Custom-designed frame

Custom-designed frame, acrylics

I custom-designed this frame for a family print. Originally, I wanted to create a very textured frame. However, as things always shift and evolve around us, my frame idea evolved into something different.

I decided to use the palette knife, in order to create a thick texture (love using the palette knife!!!!). However, the white paint was more watery than I had anticipated, and did not create thick texture. Instead, it formed around the thick, black paint that had dried the day before the white was applied. 

I loved the ending result much better than my original idea! I went with a black & white scheme for the frame design because I knew that the picture already had a lot of color, and I wanted the frame to compliment the photo, but not dominate it. 

I have never designed a frame before, but I have certainly painted a lot, so this was a new experience that I really enjoyed, and I will definitely be doing more of it in the future!

What do you think about it? 

Peace,

Ella

Happy Anniversary

"Happy Anniversary", original photographs
I was asked by my friend, Becca, to shoot a series of portraits of her and her
sisters as a surprise for her parent's anniversary.

These are the group photographs, plus some sentimental graphics. 

It was a joy, and here is my artist's statement for it (addressed to their parents).

Becca approached me about creating a surprise for your Anniversary. She and her sisters decided that they wanted to pose in a series of photographs, in order to show you how much they love your dedication to each other and to family. After talking to Becca, I decided that I wanted to help collaborate with her and her sisters to create a keep sake that you two and the whole family could have for years to come.

Through the photo shoot, Becca, Laura, Michelle, Jessica and I were hoping to surprise you two. I have known Becca for a few years now, and meeting and working with Laura, Michelle, and Jessica as well was an amazing experience. I decided that I wanted to come as close as I could to capturing the girls’ appreciation, love and dedication to you two through this series of photographs. Originally, we had decided to stage the photo shoot at Dan Daniels Park because of the natural scenery. However, the day we chose to do the photo shoot ended up bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms. We then decided to move the location to downtown because of shelter, in case of more showers. This ended up being a wonderful choice, as downtown has been a long-time symbol of history, loyalty, and appreciation. I realized afterward that downtown was a great parallel for a successful relationship because as you two know, a solid relationship requires a strong history with each other, unwavering loyalty, and appreciation and love. We used several locations for the photo shoot: the train yard, around the Science Museum, and Down Town doors. I wanted to frame the girls to create a simple photograph, so they could show their love and appreciation for you two. It was their idea to keep the photographs in color, and they are all unedited. I kept them unedited because I felt that reflected the genuine quality of the girls and of your family.

19.

"19.", photograph taken by Charles Schwarz, digital effects done by yours truly.
This is a photograph that my brother took on my 19th birthday of my boyfriend (Rj) and me. To me, this photograph captures the essence of the night, and the excitement. I decided that turning the photograph achromatic would specifically pinpoint the candidness and the emotion of the moment. I hope everyone finds consolation and love to the extent that I have found in Rj. <3 And since I am feeling sentimental-I would like to take this time to thank all of the people who have come and gone in my life-I will remember you all. I cherish the ups and downs and all of the memories I have formed with each person in my life...and I the lessons I have learned will be in my mind forever. Thank you all for passing through my life...and a special thanks to the ones who have stayed. {:

Lost, partner art

"Lost" Partner art; original photographs, digital effects.
I've heard that young artists often spend their early years in art creating self-portraits. I can say that I definitely have done quite a few (as I'm sure you have noticed...:P). I have just generally found that using myself as a subject for my art is convenient, for starters-because you already have consent. But, on a deeper level, self-portraits are so much more than convenient-they are a way of figuring out who I am and expressively documenting who I am at that moment in time...which seems is always changing...

Movement.

"Movement", spray-paint, charcoal, paper.
This is an art piece I did for the Value Unit. This piece isn't extremely conceptual, and the beauty of its minimalism and abstractness is that you can grasp whatever meaning what you want from it. {: I wanted to achieve a clean-cut, but intriguing design with this piece. As time goes on, I continue to admire simple, clean-cut, but riveting designs. This was one of my first pieces that I intentionally explored a more clean approach to my art work. You must know,Photo credit goes to Professor Pumphrey, my design teacher. Comments? Don't be shy!

20+ hours later...

 "Mirrored Memories", original photo collage-photos taken by yours truly.
My mom and I collaborated on this item that we made for the annual auction that Sacred Heart School holds every year. Every year, each teacher is required to come up with an original auction item. We originally were going to make a photo collage wreath of the students in her class. However, my mom had the idea of giving it a more utilitarian aspect, as well. She wanted the piece to be decorative, but also serve a purpose. My mom picked out a mirror that had a wooden frame with French curve cut outs. We arranged the photos that I had taken and editted over the course of the week on the frame. I then proceeded to spend 20+ hours cutting out every French curve. 2 Xacto knife blades and 2 sore arms later...voila! Ha ha...sounds easier than it was, but the hard work paid off-the mirror sold for $210.00! As an alumni of Sacred Heart, I was glad to contribute to the school's benefit, and it was wonderful working with my mom. Our collaboration was a success. ;)

Valentine's Day

"Suga, Suga", original digital photography, digital effects
This photo collage was named after an inside joke that Hunter and Cole have together (Title credited to musicians Babie Bash & Frankie J). I created this piece in honour of Valentine's Day and to show that there is genuine love in the world. The couple's chemistry is evident on camera, which makes them a great couple to photograph. Often, it's hard to photograph more than one person because there are so many more variables that go into the composition. However, Cole and Hunter are a pleasure to photograph because they are both naturals in front of the lens-and even more so because of how they "click." O, shout out to Cole and Hunter-thanks for all the awesome weekends...looking forward to many more. XD By the way, the quote at the top is credited to Audrey Hepburn.

More Katie

 "Katie", original photograph series
This is my second post of photographs that I took of Katie...all of these are unedited. {:

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.

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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...

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...