WOYWW 29 FEB

Hi and happy WOYWW & happy Leap Day!  A blog I read (sorry I don't remember which one since it was several days ago and I read quite a lot of blogs) posted a video about blindfolded painting as art medicine.  So, inspired by this video I tried to draw some faces with my eyes closed.  Here is what I came up with:

I had a lot of fun.  You should try it out!!  Especially if you are like me and resist drawing with a vengeance!  There is no pressure because obviously it won't be your best work since your not even looking at the page.

If you want to see some more desks, go on over to Stamping Ground.  Thanks for stopping by friends, have a great day!!

2 More Postcards

I really love getting home made postcards in the mail!!  Its so much fun and I love seeing so many different people's style of art.  Over the weekend I got 2 more post cards in the mail.  This one:

It is from Dorcas, who resides (as best I was able to figure out) in Whales, and blogs at http://dorcaspennyfather.wordpress.com/  go on over and check it out.  Thanks for the interesting art Dorcas!

The other postcard:

Came from Nancy in Canada!  2 post cards in 2 days from 2 countries!  Even though this card came from Canada, it reminds me of Asia. Thanks so much Nancy.  Sadly this means I can only expect to receive one more postcard from this swap.  I'm sure time will fly by though for the next swap.

In other news, I got a significant hair cut last week.... thus far, this is the best photo I have of it:

I am actually going to see the stylist tomorrow to get a bit more taken off the top - it just seems that its too long on top to really style it the way I want it to.  So, hopefully he can fix it and then I will try to get a photo of it. 

For now, that is all I have for you!  Thanks for stopping by - "see" ya soon!

Charcoal Drawings & My FSU Visit

I really dislike drawing in Charcoal, but in class I do what the teacher says.  So, last week in drawing class I drew in Charcoal:

I only got 2 drawings done because we had a long demonstration and I had to leave early.  This week we are going to do drawings on colored paper.  I think it will be interesting.

I bet some of you are wondering about my weekend trip to FSU.  I had a really good time.  I got there around 11 on Friday and went to lunch with a few students and  some of the applicants for the class I will be in.  After lunch I went around town looking at apartments.  I think I know where I am going to live.  I am planning on going back in May (after my current semester ends) and looking at a few more and then putting in my application and signing a lease. 

Saturday was the art therapy workshop.  Our lecturer was Marcia Sue Cohen-Liebman, MA, MCAT, ATR-BC, LPC.  She is an instructor at Drexel University.  She has a lot of experience in the area of Forensic Art Therapy. We learned about doing forensic interviews with children who have possibly been abused.  We learned how to ascertain if the child has good spacial recognition, knows colors and shapes, knows body parts, and if they can tell the difference between truth and falsity. It was very interesting.  She gave us little boxes of crays, modeling clay, candy and play-doh.  I really enjoyed playing with the play-doh.  she demonstrated how each of those items could be used to determine the things I mentioned above.  We also talked about testifying in court and we conducted a mock trial.  It was very interesting. 

After the workshop I walked with a few students to the bookshop, and got myself a FSU shirt.  Last time I was at the school I was not sure if I would get accepted so I didn't by a shirt.  So, I had to get one this time.  Then I had dinner and since I was so tired I went back to the hotel and just watched TV until I fell asleep.  Then on Sunday I drove all the way home which was hard because it s a long time to be sitting in the car. 

I am really glad I went because I met a lot of wondering ladies and hopefully some of the applicants that I connected with will be in my class.  Also I got the contact information for some of the current students who will be going to the American Art Therapy Association conference this summer - I am going to try and share a room or house with them for the conference! 

Well friends that is all for now, thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

DIY Postcard Swap 2012 & Road Trip

Last year I participated in my first postcard swap - it was iHanna's DIY Postcard Swap.  It had a lot of fun creating postcards and then receiving cards in the mail.  So, I wanted to share the info with you guys (someone requested it) so you can go sign up for this swap and play along too!  So, go to the DIY Postcard Swap 2012 page! It does cost 6$ this year, but I tell you it is quite worth it!  Don't be scared - you know deep down you want to sign up!! Want to know what kind of stuff you can make or receive?   Check out these posts:

1st Postcard
Speaking Of
2nd & 3rd Post Cards
Post Cards


Now, go sign up!

