Now an Art Student

We are now almost 3 months into the year and it's almost March and now 20 degrees outside. I am very underemployed now with time in my hands. After being on the phone for hours with the Art Institute in Pittsburgh online division after much hesitation I'm now in my second week into the course so far so good. I focused so much on school that I have not made the time to look for a job although I need the income. I originally was going to do Interior design but realized it was another ball of wax and it was like architecture but doing the inside. Graphic Design is up my alley and I can go many directions with that. My career path will hopefully be designing greeting cards and stationary but that may change as I go further into the course.
The class I'm taking now is perspective drawing which is a good base for drawing and it's step by step. I had a brief overview of that at the Art Student's League of Denver but they went over it so quick that I had trouble grasping it and I was afraid of it. Nothing bad about the League as I would continue to support it and use it as a networking source. I have to remind myself that I'm paying more for the course with deadlines and being graded on it so that's a different animal.

Below are samples of my work for the class so far:

1 point perspective using shapes

Here was the difficult assignment using cylinders:

This is what I've done so far, but I will not keep boring you with the details but I can usually paint better than drawing.

Leaning Pink Vase Project

Happy Valentines Day followers! I have a lot on my plate right now to start 2011 and 2 months into it and 1 year at my apartment. My hours were cut so bad that I've been spending time tweeking my resume and looking at online job postings that painting has hardly been a priority. I've been away from art classes for a while due to lack of hours to pay for them. I'm also thinking about cancelling my Core Power Yoga membership and switching to buying classes in blocks if they'll let me.

Anyway to my project which I thought was going to be an easy painting but there were challenges that went along with it. The pink vase was a simple vase that I picked up from the ARC thrift store down the street that was dull without the shine unlike the other glass subjects I did. Like anything else there were various shades in the reflections in both the vase and the cloth.

Photo Reference

Leaning Pink Vase, Oil on Canvas 18x24, 2011

Filet of Fish Pizzaiole

Yum yum even if you're not a fan of fish this is a treat! According to my mother, "When Sunny brought home his school chum, Tom, to 14th street for dinner, Grace served this dish. Tom couldn't get enough of it and was shocked to discover he was eating fish because "he hated fish!" Cooking with Grace, pg. 11, by Nancy Accetta

The recipe calls for the following fish ; Sole, Flounder, or Salmon- I used Cod last night and that was just as good!
That cold and snow and being home a lot at night has enhanced my cooking skills, saved money, and the advantage of homecooked meals.

Depending on the amount of fish break eggs in bowl, add basil, parsley, chopped garlic, black pepper and grated Parmesan Cheese

Blend 'til blended and should not be watery.

Exhibit A: Add fish and marinate 'til ready to cook, it can be as little as 20 minutes. Here it is ready to marinate, a ziplock bag is best.

Press fish in bread crumbs, put oil in pan, take each filet and turn both sides in oil over medium heat.

Take plum Tomatoes (I used Roma Tomatoes) in hand and squash over fish until well covered. Sprinkle grated Parm. cheese, oregano, basil, parsely and pepper over tomatoes. Bake 30 minutes in 350 degree oven.
FYI-You can also sprinkle the dry ingredients prior to topping it with the tomatoes.

The finished product served with Linguini noodles mixed with Paul Newman's Olive oil and Vinegar dressing and Shredded Parmesan Cheese. Very quick and easy if you don't mind wiping your hands constantly, bon appetite!
Recipe Cooking with Grace, pg 11, Nancy Accetta, December 2010.