The Cost of an Education...

It is amazing that tuition has risen again, and with that increase, the already over priced books, go up in cost as well.  For one book - a theory music class- the cost: $130.00.  Mind you I had to buy four more books for one art history class and still had to buy all of my canvases at a steep price of $350.00.  That's not including the other painting supplies.  It's a lot to think about. 

Poster Design for the Senior Exhibition

For the senior exhibition class, we all had to design and come up with a title for our group shows.  My group consists of 3 painters and 2 fiber artists.  So I decided on the title, Fabricated Reality.  I made the poster in color and in black and white with only the title in color.  I like both.  This won't necessarily be the poster we will use, but I was pleased with how they turned out. 

Art History Syllabus

Whoever heard of a 47 page syllabus?  Really 47 pages.  I had left for school in the morning and left my printer to produce what I thought was a couple pages of a syllabus for my class.  I come home to find my printer out of black ink and 47 pages piled up.  I walked home from the campus because the bus never showed - so much for trying to "go green."  Mind you it's 106 degrees here in Tempe and humid as hell    (we ran out of "DRY" heat).  I am having one of those go back to bed, cover your head and hope for a better tomorrow, kind of day.  Not a great start to my first semester-

New Semester - one step closer to the end!!!

My new semester starts in four days.  I am two semesters away from a BFA.  Things have been tough and cost for school went up even more.  I worry that I will be out priced in my final push.  I have so many expenses and little money to pay it all- fingers crossed, prayers sent out and good "positive" thoughts put into action-something has to give. 

Birthday Card for My Grandson

This is for my grandson.  He will be two on August 12th.  I was blessed to go and see him this summer; he's a cutie.  I decided to go with the Zedie Super Hero theme.

Newest Dudlz Character

I drew this out in pen first then scanned the image, retraced and colored it in Illustrator- his name is Gojee Beary.

Sandstorm in Arizona- something amazing!

I thought you all might appreciate a snapshot of the sandstorm that just occurred last night...  We were on our way home from the store and had to drive the streets with zero visibility, lights and signal lights out in many parts of AZ.  It was like a movie.  I borrowed this photo to show you what we experienced.

Painting Apples...

This is a cute cartoon that Eddy found for me.  He thought it was funny, since much of my beginning painting courses consisted of painting apples!  

Comment for the Day...

I'm at the bottom of my personality looking up.   It can only get better. 

Trying to be science minded.... arrrgh!!!

I am in the process of taking a summer online Geology lab class.  It is so difficult to be well rounded.  I really just want to make art. 

Artists' Fellowship - providing emergency aid to arists and their families.

This is an excellent Fellowship/foundation.  This is their mission statement:

The Artists' Fellowship, Inc. is a charitable foundation that assists professional fine artists (painters, graphic artists, printmakers, sculptors) and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement. The Artists' Fellowship's Board of Trustees and Officers all serve as volunteers in service to our community of artists. Assistance is given without expectation of repayment. One does not need to be a member of the Fellowship to receive assistance; neither does membership in the Artists' Fellowship entitle one to assistance from the foundation. 

You can be a member and support the cause for a $25.00 annual fee.  The foundation also wants the word to get out for artists to know this charitable foundation is available.  I was reading an article about it in ARTnews.  Examples of donations: One recipient is an artist battling cancer and another was having cataract surgery.  The amount of money helped to pay a month's house payment and for the other a sense of support in a time of great need.  The amount of money awarded is not huge, but it is a sense of hope.  Artists are so under appreciated in our society.  I grow frustrated by the lack of support for the arts.  People don't realize what a dried up world it would be without art- all arts: music, theater, dance and fine arts-painting, drawing etc.  Art is not always beautiful; it is at times confrontational, a commentary on societal issues, and at times, it can even be ugly, in your face- but it's a necessity, a freedom we must tend to and nourish.  I feel this fellowship is just as important.  Something to pass on to other artists and their families. The foundation's link is listed below:

http://www.artistsfellowship.org/about.html

William Kentridge - South African Artist

The video link I am attaching is of William Kentridge and his art.  It's titled, Anything Is Possible.  His work incorporates drawings, renderings in charcoal, and sometimes torn paper- made into short films.  He has an interesting story.  The video is through PBS. 

http://video.pbs.org/video/1619754531/

Conversation with Contemporary Artist- Arthur Ganson

I was reflecting back on my first semester at ASU and remembered that I had a presentation to prepare for my 3D class.  I was given kinetic art to research.  When I saw the list of artists, I was curious to see which ones were still alive and working today.  I came across Arthur Ganson.  I thought it might be interesting to write to him and see if he would be willing to converse on his art/sculpture.  He was and is quite gracious.  He wrote and was willing to respond to a laundry list of questions I had prepared for him.

One of my questions: (partial question)

Secondly, could your response be on a more personal level as to what draws you to kinetics?
Ganson's Response:

What I do turns out to be a beautiful assimilation of most of my innate aptitudes and interests.  When I studied sculpture it was all very traditional.  It wasn't until I somewhat randomly put a little mechanism together in my second year of college did I find that all of my interests could be incorporated.  The first was careful working with my hands;  I was drawn to use delicate wire and for the building to be a challenge.  One of my early dreams was to be a surgeon.  Here I was creating a world in which I could do my surgery in.  The second was logical programming; In high school I spent most of my senior year programming computers.  I loved that world but it was dry.  The making of the machines naturally became an outlet for the programming side of me.  The third was the emotionally expressive aspect.  I wanted to express the inner fragility that I felt inside.  Making delicate machines was a way to do that in a poetic way.

Also, I was always interested in thing in the process of becoming and less interested in the object itself.  How the material moves is often the most important thing.

This is a link to one of his creations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLHIf-VAgDs

All My Grades In: 4.08

I am pleased.  My grades all posted- finally. 

Watercolor-My Last Painting for the Semester!

I am very pleased with this painting.  I was very frustrated by my watercolor class this semester and decided to paint for myself.  I painted this in four hours today.