Where do people go when they die?

That's the one thing that I would like to ask god, if he actually exists...I'm fascinated with the concept of the afterlife.  So, after posing this question to myself, this is what I came up with.

Created using Rives BFK paper, watercolor, conte crayon, ink, and pastels.

Available for sale in my Etsy shop.  $7!  The frame isn't included, but I can tell you where to buy this frame for a great price:-D

My new hobby

For the past couple of months I've been experimenting with printmaking.  It's really fun and relaxing for me.  It's a nice change from what I usually do. 

Lino has turned out to be more fun than what I bargained for.  My goal is to eventually buy some wood carving tools so that I can make woodcuts.  I'm going to have to save up for that:-(

I also decided to close up my jewelry shop today.  It's turned out to be more work than what it's worth.  I've only had a few sales this year (in both shops), and they're really just cash cows.  Goodbye etsy!  I'll be closing the art shop before the 1st of January as well.  I may post my stuff in my 1000 Markets shop, but I don't even think I should bother.  I have a lot to think about.

I am glad about one thing though.  My mom visited my house, and found a bunch of my art that she liked.  I'm just going to give the stuff to her.  One of the paintings that she liked is a new one.  I wasn't even so sure I liked it.  I'm glad it will find a good home.  I at least have one fan for life:-)  Thank god for moms!

 

Poor Emma--A Series

I'm busy all the time now with art.  I love making it.  I just can't stop.  It's the only thing that's keeping me sane.

I've started yet another project.  It's finished, but it was just a random idea.  It involves one of my favorite novels: Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert.  It's a small series of four mixed media illustrations.  I've created the series using bristol board with acrylic paints, oil sticks and conte crayons.  Oh, and parts of the book that I butchered :-)  Who knew that book mutilation could feel so good?

Thinking of Charles Darwin...And fish

I fell asleep last week at my laptop, doing my Bio homework.  Of course, this class (on evolution and genetics) is centered heavily around the work of Charles Darwin, and the work of his successors.  I was thinking of Darwin's years traveling South America; all of his discoveries.  I dreamed about it while I was supposed to be doing my homework.

Then, I went to make an abstract painting.  I stopped working on the painting.  I got stuck.  Then, I looked a little closer, and saw that yellow fish looking out at me.  This is what happens when I arm myself with oil sticks and conte crayons!

The original is up for sale in my etsy art shop.  Enjoy! 

Artist on the rise

Since my daughter was really young I've been encouraging her to make art.  I noticed really early on that she liked to draw; she was constantly watching me make art, and drawing in my sketchbooks.  Over the past year and a half I've bought her tons of her own art supplies, and watched her skills flourish.  I like the art that she makes.  It's interesting in ways that an adult mind can't always understand.  It's fresh, energetic, and not weighted down with the worldly bull- that we adult artists create.

I've also created an interest in her for photography.  She really likes the idea of photography.  Even film!  So, for a whole day I let her use a 35mm point and shoot camera.  She really enjoyed the experience, and still carries the camera around to take pictures.

She thinks taking pictures of mommy is really funny.

If there's one thing that my daughter has taught me it's that you have to find a different way of seeing the world.  In order to excel in art and photography you have to find the right angle.

I recently bought some Shiva Oil Sticks, and she had a ton of fun with those.  She likes playing with my pastels/oil pastels.  So, we both made a picture using the oil sticks.  She did most of the work.  I just drew in the sky and the clouds/monster.  Mayoree really enjoyed it. 

Now this picture is up on her wall.  It makes her happy, and proud to see her art up on the wall.  The same way I feel when I look at my art!  I've promised myself that I will make an aritsts out of this one.

Number 2

I started this painting yesterday.  I like it, but I still want to make some adjustments to it.  I received some criticism for this painting...I don't know why, but it really hurt. I guess that's just the way criticism is.  You either love it, or hate it.

I did some more work on the first painting.  I like this one more than the second one.  There's just something about the colors that I really like, but couldn't recapture with the second.

The whole process is actually a bit depressing.  I don't know why...

New Painting--Nude; Abstraction

I really like this painting.  The colors, the feel...everything.  My husband likes what he called the 'grungy' feeling to it.  My daughter said that it looked really scary.  I don't know why.

