Post numbah two of my re-commitment.

Hi y'all. Sitting in a coffee shop (Fremont Coffee Company) attempting to be cool by sipping a cappuccino and eating single origin artisan chocolate, no big.

BUT what is more artistically relevant was this morning's Image and Narration class. Not only did I take on the fun in-class assignment of drawing Lady Gaga in various states of abstraction, but my classmates and I also shared 3 of our favorite influences. Not just for art, but for life in general. Here were mine:

Harry.

Disney.

Bowie.

I could go on and on about my influences and why I love them, and what they have done to personally impact me and the world but I won't. Maybe later. What was more interesting were some of the influences that my classmates presented. Particularly this artistic process video...it positively gives me chills:

SUPAKITCH x KORALIE x POSCA from elr°y on Vimeo.

And this terribly creepy short animation, titled Alma.

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Its. ALIVE.

I SHOULD BLOG MORE, so here I am.

This is a medium for creativity, why not take advantage of it? I must admit, once my blogging buddies started dropping off the radar, I became less and less interested in participating. But, as much as I love and appreciate my blogging buddies, I don't need to blog just because they do, and if they do blog more often, then all the better! This really should be an experiment for me, personally.

Time for a blog re-vamp. New quarter, new classes, new goals (new clothes). I solemnly swear (that I am up to no good) that I will blog once a week.

Back to basics: art. I had my first class of Spring quarter today, Image & Narriation, and check out my textbook...

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud

This isn't a comics class, but the textbook really brings light to narritive thought and process. It is exciting to read and easy to understand. Looks like for once I will actually be reading my textbook...

So anyway, while reading, I came across a reference to Max Ernst's A Week of Kindness. Surreal, collage, and comic-y! 

My favorite frame. Surreal.

Many of the pieces depict morphed half-human-bird-lion creatures, but are drawn in a careful, deliberate, and detailed way. It suggests that these creatures are indeed a part of reality, and are as real as the carefully carved and upholstered chair that they stand beside.

Map collages

Time for art! I stumbled upon Matthew Cusick's map collages the other day, and cannot get over the pieces precision and creativity.

Using different colored maps, Matthew constructs portraits and landscapes with remarkable depth and life.

This is amazing. I think most people are interested in maps. They tell stories. Everyone can relate to pointing out a landmark on a map, highlighting a roadtrip pathway, or circling their hometown. Using this personal-to-everyone medium and applying it to portraits leads to a stunning result. I think we all picture our lives as "journeys" so a lot can be said to the intentions behind the portraits.

However Matthew doesn't limit himself to portraits, look at this rad car!

There is so much more to this illustration than the fact that it is a car. Be sure to check out the link to see a very delicate portrait of an older gentleman, and some intriguing landscapes.

Somehow, I am exhausted

I can honestly say that I've had a very easy quarter, in terms of homework and obligations, I don't have very many. This is a great way to start out the school year, especially considering that last year was nothing short of a disaster, not just in my school life but in my personal life as well. I havent had any horrible all-nighters or mental breakdowns, and have somehow seemed to wing every test and paper that I have been assigned.

Until now. I have two paintings due at 2:00, neither are done, and I am completely stuck. And exhausted. I am writing this blog to make a point: just because my major isn't science, or English, or something that involves much reading and busy work, doesn't mean that I don't have major difficulties with my assignments.

I love art. I love painting. I love drawing. But just like when one is writing a paper, and can't figure out how to convey their point, when I can't figure out how to paint an object, I become frustrated too. And it really is hard work! My friends think it makes me feel better when they tell me that they'd rather paint than work on some paper, but they don't realize that it takes the same amount of energy to produce a piece as it does to cram for a difficult test.

I don't know why this is challenging me so much, but I called it quits last night. We'll see how critique goes. Maybe coming back to it another day will give me fresh eyes. I just hope my teacher and classmates are merciful...

ho-hum

I've been meaning to blog lately. I keep thinking of subjects that I could write a decent post about, but nothing seems to really strike my fancy.

At first I thought I could write about my new favorite thing: tumblr. I have come across way too many fun tumblrs, but one that has really caught my eye is artlove.

But I don't really feel like elaborating on the art there...even though I am finding constant inspiration. Just go look.

