Year Three in Review

It's been 3 whole years since Andrew and I got married. And even though it's cheesy and cliche, I have to say, these have been the best years of my life. In this one year alone so many exciting things have happened so I decided to do a little recap.
Year 3 in review (March 2013-March 2014):

-finished up Winter 2013 semester (I was sick and tired and didn't find out why until April 18th)
-found out we were having a baby
-worked our tails off during the summer to save up money
-celebrated our birthdays in June and announced to family that a baby would be joining our family in December
-I was served court papers to be sued in a lawsuit for being involved in a three-car accident in the summer of 2012 (this is currently still going on by the way)
-went to the doctor more times in my entire life combined (over the whole nine months of pregnancy)
-got to see our baby on ultrasound 5 different times (one of which we found out we were having a girl)
-prepared a baby girl nursery in our second bedroom that was formerly storing art and lots of other junk that I was too lazy to go through and throw away until then
-Andrew got a new job illustrating courses for BYU Independent Study
-started my last semester of college in Fall 2013
-created lots of art (both Andrew and I)
-I finished my BFA show and put it up in the HFAC for others to see (all while 35 weeks pregnant)
-finished Fall semester in December two days before my due date
-spent Christmas relaxing and enjoying time together and with family
-got to meet our new baby girl on December 30th and spend two days of bliss in the hospital just the three of us
-our first night home from the hospital was New Year's Eve
-Andrew started school again in January (weirdest feeling that I wasn't going back!)
-Rosie had her two month doctor's appointment and had to get a few shots which was the saddest thing for me to watch
-currently I stay home and take care of Rosie everyday and continue to work part-time as an apartment manager and Andrew is finishing up this semester of school and still working for BYU Independent Study as an illustrator (he hates leaving home everyday because he says he misses Rosie too much)

Happy Anniversary Andrew
I love you
Here's to year four
Onward and upward (hopefully)

I Graduated from BYU!

So many events collided at the end of the year that I feel like my graduation was not nearly recognized or celebrated as I feel it should have been.

I mean honestly, I graduated from BYU!

This was me 381/2 weeks pregnant on my last day of school forever.

 So much blood, sweat and tears went into getting my degree. I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful it feels to finally be finished. I don't think I ever truly believed this day would come. (Seriously!)

School has never been an easy thing for me. I am the world's slowest reader, for one, and that made reading text books for classes a nightmare! I tend to over think and over stress every assignment, test and project which meant I had multiple emotional break downs per semester. My degree did not come easily lets just put it that way.

But I am really so grateful that I pushed through and finished what I started four years ago. My freshman self never imagined that I would have been brave enough to study art and graduate with my BFA. Despite the fact that many people believe the art program to be impractical and a waste of time, I found that the most meaningful classes that I took were those in the art program. I personally grew so much from all of the class discussions, articles, critiques, books, and projects that were part of the program. I cannot thank my professors enough for their encouragement and advice. They were incredibly influential to my art and my creative process throughout college.

I also have to thank my parents and husband for their continual support throughout college. They put up with my stressful bouts and tornado messes on a daily basis. They stayed up with me during those all-nighters and helped set up and take down two of my art shows on campus. I could not have done it without them.

Now that I am graduated I no longer have assignments and deadlines given by my professors but
I
will
continue
to
make
art.
Making is the way that I process my thoughts and experiences and I would have little or nothing to say without that outlet.  Making art is a defining part of who I am and who I want to become.

I want to officially announce that my BFA Final Show has been installed and will be up in the HFAC on BYU Campus until December 3rd.

Go and take a look anytime if you have a spare minute.
I've worked really hard for the past few months and it would mean a lot to me.

My Opening Reception is November 21st from 6 to 8pm.
There will be lots of food to eat and lots of art to look at.
I would love to see you that night if you can make it.

Sentimental Documentation

I just had to capture my "last first day of school."

I know my mother personally documents just about everything so it's no wonder that I felt the sentimental urge to document this exciting day. I mean in all seriousness at least I will have this photo to show my posterity. Hopefully they don't think I am completely loony for trying to go to school while 6-9 months pregnant...

One more sentimental/exciting aspect to this post is that it marks
100 posts
for me since this blog began.
So here's to more documentation and memory making for those to come in the future.

Nesting

Suddenly I have the urge to start preparing for our little woman to join our family.

