Betwixt by Kelsey Sobotka

EXPLORING YOUNG WOMEN’S CREATIVITY.

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INSIDE PHOTO: NICHOLA NEASE COVER TOP–BOTTOM: SYDNEY LANGE JOANNA CHON BETH ELLINGBOE

ISSUE 1

EXPLORING YOUNG WOMEN’S CREATIVITY.

written.

visual.

applicable.

this issue written

visual

Playlist of the Month “Go Steady With Me” is a mix by Beth Ellingboe showcasing female artists and no he/him pronouns.

Two-Sixteen Calla Lane A short play written by Elizabeth Kaatz. Jonathan and Karen have been struggling to find the perfect house...

Aesthetic Poetry Is it ironic? Is it deep? It’s silly poetry on a pretty photograph.

The Boy and the Star Catcher A modern fable based on the forms and structure of classic fairy tales.

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Sketchbook Segments A collection of doodles, sketches, and more from various contributors.

Moleskine Montage Collected collages from the sketchbook of Sydney Lange and illustration by Joy Underdahl.

Capturing Water Featuring the photographic works of Becki Bolinger and her exploration of water through the lens.

Watercolor Spotlight Watercolor and paint studies from Giana Enders.

Monumental Moments Photography by Jocelyn Koss capturing the beauty we can find in the serenity of nature.

Hand-Rendered Type A cross-exploration of the written and visual by Joanna Chon.

Sweetheart Jar DIY Decorate a mason jar for your special someone with this creative guide!

Urban Exploration Photographs of the typically unseen and accompanying field notes.

How To: Succulents A guide by the uninformed on taking care of the world’s easiest plants.

The World of Concept Art Featuring concept art of the fantasy genre in character, environmental, and object design.

Recipe: Spaghetti Squash A twist on this unique and tasty dish formulated by Katie Haseker.

Special thanks and all credits are located at the back of the issue. 4

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letter FROM THE editor My mom says I started drawing the moment I could pick up a crayon. I’ve always loved drawing, painting, filming, cutting, and piecing things together. Watching my mom build yearbooks year after year for my brothers’ elementary school was one of my favorite pastimes. Years ago, I started using BLO Pens to create tie-dye effects on Easter eggs. And when I was 16, I desperately pulled a cosplay together in the week before a movie came out despite me barely knowing how to use the sewing machine. I’ve always felt the drive to be creative, whether that creativity was recognized by others or not. However, I can’t deny how good it felt to win an art contest through my dad’s workplace, how incredible it feels every time someone comments on my Youtube videos, or the rush I feel when my work is featured in an exhibition. I get giddy when people ask to see what I’ve created, and I’m overwhelmed when people go out of their way to ask me to create and contribute to something they’re doing. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being published or of having my work where everyone can see it. I’ve asked many young women in different schools and fields how they rank creativity and its importance in their lives. Not only was it overall the most highly ranked factor in their lives, but not one person said the process of creativity was unimportant to them, not even in the slightest. I used to think it was just an artist thing, but it’s not. Being creative is an important part of life for human beings, and celebrating this piece of ourselves is one of the reasons the female community of Betwixt was formed. Why only women? This community is based in creativity, and creativity in the way we’d like to celebrate it has not always been centered around women through history. Cipe Pineles was the first female Art Director for a major publication, and she had to fight her way to that position and to be able to pave the way for other women after her. This was back in 1947. Many of her career accomplishments were overshadowed by the men who worked around her, and many accomplishments of other women before and after Pineles have had male names splashed across them. Betwixt is a community for all forms of creativity, though more importantly, it’s where the work of young women starting off in this world can have their creativity celebrated. When young women are at the point in their lives in-between being an adolescent and leading a life of their own, they will start to question the world and themselves. But knowing that the things they do, what they create, and a part of themselves and their hearts can be celebrated is a light in a potentially difficult part of their lives. Us young women are betwixt, and we have a drive and creative flair that needs to be showcased. This is mine and Betwixt’s mission, online and in-print.

Kelsey Sobotka BETWIXTPROJECT.COM

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Take a peek inside the sketchbooks of a multitude of young women.

SKETCHBOOK SEGMENTS

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SKETCHBOOK SEGMENTS

THIS SPREAD FEATURES THE WORK OF: SARA BURCH, JOCELYN KOSS, KELSEY SOBOTKA, JOY UNDERDAHL

THIS SPREAD FEATURES THE WORK OF: SARA BURCH, LAUREN GLOMSKI, KALEY HAMILTON, JOCELYN KOSS, MARY L’ABBATE, NICHOLA NEASE, KELSEY SOBOTKA, JOY UNDERDAHL

SEGMENTS

SKETCHBOOK

SWEETHEART JAR designed by debbie sajnani

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STEP 1: Wrap painter’s tape around your mason jar in any way you’d like! Add decorations and stickers to mask shapes.

STEP 3: Slowly remove the tape and stickers without touching the paint. Let the jar dry.

STEP 2: Spray paint all sides of the bottom of the jar heavily and the top have a bit lighter to create a gradient. Or solid coat it! It’s up to you.

STEP 4: Cover sticker spaces and tape masks with more fun stickers and decorations of your choosing! Ribbons and glitter are a great option in my opinion.

Make that special someone this adorable jar to leave sweet nothings in...or maybe just a bunch of sweet candy! All you need is a jar of your choice, painter’s and decorative tape, metallic spray paint, and whatever else you want to decorate it with! Hearts, pugs, anime, food, or whatever suits your desire. It’s all good when it comes to love.

