Snow Art Models Guild

Hi there, I've finally settled down in the lands of winter.  Places where seasons exist.  Come join me in my little adventures.

Miss you.
xoxo

image via Daily Dose of Imagery

indiana.88085

Got lost again.  Cornfields are always good for that.

Driving in Indiana is almost like losing your way in a field; on either side of the road there are fields and fields of corn with a slight chance of alfalfa.  The upside is that I'm learning the roads instead of using a GPS.  But until I learn where 121, 35, 1, and 570 go; I'm lost.

I was in Piqua, Ohio today and will gladly be there tomorrow.  Yesterday, I got lost on the way back from Indianapolis (known here as Indy) and landed a ways North of my town, Winchester.  Today I was a lady and asked for directions, but still got lost.  I'm learning and racking up a lot of milage.

indiana.87633

This post will be entirely about cars.  For those like me, who cannot tell a Chevy from a Subaru, leave.  But if you have the slightest inkling on how to make it as a model in the midwest, stay.


My odometer currently reads 87633.  I live in Winchester, Indiana which is a blessing in many ways, but in terms of my car it's a midway point for all my gigs.  Last Thursday I drove to Indianapolis to model at the Indianapolis Art Center - over 42 miles one way.  That trip definitely puts the drive to Georgetown from Austin in perspective (44 miles roundtrip).  I model in Piqua, Ohio which is about the same milage in the opposite direction.  It's kind of a blessing for you that I don't have the exact milage to each gig, but I write it down in a notebook in my car.


Why? When I was filing my taxes this spring I got $400 back for the miles I drove in 2009.  I read somewhere that the government pays you 25 cents per mile driven to contracting work.  If you model for ACC, you are a contractor and should write it down.  I got a savings account out of it.


I'll keep you posted on how my car is doing.  Her name is Pelirroja Peligrosa and she got me to Indiana for under $200. According to Jalopnik if you buy a Chevy Aveo, you can get a free Autobot.  Wish I had known, my boy loves Transformers.  Have a good day. 87633.

change.room.2217

Changing in a public bathroom sounds as bad as it is.  I usually use the handicap stall since it's larger and sometimes has more places to hang garments.  Yeah...it's not that great.

With that said, I am happy to announce that the university I work at, IUPUI, has a changing room with lockers and a couch to sit on.  We are a lucky bunch!  I've always day-dreamed that the University of Texas would have at least a folding screen that art models could change behind.  I remember changing behind a chalkboard which was a half-baked idea: it only covered my breasts.  Changing in a storage room at ACC is not much better.  Students accidentally come to get supplies while you change.  And again, not everyone has this modesty of changing, but for those who do they should be covered, for lack of better words. 

I have no power in Austin, you do though. 

Image via Lassco, for much cheaper versions try these.

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I don't think we're in Texas anymore!  I haven't written you all for the state of flux I've been in.  Everything's changing, and when that happens I get shy.  Don't ask me why.  I just can't change in front of people.


With art modeling there's this a. you're naked on stage or b. you're dressed.  People with clothes on don't get much attention they've got their armor on.  Being naked in the art scene is ... not really sexy, so I'm not nervous. I'm the figure they have to stare at and draw accurately.  But changing, oh my! For me at least I can't do it in public.  It's my modesty.  Another art model I know can't wear a bathing suit.  That's her modesty.  I know it's weird but it's partially why you haven't seen me on this blog.  There has been a lot of change.  I'm in Indiana now and all set up. Miss you.


PS Paloma Art Models Guild is now being headed by Kelli Bland in Austin. More details to come.  Take care.

spring habit.011 fat and sex

There was a poetry reading I went to in Oxford.  I couldn't stop laughing.  The reader more of a slampoet or lyricist, the way he broke out into verse.  Basically FAT and SEX were neurotically repeated the way the magazines bombard you at the grocery store checkout.  This magazine boasts of 25 ways to have better sex.  Wait! No!  Let me tell you all of his secret fantasies!  No, no they got it wrong.  Lose weight and feel better naked in 2 weeks!  Only two weeks!  What do you have to lose?

