back to basics

Not sure why, but this blog title reminds me when I had actual TV and would watch Barefoot Contessa at that time of the day when I get bored, almost everyday. Anyways.

I'm certain I didn't get to talk about this guy yet, but I consider him one of the reasons why attending SVA is worthwhile for me. Because I know nothing about my own art, my other instructors told me, based on how and what I like to paint, I would benefit greatly from taking a technique class taught by a maestro of portrait painting.

I enjoyed this class so much. There is not one time when he speaks and I don't stick my nose into the business, and I leap out of my spot in excitement whenever he has a painting he made to show as examples on how to improve what we can do. It wasn't difficult but keeping up with the methodology is necessary. This is a early to mid-noon class but once you start, you don't stop and results can be surprising.
Unfortunately I have a children's book illustration class overlapping this class and because my career is steering more that way, priorities, priorities.

Well, here's a 90% portrait I did, done at the end of the semester.

I also have a full-body painting as well.  

**Careful, there's nudity beyond this point. 

I'll write that report

...but today is not that day. It was different but I haven't gone to a show I haven't had fun at.

I'm just going to drop this off here since I did pretty much finish it. 

Unfortunately my time-management remains poor so work from other classes are falling behind. I'm hoping it gets a lot better next semester, as I again... built my own hell when I picked my own classes.

I also have to say that I had yet another disappointing Halloween, like the last three years; it was all because of not surprisingly: school, and I would conveniently have the longest school day on Halloween, or a night class that I couldn't be out enjoying the night life.. I have 360-something days left to plan next year's but I'm just too bitter because I hoped it do Halloween one last time before I sell my soul to paying off student loans.

As the more uneventful my life gets, the more shows I'm inclined to throw money that I don't really have at. Which reminds me I already have two events planned for next year. That's something at least.

It's another painting!

Probably the last one I can squeeze in before class starts.... So soon ughhh ;A;

And no, I didn't get to anything that I was planning to do this summer, again orz ~ That must be what life is like when you're god-awful at multitasking like me and have actual jobs.

But I have to say this summer was quite nice. I got to meet some nice people at work and learned lots. I didn't go out much since I'm always either sleeping, working, or being lazy but when I had fun, I had fun. I have some things I really need to take care of though, like updating my ID at the DMV.... and making accessories for my Halloween costume.

But before that, the painting in progress.

I really love that nail polish while I loathe navy blues on clothes. I should remove it soon. 

It's called "Phallic" by Illamasqua.

Let's see how much I can get done before September rolls around...  Thinking about it, I actually HAVE improved my painting skills since freshman year at SVA, especially in painting technique.

Oh no, Ben Affleck is the new Batman.

Update time~ (slightly NSFW)

I have a few things to talk about but as art being a priority, I'll announce that I have finally finished my only painting I was working on since my summer break started.

I present to you, "Crimson."

Better than nothing, but I'm slightly upset at how darn slow I am. I currently have two other sketches done for (hopefully) future paintings. Unfortunately whether or not I'll get to finish them is another story.
I'm slightly nervous all my sketches for future paintings are starting to look the same, especially in the composition department. I was never good at dynamic angles but eh... =/

On a art-related note, a couple weeks ago I visited ye ol' Met Museum for Punk: From Chaos to Couture. I have some sketches but they're not that great compared to my McQueen's Savage Beauty ones from 2011. Of course I'll post them, along with a mini report.

And for not so art-related things: I like my current internship so far. I'm not being paid a much, but then again it's near impossible to find an internship that pays like a regular job. The perks: I have my own mini cubicle, I get to eat, I get to use the bathroom, I'm allowed to dress nice. Best of all, I don't deal with whiny kids. My computer has a functioning headphones jack, and my cubicle is by the window so I stay cool even though the AC is broken.

Want to know what I got from my first paying week?

I'm pumped to see them again! I was so certain I wouldn't see any concert before I started class but it was such a lovely surprise when I came across their Facebook announcement for their first headlining US tour. Can't wait~♪ Who knows, I might even join their contest to have dinner with the Wintersun guys...

So...If I was asked if I rather be doing this internship in the city or be working at the other place close to home, I pick the internship. My lady boss seems to like me so if I put this internship down on my resume, I'm hoping she'll agree to be my reference. So yes, I'll werk it.

So...

Despite the fact I get really depressed during the school year due to the stressful life of unchanging routine and deadlines, (Starting my second year of college tomorrow! Ack!) this drawing I just whipped up in Photoshop CS4 sums up how I feel right now....

My heart still beats really fast in anxiety!! I'm going to miss sleeping into the late noon, lounging at home, and snuggling for long periods of time with my cat.

I also thought I'd stick this in here, since it has been over one year since my grandfather passed away. I painted this portrait of him with my grandmother for this. I miss him very much. Rest in peace, grandpa. ♥

 

Artwork!

Golly, am I horrible at keeping up with this or what? I actually had things to post but I felt like they weren't sufficient enough to display. Now I got a bunch of things. I was going to post earlier but Hurricane Irene was the culprit to causing power to go out of my house for two nights. But enough babble.

Now that my first year of college has long been over and I'm starting a new year in less than a week, it's time to reflect.

So, I learned a lot in only eight months in my first year of big ol' scary college. I still don't believe I'm at this stage in life where I have a lot more choices, and the freedom to do things as a legal adult. Now it's up to me whether I am able to take what I learned and put it into good use. Even though I did learn a lot, I felt like I also slacked during the year, and while my grades are quite good, they could be better; or at least, be easier to achieve if I focused more. (So instead of cramming into the wee hours of the morning before a test, I would pay more attention in class so I'd have less to study later. Something like that.)

A lot of things have happened to me ever since last summer, and they're all realistic things that feel as if I'm being shaken violently from a deep sleep. I guess you can call it growin' up. I'm starting to not care or even have the energy to care for the fickle things I used to care so much about before. I can only hope I can keep this indifference up and pay more attention to what's really important and productive.

Recently, I made a little checklist for myself for personal works. It's pretty self-explanatory: I make the list and write down the progress, and check off whatever I'm finished. I think actually seeing what I missed and the desire to check off the works will encourage me to get them done sooner. The list isn't really small of course, but I'm happy to gotten something done. While I'm pretty sure I'll come up with more ideas faster than I can finish them, it doesn't hurt to be a bit more organized.

Speaking of getting things done, I remember when I first saw digital paintings when I was a young teen, I was so amazed, I thought it was something not everyone can do, and people who were able to do it had unparalleled talent that I could never get. I was stubborn and was actually afraid to try it myself, until this summer; where I tried and the results exceeded my expectations by light years. I'm still new so I'm a bit slow at it, but I'm also sure there's faster ways to paint, and soon I will find my own style and will do digital painting in general better.

Also, a new months back, I made a Twitter complimentary to my this blog. Unfortunately not many people I know will like both art and Twitter at the same time, so there aren't really any followers so far. So follow me @JenniferLdraws!
I've contemplated getting a Tumblr as well, as it seems that it's really popular and widely-used for casual and professional uses, I absolutely HATE how reblogging a picture allows a person to remove credit, destroy the context of the image and soon the artist becomes unknown, anonymous and uncredited and unrecognized. In this kind of career, an artist usually wants people to know their name... It's how they put food on the table after all.

But I digress! I've talked WAY too much for a professional website now. I leave you with the various artwork I've done throughout my first college year.