My Bloody Valentine.

Wasn't sure how best to word this Valentine, so I thought I'd make it simple and positive to contrast the image. Somehow I didn't see the potential for all the puns that could have been made from the fact that this bird is a Tit until just now. Guess I'm just not that witty.

I truly enjoyed creating this. Why oh why don't I watercolour more often??

Cat Interrupted.

Lately I feel as though when I begin a project I get interrupted or derailed from it shortly after. Sometimes it's my fault, sometimes life just gets in the way. Anyhow, I had begun a cat sketchbook a couple of months ago. I had a comic in mind that I wanted to begin, but it never took off, partly due to the frustration I felt at my inability to keep continuity in my characters/style. I'm assuming (because it makes me feel a little better about myself) that that is an issue many graphic artists struggle with. So here are a couple of rough research sketches that I felt were worth sharing. I haven't given up on my idea, but I've decided to put it on the back burner for the time being.

What I Bought Today.

I think I'll try to document things that I buy through illustrations from here on in. Today was a special splurgy day, which meant the perfect time to begin documentation! But seriously, I haven't spent this much money on myself in ages, and don't intend to for ages to come. I am super happy with my purchases, though. Especially the mini pleated skirt and the wedge booties. I've been pining and searching for them for a long time! Also, that tungsten balancing filter is going to come in super handy.

I'm not very good at drawing objects, I discovered, so this is a good way to practice!

Attached.

I have new ideas marinating in my head for a series of large scale paintings, and I haven't been this excited to create artwork in a long time. Unfortunately I am A. Rusty and B. Very busy this month. I have already requested to have my work hours reduced to 30 a week so that I can have a chance to focus on art too. My first week with reduced hours isn't until the end of October, but it will probably be occupied with Halloween prep. By the beginning of November my goal is to be prepared to seriously begin.

I don't wish to get too much into the ideas behind what I plan to paint, especially since I only just started to get them out of my head today, and plan to do a ton more research. These little watercolours are just a starting point, and are in need of much more evolution and development.

I didn't mean to take such a long break from blogging. I will try to keep this blog more in mind if I have anything relevant to post here this month. I have also been distracted, I suppose, by my Flickr, which I've been updating every day. Heh.

Tears and Fingers

For a very long time I'm not sure who I have been trying to be, but I have been trying very hard, in that moment, to be that person. Everyone has their character, their morals, their ambitions, dreams, and demons. I have these too, but they somehow feel more vaporous than those of others. I realize everyone has multiple dimensions, but mine often come off as too extreme even though they are all running in an artistic direction. Laura the artist; Laura the photographer; Laura the makeup artist. I feel as though I am often passively criticized for being the latter, more specifically the way it makes me look (which is more pleasant than my painting clothes did). Then there is my personality which I have found changes to an enormous degree based on who I am with, as well as which of the above fields I am practicing. Maybe this is a natural chameleon like occurrence, but a lot of the time I feel self-censored. As for this blog, I have been putting too much energy into coming off as ever-cheerful when I should just be natural.

I drew these tonight without expectations. I wasn't looking for cute, pretty, or structure. I wasn't after marketability either. Maybe they aren't very beautiful or coherent but they came from sincerity; it was refreshing. For the top drawing I used a reference image of a friend, who in the photograph, was in tears. For the past few weeks I've been entertaining the thought of doing a series of (photographic) portraits of people crying. Maybe some of them with makeup, visceral and streaking. My problem is I don't know anyone who can cry on cue like that. It could be a cathartic session for both of us, maybe, if it happened. We'll see.

...and after we shall nap.

This blog is a-changing. The layout is immensely different, and I plan to update not only with art, but with my photography, makeup work, as well as random little projects. I want it to pertain more to what I'm currently focused on. Having confined it to solely fine arts has discouraged me from updating, even though I have been creatively active through various other media.

Obviously, there will still be artwork. So long as there are hipsters putting their over-sized glasses on their animals and photographing it, I will be here to draw them (har har).

The Right Way

One of my friends once told me that if she drew the way I did, she'd kill herself. Only, she didn't actually say that, but for some reason I hyperbolized it in my mind. I guess these words really affected me, and I began to be more conscious about the way that I sketch. The drawings in my sketchbook have often turned out to be very tidy and finished little doodles, and my line work has become increasingly sure of itself over the years to the point where everything feels like a big smile kept in place too long; tight and painful.

For months I was at a stalemate. I didn't like the way anything was turning out, and if I did like something I would obsessively keep drawing it in a very formulaic and boring way. Then one day not so long ago I was at a diner with some artistic friends and I challenged everyone to draw the same kid-style drawing, but with their 'wrong' hand. Being left-handed, I drew it with my right. As I was sketching it out I remembered that I actually can draw with my right hand. Only, it's a completely different experience and aesthetic. When I draw right-handed I feel like there is a disconnect in my brain. It somehow triggers my mind to go half blank, which is a rather pleasant sensation. Also, my lines are far more soft, unpredictable and unsure. It's a lot of fun.

So here are the results from the last few weeks. Some cartoony, some more realistic. I don't think I'll be drawing with my left hand anytime soon. Next step for me is to start painting right-handed.

So many words for an art blog, phew.

just the same, but brand new

I got a new sketchbook finally! More sketches to come, hopefully.

I've been super addicted to this site recently. If you have an account, lets be friends!

Hope you all have a happy new year!

Raccoon Eyes

I went through a phase this summer of being obsessed with drawing raccoons. They ended up sneaking into most of my sketchbooks, planners, and notebooks. They are kind of ridiculous looking, but very cutsy nonetheless. Now that I've started my makeup artist course I see raccoon eyes (ok, well, smokey eyes, at least) everywhere, and can't help but think of my furry little friends. Fashion imidates nature in so many countless ways. There isn't really a point to this rant, just that I find it fascinating. Also, I miss fine arts.

Warning.

This is what I get for not drawing more frequently.

end of year party

It's been a pretty good year. I hope in 2009 I push myself even further.
Happy new year folks!

Little Women & Friends

These doodles are from my last sketchbook, not the new one. They were done over the course of a Wednesday afternoon (during a painting critique), and the following Thursday morning (during a photography critique). I like to doodle during crits, apparently.

And this creepy little dude was on the last page.

Oskar

Very recently I saw the Swedish film Let the Right One In. It is a coming of age story about a quiet and bullied 12 year old boy named Oskar, and a '12' year old girl, Eli. Their relationship is incredibly touching, and the dialogue is sharp and quirky. Oh yeah, and Eli is a vampire, which has a tendency to complicate things a bit.

Not only is the story beautiful and somewhat disturbing, but the aesthetic of the film leaves me a little breathless. I can't even fully describe it: the palette, the location, the actors, the sound effects and music...woo. The combination is strong. I highly recommend seeing this film if you haven't already. In the meantime, here's the trailer.

In other news, a tentatively pro-markered in Oskar graces the first page of my new sketchbook. I had been working on my previous one since the beginning of March, so for a little over 7 months. It felt wonderfully satisfying to finish it yesterday. I am a slowpoke, I know, but to be fair I had put a lot of effort into it. It didn't just contain sketches, but photographs, to-do lists, calendars, class notes, personal rants, quotes, artists to check out, gallery receipts, et cetera. Which I realize should have made it fill up faster...hmm. Anyway, this new sketchbook has me excited. The pages are a subtle cream colour and it has a pocket to contain all the loose photos, flyers, and miscellaneous stuff I inevitablly end up shoving in my sketchbooks. The cover is also red. Pretty.

Anyway, today there is much to do. Then again, when is there not? Oh christmas break, how I am beginning to yearn for you.