1.Self Exploration

They say that history repeats itself. I recently was discussing my mom and her life up until she was twenty and compared it to my own. In some ways I'm a mirror image of my mom but we are both unique in our own ways. My own life wouldn't have happened if it was for her where I overlap with hers. I think it'll be interesting to continue to compare her life with mine as they both continue. She is my role model and I hope one day I am as great of a mom and person as she is.

9. Where do we come from and where do we land?

This piece is suppose to represent the struggle many dancers or just girls in general face with their weight. I know so many girls that are super skinny yet when they see themselves they think they're fat even though they aren't. A lot of the time it's to get the "ideal" body but in reality the "ideal" body is extremely unhealthy and impossible to get/keep.

Light

I've been having an obsession of playing with light recently. So I turned off the lights and played around with exposure time and LED lights. One of the photos turned into this with a little help with photoshop. This one is my favorite.

Flower

I saw this planet at the fair and decided to do a figure study of it in colored pencil. This is one of my favorite pieces by far <3

Sunlight

I was curious what the inside of a solar tube skylight looked like and was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to take a picture of it when my parents were messing around with the one in our house. This was the result.

5. Found Materials

I wanted to experiment with foods and then I thought of how we use to do finger painting with chocolate pudding when I was little. So I took some and put it on a plate and then tried to draw me as a baby. However, it didn't turn out quite how I wanted... but oh well. That's being an artist for ya.

10. Identity

Everything that a person does or has happened to them helps shape their life in some way or another. All of our experiences help shape us and make us who we are in the present and future but the ones that shape us the most are those we experienced as children. One of the biggest moments in my childhood that has helped shaped me was when I became a big sister. It has made me more motherly and has given me a passion to help children. I am so blessed to have three wonderful younger siblings and even though they can be a pain sometimes I will always be there for them. They have made me a better person; they have made me who I am today. They have given me patience and because of them I think I will make a great mother some day in the distant future.

12. Graffiti

One of my friends created this. He said that it was a way to help encourage others who are too afraid to express their opinions to the public, to take a stand to the "man" as it is, and to also remind himself to speak up when others can't. It is mainly targeted to college students since he is one himself but it can be applied to others. the "SCK" stands for Starving College Kid due to how expensive college is and not eating as much as he should due to lack of money.

11. Art and Life

I came to realize it my senior year of high school. I was creating a portfolio for the 2D design AP art exam. It made me realize how precious and short life really is, how people don't stop to appreciate the little things in life until it is too late such as the beauty of a flower. I took this one over thanksgiving break of some of the flowers growing outside my home.

Self portrait

I hadn't made a self portrait since high school so I decided to draw one and experiment with black paper and colored pencils. I still feel like it needs some work but it's the best self portrait I've ever done and I am very proud of it.

8.Perceptual Cramp

Whenever I feel stuck I pick up my journal, pick a page, and do whatever it tells me to or I make up my own thing on that page. Some of the pages say stuff like cut up a vegetable and make prints of it or write one word over and over again. I recently documented my dinner the other night on one of the pages by dripping spaghetti sauce and steak residue, thus opening up the idea of using food as a medium to create art.

6. Fiber Art

Christo and Jeanne-Claude Surrounded islands

"Using 6.5 million square feet of floating pink fabric, Christo and Jeanne-Claude encircled eleven islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay, extending the perimeter of each island by 200 feet. An elaborate undertaking that involved legions of contractors, engineers, attorneys, and seamstresses, Surrounded Islands also required extensive consultation with marine biologists and ornithologists. Ultimately, the project benefited its surroundings: Christo and Jeanne-Claude's crew removed forty tons of garbage from the uninhabited islands.

Evoking hibiscus flowers and flamingos, the vibrant woven polypropylene fabric was sewn to correspond to the contours of each island. As the unfurling began on 4 May 1983, the islands themselves seemed to bloom. The artists and their crew of 430 surrounded the last island three days later. Remaining on view for two weeks, the work was visible to the public from the causeways, the land, the water, and the air."

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2002/christo/islands.shtm

The Gates of Central Park

I first discovered their work back in 8th grade. When I saw this assignment I immediately thought of these two images. Fabric can be used in so many different ways including being combined with our natural surroundings.

3. Body and Soul

This is who I am. On the left is a dream catcher and a chemical sign of the only hormone that produces dreams when we are asleep. I am a huge dreamer. I believe that with the right focus I can make all of mine come true. Around the dream catcher is a quote from the movie Hook because like Peter Pan in the movie, even though I can't stay young forever I will always be young at heart and believe. The garnet and gold on the feathers represent my place at Florida State University. The crown is a symbol that all girls, including myself are beautiful and are in charge of their own lives and destinies just like princesses. The pointe shoes represent my life as a dance. I've dancer for more than fifteen years and even thought of taking a career in it. The tv is just to shows the corruption that technology has over me and also quotes one of my favorite shows the Big Bang Theory. The sun and moon is a reminder for me to live everyday as if it were my last. The state of FL just shows where I'm born and raised. The camera is my love of photography. The flash/star is me when I'm most confident, I shine. I love football season so I drew a football. The squirrel/AGD represent my sorority and the type of women I aspire to be. The paint brush and palette is just to show how art is an important part of my life. The jellyfish is a representation of my obsession with ocean life. I even thought of becoming a marine biologist at one point. The quote just sums up me, "and though she be little she is fierce." Meaning I my be small but I can be unpredictable and am willing to fight to get what I want. The tree is a representation of life, and how years go by quickly with each season. The flag is just to show that I am a US citizen. And lastly, the castle shows that I hope to one day explore Europe and also shows my love for Disney whom I hope I can have the opportunity one day to work with.

2. Two Handed Drawing

These are my two handed drawings. Obviously I am right handed but my left hand didn't do so bad when doing this figure study of my purse. Of course it took a little longer than I usually would draw with my right hand but overall I am proud of it.

7. 3x3" collages

I found 3 random objects in pictures I liked and whatever popped into my head first I expanded on that one object. I don't really like the first one with the seats, but I love the other two.

4.Notion of Home

This is my home. It's where ever my family is. Yeah I know it's pretty cheesey but it's true. Right now, I don't have a real home. A home to me is something warm, comforting, loving, sheltering, and full of loud people i love. It's why I cut out pictures of my siblings, my dog, and me. The orange/yellow square is a pillow showing comfort. The hands represent support, sheltering, and where ever my family is.

The Beginning

This blog is to document my life's journey as an artist. It is to show my growth and development through out the year. Some posts will be random. Others for a class.

Until then,

Elyse