mas trabajo

So I spent a good three hours working on those same two hats today, the Totoro and Houston ones...mostly just lots of leeeettle tiny time-consuming background details, like cleaning up edges and making things blend better and shit. 

I did, however, entirely redo the background of the Totoro hat. The colors (a light pink-yellow-orange fade) actually came out perfectly, really pastel and almost buttery.

I also did the letters, which actually took over an hour in themselves -- first I had to paint the background color fade around them and then in all the crevices with a little bitty brush, and then go over each outline (which were originally embroidered in red thread) in a metallic gold Sharpie paint pen, and then touch up any mistakes in the white letters themselves with thatsame tiny paintbrush. Ayayay.

Here's a close-up of the letters...not a great pic (thanks Photobooth) but the fade around them came out very nicely. I was, however, hoping the paint pen would be a brighter, more yellowy gold -- anybody know of a better brand?

I'd really like to finish either this or the Houston one before winter break, but as of right now today is the only day I've allotted myself to not study or work on my many final papers, so we'll see if I have time. The Totoro design will be really cute.

So....esta todo! Buenas nochesss

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EDIT: it just occurred to me that a lot of people actually don't know what/who Totoro is. I had to introduce him to my poor deprived roommates just this year. Totoro is a creature in the Hayao Miyazaki anime film My Neighbor Totoro...I suppose technically it's a kids' movie, but it's fantastic. Honestly the most comforting, content, zen piece of art I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. So here's Totoro, for those of you who don't know:

Nowww you understand. Exciting right? Yeahhh just WAIT.

a new era

...pun entirely intended. (So I hope someone else got it.) I feel like I am kind of starting a new era in my art though; I'm starting to figure out what's really my type or "genre" or whatever.

Anyhoo - two new hats are in the works, both of which I'm really excited about. Here's me wearing them as pasties:



The red and purple one is for my friend Jackson...I'd explain the symbolism of the whole deal but I don't have the energy. I sleepy. Soo I'll do that when I post pictures of the finished hat. Here's the in-progress:





The other is going to be a TOTORO hat! This one was thought of totally on a whim, but I might give it to my sister for Christmas (assuming I finish it by then). Here's its done-in-a-hurry, kind-of-ugly, going-to-be-softened ground painting:



So, ja, das ist all. Just wanted to share where I am. I apologize for the shitty quality, btw...I just did a lot of work on the H-Town one and decided to just snap a few Photobooth pics before I went to bed. Hope ya like em anyway doe [Kat Stacks voice], feedback appreciated.

goodniiiiighttt

OH. NO.

Some extremely disturbing information has just come to my attention.

Once you've posted over 200 photos on Flickr, if you do not have a Pro account (i.e., if you're in college and poor and not planning to pay $30 to put pictures online when you and everyone you know has a Facebook), you will only be able to see the most recent 200.

WHICH IS INFURIATING! GAHH. I'm so mad. I just uploaded something and got a little notice that said "We noticed that you have reached 170 photos in your Photostream. Once you get to 200, you'll only be able to view the most recent 200. Nothing will be deleted. Would you like to upgrade now to a 1-year Flickr Pro account for $27.99?"

You wanna know what I said?
I said,
NO BITCH! I'M PO!

Yeah. That's right. That's what I said. I really am pissed. That's really NOT a lot of pictures, and the whole reason I have a Flickr is because it's a free, well-organized vehicle to show my art. So clearly, if that's why I'm doing it, I don't want to pay for it! Who do you think I am, Flickr? Why do you think I don't have a Pro account? You wanna know? BECAUSE I'M NOT A PRO! I am, in fact, quite the definition of an amateur! Don't you think I would LIKE to have a Pro account? Obviously. But if I don't, there's most likely a good reason. WHICH THERE IS.

Beef. That's what this is. Me and Flickr are beefin'. We're not on good terms right now.

In other news, my boyfriend Jake broke his ankle today. Actually, that's euphemistic. He is in New York on a trip sponsored by our school's marketing department and got hit by a car this afternoon and broke his ankle. And obviously, I am in Miami and can't go there because I have to go out of town tomorrow too. So I am stuck here while my baby's all lonely in a NYC pediatric hospital ward (why? I don't know. I assure you he isn't a minor). Fuck. Bad evening.



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EDIT [some five minutes later]

Some good news! Jake just woke up from his surgery and called me, his ankle isn't actually broken. Yay! That just boosted things a little. And it probably should be sleepytime now so byee.

piece de resistance

...it really is. My piece de resistance, I mean (should that phrase have accent marks in it somewhere? Probably). I just wish photos did justice to these hats...that sounds really cocky, I don't mean it like they're that incredible, but you just don't get the full effect. Anyway doe [Kat Stacks voice], for what it's worth:

YAY! I'm so proud. Seriously. Check out my flickaaa for a wider range of pictures and pics of my other hats.

Working on the design for the next one...keep ya eyes peeled for updates

so you wanna know something funny?

I can't remember my flickr login info.

I've been automatically logged in for so long that I just haven't had to type it in ages, and thus far it doesn't seem to be one of my standard username/password combos that I rotate around websites. and when I do "forgot yahoo!id" etc, it says it can't find my email address. this is a dilemma. any thoughts?

anyway though, the reason I was attempting to get on flickr was to post some pictures of my in-the-works-hat. while I cannot now sign into to the aforementioned website to post the aforementioned pictures, I can at least put a few on here, although temporarily without the usual "click on my flickr to see more" plug...

