iart

New Wednesday

2011-03-24T22:45:00.007-04:00

I have been slowly moving to a new blog. There is a lot of things left to figure out bu I might not post here much anymore.

A Vague Sense of Unease

Animated Wednesday

2011-03-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

I have learned how to make .gifs...The world is my oyster now!

Photoshopped Monday

2011-03-07T11:12:00.002-05:00

I am continuing my little fashion sketches. This time more Photoshop! This is Karla.

Tuesday Drawings

2011-02-22T12:21:00.000-05:00

While looking for some sketches, I realized that I have previously drawn this model last year. You can definitely see the improvement.

Sketching Wednesday

2011-02-16T12:13:00.000-05:00

Ippolito Fleitz Saturday

2011-02-12T14:29:00.006-05:00

I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon these pictures.
At first I though it was some international pavilion in the States or Europe, and was surprised to see this pattern there:

It's the pattern used in my home country, Uzbekistan.
After reading the article I realized that the building itself was in Tashkent.

The space reminds me of the Tashkent's subway system. The second most beautiful on the territories of the ex Soviet Union.

The sparkle, the shine, the marble and the gold are definitely very Uzbek. I think that the simple colour choices make it so much more elegant.

Two Friday

2011-02-11T10:31:00.001-05:00

1h, conté on newsprint

Monday Many

2011-02-07T09:00:00.003-05:00

15 minutes line drawing

five 5 minutes drawings

Fashionable Thursday

2011-01-27T10:38:00.005-05:00

I used to sit in front of the TV and draw for hours. Since I have been sick for a week, I came back to that.

Being a big fashion blog fan, I drew Jane Aldridge. I'll probably do more of these drawing and it helps with re learning photoshop.

Tuesday Eyes

2011-01-25T16:47:00.003-05:00

Here is the final product of my PRIN 451 class.

It was exhibited for 2 weeks in the VAV Gallery.

Friday rules!

2011-01-14T10:32:00.000-05:00

This is an almost finished one.
I have submitted it to ArtMatters and hope that I'll fit with the themes.

Marquess of Queensbury, rules!, oil on 30" x 30" canvas, 2011.

Sunday Miss Qiu

2011-01-09T11:16:00.001-05:00

Last class I also made a portrait of my friend (Go look at her stuff, it is gorgeous!)
This time 1:3o

oil on 20" x 24" canvas.
I might or might not finish it. I have not yet decided.

Restarting Friday

2011-01-07T08:16:00.000-05:00

And it restarts!

Had my first painting class.
Two 30 minutes portraits of classmates.

Oil on canvas paper.

Second Tuesday Portrait

2010-12-14T13:28:00.002-05:00

That was the second self-portrait I've done, this time in oils.

I will be working on it during my vacation as I really want to finish it.
I love oils, I adore oils, I want to be a painter!

First Friday Portrait

2010-12-10T13:27:00.001-05:00

My fourth project for PNTG3oo.

A project that changed routes. I was going for three self-portraits, but ended up with one in acrylics and one in oils.

Being tired of my warm palette I decided to go all out on the purples and blues. Plus I've purchased a bunch teals and cyans, I also use left overs from previous paintings, the green and the purple come from Odalisque, so that dictated my new palette.

Sadly I did not finish it. I definitely need to cover up that harsh peachy tone. I also want to unify the painting a little, since it is very layered right now.

Work in Progress Monday

2010-11-22T00:37:00.001-05:00

First etch of some of my plates, for Advanced Printing Projects.

It's a great class. However sometimes it feels like a court room. You have to prove that your project is worth the attention. Things like "I decided to make it because it is my favourite subject and I like colours" don't fly here. It's very helpful and demanding.

I feel very small as most students are in their 3rd year or in their last session. There are a few people who have a strong artistic production that is of a professional level.
Oh well, I better kick their asses!

Now I need to design a fancy rococo frame as I have an appointment on Wednesday during which we are going to cast it.

Friday nude

2010-11-19T12:17:00.001-05:00

Second painting for PNTG300.
I really enjoyed painting her, even though she moved so much and the pose was a bit simple. I wanted some foreshortening!
My proportions are terribly off, but the colours in real life are very nice. The background sadly is not anything worthwhile.

What sucks with acrylics, is that they become less saturated when dry. I should probably invest in some lacquer, or mix them properly.

Odalisque,
acrylics on 4' x 5' canvas, 2010.

Double Sunday

2010-11-14T10:46:00.005-05:00

First painting for my PNTG 300 class.
I learned quite a bit. Definitely how to work with backgrounds better, as this one is particularly flat and useless.
I have to say that I love the guy's chest.
The second model came in a week later and we had to deal with what we had. It wasn't the best set up and you can see how the second model is lacking.