I also thought that I could write about Christmas, and how absolutely excited I am to go home. I am particularly thrilled because this time around, I'll be spending most of my days at my mom's new house, which is about 5 to 10 minutes from town! This is a great improvement from 45 minutes from town/any freeway...so I'll be able to:
a) have friends over.
b) visit more friends.
c) ...be more friendly, in general.
HURRAY. I forsee many more coffee dates and shopping in the future. I also can't wait to craft with my mom. We are big on the crafting front. My potential Christmas craft? The Pom Pom wreath.

I think these are cheeky and cute and fun. It will be enjoyable to make these while sipping hot chocolate and listening to my favorite Christmas music. Anyway, I could go on and on about my Christmas plans...but I won't. Not yet.

Then I was considering writing about autumn, and how amazingly fall-like Seattle has been lately! The weather has been semi-sunny, crisp but not too cold, with leaves everywhere...it makes me want cider and apple pie and apple hill...plus sweaters and pumpkin carving. I just settled with buying some cute mini pumpkins at Safeway and ate a jumbo large apple.

Am I in a blogging rut? Perhaps...I'll be back when I have something large enough to elaborate on.

gastrotypographicalassemblage

I came across this mini article about the art director for CBS, Lou Dorfsman. Apparently, he has an exhibition going on in London, which features a scaled down model of his (apparently famous) wall design for the CBS lunchroom.

Here's Lou in front of the original version at CBS. What a cheerful looking guy!

I love this! The study of typography is interesting. These words seem to communicate their meaning...I'm not sure how, but the placement, size and style of font just seems appropriate. If I ate in the CBS cafeteria, I would never get bored studying this giant wall of words.

Here's the small scale version for the museum. (Look at the kind of circular part...it says doughnut!)

via

Lessons/Likes

Like I mentioned before, SeaTac is one of my favorite airports because there is so much to look at. I consider myself to be an airport connoisseur, even though I've only been to like, 10 of them. I like SeaTac because they really do consider the traveler, his or her potential needs, and what would make their visit, (or layover) more comfortable. For instance, there is literally a Starbucks in every single section of the airport. Sometimes two. There are a wide variety of shops to browse and escape travel pressures in (or to pick up last minute gifts).

The one thing they are missing is Cinnabon. Yes, I love those cinnamon rolls more than most things in life. With extra frosting.

But the thing I like the most about the airport is that they include tons of art, scattered throughout terminals and hallways. Here's one that I saw while I waited in that beast of a line by the Southwest counter:

Spectrum Delta II by Francis Celentano. Snapped by my phone, but here's a better picture...

Photo Credit: AtomicTaco

It's great up close. So many fun colors, it is electrifying, dizzying, and huge.

Something I have learned about traveling: Don't wear minidresses.

I am wearing American Apparel's Fine Jersey Short Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt Dress in this exact color. I love it, it is comfy and soft and simple, and not too short at all, actually. I wore it because I figured, "When I step into California's sunshine, it's going to be so hot that I won't want to wear pants!" Genius! But, it really is still chilly here in Seattle. That, and lugging around my duffel bag made me feel kind of uncomfortable in it. I forgot to wear spandex underneath, and deftly put some on while riding the light rail (yes that sounds crazy but there was no one around me in my area of the train!), which helped me feel more comfortable. Next time I'll stick with my regular jeans & t-shirt combo, however boring that is.

Mucha

Happy Birthday to the artist who single handedly began the art deco movement: Alphonse Mucha.

Finally, y'all.

I finally decided to post some of my recent(ish) artwork on this "art" blog. Feel free to critique, question, and comment.

Pigeons Are Heroes

So sorry about the poor image quality. It's the best I can do with a camera that has been run over by a car in the past.

Anyway, these are 3 out of 5 paintings I did for Studio Painting class during winter quarter 2010. Medium: Acrylic on woodpanel.

The series is called Pigeons are Heroes because...they are. So many people take these beautiful birds for granted, not considering how they are intelligent, sweet creatures. They have gorgeous feathers, often times with glossy green, purple, and magenta patterns. They are related to doves, which are often associated with romance and beauty, but most people associate them with disease and dirt. Most interestingly, in the past, pigeons have saved the lives of soldiers during wartime, delivering important messages through the midst of gunfire, sometimes arriving with shattered legs and wings. I wanted to portray pigeons in semi-romantic wartime situations...one bravely profiled, a couple saying their goodbyes, and a battalion arriving safely home (or, confidently setting out to battle).

