art by beca

Discovering My Faults

2010-12-09T14:14:00.001-08:00

Hello and welcome back! If any of you are still reading, hopefully this post will help you realize that knitting is harder than one might think!

I have heard it said that a truly accomplished person must also be humble and aware of their weaknesses. Apparently I am not accomplished enough, as I like to ignore any weaknesses I may have! Forge ahead, I am a strong woman! I can do anything!

Well it has recently come to my attention that I need to (maybe) take a knitting class. I love to knit, I am self taught (with the help of my accomplished late Grandmother), and I make one hell of a childrens knitted hat! (see my post on the animals hats, they are really adorable, I swear!). Well, in trying to make a hat for myself (an adult) I thought it would be oh so simple! Well, it is not. And apparently I can only really make baby hats because the hat I have started will only really fit my 6 month old niece.

Here is said hat <-- In the photo it may look almost normal sized...but it is about the size of my fist...

This realization is quite frustrating. And in all honesty, I have no idea WHY my hat is the size of a small soccer ball? I added stitches, enough to make one think that an adult size hat would be possible. I may need bigger knitting needles? But that makes me hesitant as I like a tight and uniform knit (larger needles may create bigger holes in my knitting? I am not sure about this, but it seems logical in my head.)

I guess that is all for now...hopefully I can figure out these knitting issues. Stay tuned for a normal, adult human size hat!!

In Home Art Lessons!

2010-05-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

So, in response to some recommendations as to what I should do with my life (I feel like I am still 18 years old trying to figure out what to do for the summer...) I have decided to try my hand at teaching art! While I have no formal art teacher training (I am sure people go to school for that, right?) I do have a LOT of babysitting training as well as art experience. So I have decided to put these two talents to good use and teach art lessons to kids.

I have recently been volunteering in the art studio's at the Portland Children's Museum helping the kiddos discover their own creativity. This "job" if you will has been so much fun and is quite rewarding in ways I would have never expected! Seeing the kids get so excited about their projects and helping them to make things from bird feeders, to space ships, to doll houses is really neat for me.

In this spirit of creativity I have posted a craigslist ad for my services! (I am not sure how long this link will work for, but if you are interested in any way please feel free to comment or email me!) So far I haven't had any response, but I think that with the onset of summer that these sessions might become slightly more popular?

I am open to comments, art lessons, book recommendations, or donations of supplies (I am very into recycled art right now....as a few of my posts below suggest).

When The Cat's Away!

2010-04-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

This week has been exceptionally productive. I have found that being unemployed while having your best friend (and live-in boyfriend) 2,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean makes for one lonely week! I have had a lot of alone time on my hands and while knitting my heart out (trying to get things done for my niece soon to be born into the Love family!) I decided to take advantage of the warm weather and get some painting done. The background story of my artistic streak starts a long time ago...all the way back to a freakishly warm and sunny day in early February. S. and I took a lovely walk up to Mt. Tabor park to take advantage of the 69 degrees and lack of clouds in the sky! While S. read his "History of Basketball" book I was busy lying in the grass trying to take a nap. But on such a beautiful day, napping just wasn't coming easily to me.

Instead, I used my handy dandy camera phone to snap these worms-eye view photos of the luscious park grass while enjoying the sunshine. (Yes, those are S.'s pants in the background...he is so big, it would be hard for a worm to miss him!)

While the photos I took are obviously taken with a camera phone, I found the remnants of that beautiful day to be quite inspiring when trying to use up the acrylic paints in my art supply box. The subject matter may be very simple but this was one of the most fun paintings I have done lately! (well, I guess it is my only painting as of late) I think the fact that I was able to sit out on our patio while painting it has something to do with the amount of fun had while spending the afternoon painting!

Oh, and something only slightly related: The Golden Artist Colors paint brand has recently developed a line of acrylic paints that stay liquid for longer! Now this might not seem like such a great invention, considering the invention of acrylic paint in the first place. But this means that you can now spend the afternoon painting your perfect worms-eye view of the grass OUTSIDE without your paint forming an impenetrable skin forcing you to mix more paint from the tube!

Anger Issues or Art?

2010-04-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Smashing bottle caps is more difficult than it is fun. In my attempt to begin a recycled art project I collected lots of bottle caps. Mostly (okay, who am I kidding? ALL) of which are from S. and my own various beer consumption (the ghetto Fred Meyer by our apartment has a surprising wide selection of various local and seasonal beers...guess that's Portland for ya!). I tried attaching these eclectically colorful bottle caps simply haphazardly to my plywood board with the golden "x" but it just didn't speak to me...well, the bottle caps didn't speak to me (that golden "x" speaks to me even in my sleep!). So, I decided to flatten them, and maybe (oooh just go with me on this one) overlap them? in a sort of collage looking effect?? But it is very difficult!

