I've been wanting to post my recent work from Vision 21 ever since before the trip to Michigan.
But I did a few sketches while I was away. You'd think that I would have more sketches because I was traveling across the country and I got to see all kinds of things.
But not really :P
I couldn't bring myself to draw the same endless landscapes that would roll on by the car for 8 hours.
Even while I was on the plane to Michigan, I could only see about 5 or 6 people and draw them. But it was still fun and I've included them. I like how the guy who was reading the book had his toes latched on to the seat in front of him.
I have an instructor at Vision 21 who has been helping me a lot with taking the first steps of character animation and giving me a taste of what it's about. He has been assigning me small homework assignments such as: give emotion to a sausage, give emotion to a cat, etc. The sausage was definitely a challenge because I didn't want to use the little signs that indicated emotion. So I tried my best and it was really fun. I think I will name the sausage Antoine. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with more emotions for Antoine if I can think of more.
I also did a few drawings of a cat. The cat was also very fun and it's still a work in progress. I know I can think of more emotions!
I was told to keep the drawings very simple, which really works.
This portrait was done in my sketchbook with oil. I've never done figure painting before, so I would I would try my hand at a portrait. I used a girl from one of my magazines. I actually used the oil paint to kind of "scrub" in her features and such. I wanted a more rugged and dirty look. Perhaps it was because I was very into the zombie game that I was playing... (and still am)
:) I think I would like to experiment more with figure painting.
This is the painting that I've been working on at Vision 21. It's not quite done but I'm glad to see where it's going. I used oil paint on illustration board which was the worst mistake I've ever made :P
I wanted to try something different, but I forgot that the oil will get soaked up by the board. Bad bad idea...
That's why in the picture, some areas are shinier than others because of the multiple layers.
But, it's not so bad.
My instructor who has been guiding me through this painting also likes figure painting. His work is awesome and I wish I can share it on this blog, but he keeps all his work in his digital camera...
The arms on the person in the painting were painted with many small strokes and colors. This technique was taught to me by my instructor because that's his specialty, using a lot of complex colors to give form and texture to the figure. I really like the technique and would like to use it in my future paintings.
This is another figure drawing that I would like to finish. I didn't have enough time because I was using pastel pencil. I have a few unfinished works from Vision 21 that I hope I can finish.
I'm still experimenting with figure drawing by heading down a more abstract road.
Also, I wanted to introduce Daisy. Daisy is a Labrador who is very intelligent and fun. She belongs to my cousins. I included these pictures of Daisy because I hope that one day, I can capture the emotion and personality of dogs in character animation. Animals are so silly, but are inspiring :)
Ok, enough blahblah. I'll include more drawings next time, and some Chinese paintings too!
I would like to use this this blog to just spread out some thoughts and an overview of my spring semester, since it's about to end. My oil painting class is just great. Never in my life, would I have ever thought that I could paint like this. And maybe I do have a little knack for paint. I just didn't have the right instruction. I'm finishing up my final oil painting in class. It is based off a photograph that my instructor took. I have the photograph and my painting posted up next to each other. I'm satisfied with what I have. It's not quite done yet but it almost is. A lot of things are off but I'll just work with what I have.
It could be a lot better, but for my first semester of oil painting, I won't beat myself up :P
My generous boyfriend also bought me a new camera :) We're currently testing it out because it was advertised as a great camera... but it isn't quite living up to that description and we're wondering why.... hmm...
But I have some new drawings that I did at the portfolio prep program that I would like to post up. I'll get those when I figure out this mysterious camera.
I haven't posted for in a while because of my hectic dance schedule. Irvine Valley College had their spring dance concert during the second weekend of May and I was in 2 of the dances. And it was so much fun. I almost wish that it didn't end. It was my first time on stage too. It was just an unforgettable experience and I am so so happy that I had the opportunity to perform before I have to put dance away. I don't have rehearsals anymore, and my last dance class is next week. It's pretty sad because I've met some great dancers and most of us are going our own ways. And I would've loved to perform for IVC's fall dance concert.
It really is such a bittersweet moment. But at least I will be attending dance classes for the summer semester. And I will finally be taking a ballet class after 3 years of only jazz :P
shame on me... no wonder why I don't know how to properly use my strength to dance.
I guess some good things just have to end. There will be photos and even a dvd of the performance later on that will be available to purchase. And I would definitely love to post some pictures of the performances.
My secret wish is to somehow end up back at IVC again for dance classes and perform once more :)
After art school of course.
I'm really soaking in my last few months of dance and Irvine. I will miss this so much.
But life moves on and for the better. Next post will hopefully have more pictures!
