MH Art & Design

new jewelry display etc.

2012-01-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

I thought, "oh, I'll just make a new display real quick." A couple of obsessive weeks later, I finally finished! I used recycled cardboard boxes, found eucalyptus branches, and target bags (the white flowers) to make this 18" wide box-tree thingy. :)

I've also been working on some new wooden earrings, which are hand cut, sanded, oiled, and assembled.

The different types of wood you see here are
Purpleheart, Paduak, Zebrawood, Wenge, and Yellowheart

Yellowheart wood with Bamboo beads

A few more of my favorite new items for sale at Make Good:

matte blue ceramic studs (hand-formed and glazed)

hand-made ceramic pomegranate pendant on an adjustable chain

ceramic artichoke pendant on an extra long chain

capybaras people!

2012-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Do you realize how awesome they are? Here's my progress on their portrait so far...

step 5: vector graphic (next up, the fabric collage)

step 4: drawing of the sculptures

step 3: photographs of finished sculptures

step 2: sculptures (unfired)

step 1: capybara study

Shalise the Scarab

2011-12-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

This portrait illustrates the life cycle of a scarab. I've named my beetle Shalise, which is an Egyptian name meaning "beautiful."

YAY ECODUNG!

To quote my friend Lee, "Dung Beetles lay their eggs in other animals' dung and make plant material. Yay, Ecodung!" I decided to go with the "eco" theme, using as many recycled fabrics as I could.

ABOUT THE SCARAB BEETLE

In addition to being an important part of our ecosystem, the scarab is a prominent figure in human history. This animal was considered sacred to ancient Egyptians, who believed in its connection to the sun god, Ra. The way a scarab would roll a ball of feces across the ground reminded the Egyptians of how the sun would "roll" across the sky each day.

IN CONCLUSION

The scarab is a creepy, crawly insect that rolls around balls of poop for a living, but I have to agree with the Egyptians. They deserve my reverence as a beautifully divine creature.

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

favorite projects from 2011 - thanks to you!

2011-12-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

This sunset fabric collage was commissioned by my dad. It's a smaller version of the original, which I made for our friends, Fausto and Janelle. Thank you so much for your support and inspiration!

sunset collage no. 2
16" x 16" / fabric and thread

Ah, the monster guys! I have to say, taking classes at SD City College has been one of the best decisions I've made as an artist. Each of these glaze test pieces has assumed its own personality, and to me, they represent the amazing array of kooky classmates I have come to love.

mini monster heads
clay and glaze

My pickiest and most gratifying client: Martian Horses. :) You push me to create things I could never imagine on my own, such as this "end of world scenario."

smoke and bugs
11" x 17" / paper and paint

One of the most difficult things for me, is to let go of aesthetic expectations and create something conceptual. Here is something I sculpted this summer which I'm personally proud of. I'm very lucky to have a wonderful teacher, Terri, who always encourages me to push my own boundaries.

Outrospection

6.5" x 6"x 5" / ceramic sculpture / 4 nesting pieces

scarabs coming along...

2011-12-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

OK, picking up a rythmn now — here's my progress on the next animal, the scarab beetle:

step 5: vector graphic (last step before the fabric collage!)

step 4: drawing of the sculpture

step 3: finished sculptures

step 2: unfired clay sculptures

step 1: study of the scarab beetle

Hopefully I'll be able to finish the fabric collage next week. I'll explain more about this peculiar creature in my next post with new pics. :)

Portrait of Mo the Mudskipper

2011-11-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

Ahh! I can't believe it's been 5 months since my last animal book portrait. :( I guess jewelry has kind of taken over my life — but, maybe that's just an excuse to break away from a project that's lost some of its novelty. In any case, I have finally finished the portrait of Mo here. Hope you like this funny guy!

Here are some pics of Mo's progression:

step 1: study of mudskipper

step 2: sculpture

step 3: glazed sculpture

step 4: drawing of the sculpture

step 5: vector graphic

ABOUT MUDSKIPPERS

Mudskippers are amphibious fish that use their pectoral fins to walk on land. They are quite active when out of water, feeding and squabbling over territory. They also like to show off to mates and rivals, leaping up to 2 feet into the air!

MUDSKIPPERS IN POPULAR CULTURE

Since the mudskipper is a walking fish, it is often used as a symbol of evolution. People have long been looking for a missing evolutionary link between ocean-living and land-living animals. (However, the lobe-finned fish is a more likely link than the mudskipper.)

The Japanese name for the mudskipper is mutsugoro. For centuries, this comical and apparently delicious fish has been a source of inspiration for the Japanese. For example, here is a beautiful piece by Fumiko Koga.

oh, and of course...

The main fabric of my mudskipper collage is a japanese-style wave print, referencing this cultural significance.

NEXT UP

I'll be doing a portrait of the scarab beetle (aka dung beetle.) I have finished the sculptures for this one already, so at least I have a little head start!

Thanks for tuning in!

Luther meets Mo Mudskipper and Bearolf

2011-11-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Mo the Mudskipper
3" x 7" x 4" / clay and glaze

Luther meets Mo

Bearolf
6" x 3" x2.5" / clay and glaze

Luther meets Bearolf

Call to Vote!

