Visual Significance

Sketches—Portraits.

2011-03-21T15:41:00.000-10:00

Sketches—Figure Studies.

2011-03-06T05:42:00.000-10:00

A few sketches from my Life Drawing class. We do multiple 3-, 5-, and 10-minute sketches of a model in similar poses. These sketches are from several different class periods to they are all quite diverse.

I just love this class. The constant practice and repetition is challenging: we are forced to continually reevaluate our attempts to draw accurately, all the while under the pressure of time constraints. While it's a fast-paced environment, I find it invigorating rather than stressful. Anyway, on to the artwork:

Classwork

2011-02-24T17:37:00.000-10:00

A few recent projets from some design classes.

Project for Typography.

Pen and ink on paper, scanned and touched up in Ps.

Project for Computer Graphics.

Self-portrait in the style of Renoir.

Photomanipulation.

Just for fun: second self-portrait, mimicking Munch's The Scream.

Photomanipulation.

dA muro.

2011-02-16T15:57:00.000-10:00

Finally found something really fun to do during Computer Graphics class: deviantART's excellent feature, muro! The digital art creation includes several brushes, color pickers, layers, transparency, and now allows you to save your work and return to it later (if you have an account). The platform also supports Wacom tablets=awesome! Spent probably about 2 hours total on this.

Check it out at http://muro.deviantart.com/.

Progression - Children of Cambodia I

2011-01-23T11:47:00.000-10:00

This painting is still not quite finished, but it's done in its essentials. I figured I should post something before school starts again... so soon, so soon...

Watercolor, something like 12x16 in, can't quite remember. 2010.

Progression - Blue Bricks (and Happy New Year!)

2010-12-31T20:54:00.000-10:00

Watercolor, yay!

P.S. Happy New Year everyone. :)

Progression - Banners of Siem Reap

2010-12-27T15:00:00.000-10:00

Oil on canvas, 16x20 in.

Here's another painting done with palette knife, completed for one of my classes this semester. I took the photo in Cambodia last May, and it was perfect for a series of paintings I've begun, centered around roads.

Expect a few more progression posts coming soon!

Sunset over Shrimp Farms

2010-10-29T15:40:00.002-10:00

Watercolor, 10x14 in, 2010.

By the Lamp-post

2010-10-14T09:17:00.000-10:00

The evenings are lovely right now.

Sneak Peek

2010-10-11T09:10:00.001-10:00

Just a few work-in-progress shots taken with the good ole cell phone.

Moon Risin'

2010-10-03T18:16:00.000-10:00

Just ran across this while browsing through some summer pictures.

Moonrise at the Makapu'u Lighthouse hike, Oahu, Hawaii.

This, combined with a family catch-up conversation tonight, is giving me a touch of sweet homesickness. :)

Picnic

2010-08-13T17:14:00.001-10:00

In celebration of Blogger's revamped image hosting capabilities, I present for your viewing pleasure a sunset picnic with the Metcalfs. This evening, so peaceful-looking in pictures, included many exciting things as well, encompassing (but not limited to): Grouchy attitudes; lil' punk brothers; critical examination of some poor anonymous surfer's activities; goofy faces; mothers who want too many pictures (but don't get them); some complaining; meditations on homelessness; arguments over frozen yogurt (toppings or no toppings?).

Faith Graphics Volunteer Gig

2010-08-01T11:31:00.006-10:00

"Faith" Promotional Banner

Printed on 4' x 6' banner canvas

Photograph and digital media design, 2010

This is a design for my home church, Faith Baptist in Kailua. The corporeal version is hung on the street side of the church building. Look for it the next time you drive down Kailua Road. :)

Creating this was a beneficial process, allowing me to make something move from concept, to draft, to final design, and then to printed form. Sure, I've done the full process in class before, but interacting more on the professional side of things is different, and truly, more satisfying.

I really should thank Pastor Darryl Keane, for trusting me with having a go at this job . . . and also my mom, for semi-volunteering me for it.

Cambodia: Impressions I

2010-07-14T22:53:00.005-10:00

Angkor: Tree

Pencil, charcoal,

and colored pencil on acrylic paper

10x16 in, 2010

First piece of artwork inspired by my trip to Cambodia. I borrowed the tree design from a relief on the wall of a temple at Angkor, combined it with other motifs I saw there, and added my own flair.

Major Catch-Up.

