Saturday, August 30, 2008

This Week's Word with Mom

Showing me her pictures from the vacation she and my step-dad had gone on, my mom came across a picture of the Washington monument...

"There's the Forrest Gump thing."

Friday, August 29, 2008

Lilah!

I hung out with my sister-in-law, and niece. Lilah was being so funny today. It was great.

Well, here's a pic from today. (Feel free to use this, LB).

Physics!

I was falling asleep in Physics class, today, so I started to draw my prof... I'm pretty sure he knew I was drawing him too, because instead of nodding off, I was staring at him intently, and scratching on the back of my syllabus.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Site update.

I've updated my website, yet again... Not a big update, but an update nonetheless.

Please go give it a look!
www.CongerArt.com

Monday, August 25, 2008

Tricia


Just finished this portrait of my friend, Tricia.

I'm not sure if I like it in black and white, or in color. I'm thinkin' color. What bothers me, though, is that her hair looks curled, almost... that's the only thing I can see that throws it off.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Do you think...

... people with multiple personality disorders find any issue in the fact that their driver's license has the wrong name, but the right picture?

Saturday, August 23, 2008

What's the matter with me?!


I tried drawing Obama, and it sucked... quite a bit.

So, I tried to draw Ron Paul. I dig it.

Why can I only draw Republicans?! Does my disgust make me more expressive? haha

Friday, August 22, 2008

Site update.


I've updated my website!

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll have already seen the two sketches I posted... BUT! I've put up three new photographs, and even went back and touched up some of my old photos. I'm sure most people won't be able to tell the difference, so I guess it's just for my own peace of mind.

Check 'em out! CongerArt.com

*ahem*


Douchebag ^^^

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

More progress, and an update.


Just some value put on the black guy... and a new drawing, below.

Monday, August 18, 2008

I'm so tired.


I need to start going to bed earlier. Here's another sketch, which I might work on some more, tomorrow night.

Oh... and here's a very quick paint-over of yesterday's drawing.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Analogue for the majority of America



Just a little sketch before I head off to bed.

Expect more tomorrow night.

Friday, August 15, 2008

What was that?



I really dislike this drawing... but I felt the need to post something. I can never remember what a real ear looks like whenever it's time to draw one. Oh well.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Guess what! I got a FEVAH!


And the only prescription is… coming clean (and maybe some cowbell).

I’m sick of wondering whether or not the handful of people who regularly read this blog know, or fully understand, the biggest change in my life… ever.

I am an atheist. And I am proud of that. I am not going to apologize for it, and I am never going to be ashamed of it. There is only one person, my grandma, from whom I will keep this information… but merely to keep from breaking a poor old woman’s heart. (Having said that… if you speak to my grandma, I beg you to keep this to yourself.)

Now, you’re probably wondering what happened to make me flip entirely to the other side of the theism coin. To answer that fully would fill up pages, but the simple answer is, “I thought.”

Over the past year or so, I went through a period of purging all the things in my life that upset me, that hindered my progress, or that simply weren’t necessary. I would have called many of those things “friends.”

During school I was unemployed, and the few friends I had left were hours away. With all this time on my hands, I thought. And thought. And thought. Sometimes, when I’d get tired of thinking, I’d think some more. Other times, I’d sleep, but you’d be a fool to believe that the first thing on my to-do list for the next day was anything other than “think.” I’d think until I started to cry. I’d think until I was laughing hysterically. I’d think until I was hugging the toilet, ready to puke. I’d think until my head was throbbing with pain… Yes, those jokes actually hit home, for me. =-(

When I got bored with thinking about being lonesome, I thought about theism. Particularly my theism. But, you have to understand; I’m not saying that the conclusion I came to is the only possible conclusion one could come to through serious contemplation… If you’ve come to a different conclusion through a similar process, then good for you. Honestly and sincerely.

For me, however, I realized that there is not enough evidence, empirical or otherwise, to support the god hypothesis. I do not feel that my belief in God was justified or justifiable. To put it in even simpler terms, the idea of God just does not work with my view of reality. If it does for you, great! Keep going with that. I have absolutely no problem with theists, just so long as they respect my world view as much as I respect theirs.

Now, I’m an agnostic atheist. This means that I could never claim to KNOW there is no god. I feel such things are unknowable. So, while I don’t know if there is a god (agnosticism), I deny the claim that there is one (atheism). A gnostic atheist, however, would say they know for sure there is no god. The labels work for theists, as well. Agnostic theists and gnostic theists.

Being an atheist doesn’t turn me into an immoral, unrestrained, guilt-free, unbridled maniac. I hold essentially the same moral compass I did when I was a Christian… not because I was brought up Christian, but because it is the moral compass that is common amongst most humans. All that has changed is I don’t have this fear of sinning. I don’t think all my friends are sinning when they party, and I don’t worry that they’re going to hell. This is a HUGE deal for me.

With this gargantuan burden of guilt and worry lifted off my back, I’m finally happy. I have been horribly depressed (on and off) for the past seven years. For the first time in months, I’m actually happy… and this is the happiest I’ve been in at least seven years. This is remarkable for me. My whole life has changed, drastically… and for the better.

Look, I’m not saying that you have to agree with my world view. All I ask is that you be glad that I’ve found a place that is comfortable for me. Be glad that I’m happy for once. If you can manage to respect my atheism, too, that’d be an added bonus.

So there’s my testimony. If you want to know more, leave questions in the comments, email me, text me, IM me, or ask me in real life. I don’t want to be shy about this anymore, and I don’t want this to be an awkward, taboo topic of discussion.

Oh, and I want to thank you, Lisa, for sticking by me through the whole, horrendously difficult transition. Thank you so much! Even though you probably know full well, it’s more dramatic to say you have no idea how much you mean to me. =-D

So, is everyone OK?

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

"Bearly" worth posting.

Just trying to get back to simple cartoony stuff, rather than focusing on value. 'Nother post coming tomorrow, I hope.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Finally!

I tried drawing a few times today, and I kept getting frustrated with what was coming out... I just pressed on through that feeling this time. Here's what happened.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

I'm not gonna lie


I didn't draw this tonight, but only about 3 people have seen it... so, since I can't seem to be proud of anything I draw tonight, here's this little collection.

I'll draw a bit before work tomorrow.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

"I'll thump him if he calls me big nose, again."



This isn't at all inspired by Monty Python, but as I was pulling up my blog to post this, I thought of that (^^^) line from Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Ah! Such a good film.

Anyway, whattaya think?

A second wind


I had posted a drawing of a rhino that I had seen at the zoo, today. I felt like drawing more, after I had posted it, so I did. Here's what came out.

Let me know what you think! I have yet to receive a comment on my blog.

You can expect another post tomorrow night.