artist inspo

Waking Up at Dawn

October 22, 2018 in Artist Diary, Studio

So I’ve been starting something new in my life: waking up at dawn, which, if you’ve known me for any amount of time in real life, you’ll know this is kind of insane for me considering what a night owl I have been for most of my life.

I started getting up around 7 - 8 the last few years, which I’ve really enjoyed (especially being in sunny Hawaii), but lately I’ve become inspired to start waking with the sun with no alarm clock. This requires me to be in my bed by about 10:15, with a few minutes for reading and then lights out.

This is the first time since I was a preteen that I’ve had such an early bedtime, yet it’s been the best few weeks! I feel like I’m getting an entire extra day every day! I wake up and am instantly inspired and ready to be productive and creative. The feeling of looking at the clock at 7:30 AM and already having your workout, breakfast, and shower finished really puts you in the mindset that “there is no way today can’t be a success!”

Who else chooses to get up with the sun? Are there any especially delightful morning habits that you have? Leave me a note in the comments!

originally published October 22, 2018

Jump Start Those 2018 Goals!

December 30, 2017 in Artist Diary, Inspiration, Me as Muse

Aloha, my ambitious and hard-working compatriots! I'm sure you are as ready to get a jump on 2018 as I am! I was actually just working on a random project in my studio while brainstorming how to prepare myself for the coming annum, and, although I'm not usually one for new year's resolutions in the traditional sense, I do like to at least attempt to put forth a plan of intention for my art career. As I was trying to sort out what things I need to focus on in 2018, I remembered this handy dandy lil worksheet I put together last year.

I figured it would be a great tradition to start filling it out every year and sharing it. Here's last year's goals of mine. I was able to keep most of them, but one or two I've fallen a bit short (guilty as charged - I'm still pretty lazy and uninterested when it comes to my bookkeeping!).

I feel like constant self-improvement is key to living a thriving life. I know I'm happiest when I spot an area in my life that needs a bit of TLC so I slowly chip away at the issue one baby step at a time and then before too long - viola! One more component of life is optimal and bringing happiness instead of grief. I have a bit more about my reflections on self-improvement here.

So get inspired!! Decide who/where you want to be in one year from now!! Download this worksheet and use it for your own 2018 grand ambitions :)

Here are my resolutions:

1. Self-promotion is what I need to work on that I can be really bad about. I spend so much time in my studio creating artwork, and I should be spending almost an equal time promoting what I'm creating as well. I'm pretty regular posting on my basic social media, but there is so much more I know I should be doing to get my art out there. My 2018 goal is to promote my artwork in two different ways every day.

2. There is a big art opening party on the first Friday of every month and I have been meaning to go at least 5-6 times this past year and something has always come up. However this year I will go at least 2-3 times for sure! I just need to update my Honolulu Museum of Art membership and I'm totally there! It should be a great way to meet other local creatives which is also a goal of mine.

The Honolulu Biennial was the most memorable art event I attended in 2017. Check out some very thought-provoking pieces from the show on my blog here.

3. I would love to figure out a way to donate my time drawing portraits for a worthy cause somehow..... I really need to get the gears churning to make something like that work out.

4. I need to be better about following my lists more closely. I've always been one to make 'To Do' lists on an almost daily basis, and I'm pretty good about following them but sometimes I get off on a tangent and wind up tweaking or redoing something that is less important than what is actually planned for me to do that day. It always seems so important at the time, but often I wind up fooling myself - ha!

5. At this point having just moved into my new studio my entire life is finding better ways to organize so this is one thing I can wholeheartedly check off the list!

6. I've honestly wanted to get back into doing more creative modeling for artistic photographers, or perhaps even other types of artists too. A few years ago I kept being invited in front of the camera by various talented folks and I really grew to love being a muse in someone else's vision. I've worked with four photogs since being out in Hawai'i but I think I'm ready to put myself out there and work with more on a regular basis.

What kinds of improvements will you be working towards this year? Let me know in the comments!

originally published: December 30, 2017

Sunflower Field Adventure!

