Summer Walks

Hey Everyone,

School came to a close two weeks ago and with finals ( all of which I passed with a B+ or higher) and interesting opportunities popping in and out of my life things got hectic. The blog will be getting more love starting early next week, the majority of the uploads will be photography for a while. This is because I was accepted in the the Burren College of Arts summer program located in Ballyvaughan, Ireland.

Its pretty exciting, being a program of environmentalism and art in a beautiful country. This is my first time traveling outside of North American and I think its also my longest flight ever.

Summer has come to Portland and it is lovely. I have been taking long walks after working in the offices here at MECA. The west end is my favorite, you get two blocks away from Congress St and all of the cars, vagabonds and noise just dissipate.

Here are some photos of interesting builds and things,  .I'm trying to get back in the swing of the Photography thing before my trip

This is the Church on Thomas St, its sweet and
continues to sprawl to the left hand side of the image.

Anyone know what this sweet little bloom is?

Along spring St I cam across this wonderful house. I just really enjoyed its location and design, especially the carving on the front door.

                                                   

My walk eventually culminated in a walk through the Western Cemetery, I usually come here to read and enjoy the pine trees and silence. But there were mopeds there, along with he Ice Cream truck and a couple making out on top of a mausoleum, so I did not loiter too long. Although what time I did spend there I used to think, away from the clutter of my apartment and the noise of Portland's main thoroughfare it is far easier to think on subject that plague your mind.

                          

 

"Hannah"

Its interesting to think that these people never wanted
 to be forgotten and aren't....but have lost their names

Stones and Ivy

Anyway. These were earlier this week. by the time this entry is posted I will be back home in RI for a two and a half day stint before flying out to Shannon! It will be nice to get progressively more and more back to nature. Being couped up in a city (even a small one like Portland) can wear on your sense of space.

Spring Finals

Sorry for the hiatus, the Spring semester swept me up and into its arms without so much as a moments notice. Several projects happening. Luckily since it is the end of the semester we are given more self directed projects. Here are a few process photos, taken quickly with my webcam. Hey, they are just process photos ;)

First of my cut paper monsters, more of a "what I learned" kind of piece.

Second try! I figured I should just make my own Collage pieces rather than hope that everything will fall into place. Paper craft, meet illustration.

Getting closer to final, needs some clouds and a final texture over lay. So much for a Matte Medium being matte...jeeze.

A quick piece I'm working on for Pinecone & Chickadees Monster Show. Starting on May 4th at Portland's monthly First Friday Art-walk.

And a sketch for a "secret" project in my illustration course. This one probably won't be used, I have two other directions to explore this week before I come back to this Dapper..thing.

I've also completed all of my forms and applications for either a semester abroad in Ballyvaughan Ireland at Burren School of Art or for the one month summer intensive offered there. Perhaps with a little post-intensive wandering. I do hope I get in, but lets keep a leveled head and not dreams, difficult! The Burren is beautiful, fields, agriculture and art in a historical setting and with the chance to get to some of the most famous museums.

A little bit of everything

Its a snow day and classes/workstudy are cancelled for the day so I figured I would take a few pictures of the Art I had laying around the house. I sincerely thought I had more hanging around here.

But first, check out the snow! It's coming down at a good clip, I do not look forward to walking outside in it later, but it will be worth it.

 So here are a few figures I had stashed under my bed. I prefer the quick shading with lines in the 2nd drawing, but I suppose its more of a challenge to be 'painterly'. We had Mid Term Critique this week in Figure Drawing, and I need to work on finding the core shadows.

 Click the images to enlarge them :)










Then over in my Mixed media course we are working on 16"x16" compositions for an exquisite corpse piece. We are to make three compositions, but I only like this one. It will be a mix of colored pencils and washes.

Sketch

process

I made a triptych of chrysanthemums a while back using complimentary colors in each of the different panels. Also, I drew Batman in a bathtub. I find the Art that I find the most enjoyable to make is making it for the purpose of making someone question either what you were thinking, make them smile for a moment or both. Some call it a shallow reason to make Art, but I'm not a very Highbrow person. Perhaps someday my sister can help me define things about my Art, she will be an art historian after.

Eventually I'll get these to my Mom.

Bat(h)man.

Also, you should totally watch this music video. Enjoy the snow New England, it had to happen eventually, so why not March.