The picture below was supposed to be steam punkish but it kind of failed. They people look okay. Her dress has nice ruffling and I'm more comfortable painting skin tones so the people in this painting look less sickly than in my last. However, if i could redo this painting, I definitely would have done a different background. The paint thinner droplets were fun but after I finished everything else I think it became a little too busy. Still, not bad...
This is my latest painting and it did turn out the way I wanted it to. I'm kind of proud of it. I wanted to try something that would let me experiment with lighting. I was nervous at first with the green surrounding the lightning bugs but as I added the girl into the portrait everything seemed to work. I think I could possibly get better contrast if I were to do this again but considering this is my... fourth painting, I think I'm making considerable progress.
My birthday is less than a week away. Usually for about a week or so before my b-day I ponder the whole year and where I'm going and today I feel pretty good about turning 26. Here's an overview.
1. Birthdays were always a big deal when I was growing up. When I was younger it was because we ate "Matilda" style chocolate cake and had epic parties. My friends would still rave about the birthday parties my mom threw months later.
Picture of young Jill consuming Matilda cake.
I still love the parties and cake and all but birthdays make me excited now because its a celebration of how I can continue to improve, pursue my dreams, change the world, etc. With the move and new job and everything I've come a long way since last year. If I take "half credits" into account, I completed about 12 bucket list items last year. Give me another few decades and I may check off bucket list item 273. Total world domination.
2. PRESENTS!! Its good to know I can get exactly what I want for my birthday. Not to say my parents did a bad job with this growing up but now that I have a full fledged career and my folks usually just send me money anyways, I can make sure my materialistic birthday wishes do come true. Here's my wish list.
A Pony
I was biking in the desert Memorial Day weekend and I saw this lady galloping by on her horse. I had severe envy. I don't think I'd want to own a horse because that would be a lot of work/money but I might seriously look into getting horseback riding lessons when my schedule becomes more consistent.
I look like a natural on a horse, right?
Ulcers
These guys have been on my gift wish list for a while. If nobody gets me one by June 5th, I'm going to buy some for myself.
Ukulele
I almost bought one the other day when I was at the musical instrument museum and I resisted the temptation... but I might finally fork over the money and buy one online. This instrument was designed for me. Its just like a guitar but has fewer strings (aka works well with smaller hands) and is designed for easy going, happy songs.
Like this song. I love this song. :)
3. The boys in my ward freshman year participated in "fight night". This meant they got together and punched each other in the head for a full minute. It didn't always last a full minute if somebody got knocked out before the timer went off. One boy came by my apartment one night to show me the bloody gash he got after his knock out.
[Side note: This isn't so much that I disapprove of Fight Night. Fight night just needs to involve Jane Austen characters (see link below) or martial arts. I'm not as enchanted with the game "punch you in the head".]
http://online.wsj.com/video/3F45ECC2-6790-45E2-A68F-415764D39F87.html
As I've aged in years, the men in my dating pool have certainly increased in maturity and quality. Although I still enjoy my dates with younger guys, I'm feeling pretty good about dating men in their late 20s/early 30s. Watch this video and you'll agree that older men are mysteriously attractive.
