Finally picked up my Atom Poison’s and new bearings for my roller skates. I have a scrimmage tomorrow, so I don’t really want to switch out my wheels now. I really don’t want to break them in during a game, but at least I finally got them. They are supposed to be much more grippier for the slippery floor at the Mill. We’ll see…
Progress of my recent large painting. Acrylic on a 24″x30″ canvas.
First time playing with using a sponge…I learned a lot. I didn’t know if I should paint in the drips or use a sponge to make them look more natural. Sponge looks pretty good, but the first few streaks are too straight. Now I know for next time to pick up the canvas and rotate.
The carpet in my apartment now has some black spots in it. I’m thinking I won’t be getting my deposit back.
Lots of different angles below:
Working on posting sooner so I don’t have a giant post later in the month. I need to find a quicker way to do this. Tumblr makes it so much easier…
From latest to oldest:
February 9th: Acrylic on 24”x30” canvas- progress update. It’s coming together. I will add hair and have things drip/run…hopefully that will remove the “mirror mirror” look.
I want to paint all my canvases black now.
February 8th: (late) acrylic on 16×20 canvas. Looks brighter due to flash…cherry stem may become a snake. Lower lip needs to be bigger. May have the lips drip… Good progress today since I didn’t draw/paint yesterday. It’s off centered…maybe I should flip it over? Fix it while I still can? Reminds me of the most delicious candy ever…twizzlers! Or Rocky Horror.
February 7th: India Ink on paper. RIP Tura Satana When using India ink I have to take my pictures at an angle or else I get a glare…
February 6th: graphite on 2.5”x3.5” artist trading card (with a bit of red pastel). Actually had to distort the image since my camera sucks and I have to use a flash. The black was being blown out so I had to take it at an angle. Just a quick sketch, as are all daily drawings, next time I sharpen my pencils first.
February 5th: Chalk pastels on black paper. Just a lady in the moonlight… (with a teeny tiny hand?). Messy and not much detail…what I need to do is start trying to use q-tips instead of my fingers. With small stuff (like the face) a fingertip for blending is just too big. I think she looks a bit like Selena with blue hair…or a drag queen.
February 4th: Acrylic on 24”x30” canvas. Let’s see what she turns into…I’ve got something in mind. It will change, because right now I see “mirror mirror on the wall…”
February 3rd: Acrylic on canvas. Progress on an older image…hair is big, but it’s already changed since I took this picture. She’s my very own Venus.
More detail
February 2nd and 1st…nothing to show.
soon i found a rhythm i felt comfortable with… a kind of ritualistic routine.
wake up, stretch a bit, make coffee, sit down with it and read with small breakfast.
then start painting for a few hours listening to podcasts or audio books (first time!).
go out for lunch or dinner with matthew sometimes,
and work a bit more, stretch, then sleep.
pretty much the general gist of it.”
-Stella Im Hultberg’s blog post “On Routines…”
Stella’s work is beautiful, all of it. I read this quote in her blog and I felt jealous and hopeful and happy for her (and me). She discusses Haruki Murakami’s “What I talk about when I talk about running” and a little about her life and routine. Besides wanting to read this book, I feel very confident in the training I have been doing (like derby and marathon/triathlon training). It’s helped me get through a lot; like divorce, self-doubt and my own fears (of things like drowning while doing a tri). It looks like I’m on the right track…(no pun intended). But I have also messaged her asking how she is living this life as an artist (hopefully without sounding too naive). I asked if perhaps she was a student, or if she was you know…a working artist…and how it became so.
We’ll see what she says. That is the life I want to lead.
She also lives to eat: http://stellalivestoeat.blogspot.com/
Update:
She responded:
@Gina Gwen I am a full time artist now but in the beginning I did work on the side along with painting, like many artists do.
Unfortunately when this becomes your full time job you don’t always get to make draw and paint all day as you like. Much of other things need attention too, mostly the logistical, business side of things… And maintaining the consistency of being a full time artist isn’t fun either… All I can say is to keep drawing/painting with all your heart without contrivance & enjoy every bit of it before it becomes your job too because sometimes that’s better. “
Went to Half Price Books to pick up “What the Night Knows“, for a book club I’m in. Of course they didn’t have it but they had these!!
I haven’t been able to pick up that book since the Austin Public Library has it checked out all the time. I wouldn’t normally buy it, but I figured I need to get on to reading it soon…but how can I with these gems on my shelf?
I can’t wait to read Kafka…isn’t this where he turns into a roach?
Floss.
Mummies lose everything…except their teeth (unless they were lost while alive).
Maybe we should engrave teeth and bone with our secrets…and then seal them.
