Krista Swiader Illustration

New York State of Mind

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:22:00 +0000

[ Jones Beach, New York - Taken from my cell phone ]

[ Times Square at Night - Taken from my cell phone]

The opposites of New York really amazed me this weekend. Saturday I heard both the silence and the noise of New York. I drove with my uncle Bob to Jones Beach, and we walked along the sand dunes and marvelled at the quiet waves. That night, we went with my parents and Dale to see "Guys and Dolls" on Broadway. I missed the hustle of dodging through tourists to get where I wanted to go, the bumping in to people who weren't watching where they were going. I relived memories of New York City bus trips to galleries and toy stores. I miss the city life.

I also reignited my passion for 1960s history, when I took home a pile of newspapers my late uncle had kept and were soon to be thrown away. Piles of papers covering the Kennedy Assassination, the crowning of the Pope, the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, women's magazines Aunt Irene would browse through and make her own dress designs. Times I wish I could have lived in.

Ah, to travel. I've been to New York so many times and it never gets old...never ceases to amaze.

And a sweet ride in an awesome freakin' car makes life grand, too.

[ Me in Bob's BMW...I believe it's a Z4. Wouldn't be mad if I got one of these for my birthday...]

SPIN IT.

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:15:00 +0000

[ Jungle Boogie, watercolor and colored pencil on vellum, copyright Krista Swiader 2009 ]

Since I am totally poor and can't afford a scanner, here's a photograph of my final painting before submitting it to the show. The show was wonderful. It was a great reunion of friends and wonderful artwork to see. I am trying to find a cheap version of Dreamweaver so I can update my website again; it's been far too long.

[ Rob acting as event deejay ]

[ From left: Shauna Carrier, Kate Castelli, Jodie McMenamin, Paul McMenamin, Liz Comperchio, Amanda Atkins, Krista Swiader ]

SPIN

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:19:00 +0000

After a massive hiatus, I have begun to paint again! This time it's for the upcoming GLOVEBox show called "SPIN."

"SPIN" will feature artwork revolving around music, particularly tapes and records. I'm very excited to be a part of this show, especially since it will be at a new venue and will also be a college reunion of sorts. Now let's hope my work actually gets done on time and I'm not too terribly rusty with my painting skillz.

- Krista

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:40:00 +0000

Holy crap, it's been a long time since I've posted in this.

Well, Happy New Year to one and all who still reads this thing...or waits for updates to no avail. I've been so busy with work and everything that I tend to forget I have this. Then when one of my other artistic cohorts updates theirs, I think to myself, "Shit...I should update mine..." and then never do. Fail.

Since my little 9/11 post, things at work have been very bustling. It's taken a long while, with all of the changes being made to the classrooms and short staffing and school holidays (of which I forgot how AWESOME they could be). I'm finally starting to get things together for the "My Own World" project. It's been weird trying to formulate my own schedule for this, but I think we're finally starting to get things together for it. I just wish the weather were a little better to take some of the kids outside or that I was able to go on field trips with these kids without worrying about staffing. But we'll make it work.

In terms of my own stuff, I've done very little by way of any big projects. I've done a lot of little sketches and doodles here and there, just to keep my hands working. I know it seems a little ridiculous to say, considering I spent four years in art school and haven't done anything with it since graduating...but I've enjoyed my time working away from art and finding my teaching ground with special education.

When I had to teach at the museum, I had very little idea of how to teach or how to make a lesson plan. By the third day, I was winging everything and ready to go insane. Going back to Groden meant learning how to break even the easiest tasks down into simple steps for kids to understand, and setting goals that were reachable. If I had to teach another art class, I would definitely go in with a new mindset on how to teach those kids, and have a better patience threshold, too.

Of course...my tolerance for the kids with attitudes hasn't exactly changed all that much. Whoops.

In any case, that's pretty much been my life since September. With the added snippets of joining a gym after my 23rd birthday, celebrating Christmas in Jamestown, making new friends from work, getting ridiculously addicted to the Twilight series even knowing how horribly cheesy it is, discovering just how many people from my high school class are getting married/pregnant, and a bevy of other stories and incidents.

Here's to me being full of more than just one update every 4 months.

- Krista

Seven Years in America

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Okay, so I know there's bound to be a ton of September 11th posts out there at this very moment, and I also know it's been a long ass time since I've updated this art only blog, but I have to write down what I'm feeling right now.

