http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:csalart&section=today deviantART RSS for by:csalart en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:56:00 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/15666297/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/15666297/ Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:29:16 PST Okay, honestly, I've been lurking around for a good month or so, but still so busy unpacking and repairing the old house for selling, I've refrained from making comments until I can really Devote some time to give it my all. So I guess the next few weeks I'll spend catching up on that stuff. Because, yes, we have finally finished fixing the house. Thank you, Lord! I thought it would crush me. Now, we have to Sell it - which could be a problem in this market.
The computer is up, but not the scanner. My daughter has bemoaned this greatly. Heh. No time for art right now. Just surviving.
I'm happy to see ya'll again!

To Katsesama [link] : Thank you! for including me in this feature! [link] What a Feel Good to happen upon!

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/13801059/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/13801059/ Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:44:07 PDT However, it's very rural. I have yet to find internet (that I'm satisfied with, ugh dialup) and so am not sure when we'll be back up. I do have internet at work for a brief period (we'll be moving the job trailer soon, also).

Last month I bought a new scanner. It never came out of the box, due to packing. My daughter is going nuts wanting to use it. I had bought her some tombow markers and she's got a lot of drawings done.

I have not done any art recently. Though I was much inspired by all the barns and graineries we passed on our trip through the Corn states last week. The new home doesn't have a spare room for my art stuff, so I'm not sure how I'll work it out yet.

Guess that's it.

Til we meet again!

(I won't be far)

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/13452490/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/13452490/ Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:12:27 PDT All the art supplies are packed. I'm going box hunting in a moment so we can continue packing. We also have a trip coming up, so we'll be gone two weeks. And luckily I'm in between contracts so I can get all this stuff done.
It's all exciting and yet very stressful. Here's hoping.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/12648483/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/12648483/ Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:46:53 PDT
[link]
[link]

My oldest nearly cried. She's been used to them hanging on the wall for so long, and she likes them. Yeah, I like them too.

And I'm still fiddling with printing, as I'd like to offer prints of some pieces in my watercolors.

I got the ebay thing to work - just had to pay the fee to schedule them ahead of time and now my listings show right up.

Our contract is coming to an end in just a couple weeks. Friday we test the fire alarms, and then the hvac system, and if all works well, it's a turnover!

And then they're going to send me to one of two new contracts. There's The Dorm - build three dormitories for the military, and there's the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Facility - it has explosive in the name so it's sure to be cool. Actually, as I close out this one, I've already started preconstruction work for EOD, so I may end up there.
However, I'll be on a different base. I've been at this one for over five years, so it'll be weird going to another place.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/12596928/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/12596928/ Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:22:51 PDT
So here it is! My first listing after all these years!
[link]

Only it doesn't show up in searches right now due to some glitch that ebay says will work out in couple hours, or days. Yeah, nice, thanks. In the meantime, I'm losing potential viewers.

This will be the first. I'll also be selling some of the art that I've shown right here on DA. Not sure which ones yet, as I really hate to part with some of these... but they'll find good homes! Right? Right!

Anyway, wish me luck folks.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/12560452/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/12560452/ Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:09:22 PDT We're closing out the contract at work and starting another so I'm working late and just haven't had time for art. *gasp* Awful, innit.

And something for fun found on other journals.

Soundtrack of your life

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here’s how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod).
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. New question– press the next button.

Heh, this came out pretty good for shuffling through 800+ songs.

Opening credits:
« Nightingale » Norah Jones
"Nightingale, sing us a song, of a love that once belonged, tell me your tale, was your journey far too long...You can take me away"

Waking up:
«Walk On » U2
"If your glass heart should crack... Be strong, Walk on"

First day at school:
« Your Hand In Mine » Explosions In The Sky
"no lyrics... melancholy, hopeful"

Falling in love:
« Have A Nice Day » Bon Jovi
"Shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice"

Breaking up:
« Dissension » Conniption [link]
"so long ago we were the same, and now we're not... I don't even like you"

Prom:
« The Hardest Part » Coldplay
"And the hardest part was letting go, not taking part"

Life’s okay:
« Are You Happy Now? » Trip Phoenix
"well did you get the things you wanted, did you understand the meaning of it all?"

