A couple weekends ago was the blowout party of the season, the Brooklyn Derby, put on by Workshop. Attendees are required to wear a hat, and the more wacky the better. This year I made mine out of model railroad materials. I also tied my hair up in rag curls for the first time since having long hair, and looked completely wacky! 

So now I know how to use what model builders refer to as "sprinkle grass." Hit me up with all of your sprinkle grass needs. I'll sprinkle grass anything.

If you don't take advice given freely, you might be foolish. If you don't take advice you've paid for, then what the duck you doin, man?

Just sketching out some designs

This is just kind of what my life looks like now. Thanks, Winnie. Inspired by Liz and inspired by Frank.

Just a teeny tiny sketch while trying to work some ideas out. This guy is on a 2 inch piece of tracing paper. 

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I've been forgetting one of my rules lately. While it's been liberating, I have completely forgotten to go back through old work and look for clues. The process was once a ritual for me that I made sure to keep; every six to nine months I would spend hours rearranging newsprint pads, leafing through folders and sketchbooks, or digging through old files. The less relevant whatever I found to my current work, the better.

Lately, my life has been a shotgun series of projects, new people, colds and sicknesses, getting there, doing that, and finishing this. While I have absolutely been thriving in this environment, I've forgotten the subtle language of learning from "past me." There's something in this drawing that reminds me that I am a draftsperson, of that time that I signed my name "J. MUSSARI" because I hated my first name, and of what the Winter of 2007 felt like. This drawing is also exactly the opposite of what I am working on now, and for that reason it's causing me some serious nostalgia. 

I suddenly miss working in graphite. 

Follow your dreams, Nell! 

God, the internet is such a bizarre place. I love it.

I'm not sure why this delights me so much. Every single time I take a photo of an inanimate object with a face on it and my iPhone outlines it in that little square box I laugh uncontrollably. Especially when there are presidents involved.

Damian came by the studio last week to show his new service, Hunie. It's still in Beta, but you can request an invite. Hunie's goal is to create a community of designers giving constructive, and very specific feedback on works in progress. I love the site design and the emphasis on large images. Find me there!

It was awesome to talk to Damian about the kind of support system you develop when someone grows as a creative on the internet. We had both started out on DeviantArt (I'm over being embarrassed by this and totally owning it. In fact, here is a link so you can find some horrifyingly old work). He had actually worked on DeviantArt while I was frequenting the site in my teenage years. When I was a regular there, I made some amazing friendships and connections. Some have lasted, actually! My internet friend Jonathan Kennedy of 8+ years and I finally met when he visited me in NYC from Newfoundland. In a sea of awful furry art and blurry self portraits, I found a small group of around 20 people who regularly commented on new work, and pushed each other to become better. I can honestly say that the community I found on DeviantArt pushed me to be a growing artist, and made me realize my path. I went to art school with a strong portfolio thanks to that community.

I'm hopeful that Hunie can replace what I've lost in not frequenting DeviantArt. With some tweaks and changes I could see it happening. Find me on Hunie and we'll see how it rolls!

A small preview of something I've been having fun with

Some rubber stamp designs in the works! To be used for outgoing mail for a local small business.

I made this thing for the internet

I found this old (tiny, I believe it is about 2.5 inches on its longest side) drawing looking through old files on my computer. Thought I'd share it, as it seems appropriate on this blustery winter day.

Jen Mussari,  late Winter 2008