Well it's voting time again for Tacoma's weekly chalk challenge. I've submitted my latest entry to my DA account: [link]

You can cast your vote for your favorite here:
[link]
Simply declare which entry you vote for in the comment box at the bottom of the thread.

Votes must be received by midnight eastern and pacific time (US). I could use your help you guys but regardless I encourage you to vote for your favorite!

LINK AT BOTTOM

Well I'm going to keep this short and sweet as I have to get moving in a few.

As many of my watchers know, I've been participating every Friday in R.R Anderson's Chalk Challenge in downtown Tacoma, WA.

Well, the entries are in and it's time to vote. Unfortunately for us chalk artists, our luck in weather ran out and we had some rain (not surprising for our region, of course). So, many entries got a little watered down;

My entry is "Blue Man" - my depiction of local fashion designer and artist Daniel Blue. [link]

In the past I've never had a particularly strong drive to win the title for the week. However, this week's prize is something I'm genuinely interested in; It pertains to fashion and design and, most importantly to me, possible opportunities for further networking.

Now while I would of course love it if you voted for my entry, please do vote for whichever one you like. Thanks guys!

You can vote by simply entering a comment in the thread below:
[link]

- Which is largely why I'm but a ghost here at Deviant Art anymore.

Now to explain my lame pun to those recently tuning in: I've been going down to Frost Park in downtown Tacoma every Friday to compete in our weekly chalk drawing contest, invented by local personality and cartoonist R.R. Anderson. Yes the event only takes one hour of my time. However, it's all the socializing and activity that occurs afterward that I've found myself immersed in. I've met a lot of fun and just plain helpful and supportive people in the wake of all this - the "Chalkapacolypse" has become a great artist networking group as well as a source of publicity! A photo of myself and a number of other participants was published in today's Tacoma News Tribune [link]

The chalk off has also been a great vehicle for turning visual art into performance art. Not an original idea, no, but an effective one nonetheless. I don't think I'm the only one who notices how much more attention singers, musicians, and actors get over visual artists. Let's face it - people want to see a dynamic performance! People generally also have a great appreciation for the creative process. At any rate, there's nothing lackadaisical about the way these rather expansive chalk entries are pumped out in an hour. In fact, this week marks the third time I've suffered wounds during the event.
Soot, blood, chalk, and pavement. Yesss. [link]

The "Best Illustrator in the Universe of Tacoma" is determined through popular vote at FeedTacoma.com [link] and is awarded a prize by that week's sponsor. I suppose I could have been(and should have been!) alerting you guys to the ballot every Friday if you felt inclined to vote - may have increased my chances of winning! I wasn't sure how fair that would be since very few of my watchers are Tacoma locals. However many of the contestants have created their own online poll campaigns, and the rules are pretty darn loose. Hell, contestants can even vote on their own work (which I've done a couple times if I felt mine was deserving)!

As I've often been finding myself downtown, I've been going to Tacoma Art Place to paint for a few hours 2 to 3 days a week. I had been riding my bike to get from place to place; That's over 15 miles round trip between the downtown area and my apartment. No wonder I've been tired! I bent the crap out my bike's chain though so currently it's in the shop.

End communication.

Such as my involvement typically seems to be. I know it's important to keep your friends and family up to date on your activities, no matter how trivial they may seem. It would seem like a simple task to accomplish given the technological advancements of this day and age: Blogs, Myspace, cell phones, email....

Yet, I find myself having difficulty regardless. The fact of the matter is, I'm exhausted! Perhaps it's all the bike riding I've been doing. Saves on gas yes, and once I get on the thing I feel as though I could ride forever. I may simply be overextending myself a tad.

I"ve been busy too, of course. I've got a couple new jewelry pieces all polished up, and I'll be adding those "special effects" (patinas and surface texturing) to bring out their detail. I'll be uploading the pictures before long.

As I had mentioned in my last journal entry, I've been participating in a weekly chalk drawing contest held in downtown Tacoma, WA. I'm rather late in announcing my second win (busy and tired, as stated above!). At any rate, I've uploaded the relevant artwork. The man I had "defeated" during the fifth week of the "Chalk-apocalypse" did a clever parody of an existing Marvel comic cover, depicting us local chalk artists as superheros. Ha - he patterned me after Wolverine! I loved that! (I'm wearing the BDU's, as I often wear them downtown) Check out his drawing here: [link]
As you can see he patched up his monkey suit after I rent it asunder
[link]

And we all know what that means - I go scurrying back into the hole for another 6 weeks.

Now that I've given a logical explanation for my absence, I'd like to share some of the other more interesting and fun things I've been up to. Two weeks ago I stepped out to answer the challenge of Best Illustrator in the Universe of Tacoma, WA", posted by the talented, outspoken, and always entertaining R.R. Anderson.

During this one hour event combatants jump in, grab some chalk, and draw their masterpieces on the sidewalk. I soon found out that the challenge was held each and every Friday at Frost Park in down town Tacoma. Not surprisingly I had not heard of the event until that point. It was fun to get out and mingle with the humans again, and judging by my complexion from the photos taken I was in sore need of the sunlight.

I did a warm up sketch, and after getting a feel for the chalk (it's been some time since I drew on a sidewalk!), I drew a colored horse to promote the Equine Exhibit at Two Vaults Gallery of which I was a part. I then added a large, raging werewolf below it for shits and giggles.

I really do need to get out more often, if the aftermath of the challenge was any indication. I won the title for the week (to my surprise and delight), and I am suddenly known as LupinGoddess or the "Wolf Lady" of Tacoma.

Frost Park Challenge Report:[link]

Bios: R.R. Anderson and LupinGoddess: [link]

Unfortunately I was unable to hold onto my title this past week when I couldn't make it to the event.
I'll be there this Friday though! [link]