[Painting I's First Two Paintings]

I'm still at it, kids! The projects I'm doing this semester, though, are a bit larger, so they're taking longer. Here's the first two paintings I've doing for Painting I, both in [black and white] oils, both on canvas board--the first is 9x12" and the second is 16x20":

[Evolution of the 2D to the 3D]

For Design II (3-Dimensional Design), project 2, inspired by Frank Gehry architecture, made simply of computer paper using an exact-o blade and scissors:

[1973 Plymouth Duster]

Acrylics on 8x10" stretched canvas. Not the best work I've ever done (probably due to its small size), but definitely a learning experience.

[1-Point Perspective Fantasy Cityscape]

...for Design I. Phase 1 out of 2 of the final project of the semester. Sharpie pens of varying sizes on 11x14" drawing paper.

[New Chalk Pastel Drawings]

... from my Drawing II class.

Complementary color still life: red and green

Triadic color still life: red, yellow, and blue

Rembrandt soft chalk pastels on 19x25" Canson pastel and charcoal papers. Daytime quality photos coming soon to my portfolio site.

[Drawing and Design Assignments]

Sketchbook free-draw assignment, She-ra's Sword of Protection; graphite on 9x12" drawing paper.

Part III of 3: Color Initials Assignment; first and last initials using warm and cool colors and a representative logo for oneself. Acrylic on 5x7" Bristol paper.

[All Kinds of New Pieces]

I promise... I haven't been slacking off. It's just a while between turning in assignments and getting them back, and I just got a pile back. :)

Self Portrait. Charcoal on 22×30″ Rives rag paper

Psychological self-portrait, charcoal on 22×30″ Rives rag paper.

Flowers: my love of aesthetic beauty and color
Books: my imagination, love of fantasy, and stubborn belief in magic
Portrait of my mom: losing my mom at an early age has shaped me more than anything else, in both good and bad ways
She-ra’s tiara: my inner strength, courage, and feminist ideals
Medicine bottles: my vulnerability and need for help, however strong I may be on the outside; the internalizing of my grief and fears have created ongoing mild depression and moderate anxiety, contributing to my frequent migraines
Shoes: my constant struggle to overcome physical limitations

The restful scene: for the first time in a long time, everything feels moderately calm and under control; also, taking rest in my faith (“Be still and know that I am God.”)

Organizational line still life, graphite on 18x24" drawing paper

Gestural figure drawing, graphite on 18x24" drawing paper

Gestural figure drawing, graphite on 18x24" drawing paper

3/4 angle face drawing, graphite on 18x24" drawing paper

profile face drawing, graphite on 18x24" drawing paper

[Psychological Self-Portrait]

Psychological self-portrait, charcoal on 22x30" Rives rag paper.

Flowers: my love of aesthetic beauty and color
Books: my imagination, love of fantasy, and stubborn belief in magic
Portrait of my mom: losing my mom at an early age has shaped me more than anything else, in both good and bad ways
She-ra's tiara: my inner strength, courage, and feminist ideals
Medicine bottles: my vulnerability and need for help, however strong I may be on the outside; the internalizing of my grief and fears have created ongoing mild depression and moderate anxiety, contributing to my frequent migraines
The restful scene: for the first time in a long time, everything feels moderately calm and under control; also, taking rest in my faith ("Be still and know that I am God.")

[Self-Portrait]

Charcoal on 22x30" Rives rag paper

[New Portfolio Piece]

I've posted a new drawing on my portfolio site. It's for my Drawing II class, but because it's a nude study, I'm not posting the image on this page. If you are old enough and not offended by nudity in art, feel free to check it out: http://designedbyniki.com/2012/10/24/nude-study-continuous-gray/

[Myrna Loy Value Study]

For Design I, grayscale value study using black and white acrylic paints on 5x7" Bristol paper posted on 7x9" Bristol paper.

Black and white scan

Color scan

[Pets and Pumpkins is Saturday!!!]

It's time for the biggest festival of the year in which I take part: Pets and Pumpkins! It's my final one for the year, and I'm considering taking a break next year. I'll still be freelancing, but I'm going to allow myself to actually get a little sleep on the weekends, which isn't happening much this year. :) I'm loving going back to school, but between teaching part-time and two classes per semester, it's kind of a full-time gig. :)

If you're local and a friend/acquaintance of mine, and you have part of the day free (specifically from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or after 4:45 p.m.), my parents and I could really use an extra pair of hands or more in getting set up and taking down the tent and display. Mom and Dad aren't as up for doing this as much as they were last year (meaning physically, not their willing spirits... :) ), and just having my uncle available to help at Dog Fest in September cut our time in half, easily. It also meant a little less bickering (oh, family!).

If you're interested in helping, let me know. If not, no biggie, and I hope to see you there just enjoying yourself!

And yes, I will dress up, and so will Sassy. Naturally. We're both hams.

Here's some more info on this flier, and you can find out more at http://www.facebook.com/events/203407073126454/ :

From the press release:

5th Annual Pets & Pumpkins Festival ‐

Biggest Kid and Pet Event in SWMO!

This year’s Pets and Pumpkins Festival takes place on Saturday, October 20th from

12pm to 5pm. Families with kids AND pets won’t want to miss this day of fun. Two blocks of Historic Commercial Street, between Robberson and Campbell, are sectioned off for the event, which includes, trick or treating (for both human and fur‐kids), marshmallow roasting, inflatables, hay maze, food, music and more. Bring your chairs and enjoy the entire day!

