Vivienne and Company

Overdue bloggins #1

2012-02-08T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hi! I guess it is cool to get on the internet once in a while, instead of just that crappy version of phone-facebook for your most-likely-the-first-prototype-ever-of-that-one-phone-with-a-slidey-out-keyboard. {Hey. It has a camera that only takes pictures! Technology is pretty crazy these days, kids. I mean, back when I was your age....}

ANYWAYS, before I get too nostalgic, here's a very, VERY ~~crappy~~ amazing graphic novel I made for a history project. I mean, really, my artistic greatness just doesn't get better than this seven page splendor. I have a lot that should probably be kept track of on this "web log", but instead of helping you keep tabs on my life, I usually end up watching The X-Files alone while my dog loses respect for me.

And now, without further adue, I present to you, my darlings, The Slightly Macabre Adventures of Ezekiel the Lowly Immigrant Boy!

Click to zoom, bro.

-Lexi

Take Care.

2012-01-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Self.

Hip-hip-hoorah!

2012-01-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

I finally got my online store up and running! Isn't that exciting? Be sure to check the shoppe frequently, because I will be trying to put new items up every few weeks. Also, I apologize for not keeping this blog as up to date as I would like. I have many-a-post about many-an-adventure in the works. {adventures that may have happened a substantial amount of time ago..}

BUT JUST IN CASE you missed my annual German-people-partying GIF in honor of ringing in the new year, I have eversothoughtfully found one especially for my dear readers.

Dancing Hipser Germans are the best Hipster Germans.

xo-Lexi

Corrin Underpainting

2011-12-16T16:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I oil painted for the very first time. . And I am IN LOVE WITH IT!! Oils are so great! I need to fix the left eye and the right eyelid, but I'm not too worried about it because I still need to add color. Corn agreed to model, and also let me use her Nikon D40X..........

Cheers, kids. It's almost Christmas.

-Lexi

Loose ends tying a noose in the back of my mind

2011-12-08T15:00:00.001-08:00

I will stop loving Beck when I am living with One Foot In The Grave.

Watercolor, Photoshop.

-Lex

Nichola practice sketch

2011-12-05T16:23:00.001-08:00

I'm working on a giant {like 5 feet tall} piece of my darling friend, Nickey, for some shows in the spring. Here's the practice sketch.

-Lexi

Farmer Joel

2011-11-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

Ballpoint pen and stuff.
-Lex

This is not a Halloween costume.

2011-11-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is RILL LYFE.

Practicing the olde-timey photo-shoppe skills. Matching the color took forever, but I'm quite content with the outcome. I like to look at it as if I had no prior knowledge of creating it.

"Hey. Jimmy Stewardt is caressing my face. Cool."

-Lex

On Hallow's Eve

2011-10-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

{Two gold stars to whoever clicks to zoom.}

This little guy has been living in my head for the past while, and I only let him out now because people might have judged him prematurely. Seeing as tomorrow is Halloween, I thought it safe to let him roam around. Everyone will think he's in costume, right? And that that gas mask isn't actually a part of his face, right? {sometimes my inner Doctor Who fan gets the best of me. Just kidding. I just happen to really like gas masks. Always have, always will.}

I'm totally soaking in all of the fall vibes around me right now. Because, lets be honest here. If any of you know me well you know that I love two things more than life itself: Autumn and tapioca pudding. Well, maybe turkey bacon more than tapioca pudding, but that's beside the point. I just adore fall. And, in order to celebrate, my dear friends Maddy and Andrew accompanied me on a lovely hike up Holbrook Canyon to admire the leaves and get an old-fashioned polygadate. It was cold, but much needed. Both of them being photographers, took advantage of the beautiful calico scenery. {Maddy with a Nikon D90 and Andrew with some Canon from the sixties.} Meanwhile, I stood behind and poked holes in really large leaves in attempt to make perhaps the most pathetic masquerade mask in existence. I thought I was pretty clever.

They just smiled and nodded, like the good friends they are. Love 'em to death.

-Lex

Queue Autumn:

2011-10-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

-Lexi

Happy Birthday, Art.

2011-10-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Art Clokey, that is. {ie: the creator of GUMBY and pioneer in stop-motion animation. My FAVORITE. In case you couldn't tell by the sidebar.} Have you seen Google today? I love you, Gumby. I love you, Art. Here's a picture in case you missed it.

90 beautiful years! Also, I am hopefully getting this for Christmas.

xo-Lexi

Andrew

2011-10-10T17:36:00.000-07:00

(click to zoom)

What you've all been waiting for.

2011-09-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

The folks over at Odeus skate (!!) asked me to design the cover for their newest skate film, Tilt. I pretty much had free reigns over the entire project, and I'm happy to say that after 20+ hours of work, I finally finished it.

{Hint: clickity to see the whole thing.}

Ballpoint pen {red and black}, acrylic, watercolor.

My lovely friends let me position them in awkward and potentially misinterpreted ways, which resulted in this. No, my friends are not slaves. No, this will not be considered as manual labor. {just don't ask to see the sweatshop in the back room.}

Because I am an ardist, and I have ultimate authority over every situation, I only allow males named Andrew to model for me. I am always in charge, and people always do what I tell them. Always. That's just how it is.

*ACTUAL SCENARIO*

Me: "Hey...um....Andrew...? Will you...like...um...pretend to look like you just got..um... punched in the face...For me?"

Andrew #1: begrudgingly, "Yeah. I guess. Whatever. Are you paying me for this?"

Me: "Paying you....with... love?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me: "Hey...um....Andrew...? Can I.... take a picture of your... legs?"

Andrew {Not Beck}#2: "Wait....what?!"

{I PROMISE I DON'T HAVE ULTERIOR MOTIVES.}

The face is Andrew's. The pants are other Andrew's {Not Beck's}. I'll be posting close-ups of the front soon. Because it's the kewl thing to do. And so you can witness the paisley-blood-y glory in full splendor. The blood is not real.

The film premieres next Friday at the Inferno Cantina in SLC.

Did I mention that my IDOL MIKE MURDOCK {see sidebar} WILL BE THERE?!?! And did I also mention that it is presented by SLUG!? MY DREAMS?!?

Oh Yeah.

It's no big deal.

xo-Lex

Olde news...

2011-09-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

I still have to wait to tell you all the big news..... but in quick-I-have-so-much-other-crap-to-do-so-I-will-not-spend-time-telling-you-all-this-in-a-really-long-blog-post news.... I got asked to homecoming.

And I'm actually really excited.

>>>------------> Lex

Letter

2011-09-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have a best friend. Named KC. On an LDS mission. His companion-sir-fellow sent me a letter which I received in the mail today. That calligraphy is all done by hand. Yum.

-Lexi

I'm sort back...with big news.

2011-09-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

We don't have internet at my house, but I have super big news.

But I'm making you wait to ~~hear~~ read it.

Muaha.

-Lex

Jamo

2011-08-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

I did this piece especially for the Art at the Post 2 gallery I was in earlier this month. I started it on a Tuesday and finished it on a Thursday morning {IE: 1:30 in the morning.} which was really cutting it down to the wire for me because I am used to working at a leisurely pace. My poor family had to put up with me.

My cousin Jamo, who is in this killer Metal band called Reverence, agreed to model for me. He's pretty much a pro at the whole "angry-as-cuss-drummer-in-a-metal-band" look. What a champ. Due to my lack of photography skills, it looks not as good as it does in real life and bleh bleh bleh.

Also, I just found out that Weird Al is going to be at the state fair this year. Sweet gilligans.

-Lex

Summerfest 2011

2011-08-19T09:26:00.001-07:00

This August 4-6th, I was lucky to have a booth at Bountiful Summerfest, a cultural and artistic festival, with my three friends Gavin, Satcie, and Bobby.

Although I didn't quite make back all the money I spent on summerfest, it was still a great experience. Here are some of our adventures (aka, boredom.) THE BOOTH in all of its' shining glory.

Bobby's trippy prints.

Stacie and I's side of the booth. {AKA the better looking side.}

Stacie's beautiful jars.

My little section of the booth.

Army wife {still available} , Matrioshka {sold} and antlered man boxes {still available}. Above the boxes are also handmade sketchbooks with some prints on the covers. I still have a ton of those left, so if you are interested in purchasing anything, they will probably be on my etsy shop soon. When I get an etsy shop.

Haindpainted and inked woodsman box. SOLD. Matrioshka box, haidpainted and inked. SOLD! But I plan on making more of these.

Gavin's mohawk monster.

We were lucky to have Stacie's nephew Max visit our booth for a few hours. Of course, being submitted to the heat for several days at this point and being too poor to purchase the overpriced food, we were beginning to enter the dillusional coma induced by heat and exhaustion. Max was the only entertainment we had for a long time, so we decided it was a good idea to put things on his head and take pictures.

