Movie Trailer!

Front page of wired famousness?

I stole that title from my friend, Jace, who posted this article to my facebook wall! Nick and I were interviewed for our documentary "Santas on the Move" on Sunday by Dan Glass, and this is the result. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! Merry Early Christmas!

Robot Santa Discovers Meaning of Christmas at SantaCon

The Functions and Malfunctions of Santabot 2.0

Here's a video where I explain all of the functions of Santabot 2.0

This video shows Nick explaining what is no longer working by the time we reached Central Park.

Makeup For Reindeer Games

Control Panel, Check!

As you may already know, I'm currently working as the artist/executive producer for a documentary called "Santas on the Move" (a film that explores the once yearly, and incredibly jolly event, Santacon). One of my most recent contributions for this film was creating a design used to laser-cut a control panel out of plexiglass. This control panel is going to allow the fellow Santas to interact with the Robot-Santa featured in this film. By a push of the button, a Santacon participant will be able to turn on the robot's lights, dispense candy, or activate its robot voice.

Santacon is only a month away, and I still have a lot to do! Between now and then I will be working on the Robot's paint job, designing an image to laser on moleskines as well as use for posters, and building an official website where we will post the final product of this documentary. I've got my work cut out for me, but I am very happy to be a part of this project :D

Yessir...we cut this bad boy with a laser...

Something cute to wake up to...

Say good morning to Assiqtaq!

A little bit o' this...a little bit o' ... SQUID!

I recently purchased a sewing machine, that of which I named Dapper Dan. The first thing I sewed on it was the tentacle skirt for my Ursula costume. I had never used a sewing machine before this, so for what little sewing experience I had, the skirt turned out pretty well. I got it done by Halloween day and walked the streets of Manhattan with Waldo and Mia (after she got stabbed in the heart by a hypodermic needle). I couldn't find an Ursula wig, and my purple face makeup didn't apply evenly, so I ended up scratching both and decided to improvise. I ended up looking more like a young Ursula, but my shell had an LED light in it that made it glow! It looked so cool.

Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

It's My Sunday!

This week, Tuesday is my Sunday...and you know what that means...PORK CHOPS FOR EVERYBODY!!!

Okay, not really. I haven't had a pork chop since high school, to be quite honest. What this "Suesday" really means is: A new Shay-Town is in the works! I've been up since early this morning drawing out an idea (and watching episodes of "Better off Ted"). I lost a lot of the ideas that I already had during the move to New York, so I'm working from scratch. I'm also going to try a little harder to make better drawings. Hopefully they'll slowly evolve into some real eye pleasers, but provide the same crassness I've always strove for and adored.

I also completed page 4&5 of the Chronicles yesterday. Once I've completed page 6&7, I will mail the moleskine back to my brother and post my new additions to the site. Thank you Lucas, Andy, Sarah, Melissa, Tiffany and Philip, for becoming followers of Ben's and my project!

I will end this posting with a video of the MP3 Experiment Nick and I participated in 11 days ago. Quick tip: If you plan on going next year, make sure the mp3 player you bring to the event doesn't tend to skip, pause, or stop completely. I had to keep readjusting my file to the proper time...but it was totally worth it because I had so much fun!

There's a cat in her lap!

Ahoy Thar Mateys!

I know that my bloggings have been few and far between these days. Thanks to the encouragement (and threats) of my best friend, Jess, I have decided to make a go at blogging on the regular again. Let's hope it lasts ;) If it doesn't, you have my permission to flog Jess. Flog her!

Speaking of Jess, last Sunday, she, Nick and I went to the Maker Faire to be awed and inspired by the nerds of New York. It was totally rad. I got to see a robot solve a rubix cube, a merry-go-round powered by rockets called the "Jet Ponies", and a life size version of the game "Mouse Trap". I also got my hands on some resin and molds, so look forward to seeing jewelry in my Etsy Shop in the near future ;)

One of the most recent additions to my shop is a pair of hand painted shoes called "Heart of Gold Pumps". These pretty shoes were originally silver with a faux snake skin texture. Now they've got a new look that has all of my friends wishing they had size 9 feet. If you know anyone who needs a pretty pair of fresh new kicks for a special occasion, send them my way ;)

On a different note, WE MADE OUR GOAL! Nick, Jess, Lance and I have been raising money for our documentary "Santas on the Move". On September 23rd, we reached the $2,500 we were shooting for seven days before the deadline. I cannot thank the people who pledged money towards our project enough. You guys rock <3

Well, it's now time for me to go. I will be participating in this year's "MP3 Experiment" tomorrow and want to be well rested for this hip happening ;) If anyone wants to come, let me know!!!

