GJ Willis' Art Notes

Friday the 13th I spent over my father’s house. I went over there to pick up some books I ordered on eBay about zines.

As I’ve written before it’s been awhile since I’ve put one together. The last time I put together an old skool(Yeah, I meant to spell it that way) zine, it was the 80’s. So I imagine things must have advanced since then. I’m sure I could probably put one together on my computer. I think I have some kind of desktop publishing software that came with my Mac.

The books I bought from ebay were >Zine Scene by Francesca Lia Block and Hillary Carlip. I’m familiar with Block through her book Weetzie Bat and Carlip through her Girl Power book. Carlip’s book was featured on Oprah a while back. So I imagine you can consider Block and Carlip as two original Riot Grrrrls.

Two other books I have are >Jamming the Media and Webworks: e-zines: Explore On-Line Magazine Design. I hope that the addition of these two books helps to give me a more well rounded view of today’s modern zine.

As I write this I’m wearing a red t-shirt, jean shorts, and beige sandals.

spacelady, originally uploaded by willisgirl.

The above picture is one of two I completed this week. It’s my attempt at a Sci-fi like theme. It’s 11x14 acrylic on bristol board. I haven't named it yet. All the work I’m doing now as I’ve probably written before will either be slated for eBay in the fall or a local art show.

Today, is Friday the 13th. Bwahahhahaha! Well, I've got that out of the way. Back to the usual format of this blog....

The bus and light rail were on time. However, we had the anal retentive bus driver again. I noticed that she had a knitted or crocheted Mickey & Minnie Mouse hanging from the fare box in a clear plastic bag. I don’t know if they were possibly gifts for her grandchildren or something left behind by a passenger?

It turns out yesterday that I did feel out it without my blankey ‘er walkman. Since the age of twelve I’ve always carried a walkman with me. Without it I feel naked. You see, “I just can’t live without my radio.”

On the art front: In total I have completed four new paintings this month. I’ll post them as soon as I scan them. Also, I’ve completed and sent out two mail art pieces. Sorry, I didn’t scan the mail art before I sent it out. The reason is that usually after you send out mail art the person/group you sent it to posts it to their web site.

Recently, I got another e-mail from Gary Kachadourian. School 33 is having a call for entries for an upcoming show they’re doing on Invisibility. I believe the show takes place during Black History month and the curator is an African American artist. Entries for the show have to be in by mid-September. I’m seriously debating about this one. I’ve never been part of a show at School 33. The one thing holding me back is that they want slides of your work. As I’ve written before I’m a very 21st century artist. The vast majority of examples of my work are in jpeg format. However, a while ago I recall hearing about an on line company that converts jpeg files into slides. I would like to use there service. That is if I can find the name of the company and whether or not they are any good.

As I write this I’m wearing a blue daisy waffle print short sleeve blouse. I got it from Walmart. Also I’m wearing jeans and tennis shoes. I’m sure you probably know where I bought my shoes from...

So far this week I completed two paintings. The above is one of the paintings. I’ll post the other one tomorrow. I’m not sure what I’ll call it. I’m leaning towards Golden Girl, or something like that. It’s acrylic, my paint of choice, on 11x14 bristol board.

Today, the bus was five minutes late. We had a different driver than we’ve had this week. This time it was a very anal retentive middle aged woman. She seemed to be on the verge of an angina attack if you crossed over the white line at the head of the bus.

Big news of the day is that I forgot my walkman. So I’m writing this without any musical stimulation. This will all be alleviated when I get to work. I always keep a spare, albeit, bargain basement, walkman in my desk drawer. I will probably feel a little discombobulated today but I’ll get over it....hopefully.

Bizarre unexplainable site: Yesterday, I saw Brian, my supervisor, lurking outside the building. The whole episode was weird. The reason for my unease is that I don’t usually see him outside when I leave for the day. Seeing him made me think that maybe I forgot something or did something wrong like forget to turn off my computer.

One evening last year I forgot to turn off my computer and was greeted the next morning by a post it note scrawled in large angry lettering, “TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER!” This was during a week when it seemed as though he was angry at me for everything. To this very day I have no idea what I did to set him off. All I know is that I hope that this isn’t the start of another period like that. I know I’m not perfect but during that period if it was raining outside he would blame me.

Today, I’m wearing a blue and white t-shirt with a nautical theme. It has red and gold accents on it. It’s part of a short set I own. Since we can’t wear shorts to work I’m wearing jeans and my trusty Payless tennis shoes.

Yesterday, I reached my breaking point. I couldn’t stop thinking about Joel. I had to know. So I finally did it. I signed up for the Gold Membership package at the ubiquitous classmates.com

It turned out that the photo was different from the ones on his web site. All I remember about the picture is that he had a playful coy expression on his face. He still looked great not quiet Brad Pitt but still cute as hell.