Also I wanted to tell you guys that I am going on a road trip today (after class!)  FSU is having their graduate admissions interviews and art therapy workshop.  I am already admitted (from last year) but I wanted to go to meet the other students and do the workshop and have a chance to look at some apartments.  So, I will be on the road for a few days, but I will try to post anyways.  Have a great day.

WOYWW 22 FEB

Hello and happy WOYWW.  So, last week I posted about some experiments that I was doing for my next art class project for Design II class.  I was thinking I was going to use magazine pages and glue to make a skirt.  Well, after experimenting with magazine papers (2 different ways), news paper pages, and dictionary pages I decided on the dictionary pages.  Well, my teacher didn't seem happy with my answer that I had experimented at home, so I decided to experiment some more today in class which is what everyone else was doing for the day.  So, whats on my desk now? 

Its saran wrap and bronze wire!  And technically its on the floor (better photo that way), but you get the idea.  The saran wrap is folded up into little sections like this:

And then sewn together with the wire - the wire is very very thin.  I don't know yet if I will still make a skirt or change to some other piece of clothing, but I am sure that I am going to go with this new idea instead of using the dictionary pages.

For more work desk peeks, hop on over to Stamping Ground.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Post Cards 5, 6A & 6B

Boy was I excited the other day when I checked my mail and had 2 post cards from the swap!!  So, here they are.  First, Tracy V. up in Bellingham, WA sent me this post card:

Cool, right?  The back was cool too - white and sparkly!  She sent it to me in a see-through vellum envelope which was awesome because I had never seen one of those before!

The second card I got was Pat in Redding, CA.  She sent me a post card from her home town:

What a neat idea, I never thought to send a post card from the area with my creation.  In addition to this, she sent me a post card that she created:

Super cute!  I love that the elephant has a wiggly eye and a bow on the tail!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you guys have a lovely Monday.

Art Class Sketches

Hi guys!  Just wanted to say that these sketches are of a nude model, but they are art class sketches and my normal readers probably know me well enough to know that I am not trying to be perverse or shocking - its just what happens in drawing class, you draw nude models.  So, if its too much for you then don't look at it!  Anyways, here are the photos:

Today I am going to visit an old Army friend Amber.  She was my first roommate in the Army.  So, I will "see" you guys late Sunday or perhaps even Monday.  Have a great weekend!!

No More Wires

The Wire Sculpture projects come to and end!  I am finally finished!  So glad too because I am tired tired tired of bending wires!  Anyway, I know you guys want to see how it turned out...so, here it is:

I am iffy on how it turned out.  Of course I like it because I know how much effort I put into it. I do sort of wish it had another arm...and that it was a bit sturdier because I would love to paint it into a little figurine, but well the desire is not enough to actually work on it any more.  Oh well.

So, are you curious about my next project?  Well, I talked about it yesterday on my WOYWW post, but if you missed it I will tell you again.  Next project is to make Mundane Wearable Art.  A piece of clothing or a clothing type item out of something everyday that would not normally be used for art.  I've already started working on it, so hopefully soon I will have some photos of the process.  Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT day.

WOYWW 15 FEB

Hi and happy WOYWW!  My work desk this week looks like this:

I know its hard to tell what that is, so I will tell you!  Ok, I have a new project for school that I am starting to work on.  It is "Mundane Wearable Art."  We have to make wearable art out of something that has everyday use and wouldn't normally be considered for use in an art piece.  I just recently went though all of my old magazines and cut out the pictures I like and tossed everything in the recycling bin.  So, with hopes of not having to purchase anything for this project my idea is to make wearable art out of magazine pages that have been glued together!  On the left is a test using Gel Matte Medium and on the right is a test using Mod Podge.  Also the one on the left is using full pages from the magazine and the one on the right is using torn pieces.  Once they dry I will see how well they bend and if my idea will work.  If not, its back to the drawing board!

