Mankind's Fascination with Self-Expression

My Artist Blogger of the Week has encouraged me to show the process of new work. A lot of work I want to do this summer I wanted to be collage pieces that depict different emotions of my friends. My next one will be of my friend Rachel again. Tonight I tried a new collage background technique for this next technique. I am seeing how I like this because I think it would make a good background for a collage my sister has requested me to do. Below is the steps I took to make the background. Give me your opinion if you like it or not.

Megan was a nice enough blogger to discover my blog and left a comment. It made me wonder who is this woman? Is she also a artist? Of course she is and she is really good. I am glad so commented on my blog so I could find her. I love illustration. I had a professor tell me once I should minor in illustration but I don't think I can draw well enough for that. Meaning I can't draw people. I can make collages of people just can't draw or paint them. Well anyways Megan blogs like most people what they love and what goes on in her life. What I love is her blogging of her thought process of her pieces. Its so interesting to see how an artist made those jumps into their final project. Here is an example of that on one of her recent pieces she posted "Imogene Coming Home."

Around the time I was on my vacation and when I got home, I began these two books that my sister said I had to read. She has been telling me forever that I need to read them. I'm glad I finally did. I read both books in two days each. They are filled action packed from front to beginning. The storyline kinda burrows down into your soul. So many times I would be working on artwork and I would subconsciously catch myself thinking about it. Sometimes my dreams are filled around the world and storyline of the stories. Obviously I loved the books. I could gab about them all night but I'm afraid to share too much for you. So I will just share the summary from Scholastic books.

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.


In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

They are written by Suzanne Collins. Her biography is very impressive and found at http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/bio.htm.

I love collages. I find it almost relaxing to do. I know some of my friends do not have the patience for them. One project we did back in high school that was my favorite, my classmates wanted to kill themselves because of it. I haven't done many collages in a long time and I decided to go back to my roots this summer and really work on strengthing my skills and doing what I love.

The series I wanted to be of my friends displaying emotions. One of my best friends Rachel is my first model. She is such a happy goofy person and loves yellow. I wanted to do something bright and happy. I am really happy to see how it has turned out and can't wait to be doing this the rest of the summer.

The one studio class I took this past semester was sculpture survey. I like mixed media sculpture and I thought we would get to do that. Not even close. I didnt exactly enjoy the class, but I did learn a few things. All we got to work with was clay, plaster, and limestone. I'm not exactly happy with the works. It was my first times using these techniques and materials. Everytime you take classes you can learn a thing or two that could help with your genre of artwork. It also makes you smarter about the other types of work out there too. One day I will be an art teacher. All my students will not like the same type of artwork and some maybe more interested in this kind of sculpture. So it is my job to teach them the best way I can about what they like. So here is to the learning process.

Lately I have been a bit occupied by daily life and I have been working on a new collage. I hope to be doing a series like it for the rest of the summer. I have greatly enjoyed it and it will be done very soon.

I had plans for this series for a awhile. All my photos and planning for the first piece was all ready to go, all I needed was to start it. I was in one of my favorite stores Hobby Lobby. I decided to take a look at some craft magazines and I was surprised to find something different. There was a magazine called Cloth Paper Scissors. It is strictly made to help collage and mixed media artists. I LOVE IT!!! I already used one technique with the work I am making currently. I think this technique has made the piece stronger. I have discovered new artists to learn from and new books I must get. I am defiently looking into getting a subscription for this magazine for sure.  If you are a mixed media artist check it out for sure at http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/

Sandford Birdsey is an internationally known artist who lives and works in Key West, Florida. Her watercolor paintings are in several noted private collections including that of the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and the Phillip Morris Collection.

Reviews of Sandford's work have been in Time Magazine, The New York Times, Art News, Arts, Journal American and Sea History.

Sandford is a founding member of the American Society of Marine Artists. She is also a member of the Florida Watercolor Society and the Key West Art Center. Her work has been exhibited in shows around Florida and at the New York Colliseum, the Twin Towers and at the Whitney Museum in New York City.

Her current focus is capturing the unique and fast disappearing flavor of old Key West and the surrounding keys.

" I really didn't have a choice, my mother and paternal grandmother were both successful artists, and they instilled in me the desire to create and a deep appreciation of the beauty that surrounds us."

Martha DePoo

I can't believe it has been a month since the last time I written on here. I was doing really well by writing often, but life does happen and certain things get put to the side. Writing my blog was just one thing that I had to give up. But I am back now, at least I think so. A resource to a reiable internet source was one reason I haven't been around. I always had plenty of internet service at my school campus but not any at home. My mom is trying to get something worked out to get our internet back up. I hope we do soon. I hate having to find a connection elsewhere.

Also I had dead week at EKU followed by finals week. Moved back home. Worked for a day. Went camping for a day. Then had mothers day and left that day to drive to Florida. Got a cruise for a week visting Key West, FL  and Nassau, Bahamas. And then I have been trying to unpack from the dorm, camping, and the cruise while working again. It's been busy. I am glad to be working everyday to have a set schedule.

I have so many things I want to blog about. Some things from the trip, things I have found out, books I have read, artists I have discovered. So expect more soon.