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. 

I Got It!!!!

I am so happy, today I found out that I will be painting in the semi-private honors studio next semester!  So completely awesome!

I Will Let You Know....When I Know!!! (Fingers Crossed)

Friday - applied.  We'll see.  Hopefully will know by next week.

More Work on the Pajama Portrait -

This is nearing completion.  I still have some extra work to do, but it is looking a lot better.  I did a great deal more work on Eddy's socks, the hem of his pajamas, worked more on his face and added some water lines around the yellow duckies.  I still need to finish the water lines on the rest of the pjs and I need to lighten the sleeve a bit by my hand, but it is very close to being done!

8th Painting for this semester in Painting III Class -Abstract

This is my final painting for this class; it's an abstract on panel.  I made the panel myself; Eddy helped me cut the wood for the side casing of the panel; it had to have 45 degree angles for each piece to fit together and create a box.  We did this with a cheap miter box in the isle of a Home Depot - not fun- we took turns.  But here is the painting.

Changed the Background to the Joshua Painting

I think this background works much better than the yellowish curtain.

Greatest Picture Ever Taken!

Eddy being the  creative soul that he is, took a great picture of me while painting, us.  He took it in black and white, a setting on his camera.  I couldn't wait to post it on my blog.  I hope you like it too.

 

Another Project - having a bit of fun!

This has been one of the most difficult projects I have attempted.  It's still in the works, but I thought it would be good to post part of the process.  What's funny is the painting has already changed since this picture was taken (this weekend).  I worked on it more today in class, and it has changed considerably.  The color has been painted over and removed from the sleeves, just the trim remains blue.  I have worked more on the folds in the clothing and more on Eddy's face.  This image doesn't show Eddy's feet fully, but they are coming along much better as well.  This painting is approx. 4 feet tall.  I find it a humorous painting.