Using Everyday People as Art Models

Welcome to my world of 3Dimensional Figurative Oil Paintings featuring real dried ferns, found objects, and tiny mummified specimens ensconced in layers of clear acrylic resin. I use these intricate shadow-box scenes to highlight the natural beauty of culturally diverse models from all over the world.

Using everyday people as my art models has become an important part of my artistic practice for a number of reasons. Most importantly because I think in this world of unrealistic traditional beauty standards, racism, colorism, body shaming and the like, we as artists should be highlighting the natural beauty all around us, rather than reinforcing outdated, noninclusive, idealistic faces and figures.

I truly find the features and expressions of regular people to be more interesting, have more depth, and tell more stories than generic, manufactured, “aesthetically beautiful” faces of made-up characters. I find that there is so much more personality coming out of my artwork when my subjects are, in fact, real persons.

Another wonderful aspect of discovering and appreciating everyday beauty is that I now have no shortage of models. Friends are elated to pose for me, and I almost always get the most wonderful thank you notes after completing a painting of a friend, usually saying something like, ‘I’ve never felt so beautiful! I’m so honored/humbled/thrilled to be featured in a work of art!’ which honestly brings me more joy than words can say. I genuinely love showing people how truly special and magical they are just as themselves.

I believe that the message of inclusion and body positivity for all the unique men and women of this modern world is an important stepping stone for self-acceptance and love, which is the message I hope viewers of my paintings will choose to take home. From many interactions I’ve experienced over the years, I’ve noticed that once a self-love is achieved it spirals outward forming into social acceptance and a universal love which radiates from such empowered folks into an ever expanding cycle of each of us bringing up the other. Simply put, loved people are loving.

My works celebrate the natural and perfect imperfectness of all of us in hopes to be a catalyst for a world which exchanges love exponentially.

6.20.2021

BiG Announcement on YouTube Live Today!

Don’t worry, change is a good thing!

5.24.2021

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

Attempting a 30 Day Figure Drawing Challenge

“Attempting” being the key word there - ha!

Totally on a whim on April 1st I decided to challenge myself to create a figure drawing every day for 30 days straight. I say on a whim because as of March 31 I had no plans to do a challenge, but when I enjoyed creating a figure drawing so much that very next day, I thought ‘why not?’ Just do it.

In the first couple of days I actually asked my Instagram followers if anyone had attempted any kind of 30 day art challenge in the past, and if so, what were the results. I honestly didn’t get a lot of positive responses, as in, most people either had been too intimidated to try, or they didn’t have much success when they did.

Which is kind of why I had never tried one myself!

This challenge wound up being pretty successful in my opinion. I only missed two days of drawing and I allowed myself a little wiggle room as far as doing two days of drawing at the Picasso exhibit, and three of the days were spent working on a figure painting I had previously started. I also had a little more time this month for drawing than I have in the past 6+ months so I wanted to seize that opportunity too.

Here’s a few pics from the beginning of the month, or you can see them all in order on my Instagram @caleighbirdart.

If you decided to try an art challenge too, either like mine with a personal challenge, or an official prompted one like Inktober, please let me know how it goes either here or in the video comments.

And last but not least, if you are interested in acquiring an original figure drawing I have them available at especially good rates this month to coincide with this challenge. Visit my Shop here.

5.2.2021

Real Time Figure Drawing Demo

Aloha friends! Today I'm bringing you a real time figure drawing demo as part of my 30 Day Figure Drawing Challenge, which I tried to do live week before last but YT deleted it almost as soon as I was finished - I think because my drawing reference photo was viewable (even though I thought it was a 'safe' one!).

Anyway, this one is far more concise since I did edit out little things like erasing mistakes and swapping out materials, plus this figure is only a back so I won’t get flagged for sharing my reference photo.

As far as this 30 day challenge goes, I decided to do it to help get myself back in the groove of figure drawing. Since covid has shut down so many open studio figure drawing sessions I haven’t had the opportunity to draw from life in over a year and I’m missing it terribly! I can feel myself getting rusty so I wanted to get back on the saddle and slip back into my comfort zone.

If you would like more info on getting your own handmade-with-love toned (or white) paper sketchbook pop over here to be kept in the loop for my next sketchbook release.