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mix compiled and cover art by beth ellingboe

30+ songs with female vocals and no he/him pronouns to listen to while smooching someone after your team wins the big game and you slow dance in a parking lot and there are probably cheerleaders and forgotten math homework at the bottom of your backpack. listen to this mix on 8tracks. a link is available on BetwixtProject.com in the features tag.

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It’s basically a personal law that any gay mix I make has to have as much Taylor Swift as possible on it (this mix has five songs in total). I have a lot of personal connections to her songs and my sexuality and my growing acceptance/embracing of it, particularly to “Fearless” and “Ours.” It’s hard in a lot of ways to put into words (and I tried for a paper last quarter), but there’s just something really fun in singing along to these songs again that I used to play constantly in my early teens. Before they would be like placeholders for me pretending to desire straight relationships, and now I associate them with gay feelings. What’s more fearless than taking another girl’s hand!

When girl artists I love cover songs by boy artists I love, my life is basically made, and this cover of Best Song Ever is basically a staple in the imaginary lesbian cover archive that exists on Youtube, mostly thanks to BBC Radio One Live Lounge covers. I love One Direction a lot, like with my entire being, and I love when their songs are about lesbians (which is secretly always, but more obviously in this cover).

The mix’s title comes from the other Tegan and Sara song on this mix, On Directing, but I couldn’t have just one Tegan and Sara song on this mix, my personal gay opus, considering they’re, like, the quintessential gay pop band. Although, to be honest, I’m like a fake T&S lesbian, because I think I only ever really knew their songs that were on the Grey’s Anatomy soundtracks. But these songs are like, the perfect pining songs, which is really what this mix is all about.

I already talked about my love for gay Swift, and this cover being on here is half a reason for me to put more of her songs onto this mix by cheating 8tracks’ system, but also I have a deep, deep love for every song Naya Rivera sang on Glee, and watched half a season of the show mostly for her. I cried a lot in the episode where she came out to her grandmother, and then had a moment where I reflected in on myself that maybe there was a much larger reason I was sobbing to this TV show I didn’t even really like, and then I listened to the finale song of that episode on repeat for a week (the Adele mash-up, which every human should listen to).

This song is from a whole mash-up album/ jukebox musical some users on Tumblr made at some point, which was eventually deleted. It was basically a love story between a punk girl and a cheerleader, or Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift, combining their music to tell a whole story. It was incredible and I adore this song especially from it, as well as the version of Untouched they made, which is also on this mix.

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LEFT: SYDNEY LANGE RIGHT: JOY UNDERDAHL

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MOLESKINE

MONTAGE BETWIXTPROJECT.COM

CAPTURING

WATER

by becki bolinger

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I shot these photographs as an assignment for school, but the picture of the lake reflected in the baptismal font has become one of my favorite pictures Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever taken. Water has so many interesting visual qualities that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we give it enough credit for, and this series really explores that.

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NUMBER TWO-SIXTEEN CALLA LANE a short play by elizabeth kaatz photography by jocelyn koss

JONATHAN: Late 20s. Carries a scruffy urban attractiveness. KAREN: Mid-20s. Well-put together physically and in wardrobe. She is early in the third trimester of pregnancy. REALTOR: A realtor. (Outside a two-story house. The place could do with some repair: the paint is faded; some shingles are missing from the slightly sagging roof; one of the screens in the windows is torn. By the front door in dark, brassy appliqués reads the house number: 216. JONATHAN and KAREN enter. KAREN stands in front of the house and makes a grandiose yet nervous “ta-da” gesture.)

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JONATHAN So…this is it?

JONATHAN It looks a little…worse for wear.

KAREN Yeah. This is it.

KAREN Oh, I’m sure it’s fine. I mean, look at it! Sure, it could use a little TLC, but don’t you see the potential? We can completely redo the paint job, which means that we get to choose the colors! And the roof shouldn’t be terribly expensive because those older shingles will probably come right up without any hassle! And you haven’t even seen the inside yet. It’s got the perfect layout for us.

JONATHAN Number two-sixteen. KAREN Number two-sixteen. JONATHAN Are you sure this is the right street? KAREN Uh, yeah. Calla Lane.

JONATHAN Oh?

KAREN Yeah! It’s got four bedrooms, so we can totally have an office space for me and a studio for you on top of the nursery for... (SHE places her hands warmly on her expanding abdomen) …our dear little one. Not to mention that it’s got an open-concept main floor! JONATHAN That’s all great stuff, but does it have a… basement? What about an attic? KAREN (giving JONATHAN a patronizing look) Jonathan, would I have wasted our time on a house that didn’t have a basement and

an attic? Come on. Remember who you’re dealing with, here.

KAREN Jonathan, you know I heard that.

JONATHAN Yeah, yeah; Karen Thaner, Mistress of Darkness and the Great Bargain. But seriously, Kay, this place looks like a piece of shit.

JONATHAN Yup, sure do!

KAREN It is not a piece of shit! If you polish a turd, it’s still a turd. If you polish this baby up, who knows what it could be!

JONATHAN You’re welcome.

JONATHAN (under his breath) Well, it certainly won’t be a Fabergé egg…

KAREN You’re incorrigible.

(KAREN glares briefly at JONATHAN, who returns with a wolfish, movie-star-handsome grin. KAREN folds and gives a small smile.)

