Architectural Drawing

In Drawing we were assigned to draw a building in our town, I drew an office building that happens to be across the road from my house. THIS ASSIGNMENT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME. Come on, I know, I know, it's basic geometry and lines. No, it was hard. I started over mmm.. maybe 14 times. But here it is... right there --->                   I was mostly pleased with it and the hard work I put into it. THEN.... We were introduced to a man named Henry Darger. He was a quiet, poor man and after he died, then was he discovered to be an artist and novelist. They found a 1000+ page novel titled "Realms of the Unreal", and thousands of pieces of art that he created. What does this man have to do with my architectural drawing? Well, Henry created art with whatever he could find, he did a lot of clipping and pasting, and water-coloring over drawings, among a variety of other art application. My wonderful instructor wanted us to take our drawings and adjust them to how Henry Darger may have. I went to town with watercolors and WHAMMY! I got that psychedelic piece. (With strong encouragements and inspiration by dozens of episodes of Star Trek and Scrubs.) Regardless, I was VERY pleased with how my piece turned out. It is nuts. T.Jay called it the "mushroom house" as in a reference to the hallucinogen. My classmates seemed to agree.

        Speaking of classmates, here is my classmate Scott's house. I loved it, from the cartoon shark to the young, flying pirate girl.

Louise Bourgeois

Nathan Sawaya: The Art of the Brick exhibit in PC, Utah

I MUST go see the current main exhibit at the Kimball Art Center in Park City. It is mind-blowing nostalgia in art. Here is a sneak peak of sorts with a link to their website:


"The Art Of The Brick
Nathan Sawaya

Nathan Sawaya is a New York-based artist who creates awe-inspiring works out of some of the most unlikely things. His art focuses on large-scale sculptures using only toy building blocks: LEGO bricks to be exact. Sawaya's ability to transform LEGO bricks into something new, his devotion to scale and color perfection, the way he conceptualizes the action of the subject matter, enables him to elevate an ordinary toy to the status of fine art.

For years, Sawaya's touring exhibition The Art of the Brick has entertained and inspired art lovers and enthusiasts. Now, with four exhibitions touring North America, Asia and Australia, Sawaya is inspiring millions around the globe. Each exhibition focuses on LEGO as an art medium. The creations, constructed from nearly one million pieces, were built from standard bricks beginning as early as 2000. In 2011 CNN named The Art of the Brick one of the top 12 must see exhibitions in the world."










I took that clip about The Art of the Brick from the Kimball Art Center's website:

http://www.kimballartcenter.org/main-gallery/

Inspired!

Yesterday I went and watched T.Jay do gymnastics with a "college-age club" in Logan. For those who do not know, T.Jay is 29, he hasn't done much in ways of gymnastics in the last hmmm, ten or eleven years, and according to him, he is "too fat and old for this sport". This guy BLEW MY MIND. He goes out and busts out amazing back hand springs, and all sorts of flips and aerials and things I have NEVER been able to do. It truly inspired to me get back into fitness. I have been a bit blue over the last week or so because it's been so cold, there hasn't been much, if any, sun. I miss hiking, I miss working out, I miss those positive endorphins. Winter is rough! T.Jay inspired me to make no excuses and find time to do what I love to live a healthier life, because if not now, when? (Of course, he doesn't live the healthiest life, but he told me I make him want to be better, to live better! That made me very happy to hear. His mom and family told me they have noticed many, many positive changes in him as well! One day at a time.) My schedule is busy, super busy, but I am going to push myself to find time to work out! I don't want the winter to end and find myself frustrated with what I let happen to my body and the hard work it has taken to get to where I am happy with it. We recently went to Lava Hot Springs, and I haven't quite lost my shape, but I better work hard to be my best. It is important to love who I am and push myself to what I know I am capable of. It's too easy to just "half-ass" my way through life.

Valentine's Day.

 I made sure I started my day off early. I went and left a gift on T.Jay's bed knowing we were both going to be very busy all day, and I wanted him to be able to get his gift before ten o'clock at night. On my way home from dropping off the gift, which was a lovely Calvin Klein fragrance set and gourmet chocolates, I hit something on the interstate. It was very loud, and my car seemed to make a weird noise after that. I had to stop to pick up some cream cheese for frosting, and decided I should check my undercarriage as well. I stopped at the Fresh Market on Washington, which is close to the country club and a few minutes away from my place. My tire was completely flat. Ohhhh heavens, I needed to rush home to get ready and go to school. I called that wonderful T.Jay of mine, he said he would hustle over from the club and see what he could do to help. He showed up and had a mini air compressor, we were able to get enough air in the tire that would get me to a tire shop. I hustled to Discount Tire, the man was kind and helped me get a new tire without spending too much, but he also informed me that there was a nail in another one of my tires. I did not budget for this at all. Luckily, I only had to replace the one tire, in which I am very grateful for. I am also grateful that T.Jay was so willing to come rescue me in such a moment. This experience put me at least two hours behind schedule, I missed most of 3D, but I rushed in to make sure to give my hand-made Valentine to the girl whose name I drew out. I made her a mini red velvet cake, she was excited. I am glad I got there! I then went to work where it was EXTREMELY busy, talk about insanity! I loved it! After work, I went to T.Jay's, we left and went to a cemetery in Kaysville where his dad and grandpa are buried. His grandpa passed away on Valentine's Day several years ago, so T.Jay likes to go make sure to visit their graves. He is very sweet and caring, I adore the guy. We got back to his place and we exchanged gifts, he scores again for being thoughtful with some pajama pants and a gift card to Hobby Lobby. This guy is extremely supportive of me and my crazy art projects and creations. He is always willing to help, and find me materials and provide tools and work space- he is the best. I am pretty excited to be able to purchase more art supplies and materials.
It was a great Valentine's Day that made me realize that I am very blessed to have T.Jay in my life, he is sweet and willing to serve me and his family unselfishly. To go to the cemetery and shovel a walk way so his grandma could visit her husband's grave, to think of what I would want, need, and love for a gift, to always be there to help his widowed mother, to help me constantly whether it's with my art, the fact my washer broke, or to fix my car and change my oil and rescue me when bad luck strikes- he is a genuine sweetheart.