Mental breakdown:
« Taking Over Me » Evanescence
"You don't remember me, but I remember you"

Driving:
« Learning to Fly » Kryptonic
"no lyrics... down tempo, up tempo, piano"

Flashback:
« Missile Command » The Milwaukees [link]
"Now everyone's afraid of the future, and even if we try, we can never get it back"

Getting back together:
« Reality - Bang, Bang, Bang » Crud [link]
"Things aren't what they seem, and your mind is not your own... this is not reality - bang, bang, bang"

Wedding:
« All the Love In The World » Nine Inch Nails
"seems to know just right where they belong"

Birth of child:
« T.s. » Smokewagon [link]
"There's a joke that only the dead have read... First it makes you laugh, then it makes you cry, then it makes you laugh again, and laugh until you die - is it like this? take me home"

Final battle:
« One Flight Down » Norah Jones
"you see your ancient face, now you know, now you know"

Death scene:
« Intolerance » Tool
"I don't want to be hostile, I don't want to be dismal... [but] no one is innocent"

Funeral song:
« Separated Self » Saliva
"surely there's a better place for me, a place where I can spend eternity, a place where there's no more pain, and there is only sunshine - rain, and there is no one walking on their knees... my demons have found me, my angels surround me"

End credits:
« Last Cup Of Sorrow » Faith No More
"Raise your cup and lets propose a toast, to the thing that hurts you most... Take a deep breath and swallow, your sorrow... and get on your way - you might surprise yourself"

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/11432979/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/11432979/ Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:12:17 PST My mom bought me a real easel! Been using cardboard taped together for a slanted box.

Having fun with my art, til the pipes under the sink blew out, then had to take apart my office to cut a hole in the wall to fix it, and well, haven't put it all back together again.

Also looking at moving to the country. Already in a small town, going smaller, heh - a couple acres, maybe some horses and chickens. So a lot of time is being used to look at property.

And work is kind of crazy, but it always is.

cheers to all!

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/11075854/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/11075854/ Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:42:51 PST I have been so busy with work, with kids, with life.
Never did finish my office. But I did start working on it again last week. So now I have some shelves and an almost sort of place to do my art.

I'm posting a couple of pieces from early this year that I had not scanned til now.
And, I made a visit to to the craft store and found some amazing Black pastel paper, which totally reinspired me to get back to art! And I'll be posting those as well over a period of time. I just went back and bought two more packs so I should have plenty to keep me busy.

I've been looking at the DA prints accounts. I've sold my work before. I'm thinking of doing it again. But before, I always sold the originals, and now I'm thinking of selling prints. Must ponder upon this.

Oh! And, I finally signed us up for some hi-speed internet. Woot! It's great.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/7822923/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/7822923/ Mon, 06 Feb 2006 20:09:30 PST Listening to: Snow by Heavens Dust
Reading: Tank Girl
Watching: Saiyuki

Hmmph.
The reason there is no new art is because my work space has been filled with junk I was sorting through to throw away but was then interrupted and never finished.
In the past month, I've had Christmas, a birthday, a trip to Tampa, a new job (well, really a new contract, same company) - so much to do.
I really want to make art, have been doodling lots, but's'not enough.

And funny, but though I can't find time to clean, I found time to listen to music and ended up picking up new cds from cdbaby.com.
(did I mention I'm quitting smoking, too?) //lights up cigarrette//

If you like:
Mazzy Star - look for - The Lost Patrol (western shoegazer)
Morphine - look for - Bocca (barfly goth)
Lenny Kravitz and Prince - look for - UltraLust (dance)
Limp Biscuit and Tool - look for - HeavensDust (japanese metal)
The Animals and Molly Hatchet - look for - Smokewagon (a fistful of dark rock)
Gin Blossoms - look for - The Milwaukees

And defying description:
Celldweller - blistering techno metal (think he did a piece for Constantine)
Crud - Devil at the wheel. M/F duo guitar rock

Oy, check it all out, then get back to work! //whip crack//

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/7469115/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/7469115/ Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:23:21 PST Listening to: Burn, Burn by LostProphets
Reading: His Needs, Her Needs

My birthday is Monday!
We're going to Tampa this week!
Wee!

May the 2006 bring us all great new art!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!



]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/7129597/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/7129597/ Thu, 24 Nov 2005 06:24:48 PST Listening to: Reality by Crud
Reading: Lullaby the comic
Watching: Gatchaman

Eh, I finally let my oldest daughter on to the internet... by herself. She now has her own email, and, *drum roll* her own DA account.

She's a Zelda and Full Metal Alchemist fan so it's only reasonable she thought up the account "FullMetalZelda" -[link] .

Her art isn't up yet, we're getting it scanned in, but she'd be thrilled to get any welcome messages.

*sigh* They just keep growing up, and we have to let them go. But I'll be watching. (Yes that's right dear, I'm watching you. Mua-ha-ha!)

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/6559137/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/6559137/ Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:40:02 PDT Listening to: Reality by Crud
Watching: Fruits Basket

I love soft pastels. Never used them, but bought a pack and wow! I whipped out five new drawings the first day, five the next, and several more since. Except now my space is cluttered again and I'm on hold.
I was so excited about the pastels, I framed them fast as they were finished, forgot to even sign them! Now I'll have to pop them out, sign'em and scan them in.

