Shoutout for CPMag's Oct. Challenge

The Colored Pencil Magazine has monthly challenges with prizes consitsting of art materials... October's picture is super gorgeous and I just had to show you guys.

Competition is open to anyone. Deadline is November 10th.

For more information, visit the CPMag's post on it here: http://coloredpencilmagazine.blogspot.sg/2014/09/october-cpm-art-challenge-sticks-stones.html

To download a high resolution version of the above picture, visit this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/coloredpencilmag/15166576910/in/pool-cpmchallenge/


Have fun and good luck! :)

Painting of the Day: Icarus Gold 11

"Icarus Gold 11" by T.S. Claire

  View more of her works via this link.

My Artistic Journey

  All the Greats sucked before they became great.

  The Greats, as in, those Grand Masters of Art you see in art history books... Those artists' art works you study about in art school. Those who've created such gorgeous masterpieces that you stare in awe at their awesomeness. Them.

  Them, and those still-living artists whom you look up to and admire and aspire to be like.

  They weren't always awesome. There once was a time when they sucked...


  Now, I don't consider myself a Great- not even close- but I'm aspiring to be one. This is my artistic journey, and I'd like to share it with you in the hopes that it'd inspire you...

  I began learning art in late 2008, early 2009. I was 14 years old, then. I still had school then, so I had to find a balance between school and Art...


  In 2011, I decided to pursue Art as a career. The workload I had with schoolwork, after-school remedial tuition, CCAs, and extra-curriculumn activities left me with no time for myself and Art. With my parents' blessings, I decided to pull out of school and became a self-taught home-schooled student. I dropped learning Science because it was sucking too much time out of my Art. I do, still, learn about speculative Science and read essays and articles that interest me., but I never took it as an examinable subject. I dropped A-maths and took E-math instead. I picked up double pure Humanities- namely, English Literature and World History. In doing so, I helped myself learn about things that interest me, and would be useful for my art. This choice also, in turn, helped to maximize the time I could spend on Art.

Apples that I drew during my early learning using student-grade coloured pencils...

  For the next two years, I spent almost all of my time dedicating myself to Art. I won't lie- being self-taught and home-schooled isn't for everyone. It took a lot of discipline on my part. I was responsible for my own learning. I was the one in full control of how I spent my time.

  My day could be started early in the morning or at high noon; they could end at 6pm, or at 3am if I decided to draw well into the night and the next early morn'- there were no fixed schedules.
  I could spend a whole day reading if I wanted to. At the point of writing this blog entry, I've read almost all the art books I could find in the public library. I've since moved on to reading newly published art books, and fiction novels or classic literature.
  I could "skip school" and not learn anything with regards to my O'levels education and instead draw or read for the entire day.
  Or... I could choose to do nothing all day. And don't think I've never made that choice before.

March 2011. Three apples.

  During this time, I learnt all I could about Art. I was a sponge. I absorbed all that I could. Looking back, I would tell myself that I could've pushed myself harder, but I'm still proud of what I've managed to accomplish.


  In 2012, I took my O'levels as a private candidate. The results came out and... I had failed my Art.

I failed my O'levels Art... Could you believe that?!?

[This is an image-heavy post. So if you'd like to see more of my old/new art works. Click to see more.]

Me bemoaning about my pain...

  You might be wondering where I've been for the past few days...

  Well, I was at the dentist's office, mostly. I had my wisdom teeth removed (which begs the question; am I not as wise as I were before.... Hmmmm~), plus another four other teeth removed because I needed to get braces.

  Now I have what some people affectionately know as a train track in my mouth.

  I asked my dentist whether it would be alright if I went somewhere after the procedure. She said it'd be fine. I asked whether I'd have any pain after the numbing cream she put in my mouth wore off. She said there would be mild tenderness, but that I would be alright.

  *ahem* ... She lied.

  I was making a trip from the East side of Singapore to the West, because my cat has anxiety and needs a very special aromatherapy collar. (I'm not kidding here. She really does have anxiety and will lick off the fur on her tail when she's stressed out.)

  I was on the train when the numbing cream wore off... And it started with a dull pain but then proceeded to become a sharp, shooting pain. I took some painkillers to ease the pain. Got to the vet's office to get my cat's collar. Took a cab home. And slept most of the rest of the day.

  ... The cat probably doesn't even know how much trouble I go through just cause' I love her. *squints eyes at the cat*



  But yes. This has been why I've not been posting very regularly. ... Because of the pain.

  The second reason would be because I want to create more personal content- things draw/written/done by me. I'm not saying I'm going to do away with the Painting of the Day or Recommended Artist segments... Just that I want to try new things for a change.

