Adventure Number Seven.

Fate brought Dint Sweitzer into my life this summer. A life changing person this woman was. There was this art thing for little children on Pewaukee Lake and one of my friends asked me to help volunteer. So I went expecting to just paint faces or something. Well while I was there they had pretty much nothing for me to so I was drawing with chalk in hopes to maybe influence some children to join me. And Dint Sweitzer had her paintings set up on a table for people to see. And these paintings seemed to catch my interest for they had a twist to them. They were portraits but with real jewelry and real scarves attached. I've been having strange dreams of paintings such as this with a 3D aspect to them. My dreams in many cases intertwine with what is going to happen in the future. Whether it is my boyfriend's little sister having friends over, getting dumped for someone else or seeing my death. But after seeing her paintings I knew I had to talk to her to find out if there is any meaning and connection between the two.So I went over to get a closer look. She was excited to be able to talk about her work and we ended up talking for a little under an hour. We basically talked about our artistic journey and it was amazing to see this elderly lady that has more experience that I do years express the same exact struggles that I've been going through. This was just after my experience with the pre-college MIAD classes and I was somewhat artistically depressed. And to hear her say that she is still going through those same stages even after all these years made me feel better. For I was not alone. Granted that could be seen as something somewhat depressing because that means it will never end but at least I know it's not just me. She also told me about the Art Crawl event that was taking place in Waukesha on Main St. If it wasn't for her telling me about it that would have been an experience I would have missed. (Art Crawl is adventure number eight) So going to this thing for children brought an unexpected friend into my life and also gave answers to my dreams and on top of all that led me to another wonderful art filled adventure.

Adventure Number Six.

Well my sixth adventure of this summer took place at the Cave of the Mounds. And well a very important lesson this adventure taught me was to always bring my camera. The reason I didn't was because I assumed that it would be another typical day by my fathers house but instead something else was in store for me. The cave of the mounds is something I would advise anyone to go experience for themselves. It takes you into another world. It is an under ground cave with all these amazing stalactites and stalagmites. This cave is obviously naturally dark but with the scattered lights placed it made me stop and think how I always seem to paint things in the same lighting. If its ever outside I paint the perfect kind of sunny day. So that got me thinking of an idea that I haven't really ventured in much or if at all. I usually end up using lots of color. But with the absence of light that would cause an absence of color. And something else that was very interesting about being in this other worldly feeling place was how it was naturally monochromatic. Which also inspired me to try to incorporate this into my art. And on the side of all that, another reason why I should have had my camera was because of all the wonderful flowers that the above ground had. It was just amazing to see. Above and underground and how completely opposite the two were from the bright vibrant light filled color all the way to the one toned darkness of the cave.


Fun experience. :)

Adventure Number Five.

I attended an exhibit called MIX at the Tenth Street Theatre. It was quite an inspirational time for me even though it was short lived. All of the art was beautiful but that wasn't even the part that I enjoyed the most. My high school art teacher Mrs. Bjork was one of the artists showing their work. For me it brought a sense of reality back to art that I've been missing lately. I was able to see the person that I look up to and learn from on the other side of the fence. I was able to meet her mentor. And seeing her so excited about being able to show off all her hard work made me excited. This was a simple, however; life changing experience for me. It made me realize how much I would love to possibly be an art teacher in the future. I would love to be an inspiration to young artists just as she is to me. I want to be there to show them that a future in art is not far fetched. That it isn't an unreachable goal. And seeing those artists so excited about having their work on display was living proof that art can be in my future. And that my future is art.

Adventure Number Four.

While I was at MIAD my drawing teacher talked to each of us one last time about our work before we left. And this is pretty much what he said..

"Amber, people need to tell you more often that you are not good enough. You need to work harder and push yourself more. I feel as though you don't even try. You're not living up to you potenal. I think you know your better than a lot of others so you feel no reason to try"

And after that a lot of different emotions were taking over myself. I felt as though I was doing really well and I was trying the hardest I could. But yet he said I wasn't at all.

I was angry.
I was offended.
I was sad.
I was torn.

But through all that I realized that maybe it was a good thing. That maybe it because he could see that I can do great things. And it was his twisted way to bring those great things closer to reality. By breaking me to build me back up in a better way. To tear my down now when I'm still growing to make me stronger that way when someone else does the same i'm prepared. Odd motivation. Tough love in a way.

Adventure Number Three.

The painting class was difficult to enjoy at times mainly based on the heat. It was so hot in that room it was unbarable.

 But other than that aspect I actually really liked it. The first two paintings we did were rather boring but I learned how to dlend the paint better, how to make my own black, and the amazing differences that cool and warm create. I also learned to enjoy water colors much more. And that retarder and palate paper are my two best friends.

Adventure Number Two.

MIAD!

My wonderful pre college adventure. Well as some of you may already know, it was two weeks long. And for the first week I had absolutly no friends. Because I am socially challenged. But I can definetly add the possible excuse being that I decided not to dorm there so the making friends process was made twice as hard. But then I ended up making lots of friends and two that I continue to remain in contact with^^

But anyways. Basically everything I hate about drawing and painting we seemed to be completly focused on almost the entire two weeks. Cool dude.

I had to draw myself with my eyes closed and only touching my face.(even harder than it sounds)
I had to draw with chalk taped to a two foot stick on to a huge piece of paper on the ground.(not easy)
I had to draw other people but only their shadows.(no outlines)
I had to draw other people with out looking at my paper or lifting my pencil.(never turns out.)
I had to draw a persons face but backwards.(darken the whole paper..and start with erasing the highlights than the shadows darkening)

I hated every moment of that stuff...But I do realize that I learned a lot from it.
I learned to stop with concentrating on only outlines and start working from within.
I learned to really understand what I am looking at and not what I just wat to see.

Adventure number one.

The wonderful procrastination monster has taken over my entire being. (Yes, that is an excuse.) So I definetly without a doubt in my mind have let this avoiding process go on long enough. So time to make up for some lost time...

Well I went swimming numorus of times this summer and I caught myself being drawn in by the easily overlooked amazingness waiting to be seen within reflections. We go through out our normal days without even thinking twice about reflections. But something about them just put me into an artistic trance. And by that I mean my mind just ran though the amazing possibilites that await. Inspired I was. And from this inspriration I want to be able to see the world in a different way. Just as the reflections do. I want my art work to capture something no one normally sees.

(Ignore any spelling or grammer mistakes)