Untitled,
acrylics on 3' x 4' canvas, 2010.

Sunday room

2010-11-07T23:03:00.001-05:00

A drawing that is now part of a collaborative project for DRAW399f
It is mostly a repetition of elements in my living room.

Yes, I have a zebra rug.

Thursday Summer Memories

2010-11-04T11:39:00.008-04:00

During the summer, I met with a friend of mine.
We spent an afternoon walking around Montreal, eating crepes and drawing. Was really fun! This is when I really embraced abstraction.

The tie-him-down chicken

Friday Fuss

2010-10-29T10:16:00.003-04:00

What’s the fuss? Tell me what’s happening.
What is that fuss over Runaway?
Sure Kanye is not in my top. I judge people by their faces, and his seems disdainful.
I also judge people that cry on TV at 30 because they fucked up like little children and feel guilty that their mothers have witnessed that.
However that is beyond the point.

Runaway…
The idea is…simple.
The execution is professional.
The colours are great and the first 50 seconds are truly marvellous.
There are elements that are lovely. The white table, with everyone dressed in white. The bird woman with her perky boobs, long nails and the scene with the candles.
Ballerinas are great no matter what, where and when.

But I hate that peachy overlay layer, on everything.
And the lyrics. The music destroys most of the atmosphere and the lyrics seem very simplistic.
So what’s the fuss?

You want to see something truly amazing?

Proud Friday

2010-09-24T23:44:00.008-04:00

You know you are doing something right, when your teacher mistakes your acrylic painting for oils! It feels so good to be complimented.

I believe I have developed a certain style. I apply paint in a different way. But that is not as important as the things I've learned this time around:
When preparing your canvas, think about your background. If it is going to be a dark and rich colour, prime your canvas with a relatively saturated and even coat, otherwise your figures will look like cut outs.

I'll rework the painting as my background is so dark it sucks the life out of everything, and I might photograph it. I should for portfolio reasons.

More harmony:

And here are a few things for sale on Ebay.

Colourful Sunday

2010-09-18T15:59:00.000-04:00

Drawings made with my koh-i-nor woodless pencils and a great 3 coloured pencil.

Harmonious Wednesday

2010-09-15T15:40:00.001-04:00

While waiting for my renovations to be done, I have spent quite some time doodling in Harmony. Plus with my new job, I will have even more opportunities to do so.

Saturday Beginnings

2010-09-11T15:28:00.003-04:00

School is on!

I had only three classes but I already feel slightly panicked.
I have seen a few of my new classmates in action last year and they are impressive.

Here's a few more Harmony sketches.

Contemplative Monday

2010-08-16T15:03:00.004-04:00

Having been stranded away from my house, I have not had the chance to paint.
Luckily after being sick for a week I restarted drawing.
Right now I have been thinking about a nice header for my Etsy store since not only is the shop empty but it looks sad!

I am very excited for school. I am already feeling the light tingly sensation in my stomach, but this time it is caused by anticipation and not fear.

Friday Encore

2010-08-06T01:31:00.002-04:00

Having been sketching some more in Harmony.
I am in dire need of some live models!

Etsy Thursday

2010-08-05T18:12:00.004-04:00

Just listed one of my Holier-Than-Though (no. 2 to be exact) on Etsy.
Added no.3 on Ebay.

Let's see how it goes.

You can see it here.
And you can bid on it here for a week.

Tuesday Harmony

2010-08-02T22:06:00.005-04:00

I have discovered a wonderful application Harmony.
I have been trying it out quite a bit, as I do not have access to paint and am tired of drawing.

It is a great way of sketching for paintings, as you get a more painterly feel right away.

Andy's Saturday

2010-07-03T13:09:00.003-04:00

Andy Goldsworthy - the most amazing land art artist.
His aesthetic, his patience and procedures are surprising and the results are breathtaking.
I discovered him a little over 3 years ago in one of my History of Art classes in CEGEP. Since that day I fell in love with his art. He has such a selfless approach. He is making pieces that do not last.
He has long term pieces, usually made with stone, but those are rare. He usually goes for ice and leaves, or works on the beach before the tide comes.

A film was made about his work, and it is stunning!

Happy Tuesday

2010-06-29T23:10:00.005-04:00

This summer is a good summer. Not too many trials and tribulation [sinking in a gentle pool of wine].

I have been fantasizing about the day I'll get back to the presses, but for now I am just sketching ideas and enjoying Montreal. Each Jazz Fest I realize how much I love this city.

