Okay...so it is NOT the great pumpkin- I was there. But, it was daylight...so...might have to check again later! Very eventful week...and per usual by the time I edit some photos and make time to updated my site, well, I lose some of the motivation to write about it all. Luckily, I have plenty of pics to everything! For starters...can I just say that we printed out first photos in my high school digital photography class and...after that first photo came off the printer and I could hold it up for my students- it was EXCITING. Wow. So great to see their work in my hands instead of on the screen! Each student was able to select what they felt was their best photo from the first four assignments, and I am so proud of them! Hooray! Besides my excitement over the photographs...oh, and the middle school art is up to, I need to photograph that display, they did a great job on their line projects! Where was I? Oh yes, besides my excitement over my students' projects, there are many other good things... enjoying being a part of the NSU learning community...which includes the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale! I made my way over to the AutoNation Academy of Art and Design Open House this past Saturday and I am ready to make some connections, as a teacher, a student and an advocate for the Museum and Academy...hopefully more to come... Other happenings this week- friends. Lot's of friends. We have had some friends from back home in Florida and it was great to reconnect with these folks. Mackie, Justin and Ryan- we seriously miss you guys already, and it was great to be able to introduce some of our old friends to some of our newer friends here in Florida (thanks for coming down to Hollywood, Jen and Jake!) . Feeling blessed to have such great people in my our lives. ...and after everyone parted ways...quiet. Back to normal, which for me meant a couple of hours drawing at Hollywood Beach, today I sat at Mamacita's Mexican Bar & Grill right on the boardwalk. I may be addicted to cafe con leche, seriously. It was a productive morning, finished up my daily piece, and even made two angels for the super sweet waitresses that let me overstay my welcome at my table by the beach. Thanks, ladies! ...new pics are posted to the 'Recent Works' page, check'em out! (if you are feeling lazy I posted them below, too- no worries) I have really been enjoying this series, having fun with my ladies and with the Halloween-inspired motifs. ...and just like that...the blog is up to date, and I am ready for another week, hopefully full of art adventures! -J
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I love this shirt I got in CA.
It is late, but not crazy-late...just enough time to update the ol' blog. Where to start? Well, the May/June issue of Art Hive Magazine is out and Jessie just keeps topping herself- it's awesome! I am in love with the artwork by Marvel artist Jeff 'Dekal' Becker- all of it! One of my favorites in a female figure (I know, big surprise for me, right?) that is on the table of contents page. A-MA-ZING. Aaaaaaaand...shameless plug for my ARTicle...yes, ummmm...check it out! For this issue I wrote about the importance of continuing to learn as an artist, taking classes or just making up your own challenges/projects. Summer time is the perfect time for taking on something like this. I have a few ideas for my own summer projects...I want to learn more about fashion illustrations and important artists in this field...maybe pick an artist from history to learn more about...maybe revisit some old sketchbooks...and spend some quality time with Jessie (finally) learning Photoshop. Jessie Prugh is my hero! This might not be related to art, but I ran a 5K this weekend to help raise money for the tigers at the Palm Beach Zoo. I ran the race with my art pal Jess and creative friends Sof and Jen. I did get creative, wielding scissors to alter my race shirt...so...gonna count it as part of my creative weekend! Then of course there was the actual art-making for the weekend. I moved around quite a bit, drawing at the pool Friday after the 5K, making a trip to Barnes and Noble for sketch and lose myself in a few art magazines, and this morning my art romp started at the beach, moved back to Barnes and Noble and I even sketched at the gym. Yes, the gym. I have been telling John if I could just figure out how to keep making art when I work out... well, that would be a game changer. Today I sketched while on the elliptical. It wasn't terribly uncomfortable, I may try again with a bigger paper and/or something to extend the reach of my drawing media. I also want to try drawing on the treadmill and/or stationary bike. If nothing else, I could possible start some pieces, drawing lightly, and then finish them at home. Just a thought. Sounds crazy, but I really hate going to the gym, this would make it so much better! Here are pieces from this weekend. Two CEDs (131-132 and three fashion illustrations, FI13- 46-48) The last one, FI13-48 is my third attempt at drawing from the Missoni Spring/Summer print ad. I am fascinated by the model's face and who doesn't love a leopard gown, right? This final attempt was closer, but still not quite 100%. The pieces that I have been making this month are taking on a distinctive style, scribbles with some detailed rendering. I remember that I made an oil pastel back when we were living in Raleigh sometime between 2003-2005 where I was working with a scribble motif with my figurative work. I think I only did that one piece. For whatever reason (...maybe I saw the image again-who knows?) last month the final few pieces incorporated the scribble within the work. I like the larger hand movements, sometimes my hand gets cramped when I am trying to work on smaller, more detailed areas. I have always liked unfinished and finished together, sketchy line beside full-out shading...I love the duality and contrast. So...this month...I am revisiting the scribble. It is starting to also appear in my fashion illustrations as well.