2011-10-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

I have created a couple of alternate versions for the text of my animal book. Now, I need to decide which content/mood is the most appealing!

It would be really helpful if you could take a few minutes to read these three versions and tell me which you like best. Any feedback is appreciated and welcome. Keep in mind, these still need editing. :)

Please click images to view larger versions.

Thank you for your help!

owl totem and more...

2011-10-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hello! I've been overwhelmed with new projects as of late ... finally carving out a little time to blog and share some things I've been working on. Hope you enjoy!

Owl Totem
all pieces stacked: 5.5" x 3.5" x 3.5" / glazed ceramics

paper landscapes
height of people is just under 1" / paper

This is a "secret" project. In a couple of months,
I should have a final product to show you. :)

And, last but not least...

Our etsy shop - Lola Me'shelle - is now open!
We also have a facebook page if you'd like to connect with us there.

Thank you!

Moonrise Painting

2011-09-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

I just finished this painting for some of our family friends, the Callahans.

Moonrise
30" x 40" / acrylics

Painting a landscape was a challenge, since I've mainly done portraits for the past few years. I tried to incorporate what I've learned from textiles, using pattern to create textures. Holga photography (which is popular right now) also influenced the color pallate. Of course, Van Gogh's work is my constant underlying inspiration — but that's probably pretty obvious here. :)

The landscape is inspired by the cliffs of my hometown, Palos Verdes, and the Cuyamaca Mountains here in San Diego. Cleveland sage, a native California plant, is in the foreground. I have some here in my studio for reference and aromatherapy!

By the way, sorry for the lapse in blogging. I've been working to market my book, which has been intimidating, but rewarding. That etsy shop is also still in the works, and I hope to have something to show for it by the end of the month. So, stay tuned!

Coral Earrings

2011-08-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy with my new beads! It's a little hard to show the color in these pictures, but they're a shimmery pinkish coral. I'm also really into all the leafy and vintage looking beadcaps. Oh my gosh, I'm having way too much fun with this whole jewelry thing :)

Czech firepolished glass beads and silver plated findings

citrine earrings

2011-08-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

I've opened the door to a world of sparklies, and I'm falling in...

citrine, smokey quartz, and glass beads

feather earrings

2011-08-03T12:31:00.001-07:00

I am officially obsessed with feathers! They are so beautiful and delicate, yet surprisingly strong. The colors are really amazing, especially when you see them glinting in the light.

rooster feathers with carved bone bead

rooster and pheasant feathers

with cute little bird beads (also carved bone)

My friend Toni and I are working feverishly to complete our jewelry collection, which will be available for purchase in our Etsy store. Our name is Lola Me'shelle. :)

We're hoping to get the store up and running very soon! Stay tuned...

arabic coffee experiment - episode 2

2011-06-22T18:23:00.001-07:00

I figured that scraping off the dried coffee grounds probably would have resulted in smudged stains. So, I soaked them in my bath.

here they are, face down in the tub

the results

more beautiful and interesting to me,
was the bottom of the tub after the water drained away

and this one's just for fun

(well, aren't they all!)

Here's the first episode of the arabic coffee experiment.

Leewana the Lizard

2011-06-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Frill-necked lizards live in northern Australia and New Guinea, so I gave my character an Aboriginal name (meaning "the wind.")

Meet Leewana!

This portrait shows Leewana flaring her frill. (She's frightened by the sight of you!) And, the sillouettes depict her running away to the safety of a tree.

I sort of disregarded the the last challenge, which was to make the background mysterious by veiling some of it. I just got so caught up in the curious behavior of the frilled lizard, and I wanted to portray that first and foremost.

lesson - sometimes you just gotta go with what grabs you
discovery - I like the combination of the close-up portrait with the "animation" of movement
challange - illustrate the life cycle of an animal

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Untitled with Windows

2011-06-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'd love to hear what it means to you!

summer so far

2011-06-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been two weeks since school ended. Here are a few projects I've been working on since.

Wolf Sphinx
clay (to be fired) / 3.5" x 4.5" x 6.5"

poster design for Martian Horses show
photo by Mr. Hekman (Andy)

necklace pendants (to be fired and glazed)

here is an example of a finished necklace
(I made this one last sememster)

logo for a personal trainer in Spain

arabic coffee experiment

2011-05-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

We went to Mama's yesterday for delicious Lebanese food, and Miguel ordered his obligatory Arabic coffee. That stuff is dangerously good!

Well, there was some sludge left over and we decided it would be cool to use it for some abstract artwork. It's so black and thick. It almost looks like oil slick...

Not sure what these will become once they're done. I'm planning to scrape it off once it dries, and hopefully it will leave some cool stains...

mmmmmm...

Frill-necked Lizard

2011-05-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

The frill-necked lizard (also known as a frilled lizard or frilled dragon) is so called because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. When threatened, the lizard opens its mouth and flares its frill to ward off predators. If this doesn't work, it flees on its hind legs to the saftey of a tree.

the vector graphic (step 4)

the drawing (step 3)

the sculpture (step 2)

the study (step 1)

I'm having some difficulty choosing colors, although I think I'm getting close. Stay tuned for pictures of the collage, coming up next...

