Life is a Great Big Canvas

Today is the day that I graduate from college. It is a major milestone for me. It is one of those things that I never believed would happen, yet here I am. I married young, and we started our family soon after getting married. We both agreed that I would be a stay at home Mom, to personally raise our children. And I did. I put aside any possibility of working or going to college, and even put aside my paintbrush to focus on the kids. I had no regrets in staying home with them, and I believe my kids turned out great because I invested my life to make sure that I was always there for them. However, the desire to create art and become a better artist always gnawed away at me. I taught myself to do quite a bit, but I always felt my art was missing some quality to make it better. I had talent, but not professionalism, and definitely had no confidence in my art or ability. My sister, Cathy, decided to go to college in her late 30's, to become a pharmacist. She worked really hard, ...

This is my project for this week, a semi-realistic male figure. I haven't named him yet, as someone suggested, because after another week or so, he will be recycled back into the clay bucket. It amazes me that I can do this. As I mentioned in the last entry, I did not think I was capable of doing this, yet every week, I find out that YES I CAN! I was wrong! I can sculpt! I am really enjoying this, and thinking that I may want to pursue sculpture further, once this class is over with. You know, sometimes I like finding out I am wrong.

I am taking a sculpture class this semester. Three weeks into it and I am able to sculpt a foot that looks realistic. I am so proud of myself, because I didn't think I was capable of sculpting anything to look good. So this is my foot. I sculpted this while watching an instructional video and while examining my own foot. Something interesting that I learned, is that the great sculptor Rodin mentored another sculptor, Ivan Mestrovic. Mestrovic in turn, mentored Kenneth Glen, who mentored a number of artists, many of which are professors at Academy of Art University, including the writer of the curriculum for the sculpting class I am taking. So artistically speaking, this makes me the great-great-granddaughter of Rodin.

This was an exercise I did for my second semester, in Sketching for Communication. I was happy with the way she turned out. Pencil, 2010.

I have gotten behind in posting my art here, but these were my final projects for my first semester. From top to bottom, they are Matthew, Emily, and Elizabeth, my children. I had so much fun working in charcoal, and was excited that I was able to choose all three of my kids for school projects.

This nude is an exercise in foreshortening. Hopefully we will be done with nudes soon!

These feet belong to my daughters Elizabeth and Emily. I think I am going to have to do another piece to go with it to show Emily's other foot and maybe Matthew's big ol' feet. Charcoal, 2009

These are the hands of my husband, Andy, done for Figure Drawing, Charcoal, 2009

This is my friend Lori who was kind enough to pose for me for this portrait. Charcoal, 18x24", 2009

This is Elizabeth's hand holding a Tootsie Pop. I did thisfor Figure Drawing. Charcoal, 2009

This was a piece I did for extra credit in Figure Drawing. I am happy with it except for the foot on the floor, I just couldn't get it to turn out right. I may work on it more later on. Charcoal, 18x24", 2009

I did this one for Analysis of Form. The drape in the back is my favorite ballet dress. The point shoes are also mine to use, as is the violin. I was really happy with how this piece turned out. It was a lot of work. The pearls alone took three hours to render. Charcoal, 18x24", 2009

This one cracks me up, no pun intended. This is a nude I drew for Figure Drawing. It looks like he is playing Twister naked. I am really temped to put the Twister game underneath him. It looks like a really uncomfortable pose....I wonder if he had to stay like that for very long? 2009, charcoal.

I just finished this nude for week 5 of Figure drawing. Can you see the improvement compared to the other two I did? I am pretty happy with the way this one turned out. I think her right foot could use a little more work which I probably will do later.

This is another school assignment for week 3 of Analysis of Form.This took about 7 hours of work. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, although I think I might have to darken the core shadow on the teapot just a little. This was done on 18x24 charcoal paper, in charcoal, September 2009.

This was my project for last week in Analysis of Form. I spent eleven hours drawing each shape separately and then finishing up with the "grand finale" of all four shapes together. I am having a great time in my classes. It is challenging, but very fulfilling.

Here is my other nude sketch that I just now finished. I am really happy with the way that these turned out.

Three weeks into my college classes at The Academy of Art University and I am loving every minute of it! Currently I am taking Analysis of Form, and Figure Drawing. This piece is one that I just finished a few minutes ago and I am very happy with the way it turned out. It is on 18x24" newsprint and was done in charcoal.