Legos

I want to apologize for posting a day late.  Yesterday, I went about my day as usual and then later in the day I realized it was Tuesday.  My week has been so off!  Anyways, here is my blog post for the week!

We have been wanting to take our son to Lego Land in Kansas City sometime this summer but can not seem to pick a good date to go.  One of the many things I was excited about having a kid was being able to do "kid" things without looking like some creepy adult.  Now, I get to do all the fun things kids do with my son.  He enjoys himself and so do I.  I can not wait to go to Lego Land with him later this summer and he doesn't know it yet...but he will love it too!

Artists use nearly everything they can get their hands on to create art.  So why not legos?  You know that when you were growing up you tried to make cool things out of your legos.  Artists have taken it to new heights.  Below are a few images I found just on Google of lego art.

Now, go pull out your legos and let your inner kid play!  Make something fun and new! Please share your creations in the comments below.  Thanks for reading today and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Passion

Today we are going to talk about more personal matters in relation to art.  So please listen and be inspired to find the passion that drives your own artwork.

Everyone has a talent, a gift but what we choose to do with it is up to us.  My gift is my artwork.  So I have enjoyed using it to deliver a certain message or meaning.  Artists who are fueled by something that means a lot to them use their artwork to be their voice on the matter.  Sometimes it might be something you personally disagree with or might even have the same passion for, this is why art so influential.  Today I want to share with you my passion, what drives me, what stirs up my heart enough to share my opinion and hopefully make a difference.

If you have read my profile you know, that I am a Bible believing Christian.  I have used artwork in the past to express what that means to me.  Now that I am at home raising my child I feel like I need to still do something to show my passion.  Raising my child is what my job is now, and I love every moment of it.  I started this blog to try and use my computer, my window to the world to still get my opinion out while still using art along the way.

Yesterday, I posted a photo of a painting I did on my personal facebook page to invite my friends to critique it, like I talked about in my previous post.  My friends were wonderful and gave their insight to what they thought of the painting.  I gave no information about it.  Here is the painting:

Now, let me tell you what this painting is of....this painting is inspired by the stretch marks I have as a result of my pregnancy with my son.  That knowledge might make you see it differently, may even cringe at the thought.  That is why I wanted to hear the opinions of my friends before they knew what it was. 

Why did I do this? What are my intentions?  Well, as a Christian, I am very much AGAINST abortion.  I hate the thought, my heart literally aches at the thought of killing a child.  When I look at my son, I can not imagine someone with a tool ripping him limb from limb inside my womb where he would be safe while he screams.  Even typing that brings tears to my eyes.  I can say all I want on social media about how much I hate abortion but what am I doing to help women who feel like they have no other option?  As I mentioned above, this is my time to raise my son so how do I give time to helping women and raising my son?  My art.  This is my proposal to the women out there who want to help.  Send me pictures of your stretch marks and the only person who will know who's is who's will be me.  I will paint them into something beautiful like the painting above and sell the paintings.  Every painting will be $50 and 50% will go to a pro-life organization or clinic.  The more I sell the higher that percentage will be because I could afford to give more.  My husband and I have donated some here and there to a local clinic that helps women find better, life saving options for their future child, financially, emotionally and medically.  

If you trust me to do this for you and women and future children please join me in the journey.  All who donate a picture, I will give you a print of the final painting for free.  Please send the images to my email brennad429@gmail.com and I will do my best to help how I can using a gift God gave me. 

Why stretch marks?  Because as women we are hard on ourselves and others about our bodies during and after pregnancy.  I want to show you that those stretch marks are things of beauty.  They are a badge of honor for carrying your precious child for 9 months.  I know that all mothers would have a million stretch marks if it means having their wonderful child so why not be proud of them?  I want to help mothers feel beautiful while at the same time helping mothers who need help.  

Part of this is help from you to get the word out there.  I can not donate if the paintings do not sell.  So spread the word so people buy as many as possible so we can donate as much as possible.

So, will you join me?