Cardinal Collage

2011-05-23T09:43:00.001-07:00

Cardinal
fabric and thread / 16" x 20"

I really enjoyed making this one. Perfect choice for a nursery!

a few more sculptures

2011-05-20T20:27:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of pieces that I took home from class today:

Frilled Lizard
clay and glaze / 8" x 6" x 5"

Howling Bear
clay / 7" x 3" x 3"

I haven't decided if I want to glaze this one or not. If I do, I will probably use a matte white glaze.

a few sculptures

2011-05-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day of my ceramics class, and here are some fruits of my labor!

I made a bunch of these little heads to try different glazes.

each face is slightly different,
so they kinda remind me of the Chinese Terracotta Army

One of our assignments was to create a personal trophy, so I made this animal tree. I've been doing some research on the evolution of animals, and I chose four animals to represent a few ideas I've been learning.

Tree of Animals

clay and glaze / 8" x 8" x 6"

the rhino beetle represents insects,
which were some of the first animals on earth

the salamander represents the idea of
a fish developing into a land animal

the loris represents primates, the animal group to which we humans belong

the bat is a mammal that can fly,
which represents convergent evolution

Here are a couple more animals that I made this semester as well. I particularly like how the glazes turned out on these.

I learned so much this year in my sculpture and ceramics classes! I'm a little sad that there's no summer school, but I'll be keeping busy nonetheless. The sculpting must go on! =)

indignant fur seal

2011-05-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

This guy cracks me up! Someone in my class was kind of making me mad when I was working on this, and I think I channeled some of my feelings into his expression.

plus, I love his rolls...

"hrumph!"

gifts for nick and sam

2011-05-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Birds over Torrance
shadow box, vellum paper, wire, and map / 5.5" x 5.5"

I made this diorama for my nephew, Nicholas, who just turned 5! It includes a map of his neighborhood from a 1991 Thomas Guide. I marked his house, attached a few birds with some wire, and framed it in a shadow box. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and will definitely be buying more of these frames from IKEA.

Giraffe
paper and fabric / 5"x7"

I made this fabric collage for my niece, Samatha, who also just had a birthday and turned 3. Upon unwrapping it, I think she was a little disappointed that it wasn't Hello Kitty related. =P But, later she did say "I like giraffes," so that was encouraging!

life is good

2011-05-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things that make me happy...

I made this sculpture over the weekend,
inspired by a self-portrait of Francoise Gilot

I'm working on a reproduction of 'Cardinal'
for an expecting couple's nursery

The original art card of the cardinal is 5.5" x 7" and this repro will be 16" x 20". It's nice to be working on a simple composition since it allows me to focus on the textures more. Thanks to Morgan and Matt for commissioning this piece.

...and last but not least, dinner was a success!
Noodle soup, yum-yum. I was happy with how the broth turned out. =)

The Makittuq Family of Muskoxen

2011-05-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

This family of muskoxen is standing in defensive formation against a couple of prowling arctic wolves. Makittuq is the Inuit name for "arises, stands up."

The last challenge was to make the background mysterious. I'm happy enough with the results, but the atmosphere needs to be even more intriguing. Maybe if the wolves were more hidden, amidst the swirls of snow...

The snowflakes are cute. I've always loved buttons, and there are some white beads in there too. I congratulate myself for trying something new. =)

What can I do to intensify the scene though? Maybe I need to hide the characters a little — obstruct our view so the story isn't so obvious. After all, mystery is all about the unknown and the unclear, right?

lesson - the drawing is crucial. I should stop and critique at this point.
discovery - bead and button accents add depth and texture to the artwork
challenge - make the scene mysterious by veiling some of it

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Portrait of Laura & Tommy

2011-04-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Laura, Tommy, and I met in tang soo! class at UCSD. We don't punch eachother for fun anymore, but I was pretty excited to hear my ole fightin' buddies plan to get hitched this summer.

They asked me to paint this portrait for their wedding invitations.

follow the wedding news at
www.itsabouttimetommy.net

hoorah for musk oxen!

2011-04-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Both male and female musk oxen have long, curved horns, but only the males give off a strong stink, which is the origin of their name. It is believed that these creatures lived alongside the wolly mammoth during the Pleistocene period, so they've been around for a while!

When threatened by predadors, musk oxen instinctively form a protective circle around their young. I've depicted them in this formation with stalking wolves in the background.

the vector graphic (step 4)

the drawing (step 3)

the sculptures (step 2)

the study (step 1)

Slowly but surely, this book is coming along! As always, thanks for your support =)

Boxing Hares Collage

2011-03-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

I finally finished another portrait for my book!

Harold and Harriet the Hares

close up of Harold

it's spring time!

Hmm, I was hoping that the challenge to do a fighting or hunting scene would force me to do something darker. Alas, I cannot stop making cute things! Oh, well, maybe next time...

lesson - as with painting, avoid the use of black (I like how the dark purple turned out this time.)
discovery - working from maquettes works just as well as working from a larger sculpture
challenge - make the atmosphere mysterious

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

I've been doing a lot of research lately on the classification of animals, as well as the evolution of animals, and I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate those ideas into my book. It's fascinating stuff, and I'm discovering a lot of new animals. For example, did you know that there is a deer that has fangs?!

musk deer

harmony and love collages are done!

