look out point

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

nekked.

graphite and watercolor

charcoal on gesso'd paper

graphite-10minute study at Mars Cafe

graphite-10minute study at Mars Cafe
(she did have clothes on, just used to models not)

acrylic and graphite

(I reveresed the thought process, painted the areas of light

and left the shadows white)

These are studys from my recent classes at the Des Moines Art Center and Des Moines Art Beacon event at Mars Cafe. Most nights it seems like it is a hit or miss with my abilities; need to practice more. Stressing a bit more, when I can actually relax to draw/paint it really helps.

Recent life events:

Added country number 16 to my list - went to Cancun, Mexico for Spring Break

Reading "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg - hoping it guides me in some way to make changes in my life/routine that are necessary to live happier

Monday, August 20, 2012

tea

Well, it has been awhile.
I am officially in the 'big-kid' world now and trying to figure out what to do with the paper that says I am a graphic designer.

The art I have been creating lately is mostly latte art (it's not much but ehh)...

some sketching...

graphite

...and a few faces of Jeff from my art center class

Meet Jeff, in color

2012 // chalk pastels

(first time working with chalk pastels!)

I do have a new show coming up this week, it is spur of the moment so do not have many new items, so far though, I have this

tea
2012 // acrylic, gesso & graphite

A four-foot by four-foot canvas awaits to be painted as well...which I have ideas for, mainly revolving around my recent trip to the West to see the SPIRAL JETTY! If you do not know, I love love LOVE the Spiral Jetty, and earthworks in general. It is located in Great Salt Lake, UT.

(me at the center)

(Utah map photo)

I loved it; wish I could go there more often. Maybe I will stop there on my next road trip when I go to see other earthworks-cause I am an art history nerd like that. Anyways, along with crossing the Jetty off my bucket list, I also can cross off seven states on my list: South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska. Wanderlust got the best of me; 3,115 mile road trip in 6 days.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

fire-breathing cows

I must confess, I drew another cow.

'holy' cow

charcoal // 2012

The drawing that I just finished up was sort of a pain at first. My professor dictated that the subject matter had to be of a loved one with a fire-breathing reptile. These are two main things that students always want to draw, at least the ones at Simpson. Everyone wants to draw a loved one - it is not recommended because the personal relationship tends to skew the artist's focus on minute details that only they perceive are important. Like how many moles a person has, the common viewer is not going to notice or care if the person is missing one on their right cheek (I am not trying to call out a certain someone, it was just a great example). And then comes the fire-breathing reptile. It is just a fantasy subject matter that "professional" drawings typically do not contain. As some college art professors say it is "high school art;" this is a hard concept to explain with out direct example so I won't waste your time but if you are an artist I think you'll somewhat understand that concept. (Again, not trying to call anyone out, just trying to explain why these two elements are a pain in my art professor's rear. A dear friend of mine did paint a fire-breathing snake fighting ninjas and I must say it is quite BA) Anyways, I think my art professor wanted us to get this out of our systems - not that it was ever in mine - and so I drew my niece and nephew. I incorporated the fire-breathing reptile through my nephew's shirt, it is Reptar from Rugrats with a little ball of fire.

Untitled

graphite // 2012

I must say, I knocked the socks off my professor. My only critque on it is to make the dark areas darker (it has been a while since I worked in graphite and forgot how much of a pain it is to make dark areas with it).

Thursday, March 22, 2012

typography exploration//

For my graphic design class we were given a word and to create a layout that purveyed given word. I created mine more as a play on words, imagery and definition.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(1) ample

(2) burnt (get it?! was on FIRE, haha)

(3) infinite

(4) intermittent (probably my favovite)

(5) tolerant

My inspiration was from these AMAZING examples from here.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

cows.

charcoal & colored pencil, 2012

To be honest, I do not like it. Yeas, it is a cute fluffy calf but as a whole piece, I would of done so many things differently. Since it is for a class and I have to compromise my style for a grade (even though the prof said do whatever style you wish, funny huh). But I won't even start on that subject. Anyways, I have plenty of time to finesse my cows in future drawings.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

leviosa.

For my drawing class our first assignment is to create a drawing similar to the style of Chris Van Allsburg. His illustrations in Jumanji, The Polar Express, and The Chronicles of Narnia are his most noted works. The best way to summarize his style is that it is super-realistic with a 'fantastic' element that sets an eerie, magnificent tone. As shown in the following works:

I by no means feel that my drawing is comparable to his; his overall attention to detail and concentration is impeccable and incomparable. Anyways, for my 'fantastic' element I created a pint of beer that does not have a glass - it is just the liquid - thus making it levitate a bit above the table. Since I can not directly reference liquid levitating it was a challenge with the shadow and omitting the glass from my observation. Overall though I am satisfied with my drawing; really like how I mimicked the various textures - leather hat, hair on arms, cloth, wood table and liquid. I am still trying to think of a name that will illuminate my element to make it a bit more noticeable.