What is your passion?  How can you use your art to show it?  Please share in the comments below.  And remember to be the best artist you can be.

Critique

This summer has been so full of fun and things to do, it has been wonderful.  We didn't make any big plans for the summer so we have just found things around town to do with our son.  Every morning we try and do something together and nearly every evening as well.  I love having a child so we can do so many wonderful adventures together.  So little makes him happy and it is truly a blessing.

Now, back to the art talk.  I have been thinking about a new series of work to do for some time.  I won't tell you anything about it until I am ready.  But, part of me thinks it will be my best work yet if I can manage to complete it.  When studying art, part of the process of learning and growing are class critiques.  I have sat through many.  Some ranging from screaming matches to beneficial commentary.

A Critique when defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary means: a careful judgement in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art).

Before you ever take part in a Critique, you must be open to someone disagreeing with you or even someone not liking what you have done.  I feel like this has helped me grow personally and helps me be more willing to listen to other's opinions.  Hearing other people's comments on your artwork can help you learn how to become a better artist.  Other artists help point out things based on their own education.  Such as art history, design, and/or composition. People who are not artist give opinions based off what they might like, which this can be helpful if you are trying to reach a certain audience.  I have had people tell me to completely re-do my work or even that they just didn't like it.  Those comments can be hard to take if you put a lot of time and emotion into a piece of artwork.  But in the end, when I re-created something, I have been happier every time.  Critiques are something in my opinion should be done several times while you are creating the artwork so you can change things as you go in case it needs it.  During a proper Critique you sit around the artwork you are talking about and let many people communicate about it.  Have them talk to the artist so they know what your intention was and if they received it.  Sometimes this can take hours or seconds.  It depends really on the audience.  So, if you are brave enough and want honest opinions, invite your friends to critique your artwork.  You might find, that it helps you grow as an artist.

The reason for this topic this week is if it works out...I hope you ask you to Critique my artwork.  But the difference is, I want to see what you think before I reveal what it is about. So we will see how it goes!  This is if I manage to get it done by next Tuesday...no promises.

So, remember to be the best artist you can be!

FASHION!

Fashion....not one of my strong points but a great subject.  I am no fashionista...especially as I sit here and write this post in a t-shirt and shorts.  But like most girls...I have big dreams of a wardrobe that is fabulous.  I would love to wear a cute retro dress everyday with my hair all done perfectly.  But the problem is...where would I go all dressed up?  And I do not think those stunning dresses would look great covered with food or snot or whatever my son decides to throw all over me that day.  There is also the point of money...who can really afford a wardrobe like that unless you are a designer yourself.  I have made a few of my own clothes but clothes are just not my medium when it comes to creativity.  Which that brings me to my point today....art and fashion.

Obviously this is an art blog...so you were probably wondering why I was talking about fashion but see how I brought the whole thing back around?  Clever huh?  This week I was cruising through the internet looking for a topic to cover for my blog and saw how fashion designers took famous artwork and had it inspire their designs.  How fun would that be to break down a painting into something new.  Almost like the food art we talked about in the past.  Here are some images of the clothes with the artwork that inspired them:

Shiatzy Chen + Irises in Monet's Garden by Claude Monet

Alexander McQueen + Red Roses, Close-Up by Jonathan Knowles

Allude + Autumn Rhythm by Jackson Pollock 

Now, I am pretty clueless when it comes to names in fashion but I think these people who re-created the paintings are big.  I'm sure someone somewhere is thinking I am ridiculous for saying that but this is just not my area of expertise.  Either way, I thought you would enjoy learning something new and interesting.  I hope you enjoy!  Here is the link to view the rest of the images:

Click HERE to see more!

And remember to be the best artist you can be!

Photo Transfer

Today was a fun morning.  I had some friends over and we created some Father's Day crafts for the men in our lives who whether they are the father to our child or not, mean a lot to us.  It was a mess but, fun with all the kids running around.

I wanted to give you an idea for something else you can do for your fathers or for your home.  You will need some supplies but all are available at your local craft/art supply store.

You will need:
-Acrylic gel medium
-a canvas or wood panel
-a laser printed image of your choosing.  (you can print on a laser jet printer at your local library using their copier)
-wash cloth
-water
-paint brush or foam brush

What you will do is take a black and white image and transfer it to a hard surface.  I learned how to do this in my photo/paint class.  It was a way to learn how to use a photograph we took in a painting. Here are the images of how to do it step by step.  This project needs time to dry in between so depending on your day and how humid it is, it might take two days.

Step One: Get your supplies ready.  (supplies listed above).  I used Matte finish since I usually do not like my projects to be shiny.  You can purchase a smaller amount at your local craft/art supply store

Step Two: Coat your surface with the Medium.  Coat only where you want your image.  You do not need to coat the whole canvas like I did, unless you have a large image.  I used a wood board but this project is possible on canvas as well.  

Step Three: Cut out your image so you do not have too much excess paper. 

Step Four: Put your image on the wet medium covered surface.  If you have an image with words make sure you printed it out backwards so when applied to the surface it reads correctly.  Make sure the image is on well and as many air bubbles are worked out.  I used the handle of my scissors to help work the air bubbles out.

Step Five: After the medium dries, dip your wash cloth in water and wet the image.  Now slowly start rubbing off the paper.  This part might take the longest but once the paper is off the finished product is awesome!

TA-DA! your finished image!!! The paper is gone and the ink from the image is now on your surface.  I hope you enjoyed this little project.  I know this is all over Pintrest right now and for good reason.  It is fun and a way to make artwork for your home or for others.  

Have fun creating and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Food Two

Last week I told you about playing with your food.  Well, this week I played with my food to re-create one of my many favorite paintings.  With it being so warm outside, staying inside, playing with food just sounded like a good option.  I hope y'all have had the chance to play with your food to create something fun.  Please share in the comments below anything you might have done.

Today, I took one of my many favorite Vincent Van Gogh paintings and made it into food.

Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

Here is the food version....now remember it does not have to look identical, just close enough to look like the artwork you are re-creating.

Close but not very close.  I used a few different kinds of food, I do not think I would eat this.  I used: coffee grounds, cocoa powder, green onions, blueberries, and green tea.  I placed a napkin on my plate to start because I do not own any white plates.  I spread the coffee for my dirt.  Then, I sprinkled cocoa powder over that to add a variety of color.  I then tore up some green onions and placed them on top of the dirt.  Next, I cut up some blueberries to create my irises.  I added more cocoa powder above the blueberries.  Finally, I sprinkled the green tea on the rest to fill in the space.  I was hoping it would actually be green since it is called green tea but it worked well enough.  

Now your turn!  Show us some of your creations and have fun!  When you re-create artwork you learn so much about the original piece.  You have to break it down and study it to know what to do to re-create it.  When you do that, you get the chance to really study the artwork and appreciate it so much more!  Have fun creating and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Food

If anyone out there likes to garden, this is the time of year for it!  My plants are just getting started and hopefully I will have a good crop of veggies this year.  If you are in a more southern time zone then I, you might already have food ready to pick and enjoy.  We love eating fresh food this time of year, outside in the nice weather.  The last day of May we needed a jacket but today is nice and sunny so maybe some fun outside time is in order.

Playing with our food has started as early as we were allowed to eat solids.  I know...my son loves playing with his food and throwing it all over the place.  But what if we took it to the next level...made art out of our food.  Bakers do it with fancy and elaborate cakes.  What if we re-created artwork using food?  Well, this artist did and took playing with her food to the next level.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch

"Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh

From the Movie "Up!"

Looks like fun!  So I have another fun project for you.  Find a famous painting you like or even a movie and re-create it in food.  You will have fun playing with your food again I'm sure!  Also do not forget about the other project I gave you for this summer, re-create a famous artwork as a photograph.  Read more about it in my blog post here. I will post mine soon.

To see more food art....you can see them here. 

Have a fun summer and remember...be the best artist you can be!