Blog Update

As you might have noticed, this blog has had a make-over.
It now fits (somewhat), design-wise, to my online portfolio. I am going to continue fixing the look so that it better matches the portfolio... but it is not something that is going to get it's own update post later.
Other than that the URL of this blog has also been updated. To keep things consistent and for branding purposes...and all that good stuff.
I am going to be doing some cleaning up as well... getting rid of old posts that do not fit the scheme here now and even fixing some widgets (possibly adding new ones).
And that is all I have to say for this post.

~Reji

Craft Update #6

Hello dear reader!

I am here to give you a quick update, because I am too excited to wait for more information to write on. I am taking a class on the art of West Africa and it sounds amazing so far! Today we got started on a loom....so yes we get to weave!!! Along with many other projects (like mask making and basket weaving) this class is going to be just absolutely fun! I am going to upload pictures of the projects as I make them. Here is a picture of what I was able to get done for the class today... we start the actual weaving on Thursday.

Tonight I plan to work on getting the henna (mehndi) design on my Diwali table penciled in as much as I can. I should have enough things gathered/done to do a better post by the end of the week.
P.S.... I noticed that at the start of this blog I wrote a post on what this blog was about. I am not going to edit or delete that post just for history purposes but...but but but... I am going to write a new post that gives a better explanation for what this blog is about.

Tootles~

Art Update #2

Hello Readers!

This week is just full of updates. =)

First off I wanted to introduce some sketches that I worked on. the first two are sketches for a display idea I had come up with. I have four display ideas and unfortunately only two of them are going to be completed for the senior portfolio. Perhaps the other two can be done for another exhibit... I hope.
The first two are sketches for the same idea. I was thinking about a display on Sikhism (the religion I was born and raised in). This first work is trying to create an image for a very famous line. I suppose there is no point in droning on about something that might not be done. I am still very eager to complete this work (even if it does not get put in a display). So you might get to see updates versions in the future.

 This next work is something I completed during the summer of 2013. As a part of my first theme for my senior art portfolio. Which brings me to the last display idea I have out of the four. This fourth idea (which was going to be divided out into multiple smaller displays) was to create illustrations for a graphic novel that came to me during the same summer as this was done (2013). The story/plot of the novel came in a sequence of dreams that followed one another during the same week. I pretty much have all of the characters, settings, plot (beginning, middle, and end) of the entire novel...down to what the cover of each book is to look like. This was simply done as fun and nothing serious. I wanted to test out some paper that I had laying around with watercolor, as well as try to illustrate one of the characters of the story. And the result: a sketch that is almost complete. All that is missing is more blue tones to the water that is flying up.

This last one is done with acrylic on canvas. I wanted to try something expressive....in abstract. After watching some videos on abstract paintings and reading about "how to paint abstract" I came to the conclusion that I was going to create an abstract painting using only simple brush strokes that were just laid flat on the canvas. And it soon turned to flowers. Plus I attempted a layering technique I saw in one of the videos... laying down a background color over a hidden color and then scratching parts of the background to reveal this hidden color... I felt it was another way to display the second layer without putting it on top of the background...if that makes any sense.

That is all I have so far on all art, craft, and clay updates.
Please note that for some time now there are going to be only Portfolio updates. Another note: something that I would like to explore during the future is mix media art. I am going to sign up for the Sketchbook Project (2015) and complete it using mix media art. Perhaps have some watercolor or acrylic dominant paintings too.

Thanks for reading~

Portfolio Update #3

Hello readers!

This post does not cover my digital portfolio, instead I am going to show you the progress I have made with the Diwali Display for my senior art portfolio.

I have completed the center tray along with the sweets (mithai) that are going to be placed in it. The center tray is made of clay and colored with acrylic paint and finished off using Mod Podge as a sealer. The sweets are all made from felt fabric with assorted beads used as decoration. I looked up the different types of mithai that is made in India and tried to match some of them while some are actually chocolate and candy versions found in the West. I took some pictures of the tray and the sweets but not what the table looks like so far...that picture is going to uploaded later when I am able to put the flowers and tray on the actual table.

This is the tray with the Mod Podge still on it.

The actual design of the tray with the Mod Podge dried.

The bottom of the tray and the designs at the top were done using Folkart Acrylic Paint: metallic gold

The tray with the sweets on it.

Close up of the sweets...

