Summer Shin Dig

    To be back and making my own decisions. Some kookier than others (floral thrifted pants) and some sensible and mature (cerulean silk blouse).
    Last night I was complimented by friends on the trials and tribulations I had overcome in the past year. They said I was graceful and strong. They spoke of my young relationship with high regards. I glowed. People who's opinions that really matter. I hadn't even thought of this year as being a difficult one (though 2011 could never be mentioned again and that would be just fine). As we recounted our accomplishments and passed stories and credits around the room our report grew more and more animated and ridiculous finally ending in exhaustion.
    I was struck by the types of things they noticed about me. It is always that "own voice on the answering machine" when you see yourself reflected back in the eyes of your friends. The gap between the ideal and real self. That gap grew smaller and smaller, what they said made me proud of myself.

Enhance Yourself

One of the weirdest assignments. "Enhance yourself". Brings out every petty insecurity and every 2nd wave feminist "I should know better, I am woman hear me roar blah blah blah". Ultimately I feel both, but the process was very unnerving. Just two hours of work and I got an editorial style version of myself; fuller lips, higher brow bone, different shaped eyes, even complexion. I resolve to never buy a beauty magazine again. I feel tired. I don't even want to address "social standards of beauty", it's a lecture we have all attended. But here it is again. Do I love myself more? Do I feel I should change? No, I just covet photoshop all the more. 

I Guess I Have Orange in my Eyes

Kudos to my dad for being a trooper and taking these photos. 

A dinner party with one of my favorite family friends family. So cool, they are splitting up for spring break, mother and son going to New York and DC, father and daughter going to London. Absolutely cultured, present, charming and hilarious. Such a treat. And I got to dress up for the first time in awhile, despite my greasy-busy-bun I managed to rock some more formal looks. 

These boots (more images to come I assure you) are my newest choice find. They are scarlet inside! Thank you Nordstrom Rack.

     While I talked art and London life with these visiting folks my dad told me that he was very reassured and proud by my "passion in art". He said tonight was the first time he was shown that this wasn't just a fad. Seeing me communicate on an adult, academic level about museums in London, Damien Hirst, my budding passion for mob movies and Banksy, really showed him that (gasp of novelty) I am serious about my pursuit of art. One point for art students everywhere. 

As You Wish

Meet Wesley, our new friend. He is a 35 pound miniature pot-bellied pig. He is leash trained, potty trained and responds to his own name. He is more obedient than our dog. He was previously owned by a family friend and needs more yard time, and we are happy to have him. Scratch his belly, he'll lay down. 

Ga Ga for Givenchy

Just look at her.

In a Timely Fashion

Sewing machine turned time piece turned necklace. How could one go wrong? 

It's a new favorite, I wanted a "go to" necklace and needless to say I have found something unique and charming. 

A Touch of Springtime

Shirt: Thrifted, Hat: H&M, Bag: Target, Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Steve Madden, Sweater: J Crew

      

      It's beginning to feel a lot like spring time this February. Good thing we are expected to have snow for the rest of the week. I took this rare opportunity to don some sandals and barricade myself to the library to start my research paper. 

   This earring is one of my favorites, multiple feathers and a snail shell. I like to pair it with a smaller earring that picks up the green string towards the top. 

     My research project is on the transgender community and its participation in post modern art, and based on that participation and the benefits gained from post modern activities how we can anticipate that community to act in alter modern art (what we are currently in). Juicy stuff. 

Midnight Art Building Adventure

   Late the other night I left my paint brushes in my painting locker in the art building and I needed them for homework. I grabbed Stephanie and Chelsea Garmon and made them come with me, little did we know it would be a little adventure. The art building is great with huge windows and filled with the strangest things. We went to the painting studio first.

My favorite shoes. If you haven't caught on by now, I'm real short. 

This is Chelsea. What a cool cat she is. See that pocket? She sewed it herself. 

Stephanie in her new Sherlock shirt. 

There's this weird new section in the art building which is a hallway painted with weird circus types. But we loved it. 

        Then I took them down to the print lab. Printmaking is my focus for my art major. I started this project a few weeks ago which has been a great experience. Printmaking is so much about the process, so many things are permanent or stubborn and everything takes a very long time. In this project though I had a very different sort of process all together which required me to work quickly but with great care. 

         I found a dead robin on campus (good thing the purse contents glamour shot wasn't that day). I knew it needed to be in a project. Initially I thought about giving it to a friend in the ceramics department to make a mold of it. But then looking at the feathers I knew I wanted to print off of it. Directly off of the carcass. So that night I took it to the print lab and tried it. 

       I would daub ink onto the body and then hand press it onto sekishu paper. It required me manipulating the body in a slightly forceful manner, daubing with pressure to apply enough ink, stretching wings, adjusting the head and neck, pressing firmly. I had to work quickly for the body would only stay flexible and (relatively) non smelly for a number of hours. It was a difficult process, I tried to be ginger with my actions but when I heard the first bones snap I stopped, teared up, and pressed on. After that I let bones and tendons snap with less mourning but was teary all the same. I would fold his wings over his body, under his body. Tilt the head at extreme angles, push hard on the skull to get the impressions of the eye socket. Pull the feet at full length to get solid linear shapes next to the ephemeral looking feathers.  By the end of the process his wings and head were sadly limp and mangled. Eventually his feathers were pulled out by ink and I could not use him any more. I wasn't sure If I was exploiting this body or if I did the best I could. But the thought of being responsible for the mangling of a body was not a good one. However the results were quite beautiful. So my morality and my art-hungry self battled that night. Ultimately I think the pieces are lovely. I buried the bird the next morning and felt right. 