  I'm probably going to be adding more content related to art stores in Singapore; more art material reviews; and more updates on art events in Singapore. I'm gonna' need to take some time off for myself to feel better, and also for me to re-boot my routine. Till' then, please bear with my absence. I'll try my best to update this blog.



  I'll always reply e-mails and comments, so don't hesitate to contact me to ask questions related to art; if you want to touch base with me; or if you're interested in being featured.

E-mail: stephanie_jennifer@ymail.com

Let's be friends!:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieJenniferArt

I need to feed my cats. Maybe you need art on your wall?:
http://www.stephaniejennifer.com/apps/webstore/

Wanna see my art?:
http://stephaniejennifer.com/

My DeviantArt:
http://stephanie-jennifer.deviantart.com/

My main Tumblr:
http://everythingis-art.tumblr.com/

Like square pictures? Instagram, baby. :
havepen_willdraw

Painting of the Day: Luna

Strange Nostalgia - "Luna" by Miranda Meeks

  There's something mildly unsettling about this gif... The fact that it's a vintage photo, but that the moths are moving. A sort of stitching of the past and present. You half-expect the sitter in the photo to suddenly move to- but she never does. It truly is hauntingly beautiful.

  View more of her works via Tumblr.

Painting of the Day: "Don't Trash Your Dreams"

"Don't Trash Your Dreams" by AquaSixio

"Don't trash your dreams, they deserve a better lot, another goal,
I know it's hard, long, and sometimes, the result is disappointing,
But, don't trash them, talk about what you expect from the world,
Talk about your hates, your fears, your perplexity, your wishes,...

Please, don't trash your ideas, you hide treasures in your head,
You forget to breathe, you are snuffing out the flame in you,
Don't give up, please, you are a working of the human evolution,
We are young, we need to evolve and you are one of our echos...

Singing about you is singing about us, hustle and open our mind,
Don't trash your dreams, you'll get bored and make war to have fun,
Poeple will be blind, obsessed by power and ready-made thoughts.
Sheeps will govern the world and you will dream of grass and grass.

And I don't want to be a sheep !"

View more of his gorgeously coloured works via his Deviantart.

Pardon the lack of posts. Have a kitten.

  I apologise for the inherent lack of posts this past week. I had my wisdom teeth extracted, plus an added four more because I'm getting braces soon. It wasn't all that bad of an experience, really, considering I was sedated throughout the operation and that I had minimal bleeding, bruising, and swelling after the operation. It has been a rough week, though. Being drowsy all the time because of the pain meds I've been taking...

  I have managed to get some reading done. A friend bought me a box of Derwent Coloursoft on my birthday and I've begun drawing in coloured pencils again. ^-^  I will be posting a review on the Coloursoft soon, and I'll try to post regularly as much as I can if I'm not in too much hurt.

  Here's a picture of my cat rolled up into a ball and sleeping to make up for my lack of posting. Sit tight. I'll be back regularly as soon as I can.

Till then,
Stephanie

 _kisses_

Painting of the Day: Making Ghosts

"Making Ghosts" by Alice Duke

  View more of her works here.

ATCs Up For Trades

  As promised, I've uploaded Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) that I've made and put them up on my Store. They're up for trades, so if you're an artist and would like to do some ATC trades, I'd love to hear from you! I'm willing to do worldwide trades. :)

  Head over to the listing on my store. Link: http://www.stephaniejennifer.com/apps/webstore/products/show/5214958

  Please note that these cards are only available for trades and are not for sale.

Online Store is Officially Up!

  Good morning, my lovelies. ^-^

  In the past I used to use the "Store" tag on my blog as a substitute to a store... However, as of yesternight, my online art store has officially been set up. Woohoo~ (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ The store is linked on my personal art website. Information on the art pieces is listed on each individual listing including the size, and materials used. There's also paypal checkout within the store, so payment is now easier and secure!


Link to the new store: http://www.stephaniejennifer.com/apps/webstore/


  In the future, all new art works that I would like to put up for sale would be updated to that store. As of now, I'm only selling original works so there aren't any prints listed. I've also put up one listing for customised portraits.

  I plan on adding hand made iPhone cover designs, and an Artist Trading Card listing soon. I might also start selling art materials in the future. Let me know any other ideas that you might have in the comment section below.

  I appreciate all the e-mails I've received in the past from artists who've said I've helped them. I'm glad my blog could help anyone looking for info on art-sy things in Singapore, or anyone looking for inspiration. And I hope that my blog will continue to grow and help others in the Art community.

*huggles*
Stephanie