Moleskin Retrospective - Journal #2

So, as I've indicated, this project is taking up a great deal of time... It's a huge piece of work. I'm submitting the website for my web design class this week but it's definitely a diluted version of what the final one will be.

For the diluted website, I chose only 3 entries from my journal to indicate major moments throughout the trip... May 10: Our first drawing class and the sense of settling into our Italian life; May 17: The Pugnalone Festival, the sun finally comes out, the group joy, inner-tensions with certain group members; and May 27: A stop in Orvieto before Florence, We are in heaven, I am more content than I've ever been.

In the larger website that I'm envisioning, all entries will be compiled along with the sketches of the day, things I picked up, pictures I took,... It will truly demonstrate the day to day of our drawing trip.

Here's journal entry #2 from the smaller site...

May 17 -
Yesterday was incredible. Finally a little sun, heat, energy, balance, positivity.

Needed to be away from the roommates and the regular people. Went to the city with Eliza and Sophie. The Pugnalones were displayed in the piazza. Beautiful colours and breath-taking artistry. So much more than I expected it to be. Art made from nature, petals, leaves, dirt, bark… Enjoyed a delicious pastry and caffe latte. Why does everything taste so much better here? Maybe it’s the lack of stress, the increased focus on my senses.

I’m enjoying things from all angles, all aspects.

We sat in an arch looking out over the piazza and sketched. The piazza slowly filled with people as they prepared for the festival to begin. The procession was led by drummers and brass. It filled my heart and my body was beating along with the rhythm. Flag throwers, amazing costumes, pride, culture, belonging, family, heritage. INCREDIBLE. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

The other girls and I were all buzzing from the passion, crowd, dedication of the performers and village.

The festival lasted a few hours but I could have sat in that crowd for days.

The Pugnalones were walked back into the piazza… shortly followed by the Virgin Mary and another band, more somber music but so fitting.

As she was carried by, ppl “crossed” themselves and fell in walking behind her. So much belief and culture. I was part of something so big and so deep. I felt incredibly privileged and was reeling from the excitement all night.

Two of the teams had dinner at Buonhumore. The energy was everywhere – cheers, yells, beats, smiles, yelling, laughing! So amazing! We sat at our table amidst it all and joined in to the beating. We were again, incredibly privileged and welcomed into this amazingly rich community experience. We drank LOTS of wine, maybe too much… We were invited to the piazza for the “younger” team members’ post-Pugnalone congregation/celebration.

SO MUCH ENERGY! SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AND SO MUCH HISTORY. We Canadians laughed and joined in as much as we could. Amazing day.

My eyes and soul are open to Acquapendente. The people and their traditions are incredible.

Woke up far too spinny and hungover… many dreams of Sophie. She’s so amazing and so real. Compassionate and empathetic aswell. Qualities I need to work on in myself.

We went to Bolsena and drew from the main piazza, the medieval town and the archway that leads into it.

I feel the progression in my art. Learning to feel less frustrated with inaccuracy and lack of precision and enjoying it for what it is. It always ends up more interesting when I abandon what I’m doing. I’ll never be able to more forward and develop unless I do.

Some people are starting to drive me a little crazy. Forming opinions of ppl that I know will eventually be revealed to them. I’m opinionated and don’t give a shit. If I hear/see something I don’t like, I’m going to say it.

I’m coming to that limit with certain people. Annoyed with their lack of consideration, lack of passion w/ class and Michele and their lack of willingness to let go of old habits and allow this experience in. I need to say something to them because their negativity is starting to affect my experience…

Maybe this in an opportunity for me to learn how to disconnect from ppl around me and their emotions.

Focus on my drawing, an open mind, soaking up the experience and focus on not allowing others' downers to bring me down.

A sketch of the crowd waiting for the Pugnalone Festival to begin.

Moleskin Retrospective Website is Advancing!

I am so so excited by this project. Granted, it's taking up so much of my free time and I'm becoming rather obsessed by it, but nonetheless, it's coming along wonderfully!

Here's a screen shot of the website from the section "Personal Sketches"!

Moleskin Retrospective - May 6, 2010 - June 6, 2010

For a while now, I've been forming an online project in my mind but haven't had the opportunity to bring it to fruition.

I've wanted to create an online collection of my journaling from my Italy 2010 drawing trip. By packaging my journal entries, photos, personal sketches, course sketches and scans of all my random pamphlets, tickets and handouts, I believe I could recreate my experience.

Evidently, my own ego will be satiated by putting my work out there... but It's way more than that. It's about creating a digital snippet of a journey. An art project that took almost a year to come about - a month of intensive drawing, observations, emotions and exploration and a subsequent 9 months of contemplation and growing awareness of the impact this journey has had on who am I and where my life is going.

In my web design class, I have recently been given the mandate of creating a website - the topic is ours to choose and really, we are only fulfilling a few html requirements - so it could be extremely general and simple. But, I want to make this project personal. I have already completed half my design diploma, which means that I have only 4 more months to come up with a portfolio of pieces that truly represent me. I don't just want to meet requirements, I want to pour my heart out.

