Batman

I have been looking at Batman images recently on Pinterest. Growing up I loved watching Batman: The Animated Series. That cartoon was on the air from 1992-1995. I watched that show when I got home from school in junior high. I had to let it go when I had sports practice or games after school.

I went to look at comics last Friday after an appointment. I wasn't looking for anything in particular. While looking at a room full of comics, I found some Batman ones. I bought a Batman and a Robocop comic. I bought them to mainly look at the drawings and to study them. I will end up reading them at one point. Later that day while at the grocery store, I saw a couple of Batman graphic novels. I decided to pass on them since I just bought the comics. On Saturday morning, I went back to the store and bought one of the graphic novels.

My drawings, sketches and paintings for a while will focus on Batman. I'm hoping that I don't get sick of him. I want to have a collection of items to choose from for next year's county fairs. Not everything I submit to the fairs will be of Batman, but I like him and so do a lot of other people. Anything that brings a smile to my face, I love to create as art.

Art classes

I received an email from the Ann Arbor Art Center last week about upcoming fall classes. I love learning and I am interested in taking classes. I am interested in a couple of classes.

The first class I really want to take is Character Development with Jerzy Drozd. It is a class for developing your own characters to tell a story. The class with draw the characters on paper and then digitize them on illustration software, Manga Studio. I am really interested learning a new software program.

Digital Illustrated Storytelling is another class taught by Jerzy Drozd. This class uses Manga Studio again to illustrate characters. It feels like part two of the Character Development class.

Another class taught by Jerzy Drozd is Illustrated Storytelling. It helps artists create compelling visual stories. I think it would be fun since I love drawing cartoon animals and people.

The class I should really take is Basics of Acrylic Painting for Beginners. I really want to learn to paint by mixing colors and shades. My painting skills now are really basic, but what I'm painting, it works for me and I like my paintings.

I would love to take any of these classes like beginning watercolor, into to life drawing, figure study, manga studio , design your own heroes and villains, graphic novel academy (too bad these last three classes are only for teens).

I see myself taking many classes at A2Art Center in the near future.

Goth rabbit

I finished this charcoal drawing last weekend. It is of a sad, goth rabbit that is feeling alone. It is stitched and taped up, but still sad. I loved how it turned out. I'm proud of this piece.

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery
When Sorry Isn't Enough, Gary D. Chapman & Jennifer M. Thomas
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir, Ira Wagler
Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker
Uncommon, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker
Longing for Paris, Sarah Mae

Currently Reading: Brave Enough, Nicole Unice

Raggedy Rabbit acrylic painting

I finished this acrylic painting of a raggedy rabbit last week. I found a picture of this rabbit online a while ago. I decided to draw and paint it because it looks how I have been feeling. The last few months have been very tough for me. Slowly, it feels like I'm coming out of the dark and becoming myself again. I'm getting stitched up again like this rabbit was. I'm becoming whole again, but not the way I was before. I'm still not where I need to be, but with God's grace and time, I'm getting closer with every step.

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery
When Sorry Isn't Enough, Gary D. Chapman & Jennifer M. Thomas
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir, Ira Wagler
Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker
Uncommon, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker

Currently Reading: Longing for Paris, Sarah Mae

Anniversary

Over the weekend, my Mom, three of my sisters, nephew and niece had dinner together. We got together to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Dad's death.

We had a good meal, we laughed and talked. A few of my sisters said that they stopped at the cemetery to visit Dad. I didn't make it back for his anniversary. I did visit Dad on Father's Day. It just doesn't seem like he has been gone that long. We all remember that day from 1998 like it was yesterday.

It was nice to get together on his anniversary and just be together as a family. We usually try to do something together on his anniversary, but that doesn't always happen. Both of my brothers were unable to attend and another sister. It would have been great to have everyone together at dinner.

Dad

John Wayne Clark

April 10, 1942 - August 15, 1998

 

 Another year has passed. You have been missing from our lives for 17 years. Some days it feels like you left us yesterday. There are parts of me that hurt that you are still not with us. That is something I don't know if I can ever get over. We have moved on in our lives as best as we could, but our lives haven't been the same without you. 

Until we meet again. 

I miss and love you.

Those we love don't go away,

They walk beside us every day,

Unseen, unheard, but always near,

Still loved, still missed and very dear.