This is when we stuck wool on Max's head. Max looks like Gene Wilder.

Max escaping the scene as well as his Gene Wilder hairdo.

Max attempting to steal my camera.

Max with a turban on his head.

Max with a doily on his head.

Jimsta and Bobby. I HAVE FRIENDS!!!

Bean tree.

Stacie's stuff.

Stacie's beautiful wares. Just look at those needlefelted animals. Gorgeous.

A jorb well done! {Partially in dillusional coma.} [still not entirely sure how Pat got in there.] Pretend we made lots of money.

My dearest cousin, Lukey Pookey in his booth that he got for winning the emerging artist award for that gallery I did a few months back. {I took this picture at a specific angle to protect his identity.}

Stacie, Bobby, and Corrin's arm. We celebrated the end of summerfest at Pat's house with play-doh ice cream.

Shea and Pat are best friends. Really. You might not be able to tell by this picture, but they really are.

Bobby and Cooper. Looking like a celebrity couple.

I have super talented friends.

-Lex

Skinny Love

2011-08-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

my,my,my....

Bon Iver is even more wonderful in the morning.

Or really late at night.

Amen.

-Lexi

Beck Underpainting.

2011-08-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

I decided to see my improvement in both drawing realistically and watercoloring, I would do a yearly portrait of Beck. {semi-yearly? One during summer vacay, one during winter break?} Here's the underpainting which I finished yesterday at work. Some guy came and ate a philly at my farmer's market information table {not a Beck reference.} and he was like "Oh, wow. That's a really good drawing of Beck." People never recognize or know Beck when I am drawing him. You go, man. I hope your Philly Cheesesteak didn't clog your arteries for your kind comment.

-Lexi

PS: TEH CHICKENZ COME NEXT WEEK!!!!

Art at the post TWO

2011-08-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm in it. If you are in the Salt lake area, you should come. Proceeds go to Salt Lake Bike Collective.

-lex

Staple.

2011-07-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is Kilby Court. {No. It's not a garage! IT'S A MUSIC VENUE! Why on earth would you say that?!?}

So, my sister's in this awesome band called The Staples. She recently {as in 3 weeks ago} replaced their old bassist, and is now living the high life as a rock and roll star... Sorta. Anyways, on Monday a week ago, they played... wait. no. They HEADLINED at the ever-established Kilby Court, and I was very lucky to watch and take blurry pictures with my new camera. There were 4 bands before them. This guy, Charles Ellsworth, was seriously good. Maybe it was just because he had the coolest moustache ever....Actually, I don't remember any of his music.... I really just spent the entire time trying to photograph his moustache. Which failed. {Don't worry, ladies. He works at the local Urban Outfitters.}

After listening to him, we hung out in the merch room for way too long, causing near heat exhaustion and hanging out with this guy, Bryson. {Bryson has self-esteem issues.}

Door to the merch room. Notice the woodpile.... Kilby is the classiest joint in SLC. Some merch.

Also, to join the tradition of all traditions, I drew a little something on the wall. It's the record player guy. In case you didn't catch that.

Ah!! And there they are!! The Staples themselves!! All of my pictures turned out blurry once again, so I took the liberty of stealing some from their facebook page.

This is my sister. Being a sexy bassist. Which I am totally jealous of. Because I wish I was a bassist.

They have tons of super new and super awesome unrecorded songs, so if you have the chance to catch them live, do. Because they are so much better live. A little Strokes-y, A little Arctic Monkeys-y. Listen to them here..... and also "like" them if you have a facebook....

~Lexi

Strezzed

2011-07-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

I draw myself a lot.

I need to work on stuff for my booth at Summerfest,

But seeing as I have no ambition,

and really like drawing cartoons of myself,

That hasn't quite happened yet.

Oh, Bother.

-Lex

Memories

2011-07-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning out my closet the other day when I came across a box full of all of these great photos of myself in high school. It sure is crazy to see what I looked like then in comparison to what I look like now. What I don't understand is that crazy little white bar at the bottom... We didn't even HAVE the internet back when all of these photos of me were taken. Let alone URL's for that matter!!

Ho,ho,ho. And, for the sake of blogging and preserving the obvious nostalgia of this situation, I scanned all of those photos onto this here compyewtur for your viewing pleasure. You know, seeing as I'm sixteen and all and now planning my funeral and whatnot and dustin' off my AARP membership card, I figures I should have something for my grand kids to remember me by.

Oh man, just look at me in this one. I sure was a smooth operator back in my day. I made mom jeans and floral couches look so good.

Looky here! It's me and the ol' chess club! Dominating state champs of '73! Kenneth, Barb, and Steve sure knew how to checkmate. I remember that after this photo was taken, we all got into this crazy-intense chess match, which ended in Barb's arm amputation. Steve ended up as a John Stamos impersonator in Modesto, last I heard. Kenneth is a hair bleach salesman. Man, my bangs looked great in this picture.

This is me back in my olde athletic participant days. When I was younger and more spry {as pictured} I had a patterned baldness disorder in which my hair grew naturally from the scalp, balded just below, and started growing again in a fringe that covered the eyebrows and had a different hair color and texture than the hair growing on my scalp. This photo was taken shortly after I was diagnosed with Male Patterned baldness disorder for females {MPBfF} but later became less noticeable as I experimented with different hair styles.

Me and Jimmy Howell were lab partners that whole year... I remember it well. At first, he made fun of me for my MPBfF disorder, but we later became good chums as we tried to invent a cure for my disorder.

Oh! Yes! I was voted Best Country Line Dancer by my fellow classmates!! I sure knew how to shimmy-n-shake on the dance floor.

This photo was taken during a stage of puberty in which my head became ultimately too large for my face.

I will never forget that afro. Cindy, Janice and Hazel. Four part harmony. Four ukuleles. 20 minute harmonica solos. It was a good life.

I was thrilled when I got these glasses. Truly thrilled.

Ah! Me and the boys at the photography club! We switched over when the chess club became way too mainstream. I had the hots for Davy in the middle there. We held hands during the homecoming football game. Under the bleachers. In the moonlight. We would have kissed, but he had headgear that he was supposed to wear when he wasn't shooting of getting photographed, so I restrained.

Oh, those were the days.

-Lex

Sacrament meeting doodle: faceless

2011-07-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Now I regret not starting this one in pencil, but I didn't have a pencil. So here ya go kids: Blood, sweat, and PEN! Also, don't look too closely at the hatching. It isn't my best.

Birthday post and public transportation post coming soon....

THAT'S RIGHT KIDS. I'M SIXTEEN.

-Lex

Social....eliteness? {An illustrated guide}

2011-07-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I dweebishly finished reading...um...er...Watchmen.... as in..the nerdy superhero graphic novel... And while I was lying in bed last night, I realized just how much of a nerd I have really become, whether or not I actually like to admit it. You see, here's how my brain works.. You see, I'm sitting there in all of my nerdiness, reading none other than...Watchmen.... thinking about watching Muppet Treasure Island and having a Diablo 2 and Doctor Who marathon with my cousin the next day. My brain sees absolutely nothing wrong with this. My brain is drinking a Dr. Pepper while thinking of news items to add to her "The Killers" shrine. There's nothing wrong with that, right?
WRONG. There's a knock on the door. And that knock belongs to coolness. Then my brain goes into hyper-drive. I quickly try to cleanse the nerd. Hide the nerd. PURGE THE NERD!! Because, in all actuality, I'm not even cool enough to be accepted by cool people, and I'm not nerdy enough to be accepted by nerds.

I think the technical term for that is POSER. Which, I admit I am. {And no, not to worry, I wouldn't actually RIP a Doctor Who poster. sheesh. I have respect. }

So, now the nerd is concealed. Sure, my nerdiness has built up gradually over time, but I believe it is only peaking now. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would even come remotely close to reading a graphic novel, you would have been met with the reply "Heavens, no. Do you honestly think I would stoop to that in my fine and cool glory?" Well, kids. Here I am. Reaching new depths of self pity.

Then coolness arrives and I am expected to be cool. People think I'm cool, people expect me to be cool because I'm an "art kid" or whatever. But, honestly, I'm not cool. I'm a nerd that isn't nerdy enough to be accepted by nerds so I try and cover that up to seem cool. Yes, I own the entire series of Invader Zim on dvd and yes I have watched it so many times that I can quote it. precisely. So, when put in a situation where I have to seem socially elite and not like I am interested in uncool things, I stumble. Or just remain really,really quiet and try to put in my two cents like I know what I'm doing. {PS: I don't.}

Naturally, I attempt to hide my nerdy side of the brain that is not really nerdy from the cool side. I try to justify it by telling myself it's okay to read graphic novels and watch muppet treasure island. But NO! IT IS NOT JUSTIFIABLE.

I promise I didn't use to be this way. What have I become?

-Lexi

The Can Jam.

