In the past week or so I borrowed two new suitcases and they're very exciting. Each of the borrowed suitcases has unique details that have greatly influenced their paintings. The one suitcase is probably from the late 1940-early 50s and includes two lock keys from a the Eagle lock company that was in business from 1833 to 1954 in Terryville, CT. I'm trying a more dynamic composition for this painting that emphasizes that unique keys.
The second suitcase is part of a fashionable line of luggage called Lady Baltimore. It also includes the information card of the suitcase's previous owner. I'm unsure as to how best emphasize this detail but if offers many possibilities and and obvious title for the work.
The Carnegie suitcase is continuing to be a struggle but it is coming along and just about finished.... I hope.

Faculty critique

Today, I had my faculty critique.  I got some valuable feedback and look forward to getting some serious work done then figuring out some issues with exhibition.

The Little blue suitcase is finished! All that is left is to give it a name. I have to add a slight shadow to the Avocado and it will be completed.

I'm moving to finish the Carnegie suitcase but got held up with making a poor choice for the background color. Turns out the shade of blue I chose is horrible, absolutely, terrible. Now I'm waiting for it to dry. I'm taking a graphic design class and really wish I could command z that decision.

Moving on

I am just about finished with two of my paintings. The painting above needs a few last touches to the hardware and weathering the edges and it will be finished. I plan on working on the background of the avocado shaped and colors bag to finish it off before the end of the week as well as beginning the next painting.  I have been playing with some more dynamic compositions to create additional movement and interest for the show in general. Also, as a result of the cracking in the avocado painting, I'm going to hold off on painting the pattern until the rest of the paintings are complete. If there is time, then I will revisit the painting; however, I don't want to spend much more time on it when I still have two to three whole paintings to do.

I am continuing to look at van Gogh's shoe paintings. The article my outside critique suggested to me helped my to further develop my project, showing that each person can view a work differently.  One person my find a painting to be very philosophical, representing the deep struggle of a peasant woman or it my be perceived as telling the artists personal journey, or possibly its just a nice old pair of shoes. Regardless, the object, in my mind, is successful because it was thought provoking.

Deciding as a class what the theme of our exhibition will be is proving to be a difficult task.  Its hard not to be boring and typical while not thinking of something so abstract that others won't get it. 

One of my paintings is cracking, probably because of the amount of medium I used. My professor said its not a huge issue, but there is nothing I can do to fix it. Its a real bummer because its my favorite one so far. Such is life.