2010-07-03T16:39:00.008-10:00

It's been eons since I've seen you, blog. Sorry about the long absence. Catching up to the present would require several posts, which was daunting, and putting it off just increased the intimidation factor. But at last I've got up the courage to start. ;)

So. let's start with the end of school; two months ago now, it was.

Final project of the semester: self-portrait.

The sequential images were so popular with the fall painting, so I thought I'd try it again.

begin: light wash coat and sketch on the canvas.

another coat: wipe out the highlights while it's still wet.

darken the shadow areas.

darken again.

and again.

fine-tune.

adding in color, waiting for face to dry.

ultramarine blue coat for skin tone base.

more color.

yellow ochre over the blue for more base build-up.

at last, actual skin color! eesh it looks ghastly here.

phantom?

that's better.

darken those shadows!

add in the details.

final product. :)

Studio shots.

2010-05-02T12:21:00.004-10:00

I seriously love this art studio. And the people in it. We have a great department.

Just some ramblin' shots of other artists' stuff. :)

Graphic Design.

2010-04-29T07:47:00.001-10:00

Graphic design-

which fulfils aesthetic needs,
complies with the laws of form
and the exigencies of two-dimensional space;
which speaks in semiotics, sans-serifs,
and geometries;
which abstracts, transforms, translates,
rotates, dilates, repeats, mirrors,
groups, and regroups-
is not good design
if it is irrelevant.

Graphic design-

which evokes the symmetria of Vitruvius,
the dynamic symmetry of Hambidge,
the asymmetry of Mondrian;
which is a good gestalt;
which is generated by intuition or by computer,
by invention or by a system or coordinates-
is not good design
if it does not co-operate
as an instrument
in the service of communication.

-Paul Rand (who knew he was a poet?)

2010-04-16T18:17:00.002-10:00

The other day, I had a good idea for a poem.

Now I've forgotten it. Blast.

In other news, check out this great website with quotations about design of all kinds.

http://quotesondesign.com/

it's time.

2010-04-08T09:42:00.003-10:00

worship.

2010-03-25T17:34:00.003-10:00

What do I know of you?

What do I know of unbound love,

Or favor without favors asked in return?

What do I know of un-jealousy?

I can’t identify or comprehend.

You are pure, whole, sufficient, overflowing

Just dying to share the fruit of yourself

While I reach, like a grubby-fingered child

For what I don’t deserve

And yet

You give it to me joyfully

And to others also—you don’t have favorites

Like we do. You love us all

And demand we do the same.

But you forgive us for failing in that, too.

In fact,

You overflow with second chances

And forgive over-faithfully.

Oh, joyful one. Happy unfairness!

Steadfast lover-savior,

What do I know of your unfathomed grace

And perfect justice fulfilled?

What do I know of holy you?

something old, something new.

2010-03-07T13:13:00.005-10:00

The (slightly) old:

"Snow on Reds, Blues, Greens"

oil pastel

10 x 14 in, 2009.

This piece won a contest hosted by a the local Lake City Bank.

It was on the cover of their latest Christmas card. :)

The New:

"Sketch of Her World"
pen & ink, colored pencil
8.5 x 11 in, 2010.

Thanks to Andrew Jones for the inspiration.
You're going to write an epic someday, Tolkien.

Finished Product.

2010-03-03T11:32:00.002-10:00

As promised. Better-quality image of my latest work. And a few close-ups of the paint (because once I start taking photographs, I just have to play around a little bit).

Pseudonym Designs

2010-02-28T12:33:00.000-10:00

Churned these out recently for a project I'm working on with some fellow Englishers. We each chose a pen name and decided to create little "seals" or logos to represent each person. I took the ideas of each person and drew them out. A few people actually did their own designs, but the ones I'm posting here were all drawn by me (with various levels of input from the people for whom they were created).

Can you guess which of these four is my personal logo?

Progression.

2010-02-24T11:33:00.006-10:00

Completed project from Painting II. After the initial washes, all the paint was applied using a palette knife. This challenging requirement forced me to reevaluate my painting style: little details just don't work the same way. I had to abandon timidity and go for bold markings, but at the same time remain balanced and aware of how the colors worked together on the canvas.

A high-quality image of the finished product will be coming later this week, but I wanted to show the development from plain burnt sienna background, to local color wash, to knife application all the way through the pretty-much-finished painting. Thank goodness for cameras on cell phones! I only wish I had taken a few more pictures during the latter half of the working time. Ah well.

