Student Juried Art Exhibition

I recently entered a few of my prints into the Student Juried Show here in Stevens Point and this bad boy was chosen! As expected, getting into a show is super exciting, especially if you're like me and never have the nerve to show your work at all. The show will be opening Sunday, December 12th from 2-4 pm so if you're anywhere near the Steven's Point area, come check out some great student work.

"dream home" - Intaglio/solar plate collage

This particular series was focused on the circular relationship between nature and technology, an idea that I've been focusing most of my printmaking work on for the past year. The background is a print of a zinc plate that I've been working on since my first semester in printmaking. There are at least 6 layers worth of etching put into that bad boy. It's officially my favorite printing method and I love that I can be as efficient as possible by reusing my materials. I absolutely hate how wasteful we are as artists and it's such a hard habit to get away from. I'll post more of the series when time allows. Until then, enjoy!

What's in it for me?

I absolutely cannot get enough of this song or this lovely video. I caught Avi Buffalo live in Milwaukee a few times this summer and this band is just as adroable as their sweet songs. The fact that they're all so young(fresh out of high school)and becoming so successful is pretty nifty. So check it out and enjoy. If you love it as much as I do you won't be able to stop, so watch out!!

so much for a blog a day...

My computer crashed!! And I'm in bumsville without it. I'll attempt to get another post on here hopefully sooner than later. I've acctually started photographing some prints and should be able to post them within the next few days. Until then enjoy this lovely video.

I first heard of Caledonia Curry AKA Swoon, a few weeks back when I heard her speak at the MAPC print conference. I've been hooked ever since. Her work inspires me more than any artist I have ever know and to be quite honest I'm just plain jealous of her crazy life. Her "raft" projects, such as The Swimming Cities of the Switchback Sea, have me wishing that I were part of a band if gypsies. I might have to just run away and her join her.

Shed your love.

MAPC Print Conference: Minneapolis

So a few weeks back I went to my first printmaking conference for the Mid-America Print Council, which was held in Minneapolis. It was so inspiring to see so many artists gathered to celebrate the under-appreciated art of printmaking and pretty much blew me away. I participated in my first ever open-portfolio. I was pretty jazzed about it, since I don't ever put my work on display. Out of everything I took away from the conference I'd have to say the positive feedback I got during the review was the best part by far. It definitely gave me confidence that I had never had up until that point, and has inspired me to start doing shows. The next conference is over spring break in St. Louis and I can't wait to reunite with the print world and show them how my prints evolve over this next semester. Let's just hope that I produce something worth showing!!

Photos then & now.

I've decided it would be a good idea to show some of my photography work from over the years.I like to look back and see how my work has evolved, as I'm sure we all do. Enjoy my evolution.

My early work looks a little rough. I scanned the photos to make digital copies but need to go back and save them in a cleaner format. My subjects consisted of mostly "collections" of items. I have an obsession with antiques and decay and I think this shows through the soft look of my early photos. This is the one theme that has carried through to all of my work.

My newer work is all digital, so the quality is much better, although I'm not the best with technology. This is my first attempt at getting to know digital cameras and all the technologically induced stress that comes with them...

I started out with shooting some dear friends. I was especially happy with this first one:

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a camera with a really swell macro lens, so I spent some time exploring with that:

I finally stumbled upon a mirrored puddle in my backyard, a mini pond of sorts that fills every year when the snow melts. Through this puddle I discovered the beauty to be found in multiple reflective surfaces. These are my pride & joy. My own little private puddle of peace which led to self-reflection.

I'll add more images as I continue to explore photography. At one point it was my medium of choice, but I've long since developed more in other areas. I always end up coming back to photography in the end.

And so it begins...

I am going to attempt to post on my blog once a day. I've been slacking in this area and think it's time to step things up. Wish me luck and enjoy.

I've decided to start things off with my new obsession: Pigeon Toe Ceramics, a company out of Portland. Their porcelain work blows my mind and has inspired me to take a shot at throwing porcelain myself. I love their simplicity as well as the great uses they've come up with for many of their forms, such as the hanging planters and light fixtures. I think my favorites are the hanging planters. I'll post some of my own porcelain work as soon as it's fired and ready to roll....or hang.

http://www.pigeontoeceramics.com/