Art Update

Now that school is out (for the moment), I’ve been able to work on multiple art projects at once

First: “Queen of Clubs”, an ink sketch my friends in my graduating class signed.

Second: a mural for a local museum I’m working on in conjunction with a muralist out of L.A. and two local artists (my best friend Steven and Sebastian), as well as three (soon to be) junior high students. I’ll post the mural when it’s finished.

Third: my “little sister” loves giraffes and cherries…this painting (in progress) is going to be her (late) eighth grade graduation gift. When it’s done, you’ll see it.

Final: “Neo Genesis”, a graphite sketch I’m working on…‘cause I had an idea. It’s a sketch that (when finished) will portray birth but also death at the same time….in other words life. Again, you’ll see the finished piece.

Suggestions? Comments? Criticism?
Anything you have to say about any of these; please go for it

For My Friends mk II

Someone started to make me think (simply by posting a comment on my last blog thing; thanks, you know who you are) the other day. Personally, I desire change…a lot of people do. At the same time, others do not desire change, they dread it. Both the desire and disdain of “change” is natural, and people are free to choose whether they invite or revolt it.

This is my conclusion: as with many things in life, a balance is needed, a balance is healthy. Is a desire for something new natural? Yes. Is being content with what is already present natural? Yes. However, simply pursuing those concepts (always wanting something new or always accepting the surroundings) can verge onto ridiculousness.

An example; change: a monopoly on utilities grows. The price of said utilities sky rockets, resulting in many people going with out because they cannot afford them. Change, something different is needed for the (balanced) good of all.

An example; content: two individuals have been married many years. Although there is nothing seriously wrong between them (arguments and such), they may at times feel tired of each other; as they have seemingly learned most of the habits and mannerisms of one another. Ending and moving on is an idea, but learning to be content and happy with one another (with the person they said they loved and therefore engaged into a legal and emotional union) is another. Constantly jumping from relationship to relationship appears unethical and pathetic.

Anyway, my point is: learn to balance things in life. Strive for more, yet be content with some things. Always look ahead, yet be satisfied with the present (if the present takes care of the basic needs of life and satisfies the ethical standards of being human that is). Never only desire change while not really looking at the present, never become so bogged down with what you have that you loose sight of what could be reality.

Prioritize things; take things in stride…on step at a time. By doing so, a desire for change will balance with a content feeling of satisfaction much easier. Life is a constant waltz between change and contention, don’t fight it…observe and learn from those steps; remember that my friends. No matter what happens now,


AIM FOR THE TOP

For My Friends

If anyone disagrees with what I say next (and I’m sure there will be those who do), please make it known…I appreciate other points of view on such matters.

To transfer from one thing or idea to another; to substitute: change.

People speak of change daily. The most recent president seemingly built a campaign around such word. It would appear that people always desire change. People are never satisfied with their reality, so they wish to change it. People put much stock in “change”. The economy will change; people’s attitudes will change; a cure for cancer will be found instigating change; we as humanity will reach the stars there by causing a change.

Changes are merely a transition. RESPONSE BY ACTION! Action! Actions have value; actions show that people are affected and there by are concerned.

All the changes in the would can happen but only are of value if people acknowledge them. That is a truth. How people respond to change…is of value. Humanity can either reject, turn away from change thereby dubbing them useless! Or, humanity can respond and take action to confront or accept the changes of life! It is a simple choice...but one that varies among people and their desires.

People change…their lives and atmospheres change…but it all means nothing unless they make use of it. That is a truth. Change can be difficult…but how people respond makes all the difference!

Do you reject? Do you accept and add value to your changes? Answer! Does not answer to me…answer to you! You need to know! To change is to grow! Accept! No matter what you do…you change…no matter how you respond, how you add value by action, to those changes, you learn something about yourself and your desires. Grow! Learn! Take Action. Do not shy away from opportunity! Improve yourself with experience, with change. If you have a goal to better yourself that requires change, embrace it

AIM FOR THE TOP

2nd Draft

As the name states……..it’s only a draft…….the major changes have to do with the figures in the foreground. Some of their proportions are off…(either to long or to short)...or slightly distorted (the chest position of the left most figure). And frankly, their poses are way too stiff and rigid. They need to appear a little looser (the right most figure)…but only a little. Anyway those are just some of the changes needed..the most obvious ones..for the list goes on and on……………

I’ll explain what it’s about when I post the completed sketch.

Because Katrina Added Me to Her Favorites

I cheated death. I was supposed to perish almost a year ago in an emergency room. That whole incident was a stupid mistake…but no accident. I s‘pose you could say I’m not very adapted at living; socially awkward, distant from most, overly sensitive. In any case, that matters not. Only few things matter now.

My purpose in this world is the gain of knowledge…it could be creating art via paint or graphite sketch…or maybe it’s helping others…then again perhaps it’s teaching…wait, isn’t that a form of helping? Alright, I have not a clue what my purpose is. So in the meantime, I’ll just try to come to grips with my (unusual) self and move forward; perhaps then I can completely understand my purpose.

