Jessie

Composition Frustrations and Goal

I have been taking theory and composition classes for about a month and some change. I talked about the theory aspect of my lessons here. Anyway, the composition part is what I am most jazzed about, but it is SO HARD because music is a language that I only kind of know. So, for me,Continue reading “Composition Frustrations and Goal”

Handmade Valentines

So, my impulse was to start this blog with a long-winded rant on why I generally think Valentine’s Day is a consumer-holiday-of-the-worst-sort, all “buy me diamonds” and “Disney-taught-me-everything-I-need-to-know-about-healthy-adult-relationships” malarkey. But I think that sentence will do… And given that every holiday is really just what you make of it, this year I decided to makeContinue reading “Handmade Valentines”

Progress Report: Sonatine

So, I have been working on this piece for the past few weeks. You can read about and hear my humble beginnings here. I am able to play about 2/3 of the piece. I am using the word “play” VERY loosely. Basically, I am still trying to figure out what to do with my fingers.Continue reading “Progress Report: Sonatine”

Creatures of Paper

If you read my Christmas post, you’ll know that my partner Brian, when tasked with cutting out a paper snowflake, unexpectedly created the below reptilian-shaman-dancing-creature that’s been hanging on our wall long since the snowflakes have been removed. It will probably never be removed, firstly, because I love it so much and secondly, because I’m low-keyContinue reading “Creatures of Paper”

Beginning Again . . . Part II

So, the other back-to-basics thing I have been doing DILIGENT work on is practicing my scales. A scale is an “organized sequence of notes,” or, for the willy-nilly musicians among us, boring shit that you don’t feel like practicing. HOWEVER, scales improve finger strength and dexterity, help with hand coordination, and improve intonation. They areContinue reading “Beginning Again . . . Part II”

Crochet: The Scarf

Believe it or not, my creative life isn’t just an endless obsession with all things watercolor. Ok, it mainly is, but as an aside, I also make a habit of putzing around with different crochet projects during the winter times. I’d never tried my hand at any textile artform before taking up the hook threeContinue reading “Crochet: The Scarf”

Cross-stitching Magic

Someone in my family (don’t remember who) first taught me to to cross-stitch sometime in elementary school. Since then, cross-stitching has been a consistent presence in my life. The years have been full of cross-stitch projects started (and never finished) at my grandma’s house, sewing classes that always seem to start with a cross-stitch project,Continue reading “Cross-stitching Magic”

Watercolor + Indian Ink

Last week I played around with Indian ink washes, and this week I painted over them, using watercolors to bring out the images I saw in the chaotic, grainy textures. This project was magical and weird, and forced my critical mind to take a backseat and let my imagination drive me right into a worldContinue reading “Watercolor + Indian Ink”

Beginning Again . . . Part I

Music theory is, according to Wikipedia, the study of “the practices and possibilities of music.” I love how they put this! Anyway, because music theory is essentially the language and rules of music, it is vital for any musician that gives AF. During the past couple years of playing piano, I haven’t moved much beyondContinue reading “Beginning Again . . . Part I”

Indian Ink Washes

There’s a chaos to watercolor that I love, an element of surprise every time that water and paint meet on paper. In past blogs I’ve experimented with different materials to increase the strange effects one can get in this fluid medium, but this week I’ve found a new favorite addition: Indian ink. The amazing watercolorContinue reading “Indian Ink Washes”