2011-07-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to do the promotional posters for an upcoming Utah Food Bank benefit concert. Are you ready for a post about my artiztick procezz? Here goes.... starting with the original pen sketch.
Levels adjustment and a bit of erasing.
Added some textures after coloring faceless man and his gee-tar {west side story reference... anyone? Bueller?}
Below is my favorite stage of the process... I loved the outcome of the completed digital painting.... I wish I could have kept it that way before adding the text!

And finally....Woo!! Weeks of hard work finally completed! It feels dang good too, kids. Come if you are in the area!!!

-Lex

Dearest Bloggerlings,

2011-07-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

No need to worry. I failed my driving test by four points. You can all stop praying. At least I'll never ever have to deal with that awful man ever again. Thank you.

Freedom! And now onto the state driving division!
-Lexi

Church Doodlin's: Messy bun gal.

2011-07-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Her shoulders are supposed to give her "attitude", and asymmetrical composition FOR THE WIN. I don't draw girls that aren't myself very often, and this one was inspired by a lovely gal in my ward who happens to be a model going to FIDM next year. {Soooo Jealous.... curse lack of scholarships and out-of-state tuition...dfsjkghajkhrejwh} I debated whether or not to give her glasses, but I think I like her how she is. Despite her crooked eyes which bug. But the hair is satisfactory!

er...now I'm just rambling. Sorry, guys and gals. Probably mostly gals.

-Lex

PS: I HAVE TO DRIVE TOMORROW WITH THE SCARY INSTRUCTOR-MAN. PRAY FOR ME.

Holy...

2011-07-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

....Metronomy special edition copy of Night's Out designed by KARL LAGERFIELD, BATMAN!?!?!

Congratulations to humiliations.

2011-06-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Today was my first experience group-driving with the instructor for Driver's education.

Now, I know what you are thinking. Driver's ed? It sucked, right? But you all survived and haven't actually put anyone under cardiac arrest with your driving abilities, correct?

Well, that's what I thought too. As long as I don't kill anyone and pay close attention to my sexist, controlling and ultimately terrifying driving instructor, then I will live and get my license and everything will be all right. Wrong. That was definitely the wrong thing to be thinking, seeing the events that shortly followed.

I arrive at 7:00 a.m., only to find that my driving group had been whittled down to me and one other girl. In a car. With said instructor. And I was the one who was first to drive. I should have taken the fact that I didn't know where the car adjustment lever was as a bad sign, {it was actually button controlled electronically. WHAT IS THIS TECHNOLOGY?!?!} but I continued to remain calm and suck up as much as possible, all while not showing my vulnerability.

Ten minutes or so into driving, I was hit by the pressure. I took the turns too slow! I wasn't braking! Slowly, the instructor started to raise his voice more and more over the most petty mistakes: "THREE FOOT AIR CUSHION AND IDENTIFY THE RIGHT-OF-WAY!! How can you not understand that, girl?!?! What kind of stupid excuse is that?!" and many other insults followed, escalating to the point where he was literally yelling at me and I was bawling. I had talked to my dear friend Nicky the week before about it, and she told me an experience that she had with the same instructor in which she was also near-crying, and she just kept telling herself that she could not let this man win.

Today, he won. I showed my vulnerability and he used it to completely crush my defensive wall. He made me pull over and get in the back seat. I honestly have never felt as completely worthless and humiliated as I did today. Luckily, the girl in my group was very sweet and tried to awkwardly tell me that I did a good job. It didn't work, but I tried to remain nice.

Then, when sitting in the back seat, I could not gain my composure. I was so embarrassed and I felt so stupid, and all I could do was pray that I would stop crying.

I have to drive again tomorrow morning. And you know what I'm going to do? Show absolutely no emotion. I'm not going to suck up to him. I don't care anymore. I'm just going in and sit there and listen for instructions and not show any emotion. No more crying again. I'll show him that to me he means nothing, and he can't bring me down again. No sir. {Ironically, that "don't bring me down... BRUCE..." song was playing on the radio while I was having an emotional break down!}

also, this experience is another big red stamp in the "I hate men" book. Needless to say, he is not helping improve his gender's case.

And, since I don't like not including art in my posts, here's a recent self-cartoon on the tablet!

Have fun today, kids. Meanwhile, I'll go roll up into the fetal position in the corner.

-Lex

That's what we're waiting for,

2011-06-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Aren't we?

Danger Button

2011-06-14T17:54:00.001-07:00

Local band, Danger Button, recently asked me if I would design a logo/ t-shirts for them. Here's what I came up with, though I'm still working on a few others until they settle on one they like the best.

The logo pre-scanning and photoshop is below. Nothing but pen and pencil.
The logo post levels adjustment, lens flare, a few touch-ups on the tablet, and a bit of coloring.

Now here's the logo post levels, lens flare, coloring, and filter.

{To be completely honest, I really have no idea what I'm doing or how to properly use photoshop.}

{SOMEDAY I WILL BE PRO... JUST YOU WAIT.}

-Lex

Because it is summertime

2011-06-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

I am getting chickens.

I am becoming a pescatarian [Or, as Ethan would say, Vegequarian]. {I don't eat meat. Only fish.}

I am dying part of my hair pink.

I go to movies with Rin like X-Men first class and LOVE them.

I plan my friends' summertime romances.

Super stoked chill with Bobby and Jimstah in the studio on Thursday.

I am helping my dog Wubby lose five pounds, while I lose ten. {ha.}

I do online classes.

.... Plus it's almost Go Skateboarding Day!!! And the Far-Mar starts in two weeks!

It's going to be great.

Perfect song for the best summer yet. What are your summer plans? Drop a line!

-lex

My feelings towards Girls' Camp...

2011-06-06T12:35:00.001-07:00

I hate Girls' Camp. My mother {as of yesterday morning} is forcing me to go this year. That means tomorrow. So, I had a little fun and drew on my camp list. Here's a close-up of the picture I drew of my attempted suicide.
Just look at that entry wound! Ka-chow! And now, the photo-shopped version.

I dig the lack of detail. You know what else I dig? My brain. Which, in this picture, is becoming decapitated.

Have a good week, kids. And enjoy this song and music video. {PS: I LOVE VIMEO}

Sea Change "Little One" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

-Lex

NOTE: I DO NOT hate my leaders, especially the ever-wonderful Wendy and Karla, but I hate the idea of camp and camp itself.

The opportunity train is at the station...

2011-06-04T11:53:00.001-07:00

And I don't think I want to jump on it now. I'm tired and confused and the leap seems wrong. The conductor is waving and tipping his little cap, but I shake my head and hesistantly fumble for my ticket. I waited for a very long time for the opportunity train, but I wonder if I should just take the bus instead.

I worked hard for that ticket. I denied the ticket. Somehow, the ticket was all I thought it would amount to.

I forgot about the train, and now it is here.

What do I do?

I'm afraid.

-Lex

The year was 2008...

2011-06-02T21:23:00.001-07:00

{picture courtesy of Entertainment Weekly}

...And I was at a family reunion. I read and re-read this issue of entertainment weekly many times. And when I got home, I ripped out this picture. Is that what started my Beck obsession? I don't know. But you can all expect more Beck posts in the near future.... He's comfort music. And pretty much anytime music. Plus it helps me get my mind off of the end of school. And Stuff.

It's also not a good thing I found all these Beck websites. I'm going to end up doing absolutely nothing this summer.

The Becktionary

1000 Beats Per Minute

The Horse Unbridled

Hamless

I'm annoying. Sorry.

-Lexi of the past

KC Mckay

2011-06-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

My dearest KC Mckay. Graphite and white Prismacolor on newsprint. I apologize for the glare on this one. Newsprint tends to have a sheen to it, and the graphite on top of that just equals disaster. Also, the paper ripples and yellows super easily. So, as a lesson to you all, don't do drawings on newsprint. I wish I didn't like the smoothness so much... Also, I'm doing a watercolor/pen project using this same picture. Really, this picture just started out as practice for the painting....

KC did a gorgeous oil painting of me, and this was sort of a thank you/ I'm seriously going to miss you on your mission gift. I'll put pictures of the oil painting up soon. Love ya, Kace.

-Lexi

Beautiful People

2011-05-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Bobby. He let me borrow his manual focus camera one day during school. Needless to say, we had fun. Bobby looks like a sailor.

THE LIPS!!!!!
Bobby's serious artist face.

I'm drawing this. Or painting it. Either way, it is the best photograph of him ever.

KyRea is gorgeous.

Reflected light= wonderful.

Once again... THE LIPS!!!

KC may or may not be glaring at me in this picture.

Drawing this one right now. Then doing a watercolor.

These three have kept me sane this year. I'm trying not to think about the fact that they are leaving me next week. They are three of the best artists and friends someone could ever have. I'm very grateful for them and all that they do for me.