So my web page will be step one of my online Italy journal. The beginning of my Moleskin Retrospective.

For the sake of opening myself up to the internet world (as if I don't already do it) - here is an entry from my Italy moleskin.... Uncensored (apart from a couple of names), unedited. A review of my first drawing class in Italy.

May 10, 2010

Today was definitely step one in embracing the positive and accepting the negative, but more importantly – MOVING on & FORWARD from it!

Woke up feeling extremely crappy after it took me a long time to get to sleep and was woken by a fly buzzing by my ear. Two extremely weird nightmares:
1 – Woman (anorexic) wearing red leather dress and black zip up leather heals to her thighs. Beating Edward against another cat and she killed him.
2 - ***** wanting to leave ***** and refusing to listen to reason. Acting like an adolescent with her IPod earphones in.

Was slow to get into it but was quickly rejuvenated by Michele’s first drawing class. We walked down a country path. Old wooden broken down fence lining the way, trees surrounding us, creating a canopy of green foliage.

I sat attentively, soaking up her passion, love, wisdom & SENSUAL sentences. She feels everything she says. She breathes art. She wants us to experience art w/ all 5 senses. Drawing w/ an open mind, drawing in the present and walking the thin line connecting what we can depict in a 15 min sketch with reality. The drawing becomes our reality of the situation.

She expects passion from us. A constant connection between ourselves and the drawing. We need to submerse ourselves.

I am ready. I am completely ready. I want this experience and what I learn to define me and shape the rest of my life.

We drew four sketches – each time I took in what she said to improve. I want to show my passion to her, not for the grade and not for her respect but for me - In order to not do this half assed. I will benefit most if I’m a nerd about it. A shameless drawing nerd.

We showed our drawings for critique from Michele. Mine were mentioned twice as very strong. But I have a long way to go. It needs to be less about drawing it and more about feeling it – putting my feelings about what I’m seeing down on paper. Feeling what I’m seeing and interpreting it. Understanding the skeleton and structure and building up around that, less “exactly” what I’m seeing and more what I’m experiencing.

I loved every second. Classes only this morning, wasn’t enough. MORE MORE MORE PLEASE. I felt relaxed, I felt whole and good with myself.

Drawing makes me feel alive, connected to what’s happening around me.

It was good for my soul and I can’t wait for tomorrow.

As usual, missing Peter, my lover, but feeling more attached to the people around me, especially specific aspects of them. Connected to the good and trying to avoid the negative.

Rich personalities, warm people, interesting conversations. We’re already a strange little family.

A few observations short of a socially intelligent being

Disclaimer: There's really no point to this blog post other than to vent (without naming names) of those close to me who truly lack awareness of their social impact.

What makes someone socially intelligent? Is it part of their genetic make-up? Is it their parents' influence? Is it their ability to observe?

What makes some socially unintelligent (The S.U.'s of our society)? I've been thinking about this one alot lately. Recently I've come in contact with a wide array of socially inept - from the forgivable loud walkers to the punishable biggots. The open-mouthed chewers, the young kids with their music blasting in the metro, the middle-aged who feel justified and attempt to embarrass the up-and-comers around them (jaded nurses, professors, that one woman who constantly walks into classes at Interdec College), people who invade others' space with their negativity; the list goes on and on.

Evidently, I'm a little annoyed about all this S.U. behaviour. Frankly, it irritates me to the point of altering my good moods. (I know this is something I need to learn to externalize).

I blame it on being observant. I notice the faces, postures, groans, retorts of those who have been in the presence of someone who is S.U. To be honest, there are times that I'd rather not notice it at all, I would be a much less annoyed individual and I would not be so privy to the awkwardness of certain interactions around me. However... let's face it, much better to be aware! I'll take the ability to observe over being selfish and inconsiderate, any day!

And to those around me who have irritated classrooms, metro cars and friends with their selfish behaviour, I say: open your eyes! You are negatively impacting the people around you!!

Rant over.

Delicious Recipe #2!

It's cold, it's snowing, take-out is crappy and expensive. And... btw loyal followers (if you're out there :)), my first recipe post got me the most page views I've gotten since I started this blog in 2009 - so here goes Recipe NUMERO DEUX!

A delicious soup that is filling, tasty, acidic, different, and quick to make! Always amazing to try out new recipes that actually surprise you. Peter and I will undoubtedly be making this one again. This recipe was found in Issue 51 of The Donna Hay Magazine that included 25 recipes for simple soups! I'm sure I'll be posting another one of the recipes soon considering how great this one turned out.



Without further ado -

Chicken, Risoni, Lemon Soup!
4 medium sized servings


1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a saucepan over high heat.
2. Add 1 chopped brown onion and 1 sliced clove garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add 4 chicken thigh filets, 1 litre chicken stock and 2 cups water and cook for 20 minutes.
4. Remove chicken, shred and set aside.
5. Add 1 cup risoni to the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes.
6. Add the chicken with 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves.
7. Sprinkle with finely grated parmesan and lemon zest to serve!

Enjoy it and please let me know what you think of the it!