New Layout?

2010-02-04T15:04:00.002-10:00

It's high time I updated this ole' blog... any ideas, peeps?

whoa, it's 2010... back in business

2010-01-30T18:46:00.005-10:00

Sorry the interim since my last post has been so abominably long. I must be gettin' lazy or something. To make up for it, here is a sizable collection of photos. Most of them are from my time at home over winter break, though this first shot is from last summer.

Fall Is Here.

2009-10-21T17:47:00.007-10:00

Oh, these beautiful days.

Summer time has come and gone

2009-09-02T12:58:00.009-10:00

Well, I intended to post some pictures of summer as it wound down, but (rather unsurprisingly) I didn't get around to it quickly enough. So, here I am back at school. Classes started yesterday, and I already feel surrounded by the joy that permeates Grace campus. It's so good to be back!

Nevertheless, summer abounded with the blessings of refreshment, relaxation, and free time to follow inspiration at leisure. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to reconnect with everyone in Hawaii, and I appreciate my island of aloha more than I ever have before.

Just a taste...

One more piece of artwork from this summer...

self-portrait time!

fourth of july food

products of a photographer given kitchen duty...

hiking and experiencing God's wonders

shrimp farms on the north shore

sometimes graffiti can be a good thing

why I like trees

love them.

Islands

2009-07-28T14:14:00.004-10:00

Acrylic and magazine strips on foam board; 16x28

So much fun.

I was rather inspired by Perelandra (as I am quite often), but in this piece I concentrated less on "illustrating" a scene, and just working with an idea.

I am really liking this mixed media stuff.

Untitled.

2009-07-16T20:59:00.004-10:00

The camera is an artist’s single eye

Which captures in its view a scene of worth.

No value may it hold for passers-by

But the photographer sees idea’s birth.

And next, transfers from film, the retina

Where the image is implanted firm,

Straight to paper; light will give it a

Peculiar trait—an image it will turn.

What joy to find potential in the sights

That to another symbolize some thing

Altogether diff’rent! Bring to light

The gift the Creator is bestowing:

Art’s ability is such a gauge

Allows to us a glimpse of His image.

(During my senior year of high school, my British Lit teacher required us all to write our own Shakespearean sonnets. For better or for worse, this was the result. Found it while going through old files, and thought I would post it... be gentle with the tomatoes.)

Beach Sketches

2009-06-10T10:41:00.007-10:00

Beach day with Mom while the boys surfed.

Gorgeous day. Nice sun. Good times.

Pen and ink on sketch pad.

deviantART

2009-06-04T16:01:00.003-10:00

Been too lazy to post lately, sorry 'bout that. I promise a nice big one will come soon!

In the mean time, I thought I should post a link to a new art account I've formed on deviantart.com. You can view some of the artwork I've added to that gallery. =)

Just click here.

Hawai'i nei: home again.

2009-05-11T13:41:00.013-10:00

Well, Phoenix, I never expected to get to know you at all, but apparently US Airways felt we needed some bonding time. Fortunately for me, "America's Friendliest Airport" includes free wifi and decent food.

7 hours later, we finally take off, and 24 hours after I left my aunt and uncle's house yesterday morning, I finally arrive.

Home.

Ah, it feels good.

(By the way, this photo here was not taken yesterday when I got home, since it was around 11:51 pm when we touched down. As a result, I had to pull from a previous trip. Oh well.)

Grad Photo Shoot

2009-05-07T05:38:00.007-10:00

A few weeks ago I did a session with my roommate's brother Connor, who graduates from high school this month. Since I haven't done many shoots with people before, this was an opportunity for a new challenge, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I must say, I'm rather pleased with how they turned out. Here are just a few of my favorite shots:

A Story of a Rainy Day

2009-04-30T18:43:00.001-10:00

...We’ve had a lot of ‘em lately.

What is it about rain? Those calm, drizzly days that are either frightfully dreary or blessedly peaceful (depending on your perspective). Mist lurks on the edges of hills and distant clusters of trees. Droplets cling to the trembling petals of spring flowers. Leaves, leftovers from last fall, rest in puddles.

I watch my hallmates jump and splash, hearing the joy in their shrieks of laughter. We happen upon the surprise of an erupting fire hydrant… they require no persuasion to run through, screaming.