2011-03-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Guillermo, for your inspiring ideas!

18" by 42" wall hangings

The long and elegant Chinese scrolls make so much sense as a format for my work. I'd love to do more of these in the future.

Chinese character for harmony

moon phases

Chinese character for love

sun rays

I also enjoyed collaborating with my dad on this project...

original calligraphy by Simon Hui

thanks, daddy!

an update on the harmony and love collages

2011-03-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today I made some good progress on the fabric collages for Guillermo. I'm feeling pretty happy!

Here's what I've got so far

The pieces of fabric are all cut out and ready to be sewn together. Each collage will be 18" x 42". (To give you a quick idea of how big that is, I put a pencil in the upper-left corner of the photo.)

a little snip here, another snip there...

some slivers of moon

and rays of sun too!

Soon I'll be lost in the whir of my sewing machine, thread flying and neat little stiches tightening. Will send another update soon...

went for a fabric run today

2011-03-10T22:11:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a couple of fabric collages for my friend, Guillermo. I went to Joann's today and got these materials for them.

ooooh... I love them!

vector graphic designs

The blue one shows the Chinese character for "harmony" and the yellow, "love". Prominent sun and moon themes inspired the fabric selection.

sketch of Guillermo's room

Now the funnest part for me, cutting out shapes and sewing my days away. I'll share more pictures soon...

note: I'm having a love affair with radiohead again.

Boxing Hares

2011-03-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

I was pretty excited when I discovered that, in springtime, hares have frequent boxing matches!

Interestingly enough, the fighters are not typically both male. It's the female who usually starts hitting her suitor. This is either a signal that she isn't ready to mate or a way to test her mate's endurance.

Meet Harriet and Harold the Hares...

the vector graphic (step 4)

the drawing (step 3)

the sculptures (step 2)

the study (step 1)

Stay tuned for the collage!

just finished the sunset collage...

2011-02-22T17:21:00.001-08:00

Here it is in my office, awaiting its new home in Seattle.

The denim you see is from Andy's old jeans. he!

Good night!

it's the end of a rainy day...

2011-02-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

I made some progress on the sunset collage today... slow going but I think it will be satisfying when done.

The cloudy sky outside is lighting up my silky sun!

I don't know what I'd do without you, my beautiful German machine.

Sunset Fabric Collage Update

2011-02-16T21:07:00.001-08:00

I've been working on the sunset collage, and here's what it looks like at this point.

Some pieces are missing because I don't have all the right colors. I'm going to have to make a trip to the fabric store tomorrow... uh oh, Joann's has become a very dangerous place for me!

Here are some more pictures of how I got to this point.

picking colors, using my handy dandy fabric swatches

pretty piles of fabric =)

I cut the pieces out of paper first

then I cut the fabric using the paper shapes to guide me

pink and green! That's one of my favorite color combinations. hehe.

all the pieces for the water

That's it for my photo journal today!

Sunset Fabric Collage - Work in Progress

2011-02-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Janelle and Fausto for commissioning this fabric collage! I'm having so much fun with this one! Here's the vector graphic that I just finished. I'll use this as a pattern to cut out the fabric pieces.

Here are some pictures showing the steps I took to make the vector graphic.

reference photo I used

initial drawing from the reference photo

I drew some new plants (the first ones I drew just weren't doin' it for me.)

At 30 by 30 inches, this will be one of the biggest fabric collages I've done. I've always liked working on a large scale, and I'm excited to see how it turns out!

I'm also really enjoying the subject. It's rare for me to do landscapes, and it's actually pretty liberating! I'm allowing myself to have more of an abstract approach, focusing on the form and space rather than literally representing what's in the photo.

Yay! I label today a success! =)

Preita the Polar Bear

2011-02-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

Preita is such a pretty Finnish name. I just stumbled across it and thought it perfect for the portrait. It means "most loving one."

Polar bears roll in the snow to clean their fur...

down the hill she goes!

This pose was inspired by my cat, Luther.
He loves to roll around on his back...

detail of the trees in the background

I'm proud of this portrait because it includes movement, expression, and an interesting background. I feel that I've met a lot of previous challenges as well as the last one, which was to choose an animal based on an interesting behavior, and illustrate that behavior.

Discovery - drawing from a small sculpture, or maquette works well too
Lesson - look to other artists for inspiration (shout out to Charley Harper!)
Challenge - two animals fighting or one animal hunting another

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Polar Bear Portrait

2011-02-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

Polar bears typically roll around in the snow to clean their fur. Looks like fun, doesn't it!? Hope you enjoy these pics of my progress on the next portrait.

the study

the sculptures (just maquettes this time)

the drawing

the drawing with added background

the vector graphic

I also started on the fabric collage. Here are some pictures of my progress so far. I was particularly excited to use some recycled fabric in this one.

a skirt I found at the thrift store

trees in the background

loose peices ready to be sewn together

Poster for Martian Horses

2011-01-24T16:10:00.000-08:00

Martian Horses will be playing on Friday, February 4th!

please click to enlarge poster for show details

This was a really fun poster design. I busted out my exacto knife and did some serious paper cutting.

swirly smoke

teeny tiny bug parts!

two down, just a few more to go...

phew!

