Eighteen days later...

Peek-a-boo!

I have only been posting partial views (like this one) of what I have been working on so far this month.  At first it is because I was waiting to introduce the series.  Then the series changed, and I was only posting 'peeks' because I was trying to keep it a secret- until at least til this past Friday.

​First, let me give the back story. 

Long story short, our cousin's wife is good for a surprise package in the mail out of nowhere packed with fun stuff just 'cause.  Oh, and I should mention that she is an art teacher, so that means the gifts are EXTRA good!  A while back one of the items in the package was a fab 'Feminist Saints' book.  I read it, then put it in the windowsill with some of my other smaller books (which is why it is discolored)

I thought, 'hey- maybe this month I will focus on women (and maybe some fellas)  that inspire me'.  Saints? not so much.  Inspirational?  So much yes.

​So there's that.  

Caitlin- I love my book! Thanks again!

As far as the materials, I have worked on toned paper and it is something I really enjoy working with, usually using Prismacolor markers and pencils, sometimes with acrylic paint and gel pens.  Here are some examples;

May 2013, 'flowers'
November 2013, 'mustache' 
May 2017, 'greek/roman myths'
May 2018, 'bridal illustrations'

When I was trying to figure out the subjects for my 'saints' of course I went straight for some of my favorite female artists.  This isn't anything new, I love art history and have my arsenal of fav artists that keep me inspired.  I have paid tribute to the first four ladies in this series in previous themes; 

​Frida Kahlo:
Click here to read about the trip to see the Frida show in St. Pete

Frida has not only shown up frequently in my work...but I have dedicated whole months/themes to her. She's my favorite!

​
​Yayoi Kusama:
'Love is Calling' ...trip to Tampa- so goood!

Yayoi Kusama is my road trip muse. I planned a solo trip to NYC to see her work at the Whitney, and John and I went to Tampa to see one of her installations this past spring. She's got me seein' spots, and I love it.

Georgia O'Keeffe 

I always felt like O'Keeffe embodied an amazing sense of independence and strength. I love her work, the colors, the abstraction, the feminism of it all. But you know what I love even more? Her STYLE! She is one of my style icons- the all black, the large jewelry...LOVE!

​
Faith Ringgold
...that one time...when I gave Faith Ringgold an angel painting...

​Here are the first four *art saints:
(*Disclaimer: Not sure if that is what I will be calling the series yet)

While all of this was going on in my 'art life'- in my 'art teaching' life things were getting CRAY.

The AP deadline was coming up...but...I had to make a trip to NC.  There was NO WAY I was gonna miss seeing my sister's RN pinning ceremony.

This was me running off about 3 hours of sleep a night for a week and a half- two week period.

I pushed myself (and my students) to get things as ready as we could before I left for my trip, that way when I came back I could add in any pieces that they re-vised when I got back, then we cold double check everything and send it off the day before the deadline.  

We had our final 3D photoshoots for Elmwood and Junique's recycled garments and Jean's cosplay before I left....and any time I had a second I was running behind my 2D kids to see what they were working on, offer some comments, snap pictures...it was a busy time.  And it didn't stop when I got on that plane in Fort Lauderdale, or off it in Raleigh.  When I was in North Carolina I was spending every night on the computer going through the final images and editing.  I think some AP teachers have their students do this, and that's nice and all, but I am a control freak (a nice one) and have OCPD impulses (that are totally unchecked) and well...that's not the way I roll.  

And then something happened without me knowing it, or even thinking about it...and I will get to that, but I want you to see what I saw; 

(Left) Junique's magazine dress (Middle) Jean's cosplay- the tail she created features LED lights that change based on SOUND! (Right) Elmwood's magazine dress...both of those magazine dresses were displayed at Art Palm Beach in January!

Each block of images represents the work of one of my 2D students. From left to right (Top), Antonio, Nehemie, Jane (Bottom) Yessica, Mayda, Pradeline

(Left) Junique's upcycled look, love all the embroidery on the front! (Middle) More of Jean's cosplay- these wings were all made from scratch and were AMAZING!! (Right) Elmwood modeling her own upcycled men's dress shirt embellished with scrap upholstery fabric.

I realized that yeah, I have my favorite artists from art history and also contemporary artists...but I actually TEACH some of my favorite artists (and there is totally a t-shirt out there that says that and I need it ASAP!)  And they are in my 2D/3D AP Studio art sections and my Portfolio sections...and the ones so far that I have featured are leaving me.  They are my graduating seniors.

So, that's my excuse for not posting the final images for eighteen days.

I am not sure who I will add to the collection now.  I have three remaining girls in my advanced class, all underclassmen.  Two are AP, on Portfolio.  I am not sure if  am going to add them to the series...or make'em wait til THEY are the seniors.  I have to think about it.

​Oh, and my sister?  She is an RN now!

I am so proud of her!