Well, I just completed my 1st project so I don't really have anything as per images for my next project, but it will be a portrait by charcoal again. This time, pure charcoal. I decided I wanted to draw a picture of my aunt. This will be an emotional piece for my aunt has passed away 2 years ago and it's just special to me. I have a few pictures I am considering for this piece but I am very unsettled because I seem to not find the right picture of her. Nevertheless, I will find one, it will be a special one, but until then I'll keep searching.

This is my aunt by the way. She is Jhansi Rani Vanam. One of the considering picture for the piece.

Anatomical eyes in the future.

(I took this as an inspiration)

I tried to be original and decided to complete one last project with my concept I've concentrated all the other artwork on this year but, simultaneously, contribute other ideas into this special piece. Before any judgment, as I know what I've accomplished so far deserves what it deserves, it is only a draft. Plane draft. My idea is anatomy eyes in the future. I will explain more once the piece is fully finished. I've not started on the actual piece because I was planning where and how I should project the mechanical part. Well, that is it for now but will catch you up on the rest once I start on the actual piece.

        I found a site full of Jewelry tutorials and I feel in love with some of the earrings and necklaces they made. Actually, I went searching for lockets and such on pinterest and these special earring caught my attention:  . You can see that on top of the stones, there is "silver wirework" and it's really simple if you have the tools to make them.  This is another example of silver wirework and actually when you enter the site, you can click under these pictures and it will take you to a blog where there is step by step process in making these. I cant' wait to try them. . There are also lockets you can make by hand if you want one that you want to make it your own. We can actually make all of these with the tools and the practice we've had for the past two weeks. 

Here is the site where you can find all the tutorials for these jewelry: http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-make-your-own-jewellery-tutorials-tips-techniques-craft. 

Art Museum: The Smithsonian

       I really want to go to an art museum. I haven't been to one for a while and I think I'm having a museum withdrawl. Anyways, I decided to share  one the most famous art museums around the World. " The Smithsonian" museum in Washington, DC. This museum is said to be the world's largest with 16 other complex and research organized museums under it's roof. It has the African Art Museum which showcases "the finest examples of traditional and contemporary art from the entire continent of Africa." These are two examples of African Art at The Smithsonian Museum.

Another museum under the Smithsonian Museum is the American Art Museum. This museum has artworks including: paintings, sculpture, photographs, folk art, and decorative arts from the colonial period to today. Amazing! The Freer Gallery of Art holds Asian art from the neolithic times to the early 20th century, as well as world most important artwork collection of work by James McNeil Whistler. For example: chinese paintings, Indian Sculptures, Islamic painting and metalware, Japanese lacquer, Korean Ceramics, etc. Whew!

If all of this art doesn't convince you that your next trip should inclue "The Smithsonian" I don't know what will. There are several other departments of museums that make up The Smithsonian, which are seperately put to provide the rich history of these art museums I've mentioned to the public because there is too much to cover in one museum. I think It will definitley be worth it!

Diego! Rivera

Diego Rivera (December 8, 1886-November 24, 1957) was a Mexican painter born in Guanajuato and was part of the Mexican Mural movement in Mexican art. From 1913 to 1917, Rivera has embraced cubism. Some of his works relating to this new school of art include: , , . These paintings show "flatly colored and clearly defined shapes and varied textures" that were combined to emphasize the two-dimensional perception of the image. These and few other paintings almost go to abstraction and shows how he has experimented with the style of art that uses geometric forms. In 1917, Rivera abandoned cubism and in 1921, he returned to Mexico to begin his work on the aforementioned murals for which he is best know, as said.

Here, Rivera concentrated on creating frescos, several related mural painting types, portraying the history and social problems of Mexico. Here are few examples: , . Diego believed that art be used to bring important matters to attention, and so his paintings brought social issues and "the hardships of everyday life" to forefront. His artwork speaks about the underprivileged masses that Rivera paints of from Mexico. Moreover, Diego Rivera  was also a talented print-maker, sculptor and book illustrator.

Just a thought...

Just a thought..
My 18 inch chain is almost completed, but I still have few more chains to add. I have not done a spiral yet so I think I will work on that and make it double because I am making the chain with a pattern. I also have a spiral to do and that will have to also go on both sides. I will make it a little larger than because it's a nice design and will hold longer together than some I feel. I am thinking of adding few more beads to the chain because making simple circles to make the 18 inch chain seems forever. And so, I think adding few beads on the metal with both it's ends coiled opposite will hold the bead on the segment as well as the coils will make a way for more simple circles to continue the chain. (Better mental picture than description, really :) Finally, I hope, I will be done with it and I also hope to turn it in the next class period if not sooner!!

       I decided to do few sketches on metal smithing again, but this time with techniques we've been working on in class. These first two were designed as hair accessories:

 . All of these have circular metal designs and I knew it could be done by spiraling metal around a dowel rod or any easy rod and then cut them with snips. I hope you like these sketches.