Amazing 3-D Sidewalk Chalk Art!

There's something really special about artwork thats done in chalk. I find it kinda impressive that artists are willing to put so much time, imagination, and energy into a piece that will eventually disappear within days. But here's the kicker: these drawings are 3-D!!!! Below are some images of different works in which artists take their work to a new level!! The sidewalk no longer is a flat surface!













Don't you just love that these artists become apart of the 3-D piece by participating in the drawing? It makes the overall work so playful!

Words from the Wise .....(via Forbes)

I love a good quote. In fact, I have a quote book at my desk at work. If something strikes me to be true or insightful, I write it down. Having a folder full of "snippits" reminds me to listen to others and their experiences. I stumbled upon a Forbes article that had some great quotes from talented and successful people in the art world and I wanted to share them... Enjoy!!


There's a vast difference between painting and being a painter.
-- Malcolm Forbes

Good painters imitate nature, bad ones spew it up.
--Miguel de Cervantes

Every artist dips his brush into his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures. --Henry Ward Beecher

A little amateur painting in water-colors shows the innocent and quiet mind. --Robert Louis Stevenson

When I paint a picture I want to give a message and I care comparatively little about how good the art is.
--Vanessa Bell

The reason that some portraits don't look true to life is that some people make no effort to resemble their pictures.
--Salvador Dali

Public art is art that the public can't avoid.
--George Wyllie

A painting is like a man. If you can live without it, then there isn't much point in having it. --Lila Acheson Wallace

When love of painting (late a passion) came,
With kindling zeal he caught the novel flame;
To joys unfelt before with rapture sprung,
Forgot his age and found he still was young.
--Sir Martin Archer Shee

Since I cannot sing, I paint. --Georgia O'Keeffe

The painters of old painted the ideas and not merely the shapes.
--Hsieh Ho

Art … is as much a source of happiness for the beginner as well as for the master. One forgets everything in one's work.
--Marie Bashkirtseff

Art-for-art's sake [and] art-for-people's sake are equally ridiculous. I suggest art for God's sake. --Jean Cocteau

Drawing is the true test of art.
--J.A.D. Ingres

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.
--Sir Joshua Reynolds

I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have the light joyousness of springtime, which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost.
--Henri Matisse

The enemy of all painting is the color grey.
--Eugene Delacroix

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.
--Leonardo da Vinci

The most valuable of arts, the art of living. --Cicero

There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but here are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.
--Pablo Picasso

A Text ...

One star differeth from another star in glory.
--Corinthians 15:41

Peonies

It's that time of year again, when you walk into Trader Joes and see that its PEONY season. I don't care who you are, every girl loves these flowers. I'm am always so inspired by their vibrant colors and beautiful pedals. And more importantly, I love painting them. I recently went through my archives of my "peony" paintings... And posted a few images to check out..

Clark Little

If you don't know anything about Clark Little,you need to stop reading this post now and Google him. He is amazing!!! This "surf" photographer travels the world and captures some of the most amazing shorelines on earth. He is dedicated to "snapping" natures beauty, with creativity and color.

The other day, I found an old canvas laying around and wanted a little project for the afternoon. So, I went to www.clarklittle.com and found a few pictures to work from. I decided to use one of his more abstract images... This painting makes me happy, and ready for Summer!

Note* DO make his work your desktop for the month of July, trust me, it'll make your day seeing his work on your screen!

My Painting (2011)


Original Clark Little Picture


A few more highlights and favorites :

Coral Painting

I have a friend that just recently purchased a new home. Let me tell you, its to die for. White walls, dark wooden floors, and colorful furniture pieces that are sprinkled throughout the house. I was delighted when she asked me to paint her something for her new place.... And we both came to the conclusion that a coral painting would be perfect to hang in her living room. She, and her roommate Brian, sent me a few coral prints to look at. I have to say; I've never done a piece like this before so it was a learning experience. But I think the colors will really lighten up their home. I can't wait to see it on their wall soon !!

Here is the process of this commission:


First, I filled in the canvas with a white outline of a coral shape, making sure it was interesting composition...




Then I went over the white paint with red...




And then I added a few highlights and played with various colors of tangerine and pink... giving the painting a little more interest and depth.



With just a little more "tweaking"... a final product!




Here were the prints that gave me inspiration:

KEAN!!!!!

