Sketchbook Project 2012, Pacific Paradise

A sneak preview of my Sketchbook Project 2012 

I have also created 2 videos one of me just going through the pages and one with me reading the text on the pages.  Im not sure what I want to do with either of these videos but I have to send my sketchbook in today so I thought I would create something while I still had my book. 

I am going to have it digitized and will post here when that is done. 

In other news,  yesterday was my very last first day of school.  When I am done with my last three classes (Book Arts, Mixed Media 2, and Senior Portfolio) I will graduate!  I never thought that day would come.  It has been a long journey and I am almost to the finish line.  

Starting school again means you will be seeing lots me update from me.  I hope you like what you see :)

 Pacific Paradise
iPhone/ instagram
Beautiful sunset a few nights ago.

iPhone- Climb Every Mountain, Currents

I am really loving my iphone 4S and instagram so I am going to be uploading more iphone/instagram photos.

I want to embrace all aspects of my creativity, not just painting.

 

Climb Every Mountain

From a hike my husband and I went on. Beautiful expanses. 

Currents

Beautiful ocean currents. I love the colors and the play of lights, reflections, and shadows.

 Message in a Bottle
Found on Topanga Beach.  The message reads "I want to see The sun At Midnight and feel it to be magical, fulfiling and life changing."

Follow me on Instagram- heartMelinda

Love, Peace, Joy

 Love, Peace, Joy

8 x 10
linocut on printing paper

I make Christmas presents for my family every year. This year I choose to work in linocut. I wanted to create something that could be hung all year round. I love languages so I explored the use of languages as expression. The background is created with the main word in many languages. The each image is 5 x 7 and is printed on 8 x10 printing paper.

Available in my shop

DIY Frame Earring Holder

 Earring Holder

16 x13

I saw this on etsy being sold for $50 and thought "hey I could make that". I usually dont do tutorials but I thought this would be fun to share. 

The sheet of aluminum was $30 but I could use it make 6+ more holders. It is a 3ft x 3ft sheet that I bought at Lowes. 

Let me know if you make this. I would love to see your take.

2011 In Review- 11 Question Interview

What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
One of my paintings was accepted into a juried show and shown in a gallery.  

I learned how to snowboard.

I went para-sailing and learned how to ride a tandem bike.

Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I dont think I made any resolutions last year.

This year I would like to-

Finish my BFA in May

Build my art business

Do more yoga

What trips did you take?

Lake Tahoe CA in January

Catalina CA in July

Townsend TN in October

Glasgow, Scotland in November

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Motivation.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? What was your biggest failure?

Getting a painting accepted into a juried gallery show. 

&

Letting my inner demons get the better of me

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Everything- more hikes, more time with friends, and family.

I wish I spent more time on art for me instead of school or other people.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Procrastinating, TV watching, Worrying

What was the best book you read?

I read a lot of great books this year.  

My faves would have to be-

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Series

The Travelers Gift & The Final Summit

What was your greatest musical discovery of the year?

Adele

What kept you sane?

My family- Husband, cat, and 2 dogs, & my friends. 

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011?
It is ok to say "no".

Fall 2011 Review

First off, I must say, I am proud of myself.  This was not an easy semester.  4 classes, 3 of them studio classes.  I haven't done that wacky of a schedule in years.  Thankfully, I made it through though with only a few bumps.  This semester I created a business plan, 4 figure sculptures, and over 100 paintings.  That is a lot of work in 15 weeks.     

Another semester down, 3 more classes to go.  I am soo excited to be so close to finishing my BFA.  I have 1 required course and 2 of my choice to take next semester and I dont know what too choose.  I am kind of thinking Mixed Media 2, Monotype, Relief Printing, Painting Concepts, Abstract Painting, or Studio Landscape. Too many choices.  Right now I am leaning toward Mixed Media 2, and Relief Printing.  We will see what I end up choosing after I talk to my adviser and have my portfolio review.  

I am really into printmaking right now because that is what I am going to be doing for my Christmas presents this year.  Every year I like to make my gifts.  I have done candle holders, ornaments, candles, and you might remember my Winter Bird paintings from last year.   This year I am not going to go as crazy and give everyone an original painting. No, this year i will be creating prints.  I dont want to go into detail but I promise I will post them after Christmas.  I am quite excited about them and will probably sell a few in my shop.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy, peaceful holiday season. 

 Purple Moth Orchid

9 x 12

acrylic on canvas

Final for Quick Studies. Inspired by severe cropping.  I thought since I did a lot of paintings this semester using a palette knife I would do my final with a knife.  From my beautiful Home Depot orchid. Also seen here.

Lady Torso

Lady Torso 

~ 2 feet

 water based clay

For Head and Figure Sculpture.  Happy with this.  I think I may even hollow it out and keep it :)  I like the marbling effect of the two clays. Previous Step.

