Dancing through time

 Dance Studio Series, original photographs.
These are just a few moments that I captured with my D3100 while I was in the studio with some dancers from LC. I really enjoyed working with all the dancers-they were all very photogenic and talented. Top to Bottom: "Secrets", "Paris", "Criss-Cross", "Vinny". Shout out to Jen, Paris, and Vinny for letting me photograph their dance session. Keep on dancing-it's captivating.

(I miss You)

"Distraction", original photo with digital effects.
 Yea, plaid rocks. Hunter-you know it's not real flannel...but maybe one day I will own real flannel. {: This is a photograph that I took in the middle of a homework marathon. One of the best things that experience and my family has taught me is that it's okay to take breaks. I used to work for hours and hours on end without a break, and didn't realize how I was running my self down. I do still work very hard, and still let my work ethic overcome my relaxation time, but it's something I'm working on...the beautiful thing about life i that you always have a chance to do better. This is just a record of me trying to do better...and allowing myself to be distracted, if not, procrastinate in the healthiest way possible. Love you, Family, and you, too Poppy in heaven (I miss you).

Doin' Me...?

"Self-Titled", original photograph with digital effects
This is a photograph if my friend, Cookie's (aka: Cookie MonMon) shirt (absolutely love the shirt slogan...). I applied digital graffiti over the photograph I took. Many people laugh when they see this piece because the whole, "doing me"-along the lines is a common slogan in pop culture to celebrate being single. However, I have heard so many people say, "I'm doin' me", but they're always talking about dating someone new or hung up on someone. I have met only a few people my age that are truly content being single. So this is just a parody on those who would love to just do themselves, but subconsciously end up doing just that last. :P Oh, by the way, this is his first rap track, check it out, http://soundcloud.com/dtwashi/suck-me-off?utm_campagin=timeline&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fdtwashi%2Fsuck-me-off&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=soundcloud?facebook_banner=1

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"Left my Mark", original photograph
Yes, the amazingly-drawn smiley face was drawn by yours truly. :P I just want to lift people's hearts...

e.c.s

This is the cover for my notebook for my Creative Drawing class.
You know you're an art student when a part of your homework assignment is to decorate the cover of your notebook (now, don't fall into that stereotype...check out @fyowlartstudent on twitter if you want to have an idea of how laborious some art assignments really are...le sigh). I cut out my initials from an old pair of jeans that was given to me by my RA (Beth, you're the best!) for art projects/crafts. This is how I originally placed my initials on the page. Once I looked at the page, I realized how much it makes sense-most people call me Ella Claire, and don't know my last name...feel like I'm on the verge of losing my last name...

Sentimental SLR

"SLR Memories", 3D sculpture; SLR 35 mm developed film, coat hanger, picture frame

I designed and built this sculpture for the "Lines" unit. I decided to include my love for SLR photography by using developed film. I have tons of film, and I found one strip of film from my Senior Year that was the last strip of film my friend Edwin took (a piece of him is featured in Pentax K1000 Love). This is very sentimental because Edwin is one of my closest friends, and he is now in the Navy. And if, Edwin, you are reading this, I hope you laugh because of my purposeful mistake in your military branch. :P (Oh, and congrats on married life!).

A Reminder

"Treat Yourself Right" original photograph, digital effects
It's just a reminder.

Crystal Beach

"Anti-War", original photograph
I took this photograph on my annual trip to Canada. This is an abandoned, old "Anitques" building in Crystal Beach, Ontario. I love Crystal Beach for its small-community feel, and the clarity of Lake Erie. This place is a mixture of man-made and natural beauty. For those who don't know or are not familiar with Crystal Beach, it used to be a theme park at the turn-of-the-century. Crystal Beach was famous for its pier and for housing   "The Comet". It's a wooden and metal roller coaster that is still open to public (note of forewarning: it is actually scary, not because of it's layout, but because it actually sounds like it's going to fall a part when you ride it...it's now relocated at the smallest Six Flags theme park in Queensbury, NY) I do not know how the rest of the Antique letters fell off (or if they were torn off), but full props to the graffiti artist who was clever enough to make the side of this building a work of art.

