Saturday, October 17, 2009

Life is mysterious

Cool things might be coming my way...update soon.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Want, Need, Have

I feel like I'm finally over the "i've just moved to a new place" hump. Sure, I still miss my friends, and it's strange not having family around. But I don't think that those emotions will ever go away. It's always going to be a bit lonely because in the last few years I've gotten to know some amazing people, who are also scattered all over the place. I like how a few nights before I left Adan and I pinky swore that we'd always be friends, and we wouldn't lose touch or become "pretend" friends. I feel the same way about a handful of other people, I just didn't get the chance to pinky swear them into a contract. I am a terrible phone-caller, so if you feel like you've missed me too, just give me a ring-a-ling.
Right now the biggest stress in my life is my job(s). In a way, I don't mind working two jobs. It keeps me busy and I know that I'm making money. But I hate feeling like I could be doing something else, something where I could be learning or productive. This feeling really only applies to one of my jobs. I laugh because I've had three different employers in as many months, and you're always hearing about how hard it is to find a job in this economy. Probably because I'm taking the jobs no one wants, and honestly, two out of the three, I don't want them either.
So maybe the answer is to cut back on working so much at a place I hate (again), work as much as they'll let me at the place I enjoy, and tell the bank I can only pay the interest on my loans. Peace of mind is worth more to me than being able to pay loans on a degree that I haven't had the chance to use. I miss making art, and this realization hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. Time (or lack of it) should never be an excuse, and really I just haven't found motivation or reason to do anything. So I guess my Harvest Resolution is to make art, work at a place I enjoy, and not worry so much about money. And now that I've typed them out, they seem kind of daunting.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Artful International

Friends of Eric's have started up a non-profit called Artful International. Just wanted to give them a shout out. So check it out!

http://www.artfulinternational.org/

Mission: Artful International is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization devoted to pairing artistic expression with the expansion of charitable efforts around the globe. We exist to join people in the creation, discovery and distribution of all things artful.

Art’s function throughout society is vast. It is a means to communicate, to educate, to inquire and to entertain. It possesses an undeniable therapeutic value and ever persists as the greatest avenue for expression. We believe that our complete admiration for art coupled with its unlimited potential to benefit humanity, creates a dynamic movement that can change the world.

The inherent quality of Artful International is not unlike a deeply rooted tree. Our passion and our lifeblood flow deeply from beneath artistic ground. Stemming from our loyalty to all things artful is merciless devotion to providing support and service to communities and organizations alike.

With that in mind, Artful International is calculated through the simplest of formulas:

Artistic Expression + Global Charitable Advancement = Artful International

We are an art-based company; therefore, our primary objective lies in the creation, discovery and distribution of art. In order to provide the highest quality of service, our primary drive embarks with a love and devotion originating from the necessity for art in everyday life. Our ability to procure a superior product and service relies on these values.

Our secondary devotion is the advancement of charitable efforts. Financial assistance from commercial sponsorship, private donations, product sales and other fundraising is allocated to a network of organizations benefiting humanitarian, educational, environmental, and research developmental needs. Donated product and services will lend a helping hand in assisting local and international aspiring artist find the artful path.

Artful International’s immovable love for and devotion to all things artful is rooted within a vast network of artistic forms. The firmness of that system branches upward into a thriving, expansive growth of charitable services to all of humanity.

Artful International’s primary focus is on a four-platform foundation: Humanitarian, Educational, Environmental, and Research Development. Our services combine efforts to provide artists with the resources to explore talent while promoting social awareness and charitable contributions. All artistic programs are designed to encompass one or more of these charitable causes. We seek to commission artists and artisans to consistently move our mission forward while our skilled production staff creates, implements, procures, and distributes programs. Only with a partnership of creativity and cause can we design a program to support the highest level of social outreach. Our highest priority is providing hope to artists of any skill level and supporting charitable efforts for all walks of life.