"Grandma Take Me Home . . ."

Grandma Take Me Home, ballpoint pen & digital collage

Listening to music is one of those things that I live on. Living in a podunk town, the radio plays the same terrible pop music from 10 years ago, rotating every 2 hours or so. Other than playing percussion in middle school, I know next to nothing about instruments or history in music. It probably was not until I started college that I started to really listen and explore the genres of music that I truly enjoy. The underground punk rock of the late 80's and the introduction of 90's grunge music particularly strike a common chord with me. Not only do I love the musical itself, but the intentions of the artists to deviate from the pop scene really drew me in.

Going through my portfoilio I see that pretty much have no portraits of any sort, and I thought I would pay tribute to the musicians that have had a huge influence on me and my work.

Nirvana especially intrigued me. I first listened to their more popular & over-played songs (which I still love anyway), but then to listened to less familiar ones, finding that I wanted to just hear more. I started to read more about Nirvana, the band, the lyrics, its influences, and Kurt Cobain's death. Yeah, he was easy on the eyes, but the emotional torment that seemed to progress through his young life just kinda broke my heart; it moved me to do a portrait of Kurt Cobain. The anniversary for the album Nevermind was September 24, when I (almost) finished this piece.

The title of this piece is from the song lyrics of Sliver.

Deer Spirit Animal

Our 5th theme for Square Carousel illustration collective was chosen by me. Being an avid animal lover, I challenged the group to channel their individual spirit (or power) animal. I selected the deer (doe) as my spirit animal. This suggestion was also brought up by fellow Square Carousel member, Caitlin Alexander. However, I was inclined to illustrate a deer for its my love of running and my admiration for the agility of this graceful athlete. And maybe for the large, brown “doe eyes”, too.

As I read more about the symbology of the deer (or doe) in various cultures and legends, I felt that I had picked the perfect spirit animal that related to me inside and out. The recurring qualities that personify the deer, other than its swiftness and agility, are gentleness, compassion, kindness, and unconditional love (often times can be a flaw). The sincerity of compassion and love for all living things reflect my own beliefs and feelings. Deer are also keen observers and have highly sensitive intuition, which I feel reflect my own artistic qualities and aesthetics.

A brief article I came across while researching the symbology of deer:

The topic gentleness is part of this tradition. Many stories tell of Hinds (does) changing into women, often goddesses, to protect does from being hunted. The lesson to be gleaned here is that when we explore magic and spirituality, it must be with good intention, to harm no living being, but to enter the realm of the wild things in the spirit of love and communion.

Deer teach us how powerful it is to be of gentle demeanour, to exert keen observation and sensitivity. Deer are in tune with nature and all it comprises. They are sacred carriers of peace and show those with this power animal how to open their hearts and love unconditionally. (article by Ina Woolcott)

Katharine & Company and Interning with AMSET

front

back

I started a curatorial internship with the Art Museum of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, Texas two weeks ago, and I just finished designing a postcard for the upcoming exhibit called Obsessive Worlds. The exhibit opens towards the end of this month and continues until early January 2012, featuring fifteen different contemporary artists. I was eager to start more graphic design work, and this internship gives me the opportunity to.

Meanwhile, I also started training for my new job around the same time. I am currently training to be a baker at the local restaurant Katharine & Company in Beaumont, Texas, which I am thouroughly enjoying. I always loved the food there, and now I have the chance to explore my culinary curiosity in the realm of baking! Check out the website to find out about their hours and delicious menu . . .

They Draw & Travel (or run . . .)

The theme of our fourth challenge for Square Carousel was to illustrate a map for They Draw and Travel, a website featuring artists' maps from around the world.

Although I have been blessed with the opportunity and excitement of traveling overseas to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, I decided to dedicate this challenge to someplace very close to home. A place where I have spent a good deal of time (and miles) around: Northway Park in Orange, Texas. About 20 miles away from my parents’ house is a little dirt trail, 1 mile in distance, which I would (and still do) drive to for a good long run. I can’t even recall the number of miles I have run around this little park, but I have grown quite attached to it. For the landmarks I pin-pointed the 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 mile markers (as it is at Northway) but I also had a bit of fun illustrating the things that make this running trail so unique, fun, and sentimental. Use the porta-potty at your own risk . . .

Honey, Let Me Tell You . . .

ballpoint pen & water color, digital

Honey. Our third challenge for the Square Carousel group. This was yet another challenge for me; being so broad a concept, I was overwhelmed with different ways I could interpret it! For my concept (after lots of doodles, sketches, and word lists), I chose to design a pretend label for honey and beauty products. I’ve come across a lot of beauty and soap products that incorporate honey, and I love designing labels and packages. I chose the name Hive Honey after the beehive hair-do. This was a really fun challenge to me, and working traditionally has been so refreshing.

Square Carousel: Challenge 2

thumbnails & thought process (just scribbling ideas etc.)

hermit crab comp sketch

snail comp sketch

another snail comp sketch

Home Away from Home (final piece)
ballpoint pen & watercolor

So, this is my illustration to Challenge 2 from Square Carousel. I must confess that I had spent a good deal of time on trying to develop a concept for Caitlin’s challenge: A Home Away from Home. Despite the subject relating to my own point in life in limbo. The definition for limbo: in a state of uncertainty, neglected, up in the air, in abeyance, betwixt and in-between, not knowing whether one is coming or going. There is also sort of a sadness assosiciated with it as it can be described as an imaginary place for lost, forgotten, or unwanted persons or things. With this feeling that I could so easily relate to, I decided to move beyond that sense of vagueness and aloneness, and turn the idea of a Home Away from Home to travel and exploration, adventure and determination. From my time spent in Lacoste, France, I could not help but think of all the snails and their little mobile homes. The snail carries his shell, his home, where ever he ventures, much like we have our family and friends to turn to if necessary. He’s not afraid to go it alone and continue on.

The final piece was done all tradionally: ballpoint pen & watercolor. More time consuming but was a nice break from digital. Almost forgot how fun watercolor is!

Square Carousel

black & white (ballpoint pen)

final color (ballpoint pen & digital)



I'm a member of the illustration collective called Square Carousel, which was formed just this late spring/early summer among some fellow illustrators. Every so often there will be a challenge with a chosen theme to create a new personal piece. This is the piece I did for our first of many projects. Being the first project, the theme was carousel animals. I love horses so I chose to do a horse in Bedouin inspired ornamentation. Go ahead and check out the website to read more about Square Carousel and find out about the group!