November 11, 2017 in Adventure, Aloha, Artist Diary, Me as Muse

You guuuuys..... look where I got to spend my afternoon yesterday right up in Haleiwa on North Shore, O'ahu! In a HUUUUUGE sunflower field doing a fun photo shoot with my friend Reggie (keep an eye out for those incredible pics once he's done editing!!).

Access to the fields are pretty limited, but Reggie found out he had an 'in' super last minute so around 11 pm Wednesday night I get a text from him saying, 'Hey you wanna be my model for a sunset sunflower field shoot tomorrow?' I'm like, 'Duh! Abso-freakin-lutely!'

Look at the incredible mathematically precise intricacies mother nature has hidden all over these sunflowers! You can click to enlarge, and I urge you to do so - it's breathtaking. Also, don't be surprised if some sunflowers show up in an upcoming painting - hint, hint, wink wink:)

These are a few I snapped on my iPhone - just wait til you see my shoot with the pro! Yowza!!

originally published November 10, 2017

sketchbook of a nude figure drawing in blue

Always Room for Improvement!

August 19, 2017 in Inspiration, Artist Diary, Studio, Figure Drawings

[Please Note: I am out of the studio on vacation for a few weeks so I am resharing some useful posts that I think merit fresh eyes]

'You don't have to be better than anyone else, just be better than yourself.'

I'm trying to turn that old saying into truth once again, as I'm sure most artists do from time to time. I've been challenging myself to have more of a tender touch in my drawings lately, especially with the white chalk on my figure studies, and I'm already noticing progress. It's amazing what mindfulness can do for you and your art!

I already practice mindfulness in my day-to-day life, mostly focusing on nutrition and mental clarity, but I have noticed that a little intention can go a long way in many more aspects of one's artistic and professional life as well. Once you decide to practice mindfulness it easily becomes like second nature, and just deciding where to channel your new power first will be the hardest part!

A mindful smoothie-in-the-sunshine moment

What is 'being mindful'?

When I use the term 'mindfulness' I am referring to performing an action or having a thought with intention. So much of our daily routine happens automatically, and even though we are conscious of what we are doing, we are not being conscientious about each specific task at hand. To bring mindfulness into our routine, one must only pick one aspect of your day and ask 'why?' Why do I do this in this way? What prevents me doing it another way? Or perhaps, Is this the way I want to act or think about this action? Is this daily decision going to help me or harm me in the future?

By taking the time to ask ourselves these questions occasionally, we can help ourselves maintain a healthy and productive life that is always improving. I cannot emphasize this enough, there is always, always room for improvement in one's life. I am constantly evaluating my health, happiness, productivity, and outside relationships to find small ways to clean house or spruce up my own mind and body. In no way am I trying to gloat, but I am currently in the best physical shape of my life, in the healthiest relationship in my life, am making the most strides as a career artist, and am living the dream in Hawai'i... and I can truthfully credit it all to mindfulness and self-critique.

If you don't like something about your life, change it. Progress needs a proactive attitude.

One should never stagnate or be content with the status quo. Every day you can be a slightly better version of the you you were the day before. I'm not trying to sound like some dental office motivational poster, but take a page out of the old Tony Robbins handbook and look at what you're doing and ask yourself if you like it.

Now as I was saying in the beginning, whenever I take that same daily mindfulness and apply it to my art, I absolutely notice improvements, and usually much faster than naturally occurs. Of course if you practice anything long enough you will get better at it regardless of how consciously in-tune you are trying to be, but why not practice with intention and get better by leaps and bounds?!

The best way I have found to improve with intention is to be very specific where I am channelling that energy. I don't just tell myself, 'get better at drawing'. I would tell myself, 'get better at drawing hair', or more specifically, 'get better at drawing dreadlocks', then 'get better at drawing straight hair', and so on. Practicing your focal point is crucial of course, but practicing with intention by really concentrating on each line and referencing other artists' techniques or photos and doing it over and again until you get it right on every piece you work on will give you dramatically better results than just repeating steps alone or copying other artists. I find that trying to envision my desired effect before beginning each piece really helps to train your hand to create what's in your brain.