I may be having a crummy drawing week, but I am most certainly having a great dance week.
For as long as I can remember, dance has always been just a hobby and something that I greatly admired.
And taking some dance classes here and there was my way of being involved with it.
It never got serious.
But here I am, dancing 12 hours per week now in preparation for the spring dance concert at Irvine Valley College. I was chosen to be in a work in progress, and wasn't going to be formally shown.
But soon after, I was asked to take the place of another girl in another piece.
A few days later, same thing happened. Today, I attended my first rehearsal for a modern piece. It's fast, it's challenging and it's fun :)
It's my first time being taught by a professional dancer. He is stern, strict and straightforward but does not hesitate to answer questions. I guess I'm really lucky that my jazz teacher saw something in me and recommended me to the choreographers who ended up with people dropping out.
I'm also really glad that I'm doing all that I can with dance before I enter art school.
I know that there are priorities in life, but dance is something that I never want to stop doing.
Anyways... I just had to document this day. It was really great :D
It's only Wednesday, but I couldn't help but notice that I'm having a very weird off week.
Yesterday was my life drawing class, and I wasn't feeling my gestures. I was excited about having life drawing
but I was drawing the model out of proportion.
I was making her legs too short, which I normally don't do.
And at the last session, I tried to do a quick portrait study, but it was terrible.
Usually I'm pretty confident about portrait studies... yesterday was a bit of struggle.
And I struggled in my oil painting class this morning too. We're finally painting a full color still life but from a photo. If all goes well, my painting will turn out something like this:
I was just not feeling this painting either today. I hope I snap out of it soon, I have drawings and paintings to finish!
But on the other note, I finally borrowed my parent's camera to take pictures of my recent work.
We finally finished our limited palette oil painting, and it turned out really well.
I noticed I forgot to fix the shape of the bottle :P But what I really liked about this painting was the drapery.
At first, I was just blocking in the drapery and kind of struggling with it. Then I decided that I would just finish it the next day. But when I came in the next class, I liked the way the drapery looked and I didn't touch it after all. That's always a nice feeling :)
Also, I've been wanting to post up my work from the portfolio program.
The first piece is a still life using graphite and is a work in progress. It's been taking a while but I'm liking the way it's turning out. I'm very comfortable with graphite but I've never done such an extensive still life before :P
I don't know why blogger decided to rotate the next 2 pictures...
but the next few drawings are also from the portfolio program.
I've been having a lot of fun with ballpoint pen.
The one above is a portrait study of the model. I think some of the color needs to be toned down a bit so her nostrils and face don't look like they're glowing. She's supposed to be hugging her knee, but I'll probably get rid of that because it doesn't really matter in the end, it might just end up looking like some strange body part.
The next two were done at a figure drawing workshop in Costa Mesa.
http://www.meetup.com/ocfiguredrawing/
It's a great workshop to go to if you're looking for a small group to draw with.
I've only gone once and we had a great model. It's Monday and Wednesday nights, $15 per session.
I would like to finish this piece, add some more shadow and whatnot.
At first I used green for the face. Which was a bad idea because it made her look like an evil sea queen.
It's a cool idea, but not what I'm going for in this drawing.
The next piece was done on a cut up grocery bag and different pieces of pastel.
I also need to tone down the color because the blue turned out really bright towards the bottom.
Which reminds me of Mystique from X-men...
And my teacher said maybe the glowing nipples aren't such a good idea
XD
Enough blabbering for now.. I need to rest or something.
I hope this weird drawing streak won't last for too long..
I have an instructor at Vision 21 who has been helping me a lot with taking the first steps of character animation and giving me a taste of what it's about. He has been assigning me small homework assignments such as: give emotion to a sausage, give emotion to a cat, etc. The sausage was definitely a challenge because I didn't want to use the little signs that indicated emotion. So I tried my best and it was really fun. I think I will name the sausage Antoine. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with more emotions for Antoine if I can think of more.
This portrait was done in my sketchbook with oil. I've never done figure painting before, so I would I would try my hand at a portrait. I used a girl from one of my magazines. I actually used the oil paint to kind of "scrub" in her features and such. I wanted a more rugged and dirty look. Perhaps it was because I was very into the zombie game that I was playing... (and still am)
This is the painting that I've been working on at Vision 21. It's not quite done but I'm glad to see where it's going. I used oil paint on illustration board which was the worst mistake I've ever made :P
Also, I wanted to introduce Daisy. Daisy is a Labrador who is very intelligent and fun. She belongs to my cousins. I included these pictures of Daisy because I hope that one day, I can capture the emotion and personality of dogs in character animation. Animals are so silly, but are inspiring :)
