El Fin

I initiated this blog to document the art projects I set out to complete and with hold myself accountable for doing so. It gave me great pleasure to conceive of and bring to fruition these dozen projects. I immensely enjoyed creating each piece, along with sharing them with you. Here is a recap, from the first project I started to the last.

DRAGON

colored marker on paper

KNOT

twine

WATERCOLOR

food dye in water in various containers

JIGSAW

puzzle, Mod Podge, acrylic painted wood molding

TRANSCENDENTALISM

colored marker and printer ink on paper

PAINTING

acrylic paint on canvass board

IAM

black pen on paper

CINQUE

colored pencil on paper

LASER

plexiglass

MONTAGE49

san francisco

STAINED

wooden stool, analine powder dye in water, polyurethane

  

BLACKOUT

Sharpie on magazine & book page

This is the end! To be quite honest, I'm juiced. I plan on taking some time to recuperate and regenerate. When I get back to creating art, I would like to be more focused on one medium. I have always found it hard to balance diversity with dedication. The latter of which has not been a part of my artistic routine for a while now. I'll be sure to update this blog with what comes of it. 

Thanks again for spending the time to read this, I hope you were moved or inspired.

Until next time, ciao!

Dancing Dragon

When I began this piece on January 1st 2011, I knew it would be the last piece I would complete. I liked the idea of having it linger, and linger it did. In December I knew my projects would dragon, but alas I have completed my dozenth piece! I am very much relieved to present to you my Dancing Dragon:

Enjoy!

Blackout Poems

I came across a great way to write poetry. It's simple, all you need is a bunch of written words (i.e. a newspaper, magazine or old book) a Sharpie, and some creative thinking! Below is a before and after of one of my first 'blackout' poems:

KATYA

while in college I had the time to 

realize a great love for the world

It is a puzzle in figuring out how to twist the given words into something totally different. I sometimes felt confined by not having free reign in word choice, yet that's where creativity came into (word) play. These poems are more or less force into minimalism, which I enjoyed. Here are some more poems I 'wrote':

WILLIAM WALLET

money for travel

a perfect life

ELO

envy love often

yet know that there is 

nothing superior 

to one's own

happiness and health

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

when romance patiently says jump,

think about the potential of opportunity,

a new world: 

a small possibility

LIFE

merely 

a 

romantic 

experience that 

is 

beautiful 

to the end

Stained

There is no question in my mind that some day I will be carpenter by hobby. Both of my grandfathers had a knack with wood, so it is in my blood. While I do not have the means or space to do much, I do what I can. This project did not entail any construction with wood, but more the working of wood. In this case, a wooden stool.

A while back, a friend showed me a mesmerizing wood staining technique that uses multiple colors of dye to extenuate wood. When complete, the color scheme and technique I was aiming for looks like this:

A mix between a fireball and tiger eye. I thought it would be fun to try out this stain method on the seat of my stool, which was wooden and had some beautifully curled wood on the seat. 

In short, the method I followed was to dye the wood with black then red then yellow dyes, and sand in between dyes with a finer and finer grit of sand paper. The final step was to seal/gloss the wood with polyurethane. This last step is what really brings the wood to life. 

Once I sanded off the existing layer of gloss, I was ready to dye, sand, dye, sand, dye...

then came layer after layer of polyurethane...

...and viola! 

While my finished seat did not look quite like the fireball tiger eye I was aiming for, I am quite content with my end product. This project taught me a lot about how wood works as a canvass. I will surely be doing more wood staining in the future!

Montage 49

San Francisco - the city by the bay; where fog calls home; the infinite city - is where I live. I am by no means a city boy, but this is a really special city. Perched at the tip of the peninsula, SF is confined to an area 7 miles by 7 miles. From the micro-climates to the intense cultural identities of the many neighborhoods, this is a very diverse city for it's relatively small size. One of the many great and unique aspects of San Francisco is the ample creative inspiration bound within the city limits.

Many people are familiar with the Victorian houses that adorn the steep streets. One of the more artistic expressions, I have found, comes in the front gate of these houses and other residences in the city. For this project, I took pictures of gates from all over the city and made a montage of them. I found it fitting to put them in a 7x7 grid - hence the project title of 'Montage 49'. A huge thanks to Dave for helping me with the task of montaging the pictures.

Enjoy!

Transcendentalism (Part 2)

My second and last installment of a decorative-cheesy-wall-hanging incorporates a similar poem to the first. Written in wake of the true period of transcendentalism, it exhibits the same motives, tone and inspiration as RWE's 'Success'.

This is what you shall do:

Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and the crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.

-- Walt Whitman

The first time I read this poem, I was floored by WW's potent and elegant words; a true genius.

As for my adornment...

Inspiration for this piece came over time and from many places. It started with the poem, which was shared with me by someone very important to me. The color scheme used was derived from a special textile I bought while in Thailand. The design itself was inspired from a fabric I saw in a friend's home, and a decorative tea box. 

Unlike my previous attempt at a wall worthy hanging, I really enjoyed the production and product of this one. If you would like one, specially made for your wall, commissions are free of charge.

For now.

Laser Fun

I have stumbled across the wizard of all crafting tools: a laser cutter! I lucked upon the opportunity to use one through a friend. She has been using it to make jewelry and crafts of her own - check out some of the awesome things she has made:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/creativeninjask/

The laser can precisely cut and etch a variety of materials including paper, wood and plexiglass. The cutting is automated by a computer which reads drawing files. It's surprisingly simple to use and cuts quickly and flawlessly. So far, I have visited the laser twice. I showed up the first time with some simple materials and a few prepared drawings, curious as to what the laser was all about. Here is what I came away with:

Wood etching

Paper cutouts, intertwined

For my next visit, I wanted to craft something for the holidays. I decided to create a snowflake. Their beautiful symmetry, complex geometry, and perpetual uniqueness has always appealed to me. I also have a vivid memory from elementary school when we decorated large plastic snow flakes for the holidays. I always wanted to make my very own...

If my laser cutting has inspired or sparked your curiosity, check out the place I've been going to:  http://pagodaarts.com/ 

Let me know if you have any questions or aspirations of your own!

Happy Holidays with wishes of health and happiness.