Eventually, their excitement carries them much farther than I with my bulky accessories can traverse, but no matter. I walk around the neighborhood of the Island alone, listening to waves lapping, wind wuthering (well, perhaps not quite), and the occasional car rumbling past. The drivers probably wonder at the odd girl with the huge camera meandering past their houses.

After a brief reunion with my hall girls, I find myself past Rodeheaver, as sprinkles of rain again begin to escape from the laden clouds. Now I’m glad I brought the umbrella. Miniscule droplets patter down.

Stray locks curl damply around my face.

The color green is so lush and vibrant under the clouds.

A sense of calm pervades the air. Or is it my mind that has been calmed?

(see post below for photos)

2009-04-30T18:36:00.000-10:00

Art... misfits, sketches, and randoms.

2009-04-25T04:50:00.004-10:00

Haven't posted much artwork for a while... I have several nice drawings from class but they're currently up on the display board, so that's that. In the mean time, here are some sketches or assignments that don't really fit anywhere, most of 'em are just for fun.

Got impressionistically inspired after looking at Mondrian's early works. Cezanne too.

Caitlin got tulips for her birthday. They drooped.

Sketch from a book on 40's fashion.

Looks like Queen Amidala, in my opinion.

The floating islands of Perelandra

(from C.S. Lewis's amazzzzzingness)

More Lewis. This time, from The Magician's Nephew.

This was an assignment for 2D Design. Turned out all right.

Photo is crummy, though.

The Ache

2009-04-19T18:06:00.020-10:00

Last week in chapel our speaker delved into the topics of masculinity and femininity. While his thoughts were stimulating (and controversial to some), what remained in my mind was a tangent he touched on a few times. Bear with me as I explore this new thing called writing (I know, what is this? I thought blogs were for art and photographs! Well, maybe I’m branching out. Maybe.).

We long for relationships. God created us to know and to be known, through friendships, family, and romance. We long for understanding, intimacy and unconditional commitment. Unfortunately, all too often relationships end up stale and unfulfilling. The ache never goes away.

Why?

We’re fallen. We won’t ever get it perfect, at least in this life. Since God Himself is the ultimate example of Personhood, we only fulfill the true meaning of personality as far as we imitate Him. The fact that we rebelled against Him has guaranteed struggle and hurt when we get close, and loneliness when we shield ourselves from others’ influence.

I often hinder the growth of relationships in my life by staying too quiet. I fear looking stupid and being rejected or ignored. I don’t want anyone to see my flaws or mistakes. What if I end up looking like an idiot? But when I avoid talking, when I encircle my mind with the barriers of silence and reserve, the result is no better. Invisibility. Utter solitude. I begin to think that no one can ever sympathize or offer guidance. I end up on my own.

Is this truly better than rejection? If I really examined my own heart and mind, I think I would conclude that risk is better than avoiding intimacy. Losing the race is preferable to not attempting it at all. How can we succeed unless we give it a shot? Not just once, but persistently.

Again, WHY? Why should we try, over and over again?

Because God created us for fellowship.

Because our sincere relationships honor Him.

Because they point us towards His plan and help us experience greater joy.

Because they prepare us for the uninhibited intimacy we will experience in Heaven, both with the triune God and with others.

Even the best of relationships leave us hungering for more. The ache comes hand in hand with the joy. But if we let it, the ache can remind us of our need for more.

How do we channel our ache into motivation?

By realizing that we should ache. We’re made for more than life, in its current state, can offer, and our longing for more testifies to it.
By remembering that only God can solve it. Other relationships can help, but only if He is first. We constantly pervert good things in an attempt to patch our holes, but it won’t work. Idolatry never got anyone anywhere (at least, no place we’d want to go).
By trusting the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses.
By never, ever, ever, ever, EVER giving up, even when we let God and others down. We fall so we can learn to pick ourselves up again.
Through prayer. Direct link to the best relationship advisor around. Sincere Bible study, too.
By putting others’ need above our own. If we dive into relationships seeking to fill our own aches, we’ll leave those we care about cold and end up hurting ourselves too.

The bottom line is that GOD DOES IT ALL. He created us. He made us personal. He is love, and He shares Himself with us. He saves us from our failures and messes in spite of everything we do to prevent Him. All we can do is submit to His grace.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.”

~1 John 4: 7-17

Hope I haven't rambled. At least not too much.

