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I'm 27 days late a many dollars short (hey, teacher pay ain't the best) HOWEVER...I really did want to take a few minutes and write just a bit about some of the 'WONDERful Women' that I chose to depict in my series. The Project Runway ladies...For starters...as I was working on the series Season 16 of Project Runway was finishing up and I felt compelled to illustrate a few of my fav designers from this season. Kenya! ...some of my fashion sketches of Kenya's work along with a pic of Kenya herself holding...ummm...HERSELF as Wonder Woman!! Kenya Freeman was definitely one of my absolute favorites. I loved her designs, but I loved her story. She really had my heart the whole season and I was rooting for her. I know that she will go on to do big things- and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for her. Early on as the episodes aired she had liked my fashion illustration of one of her garments from my September #DrawnToFashionJLG series...so I mailed it to her in Atlanta! Once she saw the image I made of her as Wonder Woman she loved it! We arranged a fabric/art trade...fast forward to the work in it's new home in Atlanta! (I also threw in some of my other fashion illustrations of her work just 'cause she's so great!) http://sylviamollie.com/Ayana! ...some of my sketches of Ayana's looks... Another designer that I loved this season- Iyana Ife! She came in this season committed to her modest aesthetic and stuck to it- and did so effortlessly and beautifully. My favorite pieces from her were her unconventional materials pieces, and her couture piece was crazy and fun. She really had a smile that would light up the room, and I am excited to have had a glimpse into her world as a designer. http://ayanaife.com/about/Margarita! My version of Margarita as WW...and my sketch of her winning look for the JC Penny challenge! Margarita Alvarez was another designer that I loved for so many reasons. Obviously, one reason was her talent. I also loved her wild and crazy colors, and her finale looks were some of my favorites from the whole season. I loved the glitz and the fearless use of colors and graphics- and even more so because she designed so many of her own textiles. I was also pulling for her because to me she represented a shining light for Puerto Rico in the dark aftermath of the hurricane...a darkness that still has not been lifted.  Sending love to Puerto Rico And since we're talkin' fashion...gotta include my fairy glam mother- Iris Apfel! Some of my past Iris illustrations and my attempt to become Iris...oh, and Iris as WW! Next up...some art history book favs! Sometimes I have a plan when I am working on a series...like, to a fault. There are months where I plan out each day of the series, often time in a chronological order or based on some narrative in my head. Examples include my Friday series, where I followed events in her life and included her own words...my cheer series, where I chronicled the history of cheerleading...and more recently, my series based off Greek myths, where I made a calendar and planned which goddesses and female characters I would depict each day. And then...well, sometimes I just wing it and see what happens. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I used to stress over it, but not so much anymore. Having said this- at the beginning of this series my intention was to focus on the depiction of Wonder Woman, specifically her costume, throughout the years. And I did that for a little bit...and then I started off on a tangent with the Project Runway pieces...then moved onto other female artists that inspire me. I did share this in some art teacher groups on in on Facebook for some suggestions, and everyone was more than happy to give me some great ones! Frida is always top on my list of inspirations from art history, and I really admire the styles of Louise Nevelson and Georgia O'Keeffe...not just their art but their own personal style.  ...and Yayoi had me seeing spots...I also connnect with the work of Yayoi Kusama...so much so that I have featured her in my previous #GirlTalkJLG series...and I even made a last minute solo trip out to see her show at the Whitney  Yayoi Kusama, love her! I even went to see her show at the Whitney...and drew her back in my #GirlTalkJLG series!
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Where to start...? I have a soft spot for toys from my youth. Man, we have the BEST toys back then! Some of my favs were Barbies, Glamour Girls, My Little Ponies, She-Ra, Pound Puppies, Strawberry Shortcake, Holly Hobby, Jem and the Holograms, Care Bears...the list goes on and on, but Wonder Woman is right up there with some of my fondest childhood memories. |
I really had a great childhood. I never wanted for anything. Momma always knew how to make me smile.
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BTW, I even revisited one of my first true loves, Barbie, back in June of 2014, check it out!
http://www.jenniferlovegironda.com/gallery/june-2014-barbie
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But back to WW,and a random detour down memory lane... I remember watching the show on TV and spinning around and around...wondering if this time I really would change into Wonder Woman, just like on TV. It never happened, but I always believed that it would. |
When I was figuring out what I wanted to do this month, I looked through some old photos, and man- I found some gems. Like these;
Like most late 70's- early 80's kids my pajamas of choice were my underoos. Man, I loved those things. I remember having Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and even some of the Star Wars characters.
Despite it all, I really had a great childhood in my early years. Growing up, I never really realized that we didn't have much money. Mom worked a factory job, sometimes the late shift, to make sure that I always had what I needed, and then some. We lived in trailers, we lived with friends for a little bit. We had many nights of Hamburger Helper, and 'breakfast for dinner'. I didn't know we didn't have money. I thought we were rich. She was a single parent for much of my childhood, so for me when I think of my toys I think about that time in my life, when I didn't know what poverty was- even though we were poor. I didn't know what a broken home was, 'cause I always had momma- she was my own Wonder Woman.