I painted the paper with acrylic paint
and wrote some of Jimmy's lyrics on top.

more bugs in the clouds of smoke...

Andy and I stamped the printed posters with the Martian Horses logo, and here they are drying.

Hope you can make it to the show. It's going to be a good one. =)

Kiwi Collage

2011-01-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

Introducing... Kai the Kiwi!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Kai the Kiwi

I almost gave up on this one, because I didn't like the drawing I initially did. I sat on it for months!

In a way, it was a good break from the book project, and I was able to focus on some other interesting artwork. I feel refreshed from the break and am excited to be back at it.

lesson - If I'm unhappy with a piece, sometimes it's best to take a step back and find a new approach.
discovery - white outlines on the animal is an interesting look that works well for night scenes!
challenge - choose an animal based on an interesting behavior, and illustrate that behavior.

In the end, I think it turned out to be my first successful night-time portrait! I feel good about meeting that challenge.

Happy New Desk!

2011-01-06T23:18:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like ringing in the new year with a visit to IKEA. Thanks to my new VIKA BYSKE. I now have enough table space in my studio to sew, draw, and much more!

I love my VIKA BYSKE

working on Kai

I also mounted samples of all my fabrics and organized them by color. It's already helping me choose better gradients for light and shadow in the portraits.

Happy New Year!

Change of Plan

2011-01-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

After much thought, I've decided to make some major changes with regards to my book. Due to some issues I was having, I will no longer be doing an alphabet book, but a trilogy of animal books. Each book will have 15-16 portraits (instead of the whopping 26.)

click to enlarge and read the details

The first book will be entitled Animals on Land which will include most of the portraits I've done so far:

Byron the Bullfrog
Fae the Fox
Ira the Ibex
Jamal the Jaguar
Kai the Kiwi
Lauren the Loris
Quinn the Quail

Talia the Turtle will be in the second book, entitled Animals under Water.

One of the main benefits of this decision is that each book and its respective exhibition will have a cohesive environment, which will hopefully draw the audience deeper into the atmospheres I create.

Another perk of this change is that I can now work on any animal that inspires me! I don't have to worry about what letter it's name starts with anymore. So, please do keep sending suggestions of your favorite animals. Pretty much anything goes!

After all three books are done, I may still put together an alphabet book. I'll even have the option of re-using some of the 45 animal characters that I will have already created.

I feel good about this new direction. Things are making more sense to me now, and I feel a new excitement about this project!

Kai the Kiwi

2011-01-03T15:11:00.001-08:00

After a long break, I'm finally back to work on my book. Here is my work so far on Kai the Kiwi. Hope you enjoy!

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

Animal Sculptures (set 1)

2010-12-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few characters for my alphabet book project. They're now complete with color, and I've found a special spot in our home for each one.

Keeping the picture of my mom company...

Byron the Bullfrog
5" x 3" x 3"

Overlooking the office/studio from atop the cabinets...

Fae the Fox
7" x 5.5" x 4"

Hanging out on the CD shelves...

Jamal the Jaguar
8.5" x 4" x 5"

Gazing up at the Christmas tree ornaments...

Lauren the Loris
4.5" x 5" x 5.5"

Perched in one of the bathroom cubbies...

Quinn the Quail
3" x 4.5" x 5"

I made Quinn a copper wire plume because the original clay one broke off during the firing. Sometimes a mistake can turn out to be a good thing... I quite like his new blingy headdress!

Well, I hope you enjoyed meeting my little friends! This is only the first 5 out of 26, so there will be many more to come...

Pillows

2010-12-09T16:57:00.000-08:00

I finished my first set of pillows today, which I plan to make available for sale on Etsy.

These designs were inspired by historic folk ornaments.

Guardian Lion
Folk ornament from Cambodia, 11th - 12th century
16" in diameter

detail of stiching

detail of fabric: beige dupioni silk, black cotton with gold pattern, black cotton on the back

Winged Sphinx
Folk ornament from Greece, ca. 600 B.C.
15" in diameter

detail of stitching

detail of fabric: light indigo cotton, mustard yellow weave, indigo cotton on the back

Minoan Octopus
Folk ornament from Crete and Greece, ca. 2000 B.C.
16" in diameter

detail of stitching

detail of fabric: pink flower sari silk, beige dupioni silk, grey/black weave on the back

If anyone knows more specific names for the fabrics I used, please let me know. I should probably pay more attention when I'm at the store! For example, I don't know what to call that mustard yellow one. There must be a name for that pretty weave...

I'll let you know once I set up an account on Etsy — it's something I've been meaning to do for a very long time. I'm making a promise to you and to myself that it will happen by early next week!

Sweet Lola

2010-12-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

I just finished this portrait of Lola, one of two dogs owned by my friend Toni.

Lola
18" x36"

I'm especially happy about this one, since I was able to incorporate various painting techniques that I've learned over the years. In the close up above, you can see the use of impasto, drips, and patterns.

