I can tell you one thing. I never imagined I’d be watching an amazing thunderstorm outside my sliding glass door, playing the banjo as the lightning flashes. My tortoise shell cat is silhouetted against the window nicely.

My goal for 2011 was to KBA (Keep Being Awesome)…and I think I did that, even if it felt like I didn’t.

• Drew everyday for several months
• Painted many paintings, more than I ever had before
• Was there to witness my twin sisters son being born (well, right after he was born)
• Ran the Austin Half Marathon
• Submitted to a couple of art shows and got in (hey, 1 is big to me!)
• Had an awesome birthday with the amazing Julie
• Visited NYC alone and walked myself sore going to lots of museums
• Improved my roller derby skills – even if I became burned out by the end of the year
• Went to my first festival (FFFFest for a day – and proceeded to drink too much and puke a lot!)
• Lost about 25 lbs! (back to my pre-divorce weight…oh wait, smaller!)
• Got to know Joe
• Picked up my violin again, which I had almost forgotten (and am playing often)
• I’ve been introduced to all types of new music

I am listing these, because these are things I keep forgetting to reflect on. Instead I linger on insecurity, the things I am not, loss and hurt, and why I’m not doing more…the list could go on. It’s okay to reflect on those things, but not to let it overwhelm me. I’m glad that I wrote this post, as you can see from my first sentence, I just automatically assumed I’d write how unhappy I was. Tough times yes, but Gina, look what you can accomplish in tough times!

I didn’t give myself a New Year’s resolution. Maybe KBAing it, is still a worthy resolution.

Just really glad to see the leaves changing colors. I got home just in time for a down pour…

First off, one of my self portraits was accepted into the Austin Art Space 12buy12 show.
If you’re interested, go check it out, it should be up until January 7th. If you’re really interested, you could even buy it! I was unable to attend the opening because I had to teach that night. But I did check it out later and snapped a couple of photos on my phone. The images are just one side of the gallery, there are a couple more walls with all kinds of art, all within the 12″ x 12″ limit. Buy one and support local art!

I also submitted work to the call for artists that the Austin City Hall People’s Gallery had. Artists should know by the end of January if they got in. If picked, artwork would be hanging for a year in their lobbies and atrium. I’m crossing my fingers and toes.

In the process of applying, I created my artist resume (statement and all). Because of this and the additional artwork I’ve made, I realize I need to make an actual artist website. This blog has been useful in tracking my progress, and will stay, but the site will have to morph. Now to find time to do that…

At times I feel that things are moving too slowly and I want to get “there” now! At other times I feel like life is moving too fast and I can’t keep up and I get overwhelmed.

I feel this in painting, in relationships, in my day job…I’m still trying to find that balance.

Patience is what it seems that I need. And to be fully present in what’s happening right now.

I haven’t really been posting any work, but that doesn’t mean I’m not working. Two paintings are in progress and I’d like to finish them before I share (although you could see progress photos on my Facebook page).

That morning I met up with Julie, Liz, and Katie (all my peers at Ai, plus Cathy) to get this thing done. We arrived at our destination a bit before 6am. Each of us ready to go. It was exciting. There were so many people there; runners, family and on-lookers. It was weird to be on the Capitol grounds before sunrise. After a few trips to the bathroom to get that “last pee” in, the race started. About 15 min later, we actually got to the start line.

Lance Armstrong was also running…way ahead of me…I told him to go ahead and not wait. He didn’t.

It was amazing to see the flood of people running ahead of you (up hills). It was inspiring and just cool. I saw people taking photos with their cameras (as they ran). People stopping to hug their families and take pictures with their kids. Along the way I heard all types of music coming from some of the homes on our path. One of which was the Karate Kid song, “You’re the Best”. The support from the city was awesome! I hear it’s actually not as many people as marathons in other cities but I was impressed. Around mile 9 things started getting yellow. LiveStrong had the “Yellow Mile” and that was amazing. There were rows of people in yellow shirts clapping for you and calling your name (which was on your racing bib). On the road were giant chalk notes to the runners like “You can do this!”, “You’re doing this for you”, and “You’re my hero”. I may have shed a tear or two…I kept it in…I think. It was inspiring. But sadly, way too short.

