Translucent Orchids

Aloha is definitely the right way to start this post off today!

I’ve been sharing more and more of my interesting found specimens (even before they get to go into my work!) and folks really seem to like them so here we go: some perfectly dried purple orchids I found clinging to my bf's potted plants.

I honestly don’t have a lot of information to share about these orchids other than I just can’t believe how beautiful they are and how incredibly perfectly they dried!

I’ve actually never tried drying an orchid before. Mainly because this central area is very 3 dimensional which I think would be lost if it was dried in my flower press. I also feel like if I was to pluck a flower and leave it to dry on a table it would just decompose, so I feel like finding these dried specimens in such perfect condition really is quite lucky!

I would really love to use these in the resin work, but I know that some things that are slightly translucent can turn out pretty much transparent when mixed in with the resin. It can change objects in very unexpected ways. Like for example one time I used a peacock feather in a resin painting and before the resin it had a beautiful green iridescence and after it was set in the resin it was a dull dark green with no shine at all. Who would’ve thought?!

Have you ever tried drying an orchid flower? If so, did you dry it like this naturally or did you press it?

9.29.2021

Black Lives Still Matter - Resources for Racism Education

Today I’m bringing you a wealth of knowledge on one of the most important, yet most difficult to discuss, topics plaguing the American dream - systematic racism. Until we not only learn from the past but learn to see the racism between the lines and just under the surface, we will never be able to succeed in banishing unfair and unjust treatment of Black people here in this county or in the rest of the world.

Perhaps you saw my post a few weeks ago about why I felt compelled to create this drawing of Duante Wright’s grandmother. Today while I demo this, and another easily recognizable fallen brother in the Black Lives Matter movement, I’m sharing a plethora of podcasts all about the Black experience both historically as well as contemporarily which you can enjoy enlightening yourself with while working in your own studio.

Here are the podcasts I mention in the video

1619 by The New York Times

‘Policing in America’ by Throughline

Louder Than a Riot

‘How Jacob Loud’s Land Was Lost’ by Planet Money

‘Rethinking Black Wealth’ by Planet Money

‘Reproducing Racism’ by Reveal

‘Tuskegee Syphilis Study’ by American Scandal

‘The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks’ by Rebecca Skloot (book)

‘Henrietta Lacks’ by Black History Club

’Henrietta Lacks’ by Babes of Science

‘The Real Black Panthers’ by Throughline

‘Monumental Lies’ by Reveal

Nice White Parents by The New York Times

‘Black Parents Take Control, Teachers Strike Back’ by Codeswitch

Please let me know if you find this post useful and will be listening to a few of these recommendations. Also, if you have any great resources to add please do!!

5.11.2021

Copying vs. Stealing vs. Being Inspired

Are you familiar with the difference between copying vs stealing vs being inspired? The lines can get a little blurry sometimes, especially when needing to use reference photographs that you may not be able to create yourself. While it's fine to copy (with credit given) while we're just practicing, when it comes time to make real work that represents us as individual artists, it's absolutely essential that we do not take nor take credit for other people's work.

Hopefully this video will answer all your questions about how to get inspiration from artists we admire, without stealing their ideas. Make sure you tune in next week too because I'll be bringing you 5 different ways to find copyright free images for you to use in your art that don't cost a thing!

Both the master copies above are mine from years past. The first one is by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec called “Corner of Moulin de la Galette’, which I painted in 2015 after visiting his works at the National Museum in Washington DC. The second one I painted in Florence, Italy at my first atelier program back in 2010 after ‘The Annunciation’ by Antonello da Messina.

7.5.2020

Hike day at Devil’s Backbone Nature Area

Soooo thrilled that one of my favorite hobbies is still safe to do.. hiking!!

I had a great time doing about 4 miles through the woods and visiting waterfalls yesterday at the Devil’s Backbone nature area here in southern Tennessee. It was a pretty warm day and a truly wonderful way to feel peaceful and grounded in the midst of all the craziness right now.

I know a lot of us are struggling economically right now and it’s not about to get any easier, so even more important to make sure to take the time to enjoy whatever low cost and safe activities you can. I’ve been listening to about a million podcasts on the coronavirus myself, but I’m still trying to make time to break away and enjoy the simple things in life.

