In my dream house I will have space for all my art!

I never shared my last few projects in painting with y'all!
This one is pretty awesome, but really the one that I can't wait to share is the last project from the class.
I'm gonna try and go in order, so next week you will get the one I'm REALLY proud of.

Just a recap of what I learned in my painting class. 

In beginning painting we are taught how to mix and see colors that are more than just the average blue, green, red or yellow. It is actually pretty intense in the beginning. I had NO clue that white objects really weren't white! (I talked about that process of looking for color in a post here.) 

Now this is our second to last project. It was more geared towards teaching different techniques. 

We were told to choose 2 art historical references. 

1 landscape painting

and 1 abstract painting. 

We would then use the color palate of the landscape and the composition and technique from the abstract painting. 

I chose a Gustav Cailebotte landscape The Bridge At Argenteui

I really loved all of Gustavs paintings and color pallets but this one in-particular "spoke to me". 

Well, maybe not but I LOVE these colors. Those blues are my colors. 

Just go look at my house and you will see that a majority of my projects end with some kinda of blue from this painting :) 

I then chose Morris Louis abstract pouring Delta Zeta 

I hadn't heard much about Morris Louis until I chose this painting. 

I really loved the way it all seemed to have a smooth, soft, light emitted from the canvas. 

I then combined these two pieces to try and create a greater sense of depth. 

It was really fun replicating while also figuring out how color can change so much.

The process that Morris Louis employs is a pouring or staining.
He uses thinned down acrylic paint to pour across a raw canvas. And has multiple different tools to help him manipulate the canvas to ensure he gets the shapes he desires from the colors.

I couldn't use that process so I sorta had to make it up on my own.
I used oil paints and thinned them down with mineral spirits and Galkyd which thins the paint to a point where it is more fluid.
I then used one large brush to keep the shapes from the original Louis painting and very delicately overlapped the many different stripes.

I loved working with this fluid paint and obviously the colors are pretty spot on with my living room :) Right now the painting is leaning against the wall in the guest room.
We just don't have enough space for it on our walls!!
One day. One day... 

Spring Studio Space

I moved in to my studio at school last week. 

I'm sure most of you saw it on instagram or facebook. 

Sorry, I'm not sorry about it!! 

I'm way to excited NOT to share :)

Having this closet size studio sure beats using my guest bedroom and having to worry about the carpet all the time. 

(Heres the picture I shared last week, I've cleaned it up a little bit but forgot to take a picture. I'm sure you will see it again soon, I'll be living in it this semester!) 

Now that I've got space to work, I've been MUCH more productive.

I even just think better!

Here is my first project for the semester. 

What I am looking to discuss with this piece is a continuation from last semester. 

And the topic that is common in many societies is tradition, and how to preserve it. In

today’s American culture we are asked to look forward more often than back, and to think

about OUR individual future rather than the collective. This is evident in the lack of interest

in heritage. Not only are people losing their personal history but many traditions are being

lost as well. Trades that were once passed down from generation to generation are now

specialties that are hard to come by. With this body of work I am using furniture to

comment on the tradition, heritage, and integrity that is seemingly loosing importance to

the younger generations.

I am really proud of this piece and am honestly stund at how well the testing worked out. 

I posted a few weeks back asking if anyone knew how stiff fabric stiffener got. 

Well, incase you where wondering what I was doing with it... I made a fabric table!

Here is how I tested it. 

First I laid out wax paper to protect the counter top and chose 2 pieces that I didn't care about messing up. (They ended up being fine and I just had to wash the glue off) 

Second I filled a large bowl with the fabric stiffener and rolled a small piece of fabric in it. 

Once the fabric was completely covered I draped it over the cup and bowl to dry. 

After about 24 hours of drying I was so surprised how well the fabric held its shape! 

Now back to my large test. 

I used the same process just on a larger scale. 

I also used Elmer's glue instead of fabric stiffener because it was cheaper. (Also had the same results). 

This took about 24hours of dry time also and was unbelievably strong when I poped it off!! 

For this particular piece there is evidence of a table set for dinner while it is no

longer in existence. The tablecloth is formed to the shape of a traditional table that a family

of four would sit down to for dinner. Nearly everyone in the American society would be

able to identify this; however, eating at the table is becoming a thing of the past. With the

high paced life that many of us are living we often find ourselves eating out, in the car, or

even just grabbing a bite in front of the TV to relax. This table, whether in the kitchen or

dinning room, is becoming something that is more metaphorical than literal, more strange

than familiar, and recognizable yet overlooked.

I am hoping to draw the viewer back in with a piece that is in an inbetween state.

Causing the viewer to prolong their engagement with the piece by questioning their own

habits, knowledge or appreciation for the past.

I really do hope that people will interact with this piece and begin to investigate it. 

I love the way the fabric drapes and billows. 

 And ending on a different note. 

Tepe and Reed have too much fun together sometimes!