I am officially done with my most stressful semester at college and I couldn’t be happier! I am so ready to let go of that stress/everything that had to do with last semester and move forward with my life.

I’m spending this summer on campus instead of going home. It’s both a good thing and a bad thing; I’m taking three summer classes and working as an Orientation Leader. Good because I’ll have all the free time in the world to paint/photograph and bad because well…I won’t be going home at all really between this semester and the fall. 

With that being said, I’m so excited for new projects that I’ll be working on! I have three concrete series that I want to work on and some pieces here and there. They are:

1. Nostalgic Ghosts
2. Devi
3. To be a Woman

Nostalgic Ghosts is a mixed media series based on white and black photographs that I’ll be working in with paint. 

Devi is a modern take on Hindu Goddesses. I’m really inspired by flowers and birth (what’s new) but there will be a lot of imagery associated with birth and reincarnation with those.

To be a Woman is something that I’ve been dying to work on for a very long time. It’ll also be something very dear to me. It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with all things related to birth, pregnancy, and the female reproductive system. Part of it is because it’s something so taboo and because it’s a part of who I am. A responsibility that I’ve been given without even asking for it. These are going to be ink based drawings with flowers bursting and blooming.

I’ll also be sketching a lot. I ordered myself a brand new sketchbook for documenting my progress! I’ve already started drawing and hopefully, I’ll have things to share with you all. I have an idea for a self portrait that is inspired by this lovely artist. There is a piece called “Motherhood” that I’m also planning to work on; gold strands and umbilical cords.

There are drawings that I owe people that I’ll be working on as well. Studies of flowers, hands, people….I’m waiting to be inspired by everything.

I also want to explore new forms of art. Oil painting is something that I’ve been dying to learn but have been too scared to actually try. It just seems so intimidating and official. Professional. I want to get back into print making and large scale drawings. I want to get my hands messy and explore. Maybe I’ll try encaustic.

I can’t remember the last time I was itching to paint or create something. It’s a lovely feeling and I’m so glad to have it.

Here’s to a productive summer!

My friend was telling me a few days ago that I should paint.

I have no time.

Well, you need to make time. You have time. You just need to figure out when you can do it.Except I really don’t. Painting requires patience and a lot of time and work. It’s really unfortunate, I promised myself that I would make time for it. It’s is an important part of who I am and I want to, I really do but there just aren’t enough hours in the day and I need to pick between school work and my art and school work will win because right now- that’s my future.

Spring Break is the week after this. I’m spending a lot of time in the city, seeing my favorite band, being with people I love and hopefully painting or photographing orsomething. Spring is here and I’m dying for some photo therapy or painting therapy or some sort of emotional release.

I’m really bad at keeping up with goals and resolutions. 2011 was not a good year for my art. I started one painting series called First Blood that I haven’t completed still. I did take a lot of pictures. I uploaded 45 pictures that I took in 2011 on my flickr but several of those are from the same day or photo shoot so the number of pictures from individual events and shoots are significantly smaller. I drew very little. I came up with few ideas to expand on. 2011 just was not a good creative year.

Hopefully, I’ll be doing more art this year and less moping about having no inspiration!

This year, I hope to:

• Work on my portfolio
• One shoot a month
• One completed painting a month
• Visit one museum or gallery a month.

Of course, in between one shoot and painting a month, I’ll be sure to work on sketches, preliminary drawings and miniature paintings. I feel like asking one of everything is not difficult at all, especially since I want to work on a new train series this year and be in the city- where I do tend to take a lot of pictures. Something about the fact that I’m pretty much glued to my camera. Also, by going to museums and galleries, I’ll still be surrounded by art.

I want to improve on my painting. Not painting seriously for a year takes a serious hit on your skill to paint. I feel like I’ve lost what I skill I had built up and it is really such a terrifying feeling. To feel like you don’t remember to paint? It’s the worst. I want to get better and I’m really going to push myself.

I’ve already got some ideas lined up. I want to finish two tattoo sketches I’ve promised my friends by the end of this month. I think that’s doable. There’s a massive list of 50 different series ideas that I’ve got hidden around somewhere. I’d like to tackle that list and make something.

Even if I don’t get to complete one painting a month, the main point here is that I want to remain immersed in art. I’m going to look for contests and galleries to submit work to. Many an artist residency. I just want to grow and expand and I hope this is the year that it finally happens!