Updates

Hey everyone!!! So sorry I havent been on here much to update you! I have been super busy with school work and end of term stuff...Almost summer break WOO HOO!

So UPDATES!!!!

1. I finished my Einstein sculpture! Love it! It's super freaky!

To paint it I used Acrylic Paint for the base....and Linseed Oil as well as Oil Paint to antique it!

2. I finished TWO Paintings for the local cafe here called Blue Dog!

(I am not really sure why its coming up upside down but I will fix it later!) both are Acrylic Paint the orange one is pallet knife, while the all blue one is just brush. These were super fun to do...AND BOTH SOLD!! :)

Those are updates on some pieces! I will post more as soon as I get the chance! I will also include pictures from my art show! Enjoy! And sorry about the lack of blogging!  

Digital Media

Hey All,

Over the span of about 8 months I have been taking a digital media class. Through out the class we have learnt many techniques and on line tips & tricks to make or digital work successful! I have a couple assignments I can show you that we have made in Adobe Illustrator as well as Photoshop. One of our first assignments was a word biography done strictly in tints & shades of white & black. We had to create a poster of mainly words to suit our personalities. I thought this was a good exercise & got the class to familiarise themselves with the program.

Another assignment we did was for the school we had to come up with a S.H.S.M (Student high skill major) logo for the fitness department. We were supposed to keep it simple as it was going to go on many things such as posters, handouts & apparel.  I decided to do an abstract mustang, as that is our schools mascot & tried various colours before deciding on the blue monochromatic colour scheme. I kept the lettering bold so that it would stand out on the mustang & made sure it would be a simple enough image to create in any size as well as black & white.

 In our class we did a large assignment on logos, and recreations. The object of this assignment was to recreate a logo of your choice to your name. I chose Jelly Belly, Honda, & Harley Davidson. I decided on these because they were closer to my name. The easiest one was the Honda logo, I got it finished in 5 minutes. I had a bunch of issues with the Jelly Belly one as well as the Harley Davidson one finding similar fonts & making the odd shapes.

I will post more of my media work as it progresses!

Albert Einstein Sculpture

Hi again!

So I am pretty excited to show everyone this piece! I sculpted a head!!! Very cool! Our assignment was to find a figure you had an interest in! I decided to sculpt Albert Einstein! What we had to do was start with an armature ...(I made this out of newspaper, tape, and covered it with a plastic bag) and then build from that. 

I had some difficulty getting started, especially with creating a realistic looking nose....so I took it to my sketch book and sketched out skulls & facial features to get proper proportion and to understand the structure of a skull. After that I went back to my clay and began sculpting my nose, as well as adding eye sockets & creating cheek bones.

Once I built up the face to my liking, I began with the detail, such as the eyebrows and the moustache (adding the lip first then building off of it). I scored & slipped the parts where they were going (as seen in the 1st image below) & then placed the pieces on. (to add texture to the eyebrows & moustache I carved away pieces of the clay with a pencil like tool...you could use a tooth pick if you did not have proper clay tools on hand) 

                       

when I created the eyes I found that was difficult as well, as the eyeball itself is actually larger then we see it (no pun intended) I had to push in on the clay and create an eye socket (I started this from the beginning to help with the facial structure.) Next I created 1 ball and cut it in half to make both eyeballs (that way they are proportionate to one another) I then scored & slipped once again both the eye ball and socket and placed it in there, pushing down the front part of the eye first to create a smooth look, then pressing the sides down to properly attach the eyeball. Once I was satisfied with how it looked I created an upper lid and made the lower lid more recognisable. To create the detail in the eye I used a knife to draw a circle in the eye and a pencil to create the pupil.  

After I was finished with the eyeballs I started on the ear, that was very difficult to sculpt proportionality, I was creating it to big every time....Once I got that sorted I moved on to the hair...again scoring and slipping all the clay onto his head. Once moulded the way I wanted it, I went through and added detail in the hair, as well as refined the details in his wrinkles on his face, as well as built a little bit of his neck out. (as seen in the completed image below)

Over all I enjoyed completing this project! (though it did however freak me out sometimes) Now I am waiting for it to be fired (turning the clay white) so I can paint it to look lifelike! I will create another post with the final outcome! 