The most intriguing thing was that the answers to his relationship status were blank. He didn’t fill in if he was married, single, or in a committed relationship. Why, oh why did he leave that part of the survey blank? It was the only reason I signed up for membership! I wanted to say, “Oh, he’s married now. I’ll have to get over it.” This non answer business makes me just wonder even more. Then again it could be that the answer was unavailable. The only unavailable answers I can come up with is that possibly he’s a widower.

Anyway, I guess I’ll never know for sure if he’s married, straight, widowed, or gay. You know in a way by leaving that part blank it’s almost like he’s coyly saying, “Wouldn’t you like to know?...” One things for sure he looks great for a man in his early 40’s. Yeah, I know I should just “get over it”, but with a non answer on his survey it makes me wonder what the deal is. Maybe, that was the point to his non answer, to keep you guessing...

Today I’m wearing my short sleeved royal blue top, black pants, and again the black Payless shoes.

The bus and light rail were both on time today. Also, I noticed that I have a new bus driver. I don’t know if he’s filling in for my regular bus driver or if they’re doing the seasonal MTA driver switcharoo.

I’ve been getting an awful lot of e-mails from Classmates.com telling me that 8 new people from my school have added their names to the web site. So last night I broke down out of curiosity and took a look. I did see some familiar names listed but none worthy enough to make me break down and pay for the 15$ gold membership. Then I saw that Joel Tallman had added his name to the teachers list. Joel not only added his name but a photo! The only way to get to the picture was to pony up the cash. The question now would be are those new photo’s or recycled photos from his web site? Also how much of the questionnaire did he fill out? Let’s face it the only answer I really wanted to know was is there a Mrs. Tallman yet?

I think I’ve already wrote somewhere in this blog about Joel. Aha! It appears on my June 2, 2004 entry. I suppose you’ll have to scroll down to find it. After looking at that entry I’ll have to upgrade the celebrity he most resembles from Paul Walker to the highest props humanely possible Brad Pitt. I have yet to have seen another person in my lifetime who was eligible for Brad Pittdom other than Joel in the 80’s.

Anyway, I don’t have to pony up the cash! I could just go over to his web site to look at pictures of him! Heck, the photos on his site even include the always adorable, Baby Joel. No, it’s not a site he set up just for former students to fawn over him. It’s an educational site for his current international students.

Today I’m wearing a very Catholic School pair of cotton blue plaid pants and a white button down blouse with my black Payless shoes.

It’s a miracle! Today, the bus and light rail were both on time this morning! It was a smooth event less ride.

Since deciding yesterday to come up with a zine, all I have to do now is come up with a concept. Also I have to decide if the zines will be for sale or simply given away for free. If I should decide to charge for the zines I would have to share the profits for all the zines priced over $2 with the Baltimore Office of Promotions. I don’t know if I’d want to share the profits or just give them away. Then again I don’t expect my zine to be a million seller blockbuster. Decisions, decisions...

The zines I’ve made in the past were all free and were distributed among family members. Some people like to take it easy and relax during the summer months. I on the underhand enjoyed making fake magazines devoted to my favorite subjects.

I have something to confess...... I have never been to the Book Festival. I’ve walked by it numerous times on my way to Center Stage when I used to work there.

Today, I’m wearing a purple short sleeved v-neck top, jeans, and cheap Payless tennis shoes.

The above is an oil pastel painting I completed today. I did it in response to a challenge from the Wetcanvas oil pastel forum. We had to complete an oil pastel in under two hours time. The above is the result of what I can do in under two hours with oil pastels.

Right now, I’m thinking about whether or not I should submit something for the Baltimore Book Festival. You see about a week ago I got an e-mail from Gary Kachadourian, asking local artists if they would be interested in submitting something for the Book Festival.

I have not made a zine in ages. I don’t currently have any laying around the house. So I’m thinking whether or not I should come up with one for the Book Festival? I'm currently working on a play for the Baltimore Playwriter's festival as well as one for Harford Community College. I'm also trying to finish work to submit to a local art show as well a for eBay. If I did the zine I would have up until early September to finish it. Also if I did the zine would I be in danger of becoming the Max Fischer of Baltimore?

Who’s Max Fischer you ask? Max Fischer is the lead character in one of my all time favorite coming of age movies, Rushmore. In my book it ranks right up there with The Graduate. One thing I have to say is that I admired Max’s chutzpah and undying ambition.

You know right now I’m thinking, what the heck! What have I got to loose? I’m just a tiny, nameless, faceless, cog in the wheel called Baltimore. I’m at a wonderful juncture in my life. I have no reputation and nothing to loose. So what the hell! I’m doing it baby!

Right now, as I write this, I’m wearing a blue bathrobe with fuzzy pink slippers.