I guess on some level later I did kinda realize we didn't have it all. I recall the feeling that there were some kinda magic out there, that could transform my mundane surroundings into something whimsical and new- and that women like Wonder Woman knew about that magic. And I wanted to spin and spin and be powerful and magical just like her.
Now that I am 'grown' I still believe that women possess that magic. I see it in my momma still, and in my sister- both hard workers and amazing caregivers. I saw it in my granny- the late, great Flossie, and Oacie, and my mother in-law, Lucy..all gone too soon, but some of the baddest ladies I was lucky enough to have known. I see super powers in my best friend's mom, Jennifer and of course in my memories of Amy, our antics more eventful than pretty much and sitcom or action series. I see super powers in my sister in law, Maria , as well as my cousins and aunts...and emerging super powers in my little nieces. I see Wonder Women in my girlfriends near and far, as they maintain their sanity and keep their families together while still staying true to the little girl that THEY wanted to be when they grew up.
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Oh...and before I forget, I am going to give a pre-thank you/shout out to Jason Basden, aka 'Mr. Jason'.
Jason is my long-time friend from college and probably the BIGGEST WW fan in exisitence...and I know that I will be bothering him all this month...just like I did when I did my #GalsOfDCComicsJLG series back in September 2015!! Love you, Mr. Jason!! |
I'm not saying Mr. Jason is actually the real Wonder Woman...I am just saying no one has ever seen them both in the same place.
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So yeah...Wonder Woman it is!
For starters, I have made a couple Wonder Woman-inspired pieces...just gonna post those here;
And now to the current WW series...
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Of course I went on a mini- 'treat yo self' shopping spree (on a MAJOR budget of course!) to get a lil' WW swag and I also ordered some materials and immediately went on-line to see what I could find out about my childhood she-ro.
What did I find out? Ummmm...I need ten years to learn what I don't know about this chica. So in addition to making the daily art this month I will be on a self-led path to enlightenment in all things Wonder Woman. I have two books that I am LIVING right now...and this site I found on WW costumes is SO AMAZING; |
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Many times I begin a series with one vision and as I work on the pieces that month that vision changes. For right now, I am planning on looking at images of WW throughout the ages, applying my own style to some of her iconic looks. (I'm telling you, that Carol A. Strickland site is SO thorough! I am loving looking at all the tiny changes in WW's wardrobe and styling!)
I am planning on working small, 5x7 right now and working with mixed media. So far the pieces are starting as pencil drawings, but at some point I am thinking of cutting them out and collaging them onto some different backgrounds. Again, just what I am thinking.
About mid-month I think I will make a change in the series...I have an idea in my head for how I want to do this...we'll see. Let's just say that by the end of the series I want the Wonder Women images that I create to reflect my own idea that there really are so many WW's out there, inside of women of all shapes, sizes and colors.
So that's it...at least...that is where the idea started, and my plans for the series in this first stage. If you made it through my rambling, stream of consciousness post- congrats, that is a bit of a super power :)
I am planning on working small, 5x7 right now and working with mixed media. So far the pieces are starting as pencil drawings, but at some point I am thinking of cutting them out and collaging them onto some different backgrounds. Again, just what I am thinking.
About mid-month I think I will make a change in the series...I have an idea in my head for how I want to do this...we'll see. Let's just say that by the end of the series I want the Wonder Women images that I create to reflect my own idea that there really are so many WW's out there, inside of women of all shapes, sizes and colors.
So that's it...at least...that is where the idea started, and my plans for the series in this first stage. If you made it through my rambling, stream of consciousness post- congrats, that is a bit of a super power :)
 | #TBT blog post...kinda relates to my November 2017 series... http://www.jenniferlovegironda.com/blog/pow-zap-boom |
I beat myself up mentally over the fact that I am not as good at keeping up with my blog as I used to be. I mean, when I first started I blogged almost daily, certainly weekly. But over the years the post have gotten fewer and farther between. I definitely think that adding Instagram kinda took the place of some of my posts, I post my work there and comment on it.
But I love to sit and at least make an attempt to document what is going on in my life, both artistically and just...in general. And as I was sitting here trying to play catch up before I start gathering my thoughts on the next series I looked at these pics...and I kinda feel that they sum up my month.
That and the ART of course!
But I love to sit and at least make an attempt to document what is going on in my life, both artistically and just...in general. And as I was sitting here trying to play catch up before I start gathering my thoughts on the next series I looked at these pics...and I kinda feel that they sum up my month.
That and the ART of course!
For starters...the ART! I participated in 'MabsDrawlloween Club for the first time!
...and this was my third year taking on the 'INKtober' challenge!
...and ya'll KNOW I love me some LWHS!
My students are amazing, our custodian Fidela takes such good care of us, I love my colleagues...and I even taught a night class through an outreach program that changed my life!
...just some random 'workflow' pics..
My fav spots are the beach and on my couch with a cat in my lap!
...we had some old friends from back home come visit...and met up with new friends, too!
...and as for our Florida friends, the are creating a cute lil' army of children, and we keep celebrating milestones!
...and now to figure out what to do for NOVEMBER! Yikes!!!
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Artist and Art Teacher
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