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July 2019, series intro...and an ART EVENT!

7/11/2019

Would anyone be surprised if I did MORE fashion illustrations as my monthly theme?
Probably not...and yup- I totally am!

If you have followed my work then you know that I REALLY love fashion. Like, it's my jam. This summer I had a chance to actually attend a REAL class in fashion, which was super eye-opening for me as everything I knew (which translates to everything I did NOT know!) was from books, tutorials and just sitting for hours and hours sketching from my favorite fashion magazines.

I had not planned on doing ANOTHER fashion-themed series...but here we are.

Just for fun, here are some links to my previous FASHION-inspired pieces so you can see what I have done in the past;

January 2019/ December 2018/June 2018/May 2018/January 2018/December 2017/November 2017/June 2017/December 2016/September 2016/October 2015/January 2015/Msc 2013 Fashion Illustrations/November 2012/October 2012 msc/September 2012...first time sketching fashion!

Examples of previous 'fashion' work...most represent whole a whole month/theme of work

To prep/hype myself up for my SCAD workshop I decided to sketch some of the winning designs and/or my favorite designs from the Season 17 challenges. I think this is the first time that I sat and did this all at once (over a couple of days, of course) rather than as each episode aired.

I posted these in my Instagram story and tagged the appropriate designers and models- and I will actually be mailing these off to some of them! Kinda cool, huh?

As I mentioned in my post about my experience at SCAD, I went in confident...second guessed myself a bajillion times and finally left feeling excited, and ready to learn even more. I forgot how much I enjoyed figure drawing and what great practice it is, and bonus for adding the 'fashion' element to the work! One thing that I learned from Lara that I really loved was using the large blocks of solid color to emphasize the figure. She had this GIGANTIC Sharpie paint pen that was so fab I ran to the book store on campus and bought one for myself!

Scenes from the Fashion Illustration Workshop with Lara Wolf.

My piece for the closing show...and my inspiration for the July series.

My time at SCAD solidified my decision to come back and do another fashion themed month, and to try and figure out how to use what I learned to inform my own style. When I first started, I was looking to my jewelry as a starting point- starting with some earrings I packed to go with a red dress. This is how I created my pieces for my 'Miss Matchy Matchy' months, and I think it is a good way to start...but not sure if I am going to stay within that limit.

When I was working with Lara we were using Prismacolor Marker, which I have used before...but not the right way I guess. I had so much trouble handling the markers and getting smooth, flat coverage. I brought those markers with my on our recent trip...but when I got back I went back into the pieces with watercolor and pens...then also gouache because I wanted more coverage.

I haven't gotten into my 'sweet spot' yet in the pieces...that groove where the pieces start to flow and the work feels cohesive...but here is what I have photographed so far;

And I guess I should also mention- I have a show of my fashion pieces coming up, yay! I will be showing a selection of my fashion illustrations at Harold's Coffee in Northwood for the month of August. My opening reception is tentatively planned for Friday, 2nd, waiting to confirm the time, but if you are local go ahead and save that date!

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...More gratuitous vacay pics!

7/8/2019

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Another day another beach!

Am I posting more vacation pics? Yup.

Does it relate to my art? Maybe. Maybe not.

Summers off is one of the best things about teaching- and believe me, I enjoy every second of mine! After Charleston, John and I headed on up Highway 17 to catch the ferry for Bald Head Island to spend some time with family, and then it was one to Austin for our third Fourth of July with Willie Nelson.

Oh, I'll get to the art
(or try to relate it somehow)

View of the beach right in front of the beach house Mino rented. I love how quiet BHI is. It reminded me of my time at the Hermitage.

Second part of the trip,
Bald Head Island, NC

Some pics from our time with family, miss them already!

Another view, this from the beach looking at the houses.

3rd and final stop...Austin, Texas!
(Note: this was ALMOST a FOUR-PART trip! We had a lengthy layover in Nashville. Had it been one day difference we might have stayed and visited our friends, but that didn't work out but thankfully, our flight to Austin did!)