Fairly OddParents?

"The truth stings like Mohammad Ali" -Lupe Fiasco, original photograph with digital effects
I took this picture (with, yes, my phone) during my first semester. I was spray-painting a 3D wall-hanging of abstract bumblebees (will be posted later...). My awesome roommate Hunter and my friend, Greg held flashlights in the dark while I spray-painted...note to future art students-gain some really awesome, patient friends-it will make your life so much easier. I felt like Lupe Fiasco's quote fits this photograph because it is so easy for us, as people, to make snap judgements about others. It's much harder for us to be understanding, and realized that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle (quote found on tumblr -total credit to the person who originally posted it on http://surrellaistic.tumblr.com/). It's something that I definitely need to work on... And it's also really hard to type right now because my best college friends have "The Fairly Odd Parents'' on in the background, so hopefully, I didn't make any typos here...

A Pose

"A Pose" 2D drawing; pencil, paper
This was a late night sketch done in high school. I haven't posted any recent drawings because they're currently in my Drawing portfolio. More to come....

Katie

"Black Hat Flies", original photograph
I took this photograph when I did a photo shoot for Katie's 21st birthday. She was such a fun model to work with and we took a lot of great shots that day. I have yet to touch up all the photographs from the shoot (Katie...it's on my list of things to do...and the list is growing...). Promising late art seems to be a reoccurring thing for me...sorry everyone-punctuality with all these things don't seem to be my forte. Nonetheless, these photographs are on their way, and Katie, you're one big batch of awesome sauce.

Pentax K1000 Love

"That Lip Ring I Hate", SLR 35 mm print

Yes, I do own a K1000 Pentax (ahh, so wonderful). No, I do not have film for it...it's like buying vinyl records...you have to look harder to find them. I did take this in Senior Photography class in 2010. My friend Edwin (best of luck to you in Airforce!) got a lip piercing, which I hated at the time, but I now realize made a really great picture. I featured this photograph in my the Tate Art Show last semester. However, I framed it in layers-I will post the framed version when I find it. Long live Film Photography...it's a dying art- an art worth preserving. Black and white pictures can be so powerful because they lack color-such a simple, but beautiful effect.

Tribute to Dalí

"Tribute to Dalí" 2D Drawing; ink, sharpie, glass paint.

Oh, I don't really even think that I can express how much I love Dalí's work...his artwork has made such an impression on me. His work is so liberating to me, not to mention-extremely detailed and expressive.  You can just call me a Dalíhead-the way to my heart may be completely random and irrational, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Just like I wouldn't have surrealism any other way. There's something so grand and significant about expressing the ideas and thoughts within your mind-it's so moving to me. So I did this for my mother (ironic, if you are familiar with his works...ma mère), and it is now on the wall in my mother's classroom. I love Dalí's idea of surrealistic elephants (and they just happen to be my favorite animal XD), so I used his idea (giving him credit, of course -see title), and put my own flare on it. I don't know what's up with the line of italics in that sentence, but it really bothers me and can't seem to be fixed...technology...le sigh.

Twittery tweets on that twitter machine

"First Semester Self-Portraits (Using tweets from August-December 2011)", Papier collé
I created this using the same medium (acrylics) across 2 different types of paper (computer paper & heavy-weighted paper...will get back to you on the weight). It's really a minimalistic papier collé because I used one type of medium across only 2 paper types (as opposed to several different types). This was a project for my Freshman Seminar class (Only 1 credit...how lame is that?) that was due at the end of the year. I decided to print off all the tweets that I tweeted on twitter (tongue twisted, yet? :P) from the first day of school up until the night before this project was due. I thought that the tweets themselves would speak about my first semester of college, more than I could ever say or give a presentation on (if you're one of my close friends, then you may want to look at the close-up shots...your twitter name is probably on there because you are awesome). I did replica of this original because I gave it to my teacher/Connection leader. I used simple colors because I felt like striving for the simple-because the one's who make it complicated never get congratulated (yes, #KiDCuDi). {:

Custom Stencil.