Art Tips! -Feature Post!!!

Hey bloggers!
I thought I should start up a little art tip section to my blog to help you out!

These are tips that I have felt are useful & have helped me in situations! The tips will be ranged from anything small such as how to make your canvas look complete without framing it, to how to get the perfect look to your finished piece!

Here are some that I have come up with for this week!

1. Before adding the finishing touches to your artwork, take a picture with your digital camera using the black and white setting, or change it to black and white on your computer. You'll be able to quickly judge if your values are correct. Also, if you are sending a picture for a non-colour publication, put these digitals on your computer screen to decide which ones will look the clearest in black and white!

2. Present your small canvas paintings in style without buying frames. Paint the edges and display them on small replica easels of the larger style ones.

3. For left handed artists..(Like me)..you should turn your spiral bound sketch upside down and work from the back of the book. The spirals will be on the right side and not interfere with your hand! (This helps!!!)

4.  To photograph your artwork it is useful to take a white sheet, and pin it to a wall in/outside. Hang the painting or put it on a shelf on a wall. Mount your camera on a tripod. Then put the sheet over yourself, the painting and the camera, using the sheet as a giant light box! Works wonderfully for photographing pictures!

5. Keep some non-bleeding tissue paper on hand when painting (or Kleenex). If you have an area of paint where you wish to change or tone down the colour, tear off a piece of tissue paper in the colour you wish to add, and just apply over your dry paint with a bit of water. The tissue will stick but can still be torn off.


Keep checking in for more weekly tips & tricks!! ☺

Blue Dogs Everywhere!

Exciting news!

I have been asked to paint a piece for a local café in Brantford called The Blue Dog.

(http://bluedogcoffeeroasters.com/ ) This small café features paintings & other artwork local artists would like to sell. These paintings are put up for auction & sold at the end of their featured date. This space has many opportunities for growing & upcoming artists as it features open mic night & other events dealing with local art.

Not only do I enjoy the art based atmosphere of this café, but I also like knowing that it is fair trade products! I love to know that we are helping others in the community as well as throughout the world instead of having people essentially "slave" for the money they make, just so it can be sold at ridiculously high prices.

Some facts about Fair Trade!!

1. Fair trade increases annual incomes of small farmers.

2. Fair trade assists small farmers to stay out of high interest debt.

3. Fair trade helps put in place tools for self-sufficiency.

4. An estimated 5 000 000 people worldwide benefit from fair trade.

5. Africa is the fastest growing fair trade region.

if you would like to learn more about Fair Trade (Canada) feel free to take a look at the link! http://fairtrade.ca/

Anyway.....as for my Blue Dog painting!!!! (I am so very excited!!!)

The only criteria for my painting is it has to have a "blue dog" in it, for the celebration of yet another successful year! I have been thinking of many different ideas and in my search I found an artist who is also on blogger, and her dog painting caught my eye! I enjoy the colours, as well as the way that the paint is applied very freely. I think that this will be a similar route I take with my painting. If you would like to check out the full blog I have added the link ► http://karenmathisonschmidt.blogspot.ca/2012/03/dog-painting-work-in-progress.html ☺

I will post pictures as I begin to work on my design & give you updates on everything else going on!!

:) fun pieces!

I found some smaller pieces I think you all would enjoy! I have a "self portrait" of me, wire like, I have done with pen & ink as well as pencil crayon...I also have a cute non representational piece also done in this medium! Sometimes I love doing small pieces like this just to get inspired! Hope you enjoy them! :D

Spring time bugs!

Well it's spring time (woo hoo)! and though there is snow on the ground still I was inspired to do a bright piece for this eventful time! This time, I have used chalk pastel as my medium. (can you say messy!!!) I have used this medium before and do enjoy the look of it! I decided to do a bug on a flower....(I know I used more summer time colours, but I wanted something bright!) As you can see my paper is quite large....(I am not 100% sure the sizing) it took a while in previous attempts of chalk pastel to learn how to manipulate the chalk into the paper. As you can see in my sketchbook in the  1st picture, some pulmonary trials for colour blending. When creating a chalk pastel piece, you have to buy special paper with "teeth" on them to hold the chalk in, so practising in your sketchbook is quite different from the good copy.

