Watercolors for the WIN!

Hello there. Today the temperature of the air changed from the last warmth of summer to the first chill of winter. It was a little bit depressing....and it might have made me a little bit sad. But it's okay because winter means thick knit scarves and fun coats and lots of layers and all of those things make up for that darn cold!

Anyways, on a topic not related to the weather, I know I promised to show pictures from my head drawing class way back when, but unfortunately it took me a lot longer to actually get my work back than I thought it would, and I am a little bit ticked at my teacher right now, so I guess I am not in the mood to post about it. Sorry, that was a long run-on sentence! Instead let's talk about my watercolor class. This class is amazing! Seriously, sooooo amazing! It is making me want to major in illustration again, which is something I thought I would never go back to, but it's comin back...and strong! I know it is kinda petty, but I feel like I am one of the top students in that class. I feel like my work is good work and that I can portray my ideas much more easily than in most of my other classes. I also feel more connected to the people, like my opinions matter more and that my critiques are actually helpful. It has been just grand! I just finished my second project, a still life, so I will let you take a look.

I know the tiles are a little bit off and that some of the pieces are missing their shadows, but I am going to go back in and add some more details so don't you worry! I sort of have this new goal to do huge watercolors of my family's cabin on Navajo Lake, and fantastic fantasy pictures, and so many great things! Seriously, I had no idea watercolors could be so cool! It's like painting, only I can actually do it. So yep, there's that.

Before I head to bead let me just say that ebay has become my new addiction and if anyone knows a cure I will happily pay up. Oh, and I think delicious food can make any long day of school better. Curse you free shipping and bless you vodka sauce and pecan pie!

Fridays are good

Today was a good day, although most of my Fridays usually are, but still today was a good day. I went to class and had one of the most interesting and mind blowing discussions yet. It was about light....yep light. So I totally didn't know this, but light is a particle, or photon, that moves in a wave formation, so you could call light a substance. Then we talked about the Book of Mormon (if you don't know what that is look it up and it will change your life) and how God is the source of all light. Light is also said to equal truth, which is what blew my mind. Many people have said that you can see the light in a person, specifically a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have heard that we glow with happiness and inner beauty, but I just figured this was a nice way of saying that we are righteous. Oh no, we are literally filled with light when we have the "light of Christ" inside us. Our spirits literally glow brighter! Hence the pillar of light that always surrounds Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ, or any spiritual being for that matter. It's so crazy to think about! And then we started talking about traveling through light, and just a heads up this is not doctrine, but its cool to think about. How is it that God is able to travel all over the universe (because we know there are other worlds out there and he is a part of them), and how was he able to appear to Joseph Smith in the sacred grove? What if it is the light? What if this amazing substance is what transports our spirits? I dont know, but maybe, just maybe that could be a part of it. Of course I wont know for a long long time, but it's an interesting thought. So yah, sorry for this long drawn out theory of mine, but I thought it was worth sharing.
Ok so second best part of the day: naptime!!! I rarely get naps anymore with classes that go until 5pm, but on Friday's I get a whole day to sleep and sleep and sleep some more! Sleep is such a great thing people. It does wonders for my attitude.
Third best part of the day: I watched three hours of How I Met Your Mother and heard one of the best lines in tv history. Warning, if you don't watch this show you will probably think this is stupid, but I love it so here it is:
Ted (to Barney): "Dude, do not pretend you're not the kind of guy who keeps a list of all the girls he slept with!"
Marshall: "I have one. It's called my marriage license." (insert Lily and Marshall high fiving with totally straight faces) Marshall and Lily for the win! Those two are my favorite no matter what people say!
Ok this post is forever long, but here's the last best part of the day: grilled cheese. Oh how wonderful it is to eat grilled cheese and tomato basil soup in your pajamas with all of your awesome roommates sitting around you and the fall chill making everything feel cozy and warm. Perfect ending to my perfect day. Oh and I almost forgot! My cousin got her mission call.....Baltimore Maryland! And all I can think of is Hairspray haha!
So yah, here's to the longest post yet and to happy Fridays! I hope everyone else had a great one too. Before I finish here is the picture of that print Pacifica that I oh so sneakily took a picture of in the Spori gallery only to turn around on my way out and see that photography is actually allowed. Oh well, I was gonna get that picture anyway. Alright I think that's it. K loves bye!

David Weidman: my new best friend

Be still my heart, I have found my calling in life. Here's the story:
So I was walking through the Spori building today(Art) and decided I would take a look in the gallery with my extra hour, so I did, and I found something pretty special! David Weidman ma friends. How have I never heard of him or seen his work? He's like a kindred spirit that I never got to know. He specializes in serigraphy(screen printing), and pretty much rocks at it. We're talking children's illustrations with little animals and pretty patterns and bright colors. I think I want to be as cool as him when I grow up. My favorite print of his is called Pacifica, but sad day I couldnt find any images of it online. I will have to take a picture of it in the gallery because you have to see how amazing it is. Anyways, take a look!