I have been looking at many different painters and researching styles. I am more and more interested in abstractions, especially ones with vivid colours. I think that next year is going to be wonderful as I'll get a chance to explore abstract colour fields and figures. For now I am trying to loosen up by doing small, rather monochromatic abstract compositions.

Got some cool Koh-i-noor wood-less colour pencils that are soon going to be used.

I am also very excited as I'll be painting with a friend of mine this week-end. We have very different styles but a certain affinity in our aesthetic, it will be great.

Friday Portrait

2010-06-04T19:00:00.011-04:00

Here is the lady.
After those two days I did not touch her. I know that I have a lot left to do. I have to redo her hair, work on the background, redo her ears, add some details and her mouth is not the way I want it. Strangely I don't know how exactly I want her to look at the end.

She's about 1o"x12"

Overall I like. She's more luminous in real life, not as green, a bit more pinkish.

However lately I have been thinking about a completely different aesthetic and "in the grand scheme of things" she does not quite fit with the themes I want to explore.

Working Saturday

2010-05-22T11:11:00.005-04:00

Every time I paint something nice, I am surprised.
As I told my mother this morning:
"I think I have a painter in me."
Her reply was:
"You've been harassing me since age 12 to get you a tutor...you better have one"

I haven't painted anything for myself in oils. I only did alla prima vegetables and kitschenettes. A week ago, I was sketching at my sister's and ended up with an idea for a painting.

I have worked on it for two days already and it is going well. I am still uncertain of my colour palette. She is too burgundy and lavender. I am aiming at a more pale complexion. There is some issues regarding her hairstyle, but I think I'll manage that.

Lithographic Monday

2010-05-03T16:23:00.007-04:00

My 3d and final project for Litho.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Red, 3.75"x6.5" lithographic print on 7.75"x11.5" rice paper, 2010.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Blue, 3.75"x6.5" lithographic print on 7.75"x11.5" rice paper, 2010.

Both prints are three layers each. Background is a water tusche on stone. Figures as well as the stripes layer are india ink on frosted mylar, exposed onto photoplates. I also added gold by hand.
Both backgrounds and figures are rainbow rolls.

I learned once again that it is extremely important to have good registration marks! Also exposing plates can be difficult and should be done carefully with a clear head and lots of time.

For Sale on Etsy.

Fruity Wednesday

2010-04-28T15:36:00.001-04:00

I edited part of my images and I present you with Maloideae.
This was my last project for intaglio, for which by the way I got an A (sadly, no +). We discussed it for a whole hour and came to the conclusion that it is indeed sexual in nature...Oh well.

Maloideae, three 4"x4.5" etchings on 7.5"x12" BFK paper, 2010.

Here are the details.

QUINCE

Cydonia oblonga, detail.

PEAR

Pyrus communis, detail.

APPLE

Malus domestica, detail.

I might make separate prints of them, but for now I have 8 full one. They are as Holier-Than-Thou for sale.

I can't wait for next session to start. I really want to print some more. It's so much fun. Plus it is very likely that I am going to be a monitor which means I will be there all the time!

Selfish Thursday

2010-04-15T15:45:00.006-04:00

Here is one of my school projects.
The constraints were that one of the dimensions was to be as tall as we are, and that there had to be at least one human figure.

Umbilicus, acrylic on 14x68 canvas

Sadly I can not translate the brightness of colours, even with Photoshop's helping hand.

During the crit people seemed to like it. I was the only one to pick such a shape, most went with a more 'traditional' rectangle.

I believe I am getting to a point where I start understanding how acrylics work. I am still far from being able to mix the colours I want but slowly and surely I'll get there!

Holy Monday

2010-04-12T10:14:00.013-04:00

Here it is!
Holier-than-thou is finished!

6"x9" intaglio etch on 7.5"x11.25" BFK paper
I am very pleased with the results. It is possible that I will re-etch and reprint them in fall. There are some things that I would like to add to make the print more detailed...We'll see.

I have a bunch of them printed. At this point I have a good edition of 11. I'll need to check my other prints as it is possible that I have another smaller edition available.

If anyone is interested I'll be selling them for 25$. I have 7 that are ready.

Friday - SolarBeat

2010-04-02T19:25:00.007-04:00

Here is a lovely little thing. Open your speakers and enjoy:
SolarBeat
If planets were notes this is what our solar system would sound.

Happy Wednesday

2010-03-10T16:13:00.004-05:00

It feels so good that I need to brag.

I started school like any other girl at 7. I have been studying for 13 years now. I have always lacked structure, interest and enthusiasm. My mother got tired of hearing “she has so much potential” and stopped going to parent-teacher meetings.