(Special thanks to Kent and Carla (I'm guessing on the spelling) Denlinger for getting my thoughts going. Also, credits go to C.S. Lewis, Winston Churchill, and Batman Begins for ideas or thinly-veiled quotations embedded in this post.)

Just Hangin'

2009-04-18T17:36:00.009-10:00

Walkin' in Michigan.

Daffy-down-dillies.

Wax Eyes show at the Bakafe.

Eating at Cerulean with John, Bear, and Emma. =)

Maintaining My Rebellious Nature

2009-04-06T13:49:00.005-10:00

Well, we thought Spring was on the way, but apparently we thought incorrectly... woke up this morning to snow on the ground! Weirdo weather.

I'm not letting this ridiculousness get me down. Today I wore a shirt that reminds me of home, and now I'm posting pictures of spring flowers (such that we have so far). Take that, winter!

Just some thoughts

2009-03-26T13:25:00.006-10:00

Today at our Spring Day of Worship (a three-hour chapel service we hold once each semester) a major theme centered around unity as the body of Christ. I felt very convicted since I so often find my heart is completely off from where it should be on this issue. I'm usually non-confrontational, so I don't often get into obvious tiffs with people, but I let things rankle on the inside quite a lot. Today served as a good reminder to live with an attitude of humility and servanthood towards others.

This requires dying to myself every day so that I can see others the same way Jesus Christ does.

As Philippians 2:3 puts it:

In humility

consider others

better than

yourselves.

Chicago

2009-03-20T15:49:00.006-10:00

Spring break trip to Chicago with Caitlin. Pure fun. =)

Outside the Art Institute.

At the Museum of Contemporary Photography. Neat place...

On the beach.

Beautiful Cait.

Justice Will Surely Come...

2009-03-08T13:16:00.004-10:00

Acting on AIDS is an awareness/fundraising group on campus to which I belong. We're presenting chapel this week. Tuesday and Wednesday feature speakers and musicians and a video about what Grace students can do to help the AIDS crisis. Thursday gives students various seminars from which to choose, from interviews with AIDS victims, to missionary speakers, to response rooms. These are the posters and flyers (designed by yours truly) promoting the week and giving the seminar information.

Swing!

2009-03-04T12:05:00.004-10:00

Grace recently put on a Big Band night featuring live music, dessert, and (of course!) swing dancing. My friends and I all had a complete blast! Swing dancing is officially one of my favorite things ever. It was also great to get all dolled up and simply enjoy the evening. Naturally, I brought my camera along; here are just a few of the shots we captured:

2009-02-13T18:53:00.004-10:00

Hello, blog. Nice to see you again. At last I have something of worth to add.

If anyone is interested, the Art Club blog has pictures up from the Plein Air Exhibit... there are pictures of my artwork and, if you watch the entire slideshow, pictures of myself and some friends at the reception. Check it out here.

And now on to the new stuff: recent artwork from classes and commissions.

Still life for Drawing II.

V-day drawing for Amber... glad you liked it dear. =)

2-D design assignment #1... always returning to my roots for inspiration.

That's it for now. Maybe I'll actually take my camera out and get some photography sessions in at some point during this month... dang cold weather (and yes I should have used it this week while it was warm; oh well).

2009-01-23T09:58:00.000-10:00

18x24 oil pastels

Plein air sketches.

2008-12-31T16:25:00.003-10:00

Some of the sketches I've produced so far while on break... more to come.

Red conte, 18x24 paper

charcoal, 9x12

"Maggie 2" red conte, 18x24

Drawing I

2008-12-17T14:13:00.002-10:00

My first semester of college is now over. Here are a very few selections from my work in Drawing I (my favorite class of course--Prof. Young I hope you're reading this, hehe).

just a sketch, but I liked it. we drew bottles for about two months.

exercise in two-point perspective.

fabric study.

final project. I really love how this turned out, and it reminds me of home.

The White Stuff

2008-12-01T13:50:00.005-10:00

I love snow. I really do.

While I was taking these pictures, someone actually asked me if I was a reporter. Hehe.

Random things

2008-11-19T14:02:00.004-10:00

Well dear viewers (all five of you), I apologize for the long delay. The past month has been crazy and fantastic, and I just kept putting off any updates. Here are a few photos spanning October and November.

Yes, it has snowed already! More snow pics to come.

Photos from the Wax Eyes show:

Twirling makes me joyful.

From the colors of Fall...