It's difficult when all of your friends {minus a small handful} are seniors. You've influenced me and helped me grow so much over the past year....all of you. You have changed me for the better, and I'm so crazy blessed to have you all in my lives. Now, you all get to go on to bigger and better things. Have fun. Take care. Look up.

I love all of you beautiful people.

{P.S: Soon all of these photographs will be art.}

x-Lexi

Me in Sharpie

2011-05-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

By the fabulous Jo Bradbury! {Check out her blog in the sidebar and give some love.} Some day I will be cool enough to be her.

-Lex

Sacrament Meeting Doodle

2011-05-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

Yikes! It seems I haven't posted in a bit. Well, maybe it's only been a few weeks....or A week...... but it feels like it has been a while. How are you? Like, honestly. How are my friends in this great and massive blogosphere doing? How are the kids? The cats? The...um... cameras? I've missed you. {You know who you are. Well, maybe you don't Super-milk chan, but now you do because I have expressed my missing you via bloggins. And I'm pretty sure the rest of you know that I miss you. Yup. I'm a creep.} ANYWAYS. Here's a guy I've been drawing in sacrament meeting in church for the past few weeks. I really like this style, and I think I might adopt it when {psh. let's be honest, here. IF} I do my graphic novel.

Also, I finished the first anthology of American Splendor on Saturday! I'm in love. With. Harvey. Pekar. And I've officially become a graphic novel-reading dweeb. {But not Anime or that manga shee-az. I haven't completely lost my senses....}

{photo courtesy of collider.com}

So far, in this anthology, Robert Crumb and Gerry Shamray have been my favorite illustrators. I love Crumb's general style and hatch, and I've been a fan of his for quite some time now. However, I also love Shamray's unique style of shading and using only shadow shapes and simple lines to create the bigger, more realistic picture. He lets your brain makes up most of the picture and fill in the spaces, which I find captivating and lovely. Crumb, on the other hand, lives up to his name, capturing the sleazy, gritty underground comic scene of that era. Both have a fascinating individiual style and a unique take on the events in Pekar's life.

Can't wait to finish the second Anthology!!!!

-Lex

Self with lampshade-headed man

2011-05-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Prismacolor on toned paper. Three weeks time later.... I'm pretty pleased with it. But mostly pleased by the fact that I taught myself how to draw realistically.

-Lex. {oh blogging, How I've missed you so!}

Song of the day: This song by Malajube. Love the video too....

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulian

2011-04-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

I first saw Amelie [edited, of course.] about a month ago at Erin and Maddie's home {see sidebar for bloggery-action} and it has quickly made it into my top 5 favorite movies of ALL TIME. It's about time I wrote a response to it. If you aren't in the mood for a hearty serving of rant-stew, you'd best not read this post ...

Not very often to you hear music that feels so familiar yet so new. It rings in your ears and reaches down into your soul, re-awakening emotions you perhaps had forgotten existed within you and making every minute occurrence in your life seem spectacular, even extraordinary. This self-awareness is not a supplement for lost childhood memories or a cure for the common cold, but rather an almost euphoric state of mind, filled with the bitterness and melancholy truth which we all must face eventually.

Life is never what one expects it to be, but we must appreciate the triumphs as well as the pitfalls, and reconnect with an almost child-like fascination of the world. A fascination that makes the fog on a windowpane a canvas and every being an artist in their own right .It never limits a person.

We must regain that awe in everything, including human betterment and relations with others. This film has made me appreciate things more, and the music combines pure joy with haunting reality. The world is exciting, mysterious, and an adventure! We are the only thing holding ourselves back. Timidly we approach everything, but what for?

Listen for yourself. Heck, listen to the whole soundtrack! It'll change your life!

"without you, today's emotion would be the scurf of yesterday's."

-Lex

{PS to Erin and Maddie. Sorry I've been borrowing it for so long. I'm trying to figure out how to burn it so I can watch it daily because that's what I've been doing anyways.}

Repeat.

2011-04-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

I can't stop listening to it.

And I've never wanted to play bass more in my life.

In which I am featured on a website.

2011-04-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Remember my past gallery I was blubbering on about? Well, thanks to the handy dandy snipping tool on windows 7, I have captured my work on their website!

Does this make me look like a real artist? Also, the painting is much bigger in real life, and was featured with four other works for the header of the website.

Also, song of the day is Hatchet by Low, one of the seriously underestimated bands of my generation. Take a listen!

-Lex

Gaaaaaallery.

2011-04-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

So, I got into my second gallery.....

.....And won 1st place in my category for my drawing of Woody Allen! I'll put up a better picture once I get it back. Notice me awkwardly standing next to my drawing.

Also, congrats to my amazing, AMAZING cousin who won best of show for his digital photograph featured on the website. In fact, he's so amazing, that I even took the time to take this picture of him accepting his award and put it on here.

{It's blurry to protect his identity.}

Also, congrats to fellow Arty's Bobby and Sarah for winning in their categories! Love you all.

The exhibit runs until May sixth, so check it out if you are in the Bountiful area.

-Lexi.

Check it out!

2011-04-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm on the Annex art blog! -lex

15. Mullet.

2011-04-06T16:16:00.001-07:00

Shazam.

-lex

14. Adrien Brody Underpainting

2011-04-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have been practicing {over the course of the past few months} drawing realistic proportions, and I've been itching to paint again after that gallery I was in. So....

This is what I did during the first three sessions of General Conference. I couldn't be more excited or nervous to paint this. I'm thinking of doing a super-impressionistic Amelie sort of color scheme. But at the same time I don't want to because I'm too afraid I will ruin it and then hate myself forever. And the last thing I want to do is ruin Adrien Brody's face.

And no, police officer who came to our house yesterday investigating a robbery, it is not Errol Flynn.

THIS is Errol Flynn.

Notice how he is, in fact, NOT Adrien Brody.

Comprendo? Comprendo.

Much to tell...

-Lex

13. I drew Adrien Brody's nose 23 times.

2011-03-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

....And I enjoyed every minute of it.

....And I definitely did not draw this during sacrament meeting.

....Yesterday.

-Lex

I'm being completely honest.

2011-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

My name is Alexis Vivienne, and I am in my first art gallery.

It's pretty surreal to click on a link on a website and see YOUR PAINTING up at the top...... I won't give away any surprises, but it is going to be epic. If you are in the Salt Lake area, please PLEASE go and support the gallery! It's like a 45 minutes drive from SLC, but I previewed it today and it is definitely worth it.

I am trying so hard to be professional right now.... Trying.... So.... Hard....

Thank you. Thank you guys so much.

-Lex, who is eternally grateful to her 22 followers.

In which my brain explodes.

2011-03-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

GAH!!!!
-Lexi

11. I took another good picture once.

2011-03-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This photo is completely unedited. Doesn't it make me look like a serious photographin' chick? Boo-yeah.

Now, I'm sure it seems like I purposely didn't edit this photo because I'm such an amazing photographer. Which to that I'm sure you are all saying " Oooh... look at how she captures the essence of the Wyoming sun." and "She sure knows how to manipulate the light in her favor." and "I really underestimated her photographical skills." and "Just another blog post proving that she is the greatest photographer to ever surf our humble little blogosphere."

While I should be gloating about being such a diamond in the rough world of photography blogging, while flipping my too-short-to-actually-flip-let-alone-do-anything-with hair and juggling a set of Butcher knives with names like "Ninja" and "Miracle Blade", really you are all being fooled by my intense photography skill.

In all actuality I took this picture whilst on Pioneer trek during the summer, whilst not participating in any sort of pioneer line-dancing, whilst suffering with a blister the size of a 50-cent piece and a nickel smushed together whilst using my mother's broken camera, after accidentally sitting in a circumstantially wet cow pie. Such a pity you can't see all the cow pies. There were some fresh ones. It was more like a "I think that it took a picture but I can't really tell because this cam-er-a {pronounced like Jenna on 30 rock} keeps beeping like it is giong to blow up" sort of deal. I held my breath and pushed down on the button, hoping that my mum wouldn't be too mad at me for at least attempting to photograph my spiritual pioneer journey. {I literally only took about 5 more pictures.}

I'm really also just too lazy to open up photoshop and painstakingly adjust the levels.

But, for the sake of my ego, we'll just pretend that I didn't edit this photo on purpose.

Dude! It's almost as if I'm on of the profesh-ish photographer-pals that live in my sidebar! Do check them out. Baby's on the half tip!

-Lex

11. Hope

2011-03-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

Pen and Photo-shoppe.... and an emaciated man.

-Lex.

Gloria

2011-03-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

I could listen to it all day.

Goals and aspirations.

2011-03-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

I really envy all of y'alls' blogging ability. You all are rosy at storytelling and make me want to be a better blogger. Or writer.