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KAREN Well, I’ve already put down an offer for it, so…piece of shit or not, it’s probably going to be ours. Wanna take a look inside? The realtor said she’d be here by 6:00, but we’ve got some time to ourselves beforehand. JONATHAN Sure, assuming it won’t collapse over our heads. KAREN Hardee-har-har. Come on. (SHE takes JONATHAN’s hand and leads him through the front door into the house. THE TWO now stand in the main sitting room, which, like the exterior of the house, is in need of both cosmetic and structural attention. JONATHAN looks around the room, scrutinizing.) JONATHAN It’s kind of small, isn’t it? And this wallpaper is simply wretched… KAREN Oh, come on, Jonathan, it’s not that bad. I mean, yeah, the wallpaper is going to be, like, the first thing to go, but…it’s not too small. It’ll suit our needs. I mean, it’s not like we’re going to be spending much time in this room, anyway.

KAREN Just a few square feet smaller than the main floor plan. I think it’s in the vicinity of, what, 1,296 square feet? We’ll have to measure it to be sure… If we need to add or take away a sliver of wall, though, it shouldn’t be too much trouble.

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KAREN Totally. See? I did good, baby! JONATHAN I guess. I want to see the basement. KAREN Sure! Now, the great thing about the basement is that it has two entrances: one from right here by the kitchen… (SHE indicates a basement entrance.) …and one from the outside in the backyard.

JONATHAN I guess… I dunno… I guess I just wish that you had talked to me about it before you put in an offer. We’re supposed to be partners, remember? I just thought I’d get more of a say in it. KAREN …I know. I’m sorry. It’s just that the realtor was really high-pressure, and it looked like a great idea at the time, and I mean, look at the number! Two-sixteen! How could I not? JONATHAN I guess. I just… I dunno. KAREN Look, Jonathan, I want this baby to be born and raised in a house that meets all our specifications. This place fits the bill. I really am sorry that I didn’t consult you first, but what are the odds that we will be able to find another house such as this before the baby comes? I think it’ll be worth the work of renovation. And we both know that finances won’t be a problem for us.

Yeah, yeah; Karen Thaner, Mistress of Darkness and the Great Bargain. But seriously, Kay, this place looks like a

JONATHAN Yeah, yeah, I know. How big is the basement?

JONATHAN (checking out the corners of the room, peering into the adjoining rooms) I like that the floor plan is square. That’ll make our lives much easier, I think.

piece of shit. JONATHAN (urgent for the first time) It’s not a walk-out, is it? KAREN What do you think I am? Dumb, or something? Of course not! It’s just an extra entrance from the back patio! The webpage said it’s accessed with a ladder.

JONATHAN I know, I know. I’m just a little stressed, I guess is all. I mean… I can’t believe that we’re going to raise this baby together, and it’s all going to happen so soon, and we’ve been under so much pressure because of the—

JONATHAN Oh. That’s good, I guess.

KAREN Hey, Jonathan. Remember: HE will always provide. I think we are meant to find this house now. There’s just enough time to get the basic remodel done before the baby arrives, and then we can worry about the rest. This house was sent to us, Jonathan; we can’t ignore that.

KAREN You guess? It’s perfect, Jonathan. Perfect. Why are you looking for problems with this place?

JONATHAN (after a beat) I guess you’re right. I’m being foolish. I’m glad that we’re probably going

to get this house. …So …am I going to get to see the basement? KAREN Yes! Come on down. And watch your head. The ceiling in the stairwell is pretty low. JONATHAN I suppose that’s for the best. (KAREN leads JONATHAN down to the basement. The floor is barren; it looks like a stereotypical cellar or half-finished basement.) JONATHAN …Well, fuck me blue. Here we go. The Motherload. KAREN I told you, Jonathan. It is absolutely perfect. JONATHAN I can’t believe that this basement exists. Look at the brick… (HE goes to the wall and lovingly caresses the bricks, running the sensitive skin of his utmost fingertips against the rough stone) They’re the perfect composition. Low-density but sturdy. Soundproof and strong. They don’t make bricks like these anymore, Karen. KAREN I know, Jonathan. And you feel how solid the floor is? This won’t give way under any pressure mortals can apply. JONATHAN At last. You’re right, Karen; this is perfect for us. (The REALTOR enters.)

REALTOR So I see you crazy kids have found the basement! What do you think? Now, I should tell you that these bricks are all original to the house; there’s been no remodeling. I know that young people such as yourselves often get a little wary of older homes, but there’s no need to worry! Renovation, particularly of storage areas like basements, is quite affordable nowadays with financing! JONATHAN Oh, we don’t plan on using this space for storage. REALTOR Oh! Well, that’s all the more reason to put your hard hats on, then, eh? Make a nice game room? Man cave? You know, get away from the bustle of domestic life every now and then? JONATHAN It is an honor to raise Karen’s son. I will treasure every moment. REALTOR (to KAREN) Oh, isn’t that sweet? Such a devoted father already! KAREN Jonathan isn’t the father of my baby. REALTOR (wide, advertising grin faltering for the first time) He’s… not? Then— JONATHAN --Karen’s son is a gift from the Divine. I am to help her raise him into the man he is destined to become.

REALTOR I’m afraid that I don’t understand what you— KAREN My son shall bring forth the end of the days of mortal men on the Earth! He shall bring down fire and destruction upon those who spurn His name! REALTOR Are you saying that you’re carrying the Second Coming of Chr— (The REALTOR is unable to finish the word; KAREN hisses and JONATHAN tackles the REALTOR to the ground, locking her in a wrestling pin.) JONATHAN Karen, my pocket! KAREN Yes, Jonathan! (KAREN reaches into JONATHAN’s pocket and retrieves a silver knife. SHE hands it to JONATHAN, who slits the REALTOR’s throat. Finally, JONATHAN rolls off the REALTOR’s body and places a blood-stained hand on KAREN’s abdomen.) JONATHAN Hail Satan. KAREN Hail Satan.

