crisps, buns, and beer and I've neva felt more American!"), and Sunday we said goodbye and Nick was on his way to Bolivia!

I had to add this.  Here is Cody testing out some shots, and Nick slapping the water with a stick after speaking with a biker who mentioned that there was a baby alligator in the lake and causing commotion would be the only way for it to come to us.  Greeaaaattt idea.

Wedging Table

After multiple attempts to wedge on the living room floor, art room floor, and back porch, Cody and I finally realized that I needed a wedging table of my own.

We pulled this one together with a cubic storage unit, a square of untreated canvas, and a few nails.  My personalized stool that I've had since I was a kid is at the perfect height to work at!

Backyard Portrait Shoot

Cody has been busy working on his big "thesis" project before he graduates, so when our dear friend Ian was in town, Cody took advantage of the extra hands to photograph Catie's boyfriend, John. 

Do they ever have shirts on?

Left: Ian and John checking out the light meter.

Right: Catie relaxing in the background.

Livin' the Dream

Seriously though.  My life is a dream right now.  Three years ago when Cody and I dreamed of living together in a sweet pad with a studio so that we could create 24/7, I don't think that either of us thought it would actually become a reality.  So freaking blessed.

Anyway, today I got word that I got a studio in the BFA warehouse for this semester.  Yes!  It was also the first day of class, so after printmaking class and ceramics class I decided to go to the warehouse to check out my new space as well as see my friend, Michelle.  

So the deal is that in the process of people moving out and people moving in, everyone just throw all of their shtuff into a big pile and everyone has free reign on it.  Out of control.  So much sweet stuff.  Applied for a studio saying that I would want a projector, a light table, and screens to make paper with, and walk out of the warehouse with frosted glass, mesh screening, and a projector. Out. Of. Control.

So my point of this entry besides still being in awe of a really good Monday is to show you the light table that Cody (and I... but barely) created from scratch!  Created by some jerry-rigged light bulbs, a piece of frosted glass from an old desk, Cody's bunk bed supports, and black tape.

Step one: basic lighting test. Lookin' goooooood.

Step two: Securing with tape, what else?

Step three: Add custom wiring.

Cody checking out his negatives from Wales and Ireland!

 

AND VOILA!

Jeesh, the creativity just keeps on flowing.

Studio

Okay so as you all may know my sister, Cody, and I are living in this sweet off-campus house... that looked like Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Bradley threw up on it.  So my family and I did some major revamping and I wanted to share my new studio space with you, considering I will be putting many, many hours in it for the next year!

Originally... so much to handle!

Some shelving and two of my favorite pieces.

This will be my work desk.

After! With my favorite typewriter and original Cody O'Loughlin artwork!

My family's old door knocker... a piece of home.

Since I mentioned him, be sure to check out my best friend Cody's website.  He just spent the last semester living and working in London with a well-known photographer photographing miners, wild horses in Ireland, and the crowds at the Royal Wedding. Ah the life!

"Make each day of the week like Friday and your life will take on new enthusiasm."

—Byron Pulsifer

My Friday was just so eventful. 

I had my last art history class of the semester (woo hoo!) and then hurried back to my disastrous apartment to finish up my project for George's Walking/Looking/Making class.  At about 4:30 I headed over to the Art Alley, where we were displaying our work in a Get Green show.  The alley is such a mysterious, magical place.  Tucked away behind the Engine Room, St. Michael's Pub, and Paul Putkovsky's artist studio, this is a place where inspiration and nature intertwine.  This alley is often frequented with drifters and the homeless, who both respect and sometimes add to the art that is installed by FSU art classes.  

So Catie, Cody, and CJ came to help me set up my work.  I did Micron pen (of course) and watercolor studies of changing leaves, mounted onto class.  They came out surprisingly well—I initially was not excited to show them off.  However, the setting sun cast such lovely shadows of the chain link fence behind the drawings.  The watercolors were intensified with the golden light, which made me extremely pleased.  

Cody and me hanging the frames on the chain link fence of the Engine Room's roof.

Left: My favorite watercolor job of them all—the purple and oranges were incredible in the dusk light.

Right: Me cutting twine.  Photo is compliments of my lovely sister, Catie.

All hung up!  Catching the last bit of sunlight.

The sunlight was replaced by spotlights at night.  Showtime!

After my class had our critique, Catie and I left and went bowling with the boys.  BUT THEN, there was an intense snowball fight on the Union Green.  Yes, I said snowball fight.  Twenty tons of ice was brought down from North Carolina and shaved into snow and spewed out over students as a very dangerous, but very delightful, snowball fight commenced below.  These pictures are from my phone and definitely not noteworthy, but you do get the feeling of happiness when the "first snow" of the winter has fallen...

We thought that this was going to be it...

After so much more ice was shaven, a ridiculous snowball fight ensued.

Ahh, I can't say enough how much I love this time of the year.

Classes are over, and I have one installation for drawing on Tuesday, and an art history exam on Friday. I see a lot of catching up on due drawings and online TV in my future.

Chromoscope

About to head out for a meeting with my photography professor and then to a photography exhibit in Railroad Square featuring my very dear friend, Cody.  His stuff is awesome, so check it out on his new website: 

www.codyoloughlin.com

That is all.

Silver Lake

So yesterday, I get a call from my best friend, Cody. He had his teachers very, VERY expensive medium format camera for the day and wanted to shoot my sister's friend down at Silver Lake. So we all piled into the car between my classes and headed down there.

The place was very quiet, very peaceful. There was only an abandoned (probably stolen) jeep to welcome us down the dirt road. The pictures would have been amazing. It feels so great to be able to hold a camera that nice. However, they just didn't come out.

You can thank my lovely sister, Catie, for this picture. Editing by me. More that I took will be up on Flickr. Love spontaneous trips with my best friend.

New T-Shirt Design and Envelopes

Last night Cody and I printed our envelopes for the T-Shirt biz! As well as a sweet origami crane with a bandana pattern on it. You can buy our shirts at Call Street Art & Design.