Have you ever tried to (with a clean effect) flatten a bottle cap? I tried just hitting them with a hammer, but that proved to leave me with caps that had more creases and crinkles than the corners of my eyes (yes, I am getting old)! So then I had to very carefully hammer the edges, and then very carefully flatten the center to get my desired effect. Now, although it worked out in the end...after just 3 bottle caps and I came out of my craft room with several sore fingers and probably several sore neighbors (fyi: hammering is loud) almost an entire hour later!

Time for a break! So I decided to be my lazy artist self and walk down to the corner coffee shop for an iced americano and some cover letter writing.

My lesson today is this: find a more productive way of flattening bottle caps...suggestions??

"X" Marks The Spot

2010-03-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

While trying to fill up my spare time with art projects and household tasks has been successful, I have recently discovered that I need to get out of the apartment. So now, every Wednesday, you will find me at the Portland Children's Museum volunteering my time to help the kiddo's create amazing art projects and watching them as they discover their very own creativity. While there I have been spending time in what they call the Garage Studio, which is a studio with recycled materials for art projects that the kids can make. Spending time there has gotten me thinking about using recycled materials for my own art projects. So much so that I have begun to collect objects for a potential art project.

I most recently found this beauty on the side of the street! It is just a large piece of partical board with a giant gold "X" spray painted into it but isn't it gorgeous?! And someone wanted to throw it away! I practically begged S. to haul it home for me...

And now I have been collecting all sorts of objects to start a potential recycled art project! Starting with beer caps, old bus passes, concert tickets. I just can't get enough! But now I am at the point where I just don't know how to start? I have all these things but I love that gold "X" don't you?

So here comes the fun part! Since it is a recycled project I was hoping to get everyone's input! What do you think I should do with this board?? I need your creative input!

Lions and Tigers and Bear(hats), Oh My!

2010-01-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

So in light of my failure to spent my free time (due to unemployment) in any sort of creative way for me to post here (its hard to be motivated with no heat and no unemployment money - none yet, at least) I have decided to give you a little taste of my knitting abilities. Because my last post touched on a very grainy photo of my boyfriend's niece and nephew wearing some adorable hats I made them, I thought maybe I would show off some better pictures of the rest of my animal hat repertoire!

These hats are infant sized, which I made for the birth of my own nephew over a year ago:

I also made an infant hat of a frog for a co-worker, but I forgot to take a photo of it, and I have to say that is was not one of my best (I gave myself an impossible timeline...). So I just thought I would share these cute little jewels, I am really starting to enjoy the production of animal hats. They are adorable and it is so much fun when they turn out how I want them too...I mean, just look at that duck above, isn't he just the most precious hat ever? (it helps that my nephew is by far the cutest kid ever, he is a good children's hat model for me!)

I'm Back!

2010-01-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

Hello! I am so so sorry for the very long hiatus! I was busy being very important, then subsequently being unemployed, and then enjoying that by going on a tropical vacation! Since the month of December was so busy for me, productivity has been down. I have a couple of photos to share with everyone in order to pass the time (and get you ready for the coming months in which my productivity will skyrocket - hopefully)

By popular request, here is a photo of my first sewing project: The Tablecloth (yes, I have officially named it, I am a girl, everything needs a name)

Next (and I am so sorry for the horrible resolution, the photo was sent to me via text message) are the very fun and creative winter hats I made for my boyfriend's niece and nephew. If you cannot tell, the nephew got a bear and the niece got a black cat. I actually really love these hats, and maybe in the coming weeks I can get a better photo of them. But here they are looking so totally adorable (I am talking about both the hats and the kids!).

If anyone is interested in some animal hats for themselves, or those they love, feel free to comment here or send me a message! I recently have a lot of free time on my hands and could probably make most animals within a couple of weeks!

SUCCESS!!

2009-11-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

I have done it! I used my sewing machine! I did go through a lot of thread before I got it right...but I didn't sew through my finger so I would say all in all it was a very successful venture!

I made a table cloth. It is just a 64" square piece of fabric, but I hemmed all the edges and I am so proud of myself that I had to write about it here!

Next I am going to take on making pillows...this should be more interesting as there are far more logistics in making pillows...like corners...and zippers and things of that nature. I will report back when I feel more confident about my sewing prowess!

But I sewed something! All on my own!! I even threaded the bobbin and the needle (which is really hard to see, by the way).

Phew, that is all for now. I am open to easy projects for beginning seamstresses...let me know what I should make next!