Pets and Pumpkins is also host to one of the largest costume parades in SW Missouri. Sponsored by TAME Pet Magazine, both pets and people are invited to enter the walking parade/contest. Winners receive trophies and prizes for the following categories: Best Pet/Owner Combo, Most Original, Funniest, Cutest, Scariest, and Judge’s Overall Favorite. Parade line‐up starts at 3:15pm in front of Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar.

Pets and Pumpkins is a “Rain or Shine” event and the cost is $2.00 for kids (ages 2‐16) and $2.00 for pets (fur‐kids). With paid admission, attendees are given an orange wrist or collar band and can take part in ALL the activities at no cost. This includes the walking parade and costume contest!

NOTE: Adults and children under two are admitted free but WILL need to purchase a wristband ($2.00) to take part in the parade/costume contest.

Besides all the fun, one of the BEST things about Pets and Pumpkins is 100% of money raised from the sale of wrist/collar bands is donated to local non‐profit organizations. The event helps support organizations dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals and working to educate the public about pet overpopulation.

The Pets and Pumpkins festival is held on Historic C‐Street October 20 from 12‐5pm. For event and vendor information email connie@tamepetmag.com or call 417.830.8121. For more information visit http://www.itsalldowntown.com/petsandpumpkins .

To see day‐by‐day updates, “Like” Pets and Pumpkins on Facebook!

[Touch the Sky]

Sharpie marker and black paper on 8.5x11" Bristol paper. Music, Rhythm and Movement assignment for Design I, using the song "Touch the Sky," by Julie Fowlis, from the Brave soundtrack.

[Two Drawings and a Concept Sketch]

Sharpie Markers (Fine and Ultra Fine Tips) on 11x14" drawing paper. WWII Era Couple Swing Dancing

Bistre and white conte crayons on 11x14" drawing paper. From a 19th century photograph, with creative additions and details different from the original.

Concept drawing for a Design I project that requires the student to use the rhythm and movement (but not lyrics) of a song as inspiration for an abstract, asymmetrical image using black marker/pen and black paper. Song choice: "Touch the Sky," sung by Julie Fowlis, from the Brave (2012) soundtrack. The circles' sizes and spacing are intended to reflect musical accents interspersed throughout the song, while the up-and-down alignment reflects the melody's fluid, Scottish highlands movement. The line drawings in the background represent (very directly, using the sheet music to influence rectangular size and direction) the instrumental background music, especially the introduction, which very much differs from the vocal melody. I have other ideas as well, but image-wise, I liked the way this translated onto paper, whether or not I decide to use it for the final project.

[Design Assignment from Black and White Photo]

Contour lines, stippling, line variation, and modified 1/2" squares from photocopy of the original photo. Sharpie on card stock and Bristol paper. 9x13" each pair, 5x7" images.

Original photo: Mary Cox (mom) in the early 1960s, likely taken while in the cafeteria of Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, working on ledgers for Dr. Birman/Berman (sp?) on her lunch break.

[Sketchbook Doodles]

Graphite crayon (top) and graphite mechanical pencil (bottom) on 9x12" sketchbook paper.

[After a Turn-of-the-Century Photograph]

Sanguine conte crayon on 11x14" drawing paper.

[Fun but Windy Day!]

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth today at Dog Fest! Unfortunately, the wind severely limited my ability to show my art and my prints, so no sales today. I've got an idea for Pets and Pumpkins next month, though, that I hope will fix my vulnerability to exuberant breezes.

Meanwhile, if you'd like to buy an 8.5x11" glossy print of one of my paintings or drawings, I'm currently selling them for $10 each. I've got several already printed of some of my most popular pieces, so let me know if you're interested. If you live out of the area and need me to ship yours to you, there will be a shipping-and-packaging-adjusted price of $15, which is still a great buy.

The print quality is good for a home printer, with colors a little bit more vivid than they are in the original, but still largely accurate. In some cases, the print process adds a whole new quality that may be more appealing than the originals for some of you, so don't be shy!

[Canine Ambiguity]

Poetics of Space assignment for Drawing II. Graphite on 18×24″ drawing paper. Is Sassy the little faerie folks’ protector or malicious threat?

[Dog Fest is Coming!]

Local fans and followers, don't forget that Springfield's annual Dog Fest is coming up a week from Saturday, on September 22, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  It's located in the field at Chesterfield Park, 2511 West Republic Road (just west of Kansas Expressway, south of James River Expressway/Hwy 60. They'll have the ever-popular Dachshund Dash. Sassy, at least one of my parents, and I will be there manning (and dogging) the Brushstrokes by Niki booth with artwork on display and possibly some prints and crafts available to purchase (and I can always take orders for your own choice of crafts and artwork).

Click here for more info: http://www.parkboard.org/dog_park/index.html

Also coming up, on Saturday, October 20, in the afternoon, is Pets and Pumpkins on historical Commercial Street. As I have an October birthday, I always go all out for Halloween, dressing both me and Sassy up to celebrate. I haven't decided what to be this year (last year I was an autumn dryad), but right now, it's a draw between Merida (from Brave), She-ra (I found a costume!!!! But I don't know if it'll fit my shape), or Pippi Longstocking (I've got the socks already, and I can always go back to red hair this fall...). No matter what, it's a fun day.

More info can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/PetsandPumpkins.

Hope to see you there!

And just to tide you over with a wee bit of artwork, here are some photos I snapped with my new camera this week: