Painting Recap; Teepee

If you have seen my post, Exploring Wet Mediums, then you have seen my painting of the two teepee's.  I did this one a while ago, and it is now hanging above my fireplace.  Somehow, a connection through my friend Claire, brought me to having the opportunity to sell another original painting, similar to my first, but still different.  Here is a picture of the first painting.

My First Teepee Painting

At first, I had trouble coming up with a way to paint teepees in a similar landscape, and having it end up completely different.   However, the further I went along, the more ideas I came up with.  Here is a picture of me working on the newer painting.  It looks almost identical to the first painting in this picture, but the final piece ended up looking a lot different.

One difference between the two paintings is the size.  The first teepee painting was 24" by 36", or two feet by three feet.  The second teepee painting was painted on a 36" by 48" canvas, or three feet by four feet.  That was one of my biggest paintings that I have done!

After this picture was taken, I decided to add a couple horses and some more variation in the grass.  Though in the pictures, the paintings look practically the same, in real life, there are different brush-strokes, tones and textures that make them different.

Feature Artist: Joy McManaman

So, I was sort of having a bloggers-block, so I thought I would wright about my AMAZING art teacher, Joy McManaman, and show you guys some of her work.  I am so lucky to get to work with her once a week, and have done countless projects with her.  Keep in mind that all paintings are courtesy of her website, http://www.joysartgallery.com/

Painted in Alta Ski Resort

This amazing painting done by Joy amazes me every time I see it.  Everything from the detail of the snow in the trees to the natural feel of the hazy cloudy sky I am taken aback.  Though the color scheme is not very varied, your eye doesn't get bored. 

Another snow painting done by Joy, and it doesn't disappoint.  The detail is impecable, and it looks even better in real life!

Another one of Joy's paintings painted in Alta, however in a completely different setting!  The composition of this emphasizes not only the front and center flowers, but also the side trees and the distant mountains.  

The last painting of hers that I chose is my favorite!  It is so bright and peaceful.  I didn't know that I painting could convey so much emotion.  Everything from the path to the water to the trees doesn't make the painting overwhelming.

I am so lucky to have such a talented teacher.  Remember, these are just a few of Joy's amazing portfolio, so be sure to check out her website!  

Feature Artist: Nagi Noda

I'll just admit it.  The artist I will be writing about has a very, very different style.  And I mean very.  It most likely won't appeal to everyone, and probably won't stick out to you as beautiful, but there is no doubt that this is a form of art.  

Image Courtesy of pondly.com

Now you can probably see what I mean.  I get frustrated putting my hair in a ponytail...  I can't imagine how much patience this artist must have to be able to sculpt these amazing pieces.  

Image Courtesy of pondly.com

This is my favorite animal piece of this artist.  The red color really shows the depth of the detail, and the loose but not tedious perfection of the shape gives the piece a natural look.

Image Courtesy of pondly.com
A literal take on the phrase "hair like a birds nest"

This is definitely my favorite piece.  The detail in the shape is impecable, and the way the sculpture frames the face of the model  pleases the eye.  Now you see what I mean about patience...

The artist Nagi Noda creates pieces like no others.  It's always hard to find artists who can create beyond the boundaries, and this artist has definitely colored outside of the lines.

Lifelike

This past weekend, I went with a friend to visit La Jolla, a suburb of San Diego.  During our trip we decided to visit the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art.  They had an exhibit called "Lifelike" that I had heard of, and was really interested in seeing.  Located in the middle of La Jolla, it was a walking distance from our hotel, and ended up being one of the highlights of our trip!  Here are a few of the pieces in the exhibit.

Vija Celmins, 1967

Image Courtesy of mcasd.org

This may look like an eraser, but it is actually three feet long, and made out of balsa wood and acrylic paint.  It looks so much like the real thing, you have to look really close and carefully to see what it really is.  I really like this piece of the exhibit because of how the artist made a simple, everyday thing into a piece of art.

Jud Nelson, 1981

Image Courtesy of walkerart.org

This piece is so realistic, I almost leaned over to pick it up when I saw it in the middle of the gallery.  This realistic looking trash-bag was actually made of marble, and intricately carved.  The details are so accurate that it took the artist 6 years just to make this one piece!