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WATERCOLOR

SPOTLIGHT

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“Art is in everything that I do, it’s the way I see the world around me.” – Giana Enders

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SUCCULENTS a guide by the uninformed joanna chon So, you’re now the proud owner of the world’s arguably cutest plant. Congratulations! “But what do I do now?” you might ask. Well! I can tell you you’ve come to the wrong place because I know almost nothing about taking care of plants, but you know, I’ve owned two succulents since August and they’re still alive!

(The beautiful Napoleon and the handsome Illya; yes, my plants are named after the two main characters from “The Man from Uncle,” but that’s a different story for a different time.) It’s a Christmas miracle. In fact, this is definitely the longest I’ve ever kept a plant alive so I’m clearly an expert on the issue. Clearly. Check it out.

STEPS WRITTEN BY A TRUSTWORTHY PROFESSIONAL ON TAKING CARE OF SUCCULENTS: YOU DON’T. I’m just kidding. I mean, I don’t really take care of my succulents, but that’s besides the point. POT THEM. Find a nice pot if they don’t already come with one. What kind of pot? I mean, obviously something that’ll give them enough space and you probably want some kind of...dirt thing to hold the tiny sucker in place. That’s what that’s for, right? Basically, I hope your succulent’s already in a pot. I GIVE YOU LIGHT. I may be the world’s most terrible green thumb, but I know enough that you should put your succulent on a windowsill that’ll let it absorb a lot of sunlight. The more, the better. What to do if you don’t have sunlight? I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re probably living in a dark cave. Get a lamp? Plants love lamps. I love lamps. Who doesn’t love lamps? WATER? Succulents don’t need a lot of water. Seriously, they don’t. Give them just a little bit like...once every four weeks or if they look like they need it. Considering I haven’t watered my own in at least three months and they’re doing better than when I did water them, this one’s on you.

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PRAY TO PLANT GODS. See, this is pretty much the same as the first step mentioned before, but in a slightly more desperate fashion. Succulents, for the most part, pretty much take care of themselves as long as you don’t overwater them and as long as they’ve got enough sunlight. It’s all up to the plants now to fend for themselves in this cruel economy. CHECK. You’ve got this thing down now to a T, but check on your little plant friend every so often to make sure it doesn’t have weird white spots on it or if the leaves (whatever those are called in succulent terminology) are turning brown. Maybe some of the leaves are shriveled? No problem, just take the shriveled, dead leaf and pull it off gently. Nothing you can do about the dead. Just mourn them (by tossing the leaves into the garbage or utilize it for compost if you’re way greener than I am) and carry on. ENJOY. Take pictures, name them, bring them with you on your coffee shop dates. Who wouldn’t? You’ve got a cute little succulent and the world’s your oyster.

THINGS YOU WILL NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HOW-TO SUCCESSFUL: Your potted succulent This is not a guide on how to care for an infant child. Listen, I know, like, nothing about those miniature humans, but then again that pretty much goes the same for these cute little plants. Still, I promise you I know a little more on how to take care of a succulent than a human child, god forbid. Sunlight Unless you live in Wisconsin. In which case? Good luck. Luck Especially if you live in Wisconsin. Did I mention I live in Wisconsin? water (Maybe.)

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Patrick the Cat Patrick the Cat Oh my, is he fat Pat loves his ham

Is it ironic? Is it deep? It’s silly poet ry on a pretty photo graph.

And that strawberry jam He bumbles and flops Laps his milk like a mop Eyes dilated and crossed Pat always seems lost Patrick, so fat Oh my, what a cat Full of cuddles and fluff My baby marshmallow puff

WINDOWS the window is scratched I can not see out of it fuck katz properties

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Holdenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ocean the ocean is large too large for a barge but this is a lake

Probably not.

do I fit

this ocean is fake

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rocky start Rocks... Docks... Flocks... Clocks? Oh shit, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m late.

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untitled Hm. I’ll admit, I didn’t think this through. I have no more poems. My roommate says this is a very Undertale-sort-of-humor. Play that game, it rules. Rules rhymes with drools. Now she says this all sounds like advice. Allison, what on Earth are you on?

SILHOUETTE Hello-O, it’s me. It’s dark here, I cannot see because of lighting. BETWIXTPROJECT.COM

2 spaghetti squash 1 lb fresh shrimp 1 medium sweet onion 3 cups fresh spinach, the more the better! 3 cups heavy whipping cream 1 large garlic clove 1½ large portabella mushroom caps 2 tbs butter olive oil pepper, salt, and Cajun seasoning to taste 2 9”x13” pans large skillet and frying pan aluminum foil

SPAGHETTI SQUASH submitted and formulated by katie haseker To start off this recipe, cut both spaghetti squash in half. Then gut the squash with grapefruit spoon. Place all four pieces of squash in the 9”x13” pans and add half a tablespoon of butter into each of the squash halves. Pour water into pan around the squash up to no more than an inch high in the pan. Cover both the pans in aluminum foil and place in a preheated 350º oven to bake for an hour. Adjust time as needed depending on the size of your spaghetti squash.

