Inspired

Remember a while back when I posted the video about the tall painting? Well, I have recently discovered this really awesome artist who creates artwork in a totally organized, yet unique way! Check out the video!

As you go about your day try to find something out of the ordinary that inspires you. Never let yourself be bored, and as always, it's the random reasons.

Silicone and Fishes

Good Monday everyone! Hope you are doing well! It has been a crazy week. Quick recap:  My family came into town the weekend before last, it was a blast. This last week has been a series of running to classes, running to work, then running around trying to get homework finished and tests studied for. Thankfully this last weekend was great. I actually worked both Saturday and Sunday, but C.J. and I spent a lot of time just having fun. No homework this last weekend! That was super nice! Last night he popped Star Wars into the DVD player.....and so I can now say that I have seen Star Wars (even if it is only like an hours worth). Haha. Anyhoo, classes today were pretty good, and most of them let out early. So I have an art post for you and a surprise too!

Art Project Numero Uno:  Clay tile, with flexible mold, and mother mold.
Class:  3D

This project has been extremely stretched out as far as the time frame goes. But anyways, we were told to make a 4 inch by 4 inch tile out of clay. The design was completely up to each individual, but it had to work when 9 of the same tile were laid together. I chose to take my inspiration from the Aegeans and the Italians, and then add some of my own flavor to it. It was both an additive and subtractive process. Here it is:

The finished tile:

So there is that project....well, part of it. Because of the weather we were not able to cast our flexible molds out of the silicone sealant as soon as we would have liked. Then, we had to let those dry before we could cast the mother mold out of plaster....which we did today. So...hopefully soon I will have my nine tiles cast out of plaster. Want to know the best part about this project? We get to paint the tiles in as many colors as we would like! I am so excited!

Project Numero Dos:  Zoology Study

Class:  Drawing 2

Oh my goodness. If you have ever been down to the basement of Life Sciences West on campus you will know why I could not look at a glass jar for a few weeks without getting queasy. If you haven't been down there...let me fill you in. You see, below the classrooms of Life Sciences West lies the most perfect venue for a haunted house. No, there are no ghosts, but there are a lot of dead things. The basement is home to the Zoology collections museum which has animals dating back to before statehood. Impressive! So to help you get the visual, think of those shelves you can buy at Walmart and Lowes for your garage or shop....now think of those completely full of various sizes of mason glass jars...you have your pints, quarts, gallons, 2 gallons...etc. Now fill all of those jars with a liquid that looks like Miso soup....minus the tofu. (yum...right?) No. Now...stuff various types of animals into those soup filled jars. Gross...I know. They have all kinds--fish, snakes, frogs, bugs, polar bears, sharks, pigs....you name it, they probably have canned it. Now...that's not all. They also have several sets of drawers that when pulled out reveal dead birds...they are not stuffed either. They just lay side by side in the drawer blanketed with the smell of moth balls. As you walk out of the museum you can see the many deep freezes that line the basement hallway....creeeepy. Animals in jars not your thing? That's ok, they have deep freezes on the first floor with dead mammals and bones....also blanketed in moth balls. So...you might be wondering what I decided to draw....dead snake....dolphin skull.....Elvis the iguana? Nope...none of those. I chose to draw the live fish in the aquarium in the break room. And I loved it! Here are the fish from the break room. (Disclaimer: these fish were alive, not floating in some nasty Miso soup look a like jelly)

Fish One:  Graphite Pencil

Fish Two:  Ink

Fish Three: Charcoal

Now, the project included six drawings, 3 different mediums, and two types of reference materials. The fish above were all live subjects, and the fish below were all drawn from photographs.

Fish Four:  Graphite Pencil

Fish Five:  Charcoal

Fish Six:  Ink

It was a fun project to do, mainly because it was different than what I would normally draw. The live, fast moving fish were a challenge, but I really enjoyed studying the fish and finding out the functions of their designs in order to accurately draw them.

Here is the aquarium where the first three fish live, and then all of the fishies together. :)

Now...for your promised surprise. Well, my current Drawing 2 project involves using one of my fish drawings in an installation at the Postal Plaza in downtown Stillwater. The Postal Plaza will be the new OSU art gallery, and will be hosting a building reception on the 19th of this month. The awesome news? My installation will be seen at the reception! Hooray! I am getting very excited! Here is a link to the art department's blog talking about the reception:

http://osuma.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/transforming-the-postal-plaza-genus-genius/

I will post pictures after the reception. Sorry for the extremely long post today, but I needed to get some art on here. Hope you all have a fabulous week, and remember to just keep swimming. And, as always...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...

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.

if I were an Art Teacher...