FIN

the hat is FINALLY done! woohoo I feel like a free woman again. my friend patrick absolutely loved it, so mission accomplished in my mind. here are a few pictures; click here to see more/better views on my flickr.

























so there you have it. the fruit borne by the seeds of countless hours sown into the soil of love and watered by my creative juices. damn. awesome.

feedback, however, is much appreciated - design/execution tips, composition, whether you like the atlanta hats versus the blank hat, or whatever else. the biggest issue with this one was that it's painted on a cheapo lids-brand fitted made of acrylic, rather than a nice new era one made of wool, cotton, spandex, etc etc. it really changed the texture and color quality...worked out in the end, but I would rather not do it again. I have a few more cheapies on hand to paint but I'm only ordering legit new era 59 fiftys from here on out. GAME OVA.

anyway - that's it. I'm gonna go post these pictures on flickr so that that link up there actually takes you to what it says it will. if that makes sense. happy weekend!

still goin

this hat is becoming an incredibly interesting endeavor. originally I had a plan, which was to put the lightning scene and the ocean scene side-by-side on the front panel. but then that was really cramped and the back was all empty, so I painted the yellow over it and did the lightning and ocean on the back. but as far as the designs on those two panels, they're pretty according to plan. but then the front panel has just completely evolved itself. I didn't really have a blueprint for it to begin with, but I was definitely planning to paint these river rocks and a crane, and then I was like "oh I'll add a sun," and then it became THIS. woah.

...which I love. but I don't really know what to do with it. so my current two considerations for the front panel are: 1) still add a crane? it would be off-center to the right, just a single crane standing on the rocks. simple and with some sentimental meaning for the wearer, my friend patrick. and 2) should I add the reflection of the sun on the bill? it was supposed to look like water but there wasn't going to be a sun to begin with, so now I'm thinking it looks funky withOUT the reflection. but that sorta changes a lot because then I have to add the sunlight on the rocks too. and I don't know if it's necessary or just too much.

so basically, at the moment I'm trying to find the thin line between this hat being intricate and loaded with detail or just being way over the top and too busy. opinions welcome.

a holiday gift to myself

I FINALLY did a little more on this hat. I'd consider it liiike...2/3 done. those little spots on the front will be rocks and there will be a scene there, and I'm thinking there will be some fish and whatnot in the ocean. hmmm. I'm gonna do a little more tonight but we'll see how long I procrastinate on the next chunk...










on another note, merry second christmas to anyone who, like yours truly, might be participating. I myself am currently sitting in my room looking out the window at the warm miami nighttime rain that sounds so pretty outside and just paintin away and it is just perfect for my celebratory state of mind right now. happy flying, friends

progress!

hahaaaa YES finally got some more work done on this hat. I'm on duty and therefore cooped up in my building all night...what better motivation than an evening with no substances?



just about done with this side...it's based on the techno song "till the sky falls down" by dash berlin. my friend patrick basically just gave me two songs he loves (that one and "sirens of the sea" by oceanlab) and said listen to them and do what you feel. which was SWEET. so this hat is abouta be sickkk. other side to come...hopefully soon, I'm on duty again tomorrow haha. but until then, goodnight :)



EDIT: by the way, this hat is going to take WAYYY longer than anticipated. damnz.

blank canvases

NEW HATS! my big fat birthday-discount order from lids just came in a couple days ago. I have ideas for a couple of them; the others I'll either save for custom orders or just do as ideas come to me.








the first priority is the one I just started working on for my friend patrick - all the background colors are done; I'm gonna start the designs tomorrow, hopefully finish them up in two or maybe three more sessions.

the heart of the matter

so let's get down to the nitty-gritty. here's the whole reason I fucks with this blog business anyway - this is the third hat I've painted, but by far the best. it was for my friend chris, who's also from the ATL. (click here to see more hat pictures on my flickr.) the front is the atlanta skyline at night (viewed from the north-ish, if I'm not mistaken), with the highways on the bill and a peach as the moon. if you know atlanta at all the buildings are actually recognizable, I was much more detailed on this one than on the first ATL hat I painted. the back says "listening to you I get the music," which is a line from chris's favorite song by the who. and, to top it off, it SPARKLES. I used gold and silver paint pens for accents in a few strategic places and it came out very nicely, that will definitely be a regular thing. I love thparkleth. all in all it actually turned out really really well, even better than I expected. I started using a matte sealant, too, which I was kinda worried about...thought it might give it a weird sheen, but it didn't make any difference visually and will help people take better care of them. so yup, thar ya go. the first of many more to come, I hope...in fact I have two hats that I'm about to start working on for my friends jackson and patrick, they just came in the mail yesterday. both should be pretty sick, they're the first non-city-related ones I've ever done, which is kinda cool. and I'm about to order more off lids.com (two thumbs up for birthday discounts) - gonna try to start stocking up, I have a couple in mind. they'll be the first that weren't customized for particular people, too, which gives me a little more free reign. wish me luck!

inauguration

I don't really know what I'm doing with this. mostly I've been trying to create a website for these hats that I paint and it's just really complicated so I think I'm just going to put them on a blog. and as an added bonus I will just have a blog. kill two birds with one stone type thing - not that I had any desire to kill two birds in the first place, really just one, but the second flew in the way and I figured it wasn't a bad idea. so - for the moment I guess that's it. hats to come. and other musings.