Ever since I was really little, I wanted to be some fantastic writer for a newspaper in New York or something like that. That and be Ash Catch'em from Pokemon, which was shattered when I found out he was actually a boy. Years passed, and I forgot about the passion I once had as a mere fetus, going throughout elementary school. Those dreams faded into the background, and, as we all eventually do, I moved on.

Now, today, the art department went on a field trip to Provo to see the Carl Bloch exhibit, which was, by the way, stunning, followed by a trip to Springville to see the AP students' work in the art museum. {And, lemme tell ya, 'cause I never get sicka sayin' it! I LOVE ART!! MEH!} I loved looking at other people's work ,{as stated in previous parenthesis} but my favorite part was probably the bus ride to and from. I have an art teacher who is a really animated fellow, and he spent the majority of the time telling us stories about his life and things.

Everything he said was interesting. All of the kids sitting at the front of the bus and the other two teachers were completely captivated by his words. He is a true storyteller. He did not ramble, as I often do when telling stories, but he painted a picture with the imagery through his words. {Even though he is an art teacher and could paint a picture of the story literally anyways}

Silently, I vowed to myself that I would one day be an incredible storyteller. Perhaps not the kind that sits on rocking chairs and tells children of their interesting life, but one that can relay a story on a bumpy bus ride. All though I abandoned all hopes of being an editorial writer when I was a mite, I think that this goal is actually achievable. I only hope that cool enough things will happen to me in my life so I'll have interesting material to actually tell people.

My other goal is to make my own swimsuit and high-waisted shorts. And another Pride and Prejudice dress that will actually look good and not like a Moses dress.

And my other-other goal is to be Mike Nesmith. {photo courtesy of userserve-ak.last.fm}

{He's my hero.}

I have recently found a love for the Monkees and knit wool hats... He's precious!

-Lex

Graphic Novel: Mr. T?

2011-03-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

School has been crazy. My grades have never EVER been this bad. I was too lazy to pull out my tablet, and amidst the wreck, Mr. T. somehow ended up on there. I'm a total MESS.

-Lex

10. Heather's logo.

2011-03-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

After months of hard work followed by months of laziness, I finally finished my lovely cousin's logo for the dessert parlor she's opening. Kudos to strep throat for making all of this possible.

My art website should be finished soon. I can't wait! {Except I obviously can because I have to.}
-Lexi

9. This is what I do instead of paying attention in math.

2011-03-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Notice Adrien Brody, my to-do list, and Beck with the lyrics of Ramshackle and Paper Tiger on his face. {It isn't my fault that he's the only person I know how to draw from memory!}

Also, A brief bulleted list of recent events...

Mullet-growing continues. I need like a 3/4 of an inch in the back and then the magic will begin.
I have been working very diligently for over a month on an acrylic painting of my friend Aimee.

Oh, yeah, did I mention how it is in a gallery now? Yup, yup, yup.

I finally saw the Illusionist. It was incredibly depressing, yet insanely beautiful at the same time. It is impossible for Sylvain to disappoint.
Also, Happy Birthday to the greatest godparents in the world.

AREN'T THEY PRECIOUS?

-Lex

I'm so proud of you....

2011-03-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

PLEASE help local yokels Fictionist get on the cover of Rolling Stone!!!
-lex

8. I didn't take this.

2011-02-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

But I thought it deserved some credit. {Credit goes to Gurmie.} We were in SLC in a store called cabin fever when we found this little book. We both found it humorous. And who knew that phone cameras took such good pictures? HA! It also goes well with my Senior portrait rant from a while ago.

Is making fun of yourself still considered Narcissism?

-Lex

7. Cartoon Self-Portrait and the weekend.

2011-02-22T15:01:00.000-08:00

This pretty much describes how I feel lately. Tired. stressed, and my hair is not nearly mullet-y enough yet for my liking. But I do like my Quakie skirt which I actually really wish I owned.

This weekend I saw The Pianist edited on TV. I do not feel like a film has changed my life so completely since I saw Hotel Rwanda, which is kind of saying a lot. The music, the cinematography, the fact that Adrien Brody was in it, everything. I want to marry that film. Not even kidding. Hopefully I can find an edited copy on amazon or something so I can own it because honestly, I can't imagine the horrors that life will {would?} be if I don't have that movie in my personal collection. Every night I would go to my bookshelf where I keep my movies and I would stroke it and fall asleep with it in my arms.

When you take Adrien Brody and put him in a holocaust film, sweet, sweet miracles happen. I can't even describe it. The emotion that he protrays is so realistic and so raw you just want to immerse yourself in it. The funny thing with movies is even though you know it isn't real, they can take you and put you into the position where you are completely hypnotized by it, almost to the point where you feel you are living every triumph, every bit of anguish, yourself. Not many actors can make you literally believe their role and character is real. Adrien has that rare talent of realism, even in its hollow, agonizing form.

I am so in love with it. I'm really awful with words. I'm totally not doing it justice.

Also, don't mind this crappy youtube video. It also does not do the best scene in the movie justice. Look at him! As a jew!!! With a beard!!

UGH! ADRIEN!!
-Lexi

I think I'm done

2011-02-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

with posts oriented around stupid things, which in all actuality whittles all of my actually good posts to under 10. Blogging has become sort of a chore, and instead of it being just a past time, I think I'm ready to convert Vivienne and Company {and by company I mean me} to a complete arts-oriented blog used solely for artistic exposure via the worldwide blogosphere. {Check out Stacie's blog in the sidebar. You'll see what I mean. And Pasto's. And Jo's. And Jessica's. And Mike's. And Shannon's...}

Yup.
-Lex

6. Church Doodlin's #1

2011-02-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Drawn during stake conference.

I should probably pay more attention to the speaker and less to the attractive bearded man sitting across the aisle. His wife kept glaring at me...

-Lex

Valentimes {-tines}

2011-02-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

I made Valentines with me and my boyfriend Adrien Brody on them. Aren't we just the cutest couple ever? I know, I know. Mormon culture prohibits me to date until I am sixteen. I mean, honestly, we are only 22 years apart in age so it doesn't really matter. I'm just so sick of people trying to prohibit our love. UGH. No one understands us.

Tonight he's going to make me delicious pizza in his wood stove and then serenade me with my favorite pieces of dialogue from King Kong. He really is perfect and so super thoughtful.

Happy Valentines day!

-Lex

This is a prologue for tomorrow's post.....

2011-02-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

Foreshadowing?! For tomorrow?!?! AH!!!
-Lex

Dresses and tresses.

2011-02-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

I'm still set on the mullet. Er... Excuse me. Wullet. No one can stop me. Unless I have to get chemo for some weird reason and then I lose all my hair. Then I'll just get a WULLET WIG. And if they do not exist, then I will create them using only hair from the finest Arabian mountain goats, which also exist.
I made this dress a few weeks ago on my brand-spankin' new sewing machine.

{Heh. Reference to my last ranting post about senior pictures.} These lovely photographs were taken by my darling Gurmie, who is such. A. Doll.

Over and out with a hearty, riotous shout,

-Lex

5. The Cricks and the Polygamists.

2011-02-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

My cousin Ethan. Drawn on Christmas in pen.

Also, I have thought long and hard and have decided that I am growing my hair out into a mullet. This is due to the fact that my boy cut has become rather shabby and the back grows a lot faster than the front, and because Amy Adams in Julie and Julia convinced me that wullets {women-mullets. Technical legitimacy at its finest!} were not the stuff of legends, unlike the Queen of England and Gublerland. {photo courtesy of last.fm}

I'm thinking of going for a Tegan Quinn sort of mullet, and then I'll put feathers in it or something. Or rats. Head-rats. Yeah. Rats that will live on my head.

I'm glad this is going to work out so well.

-Lex

{P.S: New Metronomy song and video? Hallelujah! }

4. Teresius Emily

2011-02-02T15:51:00.000-08:00

Drawn during a seminary assembly in like, 10 minutes. Disproportionate, unflattering, yet completely entertaining.

So, basically, I am super duper blessed to have such an incredibly amazing friend like Teresius. Did I mention she is the craftiest person in the world? I'm completely indebted to her. I honestly could spend the next 8 paragraphs telling you all the amazing things about her, but I'm afraid I'll have to leave it at this.

P.S: Weeping tears of sadness That Teresius's favorite band broke up today....

Be like a squirrel girl, be like a squirrel. {Also, Meg weeping on the cover art is extremely applicable.}

-Lex

2011-01-27T15:49:00.001-08:00

Life would be better if I could be in San Francisco right now.

3. Connor

2011-01-17T16:25:00.001-08:00

Pen portrait. I think I'm in love with myself for creating it. {?}
-Lex
{PST! You can clickity to zoom}

2. The tile

2011-01-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

After months of blabbing on about it, you finally get to see it....