My favorite place to grab coffee is at KEAN COFFEE in Costa Mesa, CA. The manager there, Mike Richardson, is an old friend from High School. Every year he participates in a "coffee art pouring" contest .. where he competes with other coffee artists for the best Latte pour. He posted a few of the pictures on Facebook, and I wanted to share. Could you imagine getting a coffee every morning that was decorated this beautiful? That would certainly make me happy (in addition to satisfying my caffeine addiction).

WikiHow

Whenever I have a question (usually a technology-based one about my never-cooperative computer)... my Brother always tells me to "Google it". And while I thought his answer to "Google" my questions was a cheap way for him not to help me, he was right. There is a YouTube for every problem you can think of. Even my friend Angie told me the other day that she YouTubed how to cut bangs, and now she has a fresh hairdo for Summer...

That being said, I LOVE WikiHow. It breaks down any question you may have and gives you a step by step action plan of how to achieve your goal. In fact I was explaining to a co-worker how I started getting my artwork into galleries, and I didn't have a direct answer for him. So, being my curious self... I "Wikied" "How to Get Your Artwork into a Gallery". Success!!! Of course there was a WikiHow to answer this question!!!! And, after reviewing the instructions, I would have to agree that it's spot on. I've attached the link for your viewing (just click on the title of this post). Wiki, you are a genius! :)

Fantastical Landscapes Painted on Eyelids! Say What?!

Artist Katie Alves has been using her painting skills to create amazing eye shadow "landscapes" that re-create famous fictional lands. I smiled when I came across her work and decided that I needed to post some of her images. They truly are beautiful!

Exciting Times! Artist Reception @ The Solo Projects

These are really exciting times. On March 18th I had my first ever solo show!!! And I have to say, the event went better then I could ever have imagined!!!

With the support of the Daily Pilot and the Newport Beach Independent, the community pulled together to show up at Justin Clark's Solo Gallery in Costa Mesa, CA for a night of food and Art. My dozen paintings on display entitled, "Bliss of Growth", was kind of my "Coming out" series. It expresses my enthusiasm for color and pattern; and, as the kicker, the entire show was in 3-D! It was a blast to see everyone interact with my art by putting on polarized glasses and walking the space! I'm thankful the event went well, and that everyone had such a great time! Needless to say it was so much work, but well worth it! A Big THANK YOU to everyone who came out! I look forward to future shows, and watching the progression in my work continue! XX

Phases of Conception

I'm a firm believer that bigger.. really is better. For some reason, all of my larger paintings really don't take that long for me to execute. In fact for my latest art show, I at the last minute, decided to add a larger piece (in this case a 48" x 48").. and gave myself 24 hours to see how far I could get.

This painting is a part of my 3-D series that I'm displaying at The Happening Gallery in Marina del Rey on December 12th. Each piece is specal because when they are viewed through paper 3-D glasses, the imagery comes alive. These works where a process of painting, scrubbing, and layering some more,,, and then I finished them off with a clear varnish which really makes each color "pop".. I've posted the process of the larger piece below. I may add a bit of color to it, however at this point I decided to stop and take a break. There's so much going on, my eyes began to cross!

Drunk Series

Nov. 18th at The Happening Gallery in Marina Del Rey, I'm displaying my "Drunk" series of 3-D paintings. This series was inspired from a Biology book that I never used in college. Ever since then, my abstract work has been very circular and "cell" like. They were described by the curator Jason Canning as "whimsical". For me personally, when I create these pieces, I start off with a shape... and continue until I'm literally crossed eyed from all the movement and color I've applied to the once blank canvas.

I can paint for hours, and once I'm focused its really hard to pull myself away and stop for the evening. I'll paint until the weeeeee hours of the morning (for example I went to bed this morning at 3 am; only to get up again at 6:45). With my lack of sleep (as well as being overly saturated on bad coffee) I become so delirious -----> I can't see straight. I feel "intoxicated" with ideas, and emotion... And all I can think about is painting some more. Stupid?

These paintings are also special because they are 3 dimensional. When looking through glasses, the layers of scrubbed shapes come alive. It's highly entertaining.

If you get a moment, check it out this month until December 4th.


The Happening Gallery
4047 Lincoln Blvd
Marina del Rey
CA 90292

www.thehappeninggallery.com


Preview....