July's Art Giveaway 2015

Boy was this a nail biter! I was not sure if I could finish any of the art giveaway item options that I had in mind (and had been working on throughout the month) until the last half of the very last day of July. Phew! Here it is..........

 

How this project came about...

I had to learn how to knit for a class in college. However, I was the only lefty, and was given a packet of written instructions to teach myself with rather than professor instruction. Thankfully, my grandma was willing try teaching me one-on-one, and while she teases that I "knit backwards" and had to check my work over often because my technique just didn't look right, it always worked out fine. ;)  I continued knitting (basic knitting) even after my class project was complete, it is incredibly relaxing.

Upon entering the working world, there was not much time for art, or knitting. A few years went by, I lost my job, and found my way back to various art forms, such as painting, photography, etc. A couple more years passed, and I found myself back in a position where I couldn't paint as much. Creative frustration got to me... I had to figure something out. And then it hit me... knitting can be done just about anywhere! Plus, it would be a really great opportunity to finally tackle a bucket list item... knitting Grandpa a sweater... Grandma retaught me everything, and then some (she is really wonderful!). We made a few things and spent a lot of time together, then I jumped into the sweater project (and to both of our surprise, actually completed it!), and from there, I got into some smaller knitted projects that were great ways to experiment/learn new things.

My next goal was to knit a shape, other than a square/rectangle. I figured out how to make hearts, which inspired a few other ideas in which these hearts could be incorporated. And here we are with July's art giveaway item: a knitted pillow - made with second hand yarn, and a rarely (if ever) used blanket cut up as stuffing.

If you are interested in winning this, just comment on the original July art giveaway announcement video on facebook or google+ ... DEADLINE is Wednesday, August 5, at noon (central). Good luck! :)

June Art Giveaway 2015

I have been looking forward to the opportunity to give this creation away... while it is a couple of years old now, it is one of the accomplishments I'm most proud of and the life lessons that I gained continue to help me through difficult times. It has been an endless source of inspiration, and reminds me of the fact that I am capable of more than I think...

 

I give you... THE 24 HOUR PROJECT. For this giveaway, the ebook is up for grabs!

To enter, simply comment on the video that you'd like to enter on my facebook page or my google+... DEADLINE is THIS Friday (July 3) at noon (central).

If you are not aware of what THE 24 HOUR PROJECT is, here are a few handy links to get some info/previews:

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/40707030
12x12 and ebook: www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3151380 
7x7: www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3152086

 



Available in hard cover/soft cover, 12x12, 7x7, and digital

Sending a signed copy out by request!

And the short version: this was photographer Andrew Kufahl's follow up idea to his impressive 365 project. The goal was to create 24 concept images within 24 hours... from there, we made a book and since then, we have also had a gallery show.

Part of the promo materials for our gallery show

 

At our opening of THE 24 HOUR PROJECT exhibition at Gallery 3

We have some BTS footage on his artist page, and more video we have yet to edit that will hopefully will see the light of day at some point. ;)

Some BTS footage from Hour 1

 

This project is truly something special for us, and I am so excited to be able to share it again. :)

Hour 1's final image

A little rusty - self portraits

A long, long time ago, I started playing around with self portraits simply to keep up my photoshop skills after school while I searched for a job in graphic design. I had never liked my photo being taken, but I was the only one around at odd hours of the night/morning. It became an artistic outlet, which later helped out when I stumbled into the local modeling world. And then I just stopped...

Remember the haircut incident? With the extra hair that was unnecessarily taken from my noggin', I think all my inspiration got butchered, swept up, and tossed in the trash along with it. Eventually, I got back into modeling, in general, but never really returned to self portraits. After working with photographers who I could share my ideas with to shoot as a team, I ended up not even feeling the need anymore.

A few people have asked why I stopped, and have suggested I give it a go again. I just haven't felt the urge.

Until recently...

I've been flooded with ideas. At times it is overwhelming.

But now I feel so rusty...

I can't tell you how may photos I've started or wanted to start lately, only to lose my oomph within minutes.

One day, I felt a slightly stronger urge, and was so close to following through...but was quickly discouraged and started to pack things up. Then the partially opened door caught my eye, triggering some sort of feeling...


I set up the camera, completely unsure about where this was headed... something had me hooked on this spot.

After a few boring attempts,  my interest was waning. Come on, have some patience... think... dig...
Eventually a vague concept hit me.
After a good amount of sprints and squats, I decided I had what I was looking for. Or maybe not. I don't really feel like I know what I'm doing anymore...


Incorporating a workout, at

least I'll get something out

of this... aaaannd REPEAT!

Processing the photo brought on more anxiety. It felt so silly feeling so lost with something that used to be quite natural and fun for me.

I've had the honor of working with some pretty incredible photographers... who shoot way better than I do... who edit way better... who have a well put together style... who are well known... who are real photographers...

But... I have ideas. I don't want to be a professional photographer... I just want to make stuff... and I think I would like to have the option of self portraits again. I've got to do something with this surge of creativity, right?

So, here it is...

May Art Giveaway 2015

For this month's giveaway, I accidentally made the art piece...

 

 

I've never been a fan of working with watercolor--the type of work I used to enjoy doing was very detailed and I was never able to learn how to get that kind of detail with a medium like watercolor. Pencil, charcoal, etc were my preference. I also liked to get DARK and that is more difficult with watercolor--keep in mind, a lot of this probably just has to do with the fact that I just never learned much about the medium. I love SEEING amazing watercolor paintings from people who actually know what they are doing...I just hated working in the medium myself.

 

These days, I've been doing a lot more abstract... a lot more experimenting, and sort of just allowing the medium I'm working in to do its thing. And I've definitely embraced my messy side. But still no watercolor.