So for my most recent drawing-with-intention exercise, I have been trying to have a lighter touch with my charcoals and especially with the white chalk I use on the toned paper during the weekly figure drawing sessions I attend. When a subject is bathed in bright light, it's easy to record it as all the same value, however, fine-tuning and slight adjustments is what makes a good drawing into a great one. Usually I am a very careful drawer, but, alas, I am human and can get lazy from time to time so my intention is to be more sensitive all of the time because.....

One should never waste an opportunity to create beautiful art!

charcoal drawing of a nude lounging woman

Above and below are examples; the drawings on the left are perfectly fine figure studies showing showing correct proportion and volume, but the drawings on the right depict specific musculature and slight bone protrusion and are all-in-all much stronger pieces. With just a little forethought and clarity of intended result, my figures gained a new level of realism. And these drawings were done only about a month apart and in the same amount of time, so this was not a result of great leaps in learning. This difference is all credit of my decision to be more conscientious about how hard or soft I press with my charcoal pencil which goes hand-in-hand with paying closer attention to slight variations in the model rather than blanketing him or her in the same even lighting.

To sum up, basically I looked at my past work and decided it could better. Then I figured out specifically how, and made a mindful decision each time I worked in charcoal. The results are already notable and very pleasing. This is actually an ongoing focal point of my mindfulness so I will be concentrating on this aspect for a few months until it becomes second nature. Once I am satisfied in my advances, I'll probably find some other little thing to nitpick and so on and so forth. I have spoken with professional artists two and three times my age who say they still make advances in their art so I greatly look forward to forever improving:)

Words to Live By: Always make sure you are being an active participant in your own life.

I would love to hear about your current or next art-with-intention focus! Leave me a note in the comment section.

originally posted: December 29, 2016

Edmonia Lewis :: Artist Spotlight

February 04, 2017 in Artist Features, Inspiration

As a way to encourage and continue adopting more cultural and racial inclusiveness into my life and into the lives of my dear loyal supporters, I am going to make a habit of featuring a diverse collection of historic and contemporary artists here on my Inspo Saturdays Artist Features. As I'm sure you can tell by my own recent artwork, I have been focusing on celebrating beautiful women of a variety of heritages through my Bohemian Goddess oil paintings and Fabulous Hair Series drawings, so appreciating artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds goes hand-in-hand with the goals of my work's impact.

edmonia lewis the female african american sculptor

So in that vein of inclusive positivity, today's post is actually about a woman I just learned about from a logo feature on Google and became instantly impressed with, Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907). Not only was she an incredibly talented classically trained marble sculptor, but she made a name for herself when women were largely ignored in the professional art world, and acceptance of women of color was virtually nonexistent in the Western art world.

Edmonia was part Native American and part African American, so the deeply heartwrenching past of both of her heritage lines made tremendous impressions on her work as she matured. Growing up, Edmonia was actually known 'Wildfire' until she was twelve years old, living as an orphan in her late mother's Chippewa tribe. Although she had difficulty finding tutelage, Edmonia persevered in getting an education and eventually wound up in Boston in the workshop of a marble bust sculptor who had a number of Abolitionist patrons and decided to take her on as a student and help her sell her first few small pieces.

Definitely check out [this] article for more very interesting detail of Edmonia's struggles and artistic heroism both in the US and in Europe.

After studying in Boston, Edmonia traveled through Europe and settled in Rome where she could study the great Renaissance masters and have access to high quality marble. She worked incredibly hard to excel at her craft and create a name for herself, and because of that, Edmonia was recognized with high esteem during much of her life. Now her works reside in some of the best art collections in the world, such as the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

I absolutely love hearing stories about other creatives, especially women, who find ways to make a living and gain respect by following their passion, creating from the heart, and always working "harder than the next guy!" Those are the winning features I see time and again in success stories like Edmonia's, who I will certainly be emulating in my own practice!

