I resolve

I resolve to start using this blog again. I think it would help me think about my work, and keep track of thoughts in a more visual, organized way.

Currently I'm working on a series of paintings based off of Facebook photos. As junior in the Painting department said, "Your mom warns you to be careful about putting photos on Facebook, but not because someone might turn them into beautiful oil paintings!"

I'm also working on an artist statement, and I hope to have my website updated soon.

That's all for now.

Leah

first day of the painting major

So... First day of Painting class!
we really didn't do much besides start setting up our studios. I hauled a suitcase of supplies from my dorm room to the art school. People probably thought I was moving out.

Anyway, John said he was disappointed that this blog kind of dropped of.

So... bees and i think I'm going to experiment with melted crayons and transparent paper. lots of transparencies. yay!

and rabbits, probably. they are bound to show up.

Port Plus

oh I've been so lazy on here. I've been lazy in general about my artwork this summer. However, I'm having the time of my life as an RA for Portfolio Plus. I get to play professor a bit, get to spend time with a super lovely human being, Jonathan Monroe-Cook, my co RA, I get to take a digital photo class, and I get to color my hair when I feel like it.

So even though I'm not working on commissions, I feel like I'll have more motivation when I get back to work. Really. I haven't done much because of space issues-- with places in the art school locked, making art can be a challenge.

So anyway, I'm wanting a rabbit more than a boyfriend right now and craving life in general.

Camas and Commissions

So it's been such a good week. It was super nice having Bobby, Grace's boyfriend, here. He's really good to be with-- very easy to talk to, but it's not just surface conversation.

Anyway, as Bobby and I were building a slide for Will, Will ran away and Bobby said, "Hey! Where are you going?" And Will replied, "I'm going to get a cama!" (which of course is a "camera") And Bobby and I bust up laughing. a few minutes later, Will was back with a camera, and he documented the whole thing. He must have taken over 100 photos, but unfortunately, the "cama" wasn't working so well, and all of the photos turned out SUPER washed out.

However, Grace had an old digital camera, so last night she wrapped it up and gave it to him. Will was so excited. He ran around and took so many pictures. Before bed, but after brushing teeth, we uploaded them to the computer. I was SO excited because some of his photos were REALLY good! I'm not just saying that because he's four, and I'm not just saying that because I'm his older sister. I'm saying that because they are good.

In other news, I now have 11 commissions to work on this summer, and I'm so excited. I can basically make as much money painting this summer as working at safeway last summer. God is being way to good to me.

And the last bit of musings is that I'm really wondering if I'm bi-polar. I know I've wondered this before, but I really kind of think I am. I suppose I don't experience SUPER low lows or high highs, but I would say moderately high or low. Right now I'm manic, because every thing is going well, but give me till August, and I'll bet I'll be crying every day. Maybe this is what a lot of artists go through. But it's in my blood too, so, maybe...



This is St. John Vianney, one of my commissions.

commission

hey there, my faithful readers.... (clears throat)

I've been working on a commission for a prayer card for a seminarian. I was working on it at Christmas time, but coming back, I knew I would have to start something different. so after a terrible thirty second sketch, I decided it was time to unscrew though oil paints again and start on a canvas.

And then there was Mary in a blue robe, with child Jesus and the priest offering the bread up to them, and Jesus is reaching out maybe in child like curiosity, but also knowing that this is his body, which is given up for all, and there is Mary, like she knew she was born to be the Mother of all, just sitting there, letting Jesus do his thing.

I'll upload a photo, but it's a few days old now.

more from ii.blogspot.

Leah's week 11:11 (make a wish!)

So this past week I've mostly been working on projects that I find to be really interesting: the 144 wax saint candles and the coloring book. I realize that these were both conceived of as drawing projects, but the more I think about it, it makes sense that they fit in with my theme sequence as well. Although they have little to do with pomegranates or beets, they both have to do with things I have been thinking about this whole semester in theme sequence: for the candles, light, the hand-made, saints/holiness, and for the coloring book, like John said, it's sort of like I'm putting myself in a position of educator/mother by creating this book. I've also had an appreciation for nature this whole time, and it makes perfect sense that I want to capture the beauty of the animals by studying them and drawing them for hours on end.

This week I plan to work on both of these projects, hopefully finishing the santini before the coloring book. I hope to have the santini done by Thursday, and leave the whole weekend for the coloring book.

From week 11

From week 11

From week 11

From week 11

From week 11

From week 11

From week 11

more from intimateinfinite.blogspot

Leah's week 12(x12=144)

So this past week I've been making 144 little saints. I've been drawing on the side, because sometimes the spirit moves me--and discovering that my work is all really based on the same things--mothering, but also fear of abandonment, which scared me a little when I realized my personal life was showing up in my artwork. Suddenly my it wasn't about making a coloring book any more.

Going the L'Accadamia on Thursday was a very much needed experience (Regan and John scolded me for not having gone before then.) So I can finally say I've seen the David, I fell in love with a sacred conversation (in which it looks like St. Agnes is holding a large rabbit), and I was influenced by the large sculpture hall.

I'm crossing my fingers that all goes as planned for Tuesday. I had alot of setback in terms of this project, but I've learned a ton about wax, which make me think of disappearing bees.

Anyway, I'm already excited about going back to Wash U next semester and continuing my work. Which is the best feeling and thing I have learned all semester--an excitement, not a fear, of what I'll create next. As my High School Musical Mug that I bought today says, "The future is a BIG PLACE!"

Ok! off to make more saints and clean up my space!