Of course eventually I realized it’s not. I love this domain and even though I am no longer an art student I am still an artist (of sorts). I still love looking at art, taking photos, painting, creating graphics, etc. Now I am a college graduate trying to find a design job. Instead of posting artwork I am working on in school I can post artwork I am working on on my own time. I’m still trying to build a better portfolio, and there’s no reason for me to not to document it here Speaking of which, I actually have a new portfolio layout up :D!

This is the painting from my final project in my Painting I class (which grades were finally posted and I got all A’s yay!). This painting has a lot of meaning in it for me and I had a lot of fun painting it. I still may add some more detail work to it as well. First here is the photoshop image that I created that this painting is based off of:

Now here is the progression of the painting itself (click the image for a larger view):

Here is the final image (click image for a larger view), I realize the quality of the photo isn’t that great. Once my digital camera is charged I will take a photo of it and replace the image (took the painting photos with my iPhone).

This painting was inspired by the song “Wishing Weed” which is by Jason Reeves. A very talented singer and songwriter. The song itself is basically about a couple who a no longer together for whatever reason and both do not want to get over the love that they once had. For me though, this song has a deeper meaning. I’ve mentioned this before but not in very much detail. In October 2010 I started dating my boyfriend, Jose, and right around the time we became “official” he was diagnosed with cancer. Not only were we trying to get to know one another as a couple but we also got to go through something most couples don’t deal with until they’ve been married for 20+ years or so. We are both in our 20′s and it’s hard to deal with something like this, at any age.

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard at times. I really loved the song before he was diagnosed, but after him and I really starting falling in love with another the song took on a new meaning for me. The painting is what I picture when I listen to this song. To me it’s about a couple who can not be together anymore because one has passed. Even though they are gone the person is still in love with them and will always be. I know that one day my boyfriend will no longer be with me, that is just the nature of a disease. I know when that day comes it will be hard but I also know that him and I had an amazing time together. He is my soulmate, my one true love, and even though we have to deal with something like this it does not have to affect us negatively. It does not change how I feel about him. I know that he will always love me and I will always love him, no matter what happens in our future.

Also, he has been cancer free since February 2011 though I really enjoyed my painting class and plan on to continue painting (may even paint more about this song!) and I even tweeted this blog post to Jason Reeves, because his music is truly inspiring to me and I’d like him to see that If you’d like to listen to the song it can be found on iTunes, his facebook page, as well as YouTube.

Web Development

This is not our final project. We had to build a social networking website. I chose to create one about gamers. With the help of my super-awesome professor we were able to add the ability of people to upload screenshots to display on their profile. I am really loving this class and sad it’s almost over! Our final project is creating a Wordpress site – think I should be fine with that one  Already turned in this website, just waiting for my grade. And my professor emailed me asking if he can use my website as an example for future semesters YAY!

Here is my website. Feel free to sign up!

Painting I

I think this is a method I may use for a future painting. Creating something in photoshop and then painting it. I am really loving how my painting is turning out so far (the picture is kinda bleh :P). I plan on creating a blog post just about this painting once it’s completed to show the full process for it. As well as discuss why I painted what I did. This project is due Wednesday!

Media Print Problems Workshop

I finished the book resume we had to design and showed my professor on Thursday. She basically told me that I could design something better – and she’s right! I am currently working on a new book (which I’ll post pictures of once it’s finished) but have also been coding away at the website. Still have quite a bit of coding to do but it’s up if people want to see it so far.

Go here to see my portfolio.

In other news, I also opened two new blogs over the last few weeks! ChicksPwn.us which is a group gaming blog! Will post reviews, general gaming chat, and more. I also opened TradeChat.us with my boyfriend (although I’ve been the only one posting haha) where it’s all about World of Warcraft! I also even opened back up my youtube channel (nacochan) where I have been posting WoW videos and soon will post gameplay from my xbox 360 as well as vlogs.

Web Development

This is not our final project and is due December 2nd (our final project has to do with Wordpress :P) and we have to create a social networking website. Mine is called Chickspwn, and it’s a social networking website for gamers (not just females!). The site itself is not fully set up yet but I do have the logo ready to go. It’s originally a logo I am using for a group gaming blog but want to use it for this project as well. I am really excited about working on this project!

Painting I

In painting class we have started our final project. We have to collage something (in photoshop or through photos etc) and then paint what we collaged. The painting has to be based off a song of our choosing and we have to include an element from art history in it. I chose the song “Wishing Weed” by Jason Reeves. When my boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer last year I found myself listening to this song a lot. I’ve been working on my collage in photoshop and this is what I have so far.

The art history element is the melting clock which is inspired by Salvador Dali.  I still have some editing to do on collage (especially the shadow!) but I am excited to begin painting it on Monday.

Media Print Problems Workshop

We started our final project over a week ago. We have to create either a 35 page book or a resume book and create a portfolio website. Since I’ve been wanting to redesign my portfolio anyways this is perfect! I am submitting the book today to Lulu to get it printed so don’t have pictures of it quiet yet but below is what I have so far for my porfolio.

The ribbon up top is the navigation, which will be purple originally but will change colors with each hover.

I’m excited to finish up this semester and excited to finish up all of these projects And of course once everything is completed I will create a follow up posts of the projects

Graduating is a little scary though, not going to lie. With the way the job market is I know finding a job in the field I want (graphic design) will probably be tough but I am up for the challenge. I plan on completely re-designing my portfolio and I’ll start applying for design jobs very soon!

I am very hopeful for my future. I know it will be hard but I am ready. I am ready to get my shiny piece of paper saying I graduated and I am ready to move on to the next chapter in my life!

We had to do a self portrait, I used a photo of myself as a reference as well as stared at myself in a mirror. I had a lot of fun with this project and plan on doing a self portrait for the final project at the end of November. Below is the beginning to near end of the project:

(click the image or here for a larger view)

The first one you can tell I was having a lot of problems when it came to the face. Shading with paint is very different than shading with a pencil or even in photoshop. The second and third I was going crazy with the paint and experimenting, which wasn’t working so well haha. The last my super-awesome professor (she was also my professor for figure drawing 1 in Fall 2010!) helped me A LOT. She showed me how to fix the hair and make it look like it’s flowing (by painting like a waterfall with a mixture of colors) as well as the face. She demonstrated how to fix the eyes as well as the general shading of the face. She even added in a few freckles Here is the final project:

(click the image or here for a larger view)

It’s not completely finished (my shirt/arms are cut off in the image) and there’s a lot more detail in the face that is lost by using my iPhone to take the photo. I learned a lot in this project and I am really loving this class

I am taking part in the Veracity 31 day blog challenge! Week 4 theme is Domestic! What is one of your favorite and least favorite subjects in school? Why?

I was always a big fan of art in school :D! Which I guess is no surprise as to why my major is art,  haha. But beyond that I loved Science. Whether it was Chemistry or Biology I found it very interesting. I was also always very interested in History in school but I’d say Science class would take the lead I especially loved the lab classes. Mixing things together to solve something was always fun to me.

My least favorite is probably Math. I never had teachers that really kept my interest or focus in class, at least not until my senior year. Senior year of high school it was not required to take a math class but for whatever reason my best friend Becca and I chose to take one. Both of us LOVED the class because we had an amazing teacher. Her methods for teaching just worked and kept us interested. I remember at least one time she brought us donuts and orange juice (was our first class in the morning at 7:20am!) because everyone in the class made amazing grades on a quiz. She was one of my favorite teachers