Thank You!

I promised my donaters (hopefully they still kept the flyer. . .) throughout the Los Angeles County area that I would be posting the status of my trip to El Salvador.  I am so proud to say that we raised $4,000 in the months of October 2011 through December 2011. Right now I am in New Mexico pursing a Masters in English: Creative Writing and here is my personal statement:

 Receiving a Bachelor's from the Communication Arts Department/Illustration at Otis, has driven me to communicate creatively in various art forms. As an artist, Creative Writing is an art form in which I am excited to explore.
     Teaching Journalism and Comic Book Development programs to middle schools throughout the Inglewood School District, gave me the wonderful excitement and curiosity towards writing. Being a part of my students’ excitement when they see their own names on a printed article or in their very own comic book has made me appreciate the value in writing. Students feel accomplished by the physicality of their work and that is thrilling to me. Our world is always changing where computers and iPads are being considered in classrooms. E-books are replacing the physicality and experience of the turning-of-a-page. With the closing of Boarder’s, Barnes n’ Noble will follow too, and the loss of accessibility along with the motivation to experience a book, will cease. Traditional methods are being transformed into technology. Students should have equal access to traditional methods of production as efficiently as technology. I am struck by the idea of traditional art forms, such as book-binding and am compelled by its possible accessibility to students who can benefit from educational and creative purposes.
     Inspiring students to write creatively and conceptually is definitely a challenge. From my experience of working with middle schools in writing, I have noticed that students are used to being told what to write: book reviews, essays, and research papers. Instruction towards writing is emphasized: outlines, drafts, editing, etc.; there is no inspiration given to write, therefore it is easy for students to view it as a chore. It would be wonderful if students were taught how to build a book, as a step for inspiration.
     With a Masters in Creative Writing, I have no doubt that I will better overcome these challenges. I wish to experience that same thrill of accomplishment by writing my own books. With my educational goals satisfied, I would be able to share my knowledge and passion through a program geared to promote Creative Writing and book-binding to middle schools to teach dimensionality of their work. Overall, I am excited about combining two art forms together.

Color Pencil Drawing In Progress . . .

Was inspired to draw a gothic-style castle upon an unexpected visit to a ruined one in Juniper hills, CA. So since I used to live in one, the Clark Residence, reference was used. Rulers used. On 9x12 drawing paper. Erasable color pencils used. Purple for sharp shadows, brown for soft reflective shadows, yellow for light.

Perspective is off on the little pyramids--but that's okay, it will get covered . . .

Rose flower bushes to be drawn in.

Fly reference used. I wanted to add a fantastical character to it (a fly came to mind)--I didn't mean to have the fly's tongue protruding, but before I rejected the idea, I wanted to try it out.

Didn't like the fly--looks too confusing . . .

Went back to my original idea--a cat with a red cape (inspired by a dream, though reading and writing has finally pulled this out for me. Cape not use yet.). No cat reference used.

Cat is wearing ruffled collars and cuffs as a clown symbol, inspired a while back and confirmed when read an interesting book.