This was just up the street from Jo's coffee (yup, the one with the 'I love you so much' mural) There were some artists set up just up from this...I definitely picked up a few gifts!

Austin 2018/ Austin 2017

We keep coming back to Austin! Willie, barbeque, tacos, murals...we love it here!

Another year with Willie. He was amazing. I love him so much. I wish people treated each other as beautifully as they do at a Willie show.

Not pictured- my art set up. In Bald Head Island I worked at the indoor and outdoor tables, usually at night after dinner. (and let me tell you, Mino made sure we ate like royalty! The BEST food- wow!)

In Austin the place we rented had a great couch with a chaise lounge on the end right by the window...John already knew where my art spot would be! I would work there late night when we got back from our Austin shenanigans.

I was originally planning on just working with markers for my July series, so that's what I brought with me but when I made it back home I added some paint to the new pieces. My original plan worked better for traveling.

This is so true. I have been trying to focus more on pursuing shows and other opportunities for my art. It is hard to put yourself out there...but if you don't, who will? So far it is paying off. I have some shows in the works that I will be posting about soon and I am really excited 'em!

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Mama Ru sighting in Chucktown

7/1/2019

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I drove home from Savannah on Friday and that Sunday it was back on the road again for what would be a three (almost four!) part trip. This is part one of that trip, and also my June series wrap up.

For the most part the explanations will be in the captions...wish I could make 'em bigger.

We decided to stop in Charleston to break up our drive to Bald Head Island. So many times we just stop in Jacksonville, get in so late that we eat and go to sleep...but not this time. This time we made a mini trip out of it.

You'd think after just spending a week in Savannah that I would be used to the heat...not so much. Luckily there was a nice breeze by the water, and a beautiful view. (I'm partial to the view on the right side)

Our friends that lived in SC and now live in CO gave us tons of suggestions on where to eat. We also read the local guides, and walked around looking at the menus that were posted. In the end, the tacos called to us. Even better- the place was called RuRu's. It was a sign from the gawwwwds. (if you go, get the 'fat guy in a little coat', it is delicious!)

And just like that, after walkin' around in my twirlin' dress I found 'Ru' in Charleston. I went home that night and finished my last piece in the series- RuPaul, of course! (after we succumbed to a food coma and woke back up to watch some soccer) The next day it was time to 'sashay away' with my finished series all packed up as we continued up the road, headed north.

I wanted to say more about the series, but all I need to say is that I appreciate what RuPaul has done for the art form of drag, and for bringing the stories of all the queens to be heard. I have never watched an episode where I didn't laugh, sometimes even cry- I am always inspired by the talent and the tenacity of the contestants and my goal was to capture the personalities of the winning queens, and some of my favorites, too.

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July 2019, series intro...and an ART EVENT!

Would anyone be surprised if I did MORE fashion illustrations as my monthly theme? ​Probably not...and yup- I totally am!

...More gratuitous vacay pics!

Oh, I'll get to the art (or try to relate it somehow)

​Second part of the trip,Bald Head Island, NC

3rd and final stop...Austin, Texas!(Note: this was ALMOST a FOUR-PART trip! We had a lengthy layover in Nashville. Had it been one day difference we might have stayed and visited our friends, but that didn't work out but thankfully, our flight to Austin did!)​

Austin 2018/ Austin 2017

Mama Ru sighting in Chucktown

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Would anyone be surprised if I did MORE fashion illustrations as my monthly theme?
Probably not...and yup- I totally am!

Oh, I'll get to the art
(or try to relate it somehow)

Second part of the trip,
Bald Head Island, NC

3rd and final stop...Austin, Texas!
(Note: this was ALMOST a FOUR-PART trip! We had a lengthy layover in Nashville. Had it been one day difference we might have stayed and visited our friends, but that didn't work out but thankfully, our flight to Austin did!)

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