Happy New Year!

2012 has already started off as one of my best years so far. I found out a few days ago that I was accepted in to my dream graduate school program! The first half of 2011 was the absolute pits for me... but the second half turned out to be pretty awesome. I started an amazing job in my field, got my first apartment, and was accepted to grad school.

I celebrated the new year with a sinus infection, which can seem pretty awful, but my wonderful boyfriend came out for the weekend and we were able to just hang out, watch movies and sports, and spend time together. It actually ended up being just what I needed. I've been so busy running around lately that I haven't had time to just relax! It was indeed a Happy New Year.

I also got a chance to use my crockpot for the first time! I made pulled pork... and it was awesome!

Recipe found on
http://www.sweetandsavoryfood.com/2010/01/best-ever-pulled-pork-sandwiches.html

And it also makes great leftovers! We had it the following morning in omelet form...

And then the next evening as a pulled pork grilled cheese (with sweet potato fries)...

And in the spirit of New Years I should probably tell you some of my resolutions...

1. Get in shape for wedding season (May-June)
2. Paint for own enjoyment (and for others too)
3. Continue to blog
4. Do my best at work and at school
5. Take time to breathe (or go to a museum, or read a book, hang out with the boyfriend, ect...)

I hope you all enjoyed your New Years and are having a good start to 2012... I know I am!

My First Apartment

Having been in my apartment almost six months now, I am getting to the point that I want to start redecorating (or actually decorating). I am including photos from when I first moved in so you can get the general idea of what my apartment looks like. Just add some more photos and clutter and that is what my apartment looks like today!



My beautiful couch
(Thanks Mom and Dad!!!)

Yes, I live in the country



My bedroom

My itty bitty dining room

Itty Bitty Kitchen
(With really tall cabinets...
did I mention I'm short?)

I love my bathroom decor!

And lastly, my studio
(you can see my previous post for
more about my studio)



Tis the season to be Jolly and Joyous!

Now that the holidays are past us, I may actually have the energy to blog regularly! I didn't want you to think that I completely forgot about updating my readers, but I have been very busy trying to make a lot of my gifts this year. As I'm sure you can guess I am a painter. Since graduating from college I have not kept up with my art as much as I should. Luckily, this Christmas season I had several requests from family and friends to make them paintings! I want to take you on a quick tour of my "studio"... which is actually what my rental company refers to as a bonus room (aka "what-the-heck-can-I-use-this-space-for?!")

Welcome to my studio! I bought this awesome easel during my senior year because my school's art department was selling all the old ones. I couldn't pass this deal up! Unfortunately, I did not think it through and it just barely fit in my dad's car, then sat in my basement for the last two years because it was way too tall for any place in my parent's house... but it finally has a home (and I sawed off the top foot or so, just in case).









Most of the paintings I created over the holiday were smaller and completed in the living room while I had the tv playing, but once I get inspired to create bigger works I will definitely need this easel.

Now I can share with you the paintings I have been giving away lately. I will start with a painting I created for the bride and groom as a wedding gift (this is from the Chicago wedding I went to).

The wedding colors were dusty rose and brown which is what inspired the general color scheme of this piece. The bride is a ballroom dancer so I wanted the painting to capture how she flows on the dance floor.











On to the Christmas Present Paintings....

My mom wanted something that was
inspired by her couch pillows

Alison wanted a painting that was simple with swirls

Brian wanted a black and white NYC skyline painting
but I couldn't help myself but adding just slight hints
of color with a yellow canvas and blue-black sky and water.

My dear friend, Katie, was my secret santa pick.
She has wanted me to make paintings for her kitchen and this gave me the perfect opportunity to do so!

Now you can see what I have been up to the last two months. Very busy! But the holidays are over now, so I should begin making art for me. I can't wait to be creative again! I will also be starting a workout routine to get in shape for wedding season. And I promise to continue to update my blog with my art and whatever else I find interesting or inspiring over the coming year :)

On The Road Again...

So as a way to keep my creativity in the forefront of my mind I carry some form of a camera with me at all times. I like to be able to use my photos as inspiration for my paintings or even just play around in photoshop. This is a new habit I have been trying to form because being an artist, I always regret those moments when there was a great photograph to be taken or a memory I wish I could have to look at forever.

So I successfully shlepped my camera all around Chicago so I could be the ultimate tourist (and have memories of spending the weekend in a new city with a bunch of my closest friends from high school). We ate at amazing restaurants, walked ALL over the city, visited The Field Museum... yet a majority of the photos I took were from our trip to see "The Bean" It's amazing how something big and shiny can warrant so many images.

I find it amazing that these friendships we started back in middle school have only been able to grow and prosper over the last decade. These people have seen me grow up, been through the good times and the bad, and although we only see eachother once a year if we're lucky, we are still all able to make sure that we can be there for eachother to celebrate such amazing things as weddings.

I know myself, I am terrible at keeping in touch with people. On the flip side, it has also made me realize that my closest friends are those who I don't necessarily talk to on the phone often or even catch up with monthly, but they are the ones who- when I do finally see/speak with them- can do a cliff notes catch up on life and go on as if no time has passed.

This past weekend was a perfect example of that kind of treasured relationship. It was alumni weekend at my alma mater; all of my girlfriends were not able to go, which although disappointing, gave me the amazing opportunity to spend it with two of my girlfriends who were art majors with me. We had separate but overlapping groups of friends throughout college which was fun to party with but allowed us to remain objective during our late night conversations in the painting circle. They were two of the people who knew the most about me during those four years and although I only see them once a year if we're lucky, it's like no time has passed.

It's also so much fun because we were able to completely nerd out for the weekend. We were able to catch up with our professors, go see an art show, even blow glass! It was such a wonderful weekend to just be able to catch up, go out, and be creative! A very successful weekend if I do say so myself.

It has been a whirlwind of a month, but I am so glad that I have been given the opportunity to travel and see some of the people who mean the most to me. I am also glad that since I have my camera on me at all times I can document my experiences and preserve my memories.

Sorry for the extremely long post, I promise I will update more frequently in order to keep these posts brief.

Here Goes Nothing

Welcome! I have officially ventured in to the land of blogging.

My name is Nicole and I am a twenty-something, artist who just moved to the middle of no where NY for an amazing job opportunity. This blog is a way for me to keep track of my experiences, share my interests, and give me something to do after work.

Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying my job a lot! I work for a company that designs exhibits for museums (yes, I am a museum nerd and proud of it). Unfortunately for me it is located in the middle of New York where I am surrounded by cows and cornfields. This has been a big change since I used to live between two cities for my whole life where I had my friends, family, and boyfriend. So having not much to partake in has been a big adjustment. Oh, did I mention this is the first time I am living on my own? It's been quite an adjustment to be by myself most of the day.

I am hoping to start grad school during 2012 (which I will of course keep you updated on). For now, I try to travel as much on the weekends as possible. During the week, I work a normal 9-5 and at night I cook, watch tv, read, and create art. I know this makes it seem like I keep busy, but I am the kind of person who has to be doing a thousand things at once or feels bored.

So thanks for joining me on this adventure. I look forward to sharing my photography, investigations in the world of cooking, and other tidbits I find interesting!