In primary school I would get “sick” right on the test days. In high school I’d get sick for longer periods during the semester. College forced me to attend all classes as a note from my mother would not get me out of trouble, but I still despised it.

I complained…all the time.

He’s a failed athlete (which was actually true), she hates teaching (she actually told that), he hates me (there was no proof), she’s a shitty teacher, he doesn’t care and…blah blah blah. Man was I angry. Still I had “Soooo much potential” if only I would try, and work harder, and participate and…blah blah blah.

Here is the good stuff.

I love what I am studying right now. Sure I hate waking up early and I am under stress and I hate deadlines, but I love what I am doing.

I am finally feeling that something is happening; there are abilities and themes that emerge. I am inspired, I get feedback and I improve!
Honestly if things like, my health, my family, my social life were not important, I would get two pairs of pyjamas and live in the EV building (because the VA is kind of spooky).

Printing Saturday

2010-02-20T16:54:00.007-05:00

I had to give in a series of 6 prints for my litho class this Wednesday.
Therefore I was printing on Tuesday. I think I had beginners luck as out of 14 prints 8 were very nice. I had helped others to print during the week and there were always some sort of problems. Surprisingly I found out that printing alone (especially) is extremely calming.

Sadly I really hate the layout, the print needs more space, so I'll be going back during the reading week to print a couple just for me or for anyone interested.

And here is the intaglio version.
Since it's a practice piece I am making changes in it with each new technique.
I want to make it lighter though, so I'll probably scrape off some of the tone.

Printed Monday

2010-02-09T10:02:00.003-05:00

Here it is, the first print!

Since then many things have changed, I cleaned it up a bit.
I etched a bit more things onto it. I'll be doing some soft ground techniques, so I have to think about what texture I want on it!

Next class we are doing some aquatint and we're starting a new project!

I love, love, love Intaglio!

Heavy Saturday

2010-02-06T12:59:00.004-05:00

So here are two pictures of my lithography stone.
Litho is more difficult than Intaglio, as you don't quite see what is happening, while you draw.

After drawing your image you have to etch it with gum arabic and nitric acid. The only problem is that if you have even a little smudge of fat on your stone, it is going to etch and it is going to show.

I will be printing on Wednesday and I'll get the pictures eventually. I am not very satisfied with the results but I suppose it'll have to do. I have definitely learned a few important things.

Thursday Blank Print

2010-01-21T18:51:00.010-05:00

So here is the next step in Intaglio.
After having engraved the hard ground, you need to etch the copper. We used 50/50 ferric chloride, I put my plate in for 35/40 minutes and got it slightly over etched.
The difficult part with Intaglio is remembering to wear all the protection. You have to take it off each time you handle clean things like paper and presses, but you must have the gloves and respirator when washing off the hard ground with varsol * and handling the ferric chloride.

Here is the etched and cleaned plate, ready for ink printing.

We made a blank print, which consists of printing the plate on paper without any ink. That way you make sure that you have the right pressure on the press as well as good paper, proper set-up, etc...

It is difficult to see that ghost print.

So far I love it, sadly we are many in my class and there is not that much space. Plus I am short on time.
Soon I'll talk about litho.

________

* - The good thing is that in small quantities it smells like my good old oil paint solvent.

Tuesday Intaglio

2010-01-19T00:49:00.003-05:00

One of my two printmaking classes is intaglio. This week end I finished the first engraving, and I'll be etching and printing on Thursday. I am very excited as I really want to see the results!

Here are some process pictures, it took me on and of around 3 hours.

6"x9" copper plate

I will be using the same drawing for my lithography class. I might be able to take pictures of my stone next week.

Sunday or Monday Science

2010-01-17T23:27:00.004-05:00

Today I stumbled on one of those things that take my breath away.
I am in love with science, unable to perform I listen!

Rachel Armstrong: Architecture that repairs itself? | Video on TED.com

And here is a funny one

John Lloyd inventories the invisible | Video on TED.com

Wednsday encore

2009-12-16T21:27:00.012-05:00

One of my class related works is a huge nude Sal.
Sal is a great model he has an incredible ability of remembering his poses. Plus he's funny and intelligent. He was the first model to talk to the class in the most casual way!

acrylics on 4.5" x 5" canvas, 2oo9.

It was the first time I worked on a nude that size.
My favourite part is his head as I really got the likeness.

There are a bunch of things that could have been worked on (hands, chest, right leg...) but for the time given I did pretty well.

Friday three

2009-12-11T18:35:00.006-05:00

I have been continuing with my hand sketches.
Three more:

All graphite on paper, 2oo9

Saturday Sal

2009-12-04T11:10:00.003-05:00

I have always thought that drawing was my thing, it comes relatively easily. However I realized that it is not, painting comes easier, and drawing has been a pain lately.