2008-10-09T17:08:00.005-10:00

Forgive my fascination with the changing colors of foliage and other various artifacts. I'm a newbie to this seasonal stuff.

Canada

2008-10-05T08:56:00.006-10:00

This weekend marked my first venture outside of the U.S. I traveled with 23 other Grace students, faculty and alumni to Stratford, Ontario for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. We saw excellent productions of Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew, and also had time for shopping, tours, eating, and more shopping. Quite the enjoyable weekend. =)

The results of ramblings...

2008-09-19T09:37:00.010-10:00

Inspired by lava rock altars...

Sometimes women make their own idols.

O lovely Westminster.

McClain Hall.

Post office: the campus pastime.

View from our window... there's a church across the street.

my bathroom is cool

2008-09-12T08:23:00.006-10:00

So, I have noticed lately that our bathroom

has this beautiful light which shines through the blinds.

It makes things glow. Like so:

Cool, no?

I want to draw this. I think I will.

My room is decorated now!

Believe it or not, I LOVE this poster.

Eating with cool people.

My roomie Caitlin. =)

Other cool peeps.

Before history class...

McClain Hall. With bikes.

College!

2008-09-04T11:40:00.007-10:00

So, here I am in Winona Lake, Indiana (for those of you going "huh?" I have relatives in IN so that's how I started looking at colleges here) at the lovely Grace College and Seminary. I do miss Hawai'i, but seriously, Indiana is really cool! Classes started this week and so far I'm enjoying them all quite a bit (and some of them quite a lot). =)

Here's just a little taste of the school and the lake village for y'all:

Summer.

2008-08-21T09:10:00.010-10:00

Is almost over.

Fun while it lasted.

Not sure when my brothers got so beastly.

New 300mm lens is great for catching shots of kids at the beach.

and birds.

The boys don't think I got enough pics of them. But I DID tell 'em not to go out so far...

First time Dad gets photo-d. Normally he has the camera.

Swap Meet

hey now! leave room for Jesus ;)

Aw, Kenj I'm gonna cry!! At least we have matching suitcases.

nick.

Ica. pretty.

wedding.

2008-07-28T11:47:00.012-10:00

Saturday afternoon was my cousin Michelle's beautiful wedding. I had lots of fun taking pictures =P

Sorry, they're not really in order, but enjoy!

The cake!

Leaving the ceremony sent off by bubbles.

More bubbles!

The couple with the bride's family (my family)

Cutting the cake!

First dance.

2008-07-25T22:09:00.000-10:00

I need Adobe Creative Suite . . . now.

NConvention

2008-06-14T23:21:00.004-10:00

Pure week of TeenPact goodness. What more to ask for?

new painting.

2008-03-18T16:46:00.002-10:00

"Multnomah Falls Bridge"

Oil on Canvas

24"x30"

October 2007-March 2008

I must admit I'm rather satisfied.

crazy stuff from last June

2008-03-06T15:52:00.002-10:00

Some neat artwork from Jessica's birthday party last june... seems like so long ago.

A little Christmas Art

2007-12-16T20:41:00.000-10:00

Just a little charcoal drawing transformed with the magic of Photoshop. =)

Thanksgiving pics

2007-12-01T22:16:00.000-10:00

A little belated, but here are a few pictures from Thanksgiving morning. our family traditionally watches the sunrise from Lanikai beach every year.

Halloween Pics!

2007-11-06T23:13:00.000-10:00

A little late, but here are some fun lil' pictures from our Halloween... oops, Harvest Happening night. =D

Miss Jessica, the loveliest tramp EVER. =)

At least the spaceship turned out all right.

"I say, wot's the Bri'ish flag look like?"

Sara, the gypsy/pirate something?

Fun fun fun.

He seems fierce, but if you look close you can see the pink paint.

2007-11-06T22:59:00.000-10:00

As many of you know, I have been taking an introductory black and white photography course at WCC this semester. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the class. Stay tuned for updates!

Home at last...

2007-10-18T11:03:00.000-10:00

But my trip was a blast.

It's Here!

2007-09-15T10:30:00.001-10:00

Congratulations to Jonathan Fant and all the Puffins (haha) on the release of your album!

The music is just gorgeous. Jonathan, you're an excellent musician/composer. Jessica, Sara, Julia and David, you all play and sing very very very well! Everything works together so nicely. And, thanks for letting me design the album art--I had so much fun and I loved being a part of the production. =)

Keep it up!!!

