Deeper Life Retreat logo

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" Matthew 11:28-30 The Message.

This is the theme for our Deeper Life Retreat. This is the logo I came up with. When I think of grace, I think of the Jars of Clay song "Grace" and that song personifies grace as something that can be poured... a liquid of some sorts. I think of blues and greens and fluidity. This retreat will be focused on the personal aspects of our Spiritual (i.e. The Holy Spirit) life. I have represented the Sacraments in my design, all connected with lines (of grace). I also wanted it to have a modern stained glass feel. Stained glass was used to illustrate the Bible in an illiterate society. the goblet/wine = Christ's blood,

the pitcher = baptism/water from Christ's side,

and wheat= Christ's body broken for us

Rhythms of Grace = Rhythms in our relationship with God.

Life Community Logos

Here are the Life Community group logo samples. The concentric circles in green is the Wesley logo, so for the Life Community groups I thought it would be fun to make them different colors... now which color scheme to choose! I don't want anything with too much green or red. I wanted to the font to be fresh but not too trendy. I have my personal favorite of the 4 but I'd like to know what you think. I think this is a really fun and descriptive combination mark (logo with name)

The Gathering Logo

The Gathering.... our weekly corporate worship event at the chapel. A time for our Life Community groups to come together and fellowship. The font on this is "the" Wesley font in the Wesley logo. Since the Gathering happens in the Wesley chapel it is only fitting that the Gathering is similar bit different. I have outlined it in green instead of using a fill color. The logo itself is composed of 3 equilateral triangles with the illusion of advancing into space and to echo the themes of the Trinity. The Wesley Chapel is based off the equilateral triangle (as a symbol of the Trinity) with beams supporting it... so this logo is very similar to what the inside of the chapel looks like, this space where we come to worship. I have replaced the "A" with this logo/shape for two reasons. 1: The "A" in this font is a triangle and 2: I wanted to put the logo in a new place other than above, or on either side, I wanted to mix things up!

Dale Chihuly

This past weekend I got to experience a Dale Chihuly installation at a museum. Chihuly is based out of Seattle and is known for his eccentric blown glass forms. His work is colorful, fanciful, and all around cool. The best way to tell you is to show you. Enjoy!

Dancing brings us together

You need to check this out if you haven't already. Apparently, Stride gum paid this guy to do this dance in different cities around the world. Then they decided they wanted people in the video with him... so they paid him again to film the video around the world.

just watch, click here

when was the last time you danced for fun?

UpStream logo

Wow, it's been waaaaay too long since I last posted. Last time it was a personal logo, which I am still working on. Now I am working on a Freshman outreach/group, UpStream, logo for a campus ministry.

I have used the iconographic Ichthus for several reasons 1. Christian organization 2. Freshmen aka fish. 3. issues with life/faith can be like swimming up stream

Here are two designs I have come up with.

The one on the left:

Wanted to be more organic, take on the feel of water, stream like. Didn't want to use black, but a dark gray, as there are few things in nature that are truly pure black. The font has no perfectly straight lines...just like nature. The blue one of the left has a lighter gray font and stroke that makes the ichthus.

The one on the right:

Since this is appealing to new students, this one is a little more youthful, modern. There is a rhythm to the draw the viewer in. The font is long, emphasizing the "Up" of UpStream. Black is used to give it a clean look, adding to it's moderness.

COLOR:

I have used 3 colors (other than the neutral grays and blacks)

Lime Green: the original ministry's colors, not a good choice b/c though this is part of the ministry, it is important if it has it's own identity.

Light Blue: Fish swim in water, though water is rarely this color of blue ( streams, lakes, rivers) this color conveys water and is calming.

Red: Red is the schools colors to which this ministry belongs. It is good to associate with the school, but other than that, there is no other reason to use this color.

These three colors are appealing to most people, boys and girls alike.

I'm still playing with it, but I'd like to know your thoughts!

Black & White Studio logo examples

Ok guys, due to the demand of my talents the time has come to create a logo and business name for design business. I have a simple style, no frills, no needless decoration, just the bare minimum. Keeping things simple is my goal, hence Creativity with Purpose. I also prefer black and white, but I can do color too. I am an amateur in the design world, so I have much to learn, but one has to start somewhere.  

