TBT - Design Elements, 2005

Back with another Throw Back Thursday from college. This project was one of the very first projects we were given in "Design School" and it was all about connecting design elements. Well, it was also about proper technique using certain tools (i.e. the proper way to use rubber cement–oh, you didn't know there was one? I didn't either but I'd be happy to share it with you if you're interested). Since none of those tools/techniques are visible here, I'll focus on the actual images. 

The idea was to create a series of images in which image is connected by a single design element to the one on either side of it; value, color, texture, form... The original project was printed and connected into a long strip as opposed to the block of six you see here. So it should be read across the top and then across the bottom. 

We were sent out to gather images wherever we might find inspiration. After several iterations I ended up with what you see above. I'm still not that happy with it because I used color to connect images twice–what a cop out! :) 

My favorite duo is the last one. I still cannot believe that as I was walking around trying to take pictures, I looked up and snapped a shot of the clouds and then looked down at the sidewalk for inspiration and found an almost identical form in the broken pavement! I was STOKED! I also love the photo of the man-hole cover. I had to stand way over it to get a perfectly round shot and there just so happened to be a dry section where you couldn't see my reflection!

Have a great Thursday! 

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TBT - Longhorn Basketball Mural

In college, I kept myself busy with lots and lots of school. Sometimes so much school that I could almost cry about it just reminiscing. I was up at the studio for hours upon hours, thankfully with people I liked, and had a relatively minimal social life. On the side, however, I managed to take on mural commissions to create a little income–I don't think I could have swung a normal job. I am sure many of those mural projects will pop up in future TBT posts.

Today's mural was for a multi-talented young man. He excelled at every sport, but basketball was by far the family's favorite. Both of his siblings also excelled in basketball throughout high school and college and are both currently coaching high school basketball.

This mural was painted for him when he was in middle school or early high school and UT was his college of choice.  Now he plays basketball at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point). I want to believe that he's still a longhorn at heart, but I'm also very proud of him for his choice to serve in the Armed Forces.

This was a very simple mural, as you can tell. To make it even easier, his family painted the wall burnt orange first. I came in and used chalk to draw all my lines. I then used the wall paint, added white and painted out the basketball. Then I took the white paint and traced my previously drawn lines for the longhorn with a wide flat head brush so I could keep a consistent thickness all the way around.  I also really like asymmetrical balance and thought it looked more professional outlined instead of solid.

Two coats, and I was done! Tada! Here it is. What do you think?

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TBT - Birthday Fort

This blog is called "the creative endeavors" and not "the artwork of" for posts such as these. Creative inspiration often pops up at random times for numerous reasons. It's a way of life more than just that thing you do.

Today's throwback Thursday endeavor is from February of 2012. It was going to be the first time Brian and I getting to spend his birthday together, ever, but of course, as is the military's specialty, his shift changed just for the few days of Valentines' Day and his birthday. He was working the noon to midnight shift. Bummer! But hey, at least we got to see each other at all on these days, right?

Him working the noon to midnight shift made planning for time to celebrate his birthday that much more difficult. What was I going to do to make both days special?! I thought and thought until my thinker was sore. Nothing came to me. Then I had this revelation: sometimes "special" means something specifically meaningful and other times it just comes from doing something you've never done before, together. So, what could I do??

For Valentines' Day, I ended up preparing nothing (lame), but Brian ended up making me breakfast in bed–raspberry crepes and bacon. He had just learned the recipe from one of our friends and surprised me with it. How sweet is that?

Later I ended up making chocolate covered strawberries...

...and we went for a walk in a local park and took pictures at a tree marked with the words "Valentina e Valentino per sempre" (Valentina and Valentino forever). My little sister and I found the tree when she came to visit a few months earlier. 

This one is blurry, but I still love it:

So I had failed to plan for Valentines' and it turned out alright, but I couldn't just expect the same miracle for his birthday, could I?

Then it came to me. I don't know when, where, or how, but all of the sudden I had a plan–I was going to make a fort to surprise Brian when he got home on his birthday eve, and we'd ring in his birthday with movies and snacks. That was definitely something we had never done before, and all I could do was hope he would think it was special. So I got to work...

First I set out to make a frame. I strung a medium thickness string through and around the entertainment center in two places.

Then I ran the string through the holes in the ends of the broom and mop handles that I stuffed in the back of the couch. from there I ran the strings down and around the feet of the couch, using two sharpies as "tourniquets" to remove any slack.

Next I brought out all the blankets, sheets and other large pieces of material I had and just started covering and attaching with clothespins.

This is how the front of the fort turned out:

And here's the back. I wanted it to have a nice roomy feel and I think I accomplished that (by making it practically the size of the entire room).

I also added a little flair by wrapping the light fixture and hanging some stars. 

Then I made a welcome sign on our chalk board wall for Brian to see when he walked in.

So let me give you a tour:

This is the entrance, welcome!

If you were sitting on the bed with your face to the tv, you would see this lovely drying rack turned bookshelf/magazine rack.

