Wintergreen: Opening Reception!

The opening party went really well!

I was so nervous at first, due to the fact that I hadn't ever spoken publicly about my work before. I know it shouldn't have been that nerve-wracking to talk about my thoughts on my own work, but I struggled through it a little bit. I hope I conveyed some sense of myself to every viewer, because it was a personal experience and it meant a lot to be able to share a piece of who I am as an artist to the community & those around me that may not have been able to view my work otherwise.

All in all, I got a chance to talk with some great people who I hope enjoyed the brightly colored pieces I displayed that night. I received some wonderful feedback and although I didn't sell any pieces that month, the chance to share them with others was priceless.

.9ineteen.

One Piece Left...

Alright. So, I have one piece left to do for my opening in February.
I've been procrastinating immensely & I just have to focus now. There really isn't time to mess around anymore. I've been too focused on Avah to get my shit together & really bust something beautiful out. I've gotten lazy during these past few months; what with the fatigue & constant morning sickness at the beginning...


But, now I'm ready, & once it's finished, I'm hoping to reap the rewards of the end result, which will hopefully be me selling it!! 
Wish me luck.
I feel as though I'm going to need it...


9teen.

Amazing News!!!

So, after trying to conceive for two and a half years, and one previous loss, I finally found out that I am currently 6 weeks and 6 days pregnant!!! I am so completely excited. It feels so surreal to me. I was starting to feel like it wasn't ever going to happen...
Yay!!

AAU Summer Semester Work: Digital Media 1: Photography & Imaging

Colorize A Black & White Photo.

Nicholas Ross was the perfect instructor to guide me

through all of the chaos of Photoshop CS5. I feel I did a pretty good job,

considering it was my first use of the program, ever.

Create Three Textures.

Texture 1

This was done in PS CS5 with a brush tool, resembling

grass and using green, which is of course, my favorite color as well.

Create Three Textures. 

Texture 2

This texture was created by crumpling & carving into a piece of construction

paper to create a demolished, deep, rough appearance,

then photographing it & colorizing in PS.

Create Three Textures.

Texture Three

This final texture was from a photograph that I had taken

of the water at the beach. I was really intrigued

by how the foam sprayed across the surface &

once I messed around with it in PS, it took on this cement/concrete look.

Very interesting...

Overall, this project really opened my eyes to how many different sources

can be utilized to bring forth a massive amount of inspiration to a single piece of art.

It was very intriguing to really dig into some unknown areas that I never

would have thought of before. I really enjoyed it. Exploration equals great things.

Mythological Figure: Final Piece.

This was one of my favorite projects while in this class.

We had to choose one of the Greek gods or goddesses & use a model to portray

who we chose. I chose Artemis; goddess of the moon, the hunt & protector of young women.

I had my cousin, Taylor, as my model & she did an amazing job.

I made a bow and arrow out of tree branches & used her dog, Jackson, 

to portray one of the "wild dogs" she has that pulls her golden chariot.

The connection between them is supposed to appear bold & unified, like

nothing can stand in their way, or between them.

I used PS to colorize the image & create a tranquil, almost spooky night photo.

I was extremely happy with how it came out.

Organic/Mechanic Collage: Final 

I loved putting this piece together.

It was very interesting to be given a set of images to choose from & have to

compile a bust portrait of our liking. The choices were things like fruits &

vegetables, gauges & dials, household objects like vases & then other random

products like make-up brushes & different size cans, bottles & such.

There was a very wide variety & I just loved the whole concept of utilizing

natural materials, as well as man-made materials to showcase our vision.

I ended up with this guy here, who is a bit more abstract, which of course is my passion, 

and is extremely colorful, which possibly could have been toned down a bit, but

I always work with lots of color & his vibrancy just showcases

the persona he took on; very happy-go-lucky.

I don't think I could have ended up with a better body of work from

this class if I hadn't gotten the chance to learn from Nick Ross.

I never thought I would have ended up loving Photoshop so much & now I realize how much

can be done with this amazing program. I'm definitely continuing to use it a lot more now.