These are logos that I created for Black & White Studio.  Here is why I like both of these. They exhibit several of the Gestalt principles of design:

proximity

closure

repetition

figure/ground: when the negative space is as important as the positive space ( negative space = the white space around these letters. positive space= the black letters themselves) 

symmetry

asymmetry

continuity

hierarchy

balance

let me know which one you like ( you can dislike both) and why. Please use constructive criticism, I value your opinion. (disregard the watermark in the middle)

Memorial Day Appreciation

Sculptor Felix DeWeldon apparently had a clay model done for this statue 72 hrs after seeing the picture this was based off of...wow! 

It is monuments like these that remind us of our story. Many thanks to those who have sacrificed their lives. Troops, I support you!  

Christ is laid in the tomb

This too is not an original idea, I just love this composition and technique and I love the simple style, so I tried it and this is what I came up with. The picture of my painting does not do this painting justice. I just love the lines and then the lonely doorway in the background. 

IT IS FINISHED!!! now on to other things!! 

Christ dies on the cross

Painted from the same statue as the last one, this one depicts the moment when Christ surrenders his spirit. The shadows really describe Jesus' emaciated yet muscular body. I am really pleased with the wash like technique. I think I'm getting the hang of this painting the figure thing! 

Christ talks to the thieves

This is not an original idea. I really like the simplistic nature of this and the erie attitude. It seems so lonely and stark. Done with ink.

Christ consoles his mother

After Christ is hung on the cross he consoles his mother. I can't even imagine what Mary was feeling to watch her son die in the most humiliating way. This painting was also done while looking at a statue. I decided to use the minimalist style to convey the highlights and shadows of the stature. The watery ink conveys the solemn attitude. I am really proud of the shadows and my treatment of the figure. 

Christ is nailed to the cross

When I was looking for images/inspiration for this project I came across a beautiful drawing by David Myers and decided to paint my version for this and this is what I came up with. THIS IS NOT AN ORIGINAL IDEA all of the credit goes to DAVID MYERS. I am really proud of myself for pulling off such a good rendition with acrylic paint.

The Weeping Women of Jerusalem

This is painted from a relief sculpture. While Jesus is carrying his cross Jesus addresses these weeping women. I used a loose brush technique watered down. The composition of this is very successful and the watered down effect accentuates the tears being shed. 

Simon helps Jesus

I love this idea for this scene. As you know this isn't an original idea, I just painted it. I love the dynamic shape of the cross in the background with the figures in the foreground. I treated the hands differently, making them more angular and distorted. Jesus' anguish and Simon's big strong arms holding Jesus up are conveyed. 

Flogged

Totally an original idea. I saw a photo of a man's back after being flogged and my imagination ran and this is what I came up with. This took layers and layer and layers of me dripping ink and letting it dry. I added a layer every night for at least 5 nights. I wouldn't add much, but I was intentional on where I added. The painting even has texture, visual and physical. I love how ink dries thick with a sheen, much like fresh blood dripping down flesh (sorry to be gruesome, but this act deserves proper respect and depiction). I wanted to create a reaction, both physical and mental. 

Judged By Pilate

Inspired by a watercolor. I handled the water, the vessel and the hands differently than the original. I am pleased with the how each of those turned out, especially how metallic the vessel really looks. Pilates' hands were difficult, but I think they are believable. I really love the composition of this work. The hands, being the point, were the hardest for me to do, but I am pleased with how they turned out. I really enjoy the play of the colors. The picture doesn't do it justice. Painting water was a new experience....i like it. 

Peter Denies Jesus

To be completely honest, I was really excited to paint a rooster. Suggesting the multi-layers of color in their feathers challenged me. I believe I was successful, especially with the tail and the feathers around the chest and stomach. . The figure in the background is the image of Peter in anguish. The sky and ground, dull and dingy, highlight the bright plumage of the rooster even more, as well as describing the remorse in Peter. 