Your sanity?

I know my boss reads this.  That's what any good boss does: keep tabs on her employees' public information.  She's powerful.  Perhaps it's because she can run four stores and keep it all together, maybe it's that she is so stern with employees, but mostly she works her ass off, and encourages everyone else to do the same. She's curvy like me. My point is with all this is, please don't worry about your weight when there are far more important things to deal with.  Maintain a healthy weight, put on five minutes worth of makeup, and wake up!

Men don't worry about their weight half as much as women do.  They have more important matters to worry about than their beer gut, hopefully.  Recently I have to catch myself looking at my dimply thighs and realize ... why the fuck are you doing this? It's ten o'clock, finish what's on your to-do list ... and I'm happier that way.  I finish things instead of obsess and waste time.  Time that I could be earning money or enjoying a good book.

You look fine ... really.  I know I can't see you, but I know most of you don't art model.  We've got clothes for a reason and they should be altered to suit you, not the reverse. Perhaps this is my anti-beauty message, and perhaps it's what happens to you if you devote too many hours a day to beauty.  I kinda lost my peace.

Japanese Moon Viewing Parties

I don't know exactly what to think.  I'm teaching my friend to become an art model.  No, I'm not trying to convert anyone - just help.  Someone needs some spare cash and wants to feel better in her body I'm all for it!  In fact, art modeling was the important factor for my own self-image.  You see yourself in circus mirrors when you look at different renderings.  Or as a kind, wise man once said: reflections in a pond.  Only you can gaze at the moon.  You don't need the reflections.  Take them for what they are and you will know peace.  It's a full moon tonight.  If you're still up you should take a look...it's pretty.


photo via Andrew Calder

spring habit.010

It's Earth Day now.  I'm just up late thinking.  I rode the bus today for two hours.  Did I affect change?  Does it matter?  All the plastic I recycle at home, companies throw away without thinking.  To be quite honest I throw away so much at work as well.

Why do others not care?  That's not it.  As the status quo of my work area is now, we don't have the system in place.  I hardly have time to finish all the routine tasks let alone sort the plastic from aluminum...and that's basic recycling.  Systems are beautiful.  I know it seems odd, but think of ecosystems and the intricate systems of biology.  That said, we need more systems in place for the environment to make recycling easy and convenient, not a luxury for those who have time.

Tell me there is someone out there who cares, too. Enjoy your Earth Day 2010!

spring habit.009

"Do ya have a dollar, do ya have a dollar for me?"

I've been trying to keep up with the spring habit.  As you can see I'm on day 9, not the 18th by any means, but I'm still trying...and enjoying it.  Yesterday I needed it.  I needed to do laundry and generally clean.  It made me feel better.  A lady once told me that, "You can't control everything, but you can make your bed."   I know it sounds silly, but my world is very tumultuous right now, so doing laundry, washing the dishes and generally cleaning up makes me feel better.  I give myself a dollar coin every day that I clean my house/self/environment for two hours.  Lisa Mitchell will perfectly explain this.  She is soo cute!  Take care.

spring habit..easier on the eyes.

my version of beauty is kinda vague and very encompassing.  it's not just makeup and white teeth, it's everything. okay, that explains nothing. i mean simply that the bluebonnets on the highway are pretty and i want them to stay there for Lady Bird Johnson's memory. buses are amazing since using them is the best way to reduce air pollution in our city.  don't be scared of the homeless, if you know how to stare at your feet you should do fine.  plus it's fun to run into Leslie.

that said, it's easier said than done to devote 2 hours of your day to beauty. riding the bus kinda makes it easy: one hour there, one hour back = done. the day before that i sewed and finished a pretty bag, and right now i'm still working on my last hour for today.