This is the first tile I did for my pals over at Annex skate. The tile was created way WAY back in June. Pathetically, the only picture I have was off of My sweet Walrus's phone. Since it took me forevertown to do, and I finally found the picture via webernets, I thought I would give it some credit and let it's light shine forth right here on my mini 365.
oooh.. crappy slanted phone picture.... Probably some of my best pen and watercolor work to date.

I have become rather fond of this little bag-headed axe man over the years. He was birthed from many doodles in fourth grade when I was supposed to be memorizing the counties of Utah.

Heber.... Beaver..... Bieber....?

-Lexi

1. Bolo

2011-01-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

1st photo for mini 365 project.

365- some serious photography blogidge.

2011-01-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

So, basically, everyone I know (and don't know) is doing this 365 blog which is all about expanding photo graphical horizons and letting people be inspired by other people. Now, I was invited to participate in such an event, but pretty much I'm no good at photography, but it my own little way I want to contribute.

I'm lazy, so I won't be posting 365 days of the year {seeing as I have a bit of a late start}. But, I'd like to be better photographer {because I suck.} as well as artist, so here's my plan.

1. Post photographs or sketches as much as possible. I will number them, starting off with the next post that I do post. In this way, I will be doing a mini version of the 365 blog, but there will be no expectations because I'm not actually a part of it.

Good vibes to all you people.

-Lexi.
P.S:

Song of the day. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Please listen with reverence.

Merry Shinsmas!

2011-01-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Favorite tv show intended for toddlers + the shins =

BEST THING YOU'LL EVER SEE.

-Lex

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously

2011-01-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

One of the speakers on my computer is broken, leaving me only hearing half of any double-tracked song {specifically Cloud Cult.}. It is quite humorous.

I've been people watching a lot lately at school. Have you ever noticed how incredibly interesting people are? It might sound stupid that it took me fifteen years to realize the importance of differentiability in human beings, but we are all so fascinating! Simple gestures, obscure mannerisms, but mostly what each of us notice.

One thing I've always been really inspired by is Rorschach's. I'm not saying THE SECRET IS OUT. MY GUILTY PLEASURE IS PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIEZZZ or anything like that, but the human mind is quite spectacular in that we all see things differently. That's why art is so wonderful. No one has a style that is quite the same.

For instance, I was hanging out during class with my new found art friend, and we were staring at this dead bush outside of a window. {For some reason, we thought it was the coolest thing ever or something.} Whenever we'd utter something about the decaying leaves or the dirt or the window, we always would focus on something different, and it was very fun. Her style is very realistic and extremely beautiful and her observations reflected that. As for my personal style {which I honestly don't know how to describe} my words reflected that also. We think the way we draw, and I love that.

In her words, she's Michelangelo and I'm Picasso. And I'm okay with that. I don't want to be someone I'm not when it comes to my art, and I like my style. I like her style too. We have a mutual understanding of this. We speak the same language.

Weekday update:

I'm content. And I finished sewing my Pride and Prej. inspired dress today. My sister said it looked like a Moses dress. But did Moses really wear a dress? I think not. Robes maybe, but I don't think the neckline on my dress would be flattering on him.
SOTD: This album came in the mail the other day and I've already listened to it too many times. {Think Paul McCartney soul + Andrew Bird Vibrato + Dirty Projectors quirkiness} You have to listen to the whole song though... SO GREAT.

xo- Lexi Vivienne

Specstaculars.

2011-01-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

After about a month of deliberation, I finally ordered some glasses. The ones I originally wanted were {supposed to} look like this on me. But with all of these kids these days and their crazy technology, who knows what they would have been in real life! People and their computers... I'm getting too old for this crap.

Anyways, I found a different website {via my old gym teacher} that had many more options for much much much much much cheaper. I decided to keep my options open, and go with these two beauties.

First I have my serious pair. Conservative and classay. People are totally going to take me seriously when wearing these. Who WOULDN'T respect someone with these glasses. They are also a homage to my good pal, Woody Allen. I mean, just look at the side serifs! I mean business, yo!

*"Wow." you say. " could that picture get any smaller??" Well, guess what! It CAN!

Y'all just had to test me.....

The second pair and also the cheaper of the two is my party pair. I will wear them when partying. {?}

PICTURE OF ME AS EDWARD SCISSOR HANDS ON HALLOWEEN!!!

I'm classy. And the worst blogger ever.

P.S: Apparently, bread boy read this blog and found the comic I wrote about him. Weirded out.

-Lex

Party like you're German and it is 2011.

2010-12-31T17:11:00.000-08:00

I want this to live on my sidebar. Happy New Year.

{But if you live in Germany, it is already New Year's.}

P.S: These German people are German and partying.
P.P.S: I am probably related to some of them. Particularly the weird guy in the back.

-Lexi

Graphic Nov: Summer Romance. PART 1

2010-12-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

As I was showering this morning, I couldn't help but be reminded of my spicy summer romance. I've been wanting to do a graphic novel of this for months, but I didn't get the ambition until now. So here goes..... my summer love. (in?) Hyperbole and a half style. word.ed.out.

CHANGE OF TEXT COLOR TO DIFFERENTIATE INTRO AND ACTUAL STORY!!!

So I work at a Farmer's Market from June until October every year, right? I know each vendor like the back of my hand. {What they like, what ticks them off, what hand they write with, what they order from Vito, what bread they buy from bread boy, etc.} But never before had I seen one particular vendor until a hot day in August............

The Far-mar was over for the day, and Corn and I were walking back to her car to go home. And that's when I saw him, sitting on a tweedy blanket on a separated piece of grass from the rest of the vendors. I stopped.

He had a sketchbook in his lap, and was surrounded by these wonderful abstract paintings. I couldn't help but gawk from a distance, until I realized that I actually WAS gawking and he actually WAS looking up at me totally being a creep. So, in all actuality, his face looked like this the first time I saw him.

I vowed to Corrin I would go talk to him, and decided to make sure I looked super good before I went and talked to my future man-candy. Unfortunately, I had just spent 7 hours in the hot sun, and have one of the most unobservant sisters in the entire world.

After I got the OK from the sis, I approached the boy.

Me: You do these?

Boy: ......yeah... {HE'S SO SHY AND CUTE AND SHY AND CUUUUUTE!}

Me: They're awesome. You're really good! What did you use?

~~Me (in mind): You're doing great!!! Just keep it cool. Keep it cool. Don't say anything stupid. You like art? Yeah you do. He likes art? Well, obvs! Talk about art and act totally cool even though in the inside you are totally OMIGOSH HIS EEEEEEEEEEYYYYEEEEESSS!! THEY'RE SOOOOOOO PREEEEEEEEETTTTTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!

Boy: Acrylics, mostly.

Me: Really? You do a lot of abstract stuff?

Boy: .... {chuckles awkwardly}.....yeah....

{and this is where I totally lose it.}

Me: Wow. Can I marry you?

Boy: What?.....

~~Me (in mind) : LIBERTY BELL!! CAN YOU READ ME?? ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!

Me: {gesturing to sketchbook} So, what are you working on?

Boy: I'm drawing my dog for school.....

Me: What school do you go to? I mean.... you don't have to tell me.. unless you.. I'm not trying to pry...

I end the conversation as soon as I began it, and we give each other one last awkward chuckle before we depart.

I bowed my head in shame and walked away. I ruined the one chance I had been given with the lurpiest, most beautiful boy I had ever seen. Visions of his jaw structure haunted my dreams for nights to come. How could I have been so stupid? It baffled me. For weeks he didn't show up at the market, and I felt myself slowly eating my way into a mental depression, and only Vito's meatball sub could ease the pain of my own doing. I had failed.

Months passed. The summer wore on, and the boy still never showed. That is, until the last week of Farmer's Market, when I decided to make my move...... again.

{end of part 1. Stay tuned!!}

-Lexi

Rantypants.

2010-12-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling in the mood to complain about the world right now. Do you know what I dislike more than a thousand burning suns? Senior pictures. Nothing makes me want to vomit more than girls with long curly hair standing in front of an old looking wall flashing their "serious" face.

But you know what's the worst? The "I'm cool and musical and artsy so I'm going to pose with my guitar!" pose. Those drive me up the wall. More than anything.

Do you like my crappily drawn guitar? I sure do.

-Lexi

Dear Sylvain Chomet,

2010-12-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

You are utterly fantastic. I wish I could be French and 20 years older and marry you and we would have beautiful artistic children with messy hair and Woody Allen wayfarers.

Now, you know I love you. You know that 'Belleville Rendez-vous' {aka: The Triplets of Belleville} is my favorite movie in the entire world, and that I have watched it way too many times to even say on the world wide interweb. You know this, Sylvain. So, when I heard you were creating another beautifully animated masterpiece I NATURALLY had a brain aneurysm and called it good.

After watching this trailer, I was utterly determined to find where this film was playing and when I could see it. Luckily for me, there was a showing in three days time at the Broadway in Downtown SLC. {I love you, Salt Lake City.} So, I asked mum if she'd accompany me in my foreign films escapade, and she agreed that we would go see it today.

