Long time no see, Tumblr! Thought I’d share a custom tap handle I created for someone. Fun project, maybe I’ll make more :D
Here is my finished painting for the “Spirit Animal” show. I have to say, I love what butterflies represent more than butterflies themselves. I’m not super feminine or girly, I imagine “Lisa Frank” trapper keepers every time I think of “girly,” so it was a stretch for me to go in this direction, but the symbolism of transition/change is ever relevant in all of our lives.
It may be a challenge to embrace the inevitable changes in our lives, but if you look at the butterfly, they welcome change and become even more beautiful as a result.
Corny? Yes. You can go throw up now.
Enjoy!
This is a painting for “The Final Crit,” where the assignment was about Fear/Hell on Earth. For me, as I said before when I showed the thumbnail, I do not like swimming in open water, for fear of the unknown. Now that summer is here, and I frequent the Jersey shore, I also am reminded that I don’t like swimming there either, because I can’t see my feet. Have you ever seen a half a man swallowed by a giant undiscovered fish? Me either, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen…all the time! The funny thing is, I grew up on the beach, you’d think I’d have some rational thoughts.
(Not to mention a couple months ago when a friend of mine chased me on the beach holding a mysterious “sea worm” that wrapped around her hand. I am traumatized at 24.)
Anyway, enjoy the painting!
I won’t be able to post anything for about a week, so I figured I’d share something about myself through a stamp series I painted about 2 years ago! Even though I have grown and learned so much since then, they still make me proud because they resulted in me being an oil painter.
These three paintings were one of the first experiences I had with oil paint, and I got hooked. I’m so glad that I didn’t start with typical portrait/figure study painting. Starting this way lead me to work in the style I do now, and I think I would have felt too intimidated if I went a more traditional(realism based) route. It really helped me learn about the paint, which then made me more confident when I did go on to try traditional techniques. They also were the first pieces I got a lot of attention for, which is always encouraging.
The funny thing is, I can’t even tell you how many people have asked me(judgingly), “why would you work in oils when you don’t need to.” I think that question is just dumb, and I’ll just leave it at that!
More importantly, the answer: oil painting just makes me happy.
My point is, so many people have told me they are intimidated by different media (especially oils), but you shouldn’t feel pressured to use them in the way you’re “supposed to.” You never know what you’ll learn about yourself when you try something new, and do what makes you happy!