i'll give you something prettier to look at; however, it is intricate to the deaths of those faraway sea birds. i speak of caps. #5 plastic bottle caps. "Plastic bottle caps are one of the top 10 items found during marine debris beach clean-ups and the second most littered item after cigarette butts" (Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii).  when looking at the photos of the Midway birds that's what i saw primarily. fortunately Aveda recycles them and because of that i'm switching my skin care regimen to their products. so today i am going to promote beauty with Aveda.  how's that for pretty?  stop by their shop at Barton Creek Mall and drop yours off.  have a good night, best wishes for a beautiful day tomorrow.

spring habit.002

I'm waiting for my nails to dry.  Beauty can be annoying in that it is so time consuming.  Ah well, multi-tasking works.

About a month ago I stumbled upon a tragic slideshow of birds.  It's a bit morbid, but needs to be seen.  Chris Jordan documents dead birds in a remote island in the North Pacific.  The birds decomposed before the plastic in their stomach did.  It's scary to see how our plastic garbage can end up in the vast stretches of our globe.



I'm definitely not perfect.  I use plastic and such, but if all of us do one thing each day to help...well...the world might be a prettier place.  Start with your toothbrush.  All throughout my life I've used regular plastic toothbrushes.  About 2 years ago I found a brush that has disposable bristles.  It's less plastic being thrown away every couple of months.  If you know how to recycle toothbrushes let me know, but for the time being: fuchs toothbrushes found at Whole Foods Market.  My boyfriend and I have been using them for awhile and enjoy them as much as you can enjoy a toothbrush.  Refills are here too on Amazon as well as the aforementioned.

spring habit.001

So today is the first day.001

I did my beauty routine slowly, enjoying it more than I would when I'm rushed.  I don't have chipped nails anymore and my dreaded bathroom is clean.  Beauty is a broad subject and for me. It encompasses the home, outside environment as well as physical appearance.  No worries, I'll talk about more interesting aspects of beauty as it encompasses so many faces.  Spoiler: recycling everything will be on the agenda.  See you tomorrow.

spring habit

I love cleaning. Some of my happiest moments were cleaning First Samples of Austin, Texas. I was a girl friday among other things, but mostly a janitor. The place was beautiful and full of hope: you can become a seamstress in this beautiful school. I miss it actually.

So this cleaning business. Humble, dirty, and devoid of respect, but I think it is important in my life. And so it shall be that I will devote two hours of each day to beauty. Whether it is my bathroom tile or my hair does not matter. I'm making April a trial run of this. Let's see if I can make it. I'm a supposed model writing you with chipped nails and dirty hair.

The inspiration for this is the Dalai Lama. I'm reading the Story of Tibet by Thomas Laird. His holiness devotes four to five hours daily to meditation. I can spare two for what I feel is important spiritually.

portrait by dorje-d

Earth Hour 2010

We've made it my dears! It's another year and I didn't forget Earth Hour this year! Cheers!

Okay...so what is Earth Hour? Well, it's an hour that the whole world turns off it's lights. Sadly it's not one fall swoop of the switch. Each time zone turns off its lights at 8:30pm. I'm hoping that the pub I'm going to tonight joins in.

The point? We rely so much on electricity - try an hour without it. Last year I had a week without internet to much the same effect. It's kinda crazy how much we need it. So give it a try. You can use it as an excuse to cuddle up. Have fun!

the first day of spring

It's interesting to see people talk about the weather. It was cold outside today and didn't feel exactly like spring, but it was its first day. I do it mostly to engage in conversation when there is nothing else appropriate to say. Kinda sad really, but you really see how people react to nature. Sometimes I wish I could say what's on my mind, but you can't always do that. So yes, it's sad but true: I am avoiding talking about what's really important to me.