The pattern in the sand is similar to the one I usually use for the hair on my sculptures, which you can see in the fox's tail above.

This is the original photo I used as a reference for the painting. Toni totally captured Lola's personality with this great shot! =)

Recent Paintings

2010-11-24T14:27:00.001-08:00

I've been devoting a lot of my time to painting recently, which is a nice change. Here are two portraits I just finished.

Calvin
Acrylic, 24" x 24"

Tracey
Acrylic, 16" x 20"

The Exhibition

2010-11-23T10:44:00.000-08:00

The reception for the exhibition went well! It was a great experience, and I'd love to do more installations in the future. I think I'll try and do some more 3D environments on a smaller scale for now. (Anyone remember making shoebox dioramas in elementary school?)

Here are a few pictures of other student works in the show. My self portait is in there too!

Gems of the Sea
by Joseph Burke

Flight of the Rabbits

2010-11-12T12:13:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a very exciting day! I set up my "Flight of the Rabbits" installation at SD City College, where I'm taking a sculpture class.

The reception for the show is Thursday, Nov. 18th from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. The Gallery will also be open Tues–Thurs, Nov 16–18 from 11am to 4pm.

San Diego City College
1313 Park Blvd.
T309 B Gallery

Hope you can come by to see this and other sculpture student work!

Flying Rabbit!

2010-11-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a project for my sculpture class which will include 3 of these flying rabbits. The wings are made out of Thomas Guide pages, bamboo skewers, wire, masking tape, and glue. The rabbit is made out of canvas material, buttons, and thread. Yay, flying bunnies!!

The rabbits will be displayed at the SD City College show room. (I can't remember the dates, but I'll update this post when I find out.) It's supposed to be a installation piece, which means I have to still think of a background. I'm thinking I might blow up images of Thomas Guide maps and paste them onto the walls. The theme is escape/travel/freedom.

a couple of cards for oma

2010-10-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is a traditional German Christmas star (we keep it up year round.)

Kiwi Bird

2010-10-13T21:15:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the BBC series "Life of Birds", and I realized that the kiwi is very strange and cute! (maquette and sculpture pictured above.)

Talia the Turtle

2010-09-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

Meet Talia the Turtle!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Yay! I'm excited about this one. Ain't she cute? =)

This portrait took 3.5 weeks to finish instead of 2, which I'm not so happy about. But, I feel that I was successful in two of the three challenges from last time.

Challenge #1: Vary the composition - Instead of having one solitary figure on the right hand side of the canvas, I created 3 figures which spread across the top area. (I was still able to leave enough white space on the bottom left where the book's text will go.)

Challenge #2: More active posture - Three consecutive figures show the downstroke and gliding motion of the turtle. This simple and energy efficient movement propels the animal through the water, allowing it to swim for long periods of time without coming up for air.

Challenge #3: Push the expression - I don't think Talia is particularly expressive… since the sculptures were a lot smaller for this portrait, there wasn't as much detail in the face to refer to. With some imagination though, she seems to be quite inquisitive. She's checkin' you out!

Lesson - it may take more time for something new, but growth and quality are worth the effort
Discovery - I have had a very narrow understanding of sculpture. I would not only like to do more hanging figures, but I would also like to explore different materials.
Challenge - a night time scene

Hope you like Talia! As always, I would love any feedback. =) Now, on to the next animal… I think I'm going to do a kiwi bird. Since it's nocturnal, it will be good for a night time scene.

T is for Turtle

2010-09-22T13:33:00.001-07:00

Here are some more images of my progress with the Turtle.

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

I did some more work on the sculpture since the last post. The turtles are now suspended from a branch I found and cleaned up. It was fun to get my hands on a whittling knife again! The mobile is now hanging in our room, and it creates a really nice atmosphere, I have to say. =)

The collage will most likely be done sometime next week, so watch for a new post then! Bye for now...

Turtle Sculpture

2010-09-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's been 2 weeks since my last post, and I finally have something new to show you!

I've been working on the sculpture for my next animal, which is a turtle. It's a sea turtle, to be more specific. As you can see, I've done something a little different this time, which is why it took a lot longer than the other sculptures. It's been a fun challange!

I suspended a series of five sea turtles, making a mobile which displays the movement of the animal. It didn't turn out to be quite as dynamic as I'd hoped, but I'm still pleased. I especially like how the reflections on the wall look when you hang it up. I think it's definitely the most decorative sculpture I've done so far, and I'm planning to replicate and sell the mobiles in the future.

So, the next step is the drawing, then the vector graphic, and lastly, the collage. I hope to get all this done by the end of next week, so check back soon!

Thanks for your support and have a great weekend =)

Jamal the Jaguar

2010-09-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well, the collage ended up looking much more male than female in my opinion, so I decided to choose a masculine name. Jamal means "beauty" and according to wikipedia, it could also mean "inner beauty, from the heart." I like that. =)

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Here are some pictures of the finished collage.

The people of the Maya revered the jaguar as a magnificent beast, and they incorporated the animal into their mythology. I placed Mayan ruins in the backdrop of this portrait to tell that history. I wanted to also depict nature itself as a powerful force, as the buildings are overgrown and the stones are eventually taken back to the earth.

