Maia Palomar's Uploads

Frustration, anger, lines, and hand

The past two days have been interesting, to say the least. My anxiety kicked up again, yielding two more panic attacks...oh joy. There's an increasingly chaotic external environment: COVID-19 positivity rates rising, looting, SAT nonsense (thank you College Board for not giving anyone information and for being very uncooperative). Am I angry at people in the world? Yes, and I know that's a generic, over-used phrase, but I truly am. I'm tired of all of this. I'm aggravated with the current state of the U.S. There's moments where things feel fine, and others when it feels like things are closing in. No one knows what the next few months will bring and tensions are high. Will things work out? They will eventually; they better. But, at the same time, what the heck is even going on anymore?

I'm not sure what to say about this one...

I can't believe October is already here, and it's startling how fast time is moving. I shouldn't be up this late, but I wanted to make some art, especially given how today has been (8-3:15 'in school,' 3:15-10pm doing homework). The honest answer is I just feel down. I can usually phrase things better but my brain is fried. Everything is non-stop, the time I have to breathe seems to get shorter. Anyway, it's 11pm, I should get to bed.

This week hasn't been great. My anxiety was pretty high for most of it, and it was honestly for no reason. My brain tends to be very chaotic, I suppose, and I have trouble controlling my thoughts sometimes. This was a random doodle I did last night at 10 p.m. I've decided I'm going to add color to it, which will either look good or make everyone's eyes hurt even more..at least I have a picture of this version.

Inktober Day 4: Radio. A quick paint/doodle while talking with a good friend. Today was decent. Hoping for a better week this time around. "From the end of the world to your town."

Another progress photo for your viewing. Hopefully I'll have this finished soon, but I'm very much enjoying drawing this while listening to my records... (Feedback is very much welcome!)

Here are some drawings of various utensils, courtesy of the madness of quarantine. I ended up giving each a name and a bit of a personality.

I finally got around to adding color to this doodle. I think I like it better than the black and white...

Drawing Prompt Submission

Throwback to October when CPS was on strike and I had extra time to carve pumpkins. This is one of two I carved, both based off original sketches. I don't own any fancy tools, so I created this using a knife, peeler, zester, and some sandpaper.

April has truly started off on a high note: 3 days of warm weather (a rare occurrence in an early Chicago spring), I finally did double-backs to the floor at gymnastics, found out I won a few art contests, and I got my first COVID vaccine! It's nice to have things starting to work out, even if it is just temporarily.

Things aren't working. They're not clicking.

A piece that coincidently fits the prompt for InkTober Day 27: music. An anxiety notebook doodle based on a song that I cut up out of frustration. It ended up looking better, in my opinion, now that it's rearranged.

Drawing Prompt Submission

(I had gotten some new fine-point pens last week, and I figured this was a good way to test them out.) Two very different things have been on my mind lately, maybe there's a connection? I think it's interesting how it's taken me 4 years to figure something out, become comfortable enough to open up to others about it, and then embrace it. Yet it's like living a double life, being authentic to some and keeping secrets from others. On the other hand, to the person receiving this drawing, I know I can't do anything to change the situation even though I wish I could. All I can say is I'm forever grateful for all you do, and I truly hope you decide to take advantage of all the opportunities coming your way.

I know this is simpler and a quicker piece, but this is the drawing for my August journal. I started doing these back in March, with each month's drawing being based off a song. This month is "Golden Slumbers" by the Beatles, July was "Tower of Babel" by Elton John. (The pencil sketch eye I previously posted is indeed now in my journal.)

"'Faith' is a fine invention for gentlemen who see. But microscopes are prudent In an emergency!"-Emily Dickinson. A doodle from English class during the 4th rainy and cold day this week; let's hope the weather isn't foreshadowing how the rest of the school year will go. In all honesty, the only way I got through this week was courtesy of gymnastics and my fantastic coaches (shout out to Tony and Andrea). I figured I'd snap a photo of this before I give it away...

Day 2 of Inktober (I'm hoping to do this every day this year). A quick sketch in a clearer mindset than last night. Not sure why I named him Larry, but it seemed fitting. Here's to the fact that solving a physics problem on the first try legitimately made me jump out of my chair in excitement.

Drawing Prompt Submission

I do indeed have some news! I posted a bit ago that I had submitted a sketchbook to the Brooklyn Art Library and it's finally published. If you want to check it out, you can find it here or you can click on "my website" in my profile: https://www.sketchbookproject.com/library/S326078