I must admit, the entire race was really fun, until I got to mile 10 (at the corner of Mopac and the service road). Then it was all downhill from there. Oh, pardon me, I mean UPHILL. The last 3 miles of the race were the hardest. Crazy hills that I saw people, bent over, heaving as they got to the top. I ran, yes, slowly, maybe more of a trot really. I did take some walking strides as I crested the giant hill on Enfield, but I got right back to jogging.

Crossing the Finish Line

I started seeing more crowds and cheering as I neared the end. It’s difficult to see the end since the finish line is between buildings. I wanted to sprint the last leg, but without seeing it, I didn’t want to start and run out of steam. When I finally saw it, I sprinted. I remember hearing “Vertigo” by U2 playing as I ran. I crossed the finish line, with tears in my eyes. Partly  because I finished, partly because the race was finally over and partly because my finish time was 3 hours and 20 min. I ran for 3 hours and 20 mins. Um, I ran for 3 hours and 20 mins. Now think back, remember I wanted to do it in 2 hours and 20 min? Well, apparently I never calibrated my new Nike+ipod chip…so I was tracking the wrong time as I trained! There was no way I could have ever made 2 hours…but I finished.

Oh and you know that Runner’s high people talk about? When does that kick in? Hour 4?! I’m kidding. I think I felt it in mile 4 but it ended somewhere around mile 9.

My body was jacked for about 2 days after, with sore knees for a day or two more. Will I do it again (but train properly and capture my right time)? Maybe…ask me in 9 months.

Here is a map of where I am going. I didn’t realize I would run from north of the capital, down to Ben White and then over to Mopac and then back on Enfield. They aren’t kidding about those hills. I have run 10 miles, I can do this. We can do this, and all will be stronger for it after (and with no pain!).

Mixed media…seeing if the matches will stick. You can see a previous state of this one here and a thumbnail of it here.

More matches (and other things) will be added when I know they will stick and not pop off in a day.

Daily Drawing: Feb 1st – Feb 9th

From latest to oldest:

February 9th: Acrylic on 24”x30” canvas- progress update. It’s coming together. I will add hair and have things drip/run…hopefully that will remove the “mirror mirror” look.
I want to paint all my canvases black now.

February 8th: (late) acrylic on 16×20 canvas. Looks brighter due to flash…cherry stem may become a snake. Lower lip needs to be bigger. May have the lips drip… Good progress today since I didn’t draw/paint yesterday. It’s off centered…maybe I should flip it over? Fix it while I still can? Reminds me of the most delicious candy ever…twizzlers! Or Rocky Horror.

February 7th: India Ink on paper. RIP Tura Satana When using India ink I have to take my pictures at an angle or else I get a glare…

February 6th: graphite on 2.5”x3.5” artist trading card (with a bit of red pastel). Actually had to distort the image since my camera sucks and I have to use a flash. The black was being blown out so I had to take it at an angle. Just a quick sketch, as are all daily drawings, next time I sharpen my pencils first.

February 5th: Chalk pastels on black paper. Just a lady in the moonlight… (with a teeny tiny hand?). Messy and not much detail…what I need to do is start trying to use q-tips instead of my fingers. With small stuff (like the face) a fingertip for blending is just too big. I think she looks a bit like Selena with blue hair…or a drag queen.

February 4th: Acrylic on 24”x30” canvas. Let’s see what she turns into…I’ve got something in mind. It will change, because right now I see “mirror mirror on the wall…”

February 3rd: Acrylic on canvas. Progress on an older image…hair is big, but it’s already changed since I took this picture. She’s my very own Venus.

More detail

February 2nd and 1st…nothing to show.