Hello! Hope you all are doing well. I have been super busy this last week, but since I got a week of vacation, I'm definitely not complaining! While working one of the 8 hour graveyard shifts at Bennett I was playing around on StumpleUpon and found this wonderful video. I just had to share!

As for the blog post title...well, if I were an art teacher I would definitely have my students do this one day!

Hope you enjoyed the video! Have a great rest of your week and remember that sometimes what we consider "different" could be really neat! Oh and, as always, it's the random reasons.

the HANKY in his pocket

Still working away on the book! I am almost finished though, and absolutely LOVING the way it is turning out. The photo below shows one of my particularly favorite pages so far--it is inspired by a red hanky that my grandma gave me about two years ago, that has mascara stains, and that will always be one of my most treasured items. I added words and photos to to this page, and I while I really like the way it turned out, I can't help but love the simplicity of the background painting.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! I am going to be crafting away and getting ready for my trip home (and loving every minute of it!) And, don't forget....it's the random reasons.

Guggen--huh?

Hello everyone! Hope you all are having a tip-top fabulous week! I have been in the creative mood lately, so that is an absolutely wonderful thing, and I am also very excited that I am going to the Panhandle next week. Sadly, I don't have any finished projects to show you all today, but while at the desk I have been browsing through some potential future opportunities. There are several through OSU that would be absolutely amazing, and I am fairly confident that I have a pretty good shot at getting them. The art department here has a ton of money to give to its students and not very many students who apply for it...so the odds are usually pretty great.

Today I looked at some internships at the Guggenheim. That would be absolutely AMAZING. So, I am getting pretty excited about the possibilities of the future. Can't wait to see what is in store!

Don't ever let yourself not plan and get excited for your future--it is yours for the taking! Two things to remember today: 1. Dreams do not come true, goals do. 2. Its the random reasons.

Staple. Stitch. Glue.

Hello Lovelies! So as promised, a day late, a post about something I have created. Finally, I know.

Staple. Stitch. Glue....stay tuned to find out which two get the boot!

This creation is less fine art and more practical art for the apartment. I love pillows. That is not just a random me-fact, but is, in fact, a crucial point to this post. I have always loved having a ton of throw pillows on my bed--I have even received them as Christmas gifts in the past. I don't know specifically what it is about them that brings a smile to my face, but it might be the fact that they come in so many pretty designs....or maybe it is because they are like accessories to a room...I'm not sure. Well, anyhoo, I had all these pillows and then when I moved to the apartment, I didn't want them on my bed...I wanted them to go on the couch. So, being me I could not just put bed throw pillows on a couch in my new apartment. Why? 3 reasons.

1. They are BED pillows.
2. They don't match.
3. I just needed something new. :)

So...today I am going to walk you through the process of recreating my pillows...1 step at a time. First, I went to Walmart and bought some really cute fabric squares that they sell for about $1.50 a piece. Not a bad deal, and they had a large selection of cute patterns and such....

I then went home and got everything together to start my first real sewing adventure. Usually when it comes to sewing I get frustrated and end up using fabric glue or staples....other fine art supplies. But, since pillows need to be soft and sewn...I was determined to not let any obstacle turn my project into trash...

I cut and pieced together the black and white fabric with some of the colored fabric then started making pillow cases. I made the two sides, then turned them inside out and sewed three of the edges together (like a pillow case)....

It took awhile to get into the swing of things, but by my third pillow and the last to be completed so far, I was moving pretty quickly with very few hiccups. I have about five more to complete, inverting the colored fabric and black and white fabric, so fingers crossed that they go well. I have to admit that I am pretty proud of myself and my pillows, I feel as though they are sturdy enough for use and cute enough for art, but you can judge that for yourself. I am definitely no sewing expert, and do not want to make this my life's career, but it was fun to try something new.

So as you go about your week, don't be afraid to try something new. It might be a challenge, but in the end you will feel a sense of accomplishment, plus you might have something pretty to show for it! And, don't forget--it's the random reasons...

Jumbled.

Let me start by apologizing for my absence in the blogging world this last week. It might be completely terrible of me to assume that I have let people down by not posting--but just in case I have some readers, I would like to express my sincere apologies for not being reliable.

Now, as for words of wisdom I really don't have any. This week has been very busy with apartment stuff, Best Buy work, and OSU Conferences work, so I am blaming my lack of words on the fact that my brain is just a little tired. Because of this exhaustion my thoughts are all sorts of jumbled up and I am feeling as though nothing I say makes the slightest bit of sense. So I am going to post some pictures that I found and really enjoyed.

Today's picture topics:  Mason jars and flowers.