It's been seven years. Seven years and they're already showing everything that's happened from fifty different perspectives on The History Channel. Am I the only one who thinks it's too fresh...too soon? I feel like I'm back in homeroom in high school watching it on television all over again. I only knew a victim through about six degrees of separation, but the loss is still devastating.

I don't even care about the political tie-ins with this incident. War has happened, and is happening still. I won't even try to pretend I know or care about what Bush or any of those other politicians have to say or do with this. I just can't stop thinking about this as just a huge devastation to everyone. And I can't believe it's really been seven years since this happened. You just can't take the people in your life for granted.

That's all there really is for me to say. Just reminding my heavy heart that I have things to be grateful for.

I'm Alive!

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:13:00 +0000

Oh my goodness, things have been busy.

Well, I'm alive! And Happy Fourth of July weekend to you all! Things have been very busy for me, as I've previously stated. Not long after graduation, I began work at The Groden Center in Providence, RI. I'm currently a substitute treatment teacher, helping kids learn the basics of reading, math, and vocational work. I also finished a class this week at The Attleboro Arts Museum teaching non-disabled 8-11 year olds the wonders of making comic characters and reinventing games. Both have been/are very unique experiences.

I've also been brainstorming some children's book ideas, as well as attempting to convert my bedroom upstairs into a living space/studio. Unfortunately, with the heat, and a sore lack of fans/air conditioning, this takes longer than it should. Hopefully I will get this done soon. I'm hoping to start putting together the fruit of my labor soon.

In addition, I've been trying to come up with a way for me to begin an art program at The Groden Center. Many years ago, there was one, but now it has been dropped, and the only way the kids can do art is either if the teacher of the classroom starts it for their own kids, or if they travel twenty minutes one way to another school for a half hour. It's such a waste of gas, especially with the prices nowadays. I'm hoping I can write up a proposal to get the ball rolling. Lots of kids love art time at the school, and some actually have a real eye for color and shapes.

Well, sorry to post and run, but it's lunch time on the fourth, and I'm starving!

Hope to keep in touch more!

- Krista

PS - It came to my attention some time ago that the Contact portion of my website is not functioning...again. So, I need to fix that once I get Dreamweaver. I've still yet to get that, but I'm waiting until I save up enough money for a new computer, that way the software will run better.

More Sightings

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:59:00 +0000

View my portfolio:
coroflot.com/swiader_illustration

Now you can also find my work via Coroflot.com and IllustrationMundo.com, as well as Google my name to my website. The Internet is a wonderful thing.

LAUNCH!

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:33:00 +0000

It's official!

Krista Swiader dot Com

The website has been launched! I finally tweaked everything so that it will come out right on all web browsers. Before, it was reading HORRIBLY on PC/Internet Explorer users. Now, thankfully, those issues have been resolved, and my website is up and running for viewing pleasure...though now I'm already wanting to create Version 2.0. Enjoy browsing through!

- Krista

SUCCESS!

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Krista Swiader dot Com!

Actually, it's not quite the true website...this is just a temporary host until I actually get my real site up and running. This site host belongs to my professor, and he is having all of us post our websites on his host to get a feel for uploading to the web and designing layouts. I am so excited to get mine up and running now. I just need to figure out how to do it through the host I have.

Victory!

Outside Guidance

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:13:00 +0000

How to Illustrate a Children's Book

My four years of college, consolidated into a Wiki-How. Golly Moses.

Gloryoski!

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:44:00 +0000

My portfolio is finally completely printed! And it couldn't have come at a better time, as everyone in the school is going absolutely insane with trying to get their work completed for finals, and lots of people end up being really grumpy (or grumpier, as some people have demonstrated).

Queen of Diamonds

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:24:00 +0000

[ copyright Krista Swiader 2008 ]

I came up with the idea a month ago of doing a series of elaborate playing card illustrations using a limited color palette of red and black. Obviously it's not much by way of an original idea (as my roommate ever so sweetly put it to me earlier this evening), but I want it to be more of a practice in value and using a limited color palette. I also just really want to have fun doing some elaborate ink drawings with simple color fills.

This one has undergone so many transformations, and she still continues to do so. She started out being Glinda the Good, then went towards Ice Queen/Witch, then a sort of Maleficent-like queen. Now she's the Queen of Diamonds. I've yet to figure out what will go inside that border. It will come to me in time, though.

I can't believe it's nearly six o'clock in the morning. I need sleep. Sleep is good.

