February 2018, #GirlTalkJLG (revisited) series intro...

Is this a pattern for 2018- revisiting old themes?  I don't know, maybe.  But I am kinda of liking that idea the more I think about it.  

I was torn this month.  On one hand- I LOVE super fun and whimsical Valentine's Day art.  Like...it's my jam.

Don't believe me?  Here is just a sprinkling of some of the pieces I have created in February ranging from 2012-2017...there are a little over 200 because I threw a side series in there one year;

And you know...maybe I will break off and do a few V-day pieces this weekend just for fun.  But I really felt inspired to revisit my #GirlTalkJLG series this month for a couple of reasons...

Without getting into politics and all the hot topics going on in the news right now...I know that it is important now more than ever to support other women- to build each other up, to inspire.  The whole time I was creating my original series in January 2016 I was paying tribute to many women that I find inspirational...and David Bowie and Ric Flair creeped in there, but you'll have to go through my old blog posts to find out how that happened.  

Just so we're all on the same page, here is the first #GirlTalkJLG series;

​Without intentionally thinking about it, or trying to make an effort, my works represented a variety of women from different walks of life, different occupations, ages and races. 

It just happened organically, and from the heART.  I really wanted to do something to honor African American Women this month ('cause ya'll know I love to draw ladies!) so I came up with the idea to revisit the series and focus specifically on African American women, and of course it ties in with Black History month, so that's works, too.

And then...I had a little more inspiration, and I didn't have to go farther than the walls of my own classroom.  I have been blessed (and I rarely use that phrase)- but I have been BLESSED with the gift of teaching- of interacting with my art students, in helping to impact the lives of kids.  But more importantly- they impact and inspire ME.  I am always in awe some what they say and think up, not only in their artwork, but in their observations about life.  This is my fourth year at LWHS and I am seeing some of the students I had as freshman my first year, our first year, as seniors- almost ready to go out and make their mark on the world.  And it made me think- someone once had this same interaction with the young girl that would be come Oprah.

And Maya.

And Faith.

And Janet.

And Michelle.  

So I decided to delve into finding images of some African American ladies that inspire me- but in their youth.  Let me tell you- easier said than done, it's difficult to find some of earlier images of some of the women I would like to depict.  So I am working on it, slowly but surely.  And if you stumble across this and still don't get it, that's okay.  I am drawing girls that grew up to be influential women- that's it in a nutshell. 

As for the treatment of the mark making, etc...I really love the idea of detail rendering alongside sketches and scribbles.  So far most of the women have at least half (some a little more) of the face fully rendered in pencil, sometimes with a water-soluble graphite or gray watercolor wash over that.  There are washes of color in the backgrounds of the pieces, and sketchy/scribbly lines created with pencil, pen and/or Sharpie markers. 

Oh...and there are WORDS.  

I have continued the style element from the first series of including a quote said by the woman.  In my mind I keep thinking the phrase, 'women and their words' and it just feels WRITE.  (get it, 'write' instead of 'right'?!)

So...ummm...a little lengthy but that is where I am going with this series.

And I have something kinda exciting that I think I will be doing a few more pieces into the series, so please check back to find out more about that!!

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