It's crazy to think that 6 years have already flown by since I first moved onto the Xcel gymnastics team, let alone the fact that I've spent 15 years of my life as a gymnast. Tomorrow, August 6th, 2021, marks my last day as a gymnast on the team since I'm officially a college student. I've genuinely been dreading this day, but it's not the ending I expected...in an oddly good way. I know no one expected to spend the past year in a pandemic, and I definitely didn't think gym would shift so much in the following months, but here we are. Gymnastics has taught me more than I ever imagined it could, and my coaches (especially one of them) have become two of the people I'm closest with, words can't describe how grateful I am for everything. This 'ending' doesn't feel like an end, more so a closing to this chapter. Honestly, my love for the sport has only grown, and it feels like I'm finally figuring it all out. So, although my final practice as a team member is tomorrow, my journey is not over yet. "Goodbyes are the hardest part, and this ending has been something I’ve been dreading, although I know it’s time to let go. I’d like to say this isn’t a permanent goodbye to you or the sport, it’s more of a natural conclusion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done for me and managed to teach me in this short amount of time, I couldn’t have asked for anyone, or anything, better. Thank you most of all for helping me achieve my dreams and for helping me get to a point in which I can say I’m proud of my journey.
All that’s left to say is I care about you, I love you, and take care."
Another work created in Lockdown in Berlin. Drawn on a piece of drafting paper from an ingenieering student in Leipzig, 1923. Like the cellar it was found in, it expresses a longing to be outside. A longing to feel of use, a job to go to or someone to visit. It is confusion and patience drawn out thin and ready to snap at any moment.
As a teacher, I see the full range of work ethic and value choices. Tatum works while Melanie sleeps. I do not judge because everyone is fighting a battle. I provide a safe place for students to create and breathe and sleep and be. I create a non-judgmental space that often accomodates students and adults who feel free to voice thier opinions... which can often be judgmental. We are fighting battles and we are on our own journies of self awareness. Peace.
Kierkegaard said we undersand life by looking back, but we must live life forward. On a trip to the Chicago Art Institute with a group of students, I penned the students behind me and then I penned the rapidly moving images I saw through the front window of the bus . I still do not understand life except that perhaps it is full of energy and art and love.
Kuwei... He's so underrated. Can we stop hating on him for kissing Jesper for one second to appreciate how naughty and charming an act that was? Like, he just smirked. He was like, "Yup, I just got Wylan mad at you and mad at himself for that and mad at me! Isn't it funny? You're a good kisser." Like that scene- that was amazing. Kuwei is amazing. Anyway, this was a little doodle of Kuwei as a solemn inferni. Little did I know that he would be setting fire to forests in KoS lol! Yup, I liked the surprise of "pretend I'm Wylan to kiss Jesper and set forests on fire at Os Alta" Kuwei better than this pensive Little Palace student, but I drew it and it came out okay, so here it is.
I got to drop into an outdoor class with my beloved teacher from the studio. A space had finally opened up two weeks before everything in SF shut down again. Well, it was good to see her and my fellow students and be in that setting on a beautiful sunny day. I was also negotiating my next job salary and getting phone calls during class, so I wasn't entirely present. The class topic for the day was palm trees. This is in front of the De Young, another place I was so glad to have visited indoors on another afternoon before the latest lock down.
I haven't posted for awhile. The only thing I seem to be able to do right now, besides boring traditional student work (does anyone really want to see endless figure studies? I think not) is this weird graphic Journal. It may be the only thing I do for awhile here.
My first serious project - logo and mascot for Apapers.com service. Done in cold blue pallet. The main character - letter A is supposed to bring more life and a sense of adventure and curiosity to the serious service and give customers, especially students, a sense of empathy and general good spirit about Apapers
I'm really proud and content with this drawing and the outcome :) considering it took me 4 days to finish and I don't usually draw backgrounds.i finally gave Mevlon a simple yet suitable outfit that matches his personality,he's the only 15-year old office clerk at his acedemy which means he is a meticulous,stern workaholic who never goes to classes with 10th grade students (he usually doesn't leave his office only when it's break time or when's it's time to go home)He is very fond of Vance,he considers him his best friend but he dislikes Morrison and Sidney (Vance's friends)they both share a youthful appearance too mainly Mevlon with having a large head,large eyes and a small stature (4'8,Vance is 5'2) despite being teenagers.
I live in a very small town, and one of my students is transgender. Her courage despite her struggles has inspired me. The lyrics in the second image are actually from a song she has written.
I painted this illustration to publicly proclaim the biblical account of a six (literal) days creation by the Holy Trinity to be the true account of the origin of all things that have been, are now, and will exist. I believe the evolution theories have many holes in them and lack sound evidence to declare evolution as the true account of the origin of all matter. I believe schools should teach both theories, and let the student decide which is truth for themselves.
The three figures of light that are holding the hourglass represent the Trinity—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit—Who together created all things. The background of the painting is supposed to illustrate that the Trinity created all things from nothing. The hourglass is supposed to appear to be made of pure gold, representing a creation without corruption and decay, which would later be part of the curse the creation would be subjected to because of man’s sin.
The top and bottom bases of the hourglass have the icon of the moon and sun six times to represent the six days of creation.
The six spheres floating inside the hourglass represent the six (literal) days and what was created on each day. The first day, God separated the darkness from the light. This sphere is placed at the bottom of the hourglass because sand in an hourglass always flows down.
The second day, God separated the sky from the sea. This is represented in the sphere located at the bottom right of the hourglass.
The third day, God separated the land from the waters, represented in the top half of the sphere. The bottom part represents the plant life that was created on the same day.
The fourth day, God created outer space: every star and planet. God mentions the sun was created to light the earth by day and the moon to light the earth by night. This is represented in the sphere located at the top middle of the hourglass.
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The fifth day, God created the creatures of the air and the creatures of the water. This is represented in the sphere located in the top right of the hourglass.
The sixth day, God created both the land creatures and man. This sphere is located in the top left of the hourglass.
(October 28, 2017)
My drawings today from my sketchbook class, we were drawing cadavers. These are from the head and neck dissections of the donors. This is one of my favorite locations I take my students. It is humbling.
Ever had to fight with the ants for your chocos? It's past mid night and while I ate my chocos and stayed awake to study, the ants end up stealing my chocos. The battle gets worse when they decide to attack me. Cherry on top is my curly frizzy hair. R.I.P hair wash day.
When frustrated to the core and you wait for the one and only day, December the 14th,time goes slower than the usual and you can't do anything about it.
I was fortunate enough to to take my sketchbook class to observe medical students dissect donor cadavers. These donors gave there bodies to science to further our knowledge of the human anatomy and to train our future doctors. We worked alongside the med students and anatomy fellows. It was a humbling and fascinating experience.
One of the students from my lifedrawing class, I have a tendency to draw the other artists in the room and not the model. #drawing #lifedrawing #sketching #tonedpaper #lifemodels #prismacolor #prismacolorpencil #saddbackcollege #saddlebackarts #drawingfro