Materials I use to draw (any purchase through my special links helps my channel at no cost to you so thank you!):

White Chalk Pencil

Parisian Blue Carbothello Pastel

Kneaded Eraser

Mono Zero Eraser

4.18.2021

'The Dreaming Witch' 3D Oil Painting Demo

I'm so excited to share my latest 3D oil, mixed media, and resin painting with you! I've been working on 'The Dreaming Witch' for months now and was finally able to ensconce her lovely ferns, petals, and gold leaf flakes in resin just last week.

This is an oil painting on linen with an aerosol background. I used dried ferns and other plants I collected in Hawai'i and Florida, as well as a cruelty-free reproduction moth, with gold leaf flakes scattered about.

I'll have this painting available as a limited edition print with hand embellished gold leaf accents in my Shop for a short time. You can grab yours here.

These prints will only be available as a pre-order for a limited time, and each one will be hand embellished with gold leaf. Grab on today!

3.21.2021

How to Get Better at Drawing :: Ask an Artist 6

So a really common question I get from people is a pretty general one, ‘how can I get better at drawing?’ And while the number one answer of course is to practice, I think very often people aren’t sure quite how to practice or how best to use their time practicing drawing. Today I’m going to share some of my best tips for getting better at drawing for beginner or intermediate artists that you can apply to any art practice.

Once you focus in on what areas you need to improve on and make a consistent habit to practice, I’m sure you will be delighted by just how quickly progress will come to you.

Here’s my How to Draw Hands workshop if you’d really like to take things to the next level.

You definitely do not need any special materials in order to improve your drawing skills, but below are just a few items I like to use. If you purchase anything through my special links it helps support this channel so thank you very much!

White Conte Pencil

2B Pencil

4B Woodless Pencil

Mono Zero Eraser

Kneaded Eraser

9x12 Toned Grey Sketchbook

White Chalk Pencil

Parisian Blue Carbothello Pastel

Steel Grey Carbothello Pastel Pencil

Canson Me Tienes Paper in Steel Grey

Find this model, Diana, on Instagram if you’d like to use her poses in your own work at whatever donation you can afford:)

2.28.2021

New 3D Oil Painting Demo :: Lady Earth

I’m thrilled to share my latest 3D oil painting, ‘Lady Earth’ with you! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve completed an oil painting and it feels soo good!

I feel like so many of my paintings have a Mother Earth/Gaia feel to them so I’m constantly seeking out new ways to express this reoccurring theme. Ninsar is the name of the ancient Sumerian goddess of plants, which translates into English as ‘Lady Earth’… the perfect ceremonial name for my latest muse.

My amazing subject is a force to be reckoned with, yet quiet and serene in her own way, similar to the balance of love and wrath of Mother Earth. She is one who will provide and protect, but will also remind you that you are essentially helpless before her.

Even though this piece is small in stature, she is a monumental presence that will fill any space.

Yes, this piece is available for purchase in my shop here.

Thank you to my Muse, Toy, for being exactly who you are. @they_call_me_toy

2.14.21

Travels through O'ahu :: Adventures + Artwork

Welcome back to my second home of O'ahu! I'm so thrilled to have just had the opportunity to spend 7 whole weeks camping, hiking, beaching, painting, and visiting friends on the beloved island I decided to leave just one year ago.

What can I say..? I didn't move away from Hawai'i because I didn't like it!

Visiting close friends and adventuring through the island is such a blissful existence. If you haven’t put it on your list yet, maybe a few more photos will help seal the deal..

Did you enjoy coming along for the ride? Here's my travel + art vlog from the vanlifing I did on Maui and Big Island last year. You can also see more of my life while I lived on island, including where I worked and my awesome bungalow with the fully outdoor bathroom! And if you're wondering why I ever left this slice of paradise, I made a video of that too!

12.20.2020

Holiday Vlog 2020

I really hope you are able to find some peace and happiness during this Holiday season, even though most of us won't be able to spend them with the folks we love the most. If you find yourself with a little extra solo time (yep, even more than 2020 has already given us) then consider investing some love into your art biz or art practice. The best thing we can do for ourselves in any situation is to never stop learning:)

So enjoy this quickie vlog while I take my own kind of holiday, and look below for a pile of links to help you brush up on your knowledge during some down time this week.

References:

How to Set Up an Online Art Store

Complete Guide to Oil Painting

Hand Drawing Workshop

How to Clean + Organize Your Art Studio

How to Write an Artist Statement

How to Write an Artist CV

11.22.2020