Anticipation

This is my latest work. I call it "Anticipation". It is made using watercolor, colored pencil, pastel and just a little white acrylic.

Speaking of anticipation, I am anticipating the end of my Spring semester at BSU. Only a few weeks left of my two classes and then I go into my summer schedule. I am looking forward to going to summer school this year. I am taking a drawing class this summer!

The Journey

I often think of my life as an artist and BSU art student like it was a journey similar to the journey Frodo and Sam went on in Lord of the Rings. The journey is both glorious and painful. There are both victories and defeats. And as much as you would try to avoid them, there are always battles that pop up when you least expect them. Ever since I have decided to go forward with my dream to get my BFA in art education, I have encountered various types of "attacks" directed towards me. Someimes they come through a job, as an employee having to cope with a bad boss. Sometimes the attacks come from someone I thought was my friend but really wasn't. Sometimes the attacks come from a church I am attending. They all spell one thing--betrayal! An evil force trys to keep you from pursuing your goal. This enemy wants to discourage you enough so you will stop pursuing your dreams. This enemy strikes you where it hurts the most--at your heart.

I believe there is both good and evil in the world The evil has to be fought. Just as Gandolf said to the King in Lord of the Rings/Two Towers, "War is upon you, whether you would have it or not."

At one point in his journey, Frodo was at a very low point and he wanted to give up. He was emotionally exhausted from the attacks he was having to face. Frodo said, "What's the use? There is TOO much evil around us." Sam told Frodo that there is a reason to keep going. In spite of all the evil in the world, there is still some good and that is what is worth fighting for. That is why we should keep on going.

A simple truth, but very true. As long as I see good people around me, I will continue to fight for what is right.

Monty Python, Redneck Art & Other Art Related Videos

Today I have been doing some research on You Tube for my Ed Tech class I am taking. I am looking for videos that I could use in a classroom, teaching art. I found several I liked, but one really was unique. It is called "Redneck Art made with BBQ Ribs--Speed Painting." A new form of art--BBQ sauce! The artist creates the picture by working with the negative space instead of the positive space. Check it out. For your enjoyment, I have included all of my favorite art-related You-Tube videos. They are 1) Monty Python Art Gallery - A demonstration of what not to do when you visit an art gallery; 2)"Redneck Art" video as previously mentioned; 3)The Art of Vincent Van Gogh; 4) Women in Art; 5) Bent Objects - about food art; 6) Two Father Guido Sarducci videos--one is on art school and the other is called "The Five Minute University." Enjoy!

Colors and Moods

moods1

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I thought I would post this little slide show that I found on Authorstream.com. This is a Power Point slide show called "Moods" by Tricia Ruffman. It describes the color of moods and what they represent. It shows photos of an object that uses that color. It is to be used by a teacher who would be instructing children.

I would like to use this slide show but change it to an art lesson for kids under 12. I love the idea of creating moods with colors. I think it would make an excellent art project for children to teach them how to create a "mood" drawing or painting. Ask them "What mood do you want to create with your art? " You could ask them to create a story using colors as moods. You could also use this idea for high schoolers. I think it would be very effective for teens because that is the age of moodiness and hormones, so it would be a perfect fit!

I could use Authorstream.com to download my presentation of Moods & Colors and show it to the class to prepare them for an upcoming art project. Then I could use either a projector and a large screen, or individual computers/laptops in the classroom. (a computer lab).

Upstream People Gallery Online Art Exhibit

"Walking Through The Fire" Isaiah 43:2

"Passing Through The Waters" Isaish 43:2

This week I received some very great news! I have been accepted into the 12th Annual Judeo-Christian Online Juried Art Exhibit that is currently on the website of Upstream People Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska! This show will be online for an entire year. There were 130 applicants and I was chosen along with about 4 or 5 other artists. Walking Through the Fire (Isaish 43:2), Passing Through the Waters (Isaiah 43:2), Angel Aura, Smooth Landing, and Three Crosses-John 3:16 are the titles of the artworks that are in this show. You can view it on http://www.upstreampeoplegallery.com/. I am hoping this exhibit will bring me a lot more exposure and lead to sales!

This has been an interesting week. I have had both victories and battles. There was victory with the Upstream People Gallery show and there was the victory of finally getting a tenant for one of our rooms downstairs. But there were also battles. This week one of our cars broke down and we were without a second vehicle all week long. We had to rearrange our schedule a bit. I also had to deal with a situation that was so stressful, it made me physically ill. I had to set a boundary with a person who was taking advantage of me and playing control & power games. It was hard and I had to endure anger and some pain. But it was worth it to me. My artwork (pictured above), Walking Through the Fire and Passing Through the Waters, illustrates that it is possible to go through difficult situations and still come out of them safely without getting harmed. And you become a strong person for it too.

We have also had some very "wierd" weather this spring break week. At a time when you would expect springtime weather, it suddenly turns to snow, hail, wind, rain and the temperature drops about 20 degrees. Suddenly you feel you are in winter again. You feel discouraged because it looks like spring got lost! But you have to look beyond the circumstances because in a week or two, spring weather will appear and it will be different. I thought that this is a good illustration of life--especially mine! Sometimes when things seem really bad and you think there is no hope, circumstances change suddenly. Things aren't always the way they seem. That is definitely the lesson that the weather has taught me this week.