These waterfalls and their crystal clear pools look like they would be perfect to frolic in during the summer. The first one even has a ledge you can chill under the waterfall on!

What else are people doing to break up the monotony besides going out as usual? I’m on a tiny farm right now with plenty of art supplies… But also plenty of time. Leave me a comment on how you’re taking up your days.

3.16.2020

Golden Glow Inspo

That feeling when you blend in fully with your environment…

Even though it’s been a little bit gray here in TN, I’m still making sure to spend some time outside every day and on one of my recent walks I came upon an entire forest of these golden glowing leaves. The way they were lightly fluttering in the wind I was half expecting a few silent dueling martial artists from ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ to start sailing above me whipping their cloaks about….

So happy that everywhere I go my fern friends find me:)

2.26.2020

Graphic Sketchbook Drawings

Although I haven’t been able to do much painting lately (my oils are literally being shipped in using ground mail from O’ahu so it may be a few more weeks still), I have been enjoying playing with some graphic sketches.

Normally I’m not a fan of such smooth, light colored paper, but this is a style I’ve been wanting to play with so when someone gifted me this tiny unused sketchbook I figured it was the perfect place to get started. I’ve noticed that over the years different materials can shift my artistic style so I love to experiment and switch things up!

With this particular drawing style I have to make bold decisions about contrast with each subject. As you can see, I’ve chosen to show only highlights and low lights, no mid tones, as a really fun exercise in shadow shapes! (everything is drawn from life )

UPDATE: I just created a YouTube video in which i discuss finding beauty wherever you go while creating two drawings in this style of a tree trunk and two tangerines hanging from a bush. You can see it here.

12.4.2019

Recent Figure Modeling Sessions

I’ve been modeling quite a bit over this summer and it’s always such a treat for me to see how I’m portrayed by other artists so I figured it’s about time to share another round with my wonderful readers.

Plus I recently updated the ‘Art Model’ page on my website with a number of my favorite drawings from my sessions over the last two years. Having a number of artists attend my sessions repeatedly definitely helps me stay on my toes by keeping my poses fresh and dynamic:)

8.21.2019

10 Ways to Connect With Your Inner Artist

Today's post is something I am especially passionate about because I firmly believe that we all have creativity within us, from visual, music or performing, to culinary or entrepreneurial, and with the right circumstances and surroundings our inner creator soars! 

Since I am a visual artist, I want to share with you 10 ways that I have found to tap into and excite that specific part of your brain to get it bubbling and overflowing with new ideas. And honestly, a lot of these tips could be slightly reworded to satisfy all kinds of inspo cravings for various creative enterprises. Hope you find some fodder for all your right-brained activities to come!

(And stay tuned because I'm working on an accompanying YouTube vlog that delves into each of these ideas a bit further!)

Here we go!

1 - Visit art in person: I know saying, 'Hey, look at art in order to be inspired to make art' can sound like a cop-out, but there really is something to experiencing artwork in person versus online. Go to a local art museum or gallery either alone or with another art-loving friend and really mull over any pieces that catch your eye, making sure to notice the brush strokes, scale, composition, chroma, and subject matter. Try to figure out what specifically about those works speak to you. Take photos if you're allowed and/or collect artist info for further artsy research. (Even though I'm a realist painter and this was a conceptual collection, I still had great sparks of inspo on my visit to the Honolulu Biennial)

2 - Pick up a new medium: This should be totally just for fun. It's really daunting to pick up something relatively new and make "good" art with it, so don't even try. At least at first simply approach the new medium like a first-year art student. You know, like just poking around with line work with a Chinese ink brush or doing tonal exercises in pastels. Same is true for 3D work as well. Make a pinch pot in clay or carve a spoon in wood. Doing an uncomplicated task that no one will ever see will jog your mental and physical muscle memory and open you up to feeling more confident when you do get that creative idea. 