I'm still working on it.  I have a few adjustments to make.  I'm anxious to get started on the next one.  I'm going to try to make a series out of these.  Might have to go to Blick Arts and spend even MORE money.  Haha.  I'm very tempted to buy some oil sticks, but so far I'm restraining myself well.  The money for oil sticks could go to buying more surfaces to paint on.  Or...nothing.  There are so many supplies here for making art that I've run out of storage space.   I want to use more of the materials that I have before I buy even more.

Still Going!

Yikes!  I've been working on this painting for almost a whole year now.  My goal is to finish it before 2010.  I think it's starting to look better.   I just need it to be done. I think I'm almost there.  I've just decided that this is going to be the last coat of paint.  The first coat of color paint took a whole 5 months to dry.  During those 5 months all types of crud dried in the paint.  I'm not going to let that happen again.  Cleaning that crap is a pain in the @$$.

This painting has turned into the same thing.  On the flip side, I will enjoy framing it, and then mounting it:)

Hydra--Original 16 x 20 inch Mixed Media Drawing

Another addition to my shop.  I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about this one at first.  But, after being seperated from it during work, I started to like it more.  Then, my husband noticed it, and said that he really liked it.  So does Mayoree.  But they don't count, right?  I think the husband is a little biased anyway.  Blue is his favorite color.

I created this one using acrylic paints, oil pastels, conte crayons and graphite dust.  I also used impasto for some places on this piece.  It's certainly interesting to look at.  I like it.  Since my husband likes it I put it over his desk:)  Hopefully, it will inspire him while he's making music.  This is only temporary, as I intend to send this one off to a good home!  I just like to decorate my house with my art.

 

That's "Love and Beauty Meet" (photograph in my shop), and "Jacob's Ladder" (Original Oil Painting) up on the wall.  That's my side of the bed, and I love seeing them when I first wake up!  BTW, I do not use those weights that are on the dresser:)  Wish I had time...

Having more art in the house has certainly improved our moods.  I can see now that my husband is a little more motivated to clean up, and keep the place looking nice.  I'm so happy.  Finally!  Who knew that a couple of pictures nailed up on the wall would do so much?

This is why people NEED art.  It's not just there for decoration.  It's there because it's essential.  Why else would our ancestors have bother painting in caves?  These weren't just cave paintings either.  They were sacred places.  Places where people gathered to contemplate daily life, humanity, god...

Art is God with an extra 'O', as Kanye West would say;-)

Roll Out

Describing the new work is a little difficult...I admittedly create my art based soley on my emotions.  My new art is a reflection of that.  I've just been feeling like recycled poo.  Not to say that I think my art looks the same, but I wanted to create things that reflected these emotions.  Very moody, and contemplative.

I really felt compelled to create something with a sense of immediacy.  This is how I feel now: hurry up, go, go GO!  I think the art expresses that.  These are all up in my etsy shop, and priced to move.

In the coming days there will be a huge roll out of art that is VERY affordable price, and ready to go.  I'm on a creating spree, and I want this stuff to find good homes.

Fall of an Angel

A new painting available in my etsy shop.  I'm extremely excited about it.  I don't know if I could ever part with it!  It looks so nice decorating my walls...

It's a bit of a moody, and depressing picture; that's how I've felt lately.  My art has an uncanny ability to mock my emotions.  My husband says that my 'new' art is starting to disturb him.  He says that the work really moves him.

I'm just trying to get a response from people.  I want my viewers to think.  To feel.  I think that we've become emotionally numb to the world around us.  My goal is to change that.

Work, work, work...and love

I've been hard at work on my etsy art shop...no bites, but nothing new there. I've been really depressed about it for the past couple of weeks. The usual reasons, of course. So, last week I decided that I would start applying for jobs again. What did I have to lose besides free time? I didn't really expect any employers to call me back. I've been unemployed for almost two years now, and I haven't had any real prospects. Well, guess what? I was contacted not even 12 hours after posting my resume to a job sight. I was over joyed. I coordinated an interview within two days, and on thursday I was offered a job. A REAL JOB. I was offered a full time job making more money than my husband! But...I had to turn the offer down. I finally got a job offer, but I couldn't take it because I'm a full-time student. This is my last semester at the community college, and in December I'll have an associate degree. It's important to note that the only reason why I went back to school was because I couldn't find a job in my field. I'm so angry about this! I was so tempted to drop all of my classes. The drop deadline is November 1st, and it would have worked out perfectly.

