Hello 2011

and noooo way am i doing 111 girls in 2011. don't get me wrong it was fun, but also sooo stressful! Last years project 100 girls in 2010 was definately a huge personal accomplishment and success.  some people say that it's not good to force one's creativity upon themselves. although, normally i would agree with that statement, in my case i felt that i needed to do something extreme in order to try new things and create a style which is recognizable as my own.  there are a few of the pieces in the bunch that i sort of wish that i could replace. (they are not my favorites and i won't say which one's!) But, without them...would i have been able to create some of the ones that are my favorite?  I'm not sure that I would have.  I'm going to be working on creating a flyer that has all 100 girls on it. should be interesting to see them all together in one place.  I'll put that up on facebook when it's done, i'm sure it will take some time to do all the cropping and size reductions. Over the weekend I started to frame some of the pieces...never thought i could get such a HIgh from framing my paintings. It's just amazing to see them all come together and i seriously can not wait for the show in June at Studio 74!

Here are some of my favorite personal art moments of the year....

having a show at The Saroyan Theatre during the Romeo & Juliette Symphony was a great experience. A very different crowd of people got to see my work.

Entered 4 pieces into the cARTalog contest at FCC, and 2 of my pieces won! 1st place and best of show. I won $75 bucks!

my paintings were on display at Urban Ornaments in Clovis for about 5 months. Thanks to them I sold several paintings and merchandise.

My painting "Tangled in the Mangroves" on the cover of The Undercurrent. Huuuuge honor and happy moment. Thank you Miss Kelly Hawthorne for bringing in the article that day to class, or else i might have never got the guts to submit to them.



"Cecilia & The Centipede" painted for 31 girls in 31 days Poison theme. she was one of my breakthrough's with using mixed mediums. ink pen, acrylic, watercolor and gouache on tea-stained paper. I was learning the class/order/phylum of some animals in my biology class at the time too, so the centipede seemed appropriate. This was the first time that i did the detail in the hair, which i fell in love with and have used several times since.

The Without Color show @ Chris Sorensen's Gallery. This ended up being one of my favorite paintings of the year, and it's one of the biggest painting that i have ever sold.  This show also reminds me that Payne's Grey has a blue tint to it, and I will never use it again for a without color show...lesson learned thank you :o)

I was soooo incredibly fortunate to have gone on a whirlwind vacation to Australia with my mom this year. What an amazing experience. Here is myself, Cousin Jane and mom Lynn in front of some art from locals in Melbourne.  Also got the chance to go to the Tim Burton Exhibit and European Master Painters Exhibit. *thank you mom*

This years attempt at a self-portrait. I was feeling very torn at the time of painting this...torn between doing my homework and wanting to paint.  I absolutely hated my Trig class and was failing it too.  i worked on this before class a few times to calm my nerves. Math really irks me. yuck.

The month of October included several events involving The Pink Show. I was so honoured to have been asked by Cynthia Chapman to create the art for 2010's poster. It includes 5 women from all walks of life in front of the historic tower theatre. I'm glad that this was auctioned off to a lady who i know personally and she will take good care of it.

I was also honoured to be able to get the chance to paint my cousin Amanda, who is a cancer survivor.  She lives in Cairns, Australia and it was great to meet her while i was there, she is such an inspiration...i swear that woman has more energy than i do!  I will be mailing her this painting!



Me with Josh Freeman and Linda Lloyd Pitts
Art shows galore at The Treasury!  So much fun and really great to meet more local artists. I love to talk art! I look forward to more shows with them in the future...Thank you Toby!

 


"Kindred" acrylic on canvas

another favorite of mine from 2010.  I love it when a painting sits doomed and unfinished for months and months, then all of sudden gets chosen to be completed and the results are so pleasing to me. I also realized this year, that it's ok to not use 100% color color COLOR. just chill stephanie...use some greys and more black. it calms the soul a bit.



"Dia De Los Muertos" show at City Arts Gallery. That show was sooo much fun. never been a part of show that had that much entertainment. loved every minute of it! (even being told that my painting cost too much by someone that didn't know i was the artist. hehe :o)



"Woodland Girl" 3 color screenprint.

LOVED my printmaking class last semester so much that i'm taking screenprinting in the Spring.  Printmaking is such a different approach to creating a piece...really made me think differently and i loved that.

"Miss Monster" Mixed Medium
I discovered that its "OK" for me to let a little of my dark side out after painting 2 zombie girls for the San Diego Undead show.  Even if Mom's not too into them...hehe.

worked on this project throughout the year...very mentally draining, challenging, rewarding

2010 was a great year. obviously i love to paint otherwise why would i be doing it...but it's also so much more than that to me...it's the most rewarding thing in the world. starting with this blank piece of paper or canvas, totally BLANK...then spending days and days on the creation of this image that comes straight from my mind. it really is a blood, sweat and tears experience. sometimes, i throw my canvas across the room in frustration. (and then i apologize to it).  I get really annoyed with myself when the painting isn't looking like the way i envision it.  Then, I overcome it...and THAT is the moment that makes me feel like i'm floating on a cloud in happiness.  Nothing else gives me that feeling, and i'm honestly addicted to it.  If people like my art enough to come to my shows or even purchase a painting, then that is just so amazing to me.  It allows me to be able to purchase more art supplies, and continue with my ultimate dream...(to be a full-time artist). Fresno has been so kind to me and I know it sounds cheesy but there are people that I want to thank for giving me a chance and making this year such an awesome learning experience -  Sin Chapman (The Pink Show), Marty & Lupe Oftedal @ BeBeO's, Teresa & Barbara @ Urban Ornaments, Toby @ The Treasury, Joe Osejo @ City Arts Gallery, The Undercurrent, Iris Wasabi, Rick @ Gorgon Isle Gallery...there are probably much more that i am blanking on...but you know who you are!