So, here’s the deal, why I’m making teeny paintings: I got hit by a car a couple of days ago while crossing the street. (That’s f’d up I know. I’m not too happy about it.) My knee is ripped up, but at least I’m not dead. However, it’s thwarted my ability to work on large-scale works such as my 5′x4′ paintings. I’ll get back to them whenever I feel I have the energy to hop around on one leg. In the meantime, I sit in the corner of the studio like a troll and make tiny paintings that fit in my lap.

I fall back on adorable doodles when I am stumped on what to write in art history class. This is part of my essay explaining Greek and Roman influence over early Christian art:

It’s cut off, but notice in the margins my professor wrote, “I like the illustration!” I feel mighty proud.

I like to think of myself as a painter and not a sculptor, so it is always highly entertaining to see the kind of stuff I create in mandatory art classes in college. Below is my finished sculpture of plaster, found wood, sparkly paper, and tempera paint. It’s supposed to be exploring the dichotomy between the inside and outside of structures, but I’m gonna be real, I just like sparkles, pink, and found wood.

If you can’t see, the inside holds a pile of lambs. Yes, a pile of lambs. They can be better seen in their unpainted, unfenced-in stage below.

So, maybe I’m not the greatest sculptor, but by God, I know how to make an awesome pile o’ lambs.

Why must blogging be so difficult?! As one can clearly see, it has been nearly a year since I last made a blog post. Why? Most likely the whole “I’m-lazy-especially-when-it-comes-to-blogs” problem I have. But no more!

Last week, I turned 25, and I went (or am still going through) a quarter-life crisis. My dream of a career as an artist and illustrator is not entirely realized yet (that’s a bit of an understatement). It doesn’t mean I haven’t been working. I’m currently getting prepared for an upcoming show in March, and I’m working on various little projects. However, I think keeping an account of my progress will not only be fun, but will give me the ability to track how far I’ve gone. I’ll also get to archive the dumb stuff I make on the side that doesn’t make it to my official portfolio. Take for instance, the t-shirt design below. (My boyfriend suggested we make homemade t-shirts with graphics on them and this is the gem I came up with. Alas, the t-shirt was never completed.)

So, that’s it. I’m gonna keep up the blogging, painting, and whatnot. I’ve included a picture of me working in the studio that my photographer friend took as proof that I do, in fact, work hard.

This is my pet hedgehog, Hedgles looking at a sketch I was working on. Notice, even animals admire my work.

I haven’t been keeping up with my blog. I think it’s cause I’m pretty lazy. But I haven’t been lazy when it come to painting, and I’ve finished another portrait wooo! I plan to make a lot more of these:

I decided to document each layer of a recent painting I made in order to go back and see where certain parts went wrong in the painting process and how I can avoid those problems in the future. So…here are the results. (this is on a 26×30 inch canvas)

Burnt umber layer – I usually like my work the most at this point. It looks ghostly and unfinished, and it’s the stage I most enjoy to make (it’s before everything goes to hell).

Adding red – At first I wanted a stark red in the background, but after I added this layer it just seemed like too much. I also thought the bow in her hair was stupid, so I decided to cover that up.

More color! – I added green to the mix and added a hint of cerulean
to a bit of her face to tone down the warm tones.

Softening – I used a heavier white glaze over her face to soften the edges of her features. Raw umber was added to her hair.

This layer was photographed under bad lighting – It’s a little darker than the rest, but I did add black over the red in the background because the red was annoying me. I started working on the details of the painting.

Finished! – More details were added to the face. Her clothing was tightened up. I waited for the work to dry, then coated it with varnish.

Most watercolorists have to deal with a sort of prejudice that artists that use other mediums don’t get. I cannot tell you how many times I have told someone that I work in watercolors and ink and have gotten a response such as, “Oh…(pompous sniff) wouldn’t you rather make real paintings?” (Real paintings always meaning oil or acrylic on canvas.)

Well, watercolors are real paint and when you paint with them on a surface that creates a real painting.

I’m pointing this fact out because I’ve been feeling guilty about experimenting with oils lately. I don’t want to be a hypocrite and leave watercolors behind, succumbing to the pressures of outsiders who can’t comprehend their merits. However, I do think that it can be dangerous to identify one’s self with only one particular medium, and it is good to experiment and grow as an artist.

Different mediums can drastically alter the meaning and mood of a painting. Below is an example of a portrait of a woman I made in watercolors and then one in oils. Although both are made with my similar style in mind, they convey (at least I think so) much different feelings.

I will admit, I only started using oils about a month and a half ago, so I’m still getting used to the medium. Hopefully in time I will improve and be able to fluidly rotate between watercolors and oils depending on the project. So, I dunno, is it wrong for me to cheat on watercolors? Should I keep trying to master one medium than dabble in many? These are still questions I ask myself.

I just want everyone to know, watercolors will always have a special place in my heart.

It’s November 1st! My exhibition “Corpses and Copses” officially ended yesterday. It turned out to be a great success, but it’s a bit of a relief to have the stress come to an end. I’m posting some images of the joyous event.

It was such a great project to work on. I can’t wait for my next show!