Hi ya'll,
It's a short update! Today I've been working on my video for the Kickstarter project. I've got most of it recorded and just need to do editing now. And I've got Amazon to approve that I'm me for the payments account required for Kickstarter. Once I get the video done I'll be submitting the Kickstarter proposal and crossing my fingers that it gets approved.
I've been reigniting my Twitter accounts, my older one and the new @Lydiasdesigns one. If anyone tweets and hasn't followed me, please feel free. I'd love to connect with you all!
I'm going to go work on some patternwork on one of the newly painted casein canvases. Then I'll be adding in other collage elements tomorrow. I'll also be working on a pair of pieces for the Healing Ceilings program. They connect artists with health care by creating ceiling tiles for cancer treatment centers. Many cancer treatments involve lengthy amounts of time staring at the ceiling, and the artist who founded the program want to bring interest and hope to the time spent during treatments. You can find out more at https://www.facebook.com/HealingCeilings
Until tomorrow!
Love, Lydia
Friday, January 3, 2014
Day 2
Today I got to work with some of the fantastic art supplies I got for Christmas from my mother-in-law. I'm so excited to try all the new things out! Here's a overview of the things:
Mona Lisa brand gold, silver and copper leaf (perfect to give a bit of shine to collages)
All the Neocolor II pastels I needed to round out my collection (I've only been getting the most lightsafe of colors, it's a bit of an obsession I have. But it made collecting all the shades a bit easier, not that it's too hard when they under $2 each.) I really like the Neocolor II line of pastels because they're wax based and water soluble. Which means they basically can be used like watercolors. They've been one of my favorite tools to work with this past year.
I got a great little "color theory" set of Shiva Casein paints. They work similarly to watercolor and acrylic paints, but give a bit of the look of gouache with a lovely more velvety matte finish. They use a milk based emulsifier for the paints, which I had never heard of until I happened to read about it in a book.
Sennelier masking fluid, which I've heard great things about thanks to the Art of the Carolinas show back in November. Masking fluid is used to cover areas of paper or canvas that you want to keep white while you paint a darker color over and around it. When the color's dry the masking fluid can be peeled off to reveal all the areas of white you wanted to preserve. It's perfect for making bright stars in a starry sky.
Additionally I got a couple of great books on art from my own mom as well as my mother-in-law. But I'll save talked about them for another day.
Today I tried out the casein paints and the masking fluid (which you can find at Dick Blick Art Stores). I actually tried them together, but am a little mixed on what I think of the results. Here's what the products look like for reference:
So the casein dries fast and is definitely nice and matte like gouache. I can see why it's called velvety, and I look forward to using it more. Today I put down some backgrounds for collages. They're pretty bright since the color theory set came only with red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and violet....no white of black to mellow them down with. I tried mixing colors while wet and pretty much used them straight from the tube with a brushful of water here and there for blending or to re-wet the colors on my palette. Here's a picture of the results:
I used a fan brush to apply the masking fluid, thinking the texture would give the piece an interesting feel. The words ended up being a bit harder to make out, I think partially because I went over them more than I should have. I'm going to test more in the future though. The small details from the fan brush came out really nicely though, so I'm pleased with that.
If you couldn't tell my desk is rather messy and due for a cleaning, but I thought I'd share a picture of it too since I feel like spaces give some clues as to personality and so many other things. I love seeing great artists studios to get a feeling for how they worked.
I don't tend to mind the clutter too much, but I've hit a point where I don't have the space to work! haha
So there are my first 4 new pieces of the year! I can't wait to see how they end up developing.
More tomorrow.
Love, Lydia
Mona Lisa brand gold, silver and copper leaf (perfect to give a bit of shine to collages)
All the Neocolor II pastels I needed to round out my collection (I've only been getting the most lightsafe of colors, it's a bit of an obsession I have. But it made collecting all the shades a bit easier, not that it's too hard when they under $2 each.) I really like the Neocolor II line of pastels because they're wax based and water soluble. Which means they basically can be used like watercolors. They've been one of my favorite tools to work with this past year.
I got a great little "color theory" set of Shiva Casein paints. They work similarly to watercolor and acrylic paints, but give a bit of the look of gouache with a lovely more velvety matte finish. They use a milk based emulsifier for the paints, which I had never heard of until I happened to read about it in a book.
