(Left) Event info (Right) Pic of me with my donated pieces, taken by Karen at Kids Need More Art
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Very, very eventful times. Teaching, arting, packing up my classroom, getting ready for my sister's wedding...hectic is the best word to describe it all. And I would like to post more specfics later, and I will...but for now, a few...ummmm...advertisements...zzzzzzzzz... 
I finally sat down to download and edit my daily pieces. I posted CED13 140-147 to the 'Recent Works' page and also to my Facebook Art page; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Love-Gironda-Art/179449285445745?ref=hl
This blog post brought to you by Art Hive Magazine...nah, just kidding- it's me! Check out the latest issue on the interwebs! http://issuu.com/arthivemagazine/docs/arthivemayjune2013/1
 So on the way home I was thinking about my blog post that I wanted to write, and it was really positive and upbeat...about my students and a really amazing day I had at school today... And then I got home...and I saw all the news about Oklahoma. Not to take anything away from my own students (I will write that blog post at some point), but all I can think about is those lost today in that tornado...especially the students at Plaza Towers Elementary. And there are no words. So I made my daily art, and I dedicate it to those lost today, to the families impacted, homes destroyed. A quiet drawing today, somber. I included a calla lily, which for me is definitely a personal symbol of beauty and of death. Sending love to Oklahoma.  We can't know why  Me, circa June 2011...textile junkie It has been kind of an eventful past few days here at casa de Gironda. My good friend Mike, 'Fish', and his wife were in from Minneapolis and it was so great to see them both. I can't believe it has been almost two years- way too long, but definitely the type of friend that I can pick up with where I left off. Time? Distance? Not relevant. (...but I do hope I see them again before another two years pass!) The last time John and I saw them was when I attended the Surface Design Association Confluence...which lit a fire in me to start CREATING (thank you Anna Carlson!) ...which led to the beginning of this here blog (Click here to read my first post) ...which led me to come home and commit to making thirty tree drawings...which led to me seeking out opportunities to display my work and be around creative types...which brought Jessie Prugh into my life (and all of her wonderful friends and family)...which led me to start making art every single day...and so on and so forth. Let's just say that the trip to MN really impacted me. So having my college friend in town, another creative type by the way, just really brought it full circle. ...and since they left I started thinking about all the awesome people in my life, near and far, that have special meaning in my life. Nostalgic- that would describe my current mood for the remainder of the weekend. Let's just say that I made many plans today to visit with various friends and I am want to make more of an effort to stay in touch. I feel very fortunate to have some awesome people in my life! I love you guys, you know who you are!  (1) Leapin' in front of Claes Oldenburg's 'Spoonbridge' in MN, June 2011 (2) Johnny Nice at the pool...we were there alot these past few days (3) Giving some art to our guests before they left (4) The MN/FL connection
...and then it was time for the my favorite Sunday ritual...'wake and draw'...starting at the beach.   Wake....Draw... This is kind of my Sunday routine. Wake up at 6:30...regardless of how late I stayed up the night before...have a few failed attempts to go back to sleep (grrrrrrr)...quietly getting up, getting ready and heading out to the beach with my art bag. Today I worked on my CED for the day, completing most of it, but it was kind of windy, and I also wanted to add some yellow colored pencil, which I didn't have on me...so I eventually put the art away and spent some time reading my recently bedazzled 'Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible' Side note...today's flower reference was plumeria...I was thinking about a flower clip I bought in Hawaii when I added those to the drawing. I have been wanting to take the cut out of Tim from the book sleeve I removed and have it laminated...so on the way to my next creative destination I made a pit stop to laminate the cutout and even add a caption bubble. What did it say? 'Make it work', of course!  (1) Bedazzled book...dazzling view (2) Tim at the beach before, and... (3) after the laminating makeover, 'major wow factor!' ...next stop? Yep, Barnes and Noble... ...my Sunday morning ritual includes a trip to Barnes and Noble for an iced coffee and alone time with the latest Harper's, Vogue and anything that inspires me. I always pick 3-4 magazines and then become so immersed in one that I don't even open the others. Today I was looking at the Summer Fashion and Beauty Issue...and this article on Valentino caught my eye....the clothing...the styling...the props...the poses...I just kept turning back to that article, so I selected one of the models to draw...then drew her twice.  Artin' at Barnes and Noble...
 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!  The new Art Hive is available on-line and is being dropped off at various distribution points as I speak, er....type! 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!  We ran for Berapi and her three offspring Jaya, Bunga, and Penari the tigers at the Palm Beach Zoo! 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%.  Work from this weekend, well, except for the 'Missoni Bloopers'. Those were a mess. Check out IG to see, @artinw_damuse. 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.  The beginnings of the scribble, as far as I can tell anyway...
Humor me...and let's backtrack just a bit. I want to take a minute to document some happenings and if I don't do it I will go just a little crazy so...here we go. On Thursday, May 2nd I cut eleven inches of hair off and it feels great! The hair will go to Locks of Love and I am writing on the donation form, 'Tribute to Marisa'. Who is Marisa? One f my JV cheerleaders from this past year, she is such a warrior and I wanted to honor her battles with alopecia, especially in recent months. This girl is beautiful and strong inside and out and I know that many young girls out there with the same struggle might not be able to be as strong as Marisa...made me think of young cancer patients as well...anyone that deals with issues related to hair. I wonder if I could be as strong? I don't know, I honestly don't...but I do know that I can cut off some of my hair to help someone else- so I did.  So then...there was our Disney trip. One perk to judging events at Disney is park tickets! Hooray! John and I made the trip to Orlando on Friday, I made my daily piece in the car...wore my mouse ears all day Saturday at Hollywood Studios and Epcot until my head started to itch...rode the Tower of Terror and screamed the while way (ummm...I may have cried, too- don't judge me!)...and I also felt inspired by the whole 'May the Fourth Be With You/Star Wars Day' festivities (I mean...I did see chewbacca!)...so I came home Saturday night and created my own version of Princess Leia, with roses for her iconic side bun hairstyle. And let me just put this out there- I converted to the whole Disney madness. I am now a Disney girl. It happened on Saturday in Hollywood Studios. John and I went through the exhibit and sat through the film for Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. Sitting through the film and learning more about Walt Disney as an artist, a dreamer and an entrepreneur...I became a teary-eyed fan, for life. We want to make a trip to at least one of the Disney Parks every year...I better upgrade my mouse ears.  And a recent development (as in TODAY)..my work was included in a new on-line publication (THANK YOU Anastasia!) If you have a moment, please check it out. My article is about how I make art in reaction to events...and then send it off as a part of the healing process. I have written about this in different blog posts, but this sums it up. One thing to note in regards to the title, 'Art for a Cause...Not Just Because'...I do create artwork just because. In fact, I do that all the time...just because...I have to create. I am a believer in art for art's sake. However, what this article speaks to is creating art specifically as an artistic response to tragedy and then how that art can has the potential to help others heal. http://amoebanetwork.com/featured/substance-may-2013/  And that is about it. I am sure I am forgetting some things...again, blaming it on Instagram (@artinw_damuse) ...I have more pictures posted from the past two weeks on IG but these are just a few things I wanted to write about a little more.
I do have a post that I want to write about this month's theme (flowers), but that isn't happening tonight. I have a piece of art to make, and I need to get some sleep, I have a big day tomorrow! Goodnight! 
...now blogging 'bout all this...not happening tonight...but here is my ART!!!
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