To hear the four songs from Jonathan's new album, just head over to myspace.com/jonathanfant and listen away. You'll be amazed, I promise.

and yet another...

2007-09-08T15:03:00.000-10:00

new art, woot.

2007-08-13T20:26:00.000-10:00

Well, I promised to post some new art pieces... here they are.

They don't look half so nice at this size and compression, but nevertheless here are four sets of artwork I have completed over the past month or so. All four original pieces are charcoal drawings, while their color counterparts are digitally altered scans. Enjoy!

Ironwood trees from family camp in a new setting.

Just a random drawing that I ended up liking. =)

Jessica, it's your rose!

Narnia-inspired dryad.

Jamba Juice and other things

2007-07-29T16:08:00.000-10:00

So I know that I haven't posted in a while... ah well c'est la vie. Anyway I thought maybe I should update since some new and improved things are happening in my life.

Firstly, I got a job! Woots to me. I am now working at Jamba Juice Kailua. The work is pretty fun and my fellow coworkers are usually pretty cool to hang out with. Most importantly, I am earning money!!! Macbook Pro, here I come! Well, maybe.

Rehearsals are also going quite well. The Pajama Game is quite the awesome play, I'm having lots of fun and making new friends to boot. We have now blocked every single scene, and opening day is less than a month away (Friday, August 24th)!

In other news, I have been drawing a lot lately, so I plan to post some new artwork soon. Here are some less recent pieces I have done to give you a preview:

Photoshop/hand drawn charcoal combo. April '07.

Charcoal abstract.

Add a little digital flair!

2007-06-30T17:11:00.000-10:00

Yeah, I know. Random.

I'm tired and bored.

2007-06-25T20:58:00.000-10:00

Yay! I made it! I am now officially "Janice" in "The Pajama Game"

woot. =)

Pajama Game!

2007-06-19T14:39:00.000-10:00

Pray for me! I'm auditioning for "The Pajama Game" at Paliku Theatre tonight!

Eeek, I'm excited. =)

Some watercolors

2007-06-19T11:21:00.000-10:00

Well I thought it was about time to post some more of my artwork on here. So here I'll feature a series of watercolors I did in March. Actually, I did all four of these in one day as gifts for some friends!

I don't really feel like writing much, so I guess they'll have to speak for themselves... enjoy. This first painting is Diamond Head viewed from Magic Island.

A Ginger plant in my yard...

Wave breaking in front of Rabbit Island.

Bougainvillea on a fence.

Read this author!

2007-06-11T11:53:00.000-10:00

P. G. Wodehouse is awesome.

"If not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled."

"The fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at the right or wrong end of the gun."

"It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them."

"At the age of eleven or thereabouts women acquire a poise and an ability to handle difficult situations which a man, if he is lucky, manages to achieve somewhere in the later seventies."

"Boyhood, like measles, is one of those complaints which a man should catch young and have done with, for when it comes in middle life it is apt to be serious."

"Has anybody ever seen a drama critic in the daytime? Of course not. They come out after dark, up to no good."

"To be a humorist, one must see the world out of focus."

2007-06-08T15:50:00.000-10:00

Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2:00 pm

Palikū Theatre at Windward Community College celebrates its 5th Anniversary with a “Spotlight on the Arts” musical revue directed by Ron Bright and featuring Broadway hits performed by his former students and cast-members. Featured singers include Jade Stice, Jodi Leong, John Bryan, Sonya Mendez, Michael Bright, Tricia Marciel, Johnson Enos, Christopher Lowe, Tony Young, Tiffany Thurston, Saralea Gamiao Kekuna, Tracy Yamamoto, Nataysha Echevarria and others.

Tickets are $50 for all

...so I don't expect many people I know to come to this, especially since I'm only in two numbers =). But I thought you'd all like to see a little more about this since it's what is happening in my life right now.

2007-05-31T15:29:00.000-10:00

For any of you TeenPact Alumni out there, go vote absentee tomorrow (June 1)!

Plugs: vote for our own Tyler Rits, from HI!

Also, I'm supporting Malachi Ege and Samantha Adams for the presidential team. So vote for them too. =)

2007-05-29T10:58:00.000-10:00

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Hope you enjoyed the long weekend. Special thanks to all of the members of our military, who have given their time, futures, and lives to protect our country and its values.