Wednesday night...trying to make it to bed before 11pm...can feel that I need more rest...but anyway, today was a modge podge of teachin' art, makin' art, coachin' my middle school team, getting back from the gym and seeing my obese cat lying on the floor all crazy-like, and...posting my finished piece, CED13-44! And...Jess sent me a preview of my upcoming article in Art Hive....wowza!
Ummmm...and I have 13 watercolors I am finishing up for my contact in CA...and I started 12 cheer angels so I can 'angelbomb' this weekend in Atlanta...I...need...more...hours...in...the...day! Where to start? Well, I wasn’t able to update my blog, but I did make my daily pieces over the past few days- even threw in some extra pieces. So…let’s back up, travel back in time... Thursday, Feb 7th… I went to the Armory with the Art Hive girls as press for the first annual Fashion ARTillery event. It gave me a chance to wear the super sparkly necklace I made on Wednesday night, to look at fashion/art creations and to hang out with my friends- all good things. One thing that was not…one of the main reasons that I was excited to attend the event was that Iris Apfel, fashion icon, was the Honorary event chair. Seriously, version of who I want to be when I grow up and I was so excited to have a chance to see her in person, or maybe even meet her via Art Hive official business. But alas, no Iris. At the start of the event they announced that she had been called back to NYC unexpectedly. I imagined her hurriedly packing some LV luggage, her rings on all fingers making a gentle clinking sound as she quickly folded silk blouses in vibrant colors, textured scarves, a motley crew of multi-hued and bejeweled bracelets and baubles…tipping her thick black glasses down as she did the once over and then dashed out, designer shoes clacking as she walked away. Yeah, it was probably just like that. Wait, where was I? Oh yes, there I was, in my black dress, crazy necklace, red heels, channeling my inner fashionista. Trying to fit in at this fancy event. Iris or no Iris, might as well make the most of it. So we did. The first look down the runway- literally, there was a gasp from the audience. This was my first runway event, I watch them all the time on TV, but I wasn’t prepared for the real-time reactions, and it made it that much more exciting. Literally- a gasp. The first look was a wedding gown made of coffee filters. It did not look like coffee filters- the artist had manipulated the material to have the hand of fabric. The piece really moved as she walked down the runway, and had the appurtenance of ruffles. I was in heaven. What a way to kick off the event. What followed was a mixture of looks, some more wearable than others, but each representing someone that had taken the challenge to create a piece for this event. There was an evening gown that included roving and felted wool, an AMAZING gown out of trash bags with canned soda tab embellishments, structures made of wire, and bodices constructed of ceramic tile pieces…hand dying…sigh. I was in my element. Jess and I vowed that next year we would make pieces for the show- and we will. Expect- sparkle and shine. Iris, please let me be you when I grow up. But again…no Iris. On my drive home I decided I needed to pay tribute to this lady who I had hoped to meet. So…as soon as I got in, I bolted to my closet, grabbed some chunky bracelets, layered on a few more necklaces and found a pair of black-rimmed glasses leftover from Jess’ birthday party…and…I did my best ‘Iris’ as John took a picture. This is the picture I posted Thursday night before I cried myself to sleep. Sigh. I.heart.Florida. Then, I rotated between finishing up my art piece for the day and packing for Orlando. Friday, February 8th…off to school to teach a half-day and then I was on the road to Orlando to judge the National High School Cheerleading Championships. This was my second time judging this event. The first time I judged NHSCC was back when I lived in NC, when John and I were in grad school at ECU. I remember taking a flight on a small plane out of Greenville (that was SO scary) and then after another flight I was in Florida, walking around in 75+ degree weather in