A Little More About This Geeky Gal

I was born to two geeks.

One, is my dad, whom was into movies, TV shows and Intellivision video games. The other, is my mom, whom needed to have a record or MTV music videos always playing in the house. Their pop culture preferences paved the way for my own music, cartoon and geeky interests that I would draw, often.

I can still recall running into my parents bedroom, at 7am. I would jump onto the bed and show them my latest creations I drew while watching the Saturday morning kids art show, Captain Bob. They may not had shown it then, so early in the morning, but my mom and dad were always very supportive of my artwork growing up. That was where my own Geek Gal Go brandmark came from.

This is me.

The bright-eyed, corduroy pants and Hush-Puppies wearin’, 80s child that drew everything in sight. Even though I am now a mom in her 40’s I will never forget to always be that little creative girl, at heart.

This week has been a lot of print cutting, frame cleaning and matte assembling to get my art pieces prepped for the show.

I can’t even count how many times I have been to Michaels. I believe the cashiers all know me by name now. Many frames were bought and many coupons were used (thank God) because buying printing materials has been EXPENSIVE. I have forgotten this, since I have been in the digital world as a graphic designer for so long.

I also have been getting my artwork professionally printed on poster paper and canvas, so cardboard tubes of joy have been showing up on my doorstep, recently. Among all of this, I have been setting aside time to sit and create several traditional pieces that I have been showing WIP (work in progress) posts of. Lastly, I have been working on advertising graphics which I will end this post strong with an ad of my art showcase opening. Hope to see you there!

When A Teacher Becomes A Student...Then Becomes A Teacher Again

If you were to have told me that I would be teaching a drawing class a year after I started up my artwork again, I would have thought you were crazy.

Teaching graphic design at a community college was one thing, but teaching something that has always been just a passion for me and to have to show my drawing to a class full of people?! That’s some nerve-racking stuff right there! In February, I had taken a drawing course, where I exchanged my teaching cred for the bright eyed-bushy tailed student and realized I had a lot to learn in some areas. I thought, then, that this art thing will be a long, bumpy road to travel on…but that didn’t stop me. With my chin up, I worked really hard on drawing every day, just like my drawing professor had advised me to do.

In July, I was suddenly under the spell of a possession jutzu. I walked right into a local literature and pop-culture company called the Storybook Cottage to ask if they were ever thinking of expanding their amazing writing and geeky fun events to include the drawing and illustration realm. The receptionist gave me the owner’s card and told me to send some ideas along. I remembered going home and just staring at the business card. Should I even bother? Would they just turn me down? I sent the email with my ideas and my art samples, anyways…and held my breath.

One hour later the owner responds, “Let’s chat further about this.” We met and she loved the ideas I had come up with. I was asked to come in and be a guest speaker for a kids book publishing camp. The kids in the camp were great and so creative with their book ideas. The teacher was back! :)

Today, is the day. The graphic design professor that became the art pupil is now the art teacher. I’ll be showing the kids some drawing tips and techniques for cartooning. Below, are some other classes I’ll be teaching in the Fall.

Learn to Draw Cartoons Friday September 20/ 4:30-6:30 pm

How To Design An Eye Catching Book Cover (Adults) Friday September 27/ 7:00-9:00 pm

Tim Burton Macabre Drawing Friday October 18/ 5:30-7:30 pm

Ghoulish Drawing By Candlelight Friday October 18/ 8:00-9:30 pm

Fantasy Drawing I (Wizards & Castles) Friday November 15/ 5:30-7:30 pm

Fantasy Drawing II (Fairies & Dragons) Friday December 13/ 5:30-7:30 pm

Naruto hopes to see you there!