More recently, I arranged some leftover gouache swatches into a fun design, just for the heck of it. In Color Theory class, we had to match self-made gouache swatches to a corresponding Color-Aid swatch, and additionally match the Color-Aid swatch to it's value in grayscale. It was exhausting, and I ended up with a lot of swatches that didn't match. I saved them, and this is what came about.

Renew

On a personal note: I am sitting in my apartment, alone, listening to the Gene Harris quartet on Pandora. This is nice. I have been working nonstop since school has let out (which is good for my wallet, but fairly exhausting). My room is chilly, and strangely enough it is June. It has been so chilly here in Seattle, people have been referring to the month as Juneuary. I am thankful for the opportunity to relax, chat with friends, and clean (my room is pristine), but if I had one summertime complaint, it would be that I really miss the sunshine...

I need vitamin D! I need some amount of warmth! I need to wear my sundress and go picnic in it! Is this so much to ask for? The Solstice is this weekend, please Mr. Sun, pull through for me, and all of Seattle really. I specifically took work off on Saturday so I could attend the Solstice parade in Fremont. I've been waiting for it for nine months. The clouds better not ruin it for me. Also I know that I have been lagging in blog posts, sorry. Simply put, school is really exhausting. But I will catch up in blogging! If anything, I MUST write about the upcoming Solstice parade. It will be unlike anything I have experienced.

Now, for art:
While mulling through the internet a couple months ago, I came across Baptiste Debombourg's stapled wall art. These installations are created entirely out of staples, applied to the wall in various patterns in order to create depth and shadow.

When I came across these, I was instantly impressed and showed a friend. For some reason, he had a hard time determining that the images were human figures. He didn't realize that they were bodies until I told him, actually, and then he appreciated the technique. Do you have the same problem? Do these images translate as human form or just an interesting texture?

I love how the subject is kind of mysterious, how there is no hint to the reason why the figures are suspended in space. The overall effect is soft when viewed as a whole, which is appropriate when handing the human form, but a close inspection reveals the hard, metallic texture used. I really enjoy these.

sketch & craft.

I just came across a really simple DIY craft, while browsing my facebook newsfeed. Thank you, Forever 21 for posting such fun links. (I just became a "fan" of them, oh wait, I mean, I "like" them now, and they tend to post really interesting articles about fashion).

Studded Espadrilles

Photo and craft credit to Citizette.com

I love DIY projects. I could really see myself doing this with Espadrilles, because for one, they are cheap shoes, and two, they get dirty really easily. Dirty, pastel canvas just tends to look awful on my feet (but edgy on others' feet, somehow). Also, studs are really inexpensive.

Secondly, Tiana just showed me a sketchblog with some amazing illustrations! The artist is named Andrea Joseph, and she also has an etsy where she sells prints of her work. Check these out:

She also draws in moleskein notebooks frequently. In addition, she invented these small books called Molezines, which she also sells on her etsy site. They are small enough to fit into the inside pocket of your own personal moleskein, so you can carry along some art with you.

truth.

I was tooling around the internet and I found this image.

I hate when people are like, "wow, my 5 year old could do that!" when observing modern art. Or, as the above states, "I could do that." Again, the thing is, you didn't.

People really do not realize the careful thought and creative process, and struggle that artists go through in order to create a piece, even a simple one.

For example, here is a painting by Mark Rothko. Once you've seen one Mark Rothko, you've seen them all. They consist of rectangular blocks of color, paired together on a canvas. At face value, this is the painting, but so much more has gone into this painting. The colors of each rectangle are chosen very carefully, with color theory working at it's best in order to achieve a certain effect. While it may not be your favorite style of painting, it can still be appreciated, and I think should be appreciated. This is the case with so many modern artists.

I don't know. So much can be said about this subject. It really can be endlessly discussed. (Remind me to write more about "struggle" because I can say so much about that). I guess my point is, just because art doesn't particularly appeal to you, doesn't mean it should be ridiculed.

However, I think that some art probably can qualify as being just plain "bad." I'm not that stuffy. Heh.

spicy almond

This is my current view of the SeaTac airport. If you didn't know, I'm going home for 10 days! Home = California, and I am very proud of the fact that I am not taking a coat with me, because it won't even be necessary! I'm thrilled!

