This was my first serious attempt at an acrylic painting. About midway through I went to the art store for better paint because I was discovering that I really enjoy acrylics! I've painted with oils before. I even took an oil painting class. I just don't like it, and it kind of turned me off of painting for a long time. I recorded the entire process of this painting and made a speed video. It was about 15 hours of footage compounded into a video that's under three minutes! I hope you guys enjoy it, and I hope to do more!!

Here's some stills I took while painting. I am probably driving the seasoned painters out there crazy with my lack of technique! I learned a lot while doing this!

Playing faux-tographer

Photography is still pretty new to me. I typically only shoot artsy photos with my daughter. Prior to today's shoot I haven't had much practice with group photography. I had a whole plan envisioned for this shoot, but the pouring rain sorta washed away my plans. We made the best of it and ended up winging it! A very big thank you to Alyssa, Bailey, and Shakira for being my cold, wet models today!

The headpieces worn in this shoot were made by me and can be purchased here!

Lost Wandering Nomad In Search Of a Niche To Live In

This week has been a busy one. I had a lot of orders for Christmas. It's been hectic dealing with that. It seems no matter how many times I tell people to order early they still wait until a week before to order, which sends me into a frenzy because I really hate turning people away. I'm finally finished with all my commissions and am beyond ready to start working on my own art. This is the first drawing of a series I plan on doing called "Ethereal". It's simple and fun with sort of a darker aesthetic.

Ethereal 

Let me tell you, drawing things like this

 is a breath of fresh air when you mainly

 draw highly detailed, realistic portraiture!

I'm even carrying this nebulous style over to my photography. I took a break from drawing and got some pictures. My daughter Kira was a good little model, as per usual!

I don't think I've ever had a true hobby that wasn't art related. I've been creating things since I was a little girl. We won't get into how old I am, but let's just say, I've been at it for awhile! Yet, I still consider myself to be in an "exploratory" stage. I want to do it all. I want to draw in every style there is. I want to paint, take pictures, model, act, make videos, sculpt... That list goes on and on, and I hope it never stops. Because I continue to try new things I get scared that I'll never have my own "style". My style varies so much and is so dependent on what I'm feeling that day. Maybe one day I'll find myself a little art niche to crawl into and dwell in, but for now I think I'll continue being a wandering nomad that consumes just about everything!

How To Write an Art Blog That Your Followers Will Look Forward To Reading

Today I stumbled upon a lot of information as I was reading about blogging and vlogging. It became apparent to me that I am doing it completely wrong!

I am a freelance artist, I primarily do portraiture. I thought I'd start and art blog and vlog to help get my name out there into the ether and support what I love to do -- art!
I wrote down a huge list of topics to write about; How to draw hair, how to draw realistic skin, how to get started as an artist, etc. That's all fine and good, but what hit me was I am writing for an audience that isn't interested in buying art, or seeing what I'm up to. I was writing to up and coming artists that need help of some sort. This is not the type of internet presence I want to have. I would have gone to college for teaching if I wanted to be a teacher!

I'm glad I discovered this early on in my art blogging journey. I want my target audience to be people who enjoy my art, my opinions and my all-around weirdness. I'm still fairly new to the world of art and the things I write about will be a view behind the scenes of the life of an artist.

If I'm up at 4am I'm either really into a drawing, or drunk. 

There is a market for everything out there. I don't care if you collect crab gills, or sell bugs, or maybe you want to write about hamsters. There are other people out there who are interested in what you have to say. You just have to be sure that your blog/vlog is designed for them. If you are trying to sell something, or run a business off your blog it's mission critical that you know exactly who you are writing to. Pay attention to the types of people that are following you. Be sure to take the time to respond to things they say on your various social media site. Build a relationship with theses people and find out what it is they come to hear about from you. These are the people who will be buying your products.

My plan is to envision a certain type of person that I'd like in my audience. I plan to write for this imaginary person that personifies the audience I want. Sure, some people might not care much for what I have to talk about and what I'm doing on a daily basis, but I'm hoping to use my videos and blogs to connect with other artists as well as potential clients.

See? I'm still screwing up as I type. Maybe I should have been a teacher instead! Here I am writing about the business side of art. Not the actual art, or glimpse into my freaking crazy life!

I feel stupid that I haven't had this realization sooner. I was focusing so hard on content I forgot to think about what type of audience I want, and to write for them! For all you bloggers/vloggers, Are you putting things out there that are actually beneficial for your goals? Do you just throw it all out there and see who hits subscribe, or are you planning for who you want to talk to?

Okay, I'm done playing Kurstin the teacher. I'm gonna go paint and give my ideas an overhaul and work out some new marketing goals!

When Artists Get Stuck In a Rut

If you're an artist of any kind I'm sure you have gotten a little bored with art from time to time. Maybe you are sick of drawing the same thing all the time. Maybe you've pigeonholed yourself into a particular style, or maybe you feel like you're drawing skills have sort of plateaued. If you're anything like me, those feelings send you into a panic. Especially when drawing is your career and you can't really afford to get burned out.

This is what has been happening to me lately. I typically draw realistic portraiture. All that precision and detail can kind of get my brain in a knot. I noticed that I was losing interest in drawing a bit. I was bored! I love drawing faces, but I decided to put a spin on it and let loose a bit. Doing these latest drawings of mine feels like a brain dump. Like my brain vomited on my paper. I don't think about what I'm drawing, I just draw whatever comes into my head. No reference photos, no eye strains from trying to see subtle details of the face. Just pure creativity.

