I'm An Artist in My Free Time

I find that I don't have much free time these days, so whenever I do I sneak off to Michaels and pick a new medium to experiment (II, III, IV, V) with. This time I chose acrylic paint and smaller 6 x 6 canvas. I've been very big into self portraits lately. As Frida Kahlo said, "I paint myself because I am the subject I know best." There's just something about breaking yourself down.. honestly, without trying to airbrush away the flaws and applying it to paper. Fall in love with the masterpiece that is you. No filter.



Untitled, Charcoal Print

A few posts back I mentioned that I wanted to devote more time to painting/ drawing, and I was given the opportunity to do just that when a musician friend asked me to come up with something that they could use as album art for one of their singles. That was completely my intention when I began, but it turned into something else. Charcoal is one of my favorite mediums to play around with. I love the idea of filling the paper with darkness and using an eraser to "draw" the light. Watching a piece come to life right before my eyes is the best part.  

Should've Went to Art School: Selfie

 

I've never been good at drawing myself. I think that ego doesn't always allow us to accurately capture our self fully, flaws and all. This time was different though. I tried to channel my inner Frida Kahlo.. a woman who wasn't afraid to let her flaws (by society's standards) all hang out in her portraits: immobility, unibrow, mustache and all. I sat on the couch, mirror in hand, and studied my face; high forehead, bag plagued eyes, prominent nose, unruly hair.. After about an hour I was happy with what I created. A true 'selfie' of my minds eye. 



Blind Rhino @ Art Whino



 

 

Blind Rhino @ Art Whino.

I'm obsessed with this venue. Imagine walking into this rainbow colored "house" and finding art everywhere you look from the ceiling to the floor. Now add a DJ, vendors and a stage between two giant lion heads - fun! I will be back, no question.

Angela Hendricks collaborates (reluctantly) with her toddler daughter to create these brilliant works of art. Hendricks, a portrait artist would sketch the head and her daughter and her imagination would add the body. How could you not love that?

Read the full story here.