Studies

Okay, I've been thinking of what a blog is. I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't have to be long or eloquent or even a finished thought, even though I wanted it to be. It is late at night and I have the slightest fear of my hands falling off before sunrise, but I think I've had enough coffee to go through with this blog.
So let me start here.

I am participating in an art challenge, called Art Imitates Art, where artists take a child's piece of art as inspiration and make something from that.

Child's Painting

For the idea I have, I first want to improve my portrait skills. In order to do this I did a couple studies of general portraiture. (And if you've read any of my previous blogs, you'll know how much I like studies) These are purely academic. I was trying to figure out things like skin-tone and shading, under a time limit.

The first two were painted from cropped photos from magazines. 

guy

I gave myself an hour for these two.

chick

Next I got a couple models to sit for me. In exchange for an hour of their time I gave each of them the 8x10'' study I made that day. I'm really glad I got to paint them.

Keren

I took closer to an hour and a half for these two.

Flor

Now I have built the canvas the final painting will be on and started painting it. I'm going to make time for it and it will be in The Foundry's Art Imitates Art show soon.

*This blog was brought to you by coffee, insomnia and coffee.

A Better Easel

What began as a chair ended up an easel, and was a spider for a little bit in between.

Chair, Spider, Easel, Better Easel

The original intent was to make something for an art exhibit, Have a Seat for the Arts back in 2011. I made a bar stool then made a spider out of that. When it didn't sell, I decided to piece together the lumber to create an easel, because normally they are relatively expensive and hard to find. The picture on the bottom left was the easel I used and carried around for a while. 

I take my art all over to work on or to show, and don't like to be limited to a small sketchbook. However, in my travels, the old easel hasn't held up so well. Sure it fit in my car, but there weren't enough screws to hold everything together and it kept biting me. Some parts came unattached or fell off as it was lugged around. Designed specifically for a certain canvas, I thought it would work for everything but did not. And besides its ability to hold canvases, the old one didn't look much like an easel.

Easel, holding a 16''x20'' canvas

This is the third time I tried to rebuild this easel. It was still worth it to make my own because this one's custom made. It looks more like an easel now. There are supports on each side and a bigger base on the bottom. I had to cut the supports at a wacky angle to fit the height I already had and the base I wanted. The middle is still a track for the holder to go up and down.

Spider Head

I repainted the whole thing and added some decoration. I painted the new parts yellow and blue to go with the pink. The line designs painted on top ended up changing as I went. Doodles are fun. I also gave the spider head some eyes and teeth.

Back side closeup

 It’s a lot better now that everything is secure. It works for big canvases as well as smaller ones. Carrying it around is easier too because there is a beam on the back to hold on to.

For Further Reading:

Form Follows Function: A Revision

Up-Cycling With What I Got

Don't Panic

Bazaar December

December was about adventures in vending at many Xmas holiday bazaars. Art makes the best gift. When someone buys a piece of art as a holiday gift they are getting a something unique, something made locally, and something from the heart.

In anticipation of the sales created new small items to sell. Baby canvases were created from scrap canvas I had, some cardboard for the base and a magnet on the back. These were fairly easy to make and were quick to paint. The size made it easier to paint what I wanted, like red trees, toast and bacon, ducks and crab. They were such a hit at the events that I made a second batch. I also made prints of my paintings from  Forbidden Forest.

In studio

The first art sale I participated in was the nXmas Art Sale at the nX CoffeeClub ArtHouse. That day I was able to listen to every Christmas/Holiday song Ever Made including my favorites, Donde Esta Santa Clause, the Charlie Brown Christmas song, and Mr. Grinch.

nX CoffeeClub ArtHouse

There were about seven artists in this event who brought a wide variety of things. The art was placed in every open nook and cranny. Even ornaments on the tree were for sale.

SANTA!

 Santa showed up for the middle part and there was So Much Coffee!

The next event I took my art to was First Friday. It has always been near and dear to me since I had first started showing my art in 2009. The connections I've made from that single corner in the Arts District have been highly influential to my career as an artist. It has been a major reason for me to strive to be a better artist and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. 

First Friday, too, has grown. More artists art participating in the street vending, the galleries are taking on better and better exhibits and it's being publicized loads more.  I can't wait to see the future of Bakersfield's First Friday holds.

First Friday December

The next place I took my art to was Santa's Sweat Shoppe Art Bazaar a the Empty Space. Every December The Empty Space has a holiday art sale to help raise funds to keep the place going. Inside the lobby they have Art gifts for sale and along with that they have a Bazaar with many artists / vendors. There were nineteen vendors at the Bazaar. I was lucky enough to setup next to some girls selling fudge. I had seen them at the Empty Space Bazaar last year and was glad to see they had grown as a business. 

