More thesis preview.

(gouache on coldpress, 13x17")

Thesising

February finds me delving into my thesis work, as well as two independent studies. I'm floundering a little but I think that I've recently turned over a new leaf.

I'm doing a lot of absorbing right now- books, articles, images, poems. I'm filling a sketchbook with as many ideas as I can while continuing my research, and am beginning to turn some of my more successful ideas into more realized paintings and illustrations.

Slowly but surely, I think, everything will come together.

Stay tuned for progress.

Finals, finally.

My show opening at Palio (at 1996 SE Ladd, a lovely little dessert and espresso shop) went amazingly well, and the show will hang until the end of December if anybody wants to go check it out but didn't make the opening night.

One more meeting of each class, and I am finished for the semester.
My thesis book project was approved for next semester, and I will begin crafting it when I go back to classes in mid-January. My last semester of college, finally. I've had a few setbacks, but I'm going to graduate.
For my painting class I've completed four 9x15 ink and gouache pieces from reference photos I took at Occupy Portland:
 

For my advanced drawing class, I've been exploring ways to visually depict the body, particularly in a state of illness, without literally drawing the human figure:

(Both are gouache and ink on arches coldpress paper)

Last but not least, the most realized piece I have come up with so far in preparation for my thesis book project. A self-portrait, hand-lettering, gouache layers, and cut up pieces of one of my MRI reports from back in December of 2010:

I plan to put more of my thesis progress on this blog. Stay tuned for more, and thanks for reading!

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

This is my first official post. About my life right now: I am currently posting from Providence Hospital. I am on somewhat of a hiatus from creating any large and more finalized new works, as I am in recovery from a bad lupus flare that turned into Transverse Myelitis, a neurological disorder that attacks the spine. Happily, I have use of my arms and upper body, and though bedridden I hope I can get some smaller works and sketches done. I will update with them when I am able to take quality photographs. I've been mostly sketching and drawing, until I can get some more quality art supplies into this room.
I watched Frida the other day, and am drawing a lot of inspiration from Frida Kahlo.