Destiny Millie and Nadia Tillie have launched a tutu's and tee's business. Well, not exactly, but they are plotting and scheming on one. I over heard them talking about how much they love rocking baby tee's and tutu's. Then one of them had the great idea to put the two together. The next thing I knew, they pulled out the sewing machine and their sketch books! They came up with two awesome designs that they call "Turtle Dee" and "Turtle Dove".
They didn't just sew their own tee shirts, oh no, they hand sewed felt appliques on their tee's of a sassy little turtle and a cute little turtle dove. After a couple of days of brainstorming and elbow grease, these girls pulled off the cutest little looks. They are so fashion savvy.
They are modeling around the house and begging me to open them an etsy store so they can start their own business. Slow down girls! You need to make more merchandise first!
They would not leave me alone until I promised to let everyone know to stay on the look out for their tutu's and tee's clothing line! Do me a favor and send them a shout out so they know you've got their back.
Okay, I've been working hard, I promise. I've been in a zone. However, I've been slow documenting the process and blogging about it so I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Over the next few days, I'm going to catch you up with the wonderful projects that I have been working on in no particular order. In keeping with the waiting theme, I'd like to show you my latest painting that I've been working on. It's called "Lady In Waiting". This is just the under painting so far, done in oils on wood.
I took this picture outside and the sun rays hit it so beautifully, I am thinking about keeping them in the final painting. It's as if God is smiling on her.
The idea started with this sketch that I did of a pic I found on line of this young woman with these beautiful long, thick, flat locs. I can't wait till my hair grows this long.
Day One
After I finished drawing her, she looked like she was waiting for someone so I started calling her the "lady in waiting" while I was finishing up the sketch. After I finished drawing, I started to think about that phrase "lady in waiting" and it turned into a word study. I wanted to know what it really meant. In my research I found this poem by John Milton and realized what the term really meant to me and wanted to capture that feeling visually.
On His Blindness
When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."
John Milton
I can relate to the sense of frustration in Milton's poem. He was this talented man that had gone blind and had to get his daughters to dictate his poems for him because of his impediment. I feel like I have so much that I want to do with the gifts that I've been given, and it's hard to wait patiently for the moment when my dreams come into fruition, sometimes I feel useless because of my circumstances. However, I know that God has a purpose for me, that I am His vessel, and that in His time, that purpose will be revealed to me and the world. Until then, I just have to trust that He knows what He's doing and try to be patient until He finishes His masterpiece.
So I'm painting the "Lady In Waiting". Although uncomfortable with her position, she still anticipates that what ever it is that she's waiting for is right around the corner. She's determined and has been waiting a long time, so long that she's grown roots as vines flourish around her. She's cried rivers and collected tears that rush through her and feed her desires, reminding her that she is alive and thriving. She rests in knowing where her help and strength comes from.
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Yes, someone is waiting behind that water fall. Where do you think all those tears came from?
I tend to fall in love with my paintings after I finish the under painting, and am often hesitant to carry on with the over painting, so I'm gonna have to really push myself to figure out the color scheme and get it right. I have one more drawn element that I want to add to the piece before I start working on the finished painting, but that's a surprise. So the next time you see her, she'll be finished. I'm going to try my best not to let so much time go by in between blogs, but thanks for waiting patiently.
My art buddy Lauren Brevner made this beautiful necklace she called "Peepers" that I can't get it out my head. It's so me, and I want it so bad, I just had to make one of my own until I can buy hers! I used a small wooden disc, paper jewelry cord, a few wooden beads, graphite, a little color pencil, and a little gouache. I think she looks like she's looking through a large peephole. It's true what they say, eyes are the "peephole" to the soul. Thanks Lauren for the inspiration!
(Forgive me in advance for the rant, but I have to get a few things off of my chest and it ain't gonna be pretty!)
The stress of work must be really getting to me. Yesterday on my way to work I came up with a brilliant and slightly twisted idea to create a comic featuring my students to hand out to everyone as a parting gift on Friday, my last day of work. (insert happy dance here) I wanna go out with a bang by showing the students who tried to learn something from me, my apprecation, as well as show the 5 students that gave me so much hell that I am seriously thinking about never teaching kids again, just what I feel about them and their shenanigans.