Been reading from A History of Graphic Design by Philip B. Meggs. It starts out with a detailed history of the development of the alphabet and gives extensive explanations of the development of calligraphy throughout the Middle Ages. It is amazing to observe the beautiful writings and illustrations of the monastic Bibles. I can't imagine the patience it took to write these things.

Something I found interesting is the almost cynical attitude the book had toward the Christians who created these Bibles, people who placed such important emphasis on the Scriptures. Though the author clearly appreciates the beauty of the artwork, he tends to present the subject matter of the works as childish, illogical, outdated.

Of course this was sometimes true, especially regarding the undue superstitions many people held during this time perioud. But the high repect for God's word held during the Middle Ages is a quality our time really needs to pick up on. If we spent half as much time reading the Bible as these scribes did copying it, our lives would be so much better off.

Well so much for my random thoughts of the day.

Stuff

2007-05-25T18:39:00.000-10:00

Well, I just completed the test for the last module in my Advanced Chemistry book. All that's left is the final, 'n then I can say HALLELUJAH!

I can't belive the school year is almost done. I'll be a senior next year. dang.

In other news: this morning I had the immense pleasure of visiting the company Info Grafik, a graphic design company founded by Oren Schlieman, a former high school classmate of my dad. It was very eye-opening and encouraging to see graphic design used in such a real way, and I greatly enjoyed meeting the company's employees and seeing them at work. Hopefully, I'll be able to go back to learn more, and perhaps even help out in order to learn by observation and experience.

My photo of the day

TJ and Timmy are in another surf contest tomorrow. Go boyz!

A quick note:

2007-05-23T07:48:00.000-10:00

This is my shout out to Sara, Jonathan, Kenji and David. I hope the worship night comes off beautifully tonight! And, of course, I hope you'll get lots of donations!!!

I'll be there to enjoy it. =)

Kickoff

2007-05-22T19:04:00.000-10:00

Well, I've decided to start a blog... mainly to share my artwork and photography, and just general thoughts about my life, what I see and read, people I meet. I've got nothing special to say right now, so here goes I suppose.

Some things from the past...

2007-05-22T10:04:00.000-10:00

This post features some art pieces I did several years ago. As a young child I always loved art, but not until my early teens did I begin to really realize my passion for this area. Now, as I am fairly certain that I will go into art as a career, I look back and see that I have been headed toward this goal, unconsciously, all along.

This first picture is an oil painting of Chinaman's Hat from some time in 2003, when I was either 12 or 13. I don't really like this painting any more, at least not on its own merits. The water looks unrealistic and I don't like the colors I used in the sand. I do think the perspective is good, however, and the rocks and grass are good. This work has value for me, however, because it was one of my first "really good" paintings. I had never had the patience to paint much before, and the experience of creating this piece showed me that I could indeed enjoy creating art. And, what's more... people liked it!

I love this turtle. =) The reflection is really fake-looking, but the turtle itself is beautiful. I should paint another one of these...

Anyway, this was the next painting I did after Chinaman's Hat above. I learned volumes about brush control and color choice in this painting, and I am still pleased with the results.

I don't have this painting with me because I gave it to my grandpa in Washington, so sadly I don't have a good copy of it. I don't regret giving it to him though, because I love giving my art away--it's one of the best parts of the whole artistic process! Though selling artwork isn't all that bad either...

This last painting hangs on our kitchen wall. It was supposed to be my mom's birthday present in 2003, but I didn't finish it until two years later, in December 2005. This was partly because I stopped taking regular art lessons and consequently did not work on it much at all for long stretches of time. In addition, I kepton adding more leaves to that darn tree... ughhh. It took forever and I still don't like how it looks!

The only part of this painting that I am satisfied with is the fruit bowl. I really like how that turned out. But the painting as a whole was a bit of a disappointment to me. I don't like the composition or the perspective.

Nevertheless it taught me very important lessons about planning ahead and doing studies before starting on a final piece. I regret rushing into this painting without structuring it beforehand. Next time Iuse such a large canvas, I'll map everything out much more carefully!

When looking back at my artwork, I appreciate where I've been, but I'm also very glad for what I know now, and what I'm learning every day. It's funny to me that now, although I have expanded to digital art and photography, I still love traditional media--perhaps I appreciate it even more! And, though I don't know for sure what I'll do with all this, I can't wait to see where God will take me with art.