Happy New Year!

My final semester starts in three days.....

Merry Christmas....

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!!  And a Happy New Year!!!  This card was designed for two really awesome people....Ed and Louise, and homage to Rat Fink.

4.03 GPA semester grades!!!

A, A, A+, A and finally A.  I did it!  With a little help from my friend.  Hallelujah!!! 

Pictures of My Grandson.....He's So Cute!

These are some pictures I took from my son's facebook of my grandson.  He and his wife are very bad at sending photos, so I lift them from their facebook - too funny and kind of sad, but you got to do what you got to do.  My grandson is a cutie. 

New Character - Dan D. Bear

So there will soon be a new line of characters - Dan D. Bear and Co.  So far, I have three in the menagerie Dan D. Bear, Dotty Otter and Dudley (the dog). 

Introducing - Dan D. Bear:

More to follow soon...

A Little More Happy News...

I was just informed that two of my paintings will be in the LUX Undergrad Review magazine.  This will be my third year in a row.  It's kind of fun – you get some fancy snacks, get a little dressed up and see your work in print.  I was again surprised that two of my works were selected, one is my painting Rose Colored Glasses (Self-portrait), and the second is my painting titled Boy Behind the Glass.  I've provided the images below: 

I had to Leave Early and to My Surprise!

I was at the Undergraduate Juried Show but had to leave early.  I was not feeling well.  Little did I know, I won a juror's award!  I had been painting all day in the studio and was feeling blue and icky.  I saw the show, all of the art is amazing!  But I really couldn't stand another minute on my feet.  In fact, I am home sick now recovering from this semester – I only found out by reading my email informing me of the win and by a fellow classmate who left a comment on my blog also congratulating me.

My Work was Accepted into the Undergrad Show!

I made it into the show.  I will close out my time at ASU with this final show! 

Wrapping Up Fall Semester

Fall semester is almost over. 

Besides Applying...

Besides all the work and hours it took this weekend to get the MFA stuff uploaded, I also finished writing two essays for my Art History class and also completed nearly half of my Marketing Class final.  Eddy and I also ran around buying postage, cds, dvds and all other important items to finish out the vital steps. I have to upload my artwork portfolio onto a dvd for my senior exhibition class (done).  The letter, artist statement, bio, and CV have been printed, trimmed and ready to go for that class.  I now need to find a nice black presentation folder, so today we are off to Staples after class.  I will also be meeting with my Professor to review the last two paintings that I have been working on.  On Friday I was so sick, migraine, but I went ahead and painted.  I came home just sick as a dog.  I rested that night and moved on to the other tasks at hand.  Persevere - always persevere.  I'm not sure what the professor is going to think of this new work, but I really enjoyed getting some of it out of my system, out of my head and onto the canvas.

MFA Programs - I Applied...

Well it took nearly two years of research, writing my statement of purpose, getting my images together of a good body of work and picking out schools to apply to.  I finally narrowed it down to six.  I was able to get through all of the steps in one weekend.  I just now have to send out some stuff through the snail mail, order transcripts and get the letters of recommendation from my professors on their way.  No matter what happens, if I don't get an offer from any of the schools, I at least took the leap, invested the time and tried.   And Eddy helped on all fronts, thanks Eddy.

Temptation further along...

I worked another five hours on the Temptation - My Inner Monster portrait.  I worked up the shadows, finally was able to get a foundation down for the fingers and fingernails.  The eye is much more detailed. 

This Next Painting is Still in Progress...

This painting is titled Temptation - My Inner Monster.  It is a nude, but it is also a monster.  She is tempting all who view with a red apple (biblical reference -Eve).  It is still in progress; I was happy to paint this much out in five hours.  I will go back and glaze the apple, put in the fingernails, and add more shadow.  I really like this monster theme and might continue with it.  I am pleased with the brushstrokes and fullness of the body.  I hope you enjoy it too.  I will post more as I work further on it. 

This Painting is Disturbing - Please View with Caution...

This painting is titled The Violation.  It is for all that have witnessed abuse of a child and refused to speak out.  It is a painful image and would caution all who view my blog.  Kathe Kollwitz's composition titled The Rape is a strong influence, and Edvard Munch's The Scream as well. 

Totally Unique and Different Path...

I will be starting two new paintings.  They are as stated above, unique and different from any of my previous work.  The direction is more of an emotional response, but continues to be autobiographical in nature.  I am hoping to focus more on brushwork and color, rather than rendering a representation of someone.  As the work progresses, I will post pictures.