<3! - Shayna

Picture taken while I was working on my recent pair of hand-painted shoes:

Ch-ch-ch-chaaaanges

Hello everybody!

I wanted to post a few updates just in case I still have an audience that yearns to know what is happening in my life*. It's been a long time, we all know it has, but I am finally forcing myself to sit down...and write a blog.

I'll try to keep it short.

One of the most exciting things that has happened to me as of late is the completion of my online portfolio at www.shaynahawkins.com. I began working on this little by little last month, and for the time being, I think this new site will serve as a nice portfolio for prospective clients. At least I think it will, until I master the fine art that is WEB DESIGNING! <-----insert ominous voice here.

This site includes a feed that allows you to rss the artist's information about current shay-vents (see what I did there? Ohhh yeah). It also features some of my most recent traditional, digital, and animated works. If you want to see my resume, BAM! It's there. Want to buy a print by yours truly? Double BAM! It's linked to my etsy shop!

You can go to this new store of mine by visiting shaynahawkins.etsy.com. As a matter of fact, I just uploaded a new print called "urban exposure" to my inventory. I hope you'll be able to check it out.

Speaking of checking things out, please take some time to look at this kickstarter project I was recruited for. It has finally been given a name: "Santas On The Move: The Santacon Robot Documentary". I'll be working as the graphic artist for the promotion of this documentary. I'm super excited about it because I went last year, and it was a blast.

I would like to close by introducing a new project of mine that I began on the 10th. Some of you may be familiar with my brother, Ben, an artist who currently resides in Fairbanks, AK. He and I used to get together for "Art Parties" at a local diner and draw for hours. Now that we're 4,000+ miles apart from each other, art parties are virtually impossible. However, I decided it was high time we come up with a substitute.

I went to a bookstore, bought a moleskine, drew on the first page, and then mailed it to Ben. We plan to take turns drawing on the pages of this book and mailing it back and forth until it is full. I coined the project "The Chronicles of B.S." You can actually visit a blog I created for it by clicking this link.

Anyway, I need to stop trolling the intarwebbz and go to bed.

I miss you all.


*this has never happened.

Ptoo!

Ahhhh Wednesday. What a wonderful day. This Wednesday has been so great to me. The sun was shining, I was allowed to paint at work, and the stock market was kind to me*. Yet when it comes to me, it would seem, every fortune comes with a price. A very gross, unsanitary price.

Beautiful Brooklyn, my new home, my sexy sanctuary, blessed me with a new found wisdom that I intend to share with all of you. Brooklyn reminded me of the power of humility...and my oh my...I can't even begin to display the appropriate gratitude for this kind gesture.

Today, my dear readers, Brooklyn became a borough incarnate, taking the form of two very loud, angry, scrunchy-clad women. These women reminded me how lucky I am to have come this far. I moved 4,000 miles away from the peaceful drifts of snow and boredom, to be welcomed by these women with their wonderful words of kindness...

...and by "welcomed" I mean "expectorated on"...and by "with their wonderful words of kindness," I mean "with their revolting saliva".

Yes my darlings. I was spat upon during a stroll through my awesome neighborhood...on my favorite jeans, too. My friends and co-workers already have to deal with my awful coffee breath. Now I have to worry about my pants being haunted by smelly halitosis...or the serious gum disease GINGIVITIS.

Thank you Brooklyn.

Thank you for reminding me I resemble something that is socially acceptable to spit upon...like a sidewalk...or tiny, annoying dogs.

Actually, I make it sound like I was totally devastated by this chain of events, but I really had no clue that these two crazy ladies had directed their anger towards me as they were arguing. I was too excited about walking to the store to purchase fancy beer. I mean seriously...you should see this place's selection.

