Lightning Love

Playing in my attic.

Year End Review

Here is my year in review. Each year I set goals for the year an check in on them from time to time to see where I am. Though I didn't accomplish all of them, I definitely added a few to the list that I didn't really see coming like opening a store! So here we go. Let's see how I did.

1. Take an Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop class. YES! Well sort of. I did take an Illustrator class which has come in handy with fabricate posters etc. I still need to take a Photoshop class but there aren't enough hours in the day!
2. Sign up for another session of life drawing. No! but I did paint and draw a lot this year. Maybe this goal should move to 2010.
3. Create 100 4x6 paintings and have a show. I failed at this last year. YES! I did this too! I'm ready to start planning another show. I already have some ideas brewing.
4. Continue to blog regularly even when the self-portrait challenge is done. I'd like to come up with another assignment for myself. YES, NO, MAYBE! I did blog a lot this year but I have been slacking in the last few months since opening fabricate. I'll get back on the horse now that we are in a good grove.
5. Start a savings account!!! Yes, I do not have a savings account and this is the year. I'm growing up. YES, Sort of! I didn't start a savings account...in fact I spent a lot of money on fabricate BUT I did start a retirement fund. How old am I.
6. Go to yoga at least once a week. NO! Total fail all around on this one.
7. Continue to make stuff to sell on Etsy even though I've NEVER sold anything. (Hint, Hint...please someone buy something!). NO! but I did open a real life Etsy instead so this could be a yes!
8. Figure out the best way to make and actually make an animation that has been floating around in my head for a few months. NO! but I did help my friend Yusef on his 48 hour film festival animation and hopefully we will do it again this year. This goal may have to be in the 5 year plan.
9. Landscape my backyard. Yet another failure from the year before. FAIL! Total fail.
10. Finish painting the house...a project that was started two years ago. FAIL AGAIN!!!! Oh well.

Not too bad I guess. I had a great year and find myself looking at my life and realizing how lucky I am. 2009 was a 100% improvement in comparison to 2008. I'm excited to see what 2010 has in store. Now I'm off to get ready for a fun night kicking off a new year and a new decade! I'll be updating my 2010 goals in a few days. I'm still working them out.

I've lived in Cincinnati for a decade. That is crazy!!! Happy New Year to all of you!

Knitting

Yes, perhaps I have been sitting here for two days.

Next At fabricate

I can't believe we are planning our 3rd opening!!!! Photography by Scott Beseler opens January 9th, 2010 from 7-11. We are taking a week off between Christmas and New Year in order to recover from a crazy few months. This working everyday between my full time job and my passion project is sort of kicking my ass. It's worth it though!

Christmas TV Glow.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Rick's Show!

I love this big one! You can check it out at the Weston Art Gallery in downtown Cincinnati 650 Walnut St.

Our Tree!!!

The tree farm we usually go to is closed this year which sort of broke our Christmas spirit. It hasn't helped that I work every day these days either. This little guy will do for this year.

Fabricate Is Filling up!

We are all set for our second opening!

No Picture Post

Check THIS out.

Next At fabricate

Our next show at fabricate is in partnership with my good friend Lauren Koch and another DAAP student Lacey Voss. They are bringing together different students to showcase their finished projects for the quarter as well as selling drawings and or accessories that go along with the projects. I'm really excited to see it all come together! My show is up for another week so if you are one of the ten people that reads my blog and hasn't seen the show, come on by!

Mmmmmmmmm Breakfast

Take the Cake!!!

Tough Decisions

I made these hand warmers to sell at Fabricate but it's cold in here
today so I just have to wear them and keep them. Darn!

There They Are

All 100 paintings. I'm excited to see them all together the way
they've been in my head for months. Many of them have sold which is
exciting though there are a few that I'm sad to see go. There are
still some left so get to Fabricate!!!

Success!

So tired.

NUMBER 100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel excited and sad to be finished.

Number 92

My brain hurts! I've been going since 8 this morning!

Music Saved My Life!

This is painting number 90. YIKES! I can't stop listening to the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack.

Number 87

I have all 100 drawn...I still have a lot of painting to do but the end is near. Night night.