Sennelier masking fluid, which I've heard great things about thanks to the Art of the Carolinas show back in November. Masking fluid is used to cover areas of paper or canvas that you want to keep white while you paint a darker color over and around it. When the color's dry the masking fluid can be peeled off to reveal all the areas of white you wanted to preserve. It's perfect for making bright stars in a starry sky.
Additionally I got a couple of great books on art from my own mom as well as my mother-in-law. But I'll save talked about them for another day.
Today I tried out the casein paints and the masking fluid (which you can find at Dick Blick Art Stores). I actually tried them together, but am a little mixed on what I think of the results. Here's what the products look like for reference:
So the casein dries fast and is definitely nice and matte like gouache. I can see why it's called velvety, and I look forward to using it more. Today I put down some backgrounds for collages. They're pretty bright since the color theory set came only with red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and violet....no white of black to mellow them down with. I tried mixing colors while wet and pretty much used them straight from the tube with a brushful of water here and there for blending or to re-wet the colors on my palette. Here's a picture of the results:
If you couldn't tell my desk is rather messy and due for a cleaning, but I thought I'd share a picture of it too since I feel like spaces give some clues as to personality and so many other things. I love seeing great artists studios to get a feeling for how they worked.
So there are my first 4 new pieces of the year! I can't wait to see how they end up developing.
More tomorrow.
Love, Lydia
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Day 1
Hello everyone!
Today's the first of January and the first day of my Art For All Year project. The goal of the project is to create at least one new work of art each week. I have a Kickstarter set to go once all the financial information is confirmed. (They have to make sure I'm me!) And if this Kickstarter reaches its higher goal I would even be able to make a piece of art for every day of the year.
I'm really excited about this because I love creating new pieces, but lately have had trouble doing so because I feel split between ensuring we have the money needed to pay bills and making the art I love.
So, a bit about me for those of you hearing about me for the first time, or just hearing more in general:
I am originally from Roanoke, Virginia
I discovered my love of art in the photo labs at Virginia Western Community College
I was part of the class of 2010 at Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio earning a BFA in Fine Arts and a minor in Art History
I worked for LEGO during my time in Ohio
I briefly attended Hollins University as a graduate student where I learned Latin and started making collages
I worked two fabulous summers at Camp Winnebago in Maine, teaching photography
In 2012 I got married and moved to Raleigh, NC where I've been creating my art ever since.
While 2013 was a fantastic year for my personal life I seemed to have taken a step back from my art. 2014 is a year where I am aiming to change this. Beyond simply creating art I want to make connections and break into the local art scene. I'd love to show my art in other cities and parts of the world too, and hope to fund the entries to 6-24 shows this year.
Tune in tomorrow for an update on my first piece of the year. Thanks for reading!
Love, Lydia
Today's the first of January and the first day of my Art For All Year project. The goal of the project is to create at least one new work of art each week. I have a Kickstarter set to go once all the financial information is confirmed. (They have to make sure I'm me!) And if this Kickstarter reaches its higher goal I would even be able to make a piece of art for every day of the year.
I'm really excited about this because I love creating new pieces, but lately have had trouble doing so because I feel split between ensuring we have the money needed to pay bills and making the art I love.
So, a bit about me for those of you hearing about me for the first time, or just hearing more in general:
I am originally from Roanoke, Virginia
I discovered my love of art in the photo labs at Virginia Western Community College
I was part of the class of 2010 at Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio earning a BFA in Fine Arts and a minor in Art History
I worked for LEGO during my time in Ohio
I briefly attended Hollins University as a graduate student where I learned Latin and started making collages
I worked two fabulous summers at Camp Winnebago in Maine, teaching photography
In 2012 I got married and moved to Raleigh, NC where I've been creating my art ever since.
While 2013 was a fantastic year for my personal life I seemed to have taken a step back from my art. 2014 is a year where I am aiming to change this. Beyond simply creating art I want to make connections and break into the local art scene. I'd love to show my art in other cities and parts of the world too, and hope to fund the entries to 6-24 shows this year.
Tune in tomorrow for an update on my first piece of the year. Thanks for reading!
Love, Lydia
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