Except, not really. I wouldn't be graduating in December, and this would set me back by a whole semester. I called my mom at her job to ask her what I should do. I expected her to yell at me for being stupid enough to turn down a job in this economy. She didn't. She told me everything that I felt in my heart. "It's not worth it. You can get more money."

My husband felt the same way, but I could tell that he was a little disappointed. I don't blame him. He's been supporting me since I was laid off, and I feel useless. I can't get a job in my field, and neither of my businesses are bringing in a consistent income.

What can I do? The only thing that I've ever been good at was art, and I can't even make a living doing that. That makes me...worthless. I've been working super hard for the past year: going to school full-time, working (below a living wage), and trying to support myself making art and jewelry. Yet, I have nothing to show for it.

Then, the weekend came. On Saturday, not only did we take our daughter Trick or Treating, but we also celebrated the 1st year of our marriage. After weeks of crying myself to sleep, that day made me cheer up a bit.

Mayoree played the role of a not so happy devil :)  BTW, this is not a costume.  She has horns, and a tail all the time :-)

The cake, courtesy of my dad-in-law.  I told him that I wanted a cake that was creepy, and had blood splatter and dripping blood.  He said he made the 'blood' using granulated sugar and red food coloring.

We also had a chance to pig out on snacks.  Mayoree ate a ton of candy.  She stayed up until 2 am watching scary movies with us.

So, I have to say that the weekend really improved my mood.  I didn't get a chance to work on any art, but I enjoyed myself.  I'm still trying to get over the flu, but I'll live.  I think that I may have pnemonia....but I don't have the time to go to the doctor.  Maybe next week.  I just hope my inhaler lasts until then.


BTW, this is me and my husband from our honeymoon last year.  We had a TON of fun in Toronto.  It's the coolest place on earth.

An Angel

It's important to note that this actually started as an abstract painting.

I'm not an abstract painter, but I wanted to try it again. I first dabbled in abstract painting last semester for my painting class. I discovered that I suck at it!

So, when I started making this painting I was going to make an abstract landscape...or something like that. Then this character appeared in the middle of the painting, emerging out of this hellish rift. I think she's an angel. Or at least that's what I intend to make her. Oh yeah, the city behind her was on accident. I just figured that I would add some type of skyline behind her, and there it appeared.

I've had a lot of fun working on this painting so far. It's a project that started as a way to just decorate the space over my couch, but it's much more interesting now.

This is also the biggest painting that I've ever worked on. It measures 40 inches by 36 inches. Now a perfect square, but close. I really like the square format in my artwork after working with medium format photography for the past couple of months. It's nice to break out of the 2/3 format every once in a while.

Here's another shot of the painting. This time without the mess of my workspace to distract the viewer:)


Unfortunately, work will be halted for the next few days. I got the flu a few days ago, and I still have a consistent fever of about 102 degrees:( It's not fun.

Featured in another Treasury!

I was so surprised when Creeplings contacted me. The name of the treasury was "Pale and Pearly". I did manage to get a screen shot of it. Thanks so much!

project: Visual Storytelling

project4
Originally uploaded by jr_goddess

My new project for my photography class: to tell a story using the photograph. They have to be seen in order to make sense. So, I cheated a little bit, and did this.

The model is a long time friend of mine. He's trying to tell you a story...

serene

serene
Originally uploaded by jr_goddess

Woot! I bought a new camera...A DSLR. So far, I'm having a lot of fun with it. I do have to admit that I like less of the pictures that I take with it. More of my film shots are keepers. But, for color work the DSLR will help save me some money.

This is one of the first shots from this camera. Also for sale in my etsy shop!

Drawing II, again?

So, I'm really pissed right now. I finally got my admissions letter from the College for Creative Studies, and I'm really pissed.

1)I got less award money than what I thought I was going to get.
2)A lot of the classes that I took at HFCC are not going to transfer over. As in about 15 credits worth!
3.)They're making me retake Drawing 2! WTF!!!!

I could understand if this was the second time I've had to retake Drawing 2, but this is the THIRD TIME! And, yes, I was yelling. There are no words for how angry this -ish makes me.

So, I'm going to march my tale down to the school and protest against this. I don't think that I should have to retake this class. I'm hoping that I win the battle against them, because I really don't feel like this is fair.

Here are some of the drawings that I submitted for my portfolio.

I've been busy

I've been taking pictures like crazy. I just discovered TTV, and I love it. It's so much fun. That's what I love about photography:it's a very flexible medium.