- Irish poem

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery
When Sorry Isn't Enough, Gary D. Chapman & Jennifer M. Thomas
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir, Ira Wagler
Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker

Currently Reading: Uncommon, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitker

Blue Powerpuff Girl

I finished an acrylic painting of the Blue Powerpuff Girl and a dog over the weekend. When the Powerpuff Girls premiered on TV in 1998, I was a sophomore in college. I have never watched the show. I saw a picture of them on the internet last week, thought that they were cute and looked easy to draw. I found a few pictures of them and decided to draw the blue girl with a dog. I liked how my sketch turned out, so I turned it into a painting. I plan on adding just a small shadow underneath the girl and dog so they are not just floating on the canvas.

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery
When Sorry Isn't Enough, Gary D. Chapman & Jennifer M. Thomas
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir, Ira Wagler

Currently Reading: Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery



When Sorry Isn't Enough, Gary D. Chapman & Jennifer M. Thomas
 
Currently Reading: Growing Up Amish: A Memoir, Ira Wagler

Wildcat XC 5K

I ran the Wildcat XC 5K Saturday in Pittsford, MI. The morning was a little cool because I actually wore a jacket before the race started. As the time got closer to the race, it started to warm up.

I stood right on the start line when we were told to go. A bunch of people sprinted ahead of me. My legs needed a short warm up before going to work. We ran down a huge hill and that is when I passed a bunch of runners. This course is a high school cross country course located in the next county over. The course is run on grass paths in fields, a wooded area and over grass. A short section of the course was flooded, so we were sent into a soybean field. I was thankful that I wore ankle braces because running over tractor tire ruts were making me uneasy. Running out of the field, a teen boy was just ahead of me. My goal was to run him down. I was able to catch and pass him shortly before the two mile mark. Once I passed him, a teen girl was ahead of me. My next goal was to pass her.

I crossed the two mile mark in 19:04. At that point, there were so many rolling hills in the huge fields that we were running in. I told myself that we only had a mile left and to go after this girl. I could tell that the girl was slowing down and I was gaining on her. On the flat parts of the course, I was running as fast as I could because I knew more hills were coming our way. With about 400m meters to go, I was actually about 3-5 feet behind the girl. When the girl heard me, she took off. We turned a corner to head into a wooded area and she created a big gap. I was unable to keep pace with her and the big hill coming out of the wooded area took a lot out of me. Heading out of the woods, we had to run on the property line of the school. The course turned us right and made us run up another hill to the finish line. I knew someone was behind me, but I didn't know how close they were. I ran as fast as I could and finished the race in 29:59. I finished second in my age group.

As I was changing my shirt in the parking lot, the woman who finished behind me congratulated me. She said that she was trying to catch up to me and that I had a good pace. I thanked her. After the award ceremony, door prizes were handed out. My name was called and I won an apple pie. Currently it is still sitting in the refrigerator untouched.

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly

Currently Reading: The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery

Open Class

 

Action - First place

Animal

Bird - Second place

Bridge

Church

City life - Second place

Any other structure

Flower

Metal

Plant

Portrait - Second place

Seasons

Insect

Water

Pencil drawing - First place

Pastels - Third place

Colored Pencil - Second place

Acrylic painting

Charcoal - Second place

The Lenawee County Fair started Sunday. I entered 19 items into this year's static exhibits open class: photographs, drawings and a painting. Four out of five art entries won ribbons. Four out of 14 photographs won ribbons.

Hudson Booster XC Open 5K

I ran the Hudson Booster XC Open 5K Saturday. It was warm and sunny, but not humid. The course is the Hudson High School cross country course. It has many hills and is run over grass, dirt and sand.

When the race started, it felt like I was going slow. Running into the woods for the first time, I started catching up with others and passing them. Back in the woods is a downhill and a big sandy uphill. I did catch and pass a girl after reaching the top of the hill. Once we ran out of the woods, the course was flat for a bit. I told myself to go faster while it was so flat. I could actually feel myself doing that.

During the second mile, I caught up to a big group of girl high school cross country runners. They were walking, so I was able to pass all of them. Ahead of the cross country girls was a group of women runners around my age. I was disappointed I was never able to gain on them.

I was proud of how I finished the race. While I was running to the finish, a few people were cheering for me. Most the girl behind me was getting more cheers. I don't know how close she was, but I didn't want her to pass me. I ran as hard as I could to the finish line. I crossed the line in 29:13, which was eight seconds faster than last year. I did place third in my age group.

I have one more cross country race next week. This course is tough too. Can't wait to tackle it.

July 26

Today is my 36th birthday.

Lion - Tecumseh, MI

Books read in 2015

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  

Currently Reading: Unashamed, Jessie Minassian

Sad Anime style cat drawing

Used an HB and Ebony pencil to draw this sad cat. 

Even though the cat is sad, I love it.