Life Fantastic: Art History.

Well I don't have any good recent art, so now its time to look at art history through the ages. Ages of about 13-18 to be specific.

This is something I did when I was 13 I think. My Dad's office had this art competition for the kids of the people that worked there. I submitted this. I worked SO hard on it. I pretty much thought I was going to get first place for my age group. Well I got 3rd place after these two girls. The Huong Sisters. One was younger than me, and it made me super angry that I was bested by someone that was my junior. At the time I really liked drawing cats. Apparently I didn't know what cats looked like. Also the perspective is messed up. Lets just say its my fancy artists way of making sure you can see the fish on the table. Also the cat's cushion is way too far in the foreground to actually be right next to the table. C'est la vie. Its art.

I drew this when I was in 10th grade. We were reading the Odyssey. There is this part where Athena turns into a little boy to tell somebody something. The book always talked about her sparkling eyes, so we put glitter in them. We meaning my group. We had to present a scene from it and we had this thing where we moved my drawings around on the chalkboard. We also had hills and treasure. Anyway, Athena has bad posture. I dunno she's not all that original looking. I'm still not great at making people look unique. Well girls. I'm ok at making men look individual. Its hard to make a girl look pretty and individual at the same time for me.

Florals!

This is my second entry in that art contest the next year. I think my skills improved. I drew some fake orchids my mom had. They were actually white, but a yellow light was shining on that and I couldn't capture it well. I am bad at doing things subtilely. So I just turned it into a yellow orchid. Its supposed to be in front of a window, but it sort of turned out looking more like a cross or something. I almost ruined this by trying to make it look more like a window, since people get touchy about religion around here. Anyway it was alright enough to make it to third place. Thwarted again by the Huong Sisters.

I did this for the ward directory. The Relief Society President heard I had art skills, and asked me to draw it without ever seeing my drawings. Talk about a leap of faith. I think I did this when I was 17 or so. She was impressed because I think she was expecting a lame bouquet with traditional flowers like daisies or roses, but I added all of these bright big flowers and put them in a shiny rainboot. I had a thing for shiny red rainboots. And rain in general at this time. I sort of felt there was something romantic about rain or something.

Did this when I was 18. I was running out of time for my AP portfolio so I was just doing anything. I did this with color pencil. My mom got these tulips from her visiting teacher so I took them and drew them. I didn't finish the first night and the next day they looked kind of different. and they continued to do so until they opened up super wide and started dropping petals. Again its in front of a window since I'm stupid and unoriginal. At least it kind of looks more window like. Sort of. I really failed at the jewelry box I think. Big surprise. I got a 1 on my AP portfolio. I was really relieved when I heard BYU didn't take AP art scores.

This is the one that finally gave my success in the art contest. Tai Shan the baby panda was born that year and D.C. was CRAZY about pandas. So I drew one. a not half bad one if I say so myself. I got first place. My life is full of this kind of thing, Almost making it a couple times and then succeeding in the end after I work hard. I was 15 I think. Maybe 16 tops.

nother stupid AP artwork. I was really crunched for time so I was doing anything. Its a boring bear on a boring couch, the end.

Did this when after I was a BYU for a while. Its crazy. I like it. The girl is still sort of boring and generic. I don't know how to fix that.

Compared to This Which I did less than a year before, I think I've improved.

I like Tutus and giraffes, and this Michael Jackson song called carousel. That inspired this. unfortunately I did that psychedelic one on the back of this page in my sketchbook, and my copic markers bled through.I lightened up her face i=digitally because I used chalk pastel on this and it sort of made her face look dirty by the end. It looks sort of funky, but I think It would make a cool painting. I kinda want to do more circus pictures. I was 17 when I did this maybe 18