I'm at Tully's (got a $10 gift card from work, boo yeah), and I just finished that bowl of red curry (yes, I packed my own lunch to the airport). Yesterday I went to a get together for my friend Joshua's birthday at Jai Thai in Fremont, so I didn't want to waste my leftovers! It was entirely too spicy though, and that flavor mixed with my Tully's almond latte was not. good. It tasted like alcohol...not in the good way.

So, I love the SeaTac airport. I used to think that SFO was my favorite airport, but I haven't been there in a while, and this one is so much fun. There is art EVERYWHERE. Art by Rauschenberg and Stella and Nevelson! My favorite piece, if you can even call it a piece, is the fact that the water fountains in certain parts of the airport play babbling brook noises when in use. So instead of hearing a dull stream of water hitting stainless steel, it sounds like the most untouched nature is providing you with a sip of filtered water. It is really charming! Even where I sit, I see art. (In the background of my photo you can see some sculpture pieces hanging from the ceiling and nestled in the corner.)

Not to mention that this airport has so many shops. So many. And restaurants. And coffee shops. Flying is so fun. I know it can be an amazing pain, and inconvenience, but it really is an amazing privelege.

Henri et Claude

Two Thursdays ago, I was able to go to the Seattle Art Museum, which is always a delight for me.

I just love museums. I love them. They positively make me tingle. Being in the presence of so much art and creative process and history honestly fills me with energy! So, even though I was required to go as part of my art history class (somehow makes everything fun, less so), I was happy to be spending a couple hours amongst art of excellence, not stuck in a dimly lit classroom.

So, the two paintings that stuck out to me the most, were right next to each other. Paysage d'Hiver aux Bord de la Seine by Henri Matisse and Fishing Boats at Etreat by Claude Monet.

 

Claude Monet

Ok, I couldn't find the painting by Matisse online. Which is really frustrating...I feel like if a piece exists, and is known to belong to a significant artist, and is in a major city's museum, then a copy should be available online. Anyway, the Matisse and the Monet were placed right next to each other, and it was a beautiful pairing. It made me happy to observe them both together.

If you know me, you probably know that I have loved Claude Monet since about age 6. When I was a kid, the only poster that I owned was a Monet water lilies print. I had a video that I enjoyed watching called "Linnea in Monet's Garden," a sweet cartoon about a young girl who travels to Monet's gardens at Giverny with her nice old man neighbor/mentor. I was given a giant pop up book of Monet's gardens, along with some fancy coffee table books and postcards of his gardens and artwork. I've had a great relationship with this artist, for about 17 years! Seeing any Monet piece makes me feel kind of nostalgic, along with the fact that I really love his artwork in general.

Anyway, seeing art in real life is so much better than seeing it on a screen! It is emotional and tangible. 

When I saw Monet at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco in 2006, I truly realized this. This exhibit was a dream come true, and seeing every brushstroke, every impasto dab, and his choppy signature made me feel electrified. I cried.

Monet's Brushstrokes

The pass that I used to get into the SAM with my class is good until the middle of this month, so I hope to take full advantage of it! Plus, the pass is good at the Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park. I predict an art filled week...

Why, Heaven? Why?

Here's the deal: The art world, and creative sphere in general, is incredibly daunting to me.

When a new artist is presented to me, say in class or in my own searching, it is both very exciting and discouraging. I tend to think, when learning about an artist, "how can I reach that level of competence?" (in terms of my own creativity, and ability, and knowledge.) I guess, everyone is their own worst critic, yes?

When asked about my creative influences, I can certainly think of them in my mind, but cannot name or label the artist, or their style. This is bad. I need to shape up my knowledge of all of these creative geniuses out there, and borrow from their influences. I want to use this blog as a tool to overcome this cluelessness that I have, and sort out what I "like" from what I dislike.

So. The main purpose of this blog, or mission statement even, is this: To help Heaven define and expand her knowledge of her personal likes and dislikes within our world's creative past and present.

That's not to say that I will not post on other subjects. I like to talk a lot. It is inevitable.

But please, to whoever comes across this blog in their internet travels, feel free to suggest/critique/inform/encourage me. I am totally open to new discoveries and understandings. If you have an artist that you like, a product that you create, or a song that you enjoy, I would like to hear about it. It helps me continue to broaden my knowledge.

Here goes nothing!

P.S. I'm working on the overall aesthetic feel of this thing. It takes time. I am notoriously picky.