- Krista

Oily Mermaids

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:42:00 +0000

[ copyright Krista Swiader 2008 ]

[ copyright Krista Swiader 2008 ]

The two oil paintings that I am working on right now for Tony's class. I'm having a lot of fun these, despite having not painted in oils in about two years. The top one is about 8.5" x 11", while the bottom is 1' x 2', both on primed masonite panels. I like painting on those SO much better than canvas/illustration board. Canvas is just so...finicky, and illustration board warps horribly no matter what medium I choose to paint in. Sadly I won't have these finished in time for Senior Juries, but I will be able to add them to my portfolio/website once they're completed.

And this is my sloppy studio. It's going to be fun trying to clean up that hullabaloo when I move out. Yeesh.

Buffooneries

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:52:00 +0000

Today I went to a lecture by Paul Kaplan titled, "Venetian Art, Censorship and Geopolitics: Veronese's Feast in the House of Levi." He discussed the case of Paolo Veronese (a.k.a. Paolo Caliari of Verona) and his painting of Christ feasting in Levi, and the argument as to it's intentions during the age of the Venetian Inquisition (IE, whether it was meant to be a Last Supper painting, and if it was, why there were 'required elements' missing from it).

Professor Kaplan included a translated transcript from the case regarding Veronese and his painting with his lecture. It was interesting to read a 16th century explanation for art work. I find that students are always just given reasons as to why the painters painted the way they did. This makes it seem more realistic, as if we can connect with Veronese on an artist-to-artist level. I also enjoy the fact that the word "buffooneries" was in a translated text. Those wacky Venetians.

I would love to see this painting in person. The actual piece is 17 feet by nearly 39 feet. I think my favorite part of the whole thing was the fact that the Venetian Inquisitors told Veronese that he had three months to change the painting to their requirements, and the only thing he really did was add inscriptions on two pillars...one of which was "Luke Chapter 5," in which it cites:

And after these things, he went forth and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him: Follow me. And leaving all things, he rose up and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: And there was a great company of publicans and of others that were at table with them. But the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying to his disciples: Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering, said to them: They that are whole need not the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.

It was a very fascinating lecture overall. It's been a while since I've had a good theological lecture. You certainly get two interesting perspectives when you jump from a Catholic high school to an art college. Makes me want to dig out my old World Religions text book and refresh my mind.

Patriots

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:04:00 +0000

Happy Patriot's Day everybody! No drawings/paintings scanned in as of right now, but I will post a few pages of my PDF portfolio once it's been completed. I finally got the go-ahead for completing it, so I'll be working on that tonight, among a few other things. But first, some great things to share!

First is The Art Renewal Center, a totally awesome link that Julian gave to me so that I could find some Mucha reference. It's a great spot to find some high resolution photos of realistic artwork. The work in it is so beautiful and makes for some great reference.

Second is a link to the Attleboro Art Museum's featured exhibit on Viktor Schreckengost. If you're in the Attleboro, MA area, I highly suggest seeing it. I took a look around there after I had my job interview, and the work there is amazing. It not only features his work, it also features the work of his students and the people he has inspired, including car designers from General Motors and toy makers from Hasbro. Excellent stuff there.

Last find is nothing too special, just some inspirational words found, of all places, on two fortune cookie fortunes that I strangely got on the same day:

Do not give up, the beginning is always the hardest.
The answer will not come to you. You need to look for it.

It's the sort of thing that gets mass produced into fortune cookie fortunes and scrambles in crossword puzzles, but it's still important to remember!

- Krista

Lesson for the Day

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:20:00 +0000

Listen to me, kiddies. Always check your settings before you send something to the printer. Especially when each print costs you more money than you have in your pocket. Otherwise, you end up wasting your money and get stuck with wallet-sized prints when you needed 11 x 14.

At least my work shrinks down nicely.

Website

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:14:00 +0000

This would be so wonderful to own. For those who can't access the link, it's the Adobe CS3 Master Collection. Not only does it come with the Photoshop/InDesign/Illustrator combination plate, it comes with Fireworks, Dreamweaver, and a bevy of other cool programs I want to play with so badly. $2500 to play with for the rest of my life...even though I've heard that CS3 is not very good on the new Macs...or even some of the old ones. D'oh.

Speaking of websites, I finally purchased Krista Swiader dot com! It brings me joy. The only thing I have to do now is figure out what host I should use. I have a host through GoDaddy.com, because they were the ones I bought my domain name through, and it gives a free host with your purchase through a redemption point...but it also says you can use alternate hosts. If anyone knows of any good hosts, you should please let me know.