How's that for an icebreaker? :laugh: I haven't written on this blog in awhile for various reasons, but mainly I hate editing myself for fear of losing my job. Honesty is sometimes inappropriate and will always be in certain circles. But here, I will write about beauty, the environment, Austin, modeling of course, and the resources we have at our disposal. I'll try to write more. Promise.

Capital Metro

Hi there. Haven't written in a bit, and I apologize. It's getting harder to write about modeling when you aren't doing it as a full-time job. For those who are, I know the pay rate and how hard it is. I remember filling my gastank a quarter of the way or half tank if I was lucky. We depend on buses.

Capital Metro is taking a survey of all the riders and their routes from February through April. Surveyors will be identified with a nametag as representatives of Capital Metro, so there is no need to worry about creepy guys asking where you live. Look for the CapMetro nametag.

Tell them what routes you need in place to make traveling easier. East/West routes? I personally want the #9 to go to Laguna Gloria on weekdays. There are a lot of classes at Laguna Gloria and the #9 only goes there on Saturday, a day in which I've never model there. Tell them what you think. Collectively we can make art modeling a sustainable career. I have some more ideas, but patience is key.

Brave New World

One should use the phrase "brave new world" with caution. I've only heard it from antagonist characters now that I think about it. So the season of Heroes ended. The last episode, "Brave New World," had Claire (the cheerleader) reveal to the world her ability. Gabriel remarks, "It's a brave new world," that humans and people with powers can live together out in the open.

What if I told customers what I did in my free time? I don't want to think of the consequences to the business. Really, it's like telling everyone that your summer job is stripping. Claire knows there is going to be trouble, but really people should deal with it and live in truth together. Isn't that what Jesus wanted? Sorry to pull God into it... rather... wouldn't you like to really know your Grandmother before she dies? I would. It would mean visiting her every week to learn all her secrets, loads of patience, buying her groceries, and diligence...but wouldn't it be worth it?

I dream of a day where art models don't have to get a second job to make ends meet. I dream of a somewhat New York blase look to the words, "I'm an art model," or even the day when I say it without a hint of shame. I am thankful that my co-workers are kind and treat me with dignity while knowing that I model. I am thankful that my family has learned to live with it, but I also want art models to be an intricate part of society. Needed. I need artists in my life and they need me, perhaps that is enough.

PS I'm so glad Gabriel/Sylar is becoming kinder. That was a wish of mine this year.

The Model Schedule

A good planner can be the best asset a model owns. With a schedule that fluctuates like Austin's weather, having a calendar or planner pays for itself with one days work. Needless to say, having one helps with one's reputation as a model. Planners keep a model from forgetting any gig.

What I wanted to talk about was something a bit larger in scope. Art models in my experience are part-time. When I was working full-time as a model I didn't realize how bad financially I was doing. All bills were paid, and I don't want to get into details, but I was scraping by. I'd love to work the job I am now, model a little, and in my spare time work on the guild. The guild would provide so many dreams come true, perhaps not in my lifetime but eventually.

My question is this: Does anyone else want to art model full-time if it were possible financially and had health care benefits? Would you volunteer your time to make it happen? Feel free to email me or comment.

I learned the word 'ephemeral' today.

I miss my International Relations Theory teacher. She was one of the most astute yet jubilant people I've ever met. Usually scholars hide behind their intelligence. She didn't and learned more by doing so. She was one of those people who stands on the brink of a glacier and dives into an even more vast and complex field of knowledge, looks back and rethinks the world. She would never get bumper stickers because of it.

So here's to ambiguity! No bumper stickers and public announcements for me. I'll leave you with mehndi a beautiful ephemeral body art until I have my chess pieces in order. It might be awhile.

Photo via Love Mehndi.

There will be no change for now.

I like snakes. Why? I could tell you a long story about pre-historic religions and the etymology of the word gerontology ... but we'll leave it at they're ever-changing.