Custom Feather Stencil.
I designed this abstract feather for my 2D Wall-hanging, "The Dissolving of Native American Culture". I spent longer creating, drawing, and cutting out this stencil than I did on the actual piece I used it for...custom stencils are definitely awesome, and you may be seeing more of them in the future. They are so fun to design!

A dissolving feather

"The Dissolving of Native American Culture",2D Wall-hanging; acrylics, cloth,custom stencil

I designed this piece for the "texture" unit for my Design class. For the assignment, we had to paint on an atypical ground, so I chose to go use a skirt with a Native American-esque print. I wanted to convey how Native Americans were established in the Americas before the Europeans even arrived. To me, it is a disheartening story of a beautiful culture being isolated and degraded. I really wish I would've learned more about Native American history while I was growing up-I feel like it's really depressing that I know so little about such a beautiful culture. At any rate, I used a custom abstract feather stencil that I designed and made with my trusty X-acto knife (Thank you Mom, Dad, & Mr. Henderson for the supplies!). You may want to keep an eye on the look out for the "dissolving" feather...most people do not see it...

It's all a matter of perspective...

"Enslaved Housewife" 3D Assemblage with spray paint.
I did this piece for the "shapes" unit in design class. I also wanted to do a feminist art piece because I often feel like women are "required" by society to take on certain tasks, such as: cooking, cleaning, walking the dog (as seen in the sculpture). I feel like it is taking society a while to adjust to women being in the workforce and to accept women who take on other roles that being housewives. Although, I do respect housewives greatly, and I know that housewife work is hard to endure. I am in no way degrading housewives who enjoy their job, but I do also understand that there are women who are housewives, or expected to be and feel trapped and identity-less as a result-the latter is from the perspective that I created this sculpture.

#Vintageshoppingforthewin

"Inside-Out", 3D sculpture, shoe materials, wood, wire, nail, acrylics.
I did this 3D sculpture for my Design I class for our "special" project for the texture unit. The assignment was to take an object and construct it from the inside-out. This took me 3 nights to complete, and if you're wondering where the shoe came from...Good Will #vintageshoppingforthewin (Yea, I just hashtagged; like that twitter machine @tallgreenginger).  Once you get past spending full price in shopping departments that only cost about 10 cents to manufacture-you will realize that thrift/vintage shopping is the only way to go. When you can buy a whole outfit that consists of J. Crew, R. Lauren, and Polo for $20.00, you will never go back (I never will). Bargain Battalion for life. And if you're wondering what I got on this sculpture...I have no idea (hopefully not another C+).

Just a doodle

"Just a Doodle", digital doodle on Paint. 
The title describes just exactly what it is...doodling is always fun. {:

My wuvry Hunwr

"Hunter" Mixed Media; denim & cotton on canvas board.
This is my beautiful roommate, Hunter. She makes me laugh and is much more gorgeous than this piece can convey...So it's most definitely ironic that I'm posting this because it's unfinished. Not only is it unfinished, it's a late Christmas present for my roommate (Hunter, I'm sorry I'm not punctual). I'll finish this soon!

Cars

"Four Faces" Original photograph
This photograph was taken at the monthly "Cruisin' down Mainstreet", where vintage cars are on show. It's an awesome thing Downtown has going on during the hot summers.

Vs. average

"A Dream I Dreamt", Painting; acrylics on canvas. 
Just because I love surrealism and a good dose of color. Turned this is for my Design I class first semester, and received, yet, another C+. And the battle against the "average" continues...

Decent Madness

"Decent Madness" Drawing, ink, sharpie, water colors on canvas. 
I did this piece my Senior year in High School in my free time. It took about 3 months on-and-off to complete, and I am thinking about filling in the edges of the canvas, too (thoughts on that?). This piece is one canvas of therapy-it's very representative of the trouble I was going through during the time I made this. I believe in the power of art and it's healing. Working on this piece helped me deal with a lot of tough decisions and get by on daily basis. Thank you, Art for always being there for me. Much love.