Final Blog Update

I learned a lot about myself this year. I have finally started appreciating direct observation and the reference it provides in future art pieces. Plus, I now know that I can work decently well within a deadline. True, I still had several pieces to complete the weekend before the concentration was due, but it was only a couple instead of the possible six or seven. My favorite piece was the very first one that I worked on; Bob the bird. I think that I featured it in my first blog update, too, so I'm ending it where it all began.
I'm attending DigiPen in the fall (I need to get started on their summer art homework now). Campus is basically a single building and a parking lot, but it's going to be great. From there I plan on working for Nintendo as a concept artist/character designer and in ten years I will hopefully be working for them in Japan. (random, I know). I guess that one of the best pieces of advice I can give for art students is to not procrastinate at all. You might think that you have a bunch of time to work on a few pieces, but it goes by really quickly. Also, don't be afraid to ask your classmates for advice and critiques. That one used to be really hard for me to do, but they have helped a lot over the year.

And you can't have AP art without fun stuff!!! The Barbeque and Lumberjack day were by far my favorite events of the year. The food was really good and it was great to just take a break from all the work and just hang around with your friends.

As for the thoughtful quote or poem, how about a thoughtful thought instead? Don't be afraid of the unknown. You won't live if you don't take risks and try new things in every aspect of your life. And if things just turn out to be worse, it makes it that much easier for the next adventure to make things better - you just have to have the courage to take that leap of faith. (I know that sounds horribly cliche' but that's what I'm feeling right now).

Anyhow, I guess this is it. Thanks again for a great year and for plowing through all that text above. =]

Glass

Stained glass is one of my favorite mediums, but I've never actually used it before. I found this artist, Robert Oddy, and really liked his works.

He has tons more on his website: so many I love that I can't post them all here. :)
http://www.robertoddy.com/Level0/Gallery.html

Woot!

I can't believe that we're done with our concentration pieces! It feels great! My parents came to the AP art show and my dad was so intrigued with the encausted pieces that when I came out to the computer room today he was looking online at videos of how to encausting pieces. He's even considering (with little supportive nudges from me) to buy the materials needed to try it out. I'm so stoked.
As soon as I finish a couple more breadth pieces I'm going to be able to start on my dragons and random things again. Yet again, I can't wait.
I'm in a random mood right now, so here's a pretty nifty video of an elephant painting a picture of an elephant holding a flower. I'm amazed the trainers could teach it that well, actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He7Ge7Sogrk&feature=fvw

Feather Painting

I recently attempted to paint on a feather, but it didn't work out so well. The sections on the vanes (I think that's what they are called) separated out and it got really disjointed. Plus the paint wouldn't stay on the feather well. Sometime down the road I will probably attempt this again. I'll just have to experiment a bit more. Here are some paintings that are pretty darn cool. The last picture's pieces are done by Julie Thompson, who lives in the Pacific Northwest. The video on the website gives a nice slideshow of some more feathers.
http://www.featherlady.net/

Pieces in the works...

I am currently working on two pieces. This first one is just a sketch of what I plan to do. I'm going to first collage pages of a book together and then draw this in charcoal or graphite over it. It is supposed to represent what people sometimes turn to when in solitude. The novel pieces will show how people (like Thoreau) utilized writing, while the bottle shows alcohol and the spilled liquor drops show religion. There are religious symbols in the drops. (a cross, the star of david, the islamic moon/star and I'll also put in the Taoism symbol).


The next two is a sketch followed by the piece in progress. It probably isn't difficult to figure out what this one means. I'm doing the final version on black paper with prismacolor pencils, so it should be vivid and deep at the same time. So far I only have most of the wings done. I'd like to apologize in advance for the bad resolution.



On a side note, I was walking by the television and paused to watch a nature documentary my dad had on and it showed this short clip of a snake that can leap from the top of the forest canopy and land THREE HUNDRED FEET AWAY. o.O I definitely don't want to meet one of those things.

March Concentration

I'm planning on pushing the darks a little bit more on this piece.

3-D Chalk Art

Quick side note before you start the actual blog, if you have ANY ideas as far as concentration ideas (mine is the effect of solitude) they would be most appreciated. I'm having some difficulties at the moment.

Anyhow...

The first time I actually saw a chalk artist in person was when I was helping out at the Tualatin Art Splash. His art wasn't as optical illusiony as these; he did batman with a small child. Anyhow, these are awesome. This stuff must take so much time going back and forth making sure that the effect works when standing back. I'm not too sure if the coca-cola one is legit. If it is, then kudos to the artist. It just looks so darn real. Enjoy!!!