This is what we call progress

“U.S. TO PUNISH GERMAN “TREACHERY”
Fed up with German opposition to a U.S.-led war in Iraq, Donald Rumsfeld plans to punish the Schroeder government economically by withdrawing all U.S. troops from German soil and canceling military contracts with German companies.”

To me, the USA gouvernement now look like a big baby crying himself to death to get what he wants: lots of attention, someone saying “yes” to everything he ask for, and add to that the will to win, wathever the price is…

* Link found on Utne

Handmade bookmarks

I just added new items to my merchandise section, have a look! There are 4 different models of bookmarks, i hope to sell them so i can invest some more money in my art projects…

*see them here!

A bit of everything

Many things all mixed together:

First, we got our ikea order delivered last week, and we finally took our courage and built the table and fixed the shades. So with that, i now have my third working place ready, which is really cool. I already had 2 workplace in the flat, but as i get bored really easily and need to see something else than the same office space everyday, i decided to set up other ones. I now have one “station” in the bedroom, one (new one) in the living room, and i have a tiny 1.5 meter high mezzanine where i usually just hang around with the cats and do some collage stuff.

Second, i am again into reading 5 books at the same time (i often wonder if i am the only one doing that, if not, please let me know!) as i just finish Jean Auel “The clan of the cave bear”, which was a delight. I cant wait to grab the second part of it (total of 5 huge books!). Other books that i’m reading are The pendulum kit, which i really like and have lot of fun with. I truly believe in what we call magic, and if i could, i think i would like to be a magician.

Last but not least, there is something i have read today, which is i think the kind of school i would have like to attend.
Healing school curriculum, by Sark
Partial list of classes:
-Handstands, giant balls, trampoline and trapeze
-games of intuition and transformation
-creative math
-spelling for fun
-practical life abilities: studying money, self healing, nutritious cooking
-dream sharing
-NAP
-time for mystery
-time to surrender
-inventions
-lessons of the inner critics
-accepting success
-days doing nothing
-gifts of procrastination
-dance, drums, design
-learn to invest in yourself
-recycling of materials, creative re-use
-total self love, marrying the self
… and the list is not even over!
You can find the list in Sark’s Transformation Soup book.

This even sounds more fun than the potion classes they had in the harry potter books…

Happy Valentine day!

I wish that love can touch every heart on this planet today, even if it’s just a smile… Be open for miracles, and why not smile to a stranger, or do something small to make someone else life easier?

Tips (for today and any other day):
*smile to strangers
*let a flower on someone’s car
*treat yourself with something you like
*make your own valentine card for a friend
*stick pink hearts in your windows
*tell someone you love him/her…

happy valentine!

Utne article on “Impeach Bush” Movement

Found on Utne online, an interesting articles on the “Impeach George W. Bush” movement.

“The rallying cry to impeach George W. Bush and key cabinet members is gaining steam on the Web, apparently completely under the mainstream media’s radar. Go to Google and enter “impeach George Bush,” and you’ll get 9,690 results, dozens of which are Web sites urging American citizens to do what the Democratic Party has not “organize and demand impeachment.”

*Read more here

Somehow i am really proud to see that people took back their power and took actions. We have to see that without all these demonstrations that have been done lately against war, maybe US would already have been taking over Irak, but there is still hope, and lots of courage was demonstrated by people around the world.

Many cities will host anti-war demonstrations this Saturday and Sunday, February 15th and 16th. This is predicted to be the largest protest in the history of the world, and we are a part of it.

Andrew Cohen

“The transformation of one individual becomes a source of and a catalyst for
transformation in others.”

Andrew Cohen

2003 Artist’s & graphic designer’s market

2003 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market:
2,100 Places to Sell Your Illustrations, Fine Art, Graphic Designs & Cartoons

I just received this book today, and felt overwhelmed just to look at his 682 pages. But looking further, it looks like a good reference book for people like me who are trying to get their work out but don’t really know where to start. Of course it is not the best book to keep on a bedside table, but i might give it a try since it might be of a good help!

* * *

Feb. 11th 2003: I went through the book several times, and i think this is one of the best tool you can get on the market right now if you are like me, trying to find your way selling your illustration, paintings or designs.

The book make a really good overview of many useful topics such as how to approach gift & products markets, magazines, book publisher, galleries, record labels, and the stock illustration market. The book is huge, 680 pages, and most of it is a listing of companies that you can approach, with a good description of their products and specialties, your chances of acceptance, the contact person, what kind of work they are searching for, tips directly from the art directors, and even how much they pay for your work.

Add to this, an article about promoting your work trough direct mail (should you send a resume? a portfolio? a postcard? a cover letter and some samples only?) with some good examples, and a small crash course in copyright.

I think for the price, this book might be really of a good investment and save lots of time and energy in searching how to promote your work and find ways to sell it. Good luck!

Crappy days

Is it because it’s February that i feel so crappy? Or is it the gray weather that make me feel so lonely, disoriented career wise, not knowing where to go, where to start, what to do with my hands, my head, my whole life. Well, i hope it gets better soon, i am more than ready to welcome spring and new things in my life.
I will come back on when i have something better to say, but for now, there’s nothing exciting to report…

Kathy Davis

Browsing from one web site to another i found out Kathy Davis website. Checking the site in details, my mind went on with one idea in mind: This is what i want to do! I want to have my art printed on many products, office supplies, gift, cards, clothes, posters, bills, i want to fill the world with colors!

But then, what happened? My hard critic side went on right away with something like: Hey m-c, wake up! don’t you think that this is the dream of every artist/illustrator on this planet to have his/her art featured on products? Just calm down and get back to your pencils first, then we can talk…

Oh god… Am i hard on myself, am i over dreaming, wishing too much, or am i just one more of these people who want to change the world?

* Kathy Davis website