More art in 2020!

I really want this to manifest as my own Roarin’ Twenties, and the #1 way im doing it is DOING MY ART!

 

And I am honestly off to a great start, as I have honestly started and completed more art in this first week of 2020 than I have in all of 2019!

 

What I am working on this week is an illustration i started YEARS ago but am now determined to finish.

 

This is an illustration of my second apartment in Chicago, in Logan Square.  I live here from 2014-2017, and i have very happy times here.   I loved this apartment so much, and I loved the people that came and went and life that happened inside.  I think of this apartment often, I think of becoming the person I am since moving here in 2012.

 

 

Fan Art Fridays – See I told you

Oh you thought I was kidding that I was going to bring back Fan Art Fridays, DIDNT YOU.

 

It’s ok, I didnt believe me either…

 

BUT here I am :)  It’s happening!

This Fan Art Friday is dedicated to: Lauren Graham.

Now, if you’ve met me before then you probably heard me mention Gilmore Girls, or at the very least I quoted or referenced it (even if you didn’t notice).  There’s no easy way to explain exactly how I feel about this show, but let me use the show to help figure it out:

 

I was the same age/grade as Rory when the show first aired – we grew up together.  And now I am the same age as Lorelai’s character when the show first started – and I can honestly say I love it, because I have always loved her character the most.

That being said, I didn’t know too much about the actress who played her (Lauren Graham) other than what I learned surrounding the show.  Very recently I downloaded the audiofile for Lauren’s most recent book “Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between” .  All i can say is that I am so glad I bought this book.  Lauren is just as vibrant, weird, crazy and inspiring as my favorite character, if not more so because she is incredibly real.   She talks to the reader/audience like we’re old friends, and she discusses her experience with Gilmore Girls in such a lovely way that it made me cry – several times.

That show got me through my twenties and the majority of my college and teenage years, and I am forever grateful for the writing and the characters who inspired me and helped me as I grew up.

Thank you Lauren Graham.

 

 

Also, P.S.

To further my point, my amazing team and I recently won first prize in Gilmore Girls Trivia

:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRUSHING IT

I’m keepin’ it rolling – I want to try to post something at least once a week – trying to get my life back!

Here is a comic I drew back in April about our former long-term sub teacher at work, who I followed around gawking at for months.

New Post About Old Stuff

I totally forgot to ever post the illustrations I did for Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Words Weekend last year.  It was an incredible experience and opportunity, and I had a ton of fun doing these illustrations.

Based on the poem by Irene Marquette (which you can read here)

Thank you to 1,000 Chicago Afternoons, Anthology of Chicago and CHI_LIT and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for the awesome opportunity!

**ALSO**

Recently featured again on the MCA Front page and in the Chicago READER for a similar even coming up this month: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/welcome-to-the-neighborhood/Event?oid=16184828

YAY! The Native American Cookbook Debut!

Every year in honor of Native American Heritage Month I make something specifically for this this celebratory time.   Last year I made “Shawnee Dance“, but this year I have something extra special to share with all of you:

 

This is has been a year long project, months of research, and even a whole dinner extravaganza dedicated to trying these recipes, all to bring you a beautifully illustrated unique collection of native foods.  Not only are all these recipes traditionally from different Indigenous tribes around the united states, but all of the ingredients are native to the americas, all of the recipes but one are from “Pre-European Contact”, and most of them are Allergen Friendly, Vegan and Gluten Free! (So hip)

 

Every year during the month of November (NAHM) I sell my new creation, not for profit, but to raise money for two particular organizations.  First is the American Indian Center of Chicago, which puts on amazing events all year long as well as provides community, classes and workshops for both Native and non-native peoples in Chicago (for example, I am taking archery there!).  Depending on how much I raise each year, I want to be able to send something to the Absentee Shawnee Tribe in Shawnee Oklahoma, which is where my lineage is from and where my great grandfather was born.

Last year I raised $50, so i sent all of that to the AIC.  This year my goal is AT LEAST $100, so I can send $50 each.

 

This year, I will be selling the cookbook during the month of November for $15 and the Shawnee Dance Print for $10, OR BOTH for $20!   A seriously amazing (and delicious) deal :)

 

If you’re interested, please email RACHEL.F.T.FOSS@GMAIL.COM with your name, address, which items you would like to purchase – and I will send you an Invoice!

 

Thank you again everyone, I love you all.

 

 

THE HORROR

August 2014

Breakup Weekend – PART TWO!

 

Breakup Weekend Comics – Part 2

no really it’s really funny… Last week i was told by this greg that I wasn’t important enough to make time for and that we’re never going to see each-other again.

And then, a few days later, i broke up with the guy i was currently dating… also named greg.

My life is weird.

 

Breakup Weekend 2014

 

 

breakup comic part 1, part of

*!* BREAKUP WEEKEND 2014 *!*

Oh this comic symbolizes so many things, but mostly inspired by how twice in the past few months ive been dumped around birthdays, in a situation where I am of the position to want to celebrate the other person’s life and I was specifically kept away from the celebration to make a statement of how unimportant I am to them.

The cupcake is a representation of the birthdays, but also symbolizes how generous I try to be in a relationship and instead I have to toss it away because the other person doesnt want anything i have to give.

MAN I AM JUST A BUNDLE OF LAUGHS

Breakup Weekend part 2 coming tomorrow – stay tuned.

FINALLY GEEZ – Now lets talk about Ghosts

So like I said last time (two months ago! AH!) my printer was messed up but I finally fixed it WHICH MEANS…   <3 <3 <3 !COMICS! <3 <3 <3   Todays comic is brought to you by people who pretend to like you and then disappear:

 

 

So my friends, here is a story.

One of the reasons I make comics and share them publicly, especially ones like this, is because I want someone else out there going through the same thing to realize you’re not alone.

This particular story was drawn about two months ago, after my casual relationship with Greg, but it also applies perfectly to my most recent dating experience.  Actually… probably more so, because Dave was the best person I ever dated and felt like relationship was just around the corner.  But then just a few days ago … poof! gone.  I think this one hurt the most. (BTW, Happy Birthday Dave!)*

Yes it sucks, yes you will sit at home and analyze over and over “what did i do?!?!”, “what did I say?!?!”, “what could i have done differently!!!”.  The answer is nothing.  And we all do this.  But ya know what?  IT’S NOT YOU.  Trust me.  When this happens remind yourself that it has nothing to do with you.  It is on them – mostly from lack of maturity and the inability to deal with conflict and confrontation.  Any of the other reasons do not matter.  (and both genders do this btw, not just dudes)

Also, if you have done this… please stop.  It’s a thousand times worse to not know than to know.

Ok well now that we’ve all turned on The Smiths and had a good cry about ourselves, go out and enjoy your life.

Love Ya’ll

– Rachel

 

 

*Don’t be mean to comic artists!

This one is dedicated to all the Leo’s out there *

 

Thanks and inspiration to Melinda Mcintire of Solo in the Second City

 

 

*(Leo’s are the only sign in the zodiac that have no compatibility with any sign in the zodiac, including themselves)