At first the ladies were in front of me, but as I was texting a friend and giggling, they seemed to think my jovial demeanor was an affront to their very "serious" argument. So they got behind Jess and I, and proceeded to threaten us. According to Jess, they said they were going to break her glasses so she would be forced to wear contacts. I overheard one of them talk about how they had spit on my pants as we walked through the super store's doors. I looked down, and by gum, they were right! There it was...a handsome globule of saliva drifting slowly down the threads of my jeans.

To my surprise I wasn't mad, or sad, or frustrated. I did worry for my health, but that's just due to an intense fear of foreign bodily fluids. I suppose I was mostly annoyed because I really just wanted to imbibe something tasty, and these morons kept me from doing this in a timely fashion.

But hey, it's okay Brooklyn. I still love you. I just need to start wearing water resistant gear when I walk around your sexy self from now on.

It's poncho time! Yeah!

*Note: I do not own stock. Nor do I venture to markets of any sort**.

**Double Note: Okay I lied. I love markets***.

***and cupcakes.

Here's the latest artwork I've created. The first pics are of two new bookmarks. I'm not sure why I'm so into drawing on those things lately. The last pic is of the tattoo I was commissioned to draw for my friend Kirstin. She wanted me to use the lion image on this scottish flag and have it rising from the ashes, like a phoenix. I heard she loves it.

K...I'm going to bed now. Hugs and kisses.

Shayna

NYC updaaaate

Holy toledo.

I can't believe it's been four months since my last entry. It's been crazy since I've arrived in NYC. Jess and I were hired right away for a seasonal job at Macy's for about two months. However glamorous that may seem, being employed at that cesspool was the shittiest work experience I've had to endure my entire life. Some of my fellow employees were so vapid, they actually worked like we received commission for every sale we made, even though we didn't. We only made eight dollars an hour to have greedy assholes, disgruntled customers, and moronic managers yell at us in front of everyone. That pay pretty much only covered coffee and a pass for the train. The animosity really wasn't worth the lousy paycheck. This was the first job I have ever walked out on. Seriously.

My body rejected Macy's.

While I was having lunch on Christmas Eve, watching all the drones pass by, I found my body gravitating towards the Macy's employee exit. My mind kept yelling at my body
"NO! You're better than this, body of mine! I beckon you! Beseech you, even! Stay until the end of your shift!" But I kept walking. My mind continued to scream, telling me I needed the money, that I have too much integrity to leave in such an inconsiderate manner...but then my fist punched my face to quiet my mind's inane thoughts and my body walked me straight out of that temple of horrors.

I then proceeded to have the best Christmas ever.

Jess, Nick and I played rockband, drank spirits, and opened presents all night long. It was a blast. There was absolutely no pressure to maintain tradition, feign interest in what my rude extended family had to say, or wake up at a god awful early hour.

I was extremely excited about seeing Jess and Nick's faces when they opened the presents I made them. For Nick, I created a half-poney half-monkey monster to please him (please listen to Jonathan Coultan's song "Skullcrusher Mountain" so that you may feel enlightened...and better as a person overall).





I painted a flask for Jess that says "MILK". She had always wanted a flask that represented her drinking habits, so I made that flask in honor of her love for dairy. I was so pleased with how the flask came out, I plan to paint more flasks in the future.



As for my own personal work, I've been in a sort of stalemate with my creativity. Not because I don't have any ideas, but because I'm unable to find a place to execute my work. For some reason, I have to be in an environment that feels right, otherwise I just sit and stare at my monitor, or canvas, and draw a blank. It's the weirdest thing. It's not that I haven't been creating anything. I have been, but not for myself. I've been making things for other people, and because of that, I've been sort of hard on myself. I'm hoping that within the next month I'll be back in the swing of things and have more of my own personal work to share, not only here, but on Etsy and my website.

I'm going to close this blog with images of the other things I've created since I came to NYC. I will write more about the more positive things that are going on now that Jess and I are finally settling in, thanks to our new, and much better jobs.

I love and miss you all. I hope you're doing well and wish to hear from you soon <3

Love,

Shayna