In the last couple weeks, I have cleaned and re-cleaned (about a thousand times) our spare bedroom trying to make room for the baby necessities. It has been a lot of hard work don't get me wrong but such rewarding work as I see small pieces starting to fall into place and (embarrassingly) our carpet being revealed once again underneath the mess. I am feeling a sense of urgency with school starting in a couple weeks. I want to be finished with her room by then so that I can put all of my energy into my artwork (and some other yucky school work) for the next four months.

As I have been cleaning and organizing I have been pondering about the idea of "nesting" and immediately Sunny Belliston Taylor's artwork came to my mind. She has explained many times in class discussions how much her lifestyle and her artistic process changed after she had her first baby girl. She started making these wonderful small paintings on paper that resemble bird's nests in a metaphoric way of a mother nesting before and after the arrival of her baby. These works are not only about the preparation but if you read the titles on her website they also relate to life's overwhelming days as well as those small precious moments. I love love Sunny's work. You can see more here.

Welcome Springtime

Spring rings in the growth of life. I love seeing flower buds on all the blossom trees around my house. 

green grass
baby animals
warmth
and a fresh start.

Spring also represents the end of school for the year and the start of spring cleaning. Oh boy, I cannot wait to start cleaning and organizing our apartment that we moved into three months ago. (my house definitely gets put on the back burner when I am swamped with school and work.) I have a few little projects to do that will make our apartment feel a smidge more homey and inviting.

 ...I get excited just thinking about having freedom from the bonds of school for a short time...

Most of all, Spring reminds me of my Savior. I hope you all had a lovely Easter yesterday. Andrew and I spent the holiday alone for the most part which is rare for us (since both of our families live so close). We did not do any Easter-y things this year, sadly, I am not a very proactive wife for holidays. We did not even dye eggs which I think is so fun, and they are yummy to eat.

It was refreshing to have such a peaceful and lovely day reflecting on Christ's atonement and resurrection.

To learn more about what we believe, click here.

And so I welcome Springtime with open arms and say thank you for all of the wonderful things you bring into my life.

the sublime

I have been thinking a lot lately on the sublime.

What qualifies something as sublime?

There are many different definitions. Some believe that the sublime invokes fear through the supreme power of God. Others believe that the sublime is more subtle hinting at the natural and awe-inspiring beauty of untouched land. There are other things in this world besides the landscape that can invoke the sublime but landscape painting is what I have been focussing a lot of my energy on in the last few months. I have been heavily researching and writing on this subject as well as striving to achieve the sublime in my own way through my artwork.

But boy is it hard.

I always seem to strive for the "impossible" in my work causing me to labor intensely in order to feel satisfied.

Often I never reach that satisfaction.

I guess art making for me (and I assume for many others as well) is one heckuva long journey in which there may be no end.

Sign me up for that punishment!

In reality, it is no punishment at all. I find my greatest joy while I am making art. I am on a journey of discovery. I am searching for the sublime in this corrupt and imperfect world and ultimately true long-lasting happiness.

I am in a basic photography class this semester and I had a blast photographing some details of my sister's house recently. It has gorgeous natural light and so I couldn't help myself. I am learning so much about my camera and some simple editing techniques. I know that this skill and knowledge will come in handy all the time. If you have any tips for me about how to take better photos, I would love to hear them.

Finals are almost over and I am hanging by a thread of brain cells. I cannot wait to clear my head of all of the little things I have been stressing about for the past 4 months. 

I am extra excited to celebrate the end of finals with this event. I hope you will come too, they are some of my dearest friends. 

..weekend preview..

This is going to be a wild goose chase kind of weekend!

Thursday:

• Go to school and work 
• Pull an all-nighter to get ready for Bijou Market

Friday:

•  6:00am -wake up and get ready
• 7:00am -load car and drive to Bijou Market
• 8:00am -set up our booth
• 10:00am -volunteer at Bijou Market. Stop by and come see me :)
• 3:00pm -go to work
• 7:00pm -go back to Bijou and check up on our booth. 
• I'll probably crash into bed this night from pure exhaustion!

Saturday:

• 8:00am -wake up and get ready
• 10:00am -do cleaning checks for Moon Apartments (work.)
• 1:00pm -go check up on our booth at Bijou Market
• 2:00pm -maybe get started on the slew of paintings that I need to get finished for finals that are fast approaching (three weeks. eek.)
• 5:00pm -clean up Bijou Market. I'm always sad when this amazing event is over.
• 7:00pm -get together with friends to eat elk steak and play games. (I have never had elk steak. Is this something I should be looking forward to..?)