Ode to Spring, Longer Figure Studies

Ode to Spring

30 x 20

watercolor on illustration board

For Still Life 2.  Large format painting. Ranunculas.  I had lots of fun with this.  I let myself really explore different media.  This is watercolor, pen, and colored pencil. Costco had a big pack of fun colored pens so I was inspired to use those.  I really think I will try more pieces in this style.  

Before the splatter explosion-

Longer Figure Studies 

9 x 12

acrylic on board

For Quick Studies. 1st 2 are 30 minutes and the last 1 is 45 minutes.  More involved studies of figures in action.   

QOTD- Dan McCaw

From A Proven Strategy For Creating Great Art-  

"A bad painting is like taking a journey down a side road and finding it ends in a dead end. 

It may seem you've gone nowhere, but there are gifts you've picked up along the way. 

Just keep your eyes open. 

You'll learn something from each road you take. 

The main thing is to keep excited about what you're doing. 

Think of frustration as the vehicle that moves us forward and persistence as the gas that drives it. 

Enjoy the journey, it's the most important part of the trip." 

~Dan McCaw

Torso WIP

Torso WIP

~ 2 feet

 water based clay

For Head and Figure Sculpture.  This is more of a lump of clay then a torso.  I ran out of clay and will need to buy more to bring this to more of a finish.  2 weeks left of school! I cant do it! 

December Rose, Negative Space Quick Studies

December Rose

10 x 10

watercolor onpaper

For Still Life 2. A square composition. I like what I have done with this but I feel there is much more I can do.  I hope to go back into it and refine it a bit more. 

12 x 9

acrylic on board

For Quick Studies. 25 minutes.  Exploring negative space.  

Freesia

Freesia

14 x 11

watercolor on board

For Still Life 2.  Finished. Previous step.  I love the bright vibrant colors.  I also love the play of cool and warm colors.  I think it is beautiful. 

I brought this piece to Scotland but I was too busy exploring the beautiful country to have time to finish this there.  It is done now :)

Ubiquitous

 Ubiquitous

16 x 8

watercolor on illustration board

For Still Life 2.  Unusual format. 

I have gotten into this awful habit of turning in my work late for this class.  Week after week.  This was due last Monday.  I only have 2 weeks left so I really need to get my butt into gear. 

My reference photo was taken for this at a pub in Glasgow Scotland called the Ubiquitous Chip.  Very cool place.  Nice ambiance.  Looks like a greenhouse inside. I loved the warmth of the candle and the design of the holder.

Scotland Landscape Quick Studies

 12 x 9

watercolor on paper

For Quick Studies.  30 minute studies.  In Scotland and crazy inspired.  The architecture is beautiful.

 12 x 9

acrylic on board

45 minute studies.

i love you, Freesia WIP

 i love you

12 x 9

watercolor on illustration board

For Still Life 2.  Trompe d'oeil. Previous step. I like the way this turned out and I enjoyed the process.  I may do more paintings like this :)

  Freesia WIP

14 x 11

watercolor on board

For Still Life 2.  Paint to board. The hardest part.  You got to start somewhere. 

I leave for Scotland for a week on Friday so it looks like this painting will be coming with me :) I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Lovley Lady Lumps

Lovley Lady Lumps

~ 3 feet

clay, aluminum wire, & wood

For Head and Figure Sculpture.  Finished. Previously called Standing Figure WIP.  If you recall when I began this piece I could not get My Humps by the Black Eyed Peas out of my head.  Well, as I finished I still had that song stuck in my head so I decided that that should be the title for this piece. 

 

As for the sculpture, I hate the face.  Love everything else.  After this is graded I will probably get rid of the face just to make myself feel better.  I like it more ambiguous and less in your face.   Personal style.  For this assignment though I felt I needed to include a face.  Tiny details are not my favorite part of sculpture so creating the face was pretty miserable for me.   

More Female Nude Quick Studies

 9 x 12

acrylic on board 

For Quick Studies.  Just like last week- Female Nudes working on exaggerated color. Top 3 are 25 minute and bottom 2 are approx 60 minute. More fun with a palette knife. This week I did not use pure white.  Week after week my instructor has commented on my use of too much white.  I decided to use a mixture of white and cadmium yellow light as my lightest light.  Overall I like the result.  I think it gives my pieces more life.

i love you WIP

 i love you WIP

12 x 9

watercolor on illustration board

For Still Life 2.  Trompe d'oeil.  I had huge issues coming up with an idea for this assignment.  I was thinking too complicated.  I decided to go for more of a modern take instead of a traditional one.  After quite a bit of struggle I finally got over my artist block and came up with an idea.  I like the way this is coming along a lot.  I feel like there is nice potential with this.

QOTD- 5 Simple Rules to be Happy

5 Simple Rules to be Happy

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.