{19}

AAU Summer Semester Work: Analysis of Form

Drapery. This was my favorite illustration from

my experience with Thomas Marsh through-out Analysis of Form.

I learned so much from him and gained some amazing techniques & artistic knowledge

that I'd never explored before. It was an amazing class to say the least.

Bart Simpson. I decided to take a different approach with my illustration 

of Bart & give him a kind of Frankenstein look.

I wanted him to be taken out of his element & transform

a few characteristics to give him a really messy feel to him.

I was pretty happy with how he turned out.

interrupted plans.

For some time now, I have been planning the ins and outs of what my gallery will be like: the appearance of the interior & exterior, the materials I'd like to use & the business plan that will follow suit. I know this may be early, and maybe I'm too young in some people's eyes to accomplish something as grand as this endeavor, yet I find myself actually more inspired when I receive negative feedback.
Why shouldn't a 21 year old be able to put a plan like this into action?
Is it because they think I don't know what I'm doing? 
Because, here's a fleeting thought: If everybody always stopped at the first moment of weakness, the first thought that they weren't good enough, there wouldn't have ever been anyone great to follow by example.
I've always said that I hate when people judge based on appearance or the qualities that a person possesses just because they don't seem to measure up to others, but there's no reason to live with regrets that something 'could have been'.
With determination comes greatness in the end results of every thought you put into your passions and it would be a shame to put all of those ideas to waste.
I'll definitely be adding that much more effort to what I'm passionate about to make sure it DOES happen, instead of planning it out and never executing the thoughts that are  bound to my brain.


{nineteen.}

fuck->this->school.

I can't even believe how fucked up this whole situation is.

When I first got accepted into the Academy of Art University I was so incredibly excited, but now I find myself wondering if it was a mistake.

I was told that I would be receiving 50% off of my Fall tuition, and I'm taking four classes, so in my opinion, that meant that two of my classes in the Fall semester were going to be free. PLEASE correct me if I seem wrong about this, but I highly doubt you will.

I also haven't even found out what I'm getting for financial aid for the semester and it starts in six days. I find this ridiculous that I haven't yet received an award letter, and even when I do get it, I more than likely won't be able to afford my tuition payment due to the lack of grant money from my portfolio submission.

I don't have a clue what to do now.

Do I just wait until I see how much money I get?

Or do I say "fuck it"?

I'm not a quitter, and everything about this school still makes me ache for more knowledge, but it just seems like this is a money pit; a black, endless hole that never seems to show you the way out.

I hate how money rules this world with a blackened heart,

not caring who it helps, hurts or fails.

Lots to think about...

{19}

in the end, this will be...it.

Gallery Nineteen, a work in progress-so many plans-and maybe too much time, yet it will never seem to be enough...
{19}

the end of one semester, and beginning of another...

So, BIG NEWS!!!

I passed Analysis of Form, which completely and utterly shocked me!!!

And I also passed Digital Media, which I kind of expected, yet is also exciting.

So now that I'm fully registered for classes, I sit and wait to see if I scored high enough on my placement test to see if I can waive out of Composition for The Artist, which would then enable me to replace that with Narrative Storytelling, which would be fantastic!

I have a lot to work on in these next 5 months.

With my art show coming up in February, and 4 new classes starting on September 2nd, I find myself with much more on my plate now, than ever before. 

I have to create a few more masterpieces for my show so I have something new to present along with what is currently hanging on my walls remaining un-viewed by potential buyers. I should technically bring a few pieces back to A & J Florist Shop on Main Street, where they resided for about 6 months without one being sold, but that's ok, because I did sell Chaos Upon A Darkened Stage at TAMC when I showed there last year.

If you're interested in seeing it, there's a not-so-perfect image of it in my online portfolio on artbistro.monster.com/member/linrae19 that will give you a pretty good idea of the piece. I miss not seeing it everyday, but I hope his life is enriched by it. I know mine was...

So, for now, I just need to work my ass off because I'm hoping the release of the news to the local paper will get enough people in to Winter Green that will actually have intentions on buying a piece, or all of them!!

Spread the word. It'd be much appreciated!

{9TEEN}