31.12.09

Germany has snow?!

Haha! Well we actually got snow here a few weeks back but it is still snowing on and off, combined with some rain. I don't think it can officially be called winter without snow so I am more than happy that it is snowing.

I really hope it keeps up, even though it does mess up the trains and stuff there... which wouldn't be so good considering today is when I start a trip around a few parts of Europe for 12 days. Hmm. Well hopefully there is no delays on anything.

I'll be sure to post all the great discoveries that I come across on this little journey when I get back. Keep an eye out for it.

Till then, happy New Year to everyone!


23.12.09

where do you get your power?



The eve of Christmas Eve, away from home without the family this year. Strange feeling.

Started reading "Sophie's World" today. Got through the first couple of chapters and I am hooked. Reading about philosophy is beyond entertaining. Talk about getting the brain turning. There is so much in the world that most people don't think about, how many of the people in the world take everything for granted. All I have to say is don't take anything for granted, things will pass by faster than you think. Find some wonder in the world (from Sophie's World). Read the book if you get the chance, too.

7.12.09

[ art update ]

Here are a few sketches I did on a couple train rides. I find it so meditative to sit on a train and look out the window watching the world fly by. Even at night when all you can see is an island of light emerging from the complete darkness of the night at each train stop, it seems surreal in a way. I can sit and listen to the people surrounding me talking about this and that (in German, of course), see them get on and off at the stations and disappear back into their world and life. This probably doesn't make too much sense but that is why I find train rides so enjoyable.




yes, i do realize i spelled "avoidance" wrong. i have always
been a horrible speller. thank god for spell check.. haha

Next is my newest print. Nothing too fancy compared to the last two, but I'm still working on my technique. The one I was hammering out on Friday, which I sadly couldn't finish on account of the school closing for the night, was turning out a great and had a slightly different feel to it. I'm going to be pushing a few elements here and there as more of these come out. By the way this one if a red beet for all who were wondering.





.. And then of course, there are my new face sketches. My style is progressing slowly but surely. I need to keep sketching one of these a day so as to show a true transformation in my illustrative look. This is such a great project to work on, I don't know if my excitement will end.







Enjoy!

6.12.09

Goslar

I joined the rest of the International students on a trip to Goslar on Saturday, which is located in the Hartz Mts. We went there to go take a tour of the old ore mines there and to visit the very well known, touristy, expensive, but seemingly magical Christmas Market going on there (in Germany I think there is a Christmas Market in almost every village no matter how small it is).

The first thing we had to do was catch our train to get to Goslar, the thing was the train was packed before it even pulled into the Hildesheim Hopbahnhauf. All 25 of us crammed into whatever cars we could get into and we all stood (or sat) in the aisle for the 50 minute train ride. What a great time that was. I knew that it wouldn't be much different for the ride back.




The mine at Goslar was a fantastic adventure to see all the depths that these people traveled to just to get some chunks of ore here and there. It was a very eerie place to be but a breathtaking sight all at once. Once done with the mine exploration everyone was starving for some good Christmas Market food, along with a delicious side of glühwein (a spiced hot wine special for the holiday season). It was an unbelievable Christmas Market but it was so packed with people, tourists and residents alike that it became very overwhelming. Plus everything at the market was quite expensive compared to other markets that I have been to.









Overall it was a fun adventure even if it came with freezing cold hands and feet and a few packed train rides. They definitely know how to celebrate Christmas over here.