Beautiful

Beautiful: Medium: Acrylic, mini paint roller, stencils, construction paper

This particular piece is one of the most personal stories that I have created. Originally when the assignment was given I had no idea where it was going to take me. While taking basic design 2, we were given a story. The first time we read it we were to take the reading and come up with a photo that represented what we read, simple enough. The second time was different, after we read the story we were to transform it. Yet again we were to create an erasure. This form of art has been seen throughout my work, and I was so excited that I was getting another opportunity to do it again. 

I had recently separated from my fiance of 8 years, instead of trying to deny what I had been through I channeled it though my work. Coming up with the story was easy enough, words seemed to melt right on the page and into my notebook. I was so pleased with myself, because in this really clever way it all made sense to me. The really hard part I hadn't even began yet. The rubric for the  given assignment was extremely challenging for me. For someone that was so use to painting with a paint brush, using heavy detail, my loving relationship with my paint brush for crying out loud; all these tools were to be chucked right out the door. Not only couldn't we use a paint brush, no detail. We had to use only stencils, that we made ourselves. We had to use at least four and the color we choose had to be touching in two places. All these elements we had previously used earlier in the year, was now being put to the test; literally. This was our final assignment, which also meant we needed to spend at least twenty hours on it. Spending the twenty hours to create a piece of art was not hard for me, I in fact spent way more time than that. The difficult part was combining all the skills we had learned that year, and then telling myself to let go. Working with acrylic is one thing, cutting out tiny little stencils was a whole other demon. We also had to use a mini paint roller to apply the paint, and the paper was super fragile. At the end of it all I was happy with the work that I did. Mostly because this piece had a lot of meaning behind it. Regardless of what the class took from it, I think I needed to release that hurt from with in me. This is the main reason why I like to use my own personal baggage in my art. It gives me the opportunity to explore my situation, create something meaningful, share it, and then ultimately close the door. Creating art is just good for the soul.

Ode to Eric

Ode to Eric

Medium: Standard paper, magazine cut outs, photographs, rubber cement.

 

This piece was created for a Women in Art History Assignment. Part of attaining an associated Arts degree, you are required to take History in Western Art. In 2013 I was lucky enough to be one of the first students who got to take a new class being offered as an alternative to History in Western Art. I really enjoyed the emphasis of  learning more about the many women who stepped before me to be heard. Often times when you do take a course like History of Western Art you only get to learn about a handful of the women. For me as a women, I just felt like it was really nice to know about so many, in the many different eras throughout history. Women really have always been that fiery spark underneath it all. A voice that would not be silenced and it's quite interesting to watch how that voice evolved. 

While we were studying the period around 60's - 70's we learned about Audrey Flack. A woman famous for her photorealism with painting. She would create the massive murals, often times by looking at a photograph. She created images so immaculately clean, they created a painting that looked just like a photograph. A lot of these painting were memorials for loved ones or famous people that had passed. They all had key components that were almost always found in each painting. Objects that centered around time, jewelry, a calendar, food,  and something personal. They looked like a scene stolen right from the subjects personal spaces. For our assignment we were to created a Audrey Flack inspired piece of art, using magazine cut out, and photos. Our subject was to be about someone we had lost that meant a lot to us. I chose my childhood friend Eric Moore who died in a horrible car crash with three other friends. When his family has his memorial, I wasn't able to attend. I felt like this was my way of memorizing Eric even more. I really enjoyed this project, and to this day Audrey Flack is one of my favorite artist that we learned about. I enjoy her work most of all because this is what I strive for. To someday in my life, be capable of creating an image so beautiful and spot on that it looks real.  I truly believe that if I had taken History of Western Art  I would have never been subjected to such a vast catalog of talented women.

Karaoke Night at the Chinese Bar and Grill

Medium: Large Bristol, graphite pencil, watercolor

 

    This piece was created for a drawing II class. We were to draw a figure from a still-life set. Our model, a very well dressed skeleton.

I began by drawing him in stages, first sketching out various shapes. After I had created more of an outline I began focusing in on more detail. I really struggled with the hat. I tried to give it so much detail, that in fact the hat was straw. I soon found out it lost some of it's value after I painted watercolor over the pencil. Although you can't see with the final photo, I actually went in over he watercolor later with more pencil. I liked making this piece because I gave him a little more character than was given. As you can well see, he has a mustache. I also changed the color of the guitar and interrupted the background with my own artistic variation. I thought I was done as one point, thinking to my self, I was really proud of the work. The colors I used for the bone color; to me gave the skeleton the look like he might have been a real person, and not some plastic imitation of a bone structure. Well, then I looked at it closed and noticed the fingers were all wrong. I really panicked, oh my #%&@; what am I going to do now. The really great thing about water color is sometimes you can go back and pick up color, and that is exactly what I did. I reworked the piece, fixed my mistake; and no one would be the wiser. It just goes to show you, that even if you think you have royally jacked up your work, you CAN fix it; and this isn't just for school work, but the work you would do professionally or otherwise. Sometimes mistakes end up being the best thing you could create anyhow. Just don't be afraid to fail, there is beauty in everything.

As you can see the fingers are getting fixed here.