If you want to see more desks, go on over to Stamping Ground.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely evening!

Another Post Card & Some Sketches

So, I got another post card!  I am really enjoying this swap!  Here it is:

This newest creation is from Claudia in Buffalo, NY!  She said Niagara Falls was her inspiration.  I see a bit of Teesha Moore type inspiration in there too!  Thanks Claudia, I love it!!

I also have some drawings to show you guys:

I still feel like I need to draw more than I am and that I have to force myself to draw, but I am trying.  Hopefully by May I will have made some progress.

Have a great day friends!

Be Mine!

I love you guys so much I made you some art:

Have a great Valentines Day!! 

Wire Sculpture - Biomorphic Form

Hi there!  I finally finished my biomorphic wire sculpture!  I had worked on it last week but decided to think about it before adding more.  Today in class I decided to add one more section to it.  I worked on it for most of class, finishing just in time to prime it!  So, here it is, all finished and primed:

What do you guys think?  My classmates kept telling me it looked sort of like a whale, but I didn't see it until right when we were about to leave.  Ever since then its all I can see.  Frustrating.  Next step is to give it that "skin" of tissue paper.  I only have until Wednesday to get it done, so I will probably have photos of the finished thing for you guys then! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.  "See" you soon.

Post Card #4

I got my 4th post card from the Musings on Realities Post Card Swap.  Its super cute!! 

This card came from Anna in NC!  Its so surprising to me that across the world all these people sign up for this swap and we randomly get paired together - and I ended up with someone from my home state, TX and someone from the state where I currently live, NC.  Anyways, Anna blogs at http://pennwoodfarmnc.blogspot.com/ so go on over and check out her blog!  Thanks Anna!!! 

I am really enjoying this post card swap!  If any of you know ever hear about any other swaps please let me know, I would love to play!!

Sadly, that is all I have for you guys right now.  Perhaps tomorrow I will have something more for you!  Have a great night!!

Post Card #3

I got my 3rd post card from the swap!  Here it is:

This lovely card came from Shiralee in Australia!  She blogs at http://whimsicalenchantments.blogspot.com/ and she does a lot of awesome art so, go on over and check her out!


Sadly, I don't have much else to tell you today.  I got hit hard with sleepiness after lunch and rather than feel bad all day I decided to give in and nap.  Well I ended up sleeping till 4!  Then I worked on a painting a bit and all of a sudden it was dinner. And now its about time to go to my sign language class...so I have to say bye bye for now.  Have a great night!!

WOYWW 8 FEB 12

Hello WOYWWers!  Happy Wednesday!!  Lets get down to it... here is what's on my work desk:

Its the wire Sting Ray that I made for design 2 class.  Our next assignment is to make another wire sculpture and cover it in a tissue paper "skin." So, I decided to try it out to see how it would go.  It did not go well.  Once it dried I picked it up to move it and several pieces of tissue paper fell off.  I will try it with a bit of glue and hopefully it will turn out better. 

I started working on the new sculpture tonight and I kind of like how it looks but not sure its big enough.  I might have to ass more too it... I am tired of wire though - my fingers are killing me!! 

Anyways, thanks for stopping by.  If you wanna check out some more desks then go over to Stamping Ground.

Wire Sculptures PT IV

Hi friends!  I finally have the pictures of the last few wire sculptures!!  So, here we go...

That one is a cat with a flexed spine representing "torsion."

And that one is a Kangaroo which represents "counter weight."

And lastly:

A giraffe that is leaning over to eat something  - representing "cantilever."

After our discussion on this project during our last class, our teacher finally told us what the actual assignment is.  The wire sculptures that we did so far were just for us to learn how the wire works!  Bogus.  Anyways, our assignment is to create a biomorphic object from wire and tissue paper.  We are supposed to try and express a sense of life or vitality. 