Spotlight on the Masters

And finally a sunny day worth celebrating with hiking, home working, and of course enjoying the Super Bowl. Katie Masters had the right idea with this little number. Stylish, fresh and fun. There's nothing more inspiring as a blogger to walk around and see your friends look so stinkin' stylish. 

A Turn Inward

   I have drawn more pictures of this rabbit than any other singular subject. Neville is my garden friend, he is charming and friendly. All of the pictures are gesture drawings, not a single one finished but all of them capture a piece of him. But I keep at it because I love the process.
   A friend recently asked me why I blog and I found myself instantly embarrassed "I dunno, narcissism of course" was my reflexive response. But I blog because I love the communities I have found online. Fashionistas, crafty moms, and broke-ass kids a like have turned to the internet for ideas on how to dress, make, and adventure on the cheap. Friends like Stephanie and Sarah have shown me how to get started and helped me with my own networking. Amy and Rookie Mag have shown me what a blog can be "when it's all grown up". Projects like THIS are more artful and important than we know. Blogs like THIS have shown me the beautiful in the ordinary, and THIS has inspired entire internal conversations with pictures alone. Blogs like Zines before them have ultimately united ambitious people and given them a network to share ideas with unprecedented abilities.
   I do this because I want to see, share and be shared. This process has been challenging even in the first month. I can't wait to see what Wildish and I become when we grow up.

Sink or Swim

Upon opening my closet recently, a friend exclaimed "So many neutrals". She's right. I haven't decided if I should expand my wardrobe to include the occasional focal color. To me a risky sweater would be say teal blue instead of navy. Not terribly striking. However I have come to love my land of neutrals, maybe it's a manifestation of Oregonian overcast but hey. I went for all black today, sitting on the ground writing on my blog Stephanie says "Look at you little beat-nick you". 

Had a great "duty date night" with my friend Sam. Watched "He Died with a Felafel in his Hand" (unsure of opinion of it), then "Zach Galifanakis: Live at the Purple Onion" and video chatted with my younger sister for nearly an hour. We explained to her that tape wars are appropriate and only expected on a slow evening in college. Shenanigans and hilarity all around. 

While I admittedly indulge in hipster items (clothing, reading, home decor and entere life) my favorite hipster item is this Toronto cup from Goodwill. I've never been to Toronto but for $.99 who can say no?

On the Band Wagon

     Let's talk about Sherlock shall we? I can't help myself. In the course of 10 days I have watched all 6 episodes. I mean look at those cheek bones, who could tear themselves away? I have found this show genuinely entertaining, albeit a little campy ( I mean carnies, dominatrix AND an evil nemesis? Come on).  However this modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is truly great. It illuminates a charming friendship between Dr. John Watson and Sherlock in a realistically humorous and human relationship. The show has had an impact on the fashion industry as well. Belstaff, the designer for Sherlock's iconic coat put the trench back in circulation by popular demand before the end of the second season.

    Also designer Paul Costelloe is moving to meet demands for what is being called "Sherlock Chic" . GQ called it " the smartest sartorial reinvention since Matt Smith decided to sport a tweed jacket and bow tie. " Liberty London designed Sherlock's suits; iconic, crisp and with a hint of vintage. Sarah Arthur, Cumberbatch's wardrobe designer, expresses delight that audiences have loved the look "I found these Spencer Hart suits which were classic, beautifully cut, the cloth was fabulous and when he put it on he thought it was perfect. It was actually the first thing he tried on!". Hart seems to epitomize his style on "Understated Cool". It requires selective shopping, the right fabric, and most of all self confidence. 

The Winter Blues and Browns

Skirt, Socks: Gap
Coat: H&M
Hat,Scarf: Forever 21
Shoes, Bag: Target
Sweater: Thrifted

  As a past serial floral fan I am learning the value of darker/ simpler looks. Winter has let me fully explore blues, blacks and browns, always complimented by my huge oatmeal scarf. The challenge I have found is wearing these darker colors and not the darker attitude, as silly as it sounds. I try to lighten each look with wavy, beachy hair, minimal makeup or my oatmeal scarf. So far so good.
    I was talking with Stephanie last night about the value of happiness, or the place suffering has in the world. A concept I have been discussing much of this school year with the help of "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". I told her that after going through so much growing up, I feel like the shininess of the naivety of childhood is gone, I mean hell I even dress differently now let alone act and think differently. Much more cynicism and questioning, many more blues and blacks. Not that the world isn't still amazing and impressive of course, there's just a little bit of a grit on the lens of adulthood.

Inauguration

Greetings Readers,
  Wildish is a space dedicated to my work, travels, crafts and occasionally outfits. For the initial post, let me introduce myself. My name is Eden, I am an art student in Oregon. I decided to do a blog honestly because I admire so many others. I really enjoy how charasmatic a blog persona can be. Each blogger I follow seems really engaged in their world be it through outfits or projects. Along with being very active, they like to share their activities and opinions in great, creative ways. I am more motivated now more than ever to really live. Call it an overzealous approach to the new year if you will, but  I think that after a very difficult 2011 its about time to recharge, be light, and share what I love. So I hope you enjoy it as much as I hope to.
 Always,
  Eden