Why “unusual”? For one, there are three of me…YES that’s right, three of me. You see, I’m have Schizoaffective Disorder; a form of Schizophrenia. One of the symptoms is…alter egos; some people call them multiple personalities. There is the conscious me (Joshua Jordan blah blah blah), the pessimistic/hateful me (Nadleeh…yes one of my personalities is a woman despite the fact that I’m male…), and the overly manic and happy me (Charlie). Together, “we” are one whole being.

It never really bothered me that I had two alter-egos…in fact, when I would be writing or sketching it kind of gave me a way to bounce ideas off of another person with out leaving; or, someone to simply talk with when lonely. Yes, I know they truly don’t exist…but they seem very real. At times, it’s almost like one of them takes control of me…usually resulting in me not remembering the incident.

…

I love to watch people in a crowd. You can learn a lot about individuals, and people in general, by watching them. All people emulate their personality through their body. By watching, you can learn a lot about someone’s personality and thoughts as well as how they are feeling at any given time. There’s another reason I observe people. I believe that people are beautiful; take a look, the human form is quite attractive. The observation of beauty is a natural thing to enjoy. It also helps me sketch; by simply watching, I’ve learned to draw a pretty accurate human figure. I should make mention, figures are my favorite thing to sketch.

Ok, since this whole thing is just one free-flowing thought…I might as well write a recent concept of mine…ready? OK: I love hugs…I just do…they’re amazing. It’s a physical sign of a bond…they’re special to me. I’ve noted (for a while now) that I especially cherish hugs from young woman, my friends; the feeling of their breasts pressing against me is very comforting (yes yes some people would expect that but humor me and don’t laugh and leave just yet)…and I began to wonder why. I’m heterosexual so that could explain part of it…but not all of those feelings. What I feel at the time isn’t typically sensual or erotic in nature…after some thought, I believe I figured it out. Those feelings are very maternal in nature.

Here’s why: it’s understood that almost every person starts their life breast feeding…if not, it’s still a natural impulse…then it’s accepted that breasts can be used to sustain life…to nourish infants so they grow stronger. This knowledge of their maternal impact and sustaining function, makes breasts comforting to me…calming are relaxing. The connection and bond from the embrace of another, plus (in this case) a comforting sensation from a figure, makes for an amazing hug.

Now this doesn’t mean I’m going to start feeling of my friend’s breasts whenever I get the chance…I respect them much more than that…I’ll only cherish such a comforting feeling when I’m given a hug.

Well…I’m sure that some people will read that and think I’m some kind of unnatural pervert…and maybe those are right…I really don’t completely understand this myself…but, I really don’t think I am…and it seems my friends don’t feel that way either.

This work of mine started with an idea in mind. However, after all my uniform English assignments, it felt good to just write whatever. I’ll be graduating from high school this month…in just a few days. I have to thank all my long time friends AND all those wonderful friends I meat just this past year. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks for all your support.

(oh yeah, thanks Katrina…in your own little way you helped motivate me to write here again)

Label

Labels…we all use them. Everyone each day labels something.
It makes no difference what is labeled, as long as it has a label.
Labels are convenient, especially when “naming” a collective whole of something.
Each member of the whole looses it’s personal name…this system of naming has been used for centuries to identify similar objects.
Labeling a “thing”, is not at all wrong.

“Foreigner”, “Prep”, “Freak”, Enemy”, “Black”, “White”, “Brown”, “Extremist”, “Saber”, “Force”, “Government”.
Labeling people.
Some labels are more damaging than others.
For example, “Prep” and “Freak”; common terms.
They may seem harmless.
But are they really?
By labeling, a person is forming a barrier, a separation, from other people.
Groups of people who are not in unity, only hurt one another.

Now, people often associate themselves with there particular ethnic background.
Look at history, the hatred instigated by racial conflicts (racial differences), has been around since the days of the mighty Egyptian empire…and such hatred still lives on this Earth.

It seems to be the habit, to assume that all people under a government, agree (completely) with the ideals and beliefs of that government.
That being said, it is therefore easy to simply label one nation of people, under one category.
Once a label has been made, more and more differences can be found between the two nations (as a collective whole).
Differences, lead to hate, contemned, jealousy, insecurity…which lead to war…most of the time anyway.

I’ve always thought, the names of military platoons to be humorous…in a strange sort of way.
Saying,
“We launch a pre-emptive strike against their 4th division in O’ WHATEVER hours.”
Sounds much better than saying,
“We launch an early, advantaged attack against their group of scared men with weapons in O’ WHATEVER hours.”
Take the humanity out…I’m sure fighting objects sounds much better than killing other people.

By labeling people, they become nothing more than objects.
Their value and worth as individuals is gone.
Other people become distant and different by receiving labels.

People can be foolish.
I doubt, that people can fix this world, if they can’t even fix their relationships with each other.

Yo!

Ah!
it's been awhile
things have been pretty crazy around here...
when I have more time...I'll tell you about it
in anycase...this was to let you know that I'm still alive
'til the next post