Monday, January 31, 2011

colors, colors, colors...





i spent  many years (as can be seen from my old yearbook photos and beyond) dressed in black, black, and more black. when i wanted to add some color into my life, i still managed to wear a black hoodie or black cardigan to the mix and the color was stifled. Now, i shy away from excessive black to bring forth fruity, sweet, and bold hues in my everyday life as well as my artwork. In tribute to the nice sunny day in the bay, and my first day of the semester, i am sharing some of my most colorful artwork in hopes of bringing a smile to your face. :)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

charcoal memories...









i miss the feel of vine charcoal in my hands... the looks on the faces of the students i would assist in beginning drawing, as well as those who would carry on to figure drawing. there is something about the classroom at cos that i haven't seem to have found here at sonoma state. maybe it was the chemistry of a junior college that helped shape the way i see my work, and that of others. nonetheless, i take in all i can here at university, and sort through what i am experiencing now. i have an attachment, or a soft spot if you will, for bamboo skewers, kneaded rubber erasers, vine charcoal, and strathmore drawing pads. give me these and a drawing horse and i am one content girl. here are some charcoal drawings from studies over the years...

looks like another night. of 80's musica

was gonna try and sleep, but my 80's playlist and chatting with my prima for a while sounded better then hitting the pillows just yet. so here is something i have pondered...music has been a huge part of my existence since i was a little girl.. so i wonder if subliminally, the music i am listening to at the moment translates into my work. i know i have thought of songs while painting, and it totally coincides, but perhaps there is an interplay there that i don't have to really think about, it just happens. well, here is my "Book of Beasts" project from last summer...









Tuesday, January 25, 2011

earrings, flowers and beads oh my

i have long drawn and designed jewelry, clothing, and accessories without ever really taking the step to make them reality...













but i gradually started about a decade ago... adding ribbons to the plain tees or camis i would so often wear, which grew to painting my purses that i would buy at thrift stores... then escalating to flower hair accessories, beaded earrings, painted shells, and revamped vintage. i have painted and sold quite a few items, which is flattering considering i started doing things just for myself. here are some i have made over the past year.

here's to paintings, prints, and the little muses that get me through blocks.






here are some paintings and a lithograph from my first year at sonoma state... definitely trying to carve my path in a new school... more to come...in the middle of my second year, and it's been a struggle, but that's the beauty of the growth process.