Jan Lievens on a Jet Plane 2.20.09

People.

I love people. All types of people. I like looking at them. I like talking with them. I enjoy hearing their stories about where they've been and where they would like to go. I love to make people laugh and I love people that make me laugh. I like relating with people. I like meeting new people as well as staying in touch with old pals. I like unique people, intelligent people, funny people, eccentric people, people with drive, charisma, intensity, people that are interesting to look at. I like hearing that people are busy, productive, pursuing their dreams, its very motivating to me. Though I can be shy, I like to push myself to be outgoing and talk to new people and take an interest in them so that they feel appreciated and understood. I like smiling at random people in passing and having them smile back at me. I like to live in the moment and enjoy the connection I might have with a person I meet, be it a person in one of my social circles I've never actually met, a long time friend, or a random 30 second encounter with a person I might never see again. I have found that keeping an open mind about people is prob the most important thing because you just never know when you might come across a person who leaves an impact on you or in some way changes your world, your perception, introduces you to a new experience or teaches you something about the world or about yourself. Its important not to underestimate people, because they are really pretty amazing. I like noticing the unique qualities of a person and the details of their face and their mannerisms. I like analyzing their laughter and the way their mouth forms a smile. I like when people smile with more than their mouth, like the eyes. Eyes give great smiles. I love to look people in the eye and have them really look back at me. I just genuinely love people. This is prob why I am a portrait artist!!

2.18.09

Lots of exciting stuff going on! Tomorrow morning I drop off my finished painting at the Milwaukee Art Museum for the event this Friday 2.20.09 titled Jan Lievens on a Jet Plane, which is in conjunction with the current Jan Lievens exhibit. This is a Cedar Block/MAM event, it takes place this Friday from 8-midnight in the Calatrava. (As a reminder: theres no poppin it in the Calatrava) It should be a pretty fun evening and I am looking forward to it. Also, there has been much discussion as of late between Brent of Cedar Block and I about collaborating on art events. He has many fine ideas which are totally top secret that I can say no more about. I've already been on the hunt for venues and have some sweet prospects. Overall I've been super busy. I'm busy creating a hott new body of artwork, many drawings/watercolors. I've seriously got the mania, as I like to call it, basically I've been extremely focused and productive. Also have lots of plans for updating my website, but I have to remind myself that Rome was not built in a day and likewise my plans need to be carried out in baby steps. But thus far, 2009 has been a great year and I am making excellent progress, hope it continues this way!