Hurray!

Daisy's Big Swing is finished! Well... the lineart/dummy book is.

I also found out that I am placed at the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service building for the art hop. Keep an eye out for me :)


But I'm super tired and my fingers hurt because I baked like 30 mini-loaves of bread, so I'm going to go to bed!!!

Lesson on perspective

In my education class we were given a sample of a high school lesson on perspective. Our job was to create the product and also to make the lesson our own in some way.


Here is my final drawing. It's charcoal on 18"x14" drawing paper. It took me a while to get started on it. I felt a little lost because I hadn't used charcoal in so long, and the further up the building got the harder it was to make out the shapes at the top. But hey, turned out pretty good.

A little blurry because the photo was taken with my webcam. Will try to get a better shot of it later.

My art is good, and I know it!

Guess what page of Daisy's Big Swing I'm working on? Page 19! Only 6 more to go! My goal was to do 6 pages this past week, and I did it! Here is what I still have left for this class:

• Finish the last 6 pages
• Color 3 of the images
• Pick a publisher
• Write a cover letter
• Write a query letter
• Type up my manuscript in the correct format
• Print my book 3 times 
• Bind all 3!

Woo! That's a lot to do in 3 weeks, but I know I can do it!

In other news, last night I hung out with some ladies from my art ed program. I had a really good time with all of them. However, Molly did get my attention at one point to tell me to stop being so reserved and to be proud of my art, to not shy away from talking about it, because my work is amazing and I should be confident.

From now on, I will! Self-confidant Stephanie is self-confidant! I never realized how meekly I spoke about my own art, how nonchalant, or as Kevin puts it, "blasé". Well, I will try my best to not be anymore, so if you catch me being like that, slap my wrist or something (no, not literally).

The other thing that took place, was my own mini-gouache lesson. That's right. The dreaded medium of gouache. Molly whipped some out to make me try and even took away my precious brush-pen. Noooo!

I actually enjoyed the paint, although it does cover up pencil/ink lines. I do like that it gets opaque quicker that watercolors do when layering. The color is also very vivid (I think water color tends to be dull sometimes, but it may just be what I use). This means that I will be digging out my gouache from color theory class and playing around with it. So, thank you, Molly :)

Anyway, what's next after Daisy? I still have stories about Anna and as of now, a still unnamed 6-year old. Not sure when I'll get working on those, but they are always on my mind.

That's that. I better get back to work!

"Saloon"

I've been digging through my art tonight to find my pieces from my original art ed portfolio. Once we pass our 200 level classes (sophomore year), we submit a portfolio for review to get into the upper level classes. This is so Kendall maintains a certain level of talent and artistic understanding in the art ed program. Tomorrow us KaeSA officers are helping the lower level students prepare their portfolios, so I dug mine out as an example (which I will eventually put online).

While doing that, I came across a dry-point etching I did a year ago in Print I class. It was for an assignment where we learned how to dry-point etch on to plexi-glass. We had to visually interpret a scene from a chapter in the book Glass Castle.

I was still thinking of what I'd like to submit for the art hop in Wayland, I'd like to do a few illustrative pieces. So, I water-colored this tonight and added some colored pencil to punch it up. What do you think? (Keep in mind, the awful home scanner) This may be one of the pieces I decide on. although it's fairly small (5x7). I think I could find a nice mat and frame...

Updates

The MAEA conference was so much fun! I ran into my mentor teacher and was able to tag along with her. She's so awesome. I was introduced to many art educators from across the state. I also snagged a lot of free stuff from the vendors' booths. Always nice. I have my eye on a kids book about Andy Warhol and the silk-screening process. I think it would come in very handy. The best part about the conference, in my opinion, was all the free lesson plans! I now have TONS of ideas!

Unfortunately I did not sell very many bags. I believe the final count was 3. Some of you lucky relatives and friends will get a bird tote, because they're so pretty. I'm in talks with Rena about doing a craft show, so that will give me another opportunity to sell.

Things coming up. School ends in 4 weeks, so I'm chugging along on my children's book. I also have finally decided on what to do for printmaking class. It involves the help of many children, but once it's done I think it'll be neat.

Also, there is going to be an art hop in Wayland this December, which I am so excited about. Who would have ever thought Wayland would become such an art town? I'm looking into getting some of my artwork submitted.

I think that's it for now. I will post more drawings once I have them all finished.

Silk screened tote bags

The Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) conference is here! Tomorrow I'll be heading down to Kalamazoo to participate in my first ever art ed conference! My fellow Kendall Art Education Student Association (whew! A mouthful, so call us KAESA) officers will be there. We will be presenting two workshops: a lesson plan swap (so bring your best/favorite lesson!) and  "How to start an MAEA chapter" where I will talk very, very briefly about my secretarial duties (which is pretty much keeping notes at the meetings).


The first night I head down will be the Artisan's Gallery, where tables will be set up to sell our own work. On Saturday, Kevin and I worked on making these wonderful tote bags! :)

 

 

(tote bag image © whoever I found it from online)

Also will have one of my illustrations up in the MAEA member's show.

So that's that, and I will be gone til Sunday! Adios!