The girls are keeping me busy. I'm soccer mom this year. Soccer practice Monday, band practice Tuesday, soccer Wednesday, football game Thursday, band practice and Beta club Friday, soccer game Saturday. Slip in fundraisers for band, beta club and local library, stir thouroughly and mix in a Sunday, clean house, laundry, catch up letters and calls, and work on art. And did I mention work? Whew!
Bought some wrist braces. Seems to be helping my appendages feel better.

And we're keeping an eye on the gulf storms. The season isn't over yet.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5962953/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5962953/ Sun, 17 Jul 2005 21:35:10 PDT Listening to: Blue Highway - Billy Idol
Watching: Gatchaman Vol. 2

Hurricane Dennis blew through; the eyewall was about fifteen miles away. Not nearly as damaging as Hurricane Ivan. But Ivan took out so much, there wasn't much left for Dennis to destroy.

My youngest had her 7th birthday. She said it was the worst day of her life. I won't disagree. The next day was better.

Been working on my Gatchaman and Battle of the Planets collection. Picked up the DVDs - awesome.

Also, working more with ink.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5622359/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5622359/ Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:39:39 PDT Listening to: Mr. Howl - Smokewagon
Reading: Silent Joe

Bedroom renovation in 48 hours

My daughter had asked when she could have a bigger room. Knowing that we weren't moving for a long time, I decided to remove the closets from the girls' room to make more room. The closets were just storing old junk anyway.
I spoke to the hubby and got a firm "No!", and eventually wore him down to, "Do whatever you want."
They were going on vacation to see his father in Virginia for a few days. I was ready to proceed. They left Monday night.

I started just before midnight Monday. Spent 4 hours cleaning room out, moving furniture, and removing carpet. Three hours sleep.

Tuesday - I'm not committed to tearing out the wall yet. At 9am, go in and start busting holes inside closet to see where studs are. Climb into attic to check joists and load bearings. Go to work and talk to guys, draw them a layout and ask opinions. They'll bring me a saw to cut out the studs.

Noon - I have a saw, and one guy looking at the walls. He takes the hammer and puts a couple holes in the wall to look at the studs.
Now that I'm committed to tearing out the walls, we proceed to tear off the sheetrock, and knock out the studs.
2:30pm - Say thanks and adios to coworker. Begin to throw debris out of window into wheelbarrow outside. Haul to trailer in driveway.
4pm - go to Home Depot and color-match and buy paint, and sheetrock stuff.
4:30 - Call a friend and beg for truck to haul two pieces of sheetrock. Putter around with cleaning, measuring, making list of things needed and on hand. Eat can of tuna, collapse on couch and take two hour nap.
7:30 - sheetrock arrives. Chat and say thanks. Back to work. Begin cutting sheetrock.
10:30pm - Remember that I did not pay friend for buying sheetrock. Doh!
2:30am - Have hung and taped most all sheetrock. Mudded a lot, but now waiting for rest to dry for next coat. Set alarm for six and go to bed. Wake up at seven.

Wednesday
8:30 - start sanding mud and applying second coat. Almost out of mud. Coworker calls to see how it's going and do I need anything. Mud, please! Hang more sheetrock and mud.
11:30am - Mud shows up. Coworker shows me faster way to apply mud. He spends an hour in hot attic trying to locate and rewire electrical outlet. Give up and go. Back to mudding, and sanding.
4:30pm - call coworker about mud cracking. Says it's okay, discuss drying time. Suggests using fast dry mud mix powder for large door area. I go and buy powder. Read instructions. Follow instructions. Decide I hate powdered mud after mixing batches with various consistency. Clean tools between batches. This goes on all night, until I go to bed about 3:30.

Thursday
7:30am - Wake up and stare at walls. Realize I'm out of momentum. Dig in and decide that even though instructions say no mixing different muds, that I will apply normal mud over the now dry powdered stuff. This works much better, and I feel better. Wait for it to dry and go take shower and go to work for a couple hours. Leave work go home to sand some more.

2pm - Take break and shop for carpet. Find some for $70, dealer sees me staring at it and says, $50. I take it. Go shop for long dresser to replace tiny one. Find one with mirror at mission store for $65. I offer $50. Sold to the girl with sheetrock dust in her hair. Coworker arrives to help move it.

3:30pm - I can feel the end drawing near. Get my second wind. Go buy paint for the dresser and bed, and some foam wall stamper things. And paint tools and soda. And shelving, and other decorative things. Get home and eat can of tuna, with time to paint one bookcase.