Perfectly chic and absolutely adorable.

Enjoy these pictures and  remember that sometimes you just need to stop and smell the wildflowers...and, as always, it's the random reasons.

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

it's the Random Reasons.

I have noticed that my entries have started to get a little lengthy, which I apologize for. So, in an attempt to keep things light for the weekend, here is a quote which I found, really liked, and thought really said something about why it's the random reasons in life that keep life wonderful.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” --Ashley Smith

Stickered

Stickers. The kind children get on A+ papers, the kind you scratch and sniff, the kind that scrapbookers find so gosh-darn cute. Yes, they leave a sticky goo behind and are most often times banned from events held in public buildings. Much like the glitter which is banned from any cheer camp staying at OSU, but that is a separate matter, which we will no doubt discuss in full detail.

Anyhoo, stickers. I love them...well, most of them. I like the artistic ones, the cute fancy letters, the ones that I can add to an altered art piece and still be able to happily say that it is mine. The scratch and sniffs, "way to go's" and stickers of those sorts are all just a waste of paper and adhesive as far as I am concerned. But no one asked me. What I am getting to today is this amazing website I found in my blog feed this morning. It was posted by a blogger I follow, who can be found at the bottom of this page, her blog's name is AnnaLikes. It is a neat blog, I really enjoy looking through it. What caught my attention today was a website which specializes in wall decals and just decals in general. Not the tacky wall decals that everyone and their dog have been purchasing to "decorate" their homes, dorm rooms....etc. Yes, I am a tad bit bitter about these decals. They are not artistic and very generic. They are providing people with an "easy" way to decorate and for some odd reason it just makes me nauseous. I'm sorry if I am offending any of my readers who have tried to decorate with these. I'm just venting.

So...this website. So presh. It has wall decals which are very artistic and are a great breakaway from the decals with quotes and things saying cheesy and cliche sayings. These are clever and a little gutsy. My personal favorite was the decal for a refrigerator...found in the kitchen section. The decals made for children's bedrooms are so adorable and the living room ones are very humorous. They have also produced a series dealing with energy, which, by the way, all of their decals are eco friendly! In my opinion wall decals, should act as part of the wall (like a mural)...they should not be the centerpiece of the room. These seem to do just that! They would definitely add conversation pieces to any room.

Check them out at www.hu2.com. You won't regret it, I promise.

So, as you go about your day, remember to always be you. Whether you are decorating a room or picking out your clothes or writing a speech--let your uniqueness show! And remember...it's the random reasons...

JitterBug

Good afternoon everyone! Hope your weekends have all been delightful! I worked most of the weekend, but today is my day off from both jobs...yes, both. Hallelujah! Anyhoo, my aunt and uncle came over today and delivered the dining room table, and the tv stand. Now we can stop eating on the couch and tv can be moved from the file cabinet. Surprisingly I did not intend to blog about the apartment today, that can wait. I wanted to express my excitement about something that will hopefully be a wonderful event full of generosity, excitement, laughter, and fun.

Rock the Sock, my first baby (the second being the new apartment haha), has blossomed into so much more than I could have ever dreamed of. While I am very excited about that, I am more excited that, possibly, in a year, Rock the Sock could be hosting a first annual event that will give so much to so many people. Not just in sock donations, but in fun, community involvement, and a sense of togetherness. A few of my aunts and I have been discussing plans for this event throughout the last few days. One of my aunts mentioned having it around the end of July and doing it in memory of a very important person who is no longer with us in person. This event would be planned by several members of my family and would hopefully help bring all of us closer together. What a blessing. When thinking about this event, I can't stop thinking of new ways that it would be helping everyone involved. What a great way to honor someone who was always thinking and lending a helpful hand to others. I think he would be proud. And that is why I can't contain my excitement for this event. You don't come across opportunities like this everyday, and letting one slip through your hands is unacceptable. It will be a lot of work, and there will be obstacles to overcome, but it most certainly can be done.

For more information on Rock the Sock, check out the blog at http://warmandhappytoes.blogspot.com

As I leave you all today, don't forget that “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” Know what you want, be excited about what you want, and work your tail off to get what you want. And, as always, remember that it's the random reasons...

No Meat, Just Fluff

Hello! Hope you all are wonderful today! So as today's title suggests, I will not be posting anything of substance in the main blog portion today. However, I have added some photos and other posts to some of the pages on the blog. So, if you are looking for something to glance at while trying to keep from dying of boredom at the desk (wait, that would be me), then check out these pages:

1. Domus Mea:  It is going to allow you to creep on what is going on with my new apartment.
2. FinishedBliss:  My own personal art gallery, well a few of my favorite works anyways.
3. GiggleBox:  You need to laugh everyday. It is good for you, so just do it.
4. SuperHero:  A little insight into what is really important to me at this moment in my life.