I completed 10.2 miles today. I stopped twice, both times to grab some water at each water station on the lake. I kept the stops short, two gulps and kept going. I also figured I’d try the “gummies” that you eat as you run. You’re supposed to eat some after running for about an hour. So I did, and I could tell a difference. I had two blocks but it suggested I eat three. I also drank water as it recommends (when I ate them) at the second water station. But they still felt heavy in my stomach. I was fine, but maybe next time I will drink more water. I’m not sure if I need the extra fuel but I could totally tell a difference from my 9 mile run. I could have kept going. Plus, if my time stays at an average pace of 10:54 – 11:04 then I will be running for over 2 hours and 20ish minutes…means I would probably need to eat a few more gummies later in the race. Question: Do you wait for your body to tell you it feels bad or do you take it on the hour no matter what? I bought them at the recommendation of my cousin who has run half marathons. Of course, his time is way better than mine. I can at least say I am consistent!
The run felt pretty good. My shins bother me in the beginning but they warm up sooner or later. I notice it happens in derby too. My knees are fine. The last long run they bothered me the next day (feel fine during the run). This time I took Julie’s advice and took ibuprofen before I ran and later in the evening. Doh, but I did not ice. We’ll see if my knees bother me tomorrow.
One month of daily drawing is complete. Almost every night in January I worked on a bit of art. Some nights I put in quite a lot of time…I’d start and look up and an hour or two had passed. Other nights I’d spend less than 4 minutes on a very quick sketch with usually pen, chalk pastel or India ink. If I was too tired or ran out of steam, I allowed myself to work on two sketches the next night. This project is supposed to be fun, not a chore that has to be done. Some nights I was inspired and I planned out what I was going to do. Others I had no clue and surprised myself. Some I am proud of, some I am not so proud of, and some I didn’t even think would be so personal (to me at least).
Lots of artwork ahead. Not sure when to post the bigger stuff I am working on. In progress, or when they are completed. Also, I know I need to perhaps make a post a week for daily drawings. This is a giant blog post…sorry to my small yet kind followers.
From latest to oldest:
January 31st: Digital art for the Johnny Cash project. Quick frame sketch from the canvas on the site. My forefinger hurt because I don’t have a tablet and I used my laptop’s touch pad. Ouchie. Messy, but I like it 
You should go to the site and do your own frame, it’s pretty amazing. The song and video are the last that Johnny Cash made before he died.
January 30th: Chalk pastel pencils on 2.5″x3.5″ artist trading card. Little birds…quick sketch of a painting I need to finish. You can see the large actual painting/collage here.
January 29th(repro) Chalk pastel on black paper. Cat is the black of the paper. I did not add all of the details, with chalk I should probably spray with fixative before I added any detail anyway. View the original famous image. I always loved this image and by repro I am trying to understand how just a siloutte and some eyes can tell a story. And of course, the fabulous colors.
January 28th: India ink and gold leaf on 2.5″x3.5″ artist trading card. I was actually going to focus on drawing hands, but when I went to google to search for images, x-rayed hands came up. I liked my frog so much I decided to do this but do the inverse (paint the background with India ink and leave the paper showing through as the bones). Then when done it looked so Halloween, not quite what I wanted. I looked at the tiny card and back at my hand, I felt something was missing. I know this is actually the right hand, but think of it as my left palm. I am missing something gold that represented forever on that finger. I think this is my favorite because…well, I just don’t want to write about it. 
January 27th: I worked on a larger project that I am not posting yet. No daily drawing since I focused on that instead.
January 26th: India ink, pastels and acrylic on 2.5″x3.5″ artist trading card. It’s a couple of my favorite lines from a Robert Frost poem called Ghost House. An old house with a red door and a dead magnolia tree in the front. You can see my old home here. In the image, the magnolia tree was still alive. The sketch is crappy, but this is also one of my favorites because it’s meaningful to me.
January 25th: (late) India ink on 2.5″x3.5″ artist trading card. I actually was searching for an image of cat bones. I was inspired to draw a cat skeleton with an arching back. But I couldn’t really find the bones I wanted…but I came across these frog ones. They were so tiny and fragile. This image would fit in the palm of your hand…and his bones would break. And by the way, the arms have an extra bone (sorry frog!).
January 24th: Chalk pastel on black 60lb paper. This started off as an image of a girl, but as I did it I thought, can I create a guy? So I did. In her gesture class (of which I only went to 2) Honoria is always telling us to tell a story in our work. I thought of a dead guy in water…but it also reminds me of a white Bob Marley with dreads.
January 23rd: (late) She looks sassy. Chalk pastel on black 60lb paper. I LOVE the way blue pastel looks on black toned paper. LOVE. Blue light. Blue veins. The color of our planet from far far away…and the lamp in my bedroom. It’s the most human color…
January 22nd: (late) Chalk pastel on 60lb black paper. FYI, most images I draw are references from online or in magazines, books, etc. Proportions are very off, but I can see it and can work on it. Whoa and look at her feet. Could they actually hold her up? Maybe that is why she is so blue.
January 21st: (late) Chalk pastel on black 60lb paper. I drew a cock! No patience for the feathers. As my cousin Laura posted: “cucurucucu!” I just love the black paper.
January 20th: Charcoal on paper. Just some smudges. I really liked this one. I like her expression and I like the smudges that make up that expression. I wish I had done this on a big giant white canvas. The chalk pastel almost looks like crayon here.
