Speaking to the Trees.

Well, I am one class, 2 crits, and 1 final away from being done with the semester. Too bad one of those crits and the final are both NEXT Friday :/

I want to start this post with a disclaimer, that it is very image heavy. Also I am sorry they are so small and tinted weird. I highly recommend clicking on one of them and letting the image fill your screen. You won't regret it, I promise. These drawings are epic.

But what are they exactly? Well I will give you a hint:

Ok, so let me explain this a bit. Our last assignment in my drawing class was to research an artist and have a visual conversation with him/her. The artist I chose from the list of them my teacher gave me was Tim Knowles. Tim Knowles attaches pens to trees. Naturally, my mind started thinking about my spindle drawings and how much this related.

So for awhile I was just hanging sharpies from trees and putting the paper undernigth, while I just sat there and watched. That's basically what Tim Knowles did. Well my teacher wasn't a fan of that, even though the images I yielded were pretty nifty.

I was pretty frustrated that day, but looking back I am so glad she pushed me forward, because the drawings I ended up with are so much better than the above image.  I took a bit of time to brainstorm and such, for I really had no idea how to take these to a different level. Then I was at the book store getting print making paper and I stumbled across Velum, which is a thin, somewhat transparent paper (not to mention on $.65 a sheet!) and I had another of my many art epiphanies. 

I bought a few sheets and decided to experiment. I used them instead of the normal paper I had been using and let the trees blow for a bit. What happened next was pure genius (or I think so). I decided to start drawing on top of what the trees had already done. At first I started by just drawing directly onto the same sheet as the tree had, and then layered 2 of those together, like this one:

                                     

Then I realized, "Wait, the paper is transparent, why not draw my own lines on a different sheet?!?!" and that's where the magic started happening. It began with just geometric lines, like connect the dots.

 As I started experimenting I realized I could do whatever I wanted. I could make nothing but dots, or connect the lines, or make shapes, or leave the lines by them selves. I could put my drawing behind, or put the tree's drawing behind. I could make a few marks in response to the tree, then take it away and make my own from there. I could flip mine over to have the 2 drawings contrast each other. I can use different widths of sharpies, or even brush and ink. Seriously, the possibilities are endless.  And the best part about these drawings?

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM

Maybe even more than my spindle drawings...Holy cow did I just say that? It's so weird, but every time I look at them or think about them or work on them I get this amazing sense of pride that I am finally coming into my own as an artist and am doing something original and fun! 

So what do you think? I am just so excited to get to share these with all of you! I have one heck of a semester, I feel like I discovered so much and this project just brings it to an amazing close.

Not to mention my teacher loved them too :p She has some stuff she wants me to think about this summer, but it's safe to say I may be doing these for awhile...

~Lisa

Almost the new year, time for reflections

It's been over 2 months since I updated this blog....and I've knitted ALOT since then. Before we get to that though, I figured I would update the world on my life (Like you all care...).
I survived my 1st semester of sophomore year, and I even managed to get a couple A's. I wish they had been in the classes that matter AKA my art classes, but I guess the professors just don't know how to grade...hahaha. Actually, I understand why I got B's in those so it's not a big deal. It's just a B, not a problem.

I've also been super busy with my life. This year has been such an adventure! I started the year as an immature freshman, still unsure on the rest of the world, very sure I'd be with my boyfriend forever. My the end of May I had decided to take responsibility and live in a house the coming school year AND me and my Bf were no longer an 'item' (his idea...). Looking back, I am very glad it happened. I have since become alot more mature, taking on the issues involved in living off campus. That's been a challenge, but I wouldn't move back to the dorms EVER. Learning to live off my pay checks, cook my own meals, and do my own chores has been a learning experience that's for sure, but I don't regret my decisions at all.

I also met the best friends I could ever meet this year, and I honestly beleive if I was still with the boy, I wouldn't be as close to my friends and I'd be a 'social hermit', if you know what I mean. All of us have done so much in the short time we've known each other (literally only about 5 months!). The memories we've made have been priceless, from Dance Party and Sonic adventure at the beginning of the year to Konza and girls day in October, out skating kids on my birthday, and who can forget the late night Walmart scavenger hunt in Halloween costumes, to the random bowling and dinner nights, to simply watching movies, we've had the best year and I can't wait to spend 2011 with Lynnsey, Kaela, Rachel, David, Alley, Kenni and well EVERYONE!

Which brings me to my next adventure, Relay for Life. Relay for life is such a big event, and I can't beleive I get to be a part of it! This is my first year on commitee and being a team captain, and I'm completely engrossed in it all. I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate, remember, and fight back with all my friends in April!

So now on to why you're probably here, my art :) I've done so much knitting and art since October when I last posted that I need to catch up and reflect.

I guess I'll start with my paintings, which is what I found myself doing alot when I wasn't in class or at work. Afterall, it was 'homework' and I had to get them done sometime! I'm only posting the decent ones.Abstract from a still life, zoomed in on a plastic toy bread, pickles, and animal cracker with a plastic chicken leg in the top left and a skull and blanket in the top right.

Interior set up. I am very proud of this painting, I feel like it's my first 'finished' painting and actually shows depth pretty well.

Final project, self portrait. I took a chance and decided to do myself in my messy room looking into a mirror on the floor. I like how it turned out, but my teacher thinks I need to make my feet more natural colored and show my face more.

And now onto my knitting. When I wasn't painting, in class, or working, I was probably knitting!

I learned how to make mittens after realizing they were pretty much socks with thumbs. This is my first attempt, I love how they turned out but I don't wear them very often :( I guess I need to more, but I'm worried they'll get messed up.

And then I made a matching stocking cap, which I actually used, and loved, until I lost it :( But it still taught me alot about circular knitting and how to do things besides scarves and socks.

I made a scarf with really pretty cascading blue yarn and I absolutely love it :) It's a little short, but I can't afford more yarn!

I made my sister a scarf with yarn I hate (but she liked) and it's a simple knitted scarf. I honestly did not enjoy making this, but she loves it!

To conclue the year I learned 2 new things at the same time. I got knitpicks interchangeable circular needles for Christmas, and with that I learned how to magic loop! From there I then knitting my brother a pair of gloves, my first ever. They turned out amazing and he loves them! What a great way to end the year!

So it's been one hellofa year, and I owe it all to everyone and everything that's happened! I hope you all have a great 2011, and I hope to keep you posted on my life and how much I am enjoying it!