Five Items

Here we drew a mini-still life of five items we brought to school. Gosh, I'm loving charcoal! And school! Yay for art classes!

Clichè Collages

A fun project we critiqued today were collages of cliche paintings. Here is mine, and some other classmate's I enjoyed.

Box Test

In my drawing class, we had a test. Not the kind that would usually give me extreme anxiety, but a "box text" to test our understanding of perspective, shading, and value. What a fun test! I was pleased with my box and the grade I received. One of my corners didn't line up quite right, but overall I did well. Upon starting this class, we were utilizing charcoal frequently which I grumbled a bit about. My experiences with charcoal were extremely limited, therefore I didn't feel strong in the medium. I am happy to report I now love charcoal and am recognizing my growth with it as well.

Paper Flowers

A couple weeks ago I learned how to make traditional Mexican paper flowers in my 3D class, I LOVE THEM. My instructor thought I was brown-nosing when I said I loved them and I wanted to make a million of the flowers for everyone I love. Well I have made all sorts for many people I love and it's only beginning.

Gosh, I feel bad for people who study things like... Math or business.

Value.

Value projects from Drawing and 2D classes.

Mail Day!

I guess I graduated! Happy day.

Macramè

I have always wanted to learn how to make "hemp bracelets," and on Tuesday, I was able to learn how to make them! I was so excited! (Still am)
These "hemp bracelets" are actually a craft called macrame, it was huge in the 70's and is super hippie. I love it, seriously. I was approached last night at work by my executive chef, Jay, to make a bracelet using his plugs from his previously gauged ears. He handmade these gauges and recently got surgery to close them up for professional reasons. He wanted alternative jewelry made out of them, these are pretty rough, but I am getting better. I always had these braided bracelets and anklets in high school and now I know how to make my own. Wooooo! Have I mentioned that I LOVE school?!

2D Class

This is a drawing studying shading and lightness/darkness in which my entire 2D design class did together. My instructor cut a picture into 30 pieces and distributed the pieces and this is what we ended up with. I am in love with it! My square is the second one in, second one down, the left horse's eye.

My Burn.

Here is the progress on the burn on my wrist. Good thing I find such joy in cooking.

Art, oh I love you!

May I just announce that I am soooooooooo excited to be enrolled in several art classes this semester? Well I am, I am elated! What a great way to start 2013 by being true to myself.. Going back to do something I love.
I will be sharing pictures of different pieces I will create/compose, a) because I would like to share b) I need to record and blog about my creations for one of my classes. So keep your eyes open, this may get personal.

Sharing feelings.

New Year's Eve: the guy I am dating told me that he loves me.

Usually people say it back, right?

Well, I didn't. Last time I did and I wasn't sure, I wound up engaged (and not excited about it) a couple months later. And called it all off 8 months after that.

I want to love this guy, and I think I do, but I don't think I am in love with him quite yet.

I can wait to tell him when I really feel that way. 

I would feel worse not being completely honest and saying it, rather than not saying it back. I would apologize for not saying it, except no one should feel sorry for something they feel. (it's the actions we take or the words we say that we should ever be sorry for)

I just think I will take my sweet time while my feelings develop. I am in no hurry.

So this is the New Year?

2013, I embrace you gladly.
There is no sense in living in the past, therefore I graciously welcome 2013.
2012 had it's ups and downs, it's magnificent moments and those that were extremely difficult.
Things that happened in my life:

• Started school again to finish my Culinary Arts degree and progress on my bachelor's.
• Got re-fellowshipped into my church.
• Went to my first major league baseball game in Colorado.
• Moved to Ogden.
• Left the comfort of the dental office and went back to a kitchen.
• Called off my engagement.
• Hiked my heart out.
• A couple wave-running day trips to Bear Lake.
• Ran the Snake River for my birthday.
• My twin brothers returned from their missions.
• 48 hour Disneyland trip.
• Finished the coursework for the Culinary Arts degree.
• Declared my major.
• Watched my savings account dwindle. 
• Met new friends, tried new things.
• Found strength to be true to myself.

All in a year's work.


Here are a few things I plan on doing this year:

• Hike more.
• Learn more.
• Skydive Moab!
• Restore my savings account.
• Love fully.
• Walk with my Culinary Arts degree from UVU.
• Be more honest with myself and others.
• Endure to the end on my schooling.
• Spend more time outside.
• Read more.
• Visit somewhere new.
• Notice the beauty all around me.
• Be more grateful.

Cheers, 2013. It'll be wonderful getting to know you.