Lesson - remember to talk about the work in order to sort out ideas and problems
Discovery - folklore and myth is a good place to start when researching an animal
Challenge - vary the composition, more active posture, push the expression (thanks to my dad for these suggestions!)

It seems like some of the previous challenges are resurfacing, the main one being the animal's pose. I think this is such a struggle because it's hard for me to make the sculpture in an active stance while still being stable. But, I have an idea!

I'm going to try and create a sculpture which will be suspended by a string or wire. That way, it won't have to balance on a flat surface. So, for example, a bird could be flying in the air, a frog could be in mid-leap, and sea creatures could glide through the water. This will open up a lot more oportunities for dynamic poses, and it will be a solution for animals that swim and fly.

I'd also eventually like to make a series of sculptures that depicts a movement (like the flapping of a birds wings) and string them all up as one artwork. It would be kind of like a mobile that one could hang as decoration.

Please keep suggestions and opinions coming! Your feedback is so helpful. =)

J is for Jaguar

2010-08-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

I keep going back and forth with the gender of this one, but I think I'm going to take my friend Marisa's advice and go with a unisex name. I like the name Jaden, but am open to changing it if anyone has any suggestions. =)

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

jaguar maquette

2010-08-19T11:28:00.001-07:00

I'll be doing a jaguar next, and here's the maquette. I think she's a lady, so let me know if you think of any good female "J" names. Thanks!

Byron the Bullfrog

2010-08-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

I finished the collage for Byron today...

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

The challage from last time was to make the animal's environment engaging so that it tells or begs a story. In this story, Byron is the hunter, and the moth is his prey. I think this is a good start, but it's still too commonplace. I need to think of the animal as a character in a fun and quirky story...

At 10 weeks in, I'm also finding that the novelty of this project has worn off. I might not feel very excited or confident about what I'm doing every day. I guess that's natural though.

Recap from this portrait:

Lesson - Inspiration is around the corner, so just keep working and stay positive
Discovery - Patterned fabrics can really affect the mood of the portrait
Challenge - Write a story for the animal before starting the sculpture

Thank you for all your suggestions so far. Please keep em' coming! They really do help me. =)

B is for Bullfrog

2010-08-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

What with getting all the designs and files ready for card printing, I've fallen a little behind with Byron, but I'm sure I'll catch up soon! Here's what I have so far:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

I'm not sure when I'll be finished with the collage, but I hope to make some good progress today. Hopefully I'll catch up on Monday, cuz I'm ready to relax this weekend! =)

Card Printing Time

2010-08-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the new card designs I've done in the last couple months. I'll have a new catalog to share with you all soon, now with a grand total of 30 designs!

Happy Friday!

2010-08-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am ohhhn track. Yesterday, I finished the sculpture of Byron the Bullfrog, and I'm doing the drawing today.

I even had time to write 2 letters and design a new card (will be going to print in a couple of weeks!)

Thanks for tuning in. =)

fun with organic material

2010-08-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

I picked some leaves and petals a few months ago and pressed them between the pages of a heavy book. When I retreived them yesterday, I was happy to see that the colors were still pretty vibrant. With more time, they might fade away, but that would only be natural.

It's fun to look at the shapes of the leaves and imagine something new from them. It makes sense that plants and animals would share similar forms. It touches on the idea that everything is connected, and that ultimately, we're all made from the same stuff.

Organic material is just so beautiful, and I would love to become more familiar with this medium. It's not as pliable as paint, or even fabric, so I don't think it's possible to ever fully harness it. Instead of designing something and using the material to execute, you have to let the material lend itself to a design. But, in that way, I think you end up having more of a partnership with the material. It's more limiting, but also more satisfying.

Lauren the Loris

2010-07-30T15:40:00.001-07:00

Here she is!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Recap from this portrait:

Lesson - just as in any portrait, facial expression can be very powerful
Discovery - new perspectives lead to greater transformations in each step of the process
Challenge - make the animal's environment engaging so that it tells or begs a story

Thanks for reading, and as always, suggestions for the next animal are much appreciated!

L is for Loris

2010-07-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, I think I've finally got the hang of this process. I now know how long each step takes, and I know that 2 weeks for each animal won't be a problem. I wasn't sure for a while there, but I've gained confidence this time around!

Here's the documentation of steps for Lauren the Loris:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

The whole point of the process is to transform and abstract the subject with each new medium. One key lesson I'm learning is the importance of new perspective.

Instead of sculpting the loris looking straight ahead, she's looking up. Instead of drawing the sculpture from the side, I looked down at it. And, this wasn't planned, but in the vector graphic, I think Lauren now looks as if she's hanging from the branches of a tree!

I'm excited, because I'm learning how to push the envelope a little more each time. This growth is partly dependent on planning, but it's also dependent on my willingness to let go and take chances. The latter is definitely a challenge for me.

Well, it's time to make this into a collage now. I'll post it up in a few days. =)

Ben Sollee and Joel P West (solo set)

2010-07-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some images of a poster I did for an upcoming music event with Ben Sollee and Joel P West. The event is hosted by Sezio, a non-profit artist organization here in San Diego.