Sometimes I'm indecisive. Really indecisive. It's amazing that I have a tattoo and still like it. So there's this job and it's nice, and then there's this other job that doesn't pay well but makes me smile thinking about it. I chose the latter ... for the rest of my life. Would you like another tattoo with that, miss?

I change clothes like a girl or a snake. I'd love to get a snake tattoo, but I chose that I would change my skin like a snake. Models and snake tattoos don't mix - unless you've established your career already. So I change my clothes a lot as a model, and I love it. I finished a kimono in two days and it's beautiful. I'm up for a lifetime of making beautiful clothes and all that goes with being a model.

Image via Jon Todd

N'Qisate in Ethiopia

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

I am a novice ... even at Christianity. Although I was born into a Christian family, I didn't really go to bible study, or Sunday school for that matter. There is so much history, beautiful stories that lie within the Bible of which I know not. So when I speak of the Coptic Christians, please forgive me if I make mistakes. I welcome kind corrections.

Let me start with the proper name for the Ethiopian Church. Instead of Coptic Christian Church it is Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. That said, we are talking about facial tattoos again! Makes me happy. It's brave for someone to get a tattoo, much more so on their face. Ethiopian women acquire these tattoos from a young age to signify their Christian faith. The tattoos which are applied by needle are displayed on necks, wrists, and faces of women in Ethiopia. This tradition is called N'Qisate.

In most parts of Ethiopia one will see these tattoos, however, it is prevalent in Lalibela, Ethiopia as it is one of the country's most holy cities. In Islam being tattooed is not thought well of. Ethiopian Christians identify themselves distinctly with these niqisat even though they are a minority in the continent of Africa. It is seen as primitive, sadly. I personally think it is simply traditional and worthy of continuation.

Moko of New Zealand

I decided to start with where my Daddy's from: New Zealand. I've been lucky enough to visit relatives there and it really is a hobbit's paradise! Just kidding Aunties, you're not that short. Every visit I want to get my face done. Not makeup. Done. Little did I know that Moko is not temporary.

As a white girl with a lineage that came originally from Scotland, I would have Kirituhi. I find the skin art of the Maoris beautiful; however, since I am not related I would have this version of the facial tattoo done. The descendants of Maoris have facial tattoos known as Ta Moko. It is their identity and I do not wish to steal it. Kirituhi "deliberately does not make any reference to Maori symbolism" (Ta Moko Maori Tattoo).

Here are some images of Ta Moko. I wish my family were that colorful. My Dad took back the photograph of him wearing thick eye makeup. Sigh ...

Randall Hyman

Tatooine

No, I'm not a Star Wars geek. My boyfriend is. I just wanted to start this new series on a light note. Tattoos are the most hard core decoration of the body, or at least the most enduring. Seriously, they are more permanent than marriage - but you knew that.

I personally love tattoos and body modifications ... a lot. Anyone who takes the time to get their hair bleached and then dyed light blue has a special place in my heart. The only problem is the older society and offices that look down on what they call freaks. I love Kerbey Lane for encouraging tattoos. There needs to be more of that, especially in Austin. Anahata Katkin thinks so too.

We'll see how other societies tolerate or even encourage tattoos in this series. The only place we won't be going is Tatooine, unfortunately.

2010

Bjork - Triumph Of The Heart

Sungjae | MySpace Video

2010 got off to a nice start. The kindness of strangers. Please don't take it for granted. We could be Dallas easily, but we're not yet. Austin's charm still lingers - we talk to strangers. Thank God. Could be my wide-eyed optimism, but knowing your neighbors holds a certain beauty. You are not alone in your little apartment complex. Yes, yes, there are those who will make your life a living hell, but don't use them as an excuse to not knock on your new neighbor's door. They could be nice. Perhaps.

I have no images that relate to this topic. Sorry Mr. Rogers is banned from my site, but I do have a video of all the wonderful drunkeness and incoherence of a 5am New Year's blog post. Enjoy and remember to knock loudly wouldja?