Oy.

I feel a bit burnt out.

I am feeling freaked out about keeping up the pace with my painting with the semester ending, and I have to deal with challenging the pre-requistite on the class I want to take in the fall. I'm nervous about that.

I didn't get the scholarship I tried for. It's fine- it was a bit of a long-shot, I guess. I had to try, right? And now my job is to NOT get discouraged about something little like this get me down and shut of my ambitions. (which I'm quite prone to)

So, I press on.

Yesterdays class was mostly comprised of working on our abstracts of the the paintings we did last week. We also turned in our end-of-semester portfolios. I'm getting excited about the painting I'm doing now- especially since its beginning to take shape. I've learned a lot about abstract painting. I thought you just kind of did whatever you want- and then I wondered why no one likes my abstract stuff. My professor said that the most compelling art is the most subjective. Pieces that try to tell a story tend to be less effective. Keep it free- go towards a meaning and story of your own, but, dont pigeon hole the painting. For example, in my painting, I put a woman struggling to hold on to a chair thats on top of a mountain of eggs. She said this: "Take the figure out- for two reasons. One- you don't know how to paint a figure yet. And two, I think the same idea can be portrayed without her. Let the viewer feel it- don't over-describe."

I was blown away. A little stung by the comment about painting figures- but from this professor, I know she means I'm just not ready. And she was right- I painted the woman out and the painting feels less forced. The perspective is more open, and it forced me to have to use other elements to portray the feelings.

Fascinating!! It pays to have someone in your life who is wise!!!

In other news...I'm going to start my re-write again. I know, I know...I'm crazy. I need to write this book. It's good for me to write. Without writing, I tend to grow in discontent with my own life, which is completely ridiculous. I have everything someone could want....but my mind wanders. When I don't write, I tend to look around and get down on myself about missing out on things. I'm a freak. I *need* imaginary friends so I don't destroy my real life.

I'm weird.

Make up post!!!

Yikes. I got PRET-ty busy there for a while. I had projects due, I got sick, I was out a lot...yada, yada, yada. I'm a lame blogger, I guess.

Wait, no I'm not! I'm awesome. (that was convincing, right?)

So...where was I? Working on my abstract, right? Well...I finished it. It's ok...I think its marginally successful: (its on the right, by the way....the pears are old)



Our next project was to set up a still life at home of a chair, with fabric draping and 3 or more round or oval objects. This is how it started for me:


I used the Grisaille technique. Next I laid in some colors:


Then the back ground:


Then the details:


Overall I really like this painting. It's not 100% done, but I am happy with it. I have gained so much more confidence in diving into a painting. This took me about 5 hours total.

Now I'm working on an abstract of the chair painting--I'll show you when I'm further along.

Portfolios are due Monday! Ack!! I have to gather all my stuff and make sure it's all finished and ready for scrutiny!

I should mention---I totally blew off Script Frenzy. Too much going on...and I just didn't have a clear vision for a screenplay this time...even if it was Blood Freckles all over again!!

Oh, and as an ode to my immaturity:

May is a good month. *sigh*

Acrylics class #20

So, my professor set up this awesome still life today. It was supposed to be a jumping off point for us to run with.

The idea is to find inspiration from the object and find a unique way of representing them. I knew immediatly what I'd do. I was lucky to be on the side with the mans' face. The other side had some spheres, a vase, a skull and a plant.

Here's the start of mine:


I'm REALLY struggling with the proportions on the face- something I really want to get good at.


SO, I stuck the dudes head on one of the pipes. I like it. I can't wait to finish it.

Acrylics class #19

Watercolors....transitioning into abstract!! Fascinating!!

Today's project entailed painting the same kind of tulip still life with a twist. We had to look at the color wheel- any color you see in the still life must be painting in it's opposite on the wheel.

Seems easy enough, right?

Here's the still life:



Well, yeah..sure. I mean yellow's opposite is blue-violet. Cool. Yellow-greens opposite is some of ted-violet. But all the variations thereof...YIKES.

I muddled through it and got favorable results despite the challenge:



I dig it.

Monday we are to bring a gesso-ed board and gel mediums for some more abstract work!!! I'm ridiculously excited.

In other news, I indeed applied for that scholarship. I gathered my portfolio, got my two letters of recommendation, wrote the essay, got my transcript, and VOILA! I've actually taken a step in the direction of an intentional person trying for a real goal. I'm a freaking art major. Weird.

Acrylics class #18

More water colors. I was just beginning to like them, but then, this time, I was REALLY frustrated with them. Nothing seemed to dry and everything I applied ran together.

Here's the results of what I did in class:



I still need to finish these.

I am very excited though....she menetioned changing gears a bit in the next few classes. We are heading towards....(drum roll)...abstraction! I'm very excited about this! I like abstract work, but when I try to do it myself, it looks...well....lame.

She said that new artists often feel this way about abstract work. She said there indeed IS a method to it and training helps the quality of the work. I'm stoked.

Jumping through hoops

I was so overwhlemed a couple days ago. I'm such a light-weight.

But now, I have things moving into place for this scholarship-thing. I've got 1 recommendation letter done and on it's way to me. I'm meeting my professor in a couple hours to go through my digital portfolio- she's going to help me decide what to give the Scholarship comittee. I'm so excited to see what she thinks of all my stuff together- I put some stuff in there that I've done at home. I'm nervous to hear what she thinks.

Matt took an hour or so last night and photographed my better works and I edited them and put them on CD.

I will take my transcript request form to Folsom Lake College today.

(breathe....)

It's moving along. Because I can do this. I am a grown up. I am an artist. This is just the first time I'll be doing this- the rest of my life will be spent selling myself and my work if this is what I want to be. I should get used to it- what if I actually finish this book? I'll have to do the same thing with the manuscript. I need to grow some balls.

My term paper is due Monday- and I still haven't gone to a gallery. I'm very, very excited, though- my friends and I are going to the Second Saturday Art Walk in downtown Sacramento tomorrow night. I will get to see the kind of stuff I dream of doing, and there will be LOTS of it!! The hardest part will be making up my mind on which piece to write about.

Here's a couple of the better images we took last night of my work:

Acrylics class #17.

I finally have a minute to blog about yesterdays class.

I thought I hated watercolor, but I really enjoyed yesterday.

Here's the still life:


It was so pretty!!

Here's my work.


My crazy palette!


My homework is to do 2 watercolors of fruit or flowers. I guess I'll do fruit, since, there are no flowers here right now!! The snow is gone, finally, as of today- so thats a start at least.