Santa's Sweat Shoppe Bazaar

My last stop on the holiday sale binge was The Foundry's Christmas Art Bazaar. This happened along with the art exhibit Whimsy and Wanting by Rusty Hatfield, as well as the member art display in the windows. I've been a member of The Foundry since 2010. Since then they have changed locations twice from growth and now have made it to 19th and Eye next door to The Metro. They currently have 84 members of artists and art lovers. A dozen member artists brought tables of small art items. The Foundry did free gift wrapping all day. Artist Mickey Percy won the contest for best table display.

The Foundry: Give the Gift of Art!

What I love about the Arts District if the closeness of the community. Right next door The Metro Gallery had the AIDS Quilts, a collection of quilts made in memory of those  who passed from AIDS, on display for the public. People who were there for the Foundry were able to see the quilts and people who were there for the quilts were able to see the some art.

A Major Award

Also, during the Foundry Member Christmas Party, I received the award for Most Improved Artist of 2012. It did so much work, so many studies, this year and winning this award makes it all worth it.

Other winning Foundry Members were Joel Arvallo was awarded Highest Sales In a Solo Show. Diana Cambel Rice was awarded Most Valuable Member. And Jason Stewart was awarded Highest Sales Outside a Solo Show.

I consider these events a great success. I able to talk to so many great people. The holiday spirit was everywhere. I got an award and I even got a commission. There was so much art!

For Further Reading:

nX CoffeeClub ArtHouse

The Foundry

The Empty Space

First Friday

Donde Esta Santa Clause?

Mr. Grinch

Etsy: Art Adventure Studios

Forbidden Forest

Forbidden Forest, Paintings by Alexandra Ortiz, 2012.

In the third grade my teacher traded with another teacher for the sections of science and art. One day my class was at the science teacher’s room but for some reason we were doing art.  We were drawing trees. If I recall correctly, the teacher told us to do whatever we want; that is never the case. There were a few trees on my paper. I decided to color the trunk of one blue.  Ms. C, we'll call her, found this completely unacceptable. She scolded me asking if I had ever seen a blue tree. I, being incredibly shy at the time, didn't have the time to answer that I had seen one on TV. She finished her own sentence, "NO, THERE ARE NO BLUE TREES." 

Trees were always a subject I avoided, but I thought if I was going to paint trees, they would be my trees. This body of work is an investigation of trees as I perceived them. I studied from life taking photos on my phone and drawing the ones I could get close enough to. Before this I only noticed trees from a distance. They’re different up close. The deeper you get into my forest the more magical things can happen. The closer you get to civilization, the more reality happens.

It felt like forever creating this show. I insisted on making my own canvases for nearly all the pieces in this body of work, but I'm glad I did. I otherwise wouldn't have been able to work on this scale. These are the largest paintings I've made so far, not to mention the most on one subject, eighteen pieces.

Flight, Acrylic on canvas, 24''x30''

I thought I'd talk about Flight first because it is the title painting of the show. In the Forbidden Forest there are many magical things that happen. Flight is what happens after the fish climb trees.  One of the fish thought climbing the tree was good, but more could be done. The leaves were all falling off the trees anyway, so this fish took two before they fell. When they were climbing trees the fish saw birds flying. The one who took the leaves flapped them like the birds did and took off. I decided to use this one for the title of the show because   it best showed what is in the rest of the show, and also has blue trees in it.

To Climb Trees, Acrylic on canvas, 24''x30''

To Climb Trees was the first painting I created for the series. In this painting the river the fish lived in suddenly dried up. They don't know why. It just did. One fish gives up and dies. Another fish gets scared and nearly faints. But since this forest is a magical one, the fish continue living out of water. The tallest fish sees a black bird sitting on a tree far away and gets an idea. The bird seems to be fine in that tree, maybe fish should climb trees.

Wednesday's Child, Acrylic on canvas, 32''x42''

Wednesdays Child is based on a song by Vermillion Lies by the same title. The song is about what children are supposed to be based on what day of the week they were born. 

Monday's Child is fair of face (narcissist)

Tuesday's child is full of grace (a little stiff)

Wednesday's child is full of woe (whatever)

Thursday's child has far to go (get out)

Friday's child is kind and giving (sucker)

Saturday's child works hard for a living (overachiever)

But the child that was born on the Sabbath Day
Is blithe and bony and good and gay

Through the whole song the singer sings about how the day she was born on wasn't her day and she was angry. She sings about things she would change if she could like rewriting story books and rewriting all the songs on the radio. Personally, I don't know what day I was born on. I would want to be Saturday's child because Saturdays are usually when I get the most work done. The fish in this painting are overachievers.

Charlie Brown, Acrylic on canvas, 3'x3'

There are boundaries to the Forbidden Forest. When there are walls or fences that is where the forest ends. Charlie Brown, the cartoon, is one of my favorites. He got lot of bad breaks in life and was generally insecure, but he had good friends. There are several comic strips with him sitting at a brick wall talking to his best friend, Linus. In this painting, the red tree tries to escape the boundaries but there is a fence in the way. One of the roots grows on the other side, but the rest is stuck in the forest. Colorful trees have to stay where the magic is. Magic stays in the forest. If the trees leave, they might lose their color.

