A Trinket for Thursday

Today we are going to start something new called A Trinket for Thursday. On Thursdays I will post a random object of information. It might be a fact, it might be a joke, it might be a video, it might be a photo, or it might be something completely random. I am excited about it and it will just give everyone a random reason to smile or laugh on Thursdays. So....without further adieu, A Trinket for Thursday.

Question:  Do you know when and why artists started signing their art work?

Answer:  During the Italian Renaissance. Why? Mainly to tell people and patrons that their work was theirs and that nobody could create it better than them. Yes, it was a business move.

Have a great day! And don't forget, it's the random reasons.

Upside Down Headless Goddess

Hello everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful week since my last post. With school starting and everything I have been fairly busy trying to get organized.  Anyhoo, my classes seem like they are all going to be interesting, which will make for a good semester. Most of my professor's are a little crazy, but hey, it's college, I'm getting an art degree, and they are all super nice and very helpful. Yay! I made the switch from Baroque Art History to History of Italian Renaissance Art, so that will probably be for the best.

My drawing class is starting off well. Today we had an actual day of work and we were working with charcoal and erasers. I have never been a huge fan of reductive methods, but I am slowly learning to enjoy using my eraser as a tool to make art, instead of just to fix it. First we covered our 18x24" sheet of drawing paper with soft, black vine charcoal. Then my professor showed us a series of images of the same subject which progressively became more clear and more detailed. At first we started out with a big blurred shape, which we used our erasers to create, then the final image revealed what it was we were trying to create. 

This project was all about positive/negative space, shapes, proportions, details, and most importantly...seeing. Even when I was teaching art lessons in high school I always told my students and anyone who ever said, "I can't draw, so I can't take a drawing class,"  that art is nothing more than a skill that one must learn. If you can ride a bike, you can draw. You had to learn how to ride a bike, just like everyone must learn how to draw. Yes, some people may have a better eye for the art-- there is most definitely a learning curve, but anyone can learn how to draw, and how to draw well. This project proves that point. At the end of the project my professor revealed the finished image...and to make things more interesting, we had been drawing it upside down.

This project was challenging for me because I would always rather look at what I am drawing and draw it, than take progressive steps with value to get there. It took me out of my comfort zone, and that is usually a good thing. I am surprised that it turned out as well as it did, simply because I was blindly erasing and charcoaling away. Guessed what it is yet? (Hint: The post title should be a dead giveaway)

If you guess Nike, you are correct! This sculpture of Nike, which, ironically, we discussed in my Art History Survey class earlier this morning represents the Greek Goddess of Victory. So there ya go. I would have to say that today's drawing class was most definitely a victory. (Even though my sketch could use some fine detailing)

As you go about your day or week don't let your desire to stay in your comfort zone keep you from doing something new or trying it in a new way. It might be fun, it might be frustrating. It might be a disaster, or it might turn out marvelously. You never know. Oh and remember, it's the random reasons...

Domus Mea:The finished product!

Hello everyone! As most of you know I have been working all summer to turn our apartment into a home...and I am proud to say that it is finally finished! Well, for the most part anyways. I love how it has turned out...it is cute, cozy, comfortable, classy, and creative....the 5 things that I strive for when decorating for myself. It was definitely an adventure...and it took some compromising between C.J. and I, but now that it is finished I wouldn't change a single thing.

There are too many pictures for me to post on here, so check out the link below which will take you to the Facebook album. You don't have to have Facebook to see it, so no worries!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1815190145213.2102196.1403871869&l=6970b16787&type=1

 

Hope you like it, I know I do! As you all go about your day, take pride in the little things. Look at your home, is there anything that you could stare at all day long because you just love what you did with it? Don't think this is weird....it is good! You created it--enjoy it! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and remember....it's the random reasons...