 When doing chalk pastel, as well as anything in art....always start with the background! I noticed some problems with this concept though...as you can see my bug is a lot darker than my background! I was constantly having to go back and fix the background as I would get some unnecessary dark bits in it.

When doing chalk pastel there is different softness' of pastel...in my piece I used soft pastel, which is used for the whole image...and for the fine detail I used conté as well as some harder pastels.

As you can see in my image below I have pretty much finished the piece I just need to touch up the background and add some more detail to it. I also need to cut & mat my piece before I consider it done!

I hope you enjoy this piece and it inspires you to do some "spring time art" for yourselves! :)

Hakuna Matata...FINISHED!!

Hey everyone, as promised here is the finished copper tooling piece of my Lion! I matted him onto a board so that it is able to stand on its own or be framed, just to give it some more weight. If you haven't seen the process work....you should definitely check out my older blog post called "Hakuna Matata!" In the photo you can see that there is still some "dimples" and texture that I was unable to flatten out. Overall I am very pleased with my piece! I can't wait to get him back! (this photo doesn't really do it justice but he is really detailed trust me!!)

Graphite Powder...

I began working on a portrait project using graphite dust....it was very messy! What you would have to do is pencil in your outline & smudge this black powder...(graphite dust) into the paper to create highlights & shadows. the only time you were allowed to use your pencil for this assignment was for fine detail throughout the hair, ears, and eyes. I felt that this assignment took longer than normal because I am very used to a pencil & never smudge to create softness, or shading. It also took a while to make the face light enough, the powder was essentially black so you had to manipulate the powders to shade, at this point you would use next to no dust on your fingers. For anyone who is doing this assignment, it is not for those people who don't like to get dirty....its a messy one, and graphite dust ends up everywhere (especially if your like me) you will definitely have it on your hands, and almost always ends up on your face and your clothing...(so don't wear your best clothes, or white clothes!)

As I progressed with the assignment things got easier! I found that manipulating the dust became simple, and it came together faster after I felt comfortable with the medium. The hardest part was in the end when I was going back in to do the fine detail...you never realise how many wrinkles Keith Richards has until you begin to draw him. I think that I could fix his eyes, I think they are a little to big...making him look less proportionate.

In the end I was able to manipulate the powder to make his eyes more proportional, as well as fix some of the shading throughout the portrait. I do not like his hair at all, and I hope to fix that to my liking. Overall I think for the first time trying this medium I did an ok job, & have an idea for next time on how to manipulate the graphite dust to my liking...Hopefully next time I will be able to get through the project faster! Looking forward to trying it again!

...lets brighten it with a little Marley

Well....found yet another sketch that I do love myself! It makes me miss the summer. This one I did in my sketchbook just with pencil crayon! :) my iPod was my inspiration as a Bob Marley album came over my speakers.....with a little bit of singing and soaking up some sun I managed to create this! Hope you like it :D

Paint...Paint....and More Paint!

Found some pieces I have done in the past that I thought might inspire you guys!

The first piece I thought was fun and creative! I took scrap booking paper in various colours I wished to work in and began tearing them in no particular shape or order. I then took a small canvas board I had  no use for and began gluing the paper onto it, creating a collage look. After some drying time I took acrylic paint (black) and began painting 2 free hand lines, then added in birds in different positions. I call this piece "birds on a wire" and I enjoy it as it is more free flowing and you are able to paint anything you want on the papers you have stuck to your canvas.

I painted this for an Art history assignment we had been assigned to do. The criteria was to take a piece of pop art and create a non-representational recreation. I chose to do Andy Warhol's silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe. (as seen below) I was inspired by the way Warhol expressed himself through colour and media. I used similar colours and just let the paintbrush slide freely around the card stock creating an abstract version of Monroe. I titled this piece "My Marilyn" and in case you were wondering it was a success through the evaluation of my teacher & peers!