A couple of weeks ago we had a model in out painting class. I was terrified as I hate acrylics and it would be the first time I would attempt to paint the body. I was more than pleasantly surprised!

acrylic on 7"x8" Bristol, 15 minutes.

Friday anatomy

2009-08-28T15:12:00.003-04:00

I am continuing my practices. Before doing more complex hand placements I am practicing some anatomical drawings. I am also putting a little more time in it so that they are not just sketches.

graphite on 9"x12" paper

Tuesday learning

2009-08-03T15:11:00.007-04:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin
I kept my promise and I am still doing my hands. At this point I have 17 done and 83 to go. I hope finishing them before university starts as I bet I will have more than enough things to do during the school year!

All the three are

graphite on 9"x12" paper

Saturday fives

2009-07-11T12:47:00.005-04:00

They say that if you draw something 1oo times you master it. So I got Burne Hogarth's book and started copying hands. Here are the ones I've done so far.

graphite on paper, 2oo9

Graphite on paper, 2oo9

Graphite on paper, 2oo9

There are two more that are waiting to be photographed and that way I have 93 others to go!
I was pretty sceptical about it, but now I feel that my hand is starting to learn the proportions and the plains pretty well.

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Wednesday sketches

2009-07-08T11:23:00.008-04:00

I while ago I whent to Dr. Sketchy Montreal.
We hand a wonderful model, she had the cutest glasses and the poutiest red lips as well as some funky hair.

two 10 minutes sketches,
graphite on paper

20 minutes sketch,
3-in-1 colour pencil on paper

She was a great model, creative and fun. During the two hours we listened to some great music like Frank Sinatra and a couple of tracks by Marylin Monroe.
I will try to go to a nude atelier next time as it has been almost a year since I got to draw nudes. I really miss it.

Wednsday learning

2009-06-24T14:43:00.007-04:00

My last speed painting up to now. I don't have enough canvas boards at this point, and I also don't have any subjects (Yes we ate all the food).

oil on 8"x8" canvas board, 2oo9

I am quite proud of this one. I think that I learned a lot and especially achieved a number of desired effects. It is also the one I struggled and hated the most during the making process.
Sadly I could not get the exact colours. The onion is much more purple and has more light edges in real life.

I definitely feel like I am starting to learn a few things, and that as I am choosing subjects that I feel uncertain about I am getting the needed experience.

Monday falling red

2009-06-22T10:39:00.002-04:00

This is a painting that surprised me. I found a number of things coming to me intuitively and a number of other that for some reason I disregarded completely.

oil on 7"x9" canvas board, 2oo9

What I learned is that you have to let go of a painting, especially if it is a quick one. The night I finished it I hated it, everything seemed so flat so shapeless, but the next day I realized that somehow I ended up creating 3D wedges. The last touches of white and the seeds made sense of all of those red spots.
I also now know that composition does not always come naturally (and this one in particular is so unstable I want to cut a piece of canvas off). You must draw your subject or at least the important lines first in order to get something where your eyes flow smoothly from one point to another.

Overall I am very happy with the learning and I finally feel like I can create shadows that make sense.

Saturday fruits

2009-06-20T16:49:00.009-04:00

So here are the results.

oil on 5"x7" canvas board, 2oo9

My favourite is the lonely blackberry, in real life it has more colour subtleties that the other two and also there is a higher contrast that I like much more.

I learned an important thing with that painting. In order to get something realistic with looser strokes you have to pay attention to the shape. "Summarize" it but always add a few details that are very accurate.

Thursday continuation

2009-05-28T11:06:00.006-04:00

Thursday's post propelled me into a good steady making pace. I now have two other paintings to show.
One is the infamous vase (1 - 2 - 3 - 4) that I decided to redo once again. I hope I'll be able to get it right this time.
The second is the speed painting of a red onion that I did yesterday night.

Thursday return

2009-05-21T12:08:00.007-04:00

After a couple of weeks of constant running around and feeling of unsatisfied with everything art related, I finally started working again.

The colours are terribly off ...The green is much softer in real life. The berries were done two days ago and the tomatoes last night.

Thursday revelation

2009-04-09T10:09:00.009-04:00

I've been hiding this little thing for a while now.

Strangely I never got to post it, even though it was done some time in January or February. It was inspired by Carol Marine whom I follow religiously. She paints in the most beautiful way. Her paintings are full of light but the strokes are very visible. I just love her!

oil on 6"x8" canvas board

At first I hated this one, but now that I look at it I start to like the colour combination as well as the composition. I still have a hard time with the oranges themselves. They seem so solid, they do not let the light pass through.

