Monday, January 4, 2016

Artist Spotlight: A Collection

Just thought I'd make one post of all the artists I've haphazardly spotlighted over the 3 1/2 years I've had this blog, here are the links:

Saturday, January 2, 2016

2015 in a Nutshell

Having a headache for the past three days isn't the greatest way to ring in the new year, but after drinking lots of tea and binge watching Making A Murderer on Netflix I feel better (minus the internal rage I am feeling towards the Wisconsin judicial system).  During this downtime I also thought I'd write a final post about 2015, which turned out to be a much bigger project than I anticipated.  I wanted to finish it though because 2015 is one of the best years I've had in a long time, and one that I want to remember.  So I apologize in advance for the length (and understand if you don't read any of it), but I gotta do this.  Okay here we go!




Museums

First off, I saw a bunch of art this year, from the tiny Monterey Museum of Art during my trip to California, to my favorite place in Florida/on Earth, the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg (where MC ESCHER WAS THE TEMP EXHIBIT!!!), and finally, my hellish journey through Miami for Art Basel 2015... I won't get into the details of it, but... Miami is the worst.

Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey Bay, CA
Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL
Art Basel 2015, Miami, FL


My Art

Now talkin' 'bout my art... I don't know where to begin!  I finished my logo for the Smithsonian Marine Station; I made a bunch of graphics AND a soon-to-be published scientific illustration for the Vero Beach Marine Lab;  I helped coordinate/made a design for a local chalk contest that brought attention to the health of our lagoon; I taught kiddies how to draw an anatomically correct seahorse at the VBML's Aquaculture Summer Camp;  And I made some big sea turtle designs that were chosen for the Melbourne Mural Contest.

Aside from my scientific art, I also made a couple things for myself this year, including some puppy portraits, some Lonely Girls, prints for my future Etsy shop (I hate business!), some nautical-themed Christmas cards, and I added on to my little collection of receipt doodles during this cray holiday season.

Overall, this year was the first time that I felt like I made some headway in my art career.  Even though I'm nowhere near being able to live off of my art (I might be able to get a couple Publix subs from my earnings), I at least feel like I finally have a portfolio I'm proud of (which you can check out on my website!).  Now heading into 2016, there are a few things I hope (strong emphasis on hope) to accomplish:

  1. Make a physical portfolio
  2. Apply to a million freelance jobs (or grad school...?)
  3. Get an Etsy shop up and running
  4. Work on an art show series
  5. Make more art for the sake of making art
  6. RELAX


(from top left to bottom right) 1. Infograph for VBML showing where they received seahorse samples for their genetics project, 2. Scientific illustration of a longsnout seahorse, 3. Logo design for the Marine Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian Marine Station, 4. Chalk design for the "Let's Chalk About It; A Healthier Lagoon" chalk contest in Sebastian, FL.
Drawing lesson for the VBML Aquaculture Summer Camp - How to Draw a Seahorse Scientifically
Leatherback sea turtle design submitted to/accepted by the Melbourne Mural Contest
Puppy Portraitsss


Pieces from my "Loneliness and Solitude" series
"Toucan" fine art prints and greeting cards for my Etsy shop
Nautical Xmas Cheer
~* Receipt Doodles 2015 *~


My Inspiration

Finally, I thought I'd end this post talking about the main inspiration behind my artwork - wildlife and nature.  Over this past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with the endangered sea turtles along my county's coast, and it gave me an even deeper love and appreciation for the wildlife I'm surrounded by.  It's easy to forget about the other beings we share this planet with until you experience them first-hand, even the ones right in our backyard.  But we need to think about them, and remember to live our lives with consideration of these ecosystems, because we affect them on a daily basis.  And while I'm clearly not the greatest with words, I hope that the drawings and pictures I've shared over this past year have helped put these endangered beauties, the lagoon, and our oceans in your thoughts a little more.