Hakuna Matata

Hey guys!

As promised, I have some progress photos of my copper tooling project. I decided to sculpt a lion out of the copper sheet. You might be wondering what exactly is copper tooling? Well to answer any of your questions copper tooling involves various techniques and tools to form and work thin sheets of copper. With this the manipulated copper foil  then bends and takes its shape as you begin to stretch the copper sheet. this particular art form has been used throughout history and across many cultures to make utilitarian and ornamental objects. The tooled metal foil has been traditionally been used to make jewellery, architectural panels and two and three-dimensional artwork for display.

 I have been working on this project for about a week and I am just putting the final touches on the project. As you can see in my process work you can manipulate the copper to push it out to your liking, giving your design a 3-D appearance. I started from the middle of my sheet, allowing me to push out the nose the most, I then moved onto the mane and worked my way out from there. As you manipulate the copper it begins to stretch giving you "dimples" around your image. You can take your tool and push the dimples out of the sheet though so don't fret! (you can see some "dimples" in the images)  Surprisingly enough you don't have to push hard with the tools! For my piece I used wooden tools, which I found worked nicely. You have to work on a soft surface to push the copper out, from the backside. (I worked on a towel) And to get definition in your piece you have to work on a hard surface, manipulating the front side to your advantage!

 I found that out of some of the mediums I have worked in copper tooling seems to be pretty forgiving in the fact that you can just push it back in if its too far or you can go back and push harder to push it out and get the definition you desire. I will post the finished project as soon as I have finished! Good luck to anyone who tries it!

Gettin' Back Into the Groove

Hi all!

Lately I have been very busy! Between school (both day school & night school), work, and my social life...not to mention the pile of homework that is starting to build up on my desk I have had NO time to paint or draw! I found myself becoming anxious and constantly doodling on pages as I was doing my work. So, I set aside a few hours a couple nights a week and got a lot accomplished!

◄This is my completed watercolour pencil & pencil crayon piece! The inspiration was from a few sketches I working on in the summer at my cottage. I have not worked in this medium too much and I decided that I would try to familiarize myself through this project. Over all I was pleased with the outcome, and will continue to try to perfect this subject matter!  

I love working with scratch board! It is one of the most relaxing mediums I have worked in! The reason I enjoy this medium is because I can use the "stop and go" technique, unlike water colour, or any other painting for that matter... this medium fits my schedule better! Another thing I enjoy about it is I can take it with me, unlike some of my drawings and paintings, generally scratchboard projects that I have done are about 8.5x11" so they are easy to just toss in my sketchbook and take on the run! One thing I dislike about scratchboard is that I cannot erase if I make a mistake, I can only try to cover over the mistakes and make it look natural. Over all I do end up pleased with most of my scratchboards, as I like the effect of the "negative" or "dark" look! Though I have had some disasters and tossed them or filed them away for another day.

Lately my inspiration has come from nature, and I am pleased with most of the outcomes....but I am sure this will pass and I will move on to different mediums & subjects as I feel inspired to start a new project! I am starting a copper tooling project today! and I will post progress pictures as well as other completed & unfinished works as well!

About me!

My name is Jillian Hunt, I am currently enrolled in grade 12 at Brantford Collegiate Institute & V.S. After highschool, I hope to attend post-secondary schooling to gain knowledge & pursue a career in Biomechanics & Sports Injury. Other fields I am interested in are art based, or dealing in Humanitarian Aid.

I am interested in many things, some include: Playing guitar, ukulele, & saxophone. I enjoy writing music, and poems, as well as reading. Painting....drawing....sculpting....photography...are a BIG part of my life, anything dealing with art really...I am constantly sketching or drawing in my spare time. I am also interested in sports, and play on various teams. (Fastball, Volley Ball, House League Hockey..) I love to go on hikes and travel aswell, I am always up for an adventure!

....well I think this is all you need to know for now, if I think of anything else I will post it in! Stay tuned!