Also I have completed all of the felt flowers that are going to be used on the table. I have already put together a garland of flowers that is going to be glued down at the top of the table. I have completed enough flowers to make 6 U shaped garlands to be hung down from the table top. I have to wait until I am able to buy a cloth that matches the tabletop color, then would I be able to put the hanging garlands up.

The main flowers are seen at the top and very bottom of this pile. The flat flowers in the middle are to be used only to fill up the empty space in between the main flowers and to make the arrangement look a bit random.

The main flowers that are going to be used are made to look/represent marigolds. Which a very popular flower in India. Used on every occasion possible, from parties to weddings to festivals, this flower is somewhat a symbol in my eyes that represents the festive mood in India (hence the reason why it is my favorite).

A close-up of the flat flowers.

Design for the Diwali candles made from felt fabric.

Now moving on, as the above picture indicates, I wanted to briefly describe another element of the Diwali Display. This element is the candles, or Diwali diva (also spelled as diya), that are going to be placed on the table. I am going to use electric candles (tea lights) instead of real fire...for safety purposes of course. This also allows me to create the candles from something else other than clay or flour. I created a sample to to see if the cutout template I created could even remotely represent the shape of a traditional diva. I have decided on a template, the one used in the candle above and below, and also on colors (not shown in any images here). Once all 9 candles are complete I am going to upload the images here for you to see. I am still going to use beads but the colors might be different seeing as my main colors have changed.

I look forward posting more updates on this display as I get complete more elements. This is it for now.

Portfolio Update #2

Hello readers!

I am here to give a quick update. My current portfolio (the temporary design) is up and running here!
I have already started the process of moving this from Wix. Once I am done there is going to be a new design (colors and fonts are not going to change) and a new URL. I am hoping I can get a simple and short URL this time... perhaps rejikaur.com or even .net. I am preparing the navigation and footer design right now. The navigation shares the design with the header so it's taking care of two birds with one stone.

I am happy to also announce that the tray for my Diwali display is complete. As well as the sweets (mithai) that go in the tray. I am going to be doing a separate update later when I am done taking pictures to cover this announcement. Hopefully I can set up the table temporarily or even attempt it on another table so that there is a better visual for you to see. I should have this blog post on the Diwali display up either by the end of today or late tomorrow afternoon.

~Keep reading~

Portfolio Site

Readers,

I am currently working on creating a new portfolio site. The focus of the content is going to be based off my resume (C.V.).
All art works that were completed during my sophomore year at school (2011-2012) and earlier are going to stay on my original portfolio website with "previous works" marked clearly at the top. In this new website I am going to include three major areas of focus - business, studio art, and graphic design. All projects, drawings, writings, presentations, etc are going to be included with a link to a publicly accessible Google drive folder. You are going to have the option of of viewing everything on the browser or downloading for direct views.
The plan currently is to finish the content for my website so that I can finalize the layout and overall feel that the portfolio is going to have. Once this is complete, with a custom URL and my own custom website template, I'll be officially launching the website during the week of November 11-16th. With a final blog (most likely this one cleaned up and looking professional) being launched a week later.

I looked forward to presenting my new portfolio and to get feedback on the work I put in.
Till next time~

Senior Portfolio Update #1 and Craft Update #5

Hello dear reader!!!

I am excited to bring two updates for this post. This starts s new set of updates called "Portfolio Updates" for my senior inquiry as a studio art major. I am going to briefly introduce a project that is part of my portfolio and further details are going to come in the next update. Along with that is another craft update which actually relates to the senior portfolio. This is the only post where I am going to combine the two different types of updates. From here on craft updates are not going to include anything related to my portfolio.

This table is 12 inches in diameter and 2.5 feet tall. I put henna designs on the table with puffy paint using a precision squeeze bottle. This table was a practice round for a bigger display piece.

Felt flower designs, the first set I made for the bigger table display.

Ceramic tray, at least the top part. I have attached a simple round coil on the foot to give it support. I'll post more picture of all these in the new senior portfolio updates.

That is all for this update.

Art Update #1

Summer is here!!!! And my posts were put to an end because of finals...  ^^;

I'm here now...not that I was not productive, I just did't get a chance to post everything.

I finally went and tackled acrylic paint to create something....and it happened to be a flower painting, which was a present to my mom for mother's day. =)

It started out as a daisy, but than I let my wrist loose and it just went off into it's own little thing.
This has inspired me to create more flower paintings now. I am trying to capture personality or emotions of people in the paintings now...trying.