So, if you are wanting a little marshmallow cream today, look at the pages and I look forward to posting something in the form of steak at a later date. :)

Oh, and always remember that sometimes we need a break from the norm, and that it is completely ok to have marshmallow cream for breakfast, and, as always...remember, it's the random reasons.

Flower Pots in the Kitchen

Hello everyone! Hope your weekends went fabulously. I started moving things into the new apartment on Saturday and then we finally got the power turned on on Tuesday. It was a hot weekend, but extremely productive nonetheless. My stress is starting to die down now that things are starting to come together, the furniture is looking like it is all going to fit, and the apartment is coming together very nicely. My mom came down on Monday night and we unloaded almost all of the "big" furniture on Tuesday morning at a very early 6 a.m. We were finished by almost 7:30 and then she left around 8:30. It was great to see her while she was here!

So now I have a few projects:

1. Getting the apartment ready.
2. Refinishing the dresser.
3. Refinishing the desk.
4. Decorating and constantly making things "pretty."

So...3 and 4 on the list were my own choice. I love taking things that people are going to just throw away and fixing them up into something that no one else has and that everyone else envies. It is so  much fun, especially after I have fixed up some one's something and they end up wishing they had kept it and just asked me to fix it for them. I also love Hobby Lobby and Lowes and antique stores, so this just gives me an excuse. No worries, all of you will stay up to date on the progress of my "Projects with Potential" haha.

It really isn't an art project, but I made some innovative silverware holders this last weekend. I already had a bunch of silverware given to me by my grandma before I left for college, and I was having the hardest time finding a silverware holder that fit in a drawer or that I liked. So while at the desk during one of my shifts I googled "silverware holders." One lady had used flower pots. I instantly loved it and went after work to buy some. I found some in the clearance section of Walmart, took them home, and added a little snazz to them. I love how they turned out! Who would have thought--flower pots in the kitchen!

It just goes to show that any problem can be fixed and that anything can be made adorable, so smile as you go about your day and remember...it's the random reasons.

All Smiles.

This is a wonderful idea! Check it out!

Speechless

It has been almost ten days since my last post, and sadly I have nothing to tell you, and nothing to show you. I have been working, not creating art. It's a tad bit sad, but it is life. So since, I can't provide you with a post today I have decided to recommend some reading for you. Go to this blog, read it, look at the photos, follow it if you so desire. It is a good one. Enjoy. :)

http://sugaredconfections.blogspot.com/

and remember...it's the random reasons.

In the Cushion

Hello everybody! (or those of you who so kindly take the time to read my blog...thank you btw) So in honor of my first year of college complete, a good GPA, and the start of summer I would like to share with you all my finished 2D design project. You might recognize it from my sketch which was highlighted in a previous entry.

It isn't the best of pictures, but it will do. I can't wait to get it framed and hung on the wall. So a few of the facts surrounding the project: 

• It is 3 separate pieces.
• It is watercolor and ink.
• Each piece is 22x16.
• They are three different couches.
• First is monochromatic (blue).
• Second is analogous (blue-green, blue, blue-violet).
• Third is triadic (red-violet, yellow-orange, blue-green).

Just remember that is it always important to think outside the box, to never over analyze, don't doubt yourself, and always do what makes you happy...then the masterpieces will start to appear. And remember...it's the random reasons. 

 

That Tingly Feeling

So, I have been super busy with getting ready to get to finals week. This past "Dead Week" as it is known around campus, has been very much alive, leaving me, at times, wanting to drop down into the fetal position. Presentation after prezi, paper after paper, design after design, this week has been a lot of work. The rainy weather had its pros and cons. It was good that it wasn't nice out, then I would want to be outside, instead of inside, working. But the dreary sky and rain seemed to make me want to curl up in bed and nap. Oh well. I have made it through more than half of the week and just have one paper left to do until finals week hits Stillwater. Luckily, unlike many of the students on campus, I do not have to worry about moving out of my room. Thank you summer conference assistant job!

Well, with the hopes that you are not already bored to tears with my description of my week, I am going to leave you with a video I used in my prezi presentation this morning in Comp 2. It gives me that tingly feeling every time I watch it and has already convinced me to add the movie to C.J.'s netflix line-up. So, I hope you enjoy this trailer from "Waiting for 'Superman'".

So as you go about your day try to find something which gives you that tingly feeling and inspires you to make the work a better place....and always remember that, it's the random reasons...