Get Ready

Hello everyone! Hope you all had fabulous weekends! I did--I went to visit my aunt and uncle and their baby, Karsten in Arkansas. It is so pretty there! Anyhoo, back to the blog post. Because of some of the events that today brought I started thinking about school and how it starts on Monday. Not a big deal. I am ready for a consistent schedule. I am ready for art assignments. I am ready for fall and the beauty and weather it brings. So....get ready, because I am sure with all of my art classes that my blog (which was originally intended to showcase some of my artwork) will hopefully start to fill up with some of my creations. My fall schedule consists of Geography (have to get those sciences out of the way!), Art History Survey 1, History of Baroque Art, 3D Art Fundamentals, and Drawing II. Lots of art, but that is a good thing considering I am now officially a Studio Art major.

Now on to some actual art! Remember the designs I was asked to create? Well, I finished them and now it is time to play the waiting game to see which design gets to be featured on the blog. It adds a little excitement not knowing. Here is one of the designs that a lot of people have liked:

"Big Cupcake, Little Cakes"

The designs were drawn out in pen and ink, then painted in colored pencil. They were so much fun!

Stay tuned to find out which design made the cut! I can't wait!

I also worked on some projects for my aunt who just got a teaching job. She found out last week that she was the new 9th grade biology/physics teacher, so to help her out I decorated her classroom. I always thought highly of my teachers when their rooms were carefully decorated. I also made her some signs...a name sign, a privacy sign (pictured below), two bulletin boards, and her "expectations" signs. It was a lot of fun!

It is always a blessing when I can help out my family and friends with my love of art. Sometimes my talent and passion seems useless in the real world. Sure, art adds flare to basically everywhere, but its not really a big resume builder when looking into non-artsy jobs. So I am always thrilled when I am asked to do something for someone! It makes me feel extremely helpful.

As you all go about your day, find ways to make your talents, skills, and passions shine! Use them to help someone out--it will make you feel like a rock star. And, as always, it's the random reasons...

Awww...

"A guy and a girl can be just friends, but at one point or another, they will fall for each other... maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late, or maybe forever." -Dave Matthews

No Bake Baking

Hello everyone! Hope you are having a fabulous Tuesday morning! Tuesdays have always been my favorite day of the week, but that it another story, so on to the good stuff.

I have been baking all morning. I have been at the desk all morning. 20 cupcakes, 6 cakes, 3 cookies, 1 pie, and 1 brownie. I have been slightly busy. Every confection has been decorated with the utmost care and finest attention to detail--no laziness here! But...I must let you all in on a little confession--I haven't actually baked my baked goods. Nope, not even in the slightest. They are completely no baked confections.

If you haven't guessed it yet, I have been drawing.....baked goods. No, I am not just dong this for my love of pretty desserts. I am actually doing a project for a bakery's blog. So, all morning I have been sketching away several designs for the bakery to look at and decide which will be the face of their blog. Hopefully they like one of them! I tried to have a little bit of fun with them, and I am very happy with how they have turned out.

Here is a sneak peek, but so I do not ruin the blog's unveiling of the artwork, I am only going to show you all the black and white pre-sketches done with pen and ink. (one of my favorite mediums to work with!)

I can't wait to get them sent to the bakery and see what they choose!  I would have to have one of each. Get some dessert today, and enjoy it! Oh and, as always, remember...it's the random reasons.

Tied up.

Hello everyone! Hope your week has been going well! It has been a busy, but oddly fast week here, with work and getting ready for school to start. As for the apartment perfection percentage? I would give it a solid 95.6%. Almost completely ready. As for my post today, it is about a piece that boosted the percentage about 10%.

There was a big empty space on the wall in the dining room...completely unacceptable. So, a few weeks ago I started brainstorming as to what to place on the wall. My idea, to be completely honest, made me a little nervous as to how the finished product would look. I am happy to say that I am extremely thrilled with how well the final piece looks!

I started out looking for a huge frame. I checked the local antique mall first, but they were both rude and unhelpful. So....to Hobby Lobby I went! I found this wonderful (and very large!) frame in their clearance section for about $3.50. What a steal!

