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!