I crave sweets. And I wouldn't mind starting a new watercolor painting right now, as I'm being reminded of it by this rainy weather. The only problem is, I don't know what I'd like to paint! Time to go to IF for inspiration!

- Krista

Fun Facts for Today

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:50:00 +0000

The state of Rhode Island has tax incentives for artists. According to a link I found, if you live AND work in RI, any sale of work within the nine designated art districts is exempt from state sales tax. AND, any income received is exempt from state personal income tax. And guess whose hometown is one of those nine designated art districts? ShaZAM!
Making a resume is strangely fun to me.
I am going to be taking part in a "Senior Design and Illustration Showcase for Employers" on Thursday, May 8th from 4:30pm to 7pm. I will be presenting my work, as well as giving out copies of my resume and business cards for any employers seeking illustrators. It's very exciting, seeing as this is the first year the illustration department has been included in this showcase.
I never realized just how many old mills in Pawtucket/Providence have been converted to studio spaces. They're all wonderful places, too. A lot of them are textile mills that are positioned against the Blackstone River, and still have their water wheels attached. Beautiful places if you ever get a chance to see some of them.
While Pawtucket is also a good place for old mills and art opportunities, it sorely lacks in an updated website. All of the special illustration links on there were dead ends.
I put a posting on The Providence Journal's Artist Listing, just for the sake of doing so. I never realized how many artists there are in Rhode Island. Jon Foster is based in Providence!

It's always nice to take a moment and research little things about the areas you live in. You never know what you might find.

Work in Progress - Wonder Woman

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:08:00 +0000

I've been in the mood to draw women lately, particularly Wonder Woman, so here she is. She's not quite finished, as I really want to get these to fully finished pencils. After that I'd either like to ink it and then do some color work to it, or maybe paint her in oils on the watercolor block. I haven't quite decided. I'm thinking a snazzy decorative background for her, too. Something graphic. Looking at Adam Hughes puts me in a real graphic, linear mood.

More updates to come soon, I hope!

Study

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:39:00 +0000

[ copyright Krista Swiader 2008 ]

I just did this fairly quickly (drawing and ink included) in maybe an hour? I'm kinda proud of it. My inking needs a little more work, and I also need to invest in new pen nibs, but overall I'm pretty satisfied with this study. I was trying to emulate inks done by Adam Hughes, because I love his work. I'd love to get to that caliber of perfection, but in paint, not digital.

Works in Progress - Octopus and Seahorse

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:17:00 +0000

[ copyright Krista Swiader 2008 ]

[ copyright Krista Swiader 2008 ]

Two new paintings I've been working on this weekend, as well as the oil painting of the Regal Blue Tang mermaid that I'm painting for Tony's class. I feel really at ease with these paintings, even though I'm still nervous about how they'll be accepted during Portfolio. I had to tweak the Seahorse in Photoshop a little, because she's coming out a little darker than I'd like her to. I think it's because she's on cold press paper (which, for some strange reason, I had mistaken it for hot press). The hot press really makes the colors pop, which is what I am going for with my stuff.

I also like the experimenting I've been doing with texture. I not only used the technique Mark showed me where you rub your thumb along the edge of the brush and spatter paint, I also remembered the salt technique. If you put salt in wet watercolor, it absorbs the pigment and leaves behind some interesting shapes. I'm still getting used to that one and trying to play with layering those...as well as clean up the constant mess of salt I leave behind in the studio.

Hopefully these paintings will be well received. I think I'll take a break from these two and the oil painting and start some new ones on the rest of that hot press paper Mark let me take. Or I might just go back and tweak some old work. Either one will be productive.

Have a great week everyone!

- Krista

Grid

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:57:00 +0000

[ copyright 2007/2008 Krista Swiader ]

I felt like I needed to post some art on here. This was a grid project that I did for my Natural History Drawing class in the Fall 2007 semester. Originally, there was no watercolor on top of the flowers/plants, there was just the ink work. I decided to stop neglecting the poor thing and went back in to it and gave it some extra life. And as a result, I find I like it much better than I had previously. The true reason I liked this project the most is because of all of the details you can find in plants. There are a few areas I'd like to touch up here and there, but hopefully this will join the ranks of my portfolio pieces.

----------

Speaking of making work, I find that I have actually been loosening up a bit more and experimenting. For my mermaid paintings, I am trying a variety of line techniques that Mark showed me, as well as using salt on the watercolor (note: don't use sugar unless you plan to keep the texture there...it just makes everything sticky...excellent textures, but also sticky). I am also attempting my first independent oil painting in two years, which should prove interesting.