February. They put us up in the same place, Coronado Springs resort, I can remember walking around by the water and talking to my husband on the phone and commenting that I could get used to living in Florida. Well, a couple of years later that’s what I am doing. Living in Florida. Funny how things work out. Umm…so…drawing by the water judges meeting…took myself out to a fancy dinner and drew while I waited…then came back to the room and got some sleep. That was Friday. Saturday and Sunday...a blur of sparkle, cheer and art. Saturday and Sunday were filled with cheerleading and whenever I had a minute- art. Add my own sparkly accessories and the glitzy uniforms and poms and all of my favorite things were in the same room- art, cheer and sparkle. The only thing missing was my husband and the cats, but they aren’t as into the cheer and sparkle, so it’s best that I enjoyed it without them. So..here are the pieces from the past few days. I made the work and posted the in-progress pics on instagram, but I just did not have time to sit down and blog and to take my final pics for the web and FB album. But..here…they…are. And this week? Wow. It is going to be busy. Two basketball games at IMS, parent/teacher conference night and another full weekend of judging cheer in Atlanta…and I need to take my husband out to celebrate the fact that he passed the first part of his dissertation defense last Friday…I am so proud of him!
CED13- 30 and CED13- 31 Last...two pieces of my January series. Finally posted early this morning. I have been working on both of these at the same time since Wednesday...wanting the pieces to 'end' my series but also have some sense of a flow between these two works. So I would draw a little. Erase. Redraw. Think. Look back at the whole body of work. Repeat. Maybe commit to going over some of it with my watercolor pencil or ink. Repeat. ...now, they are finished... CED13-32 and CED13-33 The new Creative Every Day theme is...light. I have my first two pieces finished, posted them this morning. Trying to stay away from my black watercolor pencil, watercolor, acrylic and india ink. I will allow myself some light rendering with a regular ol' black pencil and some skinny Micron lines- but that's it. Gotta keep it light. Light colors. Most likely jeweltones. Light touch. Going to try to to belabor the piece, keep it looser. Splats, drips, doodles, block rendering, extended life, welcome back into my life. How I have missed you. And note to self...geez, lighten up! Don't be so regimented. Got back to some sparkle and whimsy girl! And the day is young. Finished with my daily piece, but next I have an unresolved commission I need to contact and complete...some more pieces to show to a new friend in CA, hopefully these can push me closer towards my goal...got a second chance to turn in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project (long story short, I missed the deadline and was so bummed but I can still finish it and turn it in, YES!)...gotta work on my marketing materials...mail out some art...clean up? nah, skip that one...make some angels for future angel bombings...take a break to look at some sparkly thangs...oooooh, nap break for sure!...write up a final cheer newsletter...check my short/long range plans for what I am teaching for the rest of this year...finish up and post the Youth Art Month Flag slideshow...write up my new article for Art Hive...and, you know...maybe find some time for some fashion illustrations.Or a tattoo. Or both. Or all of it. I finished up CED13-7, still working with the peacock motif, added a little more color to this one and started to branch out into dealing with the background a little, via some paint splatters and drips. I would like to keep working with a similar image this week, maybe cut out the figure and add her onto a collaged background, stamp some on the surface or even add some actual peacock feathers...lot's of possibilities. I am continuing with the idea of a dark-haired girl with tattoos, will keep that for the entire series.
And I kind of want to paint peacock feathers now..uh-oh...I sense another side project! |
AuthorArtist and Art Teacher
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