 Sunday:

• 9:00am -wake up and get ready
• 11:00am -go to church
• 2:00pm -eat a yummy snack and take an amazing nap
• 5:00pm -go to family dinner
• 7:00pm -get some painting done while watching a good show with my honey

There you have it. It may not seem like a packed weekend but it sure feels like it to me. I can bet I'll be running around every single minute in my usual way. When does life slow down? Does it ever? Thanksgiving Break is coming up and boy you better believe that I am looking forward to that. I hope you have some fun plans for the weekend too. Let me know what they are, maybe we can swap good date ideas for the Provo area.

Here is a painting by one of my professors Sunny Belliston Taylor for your eyes to rest happily upon. I adore her work and I always love to see it in the process.

..here we go..

At this very moment Andrew and I are on a red-eye flight to this lovely place. (Although I highly doubt it will look this pretty after Hurricane Sandy had her way with the city, I am still going to imagine it just like this.) 

We are going with a group of art students and professors for 5 days. I am so excited to soak in a lot of art! We will try and hit up all of the major museums and some of the galleries that New York has to offer. Andrew informed me that his main reasons for going are for the food and to see a Broadway play. So...I guess we will be squeezing in other things besides art and I am okay with that. I have to say that I have a whole list of food places that I want to revisit or visit for the first time around. Mostly I am excited to have Andrew there with me this year. I have to say, the hardest part about going to NYC last year was leaving him home.

I can't wait to walk the crowded, dirty, smelly, but magical streets of NYC tomorrow morning! I am sure I'll have plenty of pictures to share when we get back. (be excited!)

..weekend preview..

I can't even express to you how good it feels to have my weekends back. I have probably already mentioned my old job in which I worked every Friday and Saturday for two whole years. Give me a break. I loved my job but I guess I never knew what I was missing. Suddenly having a weekend opens up so much more time in my life. 
Time with my husband. 
Time to paint. 
Time to relax. 
Time to clean. 
Time to plan Young Women's lessons. 
Time for me. 
And I love it. 

I tend to make plans. Whether it is for 5 years in the future or just the next day. I like to know what lies ahead. Here is a little peak into my weekend plans. I have never planned things out quite like this before so who knows how strictly we will stick to this but I continue to make plans anyway.

Friday

• 9:00am -wake up. Gotta cut myself some slack on the weekend.
• 10:00am - get to work on my systems painting for class. I usually put on a TV show or movie while I work (that's the best part.)
• 2:00pm -take a shower and make myself look semi-decent.
• 3:00pm -head to work, gotta keep those tenants happy!
• 3:30pm -read/study art history at work. this is the only time I can focus on boring textbook reading and even then it usually only lasts for an hour or so.
• 7:00pm -work ends, date begins. We have plans for sushi and going to the movies. I can't wait.

Saturday

• 9:00am -wake up.
• 10:00am -study and practice for my sign language midterm
• 12:00pm -attend the temple with my sweetheart
• 2:00pm -maybe go to lunch with that same sweetheart. just for fun.
• 5:00pm -ward trunk-or-treat. I'm excited to see all the clever costumes. Come to think of it...I need to come up with some for Andrew and I.

Sunday

• 11:00am -attend church
• 2:00pm -go visiting teaching
• 3:30pm -my visiting teachers come to see me
• 5:00pm -family dinner (hopefully Salmon this week. Yum.)
• Rest of the day--->Lounge!

Here is a piece by Deedee Cheriel, an artist who I cannot get enough of. I could look at her work all day everyday. Enjoy.

..assembling..

 

These are just a few photos of the assembling and installing process of my show. Pretty sure, for about the last three weeks my parent's house has looked like a disaster zone. My parents are so patient with me. I love how awesome they are about letting me come in and take over every counter space in the house. I can create quite the mess, I mean functional work area. 

My husband is also very patient. He willingly went over to their house with me every night to do his homework and watch movies, never complaining.He was indispensable when it came time to hang the pieces. Lets just say that I am quite dysfunctional at using a measuring tape. Somehow I always manage to do everything wrong when it comes to measuring anything. He just quietly chuckles and then proceeds to measure everything perfectly in about a quarter of the time it would have taken me. 

I love that guy. 

..NOW|HERE..

I am pleased to announce my first solo art show. 