Monday presentation

2009-04-06T14:34:00.003-04:00

I would like to share with you a little project that is taking shape. It is a collection of inspirational pictures.
I've been actively surfing on the Internet for a while now. I have almost 6GB of visual material (it is an equivalent of 43 598 pictures). I think it is time to share them.

I present you ROCOQUIRK.

There you will see a collection of inspirational images (not belonging to me). Sadly not all of them will be credited, but I do encourage people to speak up if they know the source.

Saturday experiment

2009-04-04T14:12:00.007-04:00

I have been trying to participate in Karin Jurick's challenges lately. It helps me to make sure I practice and at the same time, try new subjects that I would not usually pick.
Last time Karin posted a picture of a family on the beach. I decided to take the figure of the young girl. I had a difficult time cropping the picture as well as finding the right colours. Sadly I can not say that it is very good, and as usual my camera changed the colours!

oil on 6"x8" canvas board

I am happy that I tried such subject but I don't really like it...

Tuesday surprise

2009-03-31T20:46:00.008-04:00

I finally participated at Karin Jurick's bi-weekly challenges. And here is the result I got.

Makizushi, oil on 6"x8" canvas board.

I had to wipe it two times before starting something that I liked. Now the more I look at it the more I like it. I think that my brush strokes and colours are well done here. The sushis do not look like the photo but I think they still have a nice character to them. Sadly the colours in the picture are a bit off, and also too dark.

Thoughtful Friday

2009-01-30T14:36:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I made a little speed painting, this time I took a plum as my subject and placed it on my old pink t-shirt. It made me realize that I have a hard time with shiny round things. It also made me question my abilities a lot. I spent a whole evening discussing it. I am as most humans in constant desire of results. The bigger, faster better are the results the more energy I put in the new skill I am learning.
Right now I feel a little exhausted of not seeing results that are stable and constant. it seems to me that with each new project that I attempt I get back to square one.
To get me out of my blues, I decided to take a look back at my first painting. It is a painting that I still love. Each day I see more and more mistakes but I still think that I did a great job with shadows and colours for a first attempt.

So here are both of them:

oil on 4"x4" canvas board

oil on 5"x7" canvas board, 2oo6

My favourite part is the shadow and light around the stem, as well as the shadows in general.

Nude Friday

2009-01-16T12:33:00.007-05:00

I have a drawer's block, and it feels awful! Luckily I did a little 1o minutes sketch before the block kicked in. I also had a couple more but this one was the first and the best.

graphite on paper 11"x14"

My favourite part is the hip, I really like the curves there and the shading. I think that I succeeded in showing the sculptural effect of the pelvic girdle with little shading and lines.

Tuesday results

2009-01-06T09:52:00.010-05:00

I think I am finally learning. All this practice had to pay off eventually.
So here is my lovely avocado (that is still in our fridge and in no way comestible!)
At last, a speed painting that not only is appreciated by those around me but also myself.

Oil on 6"x6" canvas board.

Monday puff

2008-12-22T12:56:00.009-05:00

After having finished school, and after going out almost everyday for a week, just before Christmas, I decided to try myself at a speed painting again.

My previous efforts were not met with pride. I did only like one of them and even then I thought it was so-so. So before getting to my bigger project, that I want to do with loose stroke I decided to warm up.

After spending half of the day surfing on beautiful painter’s blogs, I got enough inspiration to attempt.

My first attempt was hell. I had to wipe it off three times before finally getting to something that was ok. But everything about it annoyed me. From the colours that were so damn off to the lack of normal shadows. So this little Chantilly puff is the ugly little duckling.

Oil on 4"x4" canvas board

After getting mad and having some tea I decided to give it a shot again. After finding the right undertone I found the right cloth that would be my background and here is my pretty little result.

I like it; I think it is luminous compared to all others. I like how you can see the pink through the blue. Now I am proud.

Oil on 4"x6" canvas board.

Wednesday moleskine revival

2008-11-12T17:27:00.008-05:00

For a couple of weeks, I have been doing some quick auto portraits. Each night, I try to render myself in 20 minutes in my 3.5"x5.5" moleskine.

Here are two of those that look the best.

I use this fantastic three colour pencil, which I love. I feel like it gives more life and character to fast sketches.

Friday fruit

2008-10-31T19:12:00.008-04:00

Here is a pithaya aka dragon fruit. It is delicious!
Here is again a speed painting. I tried to go a little more spontaneous with the brush strokes.

8"x8" canvas board

I am still troubled by the background and the shadows. I think the colours that are too dark...

