CD Cover: The Best Budz

This is the CD cover that I did for my friend Maxwell Jensen's band called "The Best Budz". The first picture is the pan-flit and top cover that would be in the CD case. The main cover is the one to the right with the title on it. I made the letters for the title which is something i might change later on. It fits me as a person but I'm not sure if it was the best choice in reflecting the band. It seems slightly too edgy for their earthy relaxed happy style. And the image in the background is a picture of a flower that I took and edited primarily using the Curves effect tool on Photoshop. Unlike with the letters I am very happy with the backgrounds end result. One of the ways they explained what they were looking for was Lava lamp-ish which I believe is close to that. The middle section of the first image I am very happy with. The way i did it was with a picture of a hand holding a flower that i altered with the Curves tool again. Then I made multiple copies of it and combined them while messing with the opacity levels and the placement of the pictures. The third one to the far left is a picture that I took of leaves obviously. I liked this ine because they did describe themselves as earthy which is why I used this one and i felt it needed to have a green aspect to it as well because of the description. To be able to represent them as they want. I feel the composition of it is good with the rule of thirds, repetition and color. I made the letters for all of the CD cover. Thew last image at the bottom is the back page. It is the same picture as the second in the middle because I felt it needed something to pull it together in some matter. It is also changed with curves but different than the others. If I could change this I would switch this one with the one in the middle of the first image. Because generally CD covers have song titles on the back.

SELF PORTRAIT-ish 

This piece of artwork that I did has a lot of hidden meaning and symbolism within it. I would agree that it doesn't necessarily "look" like me; however, with the discolored face and the awkward angle, who would resemble themselves...? This idea started to emerge from my mind when I was getting my hair done last. If you don't already know, I dye my hair very different colors very often. From brown, brown with highlights and black underneath, light brown, bleached blonde, black, dark brown with blonde streaks in front, and then lastly red. Mind you this in in the span of two and a half years. When I get my hair done they sit you in a chair to wash the chemicals out and the chair keeps your head aimed high up but your body normal. While people were walking by I imagined what I must possibly look like at such of an odd angle as this. And while I was looking up all I had to look at were these lights on the ceiling. The lights looked like small spotlights. So from that I imagined what if all those mini spotlights turned on me, then how unusual would I look? That is the reasoning for the position, surroundings and intensified lighting. The many colors of hair is because of the many times i have dyed my hair. I figured out that the reason I dye my hair so often is because when I look into the mirror I like to not look like myself. I like to not recognize the person in the mirror. This is because of my lack of self confidence. That is also the reasoning for the slicing of the art work. I always examine myself and take myself apart to the point where I'm left in pieces. Shambles perhaps. This is almost a full body self portrait other than my feet being missing. Which then meets that requirement. The other requirement was to make sure there was figure ground relationship which this is lacking. The chair and colors of hair do make part of surroundings; however, I feel as though that aspect could have been accomplished more efficiently. This is a mixture of chalk and oil pastel and also charcoal. Over all I feel as though I am happy with the results.

the insane ten.

So we had to create ten pieces in a week based around a word that we were given. My word was "Stretch". I went pretty abstract for this project and enjoyed doing it. I learned that there are many different ways to look at something. Many different interpretations. This project made me learn how to see things differently and not to always think only in my first thoughts and expand past my first ideas and let my mind see other possibilities. My time management was better than my norm, however; it still wasn't all that great. I did not wait to do them all the night before but I did leave about three for the night before. The fetus painting was I think my second favorite. It is made up of paint and plastic wrap. My first favorite is the water color one. The reason is was my favorite was because it was taking the word but using a subconscious way of thinking to create it. I sat down and cleared my mind then said the word and the first textures, colors and shapes that popped into my head I painted. Then I ripped it all up and combined them. I used oil pastels, acrylic paint, plastic wrap, water color pencils and sketch and wash.

Adventure Number Eight.

Well this adventure took place at my best friends house. I have been there many times but for some reason I didn't see all of the amazing possibilities until a camera was in my hand. Her grandma has soo many interesting decorations. Things you don't see every day. So for a good 30 min. all I did was photo rape her home. Every little decoration and nicnak I took pictures of. It was quite amazing the collection her grandma has. I will put pictures up soon:)

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.