"(Old) No One - in Particular #6, Series 2," by Evan Penny

This piece REALLY creeped me out.  Made of latex, animal hair and many other material's, it looks like someone chopped the bottom part of a real old man.  The wrinkles and details in the face must have taken forever to form.  The eyes were what made this sculpture look so real.  With eyelashes and everything, these eyes look unnaturally real.

Overall, this exhibit went beyond my expectations, and I would definitely recommend going.  From mini elevators to giant milk cartons, this gallery has a range of pieces.

Photography Inspiration: Pinterest

This week I decided to post a few pictures that I have found on Pinterest that are really neat examples of cool photography.  I'm sure most of you have been on Pinterest before, but if you haven't, I highly suggest you check it out.  Not only are there great DIY's, fashion, hair and makeup tips, but there is also a pretty good variety of the visual arts as well.

Image Courtesy of Georgiana Lane

This is one of my favorite photographs ever.  The bright color of the roses, contrasting with the dark, blended background emphasizes the beautiful flowers even more.  The natural shapes of the flowers with the hard contrast of the sign makes the picture even more visually interesting.   The vintage, french feel really makes this picture more than a simple photograph.

Yes, more flowers
Image Courtesy of Pinterest

This is another picture that I found on Pinterest.  The way the photographer focused in on the details of the main flower, and blurred everything in the background, in a mindful way, created the emphasis on the main flower.  The way the light was captured in orbs, and the blurred background gives the photo a dreamy, vintage effect.  

Finding inspiration on the internet can be hard, if you don't know where to look.  But once you find a good source, it is easy to find your desktop overflowing with hundreds of inspirational pictures.  I know that I did.  Pinterest isn't the only place to look for neat photographs.  There are hundreds of other websites out there, with thousands of pictures for you to look through.

Holga: Camera Review

I'm sure that not many of you have heard of the Holga.  I hadn't either until I got one for Christmas this year.  The Holga is a plastic film camera that has only four settings.  It is really great if you just want to take pictures, and not worry about settings, flash etc.  It is also a really good camera for beginning film photography.

What I got in my stocking this Christmas!
 Image Courtesy of docksandgreens.blogspot.com

When I first got my camera, I had no idea how to work it.  It took me a week to figure out how to put the film in, when to turn the knob, and how to open and close the camera without ruining the film (which I did a few times).  However, after you have the hang of it, it is super easy.  Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a chance to develop the three film rolls that are sitting on my desk, so instead I'll show what the pictures can look like.  

Image Courtesy of fivetdsisters.blogspot.com

This is picture taken of the film that contains this picture...  confusing right?  However, as you can see, the camera takes really cool, faded looking pictures.  The Holga also captures light in a really cool way!   Here are some more examples.

Image Courtesy of www.liadcohen.com

Image Courtesy of alexibullock.blogspot.com

Both of these photos are taken from a really neat perspective.  The first one was taken using green tinted film, and the second one was just using regular colored film.  I really love the way the details fade out at the corners.  All pictures taken with the Holga have a slight vignette around the edges, that can really give a picture personality.  

So if you ever decide that you want to try film photography, I would definitely start with the Holga.  It really does deliver at just the push of a button.   

P.S.  I'll post some of my pictures as soon as I get them developed.

The Leonardo

A couple of months ago, I went to visit the Leonardo Museam in Salt Lake City.  Instead of just buying a one day ticket, my mom and I decided to get a membership, meaning that we can go whenever we want to!  One of my favorite exhibits I have seen is called Nature's Toolbox.  I really like this exhibit, because it combines a bunch of artists with different style from different places into one coherent exhibit.  Here are a few pictures that I took of the exhibit.

A video sculpture done by Katja Loher

I've heard of Katja Loher in the past, but never got to see any of her sculptures in person until this exhibit.  I was not disappointed.  The way her sculptures incorporate the video is really cool.  This particular video sculpture was made to look like a beehive.  I don't like bees, but I loved this sculpture!

Picture by  Nathan Cumming

This picture is really incredible.  The photo that I took of it does not give it justice!   It is a zoomed in picture of a purple flower, and the detail and quality is incredible!  The print is HUGE, and probably my favorite thing in the whole exhibit!

 As well as Nature's Toolbox, the Leonardo also has the biggest mummy exhibit in the world, and a ton of fun interactive activities!  I highly recommend that you go visit this museum next time you have a chance.  You won't be disappointed!