This morning I got online to find out movie show times, and it said that they changed the release date to FEBRUARY FOURTH. I can't wait for two months to see the movie that was OBVIOUSLY made for me!!! If you, Sylvain, have any control whatsoever over movie release dates, you should seriously hook a sister up and bump it back a few months to...um...now. As in today. Make it so it is released today. Please.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll have to get by with watching this animated short you made back in the 90's.

I love you with all of my teenage fan girl heart,

Lexi Vivienne

Christmas was a punch in the face.

2010-12-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas....was..... a whole different blog post. Soon to come. Meanwhile, enjoy this picture I drew of a guy getting punched in the face.

GAH! Photoshop isn't working, and I spent the last TWO HOURS making a lovely picture to post on here, but it all went down the toilet, because for some reason the layers function is being stupid.
I'm in a bad mood.

Seeking blog love/advice.

toodles.
-Lexi

Merry Christmas! {Eve}

2010-12-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

{possibly better than last year's Christmas eve post?}

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

All my love,

-Lexi Vivienne

Face down and the guarantees.

2010-12-23T15:27:00.003-08:00

I made this yesterday. Starting off with a layer of watercolor, followed by pen, followed by pencil.

{Clockwise starting with: Beck, Urban outfitters model, character of my own creation loosely based off of the "Loser" music video, picture of Corn as a child in complimentary colors and wearing antlers, and creepy plaid man of my own creation.}

I was going for a sort of haunting effect with the dull, barely-there amounts of color in his face, and really let the shading stand out. Frankly, I enjoy it much more than the last Beck watercolor I did many moons ago.

And speaking of Beck..... My dearest cousin surprised me with a 5-panel Warhol-esque picture of Beck for Christmas! isn't she just a gem and creative genius?

Ah. My family is the coolest.

**DISCLAIMER: I really hope that these posts don't make me sound like I'm bragging or anything like that. I'm honestly not. Art is just what makes me happy and I believe it should be shared with others. I'M NOT A JERK, I promise!!!**

I am making this dress. I am making this dress. I don't care what you say. I am making this dress.

2010-12-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

I vowed the last time that I watched this movie {with Teresius, of course} that I would find a way to replicate this dress. I have found a similar pattern to base it off of, I will add a casing and drawstring on the side {as pictured}. I will tighten the sleeves a bit. I will lengthen. All I need is money and to find the perfect striped fabric.... I will CONQUER!

Goodbye, Christmas break boredom. Pray I do not get pneumonia for the fourth year in a row.
That's all for now.
-Lexi

Thursday inspiro

2010-12-16T17:15:00.001-08:00

Usually these posts are on Sunday, but I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF. Queue the bulleted list? I do say!

Today I was listening to Pandora and I came across a little glimpse of my odd little sixth grade past. That is, I listened to "Young folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John again for the first time in four years. I was immediately flooded with the first time I saw this music video, Corn and I sitting watching cable T.V. talking about Bat for Lashes and my upcoming sixth grade play. I miss it so! Thanks, Pandora. Yer priddycool. And you made it onto my Thursday inspiro list.

I would do ANYTHING to live in this creepy animated world full of simplistic color palettes and 70's tree curtains. {Pretty much, all of my problems would be solved if I could could look that great in pink pastels.} This makes me want to watch the Brady Bunch. Ya dig?

I want to spend the rest of my life doing gesture drawings of Beck moonwalking.

Photography blogs that freak out my brain with their TOTAL BRILLLL. {y'all know who you are.}

My new sketchbook which I made in art cloughb. I did an acetone transfer of one of my favorite drawings that I have ever created {record player head man} and then mod-podged holocaust photographs, a guy wearing a gas mask, the gestapo and also British officials and a random cowboy guy to the front. If you can find little Elie Weisel, I will give you a gold star.

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy that states that your sketchbook should be just as inspirational on the outside as what you put into it. I'm pretty darn pleased with the outcome, and I can't wait to fill it. Muaha! Also, do you enjoy my crappy photography skills? Oh yeah. I'm a fan of that too.

T.S. Elliot poetry. I've always been fond of him, but Matthew Gray Gubler on Criminal Minds keeps quoting him and reminding me of the splendor!!

Oh. Matthew Gray Gubler. {Laugh it up, Corn. Laugh it up.} His cheekbones were carved by angels. Angels wearing Marc Jacobs.

Surrealistic French films. Just kidding. Because I almost fell asleep while watching this one with my mum last Saturday. But the cover art is stellar. I couldn't resist it while browsing the public library shelves for some good feelms to watch.

Now I'm just rambling.

Hopefully I'll get the new header up during Christmas break. No complaints though, right?

xo-Lexi Vivienne

Simon and Grafunkel, Karen and Richard, Corn and Lexi.

2010-12-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is a watercolor of my dearest sister and myself. {She's the pretty one with the long hair.}

Honest to blogliness, I was DREADING doing this one. And when I say dreading, I mean DREADING. It's for my Dad for Christmas, and I really don't like drawing pictures of my sister. For some reason, she's really difficult to draw, and I can never get her face shape right. {Which, she constantly reminds me of whenever I draw her.}

But, I'm relatively pleased with how this one turned out. I would like it more if were more REALISTIC {shoot. shoot. shoot.} , but my Dad will get the general idea.

{P.S: I think I have the greatest friends in the world. My pal Mary made this shirt for me as a Christmas gift. She knows me all too well to embroider my favorite word on a shirt in an equally awesome color. If I could, I would wear this shirt every day of my entire existence on this earth. SO CLASSY, I KNOW.}

Hasta Manana, {Corn had to help me spell it, because I am an illiterate non-Spanish speaking fool.}

-Lexi

I'm tired.

2010-12-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

Today was a weird and somewhat crappy day.

All I wanted to do was go home and eat Reddi-whip.

My family never buys Reddi-whip.

Life is stupid.

Watercolors are stupid, when you don't want to do them.

And when you have to be realistic.

It doesn't make sense.

Nothing does.

{Especially math.}

-lexi

I'm like your best friend that tells you where to get free and awesome music.

2010-12-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hey, blog readers!!!

Remember how back in April I went and saw Emily Hope-Price and I told you about the gorgeous-haired angel named Luke Williams? Oh yeah, I remember that.

Remember how I'm being the coolest blogger ever by letting you in on the SECRET TO GETTING HIS AMAZING EP FOR FREEEEE!!?!?!

Click on this. Follow the downloading instructions at the top of the screen, and viola! You have wiggled your way into the localite-goodness of the lo-fi genius, Luke Williams.

Ancient Eyes is beautiful. I got the EP for eight bucks at the concert, but you get it for nil. Totally worth your time. I can expect big things from him in the future. And I can expect even more beautiful hair in the future, too.

You can thank me later.
-Lexi

Yukon Cornelius

2010-12-05T18:02:00.000-08:00

is a total hipster. All he needs is a fixed-gear and he'd be set.

Deliciousness. And Canadian Afro-mullets.

-Lexi

Sneak-eth peek-eth.

2010-11-29T15:56:00.000-08:00

Oh man!! I'm doing another ceiling tile for Annex Skate, a local splendor full of the coolest and some of most LDS-ish skaters on this side.....of.... the Himalayas. So, before it gets done {because it won't be anytime soon... I ran out of my favorite pens and spent all of my money on Christmas presents. Aw.} Ya'll gats a sneak peek on the outcome.

AAAAHHH! Line drawing???!?

Do you like my makeshift art studio that I made-shift in my kitchen between the oven and the fridge with a swivel chair and a wobbly easel that is older than your mother? Yep. I sure do. Also notice my fabulous hat that gives me special powers.

Also, this is a picture of me working on my first tile that is now completed in Annex Skate. I'm probably using the same pen that I {in}conveiniently ran out of while working on the most current tile last week! Rats to humanity!! I wish I could still faux-hawk my hair like days of yore....er....June....AT LEAST I WON THE CONTEST WHICH WAS NOT BASED ON ACCURACY OF TIME OR GRAMMAR.

Also, also, thanks to Chilly {pictured above} for hanging out with me for four hours while I finished that tile. Love ya, toots.

-Lexi

Skip the rope, chop the tree!

2010-11-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

My sister and I love Thanksgiving. {as shown beneath}

Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to eat delicious stuffing and the stereotypical Utah food, Green Jell-o. This ratio is illustrated below, in a plate graph.

I also love when those certain relatives that always seems to be drunk give you money. {Or in this case, my sister money. But it is kind of a yearly tradition.}

You want to know what else I love? Watching Pride and Prejudice with Teresius and Chilly and drooling over the other-worldly perfection of Mr. Darcy. Gah. So great. Honestly, I could probably watch that movie 80 times in a row and NEVER GET SICK OF IT. Really. And Matthew MacFadyen. Yum. I even went to the library yesterday and got the book. I'm going to read it, yeah! And Y'all better be supportive, yeah?