The frame did need some work, so I painted over the "rough" spots with some white and blue paints. I wanted the white paint to have a sort of spilled look, and then I painted blue designs on the white. These are the same blue and white paints that can be found throughout the apartment. The frame was so large that is would barely fit on the table, so some of my work had to be completed on the kitchen floor.



A look at my supplies of the day:  twine, brass studs, pretty odds and ends. 

I cut the twine to fit across the frame both in length and width.



I connected the twine to the frame with the brass studs and buttons. Then whenever there was a "major" intersection I connected it with jewelry wire and attached a pretty little trinket. This white flower is actually from a bracelet of mine that C.J. broke.



I tried to make sure that the twine went in several different directions.



The finished product....almost....Oh, and on a side note, one of my favorite things about this piece is that is seems to frame the flowers on the kitchen table.



Wondering what the project was? No worries, I am not completely crazy! I wanted something that could hold pictures and cards in an artistic and completely unique way. I like this idea for several key reasons: 1. It isn't a huge ostentatious piece. Since it is not solid and the colors are toned down, the piece doesn't take over the small space.  2. The frame keeps everything organized and in one space. It gives the space boundaries. 3. Well....I am just happy that it turned out well. I can't wait to fill the piece with more pictures!



So, as you go about your day don't let an out-of-the-box idea intimidate you. Have some faith in yourself and take a risk--chances are, it will turn out great! Oh, and remember...it's the random reasons.

For the First Time.

Hello everyone! Hope you all had marvelous weekends! I had a pretty great one, and it ended on an extremely good note:  I did something for the very first time! As for what....you will have to wait until the end of the post.

Sunday Night. Tonight I decided to make a berry/peach crisp, I started out with peaches, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Then added sugar, a pinch of flour, and mixed together.

When that was complete, I popped the fruit mixture into the oven until the fruit started to bubble.

While the fruit was cooking, I mixed up the topping:  brown sugar, ginger, cinnamin, flour, and unsalted butter.

Next, I peeled potatoes for the loaded mashed potatoes I planned on making with dinner. I absolutely LOVE mashed potatoes of any sort, and was delighted to have finally made them since I moved to Stillwater. A first, but not the first you are waiting for. I made extra mashed potatoes....for taste testing, dinner, and, of course, left overs. I also used half and half to make them creamy.

While I was peeling potatoes, my crisp finished baking. It smelled delicious and the topping was a beautiful golden brown. It was all I could do not to grab a spoon!

 Then I started the potatoes....

While the potatoes were softening, I chopped up some onions to saute, and got out the butter and the minced garlic.

Then it was time to get the steaks out of the fridge. I had "fixed" them earlier before I went to work with a mixture of raw onion, minced garlic, pepper, seasoning salt, and olive oil. They smelled delicious!

I got everything all set up and ready to go and starting grilling on the new George Foreman. 

One steak down! One to go!

And finally....a colorful and delightfully smelling meal! Seasoned rib eye, garlic broccoli, loaded mashed potatoes, and cheesy bread. Yum!

And for dessert.....Berry and peach Crisp with vanilla ice cream! A wonderful compliment to the meal and the leftovers will make for several great breakfasts later in the week. 

It is safe to assume that I am very much enjoying having a kitchen and someone to cook for. As to my first? Well, this was my first time to cook a steak. I was actually a bit surprised with how well the steaks turned out, they weren't dry or chewy, and didn't require a ton of sauce to taste ok. C.J. didn't have to put on a fake smile and choke down his steak and then grudgingly ask for seconds--They were good! Next time I am going to try some steak seasoning, but knowing me I will probably add something extra.

Have a wonderful Monday and don't forget to enjoy things like kitchens, bubble baths, and candles...all things that I took for granted before moving into a dorm. Oh, and what kind of day would it be if I didn't remind you to remember, it's the random reasons...