Wednesday Wisdom: Be who You say

Be Who You Say...

Steampunk Series

My second online
e-course is about to go live. Today at midnight in fact.
To say I'm nervous, excited, thrilled, inspired and just plain happy would be an under-statement. This class has made me think beyond myself and embrace a bit of the daring artist inside. Steampunk isn't for everyone. In fact, most people don't even know what Steampunk is. If you can just imagine the melding of the Victorian Era and the Industrial Age, you have it made. Think soft but tattered, mechanical but intriguing, perfection to me. I was able to use my architectural rendering side to come up with wild and strange pieces that just make me happy. It added a quirky twist to my work that even I didn't know existed. I loved the challenge of finding what kind of items I could add that would give me the machine side of steampunk. Believe when I say, it was not what I expected. There are washers, gears, nuts, zippers, beads, charms, nails, clock parts and optical lenses, where else can that seem normal, right? Loved the challenge of making everyday items work in a piece of art.

So, have I convinced you yet to join the class? There is still time but know the hands are moving quickly, we start at midnight...
If you want to check it out you can find more information here http://kellyhoernig.webs.com/ecourses.htm

The Steampunk Aviator

I have been enchanted with the whole steampunk movement mostly because of the combination of insects and mechanical parts like gears. With owls being such a huge trend right now I thought I would try my hand at making it into my version of a mixed media canvas with various texture and many layers of random techniques. I know he needs a lot of love but I'm so pleased with the way he turned out. Actually he is pretty close to what I envisioned in my head - I know, you are sooo glad you aren't trapped in there, right? He looks adventurous and rough from a night of flying, the only addition I will make, a rolled up document to stick inside the cage as if he was delivering an important message somewhere. Hope you take flight with your next project, whatever it may be and wherever it may take you!

Elongated Elegance

I just had to share this wonderful photo of the little tiny violets that pop up all over our yard in the springtime. I loved the color combination and the exquisite sunlight, couldn't ask for a better photo opportunity. Of course you know I was drawn in by the interesting shadows by the top violet. Not only do they catch my attention but it would be a center of interest for my rendering as well. It would be quite a challenge to pull off with such a vertical design but I have some tricks up my sleeves. First and most importantly, the brightest and darkest values need to be up there to bring your eye to that spot. It should also have more intense coloration than the bottom of the design. Notice how the lower section is still interesting but it doesn't make you want to stay there because all that bright goodness is calling your name. The only thing I would probably change is make the bottom violet a whole one. I don't like it being cut off so violently. It would also frame that beautifully heart shaped leaf and be more pleasing to the eye. I would position it a little askew but make it so your eye would travel right up that long stem to bring you back to the main subject. Will you see this later? Oh yeah! But as always which medium to use - colored pencil or acrylics?

Perfection

This little bit of perfection just happened to be blooming as I went by with my camera. It's small but oh so lovely, don't you agree? The color is just awesome and notice how it gets more intense and vibrant towards the center. I also love the color of the leaves since it is khaki green that I am drawn to. I'm sure this will end up in my colored pencil designs since the center is so perfectly swirled.

Shadow and Light

Another glorious view enhanced by the dancing light on the flowers. I find the values exciting and they do create a certain mood, wouldn't you agree? I cropped the buckeye to the left to showcase the individual blossoms and the detail that is revealed in them. It adds to the mood and creates an alluring moment in time for me as an artist. I can see this in color pencil rendered 20x16 so that it captures the intensity I feel for the subject. I hope you stand still long enough to appreciate the wonderment nature has created for you.

Flowers Theme

To finish off this weeks word gutsy I looked up the meaning of determination and found the exact definition I wanted: firm or fixed purpose. This ties in perfectly with the painted piece shown. I was given the wood piece and theme of "flowers" for this design challenge from SDP. Since I knew others would design with flowers, I was determined to do the piece without putting a flower on it. So the percolation process began with exploring water, earth, seeds and the garden. With those elements in mind, the piece is framed by brown earth, the main section painted the color of water with drops intermittently sprinkled around, seeds and pods represent flowers future and past, the butterfly is natures pollinator, the article references the gardens possibilities, the color swatch and shears the potting shed. By the way, it was the only piece to not include a flower out of more than 20 designers. So you see, thinking outside the box will make you stand out among all the roses.

Strike a Pose

The Thesaurus words for "gutsy" were quite interesting - courageous, gallant, indomitable, intrepid, mettlesome, plucky, spirited, spunky, infernal, valiant.

I picked this photo after seeing the words plucky and spirited. Doesn't this little dragon gecko fit the titles? I couldn't resist his charm or great pose - Madonna would be so proud (Vogue)!

So what do you do in your artistic life that is gutsy?
I try to think waayyyy outside the box and do things unexpected but it takes a lot of percolation of my creative juices. The idea can sit there for weeks sometimes just waiting to come forward. I don't give up because I know it will eventually get here. Of course, a deadline is a sure way to get the juices flowing and usually in a great big hurry. Do you also know that you should do at least 10 idea sketches because usually the first one is the weakest. Believe me, it is almost always true. Take chances, the risk will outweigh the outcome every time!

Word - Gutsy

The word for this week is gutsy.

Its adjective meaning: marked by courage and determination.

I picked this word for many reasons this week but mostly because of the Olympians. I cannot believe their utter determination to be the best at their sport, their resilience to injuries and sheer commitment and love of what they are doing. I am not a sport lover but I always become consumed by the Olympics, summer or winter. Good luck to all the Olympians, may they all have good, clean matches!

I picked this photo for the word gutsy because it was extremely windy on this day and we spotted this amazing photo opportunity outside our bedroom window. Courage, determination - you bet!