From humble beginnings
A little throwback here to the final piece I did before throwing caution to the wind and enrolling in art college. When the pandemic began in Spring of 2020 I found I had a little extra time on my hands. Not much time, as I actually worked full time through the entire pandemic when the brewery I worked at converted to takeout and remained open with a skeleton staff. Honestly THAT whole experience changed everything about my life and while it was traumatising and led to much exhaustion, tears and hurt it did spur me to radically shift the focus of my days and I went on to have the most transformative two years after that. So thanks for using and abusing me old job I guess haha just kidding I do not hold gratitude for any toxic work spaces and wish I could fix them all. It’s only now I see how I can read some good out of the self I became as a result.
So onto the art tings. I decided to do what I have always wanted to do. Go to art college :O “Mah gawd think of the college debt you fool” (my rational self cried daily). I can’t wait to write and share about the work I produced and what I learned in those challenging and stretching classes. For now here is that sweet little piece I love so dearly. I made it for friends of mine who I worked for and who will forever hold a piece of my heart. It is a quaint little breakfast spot called L Street Kitchen and if you are ever in South Bend, Indiana check it out! Family owned, true mom and pop diner style food with a warmth and authenticity that made me happily (and sometimes grumpily) wake up at 6am working double shifts for years in rain, sun and snow to get that life-giving coffee pot a-brewing for the good people of our community. I miss it, and them, now that I no longer live there.
This piece was done in acrylics and melted crayon. There are so…so many issues with the painting now that I have the understanding of the fundamentals of image composition and colour but I do like the idea and melted crayon art is one of my fun ways of making that I always love how it turns out. I also appreciate how much I have improved, I can’t believe it.