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While the squash is in the oven, de-tail the fresh shrimp and set aside. Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet and set to medium heat. Thinly slice the mushroom caps finely chop the onions. Add both to the skillet. Drizzle more olive oil over the mushrooms and onions and slowly sauté until all is a nice golden brown. Mince garlic and stir into mixture. While this cooks, coat all of the de-tailed shrimp individually in your Cajun seasoning. Add olive oil to the frying pan on medium heat and toss in the coated shrimp. Cook shrimp by frequently flipping them until both sides turn a nice pink. Add the heavy cream to the skillet and sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, pepper, and salt to taste. I prefer to use a lot! Stir together and bring to a low simmer. Around this time, the spaghetti squash should be close to finished. When they’re done, remove the pans carefully from the the oven and try not to spill any of the water because it’s very hot! Remove the aluminum foil and poke each squash with a fork. You‘ll know the squash is done if the fork easily moves through the spaghetti squash. Drag the fork through the spaghetti squash to create spaghetti-like strings (the reason for the squash’s name) and scrape these into a strainer over a bowl. Press down with a fork to release a large portion of the water from the faux-noodles. Set aside. Now add as much fresh spinach to the skillet as you like and stir into the simmering, creamy mixture. You’re ready to plate! Scoop some of the spaghetti squash “noodles” into a deep plate or a bowl, toss a few pieces of cooked shrimp on top, and ladle a generous helping of the cream sauce over it all. Enjoy your tasty and (mostly) healthy dish!

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MONUMENTAL

MOMENTS

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THE BOY and the STAR CATCHER a modern fable by kelsey sobotka It is said that there is a girl who has been young 1000 years, traveling the world, catching the stars at night. She sees children all over the world, and when she sees a child who is sad, she draws them toward their window and tosses out a star for them to see. If the child catches eye of it and makes a wish, it is good luck. And with that luck, their wish may come true. A young boy and girl, brother and sister, had heard the tale passed down from their parents, and their parents before them, and wished to see this girl for themselves. They waited by their own windows for a number

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of nights, with wishes at the ready, but these children had no need for a lucky star, as they were well in health, happiness, and good fortune, and so the girl never came. One night, the younger brother is awoken in his sleep when he hears a a large wind pick up outside of his bedroom. Rubbing his eyes, the boy gets up and shuffles to his window. The young boy sees nothing at first, but once he looks up, a young girl no older than himself is standing just outside the window of the upstairs neighbor to his right. She is not floating, but standing steadily in the air, like

the night sky and milky way were a solid road made just for her to travel on. They boy had never seen or imagined anything like it before. The girl is like the light of the stars, flickering slightly, her entire being radiating a soft, pale glow. Her hair moves behind her like the wisps of a nebula and the fabric on her simple gown flows in similar fashion, despite the lack of much wind that night. She wears a golden pouch at her hip, held by a cord wrapped around her shoulder and neck. The boy has trouble believing she is real, and doubts his own eyes. Could this be the girl he and his sister used to wait for every night? The girl reaches into the pouch at her hip and pulls out a pulsing light much like the way she glows herself. She tosses it lightly into the air, and it forms with the sky before shooting across the view of the neighbor’s window. There’s some noise as young child upstairs scrambles to his window and is immediately leaning halfway out it. The small child’s eyes were wide at the sight of a falling star and then shuts them tight, making a silent wish with the utmost concentration plastered across their face. They make that face for a while, like the wish they’re trying to make is the most important decision they’ve ever faced in their life. When the child is done wishing, they relax and a smile forms on their lips. A smile then stretches across the face of the girl, and she turns toward the stars, moving away from the building. The wind is slowly picking up speed. The younger brother, now realizing that this is his only chance to see her, calls out, “Wait! Please!” Caught off-guard, the wind stops abruptly and the girl whips her head in multiple directions, turning to look for the source of the voice, knowing it was directed at her. The boy now has a smile so big it’s hurting his own cheeks. He caught her attention! “I knew it was you. I knew I’d see you someday.” The girl recognizes the direction of the voice this time and looks down to his window. “Please, I don’t ask for a star, or for luck, because I’m lucky enough, but just for the chance to meet you.” Slowly, the girl turns and walks down to him, her feet stepping down air, and stops a few feet from his window. After she’d been

there for several moments, the boy realizes that she isn’t going to leave just yet. She’s waiting for him to speak again. “My name is Marco. My sister Jennie is asleep. We’ve both known about you since our mother told us your story when we were little.” The girl’s eyes got wide at this. “Your story has been passed down from child to child in our family for generations. It’s an honor to actually get the chance to see you...I waited by my window so many times.”

Most children do not know. They do not see...

The voice doesn’t seem to come from her, but from all around him. The girl looks no older than himself, both appearing nine years old, but there is something about her and in her voice that makes her seem much older.

“Those kids weren’t looking.”

Her head dips down and small smile forms on her lips. There is a slight pause before he hears her voice again. Eveline.

