Self Portrait, Take Two

For my drawing class this spring semester, one of my assignments was to do a self portrait. 

I thought I had finished it but I wasn't exactly happy with it so my art teacher pushed me to do something I had never done before: trash it and start again. 

What I decided to do ended up being tedious and being one of the biggest projects I have done. So, here are the steps I took to get there. 

Once the adhesive on the magnets dries, I will put up photos of the finished work.

Here was the finished product the first time around. I liked how my face looked and the style I did it in. I also still liked having my favorite doodles from 2009-present incorporated. I did not like that they were all different colors and papers and the colored paper seemed to cheapen the overall effect.

I took all the pieces apart. I then took each doodle and traced over them all so they would all be on the same paper and in the same ink.

I cut out my self portrait, pasted it to foam core, and cut it out with an exacto knife.

I cut out each individual doodle in a circle, pasted them onto foam core, and then cut them out with an exacto knife.

Then I sanded down the edges of the cut out drawings so they all would have a nice, finished edge.

Sanded vs. un-sanded.

I bought magnets to adhere to the back of each doodle-circle and my face. The magnets had a black residue so I cleaned them, dried them, and wiped off any remaining black gunk.

I went to NoCo Sheet Metal to obtain a piece of metal in the size and color I needed. I had them cut it out and hem the edges.

I adhered the hangers with E600. I will attach wire once the glue dries in 72 hours. I made it so I can hang it horizontal or vertical since the pieces will magnetize to the front and be able to be moved around.

I put all of the drawn pieces upside down on the back of the metal since I knew it was clean.

I put the glue directly onto the magnets and stuck one onto the back of each piece.

Magnets are drying...for 72 hours. Should have read the dry time before I laid it all out on the kitchen table.... Good thing my family supports me and doesn't mind sacrificing some for my art. 

Check back in a couple days for the finished product!

From Portrait Class

Now that this semester is over, I have time to be updating my site here.

 Here are some pictures from when I learned to draw people.  

Shhh! Don't let the word get out! I may be able to draw people now but it's not my favorite.

Erica - Colored Pencil - 24x30"

Colored pencil - 24x30"

Christian - Pencil - 8 1/2x11"

Colored Pencil - 8 1/2x11"

Colored pencil on black paper - 8 1/2x11"

Janay - Pastels - 16x24"

Self Portrait

My self portrait for my college art class is finished!

I went through all my sketchbooks from 2009-present to find my most iconic, favorite doodles/drawings. I then scanned them into my computer, resized them, put them into gray scale, printed them out, cut them out, and then applied them to my self portrait. Of course there is quite a bit of symbolism and meaning within the composition but I shan't bore you.

College Project

Oh college. All consuming it is! However, I have not forgotten about my art! In fact, I am taking an art class in order to keep on doing art and keep my sanity. This post is to show off a project that is in progress. It is a self portrait. It will include all of my iconic, favorite doodles from 2009-present! It was fun to go back in my sketchbooks and collect them all. I'm posting some of my absolute favorites here to share with you. =)

 Stay tuned for more book cover designs for Denae Christine as well! Book 2 is out on Amazon already!

Big Projects 2015!

Since the last book cover design (see last blog post), I have done many small sketches and small projects. Tune back in for this years' Christmas card design, more book cover designs, and more from my new excursion of portrait work! Until then, enjoy the past three big projects I've done.

First ever window painting job. B's Coffee in Fort Collins.

Portrait class at college is really stretching me!  Here's my first ever finished portrait.

 One of my best friends in pastels.

 Second book cover design for Denae Christine's Royal Deception Trilogy.

This is on it's way to be finalized and the finished product will be up soon with links!

Royal Deception Book Cover

My commission of a book cover for Denae Christine's book series titled Royal Deception is complete!

For more information on her series, contact Denae at: Denae.Christine@gmail.com 

This is the design for the first book in the series: 

 "Bazon"

Ink and colored pencil

81/2"x11"