New Beginnings - Expressive Flowers Series

 This is the first flower... the one I gave as a gift to my mother.

Sun - Expressive Flowers Series

This is my first attempt to capture someone's personality or emotions in a flower painting.

And I have started two more pieces for this series.

That is all for this post. I never posted this when I started to write it a few months ago.... but here it is.

Sculpture Intro

Hello everyone,

Due to all of the craft updates I've been posting, I think it's time for a change in material...I'm pretty sure you are tired of it just like I am.

I am not sure how many other sculpture updates I will be doing in the future but... but but but I know I have some other sculpture related things floating around the house that need to be posted on here. Yes old stuff I've made, but I know once I get started with more art classes next year or even during the summer I'll be creating some sculpture related posts on here.

And in this post I just wanted to show you guys something I created during my winter ceramics class in 2011.

 

 Starting off I have this organic earthy shape....made with red clay (it's not terra cotta...I know that for sure).

This is not the first piece I did in this class...I did a smaller one of this to just get a feel for it. It was not as flowing or with so many wavy parts....and it certainly was  not all one color...in fact I did a rainbow on it. I should find pictures of it, or maybe I can take pictures of it later.

I did attach pictures of the finished version here:

Moving on to the next piece I did.

 






This has been fired once, the problem is that one of the petals broke off. And I really do not know what I want to do with this now....I am not sure what color to make it. I could keep the flower colors, making the upper/inside all pink and outside all green.... I'll have to think on it for some time...

This next one is a conch shell....it doesn't look like one... because I never did the bottom of it. I left it open because halfway I felt this need to just create something with swirly motions...and part of that happened to be using the knife to cute off a lot of the clay...mostly on the bottom. I think it goes nicely with the engraving I did on it. I wish I had done the whole shell in just the blue and green colors...with the purple and orange for just the designs. I think the hands and the white are just too distracting.

 

 

I do have this finished...The pictures of the finished piece come in a later post as I am not feeling up to it...plus I already put it in it's new home which is hard to access as it's really high up.

Lastly from the same class, we had to create a book project.

So I did a children's origami book and took the basic steps from an advanced level of origami technique (non-traditional too) and made it come out of the book. 

 

 

I used a wire and did this double folded technique using two strips of paper to create cube like forms which I wrapped around the wire to hide it from view. 

And yes for those of you who have noticed, the pieces are  the ones used to make 3D origami. =)

That is all I have for this sculpture post...
Till next time,
Tootles ~♥~

Craft Update #5

Heya peeps,

This time I wanted to start with felt plushies and head on towards other things I've made.

 To start off, a little felt penguin plushie ♥

I got excited with the glitter nail-polish I had and put it pretty much all over this little guy. I like to call him Letter Pengy because he carries a little letter with him...like a mailman.

The letter is attached with thread so that it doesn't get lost and yes you can hang him too from the ribbon. =)

He is 2.5 inches tall, so pretty small. Maybe I'll make another in a different color with a hat...?

I saw something really cool on a blog, called Paper Matrix. That was the name of the blog, but they take paper weaving to another level. So I decided to attempt one. This is the farthest I could go for now because it gets really difficult after this. A lot of work but worth the effort because the balloon just looks so amazing, and it's very small too.

I tried a simple paper sculpture....I know, it's not 3D...but I did say simple. >w<

This is my butterfly No.1... I have another that I added some designs on.....

And you can see butterfly No.2 here.
And I made some origami flowers, and foam flowers, and cutouts....and little box. The origami flowers were made with small papers, imagine sticky notes. As most of them (the plain blue and plain yellow) are made using sticky notes.

Just so you can get a feel for the size....

I painted the Batman symbol on  my brother's eyeglasses case. It was too plain...   =)

I got a piece of wood and painted some gesso on it, than used puffy paint to add some henna designs all over it.... I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to tie all the different designs and colors together right now.

This box is very special...it took a long time to finish and I put my heart in making it.

Simply, I found a cardboard box and wanted a home for my origami flowers. So I took sharpies and other markers and just made designs all over it....all henna designs. On the bottom of the box I glued a heart I cut out and made more of a lace pattern that blended in with the henna design.

I will upload pictures of the other sides, and the inside later this week. I used more construction paper and jeweled stickers to make the lid look more appealing.

And that is all I am going to include in this post.
See you next time ~♥~