The girl disappeared into the constellations behind her, and only after she had gone with a large brush of wind does Marco understand that Eveline had been her name. With the smile still not gone from his face, Marco has trouble going back to sleep. He’s afraid he might not sleep at all, but surely dreams do to come to him, and they are all about the same pale glow. Jennie doesn’t believe her younger brother in the morning, and neither does their mother or father. Marco tries to convince his family that he’d actually seen the girl with the stars that night, but his mother tells him over and over that it is just a story. A story like that can’t be real. Marco starts to doubt himself because he’d hardly believed his own eyes, but ultimately doesn’t let his family get to him. There is no doubt in his mind that Eveline is as real as him, that he saw her outside the neighbor’s window, and that he called her to his own. Marco waits by the window night after night, falling asleep with the window open and waking up to dawn shining in his eyes after each uneventful evening. It is just like when he was younger, except now he knows she’s

there, she just isn’t coming. Marco does not see Eveline again for a long time. Years pass, and Marco had practically given up on the idea of Eveline, the girl who would catch the stars for children, a long time ago. So when he sees a falling star outside his window one evening, he almost forgets that he should make a wish on it. Eyes closed, Marco wishes for his parents to be happy, even though their recent separation doesn’t make him or Jennie feel that way. He wants himself and Jennie to be happy, too, but it seems like his parents are the ones who really need help. Only when Marco lays back down to sleep a few moments later does he realize what happened. His eyes get wide and a spark deep inside him reignites. He shoots out of his bed toward the window, the same one he’d leaned out of six years ago to see a young girl just outside. Marco searches the sky, but there’s no one but the stars looking down on him. Though she isn’t there, Marco can feel that she had been. With a sad smile, Marco goes back to sleep. Maybe that wish will be a lucky one, Eveline, he thinks as he drifts off. This time around, Marco doesn’t tell Jennie or his parents about what he saw. He’s older now and if he brought this thing up again, he isn’t sure what they would say. His sister might call him crazy and his parents might think he brought it up because of the recent changes to their family. This time...Marco would have to keep his wish to himself, and it’s better that way. Wishes aren’t supposed to come true if you tell them to someone. As Marco grew older, life threw more challenges at him, as life will do, and whenever he had particularly difficult troubles, Marco would go to his window and wait for a star. He waited when he went through his breakup with his first love and thought he’d never find another. He waited when the bank said they couldn’t give him anymore money to help pay for school. He waited when he lost a job he’d worked so hard to obtain. He waited for a week when Jennie’s daughter caught a bad fever

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one winter, and he waited even longer when he and his wife learned that it was unlikely for them to have their own child. These were some of the hardest parts of Marco’s life, and he only waited by his window when times were particularly more difficult than others. His life had been full of wonderful and amazing experiences to go hand-in-hand the terribly bad ones, so was it only natural for him to wonder whether Eveline was even listening to him anymore. Marco was no longer a child and he was waiting for a falling star outside his window, a falling star he hadn’t seen since he was a teenager, shortly after his parents had separated. In the years after that, his family had healed and accepted the changes in their lives. But in those years, and the many more after them, Marco had yet to see another sign of Eveline. Several years later, Marco is walking down the hall in his home when he faintly hears his young son talking on the other side of his door. Some of it is jumbled and he can hardly make out some of the words so he presses open the door just a crack. Marco can see his son, James, sitting on his bed next to his window, seemingly talking to someone outside of it. The scene reminds Marco of all the times he would sit by his window at night with Jennie, trying to find out if the girl with the stars was real. Marco stands at the door of his son’s room, caught with shock. Is she out there? Is Eveline there right now? Then Marco is sad because he starts to wonder, Is James unhappy? James stops talking and starts to get back under his covers. Marco pushes open the door to his room and steps inside. “Hey, bud. It’s past your bed time.” James looks like a deer caught in the headlights and Marco can’t help but chuckle at the four-year old’s expression. “Don’t worry, it’s okay,” Marco says with a smile. He sits on the end of James’ bed. “Mind if I ask you who you were talking to just then?” James shakes his head and says, “I wasn’t talking to anyone.”

“Are you sure?”

James pauses for a moment and then says, “I was saying thank you.” Marco was confused. His son is saying thank you? “To who?”

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“The stars. I made a wish and it came true.”

“What was your wish?”

“That I would have a nice family.”

A soft smile forms Marco’s face. His son isn’t sad, he’s happy. Both of their wishes had come true, and Marco had no doubt in his mind Eveline still saw him waiting by his window at night, and all the nights leading up to James’ adoption. “You know,” Marco starts to say, “I think I know just who it was who helped your wish come true.”

James’ eyes open wide. “Who?”

Marco is surprised he hasn’t told James already, considering how often she came to mind.

“Her name is Eveline, and she travels with the stars. She catches them and tosses them out for young boys and girls so that they might wish on them and have good luck.” As Marco recounts the story of Eveline to his son, he can’t help but notice that the stars outside that night seem to glow a little bit brighter, and a little bit bigger. More years come and go, James grows up, Marco and his wife get older, and as Marco enters his much later years, he is happy. He is happy with his life, his family, and the health he feels lucky to have. One of Marco’s favorite things to do now is tell all his grandchildren and nieces and nephews the story of Eveline, a story his sister and even his own son can’t tell with as much zeal and belief. Eveline has always been as real to Marco as she was the day he’d called her down to his window, and he’d never stopped talking to her. One night, when Marco is very old and living alone, the stars call him to his window, and the sensation is oh-so familiar. Slowly but surely, Marco makes his way over to the

window and sits down in the arm chair he keeps next to it, as he’s done many nights before. “Eveline, I know that I’m old, but I know you can also hear me. I just want to say thank you. You’ve helped make life for this old man something special. Thank you for making the stars out there shine bright, and thank you for making the stars in my own life shine bright as well. Though we’ve only spoken once, you are the most amazing friend I have ever had. I only wish that I could see you and be with you out there somehow.” As he speaks the last line, Marco catches a glimpse of light shooting across the distance. For a while nothing happens, and so Marco drifts off in the chair, still looking out the window like he’s done many times in his life. Marco dreams of Eveline and the stars. He can see her, not far in the distance, and he starts to run out to her across the sky, running over the clouds. Marco is a young boy again, the same age he’d been when he first met Eveline, and every step, every breath, is like a fresh revival. Do you really want to? Marco hears Eveline ask, her voice sounding like it’s coming from all around him, rather than herself. “Want to what?” His voice is so much higher, it makes him chuckle a little bit. He really feels young again, and the youth coursing through him is a beautiful reminder of long, long ago.

