Tag Archives: art
Best Laid Plans
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Are in my notes app.
Mini meltdowns and overload of thoughts generally = focus and plans in the aftermath. I guess I’ve honed the skill of turning breakdowns into something useful over the years. The overwhelmingly trapped feeling gives way to “fuck it, I’m going to do some stuff, and I’m going to write it down so I KNOW”. So, that’s that. March and April seems to be the time that happens for me, lately. I don’t know why exactly, but I’d be willing to bet that the sudden feeling of living in a perpetual winter or perpetual deadness (no leafs or flowers get old) has something to do with it. Growing up in perpetual spring and summer makes the never-ending winter scary I think. I never know when to put coats away, or when it’ll stop being monochromatic. I know there’s green in June, but any time before that is sketchy and does weird things to my psyche.
In which I buy lots more makeup
We’ve been working on preproduction for Hendstrom a lot lately – I’ve drawn out some costume alterations, put together a list of costume thingies I need – and, as you can see in the last post, started trying crazy stuff with eyeliner. I’ve decided to invest in tattoo pens instead, because 10 minutes in the sink isn’t as fun as it sounds. Tonight, we braved the cold and quelled our stir craziness and stopped by Target so I could pick up some more makeup to experiment with.
I ended up with 2 kinds of mascara (well 4, but 2 tubes), eyeliner pen, face primer, foundation that is (hopefully) lighter than my skin tone, and makeup remover cloths – all for $22 because E.L.F. is the best ever and I don’t feel bad buying loads of makeup – because it’s good makeup and way less expensive; perfect for low/no-budget filming and preproduction!
Our notebooks are filling up with pictures and plot lines and rough set designs. Earlier this month, we started a vlog tumblr (vlogblr?) of our preproduction process and what we’ve been working on – we’ll be releasing another one later this week, so if you’re keen, follow hendstrom.tumblr.com because documenting is fun!
Work is ending soon which will give me time to expel some of this creative energy into doing ALL THE SEWING. I’m looking forward to it, honestly. And playing with face makeup. I have a book I’d like to order along with the tattoo pens that should hopefully help with the makeup-artistry.
Interesting thing about being a very very indie filmmaker, is that you have to balance everything that goes into a film yourselves. You have to build the world, write the world, fill the world, film the world, light the world, and dress the world all by yourself with whatever resources you have or can hack together. It makes you realize why exactly there are so many departments on movies: art teams, painting teams, makeup, costume, lighting, DP’s, AD’s, sound, noms, everything. Because it’s hard enough balancing all that for a handful of people, let alone hundreds.
Thing is though, this is an all encompassing art form, and I love it; that’s why I vlog, and draw, and pour everything into preproduction, and act, and watch Alex edit it all together.
Quilting. (or busy kiery is busy)
I’m thinking I’m going to try and do a mystery quilt this fall/winter.
So far, the rest of the year looks like this:
Film for two (going on 3?) web series
Read some fantasy books on my list (or if all else fails, comic books – I did this last year when I was working, before bed, it was great for unwinding and sleeping without the “I’m going to stay up until 3am to finish this!” side effect)
Game night thursdays (and the occasional Warmachine night/tournament) and WoW/random video games with people – I foresee a good bit of halo.
Quilting (or crocheting or whatever)
And general artsyness, including my show on Friday.
Holidays and gingerbread and shopping are in there somewhere too. 
It feels a little crazy, a little overwhelming and I get a little tired and scared at the thought, but mostly I’m really excited because I like this, I like being busy and doing things – I have some of my coming paychecks already spoken for: backing a few indiegogo/kickstarter projects, Mystery Quilt, and Mists of Pandaria and more than likely GW2 and a phone upgrade…and presents, and art supplies, and clothes, and tech. This is what I spend my money on guys – This is also what I do with my life and I love it, I think it’s fun and that’s a good thing.
If posting is scarce until January (you never know with these things), you know why.
This is the progression – from concept to finish (with a blurry note in between) of my latest painting.
It’s 6×6 Acrylic on a gallery wrapped canvas. It’s a weird image, two things that don’t really go together, but this is how I’ve pictured myself for most of my life – a rose hidden inside armor – and now, as the rose peeks out through the helm, for the first time and experiences life and sunlight and wind.