Oh man. I have a whole bunch more to say and I PROMISE I'M WORKING ON A NEW HEADER, OKAY?

I shall end the post with a lovely food-themed french song. Hoorah for yarn s'ghetti!

Over and out, more to come, yeah, potatoes.

-lexi

Too little, too late.

2010-11-20T18:47:00.000-08:00

Guess what? I've started actually giving titles to my pieces. Aren't you just proud little webernet friends.

Communications through guilt, pen

the majority of this one was drawn without lifting up my hand during a long and boring car ride. The minority {the hatching on the hand}was created while my hand was lifted.

study on the female, pen

If any of you know my style of drawing, drawing chicks is not.my.forte. I hate drawing us. This was very fun though and got out a lot of pent up crap {I love having a creative outlet. If you don't have one, get one.}. FEMINISM RULEZ!

Optimism rocks.

-lexi

i-t-i-i-l-b-i-m-m-k-o-n-t-s-s

2010-11-20T18:13:00.000-08:00

I don't expect you to know that acronym, but if you can figure it out, I will draw you a picture and bake you cookies.

Anyways, I have been SWAMPED lately in schoolwork and artwork and and craft work and being a stereotypical angsty teenager. {my poor family, having to put up with my grumpiness...} But lots of good things have come out of my stress .{I think.}

Remember how I was complaining about how I can't draw realistically and it peeves me to death? Remember how immediately after that post I decided to draw a bunch of pen stuff and it made me realize that I perhaps don't need to draw perfectly to get far in that field? Oh yeah, I remember that. Whenever I get in a stupor please remind me that cross-hatching in pen always makes me feel better, okay? Okay.

Yum. Pen makes me so happy.

Also, I applied to this yesterday and I am hopin' and prayin' that they choose some of my drawings, because that would be INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUSLY EPIC???

Remember how I don't really like Harry Potter all that much?

Remember how that guy from The Decemberists is pretty not attractive at all?

Remember how I'm doing another ceiling tile for Annex and it will be stellar dope?

Remember how I totally want to have a giant crazy paint party in a sterile white house as in the {wait for it....here comes the plug.} SONG OF THE DAY?!?!?!?! {Thanks to my dearest Teresius for introducing me to the lovely bed-headed jamminess of Locksley.}

Remember how I am very excited for Christmas? I love getting crafty and making presents and finding just the right thing for someone and they start flailing. Flaaaaaaiiiiiil!!!!

Remember how I have two other blog posts planned for today? I do. Priddycool.

Love, Peace, hydrogenated grease.
-Lexi.

Ye Olde Graphic Novel : Stiff upper lip, chin up.

2010-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

So, kiddies. I give you a prehistoric graphic novel based completely on true events {Yes, my teacher is a jerkwad and really did say that.} Crappily colored using 6 great-smelling shades!! Written about a month ago using some obscure tablet program before I learned how to properly use photoshop!! I drew myself wearing a normal outfit just for funsies!! The title of it is a plug for a musical number that my enemy-school is putting on right now that was DANGEROUSLY APPLICABLE TO THE SITUATION!!!!! Click to enlarge!!!

-Lexi

My eyes are burning lazers reflecting off of the screen and etching themselves deep into my skull.

2010-11-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

I'm in a rut. This happens often, as you may have guessed, and I don't enjoy it one bit. I sit here, all sulky and gloomy and I don't know what to do with myself. I'm getting this vibe from the universe that in order to become something in the artistic world, I need to be able to draw things exactly as they look. So, this week I ventured into pictures cut out of magazines and secluded myself for a matter of hours to try and achieve this.

For some reason I have this odd genetic makeup that makes me tell myself that I can achieve absolutely anything I desire as long as I put my mind to it and spend time on it. I do not think of how long it might actually take me to get there and I expect myself to be perfect the first time around. This belief is a root of many Disney movies and episodes if Arthur {so I am not entirely to blame.} and is completely and utterly farse.

Now, because of this, I give up easily and immediately head to bummertown as a result. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I HATE BUMMERTOWN. I get this ego built up and my head can barely fit through my favorite Jared Gold tank top and I automatically think I can do anything and am so great and blah blah blah and then BAM. I'm in bummertown. And there I am. Sitting in my room, listening to Manchester Orchestra and wondering what the heck happened and why the collar of my favorite Jared Gold tank top is so stretched out.

Okay, I may not seem like an egotistical jerkwad, but I can get that way deep down and am very good at hiding it. It is like long toenails, easily hidden by close-toed shoes but when seen in a sandal, remains grotesque and lint-y.

{Possibly the worst comparison written by man?!}

ANYways, ruts are stupid. Stooooooopid, if you will. And as much as I dislike them, I need to have them. They help keep us grounded so we can sort out our priorities and such.

And now a meaningful life lesson.

This rant session is making its way back to the station, but before I leave you, I must tell you to never do things in order to impress others. Take your time, and enjoy the process. When you stop enjoying that thing that you are truly passionate about, it isn't worth anything anymore. Sometimes, people can take that passion out of you. Ruts can help us find it again in a whole new life, and help us see the worth that was lost. Be passionate about things to please yourself, not just to get the recognition of others.

How was that for life lessons? Eh? Eh?

Take it away, song of the day!

Graphic novel: One foot in the grave

2010-11-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

Me and my mum. TRUE EVENTZ.

Lately to rid myself of stress and put my life into a different perspective, I've turned to making graphic novels of events that occur in my life. My absolutely fantastic art teacher told me how she makes them about her life and suggested I do the same. It helps me make light of hard situations and lets my feelings out in a creative way. This particular one I made in about a half an hour while under the influence of this song, and isn't supposed to look amazing. That's what makes it fun; there are no expectations! Enjoy.

-Lexi

Hallows

2010-10-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

This morning, I woke up and took my dog outside. It was nearly seven-thirty and I had been the only one awake in my house for quite some time. It was dark, yet day lit, and the sun struggled to be in view past the ombre clouds overhead. I wore no shoes, and the cold grass wrapped itself in between my toes.

The trees surrounding me were muted marvels of the brightest yellows and the deepest auburns, and cast the loveliest ochre hue over the entire yard. I just stood there, basking in the beauties of the earth that we live in. We are all very blessed.

Normally I find inspiration in materialistic things: A films, a song, a painting, a toaster, whatever. But have you ever noticed the mounds of insurmountable inspiration we find in the earth that surrounds us? Nothing generic. Just simple and raw. Nature is talented all on its own, it needs no help from the media or human society. No exploitation. It is just there. It thrives with no aids, and we take it for granted. Nature is the under appreciated step-sibling. The thing you always know is there, but you never truly miss it until it is gone.

This week my sister dared me to take part in a Facebook fast: no facebook for an entire week. I never thought I would become one of those people that thrives off of a comment, a like, or a message. But sadly, I have. I am a rather antisocial person and I enjoy being caught up in other people's interactions without having to actually interact with them. At first this fasting was difficult. I was many times tempted to get online and 'socialize' with others. I never realized how much I was actually addicted to social networking. Silly really, but it is almost as if I needed it to get through the day.

Now, it has only been a few days since I began fasting, but I have already noticed a difference in myself. I have found more productive things to do {i.e: drawing, reading, getting a head start on schoolwork.} and feel I am not as stressed when I am not facebooking. I rather enjoy living without it. And this morning is when it all came full-circle. I've been too consumed in my life and the virtual lives of others to even care about anything going on around me.

Sometimes we have to get away from all the drama in life to stay grounded. This morning I rediscovered that ground, whether it be metaphorically or literally. I rediscovered the beauty of the world around us, and I hope that we can all remember that from time to time.

Technology is constantly changing. There is always something bigger and better to come on the vast pixelated horizon. But the leaves always stay the same. They always grow green in the summer, and turns marvelous colors in the fall. We can't trust this vast cyber-sphere, but nature is always dependable. Sometimes, you just need to let go of the approval of others and become one with it.

-Lexi

This soap smells like old people.

2010-10-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Woah! Hey! How are you? Excited for Halloween? Yeah? No? You don't believe in Halloween? Oh. Okay.

I know my posts have been seriously slackin' in the awesome department, but I promise many good things to come. Yesterday I learned how to use photoshop, which will open many doors and wasted hours spent with my pressure-sensitive pen in hand. mmmmmmmm.

Also, check out the new header! I've been working on it for a while now and I finally got it to a point where I really like it. That creepy little antlered boy sure has grown on me.

I really need to finish posting the San Franciso chronicles up here. It was like...5 months ago? Yeah. Pathetic.

-Lexi

Woah.

2010-10-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

I honestly can't believe it.

AAAAAAHHHH!!!!