Want to be with me. Here, chasing the stars.

Marco’s eyes grow wide. Is this a dream? It all seems so real. “I’ve always wanted...I can’t think of anything better.” Marco feels his chest growing warmer as the smile on young Eveline’s face grows larger. It’s good to see you again, Marco, she says as she holds out her hand. Marco reaches out his own and takes hers. The two run off, chasing and gathering stars for children, laughing playfully as they grace the night sky, leaving a trail of pale, glowing warmth in their wake.

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URBAN EXPLORATION field notes from allison dashiell photography by jocelyn koss The house sits between the forest and the beach where we stumbled upon a drainage system leading out to the lake. My friends look a little hesitant since they aren’t used to exploring unfamiliar areas. Turns out one of us has a flashlight. As we descend into the tunnel, the light from the entrance is starting to fade. I’ve never been draining before so I have to admit I’m a bit nervous but my curiosity edges me on.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an eerie feeling peering into an abandoned asylum. There is still some medical equipment left out and the wallpaper is severely peeling off.

All of us have made it to the second floor, which is riddled with junk. There could be a good chance that some of it could have been from someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban camping trip. Surprisingly, I managed to come across an array of old documents and an old lab. This would explain why the area smells of chemicals.

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There are some dark clouds coming in so this stop shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take too long. The building complex is massive. The only thing standing between the asylum and us is an electric fence, which seems to encompass the whole perimeter of the building. Time to go looking for a break in the fence.

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From character creation to world-mapping, concepting is a key part in development of all forms of entertainment and stories. These young women are pursuing a career in the world of concept art, where they bring their ideas to life.

THE WORLD OF

CONCEPT ART words by kelsey sobotka concept art by allison dashiell and sara burch

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Creativity flourishes in a world that can be yours. Yours to build. Yours to design. Yours to begin and to end. From the shape of the grass, to the embroidery on someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothes, to the hidden camp in the hills, and the lighting of the moon. Or moons? Gathering inspirations and creating something new and greater is a part of world-building and conceptualizing. Concept art is a way of bringing all of these

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ideas to life. Concept art is a form of illustration used to convey an idea for use in films, video games, animation, comic books or other media before it is put into the final product. Concept art is also referred to as visual development and/or concept design. This term can also be applied to retail, set, fashion, architectural and industrial design.

Concept art is the development and execution of a vision. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where everything in the creative and entertainment industry gets its start. The women featured in this article are Allison Dashiell and Sara Burch, two young women studying illustration and industrial design respectively. Though their areas of study are technically different, both are building skills in the pursuit of jobs for

Concept art by Allison Dashiell exploring different color options.

concept art and design. A senior and junior at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, both of their paths have been different. Allison spends her free time playing video games, cuddling her cat, and exploring abandoned buildings. Inspired by her surroundings, many of her pieces involve animals, decaying environments (in part due to her second home in Vale, Arizona), and

mystical creatures and characteristics. She’s had multiple projects and classes focusing on the process of concept art. Sara grew up in a small Illinois town surrounded by hiking trails, canoeing, mushroom hunting, and a multitude of pets. Nature and animals are her artistic muse and she relishes in her experiences with these things, along with other fantastical worlds. Morrowind, Lord of the Rings, Celtic culture,

and more are strong influences and loves for Sara Burch. She’s studying industrial design and has been growing steadily on a technical level in her 2-D and 3-D renderings. This shows clearly through her work as years have passed and she’s transitioned from a slightly cartoony style to more realistic portrayals of her visions. This only makes her original creature designs that much more believable.

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Silhouette designs for Sinopa.

Sinopaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fox transformation.

Sinopa facial expression exploration.

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Silhouetted spear designs by Allison Dashiell.

Fully-rendered spear designs.

Allison has been developing a video game plot titled “Creatures”that surrounds a mystical character named Sinopa who can transform into a fox via a transformation mask. Curious, sneaky, and quick-tempered, Allison tries to communicate these qualities through silhouettes, facial expression exploration, and color choices. She has also been developing weapon designs in her current class for concept art, working with 3-D programs and working to expand her ideas and horizons within the development stage. Sara highly enjoys digital painting and goes to great efforts to push herself every time she develops backgrounds and scenery. Even her “quick” thumbnails appear extremely detailed at a glance, and this can only come from practice. Sara, like Allison, has also been learning to use 3-D programs to create base structures. This allows her

to take her brainstorms for new creatures and take them to a different level where she can build their muscle mass, bone structure, and be able to view them from all angles. When developing a new creature or animal, where there are no direct references but only inspirations, having this sort of resource is valuable.

concept artists bring their ideas to the table, that allows a diversity in the development of a video game, movie, or other project. However, concept art is used to narrow down and hone in on solid, cohesive themes for the work.

Allison and Sara say that what is important in concept art is a link between all the different aspects of it, especially the characters and the world around them. It’s so easy to have big ideas and let them take over the project in ways it should be simplified. When many

Sinopa’s transformation mask and final design. BETWIXTPROJECT.COM

Environmental development and color concepts by Sara Burch.