It's okay if you get bored with your art. I actually think it's a good thing. Some people give up all together when they get “stuck”. My advice is to try a new medium or a new subject. Branch out a little bit from what you're used to doing! You might just surprise yourself! Sometimes it's a good thing to take a break from it and come back with a fresh mind when you're ready. Either way, don't give up! Keep truckin'!

Bridal Photo Shoot

This was an incredibly fun photo shoot. I'm so happy I got to be a part of it! Our lovely and talented photographer Rachel Allen did a phenomenal job. She truly has a gift and has clearly worked very hard at her craft. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Photographer: Rachel Allen

Realistic Portrait Drawing From Start to Finish

I began drawing and painting as a hobby from a very early age. It was a fun way to pass the time rather than something I took seriously. In about 2011 my affinity and ability to draw faces was discovered. I like the control and precision of it. Though I love portraiture, it has sort of pigeonholed me into that category of art. I am working on letting my creativity bloom a little more and find ways to include creativity and personality into my work. I am also slowly but surely working toward more precise, detailed drawings. As is, I feel like my skill level compared to where I'd like to be are spheres that don't yet touch! I'm definitely self-critical! By dint of much elbow grease I plan on stepping up my craftsmanship with each drawing I do. 

 

Why Fanart is Important

Aside from portraiture I quite enjoy drawing fanart. The opinions on fanart out in the interwebs presents a multi-pronged rubric of expectation and technicalities. There are plenty of creators who resent fan works across the board, and sometimes even the most understanding artist may encounter fan works that step over the line from homage to competition.

I don't have high-minded principles, or a fear of retribution by riding on the coattails of existing fandom. Fan works are an important part of our cultural landscape. I just feel that artists who ONLY do fanart are missing out (ergo the reason I'm trying to build my creativity). Talent does not equal creativity in my opinion. Fanart is an excellent means of creating something people can really relate to because it's something they recognize. It sells well and gets you recognition. I also enjoy drawing scenes from my favorite books and movies as It's a unique way of living within that magical world for a little longer. Fan fiction and fan art are both enormous components of our popular culture. It's a way we can retell our favorite stories just as humans have always retold myths and legends. When I see an artist who only does fan-art I wonder if they are creating art simply for money, popularity, or even just to hit trends. Either way, you should be doing it because it makes you happy! Don't get me wrong, good craftsmanship get me every time, but good craftsmanship mixed with the creativity of original artwork is just plain bewitching in my eyes.

A sad fact is, sometimes original artwork doesn't sell well. Especially when you're just starting out and don't have a fan base yet. Fanart becomes a means of survival and and inevitability. Many artists get commissions for fanart and it's a great means of supplementary income. It's dicey for many reasons, sure. I think that it may be a little too reductionist and judgmental to sum up all fan-artists as poseurs. I often wonder if all the hating of fanart is just a means of challenging someone's talent or integrity. I don't think doing fanart is a unilateral pass to come down on people who create it. Unfortunately, in the art world, there's a lot of inflated egos and pompousness. I like fanart. It's sort of my reprieve from work and life. Though it might not enhance creativity as much, it augments skill and every artist wants that!

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Fortitude of Character: How We Look on the Inside

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From the time I was a little girl I was told that I was pretty. I still am quite incredulous about it. Like every other girl I scrutinize myself in the mirror. “I am too tall, too gawky, my lips are too small, I am too skinny here and too big there...” Like many girls I am self-conscious, and I can be a little dependent on the way others perceive me. I think I began modeling as a way to try an make myself feel beautiful, after all, there's always Photoshop! Slowly though, it grew into something else.

As I age, I am realizing that what you are on the inside physically changes the way you see other people, and in turn, how you are viewed.

Think about it, how often have you met someone and your first impression was that they weren't good looking. Then, when you get to know them and you find that they have an amazing personality you start seeing their beauty? What I don't like about my body has nothing to do with my physical features –it never did. It was something within myself that was reflecting out and causing me to be unhappy with the girl I saw in the mirror. I guess I didn't know myself so I didn't know how to be myself. I was projecting a personality that habitually depended on who I was interacting with. That's a pretty harsh thing to realize, but it eventually led to an incredibly needed confidence boost. I began to get into modeling and photography (and pretty much every form of art there is). Don't get me wrong, I am far from being able to say that I feel beautiful, but when I model, and I'm collaborating with a fantastic photographer it's too much fun. Slowly I'm starting to understand what it means to have a little fortitude of character. I feel like my healthier connection with my mind and body has started to show through a little more in my art.

I also think it's important to mention that I also started eating healthy, exercising, reading, etc. to help take my mind off of my insecurities and redirect my emotions. Sometimes it takes big changes in our lives to make them more livable. I am currently in the early stages of launching my journey to authenticity and self-confidence. I am learning who I am and what makes me happy. It's tough work, but it must be done!

An emotionally healthy life is one in which the emotions are moderated by right reason.

We all have veritable smorgasbord of emotions. I feel that emotions have an instinctive need to be guided by reason. To attain an emotionally healthy life your emotions have to be balanced by right reason.

Photo by Scott Nolan

It follows that emotional stability and well-being are the result of a certain structuring in which the emotions that are petulant and weak body-images are subject to a will that in turn is subject to logic and self-empowerment. It can be unhealthy to let one's emotions govern their volition and the reason. When that happens our emotions are left unchecked and go flying out unguided. They are governed by a mind not rectified by reason via virtues such as prudence and inner strength.

Of course, many practices assisted me in my journey, but the ones that helped the most are the ones that keep me grounded in myself today, living in the moment and creating things for people to look at and focusing on my family. To do all of those things well, I know that I have to feel mentally happy with myself. There are days I feel awful about myself, but slowly I'm learning the tools to turn my focus inward and work on what perspectives I have that need changing.

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