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

Inspired by a relief this painting is done with an acrylic wash. This minimalist drawing technique simplifies the the picture, adding emphasis on the main event. I depicted Jesus tired and worn out. I chose a dark umber to give warmth, leaving the cooler colors for the later, colder events. 

Finished Christ with Cross

It has been way toooo long since my last post. I have failed... though now I have some more free time so I won't let it happen again. Anyway, here is the finished product of Christ with the cross. The picture does not to it justice, and maybe I am just bad at documenting these, I'll try to take another picture. You get the idea. I am very proud of pulling this painting off. I love the shading of the face and I am really proud of the treatment of the hands. I added blood around the crown and on his hands and brow, it is very striking in person. 

Sneak Preview

Due to popular demand, it has been requested that I post more. I wanted to wait and only show you finished projects, but oh well. 

This is the progress of Christ Takes His Cross. At the time, I still had to finish his face,hands and background, and crown of thorns. I have since finished the painting, however, I have not photographed it yet. But, you get to see the progress. 

Don't judge it yet.... 

The Kiss of Death

Here is the second painting. I did this from a drawing and absolutely loved the minimalism. I wanted it to be simple but descriptive. The negative shapes really make this composition dynamic. I am really proud of how I manipulated the ink and brush. I was tempted to keep working and working... but there does come a time when one too many brush strokes ruins a painting. 

I was afraid that ink would bleed on these canvas panels- it doesn't - in fact it creates a really cool texture. 

*feel free to comment, I'd love to know what you think*

Agony finished product

Here is the first of many paintings to come. 

I have been working on preliminary sketches, but I wasn't excited about this project. Themes, motifs, colors, value -the technical aspects-were a millstone around my neck. Not an environment where creativity can flourish. 

So I rethought everything. 

I stopped sketching and just started painting. Getting back into the flow of the paint was crucial. It is amazing how you can plan and sketch and predict how picture should come out, but once you put that first stroke of paint down, everything can change. 

It was freeing. 

4 hours later- 2.5 paintings done!

[disclaimer] I cannot take credit for the main figures in these paintings. I have gathered pictures from the internet to create these compositions. The settings are original, but the main figures are not. I do take credit for the ability to reproduce these images, and manipulate a paint brush in a way that describes what is going on ;)

Agony

I was inspired by this statue and this figure has become the "Jesus" figure in my first sketch for the first station " Jesus in agony in the garden of olives". The top is a detail of the second. I have not decided on the final composition. 

I love this statue because the raw emotion of grief is conveyed. It even makes my heart twinge. 

Lenten Endeavor

The next four weeks entail a most arduous labor of love. I have been commissioned to do 14 paintings/drawings depicting each station of the cross. By far the largest and most important commission I have received, I am a little scared in my abilities. These works will not be housed in a gallery, but in a chapel, on Good Friday. In sequence, starting from Gethsemane and ending in the tomb, students will have the space for personal reflection.

 Since I cannot draw from observation, like I've been schooled to do, I have to compose scenes from scratch. The internet is a valuable tool. This is not the first time in history the stations of the cross has been depicted in art. I am in awe of  those who have gone before me. Now it is my turn to join the "religious artists." This is big! I'll post what I've come up with.

Les 

A Promise of Things To Come

This is an ink painting I did a few weekends ago. A few years ago my sister when to Japan for 3 months and brought back authentic Japanese brushes, rice paper, and ink for me. Why has it taken me 3 years to open it all and play with it? I'll never know. 

The Danish Poet

Check this out! Probably some of the cutest animation with an adorable plot (thank you Caro for showing me this):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTef0HWbW_M

p.s. Today I came to a peculiar realization: I refuse to swing on a swing set in-front of people I don't know. When was the last time you were on a swing?

Mardi Gras = Fat Tuesday

My debut post for Mardi Gras! 

A New Orleans local told me that only tourists wear all of the beads they get. In fact that is how you can tell the tourists from the citizens. Tourists are in a frenzy laying necklace after necklace. Their choice weighs them down. The locals don't because the massive amounts of beads get heavy. Hmm... 

stay tuned for more pics, drawings and whatever else I want to share!