New Prints!

Hello! I am here in Bologna, working at the academy! Here is a peak of some of my recent work in the print studio. The first (bottom) and second (top) "acquaforte" prints I have ever made. I really am in love with the process... you'll definitely be seeing more prints. Enjoy!

Hello From Bologna

Hey there. So sorry I haven't posted anything for so long. I think perhaps I am not the best at this blogging thing... oh well. Here we go... I'm now in Bologna, Italy, and attending art school at the academy here. Today I did my first etching! Woo! It took me forever, since it was all explained in Italian with lots of misunderstandings and blank, stupid expressions on my part. Va beh... I did it! No pictures yet -- printing it tomorrow!

What I have to post today are some interesting photos I took here...

Chuck Close, and the Seventies

Okay... So this is the finished project. Well... Finished for now. 

Oil paints, 50x45 (ish)

Here is some perspective for those of you bad with dimensions... 

That's my kitchen table in the background, and it is leaning against our TV...

So big. But so fun! Oh. And that's the picture I worked off... don't tell my Dad I put this on here...

Okay. More on Italy... I'm leaving in eight days! And I'll be there for a year. Goodness knows how I am going to survive... Hopefully I swim rather than sink. I am so looking forward to being around all of the beautiful architecture and art and culture and just drawing everything in sight... I'll be attending the Accademia delli belli arti in Bologna.

Wish me luck! 

So this is what I've been doing...

And as the school year draws to a close... you'll be seeing a flood of updates! Oh yeah. Have I mentioned I'm going to Italy? Yeah. I'm going to Italy. In three weeks. For a year. WHAT. More on that later...

... and this is my little child... Well. Not so little. 40X50. Yeah.

NOTE: This is a crappy photobooth shot = a mirror image. I'll take one with a "real" camera soon! Promise!

This is probably the more appropriate response for the moment. SO MUCH TIME IN THE STUDIO. Gahah. And SO HUNGRY. Also. As you can tell I am not done yet. Forty minutes prior to me writing this (and many hours since I took this photo) I caught the last bus back from school with only an earlobe to finish. Woo!

PS: Chuck Close inspired. He's a cool guy. Look him up!

Competition...

Hi guys! So I entered this t-shirt contest to have your art on a t-shirt (obviously... sorry that was a bit redundant...). And I was hoping that ya'll could help me out and vote for me?

http://www.yourarthere.com/entry/tea-stained/


Thank you kindly... and don't worry... I'll have some more interesting things to post soon! I've just been slightly preoccupied with painting overly pink still lives for my painting class (UGH).

The Paper Dress.

Right. Well Here is my paper dress. I have to say that I am

most definitely not done with it yet... but here is an in-progress.

Oh Silly silly me.


The Entire thing is made of paper.... even the closures on the back.
I'll make sure to put up some better close-ups soon! xxx

Zoomed out...

Fake Spring

So... It's been fake spring here. And I've been snapping some pictures of the sunshine ...! I have finals this week... so alas no updates! I'll have a full update in a couple days... 

I get to turn in my final project tomorrow...

Yes. That is a dress made out of sewing patterns. Yes, it is wearable. Yes, I am going to wear it.

So... that's what I've been up to!

More Photos (and Sewing Patterns)

So here are some more photos that I have churned out recently. I'm still working on my first roll of film, so really I need to go out and shoot another one!

And here are some works in progress...

The first is an original sketch I did. First in pencil, then I xeroxed it, and penned in some of the fine details.

The second is a xerox transfer (http://www.apogeephoto.com/jan2007/sromero12007.shtml) For those of you interested in how it works. Lacquer Thinner is a little crazy, I've found that "green" lacquer thinner works better (in the hardware store it is labeled as the "green" alternative to Lacquer thinner). In either case, it gives you a killer headache, but the results are beautiful. Very ethereal and ghostly.  (If you want to experiment, any acetone lying around your house should work just fine. Be careful around flames though!)

PS: If you have access to a printing press, you don't have to tape the whole thing down, etc etc. Just sandwich the image between two sheet of overhead projector sheets, when you run it through the press. Otherwise, the rest of the process is the same: just paint a whole bunch of lacquer thinner onto the back of your xerox copy, sandwich, and run through press. Voila!

Does anyone have any interesting transfer processes to share with me? Always looking for something new to experiment with. Cheers!

Valentines Day (a day late)

Happy Late Valentines Day! I know a lot of people grumble about this holiday. I know, I know, corporations trying to put a price on love, yada yada. But I think it's all about how you celebrate it. It certainly is not up my alley to pine for some pink teddy bear that was made in china for ten cents. But I think it is a good exercise for us to stop, and think about who we love. Not just romantic relationships, all relationships. And boy, do I love a lot of people.

These are a sampling of some Valentines I made this year. 

Oh, and here is a sketch I did today for a paper-cut book I am in the process of churning out...

The words at the top say "My love is too big for you, my love" which is from the song "Sort Of" by Ingrid Micahelson. Still working out the kinks with the lettering. Probably will figure it out, once I get to cutting.

Just a little Preview...

This is what I spend my time doing these days...

Photography. 2011.

So, I've never done photography before. I have always used a digital (and a point-and-shoot at that....) but I've always had a sort of fascination with the whole dark room process. I also love that the photos are there, in your hand, instead of on the computer. (A little ironic in this setting...) So. Here are my first two prints! 

I am using a old Cannon IE.

Boats. 2009.

The First Post EVER.

Hello. I guess I should welcome you to my blog. I've never done anything like this before, but I hope that you (whoever YOU are) enjoy what I have to share.

So. For a starter, I'll give you an introduction to my artwork. Most of these were done three years ago.

PS: Special thanks to my Trader Joe's Cashier last week who told me I should do this. I hope you see this someday!