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3 - Take a hike: Go outside and experience a little energetic awe as well as some of Mother Nature's most vibrant hues. If you're on the coast, take a beach walk; in the city, find a nice atrium or park or try to go camping for a weekend. Do whatever you need to do to be in nature mindfully. Just like when visiting artwork in person, the absolute best way to do it is either alone or with someone who shares that wavelength. Trust me, it's no fun to go on a soulful inspiration quest with someone who's uninterested or gets bored with these precious activities. Even as a predominantly figure and portrait artist, I still garner so much artistic inspo from being outdoors. (Photo from my Kuli'ou'ou Ridge hike a few months ago - #luckywelivehawaii for real!!)

4 - Play artistically with a child: Kids are little original-idea factories! I used to teach after school art classes to kids aged 4 to 16 and, especially with the younger ones, I was always delightfully floored with the wacky creatures and scenarios they would come up with when painting or drawing, or even journaling and sculpting!

A really good way to get those creative juices flowing is by active storytelling in which the child/children are illustrating a story that you are making up together. Kids are the best for trying new mediums together too because whatever you make will look incredible to them! A built-in cheerleading squad will help you get your feet wet!

5 - Give it a break: That's right, a good way to get artistically inspired is to stop trying to get artistically inspired. Go read a book or do some yoga or organize your studio or learn to juggle. Maybe even for a few days. Sometimes forcing the next 'great idea' will actually do the opposite since our brains can freeze under too much pressure.

That being said, any professional artist will tell you at some point you must 'paint through the pain' and keep working in order to maintain all the hard work flow that goes into being a successful artist, but little breaks are ok. Hopefully you'll have some emails to send, blogs to write, or art supplies to shop for that will make your time away from the studio productive still. (I'm an avid hula hooper in my free time; it's a wonderfully meditative yet energetic way to free my dancing spirit!)

6 - Check up on your favorite artists: Assuming you have favorite living artists still producing work, go pop in on their websites and blogs. See what they're doing these days as far as subject matter, themed group shows, workshops, or possibly even changing up and evolving their styles a bit. If you don't have favorite living artists, go find some!! There are sooooo many incredible people creating so many great works in this day and age.

Some good ways to find new artists are by following up on any works that stood out from shows you've seen in person, by following and subscribing to contemporary art mags (like Juxtapoz, Art Collector Magazine, Aesthetica, or ARTnews), and by surfing social media like Instagram to see what your like-minded friend folks are liking (find me on there too! @caleighbirdart).

7 - Go somewhere new: Plan a trip to someplace you have never been. It can be anything from a week in Tuscany to an afternoon stroll through those local botanical gardens you've been meaning to see. Anything that gets you out of your usual element or routine will help rejuvenate the creative flow. If you embark on your new adventure alone, feel free to bring some contemplative or relaxing music along. When I was able to spend four whole days at the Louvre in 2015 I listened to just about every piece Chopin ever composed! 

8 - Join a creative crowd: Put yourself around other creative people. Help a fellow artist with a project, attend an art lecture or art opening; join a book club or attend a poetry slam. Just be in the same space while other artistic ideas are being discussed, performed, or shared and you will soak up tons of inspo like a sponge. And not to mention, you might even make a new artsy friend!

9 - Watch your favorite visually beautiful movies: Enough said, really. We artists are emotional and visual creatures so digging down deep to tap into those heartfelt passions and buried feelings should absolutely stir our love for creation. For this exercise stick with movies that are shot and edited so gorgeously that you have to catch your breathe every single time you watch them. A few that come to mind for me are Hero, Avatar, Fantasia, and basically everything directed by Wes Anderson. 

10 - Attend a new kind of art class: This one is similar to trying out a new medium, but in this case you might use a familiar medium but in a different way. I'll use myself as a figurative oil painter for an example. If I wanted to change it up, maybe I would sign up for a plein air landscape painting course. Or focus on my drafting skills by taking a still life painting workshop. The difference between this one and Number 2 is that since you're actually paying money to sign up for a class, you will hopefully be challenged over an extended period of time and will gain new skills to go along with your new inspiration. 

Well, I hope this list helps :) I know after I enjoy any of these activities I come back to my studio bursting with color or design or subject inspiration, whether or not I was even seeking it to begin with!

