maya’s blog

This is a bit of a different post. I’m asking you to leave me a comment. Any comment will do! Is this because I need to feel less alone in the echoing halls of cyber-space? Well, maybe a little. But mostly this is a way to raise food for hungry peeps. For every comment I receive between now and January 10, I will donate a can of food to my local food pantry! I did not come up with this myself, and I am thrilled to join in the community of artists trying to do a little good. Please check out my awesome photographer Anne’s blog (she’s doing my wedding next year) for a list of other participants - you can leave comments for them too! - and also to see her great work!

I suppose I’ll start with this can, shown here posing as an art supply. Out you go, Mr. Organic Chicken Noodle.

Whoops, I couldn’t wait. Here are the first anatomy (and bird) pendants! Putting them on etsy right now and then… I will likely be making more immediately.

I’m thinking about making some anatomical jewelry after the holidays, beginning with simple pendants. So I will be needing some new original images! The trick will be making them simple enough to be good-looking at a very small size. Here are some drawings I’m considering from the past couple of days…

Just an important update on the dancing kidney - this year I wore it, as it no longer decorates my bedroom wall.

I have accomplished many goals this year. Getting dental work taken care of, making it to work on time consistently, drinking enough water for the first time in my life… I’m feeling pretty good about these things, for sure, but THIS goal was a little more fun.

Art sale paintings, done and done!! My task this week is spreading the word. I am trying to get in touch with a lot of people personally - of course this approach only reaches as far as the people I actually know. I think it’s a great start though, since the people I know inspired me to do this project in the first place! If you think you might know someone I don’t… won’t you help me out and send them to my shop?

I write from a new part of the country with a newish job and a new fiance! Here’s what’s going on: In Jan 08 Clint and I moved to Newton Upper Falls, MA and I started working as a full-time medical illustrator for Argosy Publishing. I have really been enjoying my time there - how many people get to draw all day long, and draw anatomy at that? The east coast has taken some getting used to, but it’s very charming and we have had some wonderful times, especially outdoors.

Over Labor Day weekend, Clint proposed to me at my parents’ house in Michigan. “About time,” most people said, but it was the perfect timing, and very sweet. We will marry next September in Lansing, Michigan and then live happily ever after.

To back up a bit, I DID finally finish my thesis in March and I graduated from UT Southwestern in May. I am a diploma-carrying-Master-whatsit! I hope to become a CMI, Certified Medical Illustrator, and will be working on that over the next couple of years.

Currently, my outside-of-work project is a Holiday Art Sale of sorts! I have been painting since the beginning of October and now I just have to finish up and post the rest of my work. I’ve set up on online shop on etsy, and I’m pretty excited about the “opening” of my sale - it should happen in the next few days! After the holidays, I’ll keep putting new work up, probably one piece at a time. Painting over the last month and a half has been SO good for me in every way, so I’m thinking I should do my best to continue.

The lungs are from undergraduate school. I think the assignment was to make a non-sqaure painting. The kidney was my Halloween costume a couple of years ago but now decorates my bedroom wall.  This is how I got my nickname among my classmates, “Kidney.”

In our first year of medical illustration school, we drew a hip bone. It seemed like a never-ending project at the time. When it was finally over, this is how I made use of some intermediate versions of the drawing.

A variety of paintings featuring the oxygen-getters. 2005-2007.

Use this LEGO® cross-section to study the kidney!