Farewell, Spring

Well, the semester officially ended last week and I have now entered a season of mild mourning. Really?? Really... Well, kinda. This was a pretty transformative semester for me academically and I was sorry to see it end. But summer semester starts next week so we'll dry our eyes (dab, dab) and try not to lose momentum.

One memorable experience that I've been teasing you with for the last few entries is the Student Art Showcase. I will share briefly and then never speak of it again - promise!

...as documented on my phone.

Center of Arts & Media

As I mentioned in a previous post, two of my pieces were accepted into the show. Which was good news. Then on the day of the open house I received an email saying “Congrats! If you’re receiving this email, you’ve won an award in the 2015 SLCC Student Art Showcase.” Which was better-late-than-never news. I notified all interested parties (namely the parents and my grandmother) and rushed home from work to get ready. I was a messy jumble of excitement, nerves, and mild irritation - this girl does not like feeling rushed.

250 pieces were featured in the show and roughly 25 awards were handed out including honorable mentions, awards of merit, awards of excellence, etc. I couldn't help but envy some of the pieces I saw, but I was also feeling pretty okay with my own work. Wasn't I? Yes, I was... I think... 

Honest Abe secured me an honorable mention and a gift card to Blick Art Supply - not too shabby for my first show. He remained on display at the college until I finally had to pick him up last Friday and bring him home. He's now waiting for a more permanent home somewhere on my bedroom wall - a wall that I haven't had the courage to pound any nails into since finishing my bedroom remodel. Another post for another day...

In the Eccles Gallery...

Pretty sure I overdressed for the occasion. 
One day I WILL be hip enough for the art scene, I swear.

So, there you have it. Not one more mention of the showcase from this day forward. Not unless I enter next year's show and have anything worth posting. 

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

So I'm posting about school again. Sorry?

With some persuading from an instructor and a couple classmates, I submitted a few pieces to the SLCC Student Art Show. It covers all types of media, from fine art to digital, so what will ultimately end up in the show is anyone's guess. The criteria was limited to "Submissions are due by 11:59 on Wednesday, March 29th." No mention of how many pieces will be picked overall, let alone for each category. I'm supposed to find out before April 2nd which of my pieces are "Juried In" (green thumbs up) and which are "Juried Out" (red thumbs down). Brutal...

A few people have asked to see my work, so I'll show you what I submitted for the show as well as a couple others I like. Hopefully there's something in here the judges will raise a thumb to. I am still learning. If anything, just appreciate the fact that I've come a long way and that paintings don't photograph very well, okay? Okay.

At the Breakfast Table, Oil painting, Study in light to shadow relationships

Lauren's Hand, 29 Years I, Oil Painting, Study in light to shadow relationships

Lauren's Hand, 29 Years II, Oil Painting, Limited palette/time

The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up, Oil Painting, Tonalist

Long Day, Oil, Limited palette/time

Honest Abe, Graphite

It's a Color Match After All, Color matching assignment using cut out paint swatches
(This assignment got the Mary Blair treatment.)