Ben Sollee and Joel P West (solo set)
Wednesday, August 18th
Sushi Art - 390 11th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Doors @ 7:30pm - Music @ 8:00pm
Presale Tickets $8 - $10 @ Door

thanks, jimmy!

2010-07-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jimmy, for calling my attention to this awesome animal, the loris.

Here's the maquette. I usually don't show these rough drafts but I'm just so excited about it. I even know her name already (thanks to Andy.)

Meet Lauren the Loris!

Ira the Ibex

2010-07-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the collage for Ira the Ibex—just finished yesterday!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Call me crazy, but I keep thinking that Ira totally looks like Andy. I see similarities in the curves of his brow, the long bridge of his nose, the shy and kind eyes, and even the facial hair!

At least Andy doesn't seem to take too much offense to my idea. He's even learned the sounds that ibexes make. I'm sure he won't be embarrassed if you ask him to show you!

Ok. Now, things I have learned...

- each problem is an opportunity to learn more about the materials I'm using, so have patience
- felted material is so cool!
- don't be afraid to zoom in for a close up next time

Thanks so much for checking out this post, and a special thanks to you followers! Your feedback so far has been immensely encouraging. By the way, feel free to send me suggestions for other animals if you'd like. =)

Now on to the next animal!

I is for Ibex

2010-07-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

Introducing... Ira the Ibex. Here are some snapshots of the creative process:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

I had my doubts as to whether ole Ira would make it, especially through the sculpture stage. But, after a few breakdowns (literally on Ira's part, and emotionally on mine) I think he's going to be just fine. A dynamic pose is a challenge indeed!

I'll be working on the fabric collage, so look for it in my next post. =)

some new cards

2010-07-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

I just finished these designs...

This one for my friend Sarah who is getting married this Sunday. The Chinese symbol means "double happiness" and is a traditional wish for newly weds.

This one is a baby shower card that I did just for fun. =)

Fox Collage

2010-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some images of the fabric collage for Fae the Fox. Hope you enjoy!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Things I learned this time around:

- patterns are our friends
- it helps to determine the gender, name, and personality of the animal before doing the collage
- it's a challange to make the stance of the animal dynamic

Until next time!

F is for Fox

2010-07-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I've been creating "Fae the Fox." (By the way, I have also decided to name the quail Quinn.) Here are the steps I took to develop a pattern for the collage.

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

It's kind of funny — I think the sculpture turned out looking a little bit like our cat, Me'shell. I'm so familiar with my little companions, especially now that I spend most of my time with them. I must have subconsciously applied some of her characteristics to the sculpture, like the delicate ears and furry collar.

I'm happy that this happened, because I like the idea of combining characteristics of different animals. After visiting The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago last summer I've been intrigued by Mesopotamian art. One interesting figure is the Dragon of Marduk, with a scaly body, serpent's head, viper's horns, front feet of a feline, hind feet of a bird, and a scorpion's tail. Now that's pretty bad ass.

I just finished the fabric collage of Fae yesterday, and will show the pictures for that in the next post.

Golden Bear Collage

2010-06-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here is another fabric collage I just finished yesterday. It's for my friend, Steve Hilferty (also bass player in Martian Horses.) A big thanks goes out to him for commissioning this piece, depicting a Golden Bear. This proud (but unfortunately extinct) animal is UC Berkeley's mascot and is on the California state flag.

The material that makes up the lighter parts of the bear is a shiny gold sari fabric, and the green background is a piece of fabric that Andy got me from India. So, I guess there's more of an Indian spirit in this one than I realized.

This collage is also a lot bigger than those I'm doing for my book. This is 24" x 48" whereas the others are 12" x 24". It's a lot more difficult to work on a larger scale, but I do love how it opens up the palette to include busier textile designs.

Quail Collage

2010-06-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

I finished the first collage for my book this weekend. Yipee!

Lessons learned from this first piece:

- make sure the colors of the subject have the highest contrast with the background
- use thread colors that are different but analagous to the fabric colors
- get out of the house and talk to people during the day, or you'll drive Andy crazy!

Here is the work that I did for this collage:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

As always, any feedback or suggestions are welcome. Stay tuned for pictures of the next animal!

animal books!

2010-06-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a book of animal portraits and poetry called, Animals on Land. It will be the first in a trilogy of animal books:

Animals on Land
Animals under Water
Animals in Flight

You can download a short excerpt of the book here.

To view the portraits that I've completed so far, please click on the thumbnails below:

For each animal I have done a...

study of the animal

sculpture from the study

drawing of the sculpture

vector graphic of the drawing

and finally... a fabric collage

Thoughts behind the process:

I want my work to become something I could never imagine on my own. I want to give up my control over it, so that imperfections and variables can come in and abstract it. I've realized that each time I pull a subject in and out of a different physical space (whether 3D, 2D, or digital) it is translated in a way that I wouldn't expect. It loses realistic qualities and gains other qualities that might make you stop and look a little closer.

I'm officially a full-time artist

2010-06-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

Hoorah!

First things first — a new blog so I can share my current work with you. I hope you enjoy!