Remember Me?

Hi -

It's been a long time!  I've been doing things I swear, but blogging has been on the back burner this last semester as teaching two new studio classes last semester managed to eat up a good deal of my free time.

So here's my attempt at an update!  :)

First, there's the teaching - Last semester I taught Figure Drawing, 2D Design, and Art History I.  This semester I'm teaching two sections of Design II - Color, and Art History II.  I've been re-vamping the courses quite a bit to really fit the mission of our department which educates students in Digital Arts and Design Fields (graphic design/ audio production/ animation/ digital storytelling/web design).

Those of you who work in education know that re-designing courses can be a huge time commitment - but it is really important for me to make sure my students don't see their foundations courses as something they can breeze through, or don't need.  I try to teach them the essentials of design while also pushing them to start finding their creative voice and develop conceptual skills early on.  

I've been spending a good chunk of time over 'break' developing new projects, learning new skills, and putting together example/sample images.  I'm really hoping it will pay off this semester. :)

I've also been plugging along in the studio.  Last semester it was a challenge to make the time to get work done - and in addition, I was working on this GIANT PAINTING OF DOOM that was really testing my control issues with paint.

(detail from the painting of doom)

I wasn't letting myself work on other paintings until it is finished, and as a result, ended up avoiding my studio for a month.  I'm still working on it, but I'm letting myself off the hook a little bit and working on some small fun watercolor paintings in the meantime.  I've got five oil paintings that are halfway finished - those are my priority once I get a little further into the semester.

My hope with these watercolors is to re-populate my Etsy shop (which has been neglected for a while now...) and to get some lower price-point pieces out in the world for those who would want to purchase a piece directly from my studio.  :)

Other than art-teaching and art-making we've been hunkering down at home quite a bit - it's been an especially cold winter thus far, and we've been taking full advantage of staying cozy.

Part of that plan is making as many batches of homemade ravioli as possible. :)

Rascal thinks part of this plan is sitting on her brother for warmth:

Hope you are all having a great new year!