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For only working on individual projects thus far, Allison and Sara need to develop a theme sooner than most projects and be able to stick with it. Straying would disembody the work and make certain things look out of place. This is why silhouettes for figures, items, and locations are the first step. They can be easiest to churn out the most of, allowing for diverse options to sift through and develop.

3-D

dev

elop

Cre me atu nt a re s nd ket fina l de ches, r en sign by S dering s ara Bur , ch.

The concept art industry is bigger than most people realize, and it is insanely difficult and intense. Concept art is not promotional work, and is hardly seen outside of official art books and behind-the-scenes featurettes. It is also extremely competitive as an industry. People who are in this industry are, believably, very creative and often try to work for companies and people they have admired the work of for a fair portion of their lives. Allison Dashiell and Sara Burch both have goals to work in concept art for video games. Though they were big on character design when they were younger, both have grown to really enjoy other aspects of concept art and design. Objects, environments, 3-D renderings, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all a thrill. It is satisfying to be able to express what is in your head through a screen or a sketchbook, and to be able to share that vision with others.

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SPECIAL THANKS Betwixt magazine was originally intended to be 28-32 pages long, and here it is with 56 beautiful pages at the end of thesis. How did it get to this point? It doesn’t feel as large as it is, and that’s because this was a large collaborative effort. Sure, all the design and piecing together was my doing, as was a fair chunk of the words, but this would have all been impossible for me to achieve if not for the help of my friends. My roommate Joanna Chon offered to help me fill this entire magazine herself under multiple aliases, but thankfully it didn’t have to come to that. As I was putting the magazine together, more and more pieces came in and helped build it to what is in your hands. There are spreads and imagery and words lovely young women submitted that I unfortunately could not fit in this project due to the direction it took (and my own sanity regarding its length). I do feel, however, that the final result is everything it was supposed to be and flows well despite the differences in content from spread to spread. I mentioned Cipe PIneles, an inspiring designer in my life, in my Letter from the Editor. Pineles helped to revolutionize the magazine industry and how advertisers see young women as a market. She had strong opinions and a stronger sense of design. Pineles is one of the reasons I wanted to create this publication and community for young women as I feel her ideas and others similar have disappeared over time. I also thank the 2004 movie 13 Going on 30 for first getting me interested in publication design and helping me realize it could be a career. This semester I’ve lived 10-year-old Kelsey’s dream of being Jenna Rink. I have to thank all the beautiful young women who helped contribute to this project. They’ve made Betwixt what it is. My instructors helped me when I would overthink things and helped me find a path for Betwixt I was content with. And I also thank God, because I don’t know how I would’ve made it through thesis without prayer and His guidance. “Magazines today are so timid. They have no self-confidence. There aren’t many magazines that are so certain of their mission that they don’t put the whole ball of wax on the cover. The entire contents are given away....this business [used to be] a freefor-all for inventive layouts and ideas. The editors frequently turned with great eagerness to the art department to solve their problems—ideas were needed and wanted.” – Cipe Pineles (1985)

KELSEY SOBOTKA kelseysobotka.com

Allison Dashiell allisondashiell.com

Becki Bolinger rbolinger@luc.edu

Beth Ellingboe 8tracks.com/batgrrrl

Debbie Sajnani debbiesajnani.com

Elizabeth Kaatz emkaatz216@gmail.com

GIANA ENDERS gianaendersillustrations.com

Joanna Chon joannachon.com

JOCELYN KOSS myshrinkingviolet.tumblr.com

Joy Underdahl joyunderdahleportfolio.com

Kaley Hamilton kaleyhamilton.com

Katie Haseker katelynhaseker.com

Lauren Glomski behance.net/laurenglomski

Mary L’abbate marylabbate.com

Nichola Nease instagram.com/nicholabea

Sara Burch burchbeasties@yahoo.com

Sydney Lange facebook.com/sydneylangeart

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CREDITS INDEX Cover Sydney Lange, Joanna Chon, Beth Ellingboe

26-27 How-To: Succulents Joanna Chon

Inside Cover Nichola Nease

28-31 Aesthetic Poetry Words: Kelsey Sobotka Imagery: Joanna Chon (28-30), Nichola Nease (31)

4-5 Letter FROM the Editor Kelsey Sobotka 6-11 Sketchbook Segments Intro Spread: Sara Burch, Kelsey Sobotka, Kaley Hamilton Contributor names on pages 8-11 12-13 Sweetheart Jar DIY Debbie Sajnani 14-15 Go Steady With Me Playlist Beth Ellingboe 16-17 Moleskine Montage Sydney Lange, Joy Underdahl 18-19 CAPTURING Water Becki Bolinger 20-23 Number Two-Sixteen Calla Lane Words: Elizabeth Kaatz Imagery: Jocelyn Koss

32-33 Spaghetti Squash Words: Katie Haseker Imagery: Kelsey Sobotka 34-35 MONUMENTAL MOMENTS Jocelyn Koss 36-38 The Boy and the Star Catcher Words: Kelsey Sobotka Imagery: Kaley Hamilton 39 Hand-Rendered Type Joanna Chon 40-43 URBAN EXPLORATION Words: Allison Dashiell Imagery: Jocelyn Koss 44-53 The World of Concept Art Words: Kelsey Sobotka Imagery: Allison Dashiell (44-49), Sara Burch (50-53)

24-25 Watercolor Spotlight Giana Enders

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Betwixt is created by women, for women. Join our online community at

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for more content and to get involved.