'David' is done!

I've been working on this project for awhile... deadlines are coming soon...

Here is my charcoal drawings of 'David'. I was going to incorporate his penis and foot, however I did not have a good picture of his foot and the penis just didn't work well in this collaborative. So instead you get his pectoral and stomach muscles.

You may have heard this from me before but, seeing 'David' was the highlight of my trip! In person it is the most amazing piece of art I have ever seen. When you walk into the room where he stands, it's breathtaking. 'David' is at the end of the room, staring at his opponent, Goliath. (At first I noticed his hands were unproportional to his body; which was explained later that it is a representation of David becoming a man. Kind of like how puppies have big paws and grow into them.) Towering high, every muscle was carefully crafted, bulging out as the young shepherd prepares to defeat a giant with only a sling and stone.

(1 Samuel 17: 1-58)

In my previous post I told how my intention was to watercolor while in Italy. I did, but it was a disaster. I was going to watercolor on special postcard sized paper and send them to family and friends back in the States. Instead, what I ended up doing was sending blank postcards to my home and then once I returned, I've been drawing images that I took pictures of while in Italy. I would've done it there, but I literally did not have the time for it. The postcards are stamped from all around Italy and are hidden behind the backing of the frame for someone to find one day. Just an added bonus I guess. Oh, and I wrote a bunch of information about Michelangelo and 'David' on them.

[outtakes]

Watercolor Pouring Technique

In Italy I thought that I would do watercolors because it is faster drying than what I am used to (oil paint). I quickly learned that it was not as easy as it looks. Now I've decided that I am going to take a watercolor class before I graduate. Watercolor is a beautiful medium and I want to learn how to do it well.

Tonight I went to a watercolor pouring technique seminar through the South Oakland Art Association. Linda Allen did the demonstration and she learned it from a master: Roland Roycraft. It is a beautiful way to use watercolor! I am excited to try out this technique for myself.

Here are some examples from Roycraft:

'Iris'

'Dance of the Wood Nymph'

P.S. The POTTERS MARKET is December 3,4,&5th Go here: thepottersmarket.com for more info.

Out West

Mt. Rainier, WA

So it's now mid fall and I've been home from Italy for about 2 1/2 months. I'm getting antsy. I have a Saturday afternoon class and it has kept me from traveling like I'm used to. I generally like to go somewhere about once a month... Some call me a gypsy.

I don't currently have any plans to go anywhere besides Kentucky for Thanksgiving with my family. Maybe New Years will be my next option? Haven't been to Chicago for awhile... Love the weather in LA... I'm not sure...

Anyway, thinking about all these random cities has reminded me of when I went to Seattle/Washington/Oregon last. What a great vacation. Hiking Mt. Rainier, seeing the most North West point of the lower United States, visiting the first Starbucks ever, Pike Place Brewery, the market, stepping in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, Climbing Mt. Hood, big trees, bears and waterfalls. Gorgeous.

Here are a few photographs I took on that trip.

Oregon somewhere

Saw this one while hiking at Mt. Rainier, WA

No idea where this one was at.

This one is from the rain forest in WA.

The prints are all displayed in my room. But if you think they would look good at your house, let me know ;)

Art Day

Awhile ago, my roommate Sam and I decided to have a day dedicated to art. We created for about 11 hours straight. It was lots of fun. I explored with watercolor, but nothing good came from that. I need to take a class... I did however finally start working on some homework for my Italy trip and was able to do this charcoal drawing of 'David' s face. (I have been lacking on my Italy homework because I have had mono since being home from the trip.)

Here is Sam oil painting.

I need to have another Art Day soon!!!

Detroit Lives.

Just a couple weeks behind, Palladium Boots finally posted the documentary about Detroit.

Check it out. It explains more about what is happening in Detroit and why people are coming down here to live.

I have been enjoying living in Detroit. Growing up in Royal Oak I never knew my neighbors. Here, I have hung out with them many times in the backyard. It is a totally different community.

Going to the suburbs now is like a chore. The people there are so afraid of Detroit and think they know what it is like down here, but they don't. They have no clue. It saddens me...

Last night I was at a church in Troy. They were talking about sending people to Africa to help the people there. I'm sure that Africa needs help, but so does Detroit. Why not send people here? It is so close and we can help so much, but we are too afraid.

Look around you and help the people in your own community. We CAN make this world a better place.

Caricature

For my Art Education class this semester we have to draw a caricature of ourselves. It will help us to get to know a little more about everyone in the class.

This is my caricature: I am riding a bike, which I've been doing more of lately. The world underneath me shows the continents that I have visited. My goal is to visit each continent before I die. So far I've made it to four of them! I love to travel and see new things. To the left is the skyline of Detroit. I currently live downtown and love it! Also I am a "big city girl," and this represents that. Underneath the world is a swimmer. I was a swimmer from 3rd grade till the end of High School. Received my letter jacket as a Freshman, and was Most Valuable Swimmer my Senior year. And, for the last two years I was the assistant coach of the Girls Royal Oak Ravens Swim Team. They were awesome and won Leagues those two years in a row! To the right is an oil painting brush and palette because I am an artist and my medium of choice is oil painting.

Drawing

Now Im on a roll... two blog entries in one day!

Drawing is not a skill that I usually take part in. For some reason I hate using pencils for anything. Its like the nusence of scratching a chalk board for me.

Last semester I had to take a drawing class. These were the results of that class:

Texture drawing.

Sketch.

My drawing final.

Still life.