Coming Soon!

Grand Opening Reception
4x6x100: Paintings by Chris Salley (ME!)
Friday, November 20th, 2009
7p.m.-11p.m.

Regular Business Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday 12-7
Sunday 12-5

4012 Hamilton Ave.
Enter Through Red Polly
Cincinnati, OH 45223

The store is really coming together! I'm feeling both nervous and excited. There is still a lot to do and 15 paintings to finish. EEEEEK!!!!! Finished logo thanks to Julie Hill! We'll eventually add some sort of icon.

Number 85

At the Dentist

Hating it.

Progress!

I've been working on my new project which is a gallery/store hybrid in Northside called fabricate. This is a rough draft of our logo! We open November 20th, more details to come.

My Twin!

Fighter

Painting number 83. It's been a year today since I was mugged. It's not the same date but the last Sunday in October. The weather felt the same today and I was accidentally wearing the same outfit which isn't that odd for this time of year given most Sundays I can be found in Chucks and my favorite green hoodie. It's interesting how that one day changed the way I feel about my own personal security, strength, and how it pretty much erased the daily walk from my life. He's in prison now for 5 years at age 17. There are days when that doesn't sit well with me, the idea of a 17 year old kid in prison for that long. I can't really explain that feeling though.

On a lighter note this cheesy video made me laugh out loud tonight.

This song has been stuck in my head for weeks because of the show Glee. I'm loving that show so much right now. I think it might be one of my new favorite songs. Today, Ben told me about a cover of the song by Pomplamoose which is really good. Ironic.

Pumpkins!

Strange Cat

We chilled with him at the corn maze. I think his tongue is broken.

Number 82

This is inspired by a picture of my mom and her sister when they were young.

Crafty Supermarket Vendors Announced!

Click here to check them out!

Laying in Bed

Researching H1N1 cause my skin hurts, my chest hurts and I have a fever. I need ice cream but it's at the store.

Lost

81

New Project Preview

My Bosses Day Gift

I'm easy to please.

Look Up

Painting number 79. I've been working on a few other projects lately so my painting time has been taken over. I'll be posting information about my new project soon!

The Bride

I cried like a baby.

I'm Feeling...

...really weird today. I think my bangs are getting too long. These
two thoughts are not exactly related.

Small Things = Cute

I can't seem to fall asleep tonight so I thought I would write about The World's Smallest Postal Service which I discovered while I was in San Francisco last month. You write your message and she transfers it into her tiny handwriting on a tiny piece of paper. The letters are mailed with a magnifying glass to the recipient. I think it's the cutest thing ever! Technology has changed communication so much in the last few years that a letter, much less a tiny letter, is such a personal way to communicate.

Cincinnati Reds

Girl Scout Day!!! Nerd alert.

Yet Another

Picture of Bad Veins.

Yellow

I've been really busy this week but tonight I was able to paint for a bit. Meet painting number 78.

We Are Toothy!

Getting ready for the bff's big day!

DJing

Bike Cozy!

These are some sweet handcrafted bike cozies made by my friend Steph Willets. She sells them at Mobo Bicycle Cooperative. Mobo nonprofit organization that aims to make bicycling accessible to everyone. Visit their site to learn more!

Bad Veins

Indianapolis Art vs Art event.

Lightning Love

Best Present Ever!

Ben brought me boiled peanuts from South Carolina. I got emotional.

Opossum

Painting number 76. I've been focusing on knitting and a few other projects this week but I'm trying to get back to my brushes and pens this week! Hopefully I'll have the dates, time and location nailed down for my show in November and announce that soon! Stay tuned.

Cool Things Happening in Cincinnati!

I stumbled upon Crafty Supermarket today while catching up on my Northside news. I'm really excited to see something happening in the handmade movement here in Cincinnati. I've already started harassing her by email to learn more! Hopefully we'll get even more crafters at BYOProject.

Matt Gets a Cat

He's been the main caretaker of my cats and now Aileen and I got him
his own!

Tristen

Not sure if they were really good or if the band before them really
sucked. I'll decide tomorrow.