And at the foot of the bed, a basket full of movie watching goodies, including girl scout cookies!

So I had everything set, and was ready and waiting for Brian to come home. He was supposed to get off at midnight, so I expected him by 12:30. By the time this next picture was taken, it was 1:45 in the morning and I was still waiting. That's the thing about surprises, sometimes they don't go as planned because the person in question has no idea (or hopefully has no idea) the surprise is happening. Me calling at this hour would have tipped him off. So I sat. I waited. I tried to figure out how to work the new Bluray player so I could watch a movie or show while I waited, but was unsuccessful. I ended up finding some other features and thus enjoyed a little Italian karaoke all by my lonesome. Turns out trying to sing along with songs you've never heard with words you don't know very well isn't so easy. I'm glad there was no one there to have recorded the moment.

By 2:30 Brian was home! He was so surprised, and since it was already so late/early we went straight to bed and awoke the next morning and watched our movies with breakfast. Turned out to be so much fun, we kept the fort up and slept in it for over a week! :)

Thanks for visiting Humphreys' Hideaway. Hope you enjoyed your stay. Come back soon!

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Art at Andres!

**NOTE: Andres has moved into the McCain Mall in North Little Rock.

If you are ever in the area, please stop by Andres Coffee Shop on JFK in North Little Rock. It is a great little local shop, and they have great coffee, teas, smoothies, pastries, you name it! I had been talking back and forth with the young lady who helps manage the place for the sweet Honduran couple who own it, and we finally got all of our ducks in a row and TADA! I now have my artwork hanging for sale. I'll give you a little tour...

Welcome to Andres!

The atmosphere of Andres reminds me of a most beloved little coffee house in the tiny town of Lake City, Colorado called "Mean Jeans". They are both converted houses, owned by very sweet people and both feel cozy and inviting. 

As you approach the pastry display and look to your right, you may see four familiar images on the wall. I am hoping to bring more in the future, and substitute for Christmas paintings in a few months. 

I know it has only been a few days, but Andres has been great to work with. There is no fee for hanging your work, and their commission is significantly less than a gallery's usually is. 

"Somewhere a Child is Crying" 9x12, oil on canvas panel
$135

"Agriturismo Chickens" 11x14, oil on canvas panel 

$225

"Santa Maddalena"12x16, oil on canvas panel

$250

"Open Waters", oil on stretched canvas

$200.00

If you have any questions or are interested in purchasing one of the above framed paintings, please email me at christencollierhumphreys@gmail.com. 

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Welcome to Booth No. 2!

On Friday we did it! 

We actually set up our booth at Sherwood Flea Market! 

Come check us out!

We were able to acquire a spot with prime real-estate—the first booth you see when you walk in! It's looking a little sparse here, but I will be continuing to add items as I find and price them. The sparseness actually took me by surprise because I kept thinking, "I have way too much stuff," as I was pricing things. Now all I hear is the man on Bill Nye the Science Guy saying "Now you know."   

Here are some photos of the overall booth as is stood by the end of move-in day:

And here are some detail shots:

I went by today to see how it was going and it looked like I had already made about $45 in just the two days the store as been open since we moved in! Feeling pumped!

So there you have it, open for business! I hope you'll stop by if you're in the neighborhood.

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TBT - Paper Bird Arrangement

A couple years back I flew home for my dear friend, Carla's, wedding. Earlier in the year I attempted my very first "paper engineering" project, a buzzard for my husband's Maintenance Squadron. For my first go, it turned out surprisingly well. This fact only made me want to pursue paper engineering more. I was looking for a reason to do another fun paper piece and I found it in Carla's wedding.

This was not just your ordinary wedding. Carla is an amazing graphic designer with a great eye for color, pattern, and detail. And this was Carla's wedding, so you know it was beautiful. She and Alejandro had a Tex-Mex inspired wedding in Austin with their reception at the Wildflower Center–gorgeous!! To go along with this not so ordinary wedding, I wanted to gift her a paper piece for display. Risky, I know, but she's a good friend, and took a chance on me.

Celebrating Carla's wedding with a few of her close friends downtown.

I wanted to create something colorful, and originally decided on a large peacock. I love peacocks and was searching for all sorts of images on the internet for inspiration. Well, turns out I didn't have as much time as I had hoped (and I didn't want to spend less time with the bride just so I could make her something) so I opted for plan B, a small colorful bird in an arrangement of cacti, feathers and flowers. Here it is, made entirely of paper:

And here's a few close-ups of Mr. Bird Delgado himself:

It was a beautiful night, and I had so much fun dancing and laughing with new and old friends. The designs were spectacular and well executed. I wouldn't have expected any less (which never fails to heap on the pressure, I'm sure).

You want to see more? I thought so...

...just a few of the touches that made this wedding so beautiful. Here's to the happy couple! May the Lord bless you with the desires of your hearts, and may you continue to grow closer as a couple. 

Thank you for taking a chance on me Carla, and for letting me borrow that pen on the first day of classes sophomore year! You're the best.

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