 

So one day, I was in the mood to make stuff. Watercolor was available. I didn't have anything in mind, I had no expectations that I'd actually make anything good and definitely did not think about the monthly art giveaway, I just wanted to do something for the heck of it. So I started with really loose random swooshes on the page... nothing exciting or promising. But I had no attachment to what I was doing, so I could be free to do whatever I wanted, regardless of how it turned out I couldn't be disappointed. I got into the creative zone, started getting gut feelings with what to do with the piece-though still no expectations/end goals. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was feelin' it and having fun.

 

Eventually I stepped back and slightly out of the "zone" to take a look at what the heck was happening. It actually was looking kind of neat! How?! I don't know if I can figure that part out.

 

So...here it is:

 

So if you like this piece, here is the giveaway info.........

DEADLINE: THIS Sunday, noon (central). Comment on the original video on my facebook or google+ page that you would like to enter.

 

It is not matted/framed, and the usual rules apply (for a quick list refresher, check out January's art giveaway)

 

It may have been a total fluke, I may never be able to do something like this again. Who knows?! But what an experience... to be that free. No excuses, no expectations, just play.

 

 

 



April Art Giveaway 2015

This post pains me...I mean seriously, I smashed my finger with a hammer for this month's project. ;)

I made something new today... I've been sitting on this idea for quite some time, and it actually worked! THIS is a large part of what I had in mind when I first thought of doing these giveaways--I wanted it to be an opportunity to expand and try new things, learn new techniques, reinvent old techniques, etc. Here we go...

I've got two options for you to choose from- a small one, and a bigger one...

They're made from repurposed/scrap materials-copper wire and yarn to be more specific.

The idea behind it: life lessons can be rough... sometimes it feels like we get the crap kicked out of us in life, our hearts take a beating... but we have the opportunity to use that for good-to make ourselves better/stronger people, we have the ability to make something beautiful out of poopy situations...and that's pretty amazing. And we don't have to let other people, experiences, life, the world, beat out all that is kind from us. We can keep a warm soft spot in our hearts, even if it gets worn down or even needs to be rebuilt. This is my visual representation of this...

 

 

You can repurpose/make your own chain by cutting off the access yarn (leaving the knot/bow) or you can wear as is--tying the yarn or adding your own clasps. A variety of options. :)

 

To enter, please go to my www.facebook.com/NFGartist or google.com/+nNFGjolly and comment on the original video with which necklace/pendant you would like to try to win.

 

DEADLINE is Sunday, April 26, at noon (central). After that, I will randomly draw a winner, so keep an eye on facebook/google+ for the winner announcement.

 

Good luck! And thank you for the continued support. :) 

March Art Giveaway 2015

I struggled with this video... but here it is, despite being sloppy and delayed!

For the past few years, I've been doing quite a bit of collaborating with photographer Andrew Kufahl. I met him about 3.5 years ago, towards the end of his 365 project. I was lucky enough to be in the final two shots of that impressive project, and since then, we've been working together pretty consistently. The fun thing about working with Andrew is he is open to me having a good amount of creative input... I used to shoot my own self portraits quite often prior to meeting him, but started throwing my ideas out to him. His style and talent really help bring my ideas to a whole new level.

It is hard to pin point how exactly this particular shot started-who came up with what-because often times, there is a spark of an idea that gets thrown out between us, and we both work to build a final image. This shot was one of our earlier collaborations. I remember it being one of the earliest where I got to see some of Andrew's awesome lighting techniques... he treats lighting as though he's painting. What a cool process to see and actually be a part of! We used a technique that each of us has used in our own work (ghosting), but it was the first time we used this in a piece together... Andrew does as much as possible in camera, including this effect--which I had never seen done before.

The last time he said goodnight, was also his goodbye...

This specific print was used for display, so it does have some stuff on the back. It is mounted on foamcore, and you get to frame however you wish.

To enter: comment on the original video on facebook/google+ that you would like to enter...that easy! The DEADLINE is this Friday, April 3, at noon (central). Afterwards, I will do a random drawing for the winner. Good luck! :)

February Art Giveaway 2015

Boy, life doesn't hesitate to call you out...

Earlier this year... I announced a project...

I honestly didn't know if anyone would even be interested...but January was AWESOME.

Just because you had a poopy year, and it is now a new year, does not mean that things have to improve, that poopy things aren't going to happen. WE define time, but time has no rules. So, long story short, there have been additional poopy events.

Sometimes there is so much happening, you really don't feel like there IS time for anything else but dealing with it. Perhaps it was due to my fantastic chiropractor and massage therapist for allowing me to finally relax for a brief period of time recently, but I remembered how it felt to do the January giveaway... I remembered how excited I was for this project. I generally dislike commitment, but this was different...this was for me, promising to find a way to continue doing what I love, no matter what. I have a lot of things to figure out in the other parts of my life, but I have something I made that I can giveaway, and I have a video camera, and internet access today...which means I can continue this project. So darn it, no excuses! Speaking is not one of my strong points, I'm pretty stuffed up, and there are a million other reasons you may actually find valid for me not feeling like doing this right now... but that's not the point. I'm technically alive...and I have the pieces to make it happen. So here we go...

February... while it is still cold, I've got a pair of fingerless gloves for you! They are knitted with double yarn, which makes them a bit thicker and squishier. I had experimented with this pair, attempting to "draw" with yarn. I chose to do a little blue bird, and intended to add a second blue bird on the cuff of the other glove. If you like what you see, please either go to my facebook or google+ and comment on the video that you want in. The deadline: Wednesday, March 4, at noon (central)... Then watch for a video where I do the drawing live to announce the winner.

 

I know this wasn't the last test...and I know I may want to stop again, or even feel the need to do so in order to deal with other life things. But hopefully I can keep reminding myself of this very important lesson, to keep doing what I love doing.