Sources:

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artist/?id=2914

https://www.pinterest.com/albehenderson/edmonia-lewis-biography/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonia_Lewis

Are there any artists that you are inspired by whose rise to fame was particularly harrowing or oppressive? Please share them with me in the comments, I love learning about determined creators!

originally posted: February 4, 2017

artist blog interview with a glass artist

Inspo Saturdays :: Interview With An Art Glass Jewelry Creator

January 07, 2017 in Inspiration, Artist Features

Janelle Wilfong of Janetics Ink

Janelle is an extremely talented, multi-tasking artist and creator who I am so proud to call a close friend. She has been an glass art making, jewelry designing and creating, wife and mother of three for a number of years now and her dedication to crafting and expanding her knowledge all while taking care of her tribe and her small-town Vermont community is utterly impressive and heartwarming. Janelle wholesales as well as craft show vends her handmade jewelry and watercolors locally and all over the East Coast.

I'm not sure where she even gets a minute to think between all her obligations, yet Janelle is constantly coming out with new designs and metal-working skills, and always sharing pics of having a blast with her beautiful and well-rounded kids.

Website: www.JaneticsInk.com

Currently Residing In: Proctorsville, VT

Currently Working On: Memorial pendant jewelry that encases cremated remains inside of glass

Word That Describes You Well: Effervescent

What's your creative process like?

I rarely plan on paper. My work, no matter what the material, has a very organic and free-flowing process. I swim in my supplies grabbing at whatever may work for the task at hand.

Has your style changed over the years?

Absolutely. The more I work, the more defined my aesthetic becomes.

What’s been your greatest artistic success?

Being able to live several years as a legit full time artist, while being a mom and wife too.

[Janelle's colorful tribe]

Do you have any advice for less experienced artists?

Don't take yourself too seriously.

Success is not measured in dollars.

The hustle should never be ignored. There are many artists out there who feel that they could be the next best thing yet they do not know how to present their work, sell their work, take criticism of their work, nor do custom work that could potentially be uninspiring. Anyone can be an artist but not everyone can sell themselves and their work. Learn how to do both.

Beaming Janelle in front of her jewelry booth at a hula hoop festival [Photo by Red Light Photos]

Anything else you would like to share that I didn’t ask?

I'm a hooper. A mom. A wife. I'm a Trinidadian American who absolutely loves living in Vermont. I'm also a substitute teacher and I consider myself a Neverbored. Last but not least, I have pink dreadlocks and drive a hand-painted pimp van named ChurchVanBetty.

Right now Janelle is working on her latest endeavor of encasing cremated remains inside of one-of-a-kind wearable glass pendants. These are a truly thoughtful and special way to keep a lost loved one close in spirit. I'm sure plenty of folks, like myself with my late father, are always craving ways to keep fond memories alive so I could see these really taking off for Janelle. It only takes a small amount of ashes to create each cabochon, yet look at these cosmic designs that are the result of firing the ash within the glass at 1700 degrees for ten hours. Wow!

Janelle shares lots of progress and behind-the-scenes shots on her Instagram @janetiks_ink as well as hula hoop videos and daily life in her tiny town of 450 in beautiful sunny and snowy Vermont. Check out her work and let me know what you think in the comments :)

Here I am with Janelle and two other close friends, Ashleigh and Stephanie, at our favorite hula hoop festival Return 2 Roots in 2015. Sigh.... fond memories of summer shenanigans that you just wish could last forever.....

originally posted: January 7, 2017

2016: A Fond Look Back

January 05, 2017 in Studio, Oil Paintings, Figure Drawings

While I'm busy putting my resolutions to actions and preparing for my most productive year yet, I figured I'd share a few of, what I think, are my best works from 2016. Enjoy!

The first three women in my Bohemian Goddess series! I've got my artist statement in the works for this portfolio which I'll be sharing here soon!

I feel like I really made some great strides this year on my shorter term figure session drawings. I was forced to really step my game up when I started attending the weekly figure drawing session here at the Honolulu museum of Art School because they don't do any longer than 20 minutes for each pose. I'm used to having hours to do a drawing, but these little sketches in my homemade sketchbook are quite pleasing for the most part.

