Quick Update!

Sorry if this is incredibly brief, but I just wanted to share what I have done the past two days on my painting. I've worked extra hard today (my painting and sculpture are on their way to being done), and I'm ready to relax, so here you go! Day 4 and Day 5!

 Day 4

Day 5

Ciò che Dio vuole, Io voglio (If God Wills, I Will)

The progress so far of  Ciò che Dio vuole, Io voglio (If God Wills, I Will).

Day 1 - Post Underpainting

 Day 2 - Post Underpainting

Day 3 - Post Underpainting

My sites!

Hello, everyone! Vandal here once again. I don't think I've made my sites public enough, or at least obvious enough, but I would like you all to know where to find me!

First Off...
1. My Facebook Page is here! 

You can find pictures of my work, updates on my current artwork, and many other things. My blog here, however, will provide you with more in-depth understanding of who I am as an "artist", but if you would like to see the basics, no sentimentals, go there!

2. My Deviant Art can be found here!

If you're looking just to see my artwork, and a more playful (and less serious, unlike my blog) side of me, visit my Deviant Art for my work and "quirky" journal entries. Deviant Art is a very lax, comfortable internet environment, so my posts may seem happier and more enjoyable there. 

3. Add me and trade with me through Artist Trading Cards for All here!

I talked about ATCs for All before in a journal entry, but seriously, this site is awesome. I would even suggest checking it out even if you're not interested in what I do, it's a lot of fun!

Okay, sorry I didn't blog yesterday. I've been very tired, and considering it's 3:15 am where I live, I'm still very tired. However, I will blog later today when I have the energy to continue sitting at my computer. I love you, lovelies.

                                                                                                             -Vandal

Current Painting: "Ciò che Dio vuole, Io voglio" (If God Wills, I Will)

I finished the under-painting of my current piece: Ciò che Dio vuole, Io voglio, which is Italian for "If God Wills, I will". I believe in God, however, in this case, I am referring to my muse rather than God. I think Italian is a beautiful language, and I've been wanting to try naming a piece in a foreign language, so I think this name is beautiful for sure. 

Hopefully, this piece will be as beautiful as the name.

ATCs for All!

I know personally, I love seeing other artists' work and discussing art with other artists. It seems like when you spend time with people who share your passions, it is so comfortable and relaxed because everyone understands everyone else, that's why I thoroughly enjoy my art classes. 

My sculpture teacher told me about a website that she thought I'd enjoy called ATCs For All, ATC standing for "Artist Trading Cards". People from all over the world exchange tiny paintings and drawings, under select themes and even requests! It is easily one of the coolest things I've ever come across, and I can't wait to get more involved. Right now, I have to draw/paint three Tim Burton-themed cards. (Oh joy!!!)

For those of you that enjoy the arts, and other people's work, I would definitely check it out!

                                                                                                                      -Vandal

My Portfolio is Up!

I posted my portfolio! Check for my work under pages in "My Art Gallery" to view my portfolio! 

Soon, I will update the gallery on my blog's home page, but for now, this will do. 

Please check it out! 


                                                                                                                              -Vandal 

Painting..

In Painting class, we've started our first "official" assignment of the semester, a still life painting.

Many artists I know, or aspiring artists I should say, absolutely despise still life pieces because they believe that it's difficult to capture something and create it once more but in realism, as if realism is required. As for me, having to pay attention to the tiny details makes the ultimate piece better than if I had been painting based on my study of a photograph.

Oh, how I do love painting. 

(Sorry that this post was short and boring!)

                                                                                                        -Vandal

Sketchbooks don't have to be precious..

Sketchbooks can be incredibly difficult for me to own. As much as I love the idea, and the pretty hard-back, leather covers and blank pages (which are begging to be dabbed with charcoal or pastels or paint), they're too beautiful for me to "ruin" them. They're so precious and perfect, that half the time when I want to just doodle, I can't bring myself to in my expensive, hard back sketchbook that I bought FOR THE PURPOSE of drafting ideas. 

Sketchbooks can be the biggest artistic block, at least for me. But on the other hand, they can be so helpful in that they document our creations ever so delicately.

In Sculpture, we bound and created and customized our own sketchbooks. Rather than buying a sketchbook and ripping the pages out like most of the other students, I bought a giant pad of drawing paper and cut it to size, and used mat board to make front and back covers, and bound it all together with yarn. I made the sketchbook mine. All mine. I completely eliminated the "precious" factor because not only are the pieces within the sketchbook things I created, but the sketchbook itself is also a piece of work. I've been able to draw and paint, freely and without restriction by my inability to mentally bring myself to "ruin" a sketchbook.

I plan to make every sketchbook I need from now on. I want to tap into the unused potential of my muse, but to do that, I need to destroy my blockettes, especially this one.

Now to develop the self-discipline to draw everyday! Oh, joy!

                                                                                                                  -Vandal

Expect my portfolio!

Now, I'm new to blogging, so please excuse my temporary awkwardness. It's strange feeling like you could be talking to anyone or nobody at all, so I never quite know how I should word these types of posts, but whatever.

I've been passionate about art since I was a little girl. When you're young, your family is very encouraging of artistic or creative aspirations, and they assume that eventually you'll come to the realization that these ambitions are unrealistic and unstable, and that one can't support themselves purely on the arts. It's heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking, when you make this realization, no matter if it was explained to you by your guardians or not.

Don't get me wrong, I love my father. He's always loved and encouraged the things I do, he just wanted me to utilize my artistic passions elsewhere, somewhere more financially supportive. 

I know that the road I've chosen isn't an easy one, and that I can anticipate to fall flat on my face a couple times, but with my dedication and love for what makes me happy (art), I believe I can conquer any struggle, as naive as that may seem. 

In the next few days, I'll be taking clear photos of all the work I've done so far. My paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. and posting them on all of my artistic sites, including this blog. I'll give out the links to my other means of media another time. For now, thank you for reading, and please stick around.