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The semester is almost over, leaving me with two more weeks of crunch time.  After that, it’ll be a summer of art.  I’m not sure whether or not I’ll be painting, but I’m taking a glass class at the Hui Noeau, and I intend to get into printmaking and work on my photography portfolio as well.  For now, here’s the works-in-progress of my final painting project:

The thing about school assignments is the ridiculously short time we have to work.  I would work on these paintings for weeks, except that I need to finish them by Tuesday.  Sigh.

Sometimes, spontaneous photographs turn out wonderfully.  My latest was snapped while I was harassing Ryan to wake up one morning.  I pulled my camera out of my backpack, lay on the bed next to him, and snapped this picture.  This photograph was the result.  I actually was in the picture, but I burned myself out to emphasize the chiaroscuro effect. (And I looked dumb.)  Because of its classical style, I call the photo “Endymion” after the eternally sleeping shepherd who was loved by the Moon, Selene, in Greek Mythology.  I intend on furthering my experimentation with these blurry-style photos for their painterly effect.  Portfolio idea?  Perhaps.

So, I finished my first screenprinting project!  I am very excited, this is an extremely interesting and fun medium.  The first project consisted of collecting found images and creating a collage.  I suppose mine speaks for itself.

I am definitely in love with screenprinting!  The next project is to make op-art (optical art).  We can only use three colors.  I have some ideas that I plan on sketching in Photoshop (which has been awesome for screen-printing planning).  I hope to make some t-shirts or bags before the end of the semester.

So, the first few weeks of school have gone by, and I am very sorry for neglecting this blog for so long. Now that many of my first projects have been turned in, here is some of my favorite work I have done so far in drawing and painting. (Mouse over for descriptions):

Feel free to click through the ArtMakerBlog Gallery to see my other work I’ve been doing! Everything is divided by category of medium, and so far there is drawing, painting, screenprinting, and photography. I am also going to make separate posts based on mediums so I can tag each post accordingly. More posts to come soon!

Hey all,

Today, we had the experience of an extremely friendly young woman come into Ryan’s apartment and try to sell us magazines. She said that she was earning points for each sale she made, and that she was very close to winning a trip to Europe and $5,000. Well, she showed me a list of magazines, except with no prices…just how many points she would get. There was one magazine I have actually been wanting to subscribe to, so I offered to sign up for it. She charged me $87 for 36 issues…which was WAY overpriced compared to deals I could get from the magazine itself. Still, I was flustered, so I paid in cash. After she left to talk to other people in the building (illegal, by the way), I checked out the company’s website online:

http://www.pccsonline.com/

I realized how useless this website was - no real information, or contact information. Not even any forms! I then looked up the name of the company, and it was listed as a magazine scam company. Luckily, I was able to find the salesperson down the hallway selling to other people, and I got my money back. Later on, I researched the whole thing online, and came across this message board:

http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=270&page=1&pp=15

Also, in one of the posts, I found a description of someone’s experience which sounded almost exactly like mine, even down the the smilies drawn on the reciept:

http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showpost.php?p=3437&postcount=81

Further research revealed that a lot of these magazine companies actually con the young people into working for them, promising them travel and easy money, but actually treating them as slaves. I don’t know if the company that this girl was affiliated with treats its employees in this way, but it sounds like the salespeople get ripped off as well. For more information on this, see this site: http://parentwatch.org/generalinfo-salesperson.html

Some people online said the company is legit in that it DOES eventually send you your magazines. However you’re still probably being highly overcharged, so it’s not really worth it. The spiel about a contest and going to Europe seems to be a common scam to get you to buy magazines out of kindness, rather than actual need. We’re all poor college students — save your money for yourself. Also, if you see these people on campus, call security. It is ILLEGAL for them to solicit in the student housing areas.

Tomorrow, I finally get to start screenprinting!  Sadly, this momentous occasion has been overshadowed by the fact that I’m pretty sure I have yet to pay my supply reimbursement fee ($145), and buy some supplies (having already spent $50+ so far…).  Not to mention that I also have to pay my photo lab fee (~$35?) and buy more film ($6 per two roll?).  AND I have to buy materials for stretching my own canvases, as my next project is supposed to be a minimum of 36″x48″, and they don’t sell the pre-stretched canvases that big in the campus bookstore.  For the stretcher bars, canvas pliers, staple gun, staples, and pre-gessoed canvas (I’m WAY too busy to gesso/sand my own), price: unknown.

I’ve probably already spent $500+ on art books and art supplies.  And, sadly, more to come.  Plus, there’s that pesky need for food…

I’m already neglecting this blog.  Shame on me.

And thus, my first week of school has been finished. Already I have begun one painting, had one session of figure drawing, have completed my figure-drawing homework, and coated my screen with emulsion. I also am officially a labbie in the photo lab, though I still have no ideas for my portfolio project.

Lately, I’ve felt rather robotic about my daily routines, if only to maintain the consistency of actual productive uses of my time.  While I’m glad of everything I’ve managed to get done, I still feel like I need to loosen up, both in my day-to-day activities, as well as my art.  That’s always been the chief problem in my work: it’s always too stiff, without much character or spark to it.  Technically, I can do many things rather well, but that little extra ‘oomph’ of life to it has thus far escaped me.

Quick post before bed:  Today, I pulled out all my art supplies in my dorm room.  The following is a preview, click for a larger image:

Descriptions of all the supplies to come soon…for now, it’s bed time, because I have my first real drawing and painting classes tomorrow…

And I’m afraid I won’t be taking that Intermediate Life Drawing class. Not because of the subject matter, or the professor, as both seemed awesome during the first class, but because there were so many other students trying to get into the class. No, I’m just making excuses. I’m actually afraid to take the class because I feel highly unprepared for the subject matter. You see, when I took figure drawing in Italy, the class was mostly based on drawing what was in front of you. Apparently, at UH, beginning life drawing is taught with scientific supplements of detailed anatomy and explanations of bone and muscle structures. Egads, I know none of this.

However, there is also an opportunity for me to draw from the model every Sunday, provided a chip in for the cost of hiring said model. My plan is to pick up the textbook for the beginning figure drawing class, and work on Sundays.

I am afraid of what I don’t know.

I am afraid I will be lazy and not go to the Sunday drawing sessions.

I am afraid this will mean an extra semester.

I am afraid I am already slacking and blogging instead of finishing my Japanese homework.

Draw big, dream big. At least this means I’ll have that much more to give to my painting class.

First painting starts Thursday…

Edit:  Well, the professor for the drawing class gave me the override to register for it, even though it is already full.  In a moment of reckless abandon, I registered for the course.  Muses, you had better be there for me this semester.

I am taking a moment to pay tribute to Momofuku Ando, not as an artist, but as a college student.  You see, Ando-san was the inventor of Instant Ramen, Cup Noodles, etc.  Without him, college students everywhere would have starved to death long ago, providing no new educated generations for the human race.  Thus, without him, humanity would have been doomed.  Thank you, Ando-san.

Momofuku Ando

1910-2007

どうもありがとうございました！