More Work

Excuse my grainy phone photos...







These pieces are probablly the result of a certain grim cloud that has settled over me in the past two weeks or so. I don't feel that they are depressing, but I don't feel much at all about them really. I did enjoy painting portraiture and I intend to keep using that glossy black.

Art Department Portfolio

My portfolio for the art department at Western Washington University. I really have no idea what they're looking for, and I guess it's of no real concern. My main goal in doing this is to secure myself some classes for next year.

Resin Piece - #1 [Clay Figs/Garlic]

Finally, my very first resin art piece! I created a gradient background on mat board that has been treated to withstand the resin and a polypropelene mold. The little white embeddings are made from a polymer clay, and were originally figs...but I realize that their whiteness makes them look more garlicky. I shall work on this.

I'm very pleased with the results. I spent an hour with a 220 grain sandpaper "frosting" the surface and annihilated my wrist in the process. But sitting here with my ice pack I'm finding it well worth it! There will be plenty more where this came from.






You can tell that the frosting has its imperfections. I'd like to find a better buffing compound or finer sandpaper. If anyone has a reccommendation, let me know.



Plaid courtesy of Banana Republic (the old stuff of course).

Hold Time

I received my copy M. Ward's new album "Hold Time" in the post today as a gift from my dearest. As M. Ward is my favorite musical artist of all time, I'm still in the process of listening and relistening...it's going to be incredibly hard to match the quality of "Transistor Radio" or the listenability of "Post-War". But when you look past the difficulty of getting the jewel case free from its clear plastic sleeve (I personally used a Swiss army knife...), the album artwork/packaging combination is quite refreshing! So far, tracks entitled "Hold Time", "Fisher of Men", and "Epistemology" have me fixated.

Post-Valentines Update

It's been most definitely been the most love filled Valentine's Day for me to date. In the above picture you'll see the customary box of chocolates but not depicted are the gorgeous white Calla lilies from Vera Wang Bouquets, the expensive underwear, and the framed photograph of me and my love in New Mexico..all despite his physical absence!


Also above, a pair of silver convex drop earrings I crafted yesterday, a thank you card from Olivia Olason for the Tarts painting that she won at the fundraising auctions (which fetched a nice $140 or so), and right alongside the Liquiriza de Calabira tin (Italian pure licorice that I'm supposing you never actually eat...at least I haven't found a way) is my first experiment in casting resin. You can look forward to seeing more resin casting soon.

*Notes: You'll also notice I've added a list of books I've read/and am reading for 2008-2009. Contact me if you'd like to know my thoughts or reactions on any books contained there.

New Town Bakery - Surrey B.C.

My day began with a little adventure to Surrey. We stopped at an unpretentious asian bakery called New Town right in the heart of downtown.

Oh delicious!

My mom had the house special mami noodle soup and I had roast duck congee. We shared some crystal shrimp dumplings.

Hot tea..

Digital Painting du Jour

Vintage Fiat 500 - ArtRage 2009

Digital Paintings of the Day

Zircona Caerulea 2009 in ArtRage




From late last night - Bartlett Pear 2009 ArtRage

Découverte!

I'm am absolutely ecstatic about this new program my friend Amanda at TBH mentioned in her blog. ArtRage is a program that almost perfectly mimics the application of paint/graphite/pastel/marker/pen and numerous other art media all on the convenience of your computer. No mess and no price! You can get the starter version for free. Here is my very first shot at using the paint tools.

Addition:



I couldn't stop at one. My desk lamp!

Photographic Finds - Batch #1

After weeks of casually sifting through the immense collection of historical photographs at Shorpy, I've selected a few of my favorites. All the photos seem to be incredibly high resolution for their time periods.



Two girls playing with ducklings in a horse trough. They were, at one time, common features in any large city in the United States. 1927 Washington D.C.



Jubilation on Wall Street after Germany surrenders from WWI in 1918.


The White House kitchen in the year 1909. Rumor has it that the pots and pans used to cook former President Taft's dinners are still in use today.


The Rotograph Company of New York created this Easter greeting card in 1908.

All photographs were aquired at SHORPY

Daddy Warbucks at the Mt.Baker Theater

Yesterday night was spent at the Mt.Baker Theater downtown, watching the live Broadway production of Annie. The music and story line were so classically Broadway in that fuzzy, heartwarming sense. Sitting there, on the balcony of the newly refurbished and rennovated main stage (a 4 million dollar project I hear), it felt so fitting that a musical set in the great depression should be played in times when many of us are feeling the effects of a tight wallet and a country in economic turmoil.

Here are a few shots I took of the inside of the main stage from the balcony view (this being my first time on the balcony, I was quite surprised by the exceptional view of the musicians!). There arn't any visible rennovation changes in these pictures, but apparently the theaters circulation systems are functioning much better and the electrical system has been put up to standard.






C'est fantastique, n'est pas?

2009 Arts and Jazz Night Promotional Artwork

Artwork by C. R. Dimalla
Poster Design by Karena Crotto

The Arts and Jazz Fundraiser and Auction is in three days! The above image is the promotional poster for the night, and the original (below) will be auctioned off.




Winner of the 2007-2009 Blaine Evening of the Arts Show Arts and Jazz Promotional Artwork award. Acrylics on Paper 2007

Valeur

Oils on matboard, 2009.

Here is Valeur, tentative in name and condition. It's another one I'm leaving to reassess another day. I rarely work from still life (or in this case, composite photography still life), so it's quite a departure from the norm. I'm pleased with the direction it's taking; particularly its similarities with more classical artwork. I was searching for a unique and rare assortment of flora for the piece, and found both at Hollister Hovey's blog. King Protea and Figs! Wonderfully tasteful and tragically expensive.

AP Studio Art - 2D Portfolio Concentration

Antique Shop - Graphite and Watercolor on Watercolor Paper




Kookaburra - Oils on Mat Board




Blowfly - Oils on Mat Board



Crows on a Holden - Oils on Mat Board



Dingo - Oils on Mat Board

Concentration Work - Independent Art (Semester #1)

Below are some of the more significant oil paintings to come out a semester's worth of Independent Art class. The series was the product of my efforts in playing around with American symbolism and the meanings of the words "stranger" and "foreign" from a personal perspective.



(2008) Oils on mat board.



(2008) Oils on mat board.



(2008) Oils on mat board.

A Less Offensive Public Transit

Below is the interior of a restored Brooklyn Union Elevated Car (#1404 to be precise!) from 1907 housed at the New York City Transit Museum. I find it hard to believe these were actually in service up until the late 1960's, with modifications in the way of paint color and interior fixtures. It's at that point that the beloved gray/orange combo notoriously associated with public transit came in to play. It's an obvious shame.


Photos by: Sapito Lady on Flickr.com