We really do live in an amazing time on an incredible planet surrounded by epic adventures and glorious people. Each of us has the ability to focus our energy into learning how to tap into that higher creative vibration which is absolutely there for the riding! Woo Hoo!

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What are some great ways you have found to tap into your inner artist? Leave me some tips in the comments!

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originally posted: July 22, 2017

Goal-Worthy Contemporary Galleries

Hey-o friends! This week it's all about stepping up the game and vying for some face time for my recent goddess portraits so I've been doing a ton of research these last two weeks deciding what kinds of galleries might be a good fit for my Bohemian Goddesses oil paintings.

While diving down multiple awesomely artsy rabbit holes I discovered a few super cool galleries whose artists are totally inspiring me with their use of color and skill in technique. I'm not yet sure if I'll actually apply to all of these by any means, but they are definitely cool enough to share and hopefully visit when I'm in the neighborhood one day. 

So pop around the mainland with me for a lil contemporary art gallery tour:

Arch Enemy Arts

Philidelphia, PA

"Located in Philadelphia's Old City Disctrict, and with an emphasis on the lowbrow, pop-surrealism, urban, and macabre in a wide range of mediums, Arch Enemy Arts was chosen as Philadelphia Magazine's "Best of Philly"™ Best Art Gallery"

Helikon Gallery & Studios

Denver, CO

"Helikon Gallery & Studios is Denver's premiere art space for contemporary Illustrative Arts, ranging from portraiture, illustration, and figure work to imaginative and narrative art from around the United States."

Principle Gallery

Charleston, SC

"Principle Gallery Charleston finds joy in sharing museum-quality works from established American and International artists within the realm of Contemporary and Classical Realism.  The gallery invites you to explore its light-filled space for monthly shows featuring fresh, exciting work."

Sirona Fine Art

Hallandale Beach, FL

"Sirona Fine Art is a grand showcase for artists who embrace classic academic structure and technique, yet have an understanding and facility within the modernist landscape in which their work is viewed. Art can appeal to the senses, the emotions and the intellect equally or separately, as long as it connects."

Thinkspace Gallery

Los Angeles, CA

"Thinkspace was established with a commitment to the promotion and dissemination of young and emerging art. The gallery is a catalytic conduit for the emerging New Contemporary art scene, and is dedicated to the exposure of its tenets and its artists."

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Well there you have it folks! Some super sweet places full of artists you could literally drool over all day. If you know of any gallery spaces that may fit my style I would be so grateful if you drop a name in the comments. I'll keep you posted on any submissions or acceptances on this end! Fingers crossed:)

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originally posted: June 3, 2017

Two New Bohemian Goddesses!

I am always beyond thrilled to finish any piece of art really, but these two oil paintings of contemporary women from far reaches of the world have turned out especially beautiful and full of character, in this humble artist's opinion. 

So get inspired by these fashionably creative Bohemian Goddesses!

First let me introduce 'Nubia', a marvelous muse who is an experimentally creative and artistically gifted modern South African woman that treats the face, both her own and others', as her preferred canvas. Nubia enjoys using bold, eye-catching color application when practicing her unique brand of makeup artistry, as well as trying out basically every hairstyle under the sun. She is a ground breaking and inspiring fashionista, and I personally can't wait to see where her skills take her!

12x16 inches, oil on linen mounted on birch panel; pricing and prints here.

If you would like to see more of her makeup artistry visit @nubiasilvermakeup 

And on the other side of the planet....

'Zumee' is a loving and supportive wife and mother in Sulawesi, Indonesia. She is a watercolor artist who has a real eye for color coordination, whether on the page or in her wonderfully put together fashion sense. Zumee not only enjoys painting in her own time, but she and her artist husband also make a point to pass their love of creativity down to her young daughter Aluna.

10x14 inches, oil on linen mounted on birch panel; pricing and prints here

To see some of Zumee's watercolors check out her Instagram @zumeeoscar

I really feel that my Bohemian Goddesses series is my most important body of work thus far. If you haven't yet read why, check out my Artist Statement here. 

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originally posted: May 20, 2017