Well I didn't think I'd have time to pull it off by Friday but I was so driven to take this stance that I stayed up all night long, drew and inked a 5 paged comic with a cover! The story is awesome and I will be getting the last word in a very "EPIC" way! And now more than ever I am convinced that I can do anything that I put my my mind too. I'd like to present, "The Flunky Five's Epic Fail".
The Flunky Five are the 5 students who will be failing my class because they don't do anything in class but cause problems. That makes them flunkies, yeah I said it! They have funky attitudes all the time and it stinks so I made sure to draw flies flying around them. They are evil little monsters with horns and tornado bodies because they reek havoc everywhere they go. They spread so much negativity around that they make everyone miserable. They are selfish and don't care about anybody or anything, I am so sick of them! And I'm not the only one!
In the story, my supportive and positive students develop a plan to maintain peace in the classroom so that we can have a healthy work environment. By the end, we all realize that the world is a much brighter place without haters and trouble makers!
Although I am tired, making this comic was extremely therapeutic as art making should be. I feel so much better and I can't wait to hand out copies to all the students so that I can put those little terrors on blast! That's exactly what they get for making my life hell. I've said it before and I will say it again, "Karma is a bitch with a pencil!"
So I've finally gotten myself together to do a feature post where I give you a peek into what fuels my inspiration. There are ten categories that I have come up with that are arranged in 15 different places on my motivation map, and each place is near and dear to my heart. I'd like to do this every Tuesday, but I'm not gonna promise that I will be able up to keep that schedule, we shall see. I've fallen into the Pinterest addiction, so that should help!
1) The River of Chaos:
There's nothing that represents the miracle of motherhood like a gorgeous belly bump. It's not comfortable at all, but you can't help but to fall in love with the notion that God made woman able to carry a little life inside her. I'd love to paint some baby bellies in the future and I'm mad I didn't have mine painted!
2) The Upper Room:
You know, I could look at trees all day. They are so majestic and are my greatest muse...since we're on the subject of giving life, love birth's life.
3) The Dollhouse:
This beautiful bjd by Twigling reminds me of who I really am and the cloth that I am cut from. I am a queen. Strong, fierce, and fly. And don't you forget it!
4) The Road to Awe:
My journal page inspired by today's photo booth picture, "The Road to Awe" by artist Keit.
5) The Book Nook:
The God Machine by Chandra Free is my favorite graphic novel right now. I'm so inspired by her fluid illustrations. It's an interesting story line too, I can't wait to read Book 2.
another illustration from The God Machine
6) The Gallery:
I can not get this illustration out of my head. It's inspired by the movie "The Fountain" and the artist does an impeccable job depicting the quote from the movie. Click on the pic and go read the breakdown of this piece at VidhiD's deviant art page. Now that's my kind of illustration....
7) The Fitting Room:
I've been thinking about doing some entertaining. I'd love to invite some folks over for a wine tasting. So I've been scoping out the perfect look for the occasion. It's comfortable, but so grown and sexy.
I need this jumpsuit and the chunky jewelry!
I'd rock these!
8) The Spirit House:
I wish I could live in a tree house. I'm imagining myself here, sipping wine, with no bugs in sight. Oh to dream . . .
9) The Inner Sanctum
I haven't slept much over the last few days, maybe that's why I'm obsessed with beds right now . . . I want this one!
10) The Brewery:
The Sweat Shop: I could so sew this! I need one for color pencils, pens, pencils, etc!
The Photo Booth: I love this picture. It inspired my journal entry. I try to imagine being behind the camera in this place. This artist is the bomb! Click on the photo and check her out.
The Bistro: These will be served at my wine tasting...
The Ball Room: Where are all the black swans? I know they're out there somewhere.
The Travel Bureau: Stamp my passport! Greece, here I come!
The Sound Booth: Finally! I can't get the haunting images that came up when I googled, "The Road to Awe". It made me think about the powerful message from the movie, "The Fountain" and the beautiful quote: "They planted a seed over his grave. The seed became a tree. Moses said his father became a part of that tree. He grew into the wood, into the bloom. And when a sparrow ate the tree's fruit, his father flew with the birds. He said... death was his father's road to awe."- The Fountain (2006).
The artist Keit has captured the essence of the Road to Awe so well that I had to create an image inspired by the beautiful colors and juxtaposition of her photograph. I created the journal piece to the "The Fountain" soundtrack, an extremely moving piece of music. Have a listen and enjoy your own road to awe.