Wire Fence, Acrylic on canvas, 3'x3'

Wire Fence shows another edge of the forest. One might find these trees and try to sneak in the forest, but there is a tall fence in the way.

For me this show has been a small rebellion, perhaps the smallest I could make. That science teacher may never hear of this art show, but still, eventually, I stood up to her in my own way.

About the Artist:

Alexandra Ortiz is a Bakersfield based artist who has been painting for five years.  At Bakersfield College she earned an Associate of Art with concentrations in Graphic Design and Art History. Alex currently attends California State University Bakersfield (Art Major). She is a member of the artist groups, The Foundry Gallery of Bakersfield and The Working Artist Collective of CSUB. She recently led a workshop, “Meditative Drawing” at the Art for Healing Center of Mercy Hospital.

About NX ArtHouse

"No Worries, just coffee art and love."

The nX is a place for art, poetry, music and coffee. It is a nonprofit based on an internet cafe LisaAnn Lobosso used to own. She has opened her own home up for the arts.  There are resident artists, a good espresso machine, and many events. Some events are Speakeasy, an open mic event for musicians and spoken word artists, On the Fly, a poetry event with dueling poets and a featured performer from out of town, and ROFL Comedy Night and many ongoing healing arts functions. It is located at 2995 North Baker, Bakersfield CA.




For Further Reading:

The Whole Show.

NX ArtHouse

Wednesday's Child, by Vermillion Lies

Walking Fish

Meditative Drawing

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way- things I had no words for." -Georgia O'Keffe

Crayons

This segment of Adventures in the Arts is about a project over the course of five months or so where I created and led a workshop at the Art and Spirituality Center at Mercy Hospital of Bakersfield.

In my Advnetures I like very much to keep busy exploring new avenues. I was in between projects looking for something different to do. I was given an opportunity by Donnel Lester, local poet and art enthusiast, to create a workshop of my own for the Art for Healing program at the Art and Spirituality Center.

But let me rewind a bit. I met Donnel through and art group, The Foundry, of which we were both members. Donnel and I had also happened to be working with a political activist group. He offered a program of facilitator training to the group, chich I attended. It gave me tools I would need to manage a process for whatever a group is doing in a meeting.

A facilitator presents the content, keeps track of time and guides the group through work or discussion.

My first experience of Art for Healing was when I attended a poetry reading group, which happened to be led by Donnel. I enjoyed the easygoing nature/ calmness and freedom of expression that was available in the session I attended. It was refreshing.

Metaphors, by Sylvia Plath

The Art & Spirituality Center  provides opportunities for art-making, laughter, music, and other creative experiences free of charge with the hope that each participant may become practiced in the skills of letting go, living in the moment, artful reflection and relaxation.

(Other workshops at the center include Laughter Yoga, A tiem to write, and open studio)

The content of the workshop had to be something that would heal emotionally, spiritually or physically. I remembered all thsoe times when drawing or scribbling when I didn't have words for what was happening. Doodles worked too. Normally I draw as quickly as possible, but I suppose sometimes I don't keep track of time. Drawing as a response to a feeling, situation or emotion was soothing to me.

  

Quick Coloring

There were a few words I bounced around and landed on the name Meditative Drawing. Meditation is the practice of focusing on a subject in order to relieve stress and strive for growth. In this workshop we reflected using drawings we made there.

The center already has many supplies that have been donated for their programs and open studio days. With that in mind I decided to use crayons and paper because I fell crayons are nonthreatening and relitively inexpensive. Of the many supplies they had, the closest thing to crayons available was colored pencils and pens with twist-albe crayon cores. Those were cool. For the First workshop Donnel supplied regular crayons. For the second one I gor more crayons to make sure we wouldn't run out. Always be prepared.

Crayons

Oncemy plan was more thought out Donnel and I asked a small group of people who would be interested in teh subject to gather for a trial run. The First one was at the end of July. I was nervous, so the intro and warm up were short (I was informed of this by the reviews). The tables were prepared with a box of crayons, and paper for each space to make our area look inviting.

Even though I prepared by writing out what I was going to say and hou to say it, I hadn't figured out how much time each topic would need. I made that up as I went. I was worried we wouldn't have enough topics for the time we had. I tried to let each topic take what seemed to me like a long time. It turned out to be juse enough. I even had to skip one for time.

The short break in the middle I planned gve me time to breathe. Topics used in the first session were "Introspective/Yourself," "The Nothing" and "Thriving"

"Yourself"

The second trial, in August, advertised online for  month and open to the public. It was easier. Topics I used in the second trial were "The Nothing," "Dream" and "Emotion/Feeling"

"The Nothing"

This project was so different from anything I have done before. It was such a rewarding experience. With the summer ending and resuming as a full time student at CSUB, I was unable to commit to schedueling another workshop. This might come back in the future; sometime, somewhere. It will be easier now that I've got the hang of it.