Now I Know!

2009-11-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy lately that finding time to create my art, let alone post on here about it, has been quite difficult. I now understand why being an artist is considered a full time job...because it is! I have a million ideas swirling around in my head and only a measly one to two hours a week to get them out of there! Here is what is swirling around, just so you can get a sense of how full my head really is:

*a series of season leaf/tree paintings...I have this idea to make them in a style with Asian influence. Elongating the canvas so it reads more like a scroll, and using soft muted colors with strong black lines...maybe even use ink for the tree branches, etc. I really want to get started on this one because it is so exciting for me! I want to see what it will look like, and if I am able to produce the image I have of it in my head.

*I really want to start using my sewing machine. I haven't found time to go to the fabric store to pick up fabric, needles, thread or a pattern (this is part of why not having a car can sometimes be annoying, it takes so long to get somewhere by bus that once I get out of work and over to the fabric store...the store is already closed!) BUT I have plenty of awesome ideas in my head.
Those are projects such as a) new pillow shams for the pillows on the couch in the living room. b) a cute fall skirt. c) an awesome fall work dress (I am imagining a 40s inspired pencil skirt type dress with a soft - or boat cut - neckline....)

Meanwhile I am busy trying to juggle work and class while leaving enough time for me to come home and relax with a glass of wine. Life sure is hard :)

Fall Apparel for Those Who Love Fall!

2009-10-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

As an introduction maybe I will give you a little about me:
Knitting has been a hobby of mine since I was a young girl. My grandma was very old fashioned and decided to teach my sisters and I everything she knew about knitting. I must admit that during high school I felt to be "too cool" to knit, but I eventually took up the lost art again when in college (thanks to Agnes and the Knitting Club!!)

While I have tried my hand at knitting all sorts of articles of clothing and outerwear (I have yet to try knitting a sweater, too much work) such as scarves, hats, socks, gloves, and baby booties the only article I have seemed to have perfected is the knitted hat. I must admit that I have probably 10 to 15 completed hats in various colors and sizes in my many storage boxes of belongings.

Only recently, with my monetary drought brought on by the fact that I now pay rent (who knew living at home could be so incredibly cheap!?), have I decided to dig up these lost wonders and take advantage of the time and money I spent on them! Some I have saved to give as presents (expect a knitted hat from me at Christmas...) and others I have selected to be my guinea pigs to sell online.

Here is my first such experiment: I shall call it Striped Hat with Flowers!

Now my request of you, my patient readers. Would it possible to sell such an article? Right now my only suggestion has been to sell these via Etsy but I don't want to rush into anything and would like some feedback from the general publish first. Also, how do I price something like that? Making it is fairly simple for me, and the most expensive part is usually the yarn (I think this particular cashmere blend was about $10 a skein).

Your comments and suggestions are welcome! Please help me out here, I am swimming in new waters...

My Heart Sings!

2009-10-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

The very concept of owning a sewing machine is fascinating to me. All through my childhood I was plagued with the curiosities of making my own clothes. Knowing nothing about sewing machines my interest slowly faded and I began to develop the very expensive and stereotypical past time of clothes (and SHOES!) shopping.

For the past few years I have been indulging my interests (see the art projects below...) and therefore have been wanting, ever so desperately, my very own sewing machine. To my good fortune, I was recently out taking a Sunday stroll through local garage sales, and I found this beauty!! For $20 this Singer sewing machine circa 1980 was mine, ALL MINE!

Now with my excitement bubbling over I came home only to discover that I have absolutely NO IDEA how to use a sewing machine. And let me tell you, you can't just step on the pedal and hope that it sews whatever piece of fabric you might have stuck under its ever so sharp needle...

So here my sewing machine sits...on my art table. The needle gleams in the sunshine...taunting me because I want to use it so bad but, to be honest, it scares the heeby jeebies out of me!

In order to begin my sewing tutorial, I have started watching Project Runway with an intense passion to learn. Now I know that this is no way to teach myself how to sew...but it is so inspiring that after each episode I take one new step closer to actually using my sewing machine.

See that purple thread? That was my most recent step. Baby steps people, baby steps. Maybe this week I can move on to using a bobbin (after first figuring out what exactly a bobbin is?)

Adventures with Golf Leaf

2009-09-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Gold leaf is my new favorite art supply...

For those of you who have never even touched gold leaf, let me explain. Gold leaf is the most difficult medium (can I call it an art medium?) I have ever worked with. It sticks to everything, it is very fine, and easily tears, crumples, or simply blows away (if it is a windy day and the windows are open...which it was and they were). But the best part, it is SHINY! You are basically working with little flecks of gold which is a little frustrating but very beautiful and when used correctly creates the most amazing visual effect.