And last, but most certainly not least, here are few of my favorite graphite and conte drawings. I just can't get enough of these fabulous people, ya know?

drawing in pencil of a cute girl in pigtails

adorable dog drawing in pencil with a cute girl

You can also view my Fabulous Hair Series or the full pencil portrait gallery :)

Any recommendations for artists I should be looking at in 2017? I sure do love a good introduction! Leave it in the comments

originally posted: January 5, 2017

Inspo Saturdays :: New Year's Resolution Worksheet

December 31, 2016 in Artist Diary, Inspiration

Out with the old and in with the new! Time once again to reevaluate and reassess what's working and what isn't, and do a little mental house cleaning. To be quite honest, I'm not usually the type to actually make New Year's resolutions, as I try to constantly work on self-improvement (see last week's post about improving with intention in your own life and art), but I never turn down an opportunity to learn how to grow as an artist.

I found a few little resolution worksheets online that were kinda cute, but I decided to create my own to be more tailored towards an artist with a blossoming career, like myself. Feel free to click on the picture and download it and use it for yourself for your own artsy ambitions :)

new years resolutions for artists worksheet

Here are my resolutions:

1. Doing my bookkeeping is probably my least favorite task. It's not even that difficult or time-consuming, I just have yet to get in the habit of doing it as I go along so every few months I don't have to sit down with a backlog of email and paper receipts and a glass of wine (or two) and have to get it all organized. To resolve this I am in the process of signing up for Wave after having it suggested by my guru Laura C. George (more on her at a later date:) ) in order to spearhead 2017 finances from day one. Yes! I can do it this time!! (Or at least I say that every year after finishing my taxes on April 12th...)

2. I love love love going to see art in person, either by galavanting through the best collections Europe has to offer, or by going to my local art walk or gallery openings, so this one is a gimme for me. I actually have my first opening attendance at a new place scheduled for the 2nd, so done and done! I really added this one as a sneaky way to share the importance of seeing art in person and being active in your local art community. The technique you will learn and the relationships you can forge will be immeasurable.

My boyfriend and I at the Honolulu museum of Art for my birthday last year

3.Yes! This one actually has been on my radar for a hot minute now. I have been looking around at places to donate either a percentage of sales or (better yet) actual drawings or custom portraits. I've been brainstorming possibly contacting local charity auctions to auction portraits at events I believe in, or maybe donating 5% of every portrait or painting to some kind of art program either in an inner city or a less-fortunate country. In an ideal world, anyone who has anything to give, should. And I would love to help create that ideal world. I heard a great quote once that was something like, 'no one ever became poor from giving.'

A good way to show gratitude for a wonderful life given is to pay it forward and create a better life for another person.

4. Ugh.... why do I do this to myself? I'm a bit embarrassed to share this one publically, but in the name of progress and honesty with my readers, here it is: I fall down the Facebook rabbit hole a bit too often. And let me tell you, it doesn't take much to add up to a lot. Since the election especially, I'll find myself on it sometimes 45 minutes to an hour, or even a lil longer, per day! Not even including posting my art! Blah! Now most of the people I interact with on FB are my friends or art supporters and I love and care about them, but when you add up one hour per day, per month that is like four actual working days worth of time! When I force myself to look at it that way, I think about how much more I could be accomplishing with those hours and it really helps me reign it in. As I'm sure you guessed it, this is one I'm already working (and improving!) on currently.

5. My studio is tiny and I have to clean it quite often, so I'm constantly trying to find little baskets or holders at the thrift store to help compartmentalize and tidy my space. My clerical tidying will be with Wave as mentioned in resolution 1.

6. This one is not particularly art related, but it is beauty-appreciation related and therefore inspirational and thus totally important (my logic is flawless;) ). I want to go on more hikes. I moved out here to O'ahu a year ago and there are so many other-worldly and epic places to hike and I feel like I have not experienced nearly enough. Coming from the flat land of Charleston, SC it has been a bit of a learning curve as far as having the power to jungle hike, but now that I run and bike uphill multiple times a week I have gotten much stronger and have really enjoyed some challenging adventures.