January 19th: Charcoal and chalk pastel on toned paper. Sat in on a gesture drawing class. These poses are 2 min. each. While I like sitting in the class, the poses are sooo short. I would prefer longer, but the point is quick gestures…so I need to work on getting faster.
January 18th: (late) Marker on paper. Figured I’d post as well, even if I liked it or not. Proportions are off…but I like the angle.
January 17th: Marker on paper. Just some doodles. Had to use iphone for photo, blurry but oh well. I really like the locust. May do more with those later.
January 16th: (repro) Pen ink on paper. Just a quick sketch…profiles aren’t my forte…that is why I practice. See the amazing original work here.
January 15th: Chalk pastel and India ink on paper. Just playing…with an egg. I wanted an egg frozen in ice…but yeah, didn’t work out so well.
January 14th: Chalk pastel pencils and chalk pastels for the hair on paper. Too tired to finish it…did it while at Ruth’s house…only had like 4 colors to use till I got home. I only added the hair when I did.
What is Art?
Like paintings and stuff…
I have challenged myself that each day I would do a daily drawing. This is not a NYE resolution (although I started Jan 1st), it’s a promise to myself to allow time to do something I love every day. The only way to improve is to practice. I hope to do that by doing these daily drawings and posting them for the public to see. I not only try harder (since I know a few people will see it) but I am also building my self-confidence (something I have lacked in my art). Sometimes I really like what I created, some days, not so much. But I post them, for me.
One of my goals in 2011 is to have a gallery showing of work. Honestly, my goal is more to create the art, period. My larger goal would be to be able to art as a full time job. I don’t know what that looks like yet or how I will bring in enough income to support myself…still considering it. Would I create even if it is not in a public forum, yes. Would I commit myself as much if I did not have this goal in 2011, probably not. By focusing on showing, it helps me look forward to something. To work towards a point of completion, a goal. If you know me, you know I don’t always finish my artwork. I either get bored or lose interest. It’s not that I won’t come back to them, I eventually do, but it may be weeks, months or years. My next step is to figure out a date to work towards.
In researching I found that most artists need 10-15 cohesive pieces for a show. I think I have my theme down. Now to do the work. I will need to consider how long each piece will take for me to create, then nail down my time line.
Another step is to go to more art galleries and showings. I need to network and also make more artist friends. I know several artists at my work, many of them have had shows. I have so many resources around me, I need to reach out.
Here are what I have thus far, from newest to oldest:
Jan 13th: Pastels on paper, same magazine layout of Natalie Portman. I love to cover the entire paper in color…it makes me so happy. I also love that my fingers have been black with left over pastel (even after washing my hands) for the last few days.
Jan 12th: I sat in on Honoria Starbuck’s gesture class. We drew for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours from a model. I forgot the sketches at school, but no biggie. I drew this line drawing from a magazine layout of Natalie Portman. My focus was more on the figure and less on the face. I liked her pose
Jan 11th: I forgot to draw. While in bed, I woke up and thought, “damn”.
Jan 10th: India ink on paper. I am not ready to take the lead on drawing from memory. I can at times, but I almost always have to use a reference. This I saw in a video game called Limbo.
Jan 9th: India Ink and acrylic on paper. I really like this medium…super fun to paint in pure black.
Jan 8th: Repro of a Picasso. Pastels on paper. Not finished.
Jan 7th: Continuation of Lempicka repro. I think it came out pretty well. Is not an exact duplicate, but I like the shading and colors
Jan 6th: Pastels on paper, repro of Lempicka work. Love her art deco style, love me some hard angles. Especially love her shading. This is part 1. Hard to do detail with big chunky pastels. Realized I need some pastel pencils.
Jan 5th: Gosh, THIS IS HORRIBLE. Quick sketch ideas for Love art show. Quote taken from The Book Thief (one of my favorite books). I will not be using this idea. Marker on paper.
Jan 4th: no drawing, too much time spent at hospital, I was pooped.
Jan 3rd: Repro of a Mondrian…horrible, but had no time since my twin’s baby was born!! Photoshop.
Jan 2nd: Repro of the awesome Klimt painting called Hope II. Graphite on paper. Too bad I had no colored pencils or pastels. It’s one of my favorite paintings. I love how he creates hands and emotion. My favorite at the MOMA when I went to NYC.
Jan 1: Repro of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Graphite on paper. Need to focus on my lights and darks. I do like that I sat down for a bit and just did it, not worrying that it didn’t look exactly right.
I am wondering if I should somehow protect these with a watermark. Please don’t steal them.
Oh 2010. For all the ups and downs it was surprisingly a pretty good year.
Let’s look at some pros and cons, starting with the tough stuff:
). Also not forgetting all the other amazing friends I have, like Mandy, Liz, and Katie.So overall, yes 2010 was surprisingly amazing. This year was like swimming in the Danskin. I jumped into dark murky water on one end, afraid of a bleak future and what would become of me and I swam across and came out the other end stronger, more confident and happier. So 2011, can you be equal to or greater than 2010?
What is my new years resolution for 2011?
Keep Being Awesome.
(Yours should be too!)