So, tomorrow I will be covering the string ray with tissue paper to see how it comes out.  Then I will be creating an entirely new object/form and covering that with tissue paper.  So, there will be at least 2 more wire sculpture posts!  Please forgive me, but this is my life now!  Just wait till summer - I've got tons of interesting things planned! 

Have a great night friends!

Wire Sculptures PT III

Today I finished my wire sculptures...my last two.  An Ostrich:

And a Flamingo:

The Ostrich demonstrates "lever" and the Flamingo "balance." I still have like 3 wire sculptures at school that I did not get pictures of yet.  So, next time I go to class I will get photos of the last few!

I am so glad this project is over - well for the most part.  Our teacher is going to give us one last wire sculpture assignment, but I have no clue what it will be.  Don't worry, I will certainly share it with you guys!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Fest

Yesterday my friend Madison and I went to the Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Fest!  It was so much fun. 

There was a lot of vineyards that were offering wine tastings and lots of yummy chocolate goodies to try too!  I got a festival wine glass:

On top of that there were some art/craft vendors too!  So, I had to get some of that too.  I got myself a super cute hair clip:

The clip is from Thatched Roof Designs!  We stayed at the booth and chatted with the super nice owner for at least 20 min!  She has so many cute hair clips, as well as headbands, and clips for your shoes!  Go on over to check out her Etsy Shop and get yourself some cute accessories too! 

I also got a super cute necklace:

The necklace is from Oceanaire Dreamer.  Her Etsy shop is on vacation until the festival finishes today, but you can go over there and check it out tomorrow!! 

After the festival we went shopping in other parts of Wilmington.  I didn't get anything else, but my friend did find some super cute dresses.  After that we checked out another place we wanted to shop but it was closed.  So, we got some dinner and headed home.  It was a great day. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Postcard #2

I got my 2nd post card from the Musings on Reality Postcard Swap.

This lovely card came from Kay in Kerrville, Texas (My home state!) Kay's website is www.milamstudios.com - go check her out!  Thanks Kay.

I also got all my postcards out in the mail - so they are on their way!!

Today in drawing class out teacher was gone, so we drew whatever we wanted.  Not that I wanted to draw these things, but I needed something interesting to look at - I can't stand boring still life vases and boxes and random crap.  So, I drew this:

I realized I need a lot of help with hands!  But isn't that what this class is about, becoming better at drawing?  And you can't improve until you know your weakness - I am definitely finding my weaknesses as this class goes on.

I had a doctors appointment today and was diagnosed with mild carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, and mild nerve damage in my left elbow.  I knew I had the carpal tunnel but had to get it on paper so I can get the VA to adjust the rating they gave me - they said nothing was wrong with my wrists.  So, now I have to go to occupational therapy as well; my doctor thinks that wearing a wrist brace at night when I sleep will help and maybe even fix the carpal tunnel.  Its not that bad right now, I just wanted to make sure that if it ever does get bad I can get treatment for it. 

Well friends, I am out of time for now.  Hopefully I will see you tomorrow!!

WOYWW 1 FEB 12

Hi, and welcome to all my WOYWW visitors!  Today was an exciting day - my last working day in the Army!  I am so happy to be moving on with my artsy life!!  So, what is on my work desk?  Well, in my art room I am working on a painting:

It is a pretty big painting.  On my actual desk (where I sit now typing), I have been working on an art project for school.  2 art journal pages about any art revelation that I had.  1 was a written page:

My art revelation was that art can heal, art helped me to heal, and that I want to use art to help heal other people via art therapy. The other was a visual page about our revelation:

I had fun making it - it was my first page in this art journal for class that I got to do in my style, the first one I felt like I had freedom on.  Both pages are 11x14 in case you were wondering.

Thanks for visiting me today!  If you want to see more desks, head on over to Stamping Ground.  Have a great day.