She's A Maniac!

First of all, welcome to February!  A month for love and lovers, and a month closer to SPRING!  I know we're already into day three, but I'm happy to say I've been busy with art activities this week including writing an e-zine article, judging an art show and taking my first colored pencil drawing class.  In addition, I've been trying to put one of my creative muses in check!  So...let's catch up.  This is going to be a lengthy post, so pull up a comfy chair and bring along your favorite beverage!

My "inner child muse" is a maniac!  Every year, she comes out after the holidays and because she has more time to look at fabulous art on the Internet, she wants to try EVERYTHING!  She's like an out-of-control 5-year-old constantly wanting this and that.  She seriously had me thinking about ordering an encaustic wax kit a couple weeks ago, and she keeps nagging at me to do some more silk screening projects.  I finally had to put my foot down.  I had to remind her that I still have unfinished mosaic projects and scads of stamping supplies and inks that have been untouched for months.  I told her I need to make use of the supplies I already have and that there's much more creative experimentation to be had with them.  She's not real happy, but she'll recover.  I was able to quite her by taking a colored pencil drawing class.

I judged an art show on Tuesday, and as it turns out, the Jennifer Kosarko (who hired me to judge) is teaching a drawing class on Wednesday mornings.  I had my first 3 hr session yesterday morning.  I'm using this photo from my picture file, torn from an old National Geographic magazine.  I really want to learn how to capture skin tones accurately. 

I learned a lot yesterday!  I confirmed that I am indeed, heavy handed.  Jennifer's method of colored pencil drawing requires layers, upon layers of color, and a very light hand.  It took me three hours to get to "light hand".  This method is tedious, exacting, and methodical.  All of the things I am not.  It is also very time consuming.  Colored pencil will never be my main medium, but I am having a lot of fun learning these new techniques.

Jennifer first enlarged my photo so I could trace it on a light box.  (I've altered the image making it darker so you can see it! It's much lighter and less grainy than it appears here.)  That was the first "something new" for me.  I've never used a light box before.  (Using the light box shortened the amount of time I would have spent accurately sketching in the face.)  We're using Prismacolors (ironically I gifted myself with a 72 tin earlier this year) The first color I was instructed to use was Lemon Yellow, applied in tiny, lightly applied circles.  I didn't reach "lightly" until I started on her neck.  This was followed by a layer of Peach, leaving the lips alone until 4-5 layers down the road.  Jennifer completed the eye instructing me along the way.  There are 5 colors in the eye.  My next layer will be Blush Pink.  I can hardly wait to see the finished skin tone.  I'm sure it will be rich and full of depth.

I created around 8 journal spreads for the e-zine article.  Here are a couple of cropped images.  I used an Asian inspired stamp on the jacket.  That's the first time I've incorporated a stamp into any of my journal pages, and it was a lot of fun.  I'll be using stamps again.  I also used water soluble crayon, craft acrylics and colored pencil in this spread.  I'll be talking more about the e-zine when it comes out next month.

Here is another cropped image taken from a 2 page spread.  I spent over an hour cutting out scads of flowers from a gardening catalog, and I even found a couple butterflies.  This spread is an homage to Frida and includes an interactive window.  I applied heavy body gesso to the background and used blue craft acrylic.  I applied the cutouts with a glue stick.

So, that's what I've been up to.  I'm still playing catch up, so I'll be posting Tuesday Tips and Techniques, Wednesday's Word and Thursday's Child tomorrow - on a Friday.  Gotta love it!

I have to share one more thing with you today.  My dear twitter friend and Angelia's Art Journals follower, Luna Raven, nominated me for a Shorty Award.  I'm so surprised and honored!  This sassy gal has got it going on herself, so take a trip through her blog - you're going to love it!

I've posted a link to the Shorty Award nominations on my sidebar, so if you'd like, cast your vote for me or one of the other fabulous 1,000 nominees in the art category.  In the meantime, have a fabulous day and remember: "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

The Future of Art

I must deviate from art journaling to share my Saturday with you.  Once again I had the privilege to be a judge for the 2011 Lake/Geauga Student Art Show.  It's always one of my favorite events and this year may have been one of the best years for artwork.  The mere scope and volume of work that we were presented with was amazing.  Our junior high and high school art teachers should be proud of the quality of work that their students submitted to this year's show.

After driving through blizzard-like, white-out conditions to get there, it was comforting to see the beautifully prepared table of coffee and pastries waiting to be devoured. (Of course, I had the chocolate muffin!)

Judging began bright and early at 9:00am.  We judged the 7th, 8th and 9th grade work in the morning, and there were ink dot drawings (left), print making (right) and 2D design (middle floor),  all very well executed.

There was mixed media collage,

And there were scads of delightful artworks in the "Colored pencil/crayon/colored inks" category.

This is a sampling of work from the 8th graders (if I remember correctly)

I'm disappointed that I didn't get more photos, but the morning grew long and the coffee wore off!

This amazing little acrylic painting caught my eye and was in the right place at the right time for a photo opportunity - as was this beautifully rendered drawing from the colored pencil category.

After the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade judging was completed. we had lunch and were able to socialize and recharge before judging the 10th, 11th and 12th grade art.

The distinguished panel of judges.

Did I say distinguished?  What can I say, we're not without our fun moments!

The thought and creativity expressed in the work of the high school students was exceptional.  I was thrilled to see altered books and an impressive amount of functional pottery and sculpture from this group of talented students, and I regret that I didn't get photographs of them.  There were almost 80 pieces of functional pottery this year - the most I've ever seen.

Judging ended around 4:00pm.  It was a long, tiring day, but it was a good day.  It was also a difficult day choosing the "best of the best", but it was also a heart warming day to see that when I am long gone from this earth, there will be others following in my footsteps.  It was evident in the quality of work to see that for most of these students, art isn't a project, but a way of life.  I could feel it in their concepts.  I could see it in their skills.

These students are the future of art, and after having the honor of viewing their precious works, I can say that the future of art looks bright.  Many thanks go to the recruiting staff for allowing me the opportunity to participate as a judge again.

Have a great day, and remember to "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"