I also really, REALLY want to work on my website. Matt finally showed us how to start piecing things together in Adobe Fireworks (which, side note, is an AWESOME program) as well as Adobe Dreamweaver. I was really worried we would learn web design in iWeb. Thankfully we haven't, and are actually using programs that are good and fairly easy to learn. I can't wait for the website to get launched. I need to start looking for host servers...anyone know of any good ones? Nothing too expensive.

So, hopefully by the next time I post, I will have lots of new pieces to show off on here. I'm also experimenting with hot press paper instead of cold press for my watercolors. I may or may not be addicted...we shall soon see.

Keep it groovy!

- Krista

Oil Turmoil

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:15:00 +0000

Woe be to the illustrator who can't use a paintbrush.

[ That'd be me right now. ]

As a student, I'm still plagued with those nibbles of doubt and frustration. I don't think any artist should be ashamed to admit that. Sometimes it feels almost like a taboo with other classmates and illustrators I've met. Everyone feels discouraged now and again, it's only natural, right?

What's that you say? It's always come naturally to you? Always? Are you sure? You've never struggled, ever?

As hard as that is to believe of people, there are those that won't admit to being defeated. At least not to my face, anyways. So, as a result, when I feel these moments of doubt, frustration, and annoyance...I'm left feeling like a heel for it.

I'm the rope in a tug of war. Pulled one way, pulled another, so tight that I feel I could rip, and then dropped limply into the mud.

I think that I need to get out of college. Before, I wanted nothing more than to stay and learn as much as I could before I was dragged away into the real world. Now I want to get out there, spend some time working at my own pace without being concerned of grades or professors or anyone else's opinions. I want to make art for myself. I want to build my portfolio and visit places and get my resume up to snuff.

I wonder if any of these guys ever had doubts like mine when they were my age.

[ If you have the chance, check that link out. 75 artists you should know, or re-remind yourself of if you ever forget about them. Just looking at Quentin Blake's work makes me want to read more Roald Dahl books. ]

Right now, I'm in the midst of two "Series" projects. Cats and mermaids. Mermaids and cats. Not one and the same, two separate series (although the idea of a catfish DID cross my mind).

How cool of a fish is that? Imagine the other crazy colored fish there are out there in the ocean/seas? Tons. Oh, and a cute thing to educate kids with about fish? Scubadorable.com. They're fun to look at, and it helps give the names (and I think even the scientific names) of all of the fish.

If I wasn't so worried about killing them, I'd love to have an aquarium of tropical fish.

Well, Portfolio class is in almost an hour, so here's hoping that the class goes well today. Just take a deep breath, be confident and sure of yourself, and take it head on. Bite the bullet.

This session of "Student Confidence Lessons" was brought to you by the Society of Illustrators, Dunkin Donuts, and the letter Q.

Illustration Friday: Homage

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:22:00 +0000

An homage to "The Saint of Relaxation," also known as my brother, Adam. I did this painting in the Fall of 2007, simply because I wanted to do at least one painting of at least one of my brothers. Adam has always been an interesting kid...even when he was in his stage of violence, he still carried himself in a very relaxed manner. Then, when he learned the relaxation technique from The Groden Center, he became like this Buddhist that loved everyone and wouldn't harm a soul.

He's also earned the nickname of "Mr. Perfect" at school. So, yet another reason for the saintly portrayal.

This was painted with watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink on watercolor paper. The original was recently sold at the Goody Glover's art show in Boston.

copyright Krista Swiader 2007/2008

Mermaids - Regal Blue Tang

noreply@blogger.com (My Own World) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:52:00 +0000

copyright Krista Swiader 2008

Also known as "the Dory fish" to most kids.

I didn't want to do the regal blue tang, simply because it's known so well as being Dory from "Finding Nemo," but...I couldn't resist. I loved the color. And one of the references I found showed a regal blue tang with gold flecks across the bridge of the nose, so I added that to my mermaid.

Now I'm going to play around with inking on a photo copy I made, and take it from there. I'm doing two sets of these fish-mermaid hybrids: one in oils in a multi-figure composition, and another in a series of watercolors/inks. I'll be interested to see which ones come out better.

I'm so excited for the other fish...the colors are going to be amazing.

Oh, and apparently, my Introduction to Mythology professor from the Winter Session decided to submit my final project to a research honors symposium...I don't know what that means, but it sounds exciting. Victory Swiader!

Have a great day everyone!

- Krista