After hours of application, with little old me hunched over my yellow table trying desperately to figure out the best and most successful techniques in applying this tricky yet FABULOUS medium, I have a satisfactory painting that I am actually pretty happy and excited about.

Haystack Rock
September 2009

This moonscape had been stuck in my head for ages! Over the summer the boyfriend and I spent a few weekends at Cannon Beach along the Oregon coast and let me tell you, Oregon beaches are absolutely beautiful!!

At Cannon Beach we would often spend the evening around a bonfire along the beach, watching the flickering shadows of other beach goers under the starlight. Every evening the moon would set along the horizon almost exactly like this. The silhouette of Haystack Rock in the background. The painting itself was always a little too dark for me to capture, but with the gold leaf I think it looks perfect. With the glimmering moon and stars overhead and the sand and ocean waves at your feet. Makes me wish I still had a real summer vacation to spend at the beach...enjoy!

*Note: if using gold leaf, do not leave your window open on a windy day. If you do, make sure there is a video camera present and ready...hilarity will ensue...

Shellac Project: Trial 2

2009-09-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

Since I purchased a rather large bottle of shellac for my coaster project (better safe than sorry) I had a good half a bottle left over to experiment with other projects. Woo hoo!

For a while I have been experimenting with mixed media, trying to incorporate photos and tissue paper with different glue, different colors, trial with paints (only acrylic), as well as glitter (I'm a girl, I can't help but love it) and most recently, gold leaf (still figuring out those particulars, my next post will most likely be more in-depth if gold leaf is something you are interested in).

I have been using plywood as my base and so far I enjoy working in this mixed media style, although I can't say that it is very successful, at least visually speaking.
This particular project I was so very excited about, the photo of the St. John's Bridge in Portland, OR was just a really neat angle and overall (in my head) I thought it would turn out interesting, at the very least. I had been having trouble getting my somewhat paper mache-like art to lay flat on the plywood. Sadly, in this case, both the tissue paper and the photo I tried to heavily glue onto the plywood bubbled in the middle leaving air pockets along the photo.

In reaction to this bubbling (and my new found love of shellac) my genius idea was to simply cover the entire surface with the remainder of my shellac. I thought perhaps the weight of the shellac would push the air bubbles out of the photo to create a nice smooth glossy surface. As you may be able to tell in the photo...that is not what happened.

Note to self - shellac will not make your surface flat and smooth. If you want a flat and smooth surface you have to make sure it is that way before applying shellac, otherwise you get a very stiff bubble and plywood that you cannot re-use...

Shellac Project: Trial 1

2009-09-18T10:52:00.001-07:00

So, as a gift for my boyfriend for our anniversary I thought it would be fun to make him something that we could both use around the house (this is in addition to our joint present to each other - which turned out to be skydiving! But that's another story...). My great plan was to make coasters. And since he has great plans of traveling to foreign lands I thought it would be fun to make MAP coasters. Now the concept seemed easy enough to me. Buy wood, cut out maps, glue maps to wood, then shellac to my hearts content! I have never used shellac before so this was an entirely new concept to me.

I had two different maps to choose from, the first was Europe:

The second was Central and South America:

Overall I think they turned out fine and they were a lot of fun to make (shellac is pretty awesome stuff to work with).

*Note for all potential shellac-ers out there...you need to elevate your shellacking surface so that when you pour the shellac it easily drips off the sides, thus coating your entire surface. With these coasters I made the mistake of simply placing them on popsicle sticks, which made the separation of the final product and said popsicle stick very...entertaining...

Recent Photos

2009-09-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Photo taken from a recent hiking trip in the Salem, OR area...

I love this photo and have been trying to recreate it in charcol, but I just can't get it right!

I don't have the courage to share my drawings quite yet...so instead I thought I would share the photo here for your benefit.

Here is a lovely photo of a barely blooming yellow rose that I managed to snap earlier this summer while at the Portland Rose Garden

I love yellow roses, they always remind me of my Grandma Love who will forever hold a special place in my heart . . .

WELCOME!

2009-09-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my official blog!

In this space I hope to:
-show my current art dabbling
-link to my etsy account so any of you could potentially purchase my artistic creations
-have continued ramblings about the art world in Portland (or the apparent lack there of)
-show off my many cooking creations (and perhaps share the fables and foils of food as an outlet for art)
-and just generally sharing tips, art, and my own personal opinion.

Hopefully you will enjoy it! Feel free to message me, or comment on any of my postings. I love constructive criticism and would appreciate feedback (especially on my art)!