Late Sunday or early Monday snack

2008-10-27T00:40:00.007-04:00

This Thursday I made a few purchases. There was a canvas sale in a Montreal art store. I got myself nine canvas boards in different sizes, for seven dollars .

Since my last speed painting I decided to make more, as it is a great exercise. This is why I got myself canvas boards instead of canvases. Now the question wasabout the subject. Lucky me I spent a day at my sister's place yesterday, and this morning we went out for breakfast and then we did some groceries. I got myself my favourite cookies of all time: amaretto cookies. And so, using my leftover 4”x4” I painted two of them.

4”x4”, not including a tea break ~4o/6o minutes, 6 colours.
I am much more satisfied with this one. I think I got it well, without overdoing and over smoothing. So you do witness me redeeming myself!
In my next one I should work on more visible background brush strokes.

Monday experiment result

2008-10-20T14:01:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I decided to experiment a little. I have been always fascinated with those “spontaneous” paintings, done with big brushes, saturated colours, on small canvases in 40 minutes.

So it was my turn to do so after quite some research. I had a couple of tiny canvases from my school project and I had a mandarin…Here’s the result.

I can not say I am satisfied. I do consider this one as a total flop. But you shall witness my redemption (hopefully).

4”x6”, 45-75 minutes.

Friday progress

2008-10-17T19:39:00.010-04:00

I got sick. But being sick gives one time to paint. And here I come with a little preview of how things are going.

I've changed the colour for a stronger tint of blue, and I reworked most of the pleats. I am slowly going left and up from the right hand corner. I hope to be finished with this soon, since I am still sick, I'll be painting the whole week-end.

The other Kitschenette is on it's way, since I finally figured out how I am going to fill in the bottom left corner. I have this recurrent problem with the left hand corner!!!

Friday critique

2008-10-10T11:16:00.003-04:00

While I am busy finishing school projects and artsy projects, I will do a little critique.
A couple of weeks ago, I went to see and exhibition by a well known French artist. Sophie Calle was born 1953. Her medium of choice is mostly photography; she also uses film and installation art.

I am not going to present her full biography, but I will talk about the exhibition “Prenez soin de vous”* named after the last line of the e-mail.

“Prenez soin de vous” is an exhibition that explores reactions, emotions and words. Sophie Calle asked 107 women to read and reinterpret the breakup e-mail she got from her ex-lover.
I arrived at the gallery, which is located in Montreal’s old port. The gallery had the great idea of dividing the photographic and the video parts. In one building, on four floors you could see written answers of a number of women, as well as pictures of them or of their writing. They reinterpreted them form a professional point of view, analyzing the content of the letter and giving an explanation, whether they were journalists, 8 years olds, police officers, psychiatrists, teenagers, novelists or kindergarten teachers.

The second part was filmed. A dancer, a couple of singers, clowns, translators, actresses and many more women were filmed as they were reading the e-mail or interpreting it.

I loved the exhibition; it had a very calm atmosphere, filled with a strange kind of humour. It was also interesting to see how a woman could transform a common situation into a work of art. There was no anger, it was not a public revenge, and I hope that the lover himself did not feel humiliated. The only thing that truly did bother me was often the length. The letter itself was lengthy, but some interpretations were so interesting that the time flew by. Others like translations were not as attention grabbing as others.
The voyeuristic idea with which plays Calle is very intriguing for me. After reading a little about her art, I wish to see some other exhibition where this idea is more strongly explored.

I would recommend whoever can, to visit that exhibition. You can go alone, since it is time consuming and also, personal. You will not feel lonely.

______

* - Take Care of Yourself

Blue Saturday

2008-10-04T13:33:00.008-04:00

I have been working, and I like it. Since Monday I was looking forward to Friday!

So, I've changed the colours a little, I decided to go for the blue palette and not the purple. I am also slowly figuring out the lights and shadows. I think it is starting to look like something. Not yet velvet but at least 3D.

As much as sometimes I would love to work in a more spontaneous style, with visible brush strokes, I do not yet have the sufficient skills. So I must continue with the usual léché style. Plus I always get carried away with corrections.

Thursday Obsessions

2008-10-02T23:01:00.003-04:00

What I am about to present you is genius! No it is out-of-this-world-wonderful! Oh, I can not express my state of amazement! So here you have a picture.

Look at it. A nice bronze font, that must have taken time, patience and gallons of paint...Ha ha ha, paint you say...No, those are coins, eurocents to be exact. They make up for a total of €2500!

Here you have the end of the story, and here are the pictures that go with it!

Random Tuesday

2008-09-30T10:07:00.006-04:00

As painting takes time and my progression is not easily measured, and I do not want you guys to get bored, I will post random links!