Wow, what a relief that this is finally happening.

 I started working on this series of works in March and for the past 8 months I have carted at least one of these pieces everywhere I have gone. 

No lie.

Just ask all my family and friends. 

At the end of this journey similar questions to these below have come into my head:

Did I almost kill myself in order to finish them all on time?

Yes

Is it crazy that in 8 long months I only finished 12 pieces?

Yes

Is it pathetic how much time I poored into each piece?

Maybe

Do I regret any minute that I spent working on them?

No way

Despite the trials that came with working on this show, I am finished with them and pleasantly surprised at how each of the works evolved and ended up. I loved the portability of working on paper and by hand-stitching all the line work in these paintings that meant lots of intense physical labor has gone into each piece. I have grown so much from this project. It has made me feel more like a "real full-time working artist" than anything I have worked on thus far. 

Any and all are welcome to come to the Opening Reception for this show on Friday from 6-9pm. I would love to see you there. There will be other show openings on the same night and light refreshments will be served. If you cannot make it Friday night, the show will be up for two whole weeks so stop by the HFAC on BYU campus to take a gander. There are many other impressive shows up throughout the building that fellow students are displaying. 

I want to thank all those who gave me input, opinions, thoughts, time, and support throughout this whole project and especially at the end when I was utterly exhausted.

(p.s. because all of my time has been dedicated to finishing this show on time, I have not been so dedicated to this blog. I want to apologize and let you know that I plan to get back on track this next week and post more often. Hopefully.)

more/less

I got the idea for this post from Claire at All the Belles and Whistles. If you don't know her blog, please check it out here. She is such a beautiful inspiration to me in many ways.

For starters, she is very in-tune with herself.
Her needs.
Her wants.
Physically, spiritually and mentally, and any other -ally.

She has been such a good friend to me in school. We met when we were both applying to the Studio Art Program. I knew instantly that I liked her and that we would get along real well. But I'll write another time about how awesome Claire is. For now I want to address the topic that she inspired me with of More/Less.

Last night I found myself trying to figure out how I have let myself go in multiple areas of my life only to put importance on things that are probably not so important. This post* Claire did a while back came creeping into my mind as I was making a list to challenge myself to be better. There are so many ways I am looking to improve myself. I think this sudden urge has something to do with being in school again. I feel like school often infuses me with the desire and the will to grow, excel, and improve.

Here is my take on the idea of more/less:

more patience
less intolerance

more quiet moments
less noise

more healthy foods
less quick easy meals

more walking
less driving

more doing
less thinking

more smiles
less tears

more endurance
less quitting

more simple
less complex

more organized
less chaotic

more quality time
less electronic communication

more stability
less change

more acceptance
less judgement

and last but not least
more love

So, for the next little while, I'll be keeping this list in my brain throughout the day consciously trying to do it justice. I hope this helps you to think a bit more about your life and your goals as it did mine. Have a happy week my friends!

-Laura

*disclaimer: I cannot find the original post on Claire's blog so I don't even know how closely mine relates and I super hope that I didn't exactly copy what she wrote in her post. All I remember from hers is the theme of more/less and it really left an imprint in my memory. Sorry Claire if any of this bothers you...

..Well, It's that time again..

School is starting tomorrow. Don't even get me started on how I feel about it. I don't know why I can't shake these feelings that come every time I start school after even a somewhat short break. 

-I get anxiety and knots in my stomach.
-I get angry for not being more proactive during the break.
-I get sad and almost teary-eyed, and only when my husband finally falls asleep the few nights before the first day, do I begin crying.
-My happy, corky personality falls by the wayside as a weight falls on my shoulders labeled "The First Day of School."

Like I said I just cannot shake these feelings. 

School starting is such a scary thing for me. It always has been I guess. Even though I know the classes that I am signed up for, I feel like I have no idea what lies ahead of me. 

Don't get me wrong. I am completely and utterly grateful to be going to college and getting a degree in something that I absolutely love. I am so lucky to have the choice to study my passion and develop my talents. 

Andrew has tried to talk me out of these dark cloudy spells when he can see them coming on. He is going to help me be more positive, starting now, for this entire new semester. Sure there are going to be assignments and tests and projects that push me to the edge but the bad that comes along with going to school can never fully out-weigh the good.

So here's to starting school again after a great Summer of hard work and lots of fun. I'm going to dive right into my studies and projects, immersing myself fully and strive to keep my chin up the entire time!