8pm - Sand and sand and sand.
10:30pm - clean up tools and sanding dust...
11pm - Paint! I can paint now! I'm almost done!
1:00am - I'm running out of paint! Aagh! A little water... So close...
1:30am - start installing carpet.
3:30am - Carpet is done!!
3:30am - Bring in dresser, and bookcase, and other furniture. Bring back toys and arrange nicely. Install one shelf and one hook. Make bed, and....

Friday
5:00am - Done! Spend half an hour admiring work, collapse on couch and go to sleep.

6:30am - Wake up when family arrives home! Daughter loves her new room! It's a success!!! Yea! Yea! Yea!


Total work time - 48 hours.
Total days - Three and a half.
Total sleep - 15 hours.
Food eaten - 3 balony sandwiches, 2 cans tuna, 1 chocolate orange ball.

Total cost of renovation - $250

Daughter's happiness - priceless

--------

You can see it here [link] and here http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5242711/ Sun, 01 May 2005 22:40:54 PDT Listening to: I See A Darkness - Smokewagon
Reading: Silent Joe

It's rained more in April than all last year.

I volunteered to help with supporting our library. Mary Esther Public Library. It's small. They want to expand. Blue prints are in the works. Now we just need to raise $70,000 more.
I'm also working on their website. It's attached to the city's right now and not very well-kept. I'm proposing a new one and working out some simple design and function for ease of updates.

I feel like painting again.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5012355/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/5012355/ Tue, 05 Apr 2005 23:42:39 PDT
Billy would've been nine yrs old today.
So it's been almost a decade. And this year, I forgot it was his birth day. I don't think much about his dying anymore. But it makes me just as sad not to remember. Time does take things away.
Rest easy, my son.
4/5/96-12/25/96
[link]

Mood: Contemplative



]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/4747229/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/4747229/ Sun, 06 Mar 2005 22:04:13 PST Listening to: C is for Cookie

I haven't been able to work on a lot of art lately. Not big stuff anyway.
Finally able to satisfy the need to create by working on lots of small art pieces. So right now, everything is small.
I've also started scrapbooking, a sort of art in itself.
I picked up some Sesame Street albums for a couple bucks at the local SA mission.
Bert & Ernie's Greatest Hits is hilarious.

]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/3414666/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/3414666/ Tue, 21 Sep 2004 14:33:21 PDT
Damage was minimal to our home. Need new roof, lost tree.

Won't be eating grilled food for awhile. Plenty of that the last several days. Have pictures. Will post soon. ]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/3367665/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/3367665/ Wed, 15 Sep 2004 06:05:11 PDT
I keep thinking we might leave. But then I look at many of our friends and neighbors who are staying, because they're stubborn, because they have nowhere to go, or can't afford to go anywhere or even board up their homes.
We can't leave. We might need each other.

Cat 4 is, I must admit, a bit scary. The stuff the weather channel shows is dramatic looking, but - palm trees are nothing.
There are not many palm trees here in North Florida. They are not native to our area and are shipped in by landscapers ignorant of our area and thinking to make it more tropical. They often only live a few years.

We are the South. We have oaks, maples, magnolias, pines - forests of them, bayous of them, everywhere.

They should show the old oaks slowly bending, bending, until they tip, lifting massive slabs of concrete out of the ground.
Listening to the wind scream through big magnolias and maples, it's an endless shaking and rustling sound that can't be drowned out. The sharp creaking and snapping of branches, and the thud they make as they fly against your home.

Power companies are telling us that if we lose power, it could be two weeks or more before it's restored.

We have some time left before the winds reach us. I'm going to check on the neighbors.

Here's hoping for a fizzle before it reaches us. ]]> ~csalart http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/3291795/ http://csalart.deviantart.com/journal/3291795/ Sun, 05 Sep 2004 10:52:57 PDT
I'm doing a lot of inks lately, because my painting area is... unavailable. It's a small corner in a room, and since we recently 'clean-sweeped' a few rooms, it's all sitting in *my corner. Shall be moved soon.
And inks are easy to work on anywhere.

Hurricane Frances is coming along to our area it looks like. Picked up some water, batteries and candles - all things we can use even if it doesn't hurt us.
Our last big hurricane was Hurricane Opal. We lost a fence, a tree, a shed, with my book collection inside it. Don't store memorabilia in sheds. Put it in the closet or something.

School's out for the kids on Monday anyway, so good there. Don't know if they'll close the job site or not.

We're building some storm drains, however, they are not completed. This could cause some erosion problems. We built a small levy around those areas, placed the hay bales and silt fence, see if they withstand any torrential rains.

Fingers crossed for low impact. ]]> ~csalart