365 Daily Art Challenge Day 2 and 3

For the second day challenge I had to use my favorite animal for inspiration. Cats are definitely my favorite animal. I wanted to use the book my boyfriend gave me for Christmas, How to Draw Cats book, which crazy enough I had one just like it as a kid. I also was really inspired by toilet paper roll art I've seen online and wanted to attempt it using a paper roll from gift wrap. I really like the concept of using something typically seen as trash into art. It really makes people question the use of typical average boring objects. At first I sketched a scene of two cats playing with a butterfly from the How to Draw Cats book on to the roll. I then used a push pin, it was close at hand and it was similar affect as to making a Jack 'O Lantern where you pierce it to make the design. I then popped out the cats and butterfly slightly to make a 3D pop up affect I've admired. If I were to attempt this project again I might spray paint the roll and add a small light inside to illuminate the shadows. Below are pictures of Day 2 art project.

Sketch and Pierced Outline

Cats and Butterfly Popped Out

The Third Day Challenge was to make something using paper without using scissors, glue, or drawing on it. Very tricky huh? I read in the back of the book about quilling, or paper filigree which is taking scraps of paper and rolling it up to make a design. I tried this by tearing sheets of paper and rolling it and carefully placed it on a painted cardboard surface. I made a letter J for Jessica. I also thought that the scraps of paper resembled sky scrappers so I attempted to make a wadded up Godzilla out of paper as well. This was a fun project that once again shows that it is great to have a prompt and deadline. It really pushes me to try materials I never worked with and be creative. Below are photos of this project, I apologize for the fuzziness, I had to use my cellphone camera.
The Letter J, I really love the delicate nature of the paperGodzilla's fiery breath and endangered city, it was a fun last minute decision to try to make a Godzilla.

Tomorrow's challenge is to take a five minute walk and look for materials to make an art project, then document it, i.e. photograph and leave it for someone to stumble upon. I'm not sure if I will do the second half and leave it behind, I think it will either be just taken away by the garbage man or frighten neighbors.

Art Challenge Day One!

I'm starting my 365 day challenge to do an art project everyday by using A Daily Creativity Journal for prompts. On the cover of the book it reads "Make Something EveryDay And Change Your Life!" I think there is something to it, hopefully I'll grow as an artist or just find myself more through this process. I attempted challenge one yesterday but it was just going poorly, I wanted to make some bows and two peas in the pod with clay but it melted...I think I left it in the oven too long...oh well..it's a learning process. Today I decided to use different materials. I always admired paperbeads and had some. I had got Paperoni from Goodwill one day, it was only a buck! I made a cute puppy with it, with plenty of left over beads I decided to tackle my first challenge. "Day 1: Start small today and make something that fits in the palm of your hand using only the materials in your immediate environment." Below are pictures of the paperbeads bracelet and necklaces I made, it was pretty simple I just used a needle, white thread and threaded the paperbeads. I'm pretty happy with my project, I think it is good first step into this challenge.
The Bracelet definitely fit in my palm, the necklaces barely fit.
I encourage others to try this challenge, it is a good way to stay committed to big goal! You can even try the projects along with me. Tomorrow's prompt is to use your favorite animal for inspiration!

New Year means New You

For New Year's we always make resolutions, and usually they are the same as they were the year before. This post touches on my last post. About how to change when you procrastinate. I decided to try to do a daily project, since I was given a 365 art journal prompts by my brother. I'm hoping to be able to keep it up for a year! Starting New Year's day! Wish me luck! I plan to post my projects to keep me motivated!

:)

Procrastination, My Worst Enemy!

I haven't written for a long time, and I'm blaming my worst enemy, Procrastination! I stumbled upon this article that touches on how procrastination works and it basically suggests that it is not being lazy it is just being prepared for a mind battle. It is NowYou versus FutureYou, and sometimes you get back at FutureYou but they get back at NowYou! You make FutureYou do the dirty work, pull the allnighters, rush to out to get the last minute gift, and spend a whole weekend cleaning up the mess NowYou created during the week. But FutureYou gets back at NowYou, while managing to do the tough tasks in short amount of time, it penalizes you by having you fail your goals. What are your goals? FutureYou eats greasy pizza instead of a salad, FutureYou watches TV instead of working out, and FutureYou sleeps in instead of getting chores done. So how do you battle this foe? Especially when it is yourself, you have to plan. By sticking to a plan it makes it easier to make the right choice. So whatever NowYou wants the most you have to just go and prepare for it or do it!

That is why classes are helpful because the instructor sets deadlines for us, forcing us to do the work! So if you really want to learn a foreign language or instrument or improve your cooking skills it is good idea to sign up for a class today. I used to hate planing and hate scheduling. Mostly because I felt nervous about if it was a good idea, what if I didn't really feel like going out that day or what if I'm sick or maybe I should be working on something else. I hated to commit, it was easier to just not do those things. Nothing is less work than anything. But then New Year's is coming up and I realize I still have yet to accomplish many goals I set out for, and I'm sick of saying this year will be different when it is not. I really do hope I can make some improvements. Maybe it won't be a 180 but a 90 degrees isn't so bad! I was inspired by the article below, check it out!
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/10/27/procrastination/

Oh Batman: Cool Batman Art!