Sooooo good! I have always wanted to do illustration with blockprints and this just proves that it can be done, and it can be done good! I feel like it's my calling in life haha. I could do church scenes and storybooks and oh so many things! Oh man I am on a new high right now guys. I love those moments when all your hopes and dreams just come true and you know that maybe you could have a shot at something in life. I think it calls for brownies. Yep, brownies it is! And here for the last photo before I head off to make something delicious, warm, and gooey, this is the cute poster hanging outside the gallery. The fact that he can make birds look that fun and quirky just makes me love him ten times more. Thank you David, can I call you David? I feel like we should be on a first name basis. Anyways, you have cheered up my life and I am grateful!

2am

I really don't know why I am still up at two in the morning with wet hair and homework waiting, but I guess that's just how I do things around here. These past few days have been In. Sane. Like...homework from 11am to 10pm every day, and people constantly in the apartment, and tests and projects due all over the place. It's been a slap in the face. However, I have managed to get some good stuff accomplished, and I even found some really fun pieces of art that I think you will die over because I pretty much did!
So, here is the watercolor. My first try and I think it turned out pretty good. Obviously there are some things I wish I could fix, but this is a learning process and I am gonna learn like nobody's business!

I also stumbled upon a random website where I found the most amazing article titled "If Tim Burton Drew the Avengers." I know, right! Perfection! And look at the characters! How awesome are they! Thor is my favorite with his swirly cape and hair.I kinda wish they would have Tim Burton do a spin off of the Avengers. I would totally watch it!

I also got some head drawings back so I promise to post those tomorrow. They are pretty rough let me tell you. Oh, and this wall mural made my day. I want one on my building as soon as possible! I think that's it for tonight. I need to go to bed before I have to get up in 5 hours, bleh. Ok loves byyyyye!

Beatus Est Pisciculus

I feel like there is something you all should know...I like fish. Not to eat, not to look at, but to draw? Yes. They are my go to subject matter of choice. When in doubt draw fish. They won me the senior year t-shirt competition, they gave me my first concentration for AP art when I was two months behind schedule, they took over my sketchbook, and made my first block print. I think it is safe to say that without them my success as an artist would not be so much success as it would be failure. In fact, I think they will make my career. Now, knowing how much they mean to me I don't think it will surprise anyone to find out that I will be painting fish for my very first watercolor composition. I struggled for three days trying to figure out what would be a safe way to start this new medium and you know what brought me comfort? Fish.  Yep, two little fishies are going to come to life once again. I promise to show the finished product....that is if it looks good. It might look really really terrible, because like I said, I have never watercolored before. But who knows, maybe they will come out great! Anyways, while I work away today you can look at some of my previous fish. It started years ago when I tried redrawing some of the talented James Christensen's fish because his are the best fish in existence, and then I proceeded to come up with my own. Enjoy!

A compliment

There are so many things on my mind right now that I have a feeling I might just explode! Here we go,

1. A compliment from my art teacher today: "Jenika, these are really good. If you keep applying yourself and practicing I think you could do some really great stuff." You have no idea what this means! Pretty much just made my week!

2. Marshall and Lily. That's right, How I Met Your Mother has a place in my heart. Well, truthfully it's just Marshall that has a deep place in my heart. I want a Marshall...like bad! He is pretty much the perfect man. I cried when Lily broke up with him and cried when they got back together, and then I cried because I feel like it's going to be a long time before I meet my Marshall.

3. I am crazy obsessed with statement necklaces right now. Imagine me as one of those little memes yelling COLLECT ALL THE NECKLACES!!! I may or may not have just bought two new ones on ebay yesterday.

4. The sad fact that Rexburg skips fall. My favorite season and it skips it. One minute it's hot and windy and the next it's freezing cold and windy. All I get is a lot of rain. No pretty leaves, no autumn chill, no pumpkins sitting out on porches...just snow and a lot of ice. It makes for a depressing Halloween.

5. I burned my neck with my curling iron AGAIN! That's twice in one week. I have burns on my neck to prove it and they are not pretty.

6. If I could marry Thor I would.

7. Sometimes I wish I lived in Italy. Those people really knew how to paint back in the day and I want to be like that. I think one of my goals in the afterlife will be to meet as many Renaissance painters as I can find. Why hello Jan Van Eyck, I would indeed love to talk symbolism and the power it holds in painting.

8. This screen print I did back in highschool. It simultaneously makes me wish I had a tree growing out of my head and rocks my socks off at the same time.

Saturday afternoon

Things that are inspiring me right now:
1. The song Princess of China by Coldplay and Rihanna. I think it has an very Hindu feel to it and I love Hinduism! Don't get me wrong, I am mormon, but if I didn't have this wonderful beautiful church I think I would enjoy the artistic mysterious feel that Hinduism has.
2. Watercolor portraits. Maybe it's just the class I am in, but for some reason I have a new respect for those of you who choose watercolor as your medium of choice. It's quite hard!
3. Geometric patterns. I think I will be making this quilt pretty soon.

4. Jenn Blosil. If you don't know who this is then find out because she is awesome! I was lucky enough to go to highschool with her and got to hear her sing first hand. I also think the artwork of Jenn in her promotional video is fabulous. Take a look!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-4nmh1ik0E&feature=related

5. This old sketchbook drawing I did with ink. I never finished it, but looking at it now I really want to do some more stuff just like it!