Postsecret. Great, amazing, fantastic and very touching.

A softer World. It’s something very strange, it’s full of dark humour, it makes you often go from “aww” to “ehh”. I would also recommend you to read Joey’s employment letters.

And here you can find funny writing, for example Lit Class 101, or Van Gogh’s ears discussion and even open letters from readers to people and things unlikely to respond.

Read on!

WIP Sunday

2008-09-28T14:23:00.009-04:00

Here I come with a picture of my newly started kitschenette.

I will probably add complementary colours to get my shadows deeper. I think that a touch of golden yellow or orange will make the velvet plushier.

Never ending Friday

2008-09-26T22:40:00.009-04:00

And no, I have not disapeared! *insert repressed laughter*

I have been working for over a year on this kitschenette. Surprisingly I did manage to start and almost finish it in less than a month, but the correction and finishing work has been going on for so long. Partly because I did not paint for quite a while after having moved.

But here it is in almost all of its finished glory.

The picture is a week old, so here you can see the progress that I made in this particularly difficult area. I repainted it already five or six times! But I think I figured out how the fabric is going to be.

I am left with about 6 to 10 hours of work here. I need to finish the foreground, touch up the background, complete the pear and unify the whole thing with some nice shadows and light.

Sketching Sunday

2008-09-21T15:33:00.009-04:00

First here is the sketch for my latest kitschenette. I’ve been working on the painting already for 6 hours. I think it’s doing ok but only with the rough shadows done, it is relatively ugly. Oh well…

Here are also older sketches. For a while I was obsessed with contortions of the body, it slowly morphed into some strangely shaped females.

And here are some hand sketches. I heard that drawing a subject a thousand times will get you to master it.

Happy, happy Saturday

2008-09-20T16:22:00.006-04:00

So after and eternity of waiting, and a lot of computer tweaking through DOS and Safe Mode, I just got Photoshop!

Since it takes me quite some time to get the pictures how I want them, here is instead some little Christmas decoration that I made on my mother’s request. I have a couple of unpainted ones, I am going to paint one each year, I suppose.

It’s acrylic on papier mâché. About 2” - 2 ½” in diameter.

Random Friday

2008-09-19T13:56:00.006-04:00

As I promised, here are random facts that make me go “OMG leike totally leike!”. Since I still do not have Photoshop, I'll share some random knowledge instead.

Tails, butts and running.

A cool book.

The strange story of the musicologist Clive Wearing.

GPS for your daily life?

We might not be the smartest!

Wednesday reason 23678.a

2008-09-17T16:24:00.001-04:00

This, this magnificent, incredible, glorious and brilliant thing, is one of many reasons why I want to study in arts!
It is called Cloud and it’s fantastic.

Isn’t it flabbergasting!

I love those Troika guys! They are also the reason for my unexplainable urge to go study at the Royal College of Arts in London.

Here is another funny little thing they created.

Tuesday anticipation or Photoshop where art thou?

2008-09-16T09:31:00.001-04:00

I’ve been taking pictures of my artistic exploits, but unfortunately my inner photographer is not as skilled as I would wish, he is more at the level of my inner child. Therefore I need a little digital help. And this is where Photoshop comes in handy, but alas I do not own it. So I am waiting for a friend of mine to get me a copy.

For now I shall entertain you with some of my numerous links.
So I am a sucker for design, architecture, ads, packaging, clothes, furniture, I am all for it.

The Die Line site is an amazing thing, it is packaging related, and you can find some incredible stuff! Suddenly package design seems like great works of art even for the most skeptical and purist of painters.

MocoLoco is also a beauty, they have it all: art, architecture, gadgets and installations.
Check out Chris Dorosz Painted Room for example.

Geek&Hype, a French website where you can find anything design, from new cell phones and computers, to a girly luxurious Svarowski cordless mouse. Even though it is in French, it has a clear layout and enough visual material to be appealing to anyone.

And to end on a happy note here is a little something that I though funny.

Monday resolution

2008-09-15T14:22:00.001-04:00

What is the best way to start a week? Start a blog. An Art blog is even better.

I restarted school, a couple of weeks ago and it got me back to painting. I need to finish a portfolio in order to aply to a university, I think a blog is a good way to make sure that there is progress.

I've been already painting for a couple of days now. Finishing one of my older Kitschenettes* and strating a new one with a purple velvet in the background. I have to try and sketch some more this time around.

I'll post some interesting artsy and non artsy discoveries that I make.

Until then...

____

*Kitschenette - Small still life, that serves mainly as painting paratice and can also decorate kitchens of old bourgeois ladies.