I found some cool Dark Knight inspired artworks which I thought I'd share with you guys. I always loved super heroes that are edgy. Which piece is your favorite? Do you guys like to do any fan art and if so of what? I'd definitely love to do some someday, I once made a Torchwood/Pokemon fan art for my friend, it was pretty awesome. It was Captain Jack Harkness coaxing her to bed while Team Rocket was freaking out on the T.V. I wish I had taken a picture of it to show you but it was few years ago. I used to draw Daria and other cartoons a lot when I was a kid. It actually was what made me realized I had some talent if I could make a good replica of Archie. :) I just might have to try to make a Batman piece now!I found this at Simple Stroke, link is below!
http://www.simplestroke.com/wp/?p=70

I love the playfulness of this painting and the big grin on Batman's face! I also really liked the use of colors, you typically don't think of green with Batman or Superman but it is good contrast to the red.
This piece is my favorite because I find it so breathtakingly beautiful! The softness, how it is dramatic and romantic, since it is fall now, I've admired myself the incredible moment of leaves falling together like a summer rain. I've always had big soft spot for Cat Woman! The first image above is also done by the same artist, Marc Tan.

Below is the link, I honestly thought it was a photograph and was impressed to know it was photoshop creation.
http://insanepoly.cgsociety.org/gallery/866214/

Do you see what I see? This is a clever poster print of Batman with the Penguin in yellow. It just goes to show you can create art that has an awesome impact with also being subtle and simple! It is by Simon C. Page a British Artist who also did a pairing of Spider-man and Green Goblin which you can see on link below.

http://www.jazjaz.net/2010/09/batman-vs-penguin-poster-print.html

Cute Stew, Hello Kitty and Open Books!

I was one of Cute Stew's lucky winners, and won a super cute Hello Kitty nail kit which came with nail polish and a sweet nail file. I love that it gives my nails a great sparkle! I love Hello Kitty's spunky don't speak face or at least its how I interpret it. I guess it could also be Hello Kitty blowing you a kiss, or Hello Kitty OMG! I'm big Hello Kitty fan so it is awesome to win a Hello Kitty prize! I loved the sticker (the dog sticker on my laptop) and the cute card Melly Kay from Cute Stew sent me! I think I might have to get a Blythe doll because of her blog, they are so cool and cute and awesome! I used to play Barbie dolls 24-7 as a kid but then I was "too old". My favorite part was the clothes, with Blythe dolls I can get back to minature stylin'.
I thought I'd also write about Open Books which is the other sticker next to the adorable doggy sticker on my lappy. I am a huge fan of Open Books starting about a month ago, the funny thing is I heard of them before, I even donated books at printer's row to them. A friend of mine wanted to intern there, it just so happened it was right by my other favorite shop Papersource. What is Open Books? They described themselves as "Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond." I like to think of it as the awesome store where I can get $1 dollar comics and other books I've been dying to get but was always broke so it stayed on my wishlist.One of those books is A Child's Life and Other Stories by Phoebe Gloeckner, a graphic novel that is beautifully illustrated and written by Gloeckner. I was drawn to it by Amazon's sample of a girl that loves dolls but with a disturbing imagination, kind of like me! :P I also really wanted to get to know more female graphic novel writers/artists since I'm a big comic book fan and wanted to support my fellow womens. Girls like me, need more role models, I know gender is not everything but when it seems only boys are doing it, it seems harder to break through. A Child's Life and Other Stories shocked me because it was very graphic, like penis, pedophiles, drug use, rape graphic. However it is an amazing read because it reveals how girls do unfortunately get used and abused, she gives a voice to all the children and teens that were ever hurt by adults and by the world. One amazon reader wrote ""A Child's Life" by Phoebe Gloeckner is like witnessing a car wreck or a street fight: you are horrified and appalled, but you can't stop looking". If you want to buy it or see some samples click on link below!
http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Life-Other-Stories/dp/1583940286/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
The second book is The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman, I wanted to read this book for a long time after I became enamored by the fairy tale/legend of the Ice Queen. I will save that fairy tale/legend for later post. I read Skylight Confessions just because it was by Alice Hoffman, and I really love that book. She is such a good writer, she also wrote Practical Magic, one of my favorite movies as a kid! She is the kind of writer that can transport you to a new world! I picked Skylight Confessions up at Goodwill for a dollar, and I only thought it was fair to spread the joy and donated to nonetheless, Open Books! So when I saw they had copies of The Ice Queen it seemed perfect! I have just started it but won't be surprised if I read it all night. Be sure to check out Open Books if you are ever in Chicago or live near by! For more information about Open Books you can visit their website.
http://www.open-books.org/