Abstract Love Affair

Abstract Love Affair  Medium: Bristol paper, acrylic paint, paper cut outs, rubber cement

 

Abstract Love Affair was an assignment done for Basic Design; color theory. We were to design a scene, it had to be the same creation, except the background changed; each representing either cool or warm.The design also needed to be made without using anything representational objects. Giving the students the opportunity to see first hand what a different colored background can do for a piece; so choose wisely. Although I did not use any objects that were nameable, this piece is still representational of two subjects. One subject is love, and the other fondly represents Jack and Sally. The violet black swirl is the most powerful icon from The Nightmare Before Christmas, although I feel like if someone didn't know the movie they could still see the underlining tone. Two also most moon look spheres, which seem to be kissing among fallen diamond shapes. I really enjoyed making this piece and I feel as though this is one of my better assignments in from the class.

Rawr

                              Rawr

 

These are the shoes that started it all. Old and worn out , with the fake leather hanging off in pieces. All the tread worn down to slick nubs; but they are my favorite pair of shoes. I have had these loyal beauties since I was a Sophomore in high school, and somehow they always seem to be in fashion. That is what inspired the piece Rawr.

Title of the piece Rawr. Medium 8x10" Brisol paper and #6B ,2B, and 5B Graphite pencils.

 

 
Rawr was an assignment for a drawing II class; in which we were to draw and shade our own shoes. I had never shaded anything really in my life. This was one of the most challenging pieces I have had to do thus far. Not only do you have to shade on many different levels so that the piece doesn't appear to be flat, but you also have that extra element called foreshortening. This is quite frankly the most frustrating aspect of drawing to me, and it is still something that I really have to work on. I took a lot of time working on this piece, and was thankful my instructor let me. As you can see looking through the photos there are stages. The last photograph shows what looks like a finished product, but not quite. All seems well except that my legs are extremely white. Although this is true to life, it just goes to show you how many layers there are to shading. I completely forgot about my legs, so when I turned it in the teacher automatically brought it to my attention. That is when I took it home and re-did the legs into leopard-print tights. I am proud of this piece, I put a lot of time and tears into the paper. This is a big accomplishment for me, because long ago I set out to get better at art. With Rawr being my first shaded piece of art, I feel this to be a positive step in the right direction.

                                       

Bath Salts- A comic book story

                                           

                                             Bath Salts

The piece shown here was from an assignment given in my History of American Comics class. We were told to draw a comic book story. It could have been made with any medium, in any form. We could of even used stick figures; if that's what it took. I chose to use a more manga style of drawing. I also choose to use a little more detail than just using stick figures for my characters. My medium

choices were 10x12" water color paper and micron comic book pro drawing pens. I'm sure I could have used anything I wanted, but I wanted to see just how the pros would craft this exact magic. I really did fall in love with these pens, so many different sizes in tips. This allowed me to put so many precise details into my work. 

The story behind the story is a personal one. Like in most of my work I like to pull in thoughts, feelings, dreams, and things that have happened to me directly. When I was pregnant with my son Max, I had one of those crazy pregnancy dreams that you hear of. It's a crazy world these dreams, they often feel so real. Most of the time, I am unable to remember so many details of my dreams, but this one grabbed on with me. I have also changed some details for artistic license. Can I also say that I am a little bit obsessed with zombies, so I am sure you will see some more of this concept in my work. 

 I had no idea what I was getting myself into taking on something like this, and trying to put all this detail into 3 pages of paper. It really is amazing how much work is put into comic book art.I have a greater appreciating for those who have and still choose this as their art making passion. I also find this form of storytelling a circle of life juxtaposition. Everything fits together so well, like a puzzle. Vivid depictions of a dialog that most often uses few words. The most amazing aspect of this is you can tell any kind of story. Be it the weird like in Ghost World , the basic family value like The Amazing SuperMan. It could be in the form of fiction, that relates to real life like in The Watchmen , and even a graphic novel of complete true life events such as that in Maus. For me this gives my work a new inspiration. I want to combine other aspects of art making with this one. Molding and transforming it into something greater with it's abundance of ever blossoming creativity.

The Owl and The Raven- Erasure

 

The Owl and the Raven

Three hundred years ago a Queen was naughty.

 She would not be quiet.

The Queen became impatient.

 An extraordinary event took place.

 By mischance she changed into a great owl in the night.

 The raven flying, opened the window and said, “I wish you were a raven, fly away.”

She spoke words to the raven.

 Her arms out the window, dark outcry.

 Time…

Nothing.

The raven crying… The voice came nearer.

“I am a King, and am bewitched.

She said, “Thou must deliver me.

Thou shalt wait for me, I shall be set free.”

The promise to do everything she desired.

The raven was alarmed at the sight of the owl sitting in the corner.

The master, that monster .

He set eyes on his life.

Devour a man, without slightest of difficulty.

“I know you,” Said the master. “You have courage enough to chase a blackbird.”

Dead, grim creature, terrified servant.

Dangerous beast, break loose.

All shut up.

An enemy appeared already.

The most courageous stepped fourth.

A great man to drive away the monster.

Looking at that woman he armed himself.

The owl perched herself, he bravely had designs on her.

Escape.

She ruffled her feathers and flapped her wings.

The valiant hero, half fainting, put himself in danger.

Deliver me.

Waken she might.

With his golden finger given, so it rang.

Deliver me.

Golden power, howling, glimmering; arose.

He ventured thee desire to satisfy true.

The heart found a home.

The golden chamber had searched out the man day and night.

He rejoiced when he saw her

They were beating so furiously.

Struck everywhere, they ought to divide.

She cried aloud in delight, took the King in Arm, kissed him and said, “Thou set me free.”

Indeed value your truth.

Everything seemed expedient

So they set fire.

They will not believe.