Happy New Year!!

It's a little early, but...


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


Just wanted to say thanks for all of your support! This has been an awesome year of learning and growth in a lot of aspects of my life, from spiritual to physical - even in my art.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for always liking my work, even when I want criticism ;)
Thanks, Jane Bush, for an awesome watercolor class.
Thanks to Reagan Academy for having me to the Art and Basket Auction.
Thanks to all of you who have commissioned works.
Thanks to all of my followers and friends.
Thanks to my friends who aren't afraid to say, "I like it, BUT...". It helps me out :)

I really wouldn't even continue with art if I didn't have people like all of you. Thanks again, and I look forward to another great year of art!!

expressionsartstudio.etsy.com
facebook.com/expressionsartstudio

Commissions

Yay! I just completed half of a commission recently:

I was commissioned to paint 2 Western US landscapes, and 2 Florida Landscapes. Obviously, I'm finished with the Western Landscapes :)  They are both 8x10, ready to mat and frame!

If you'd like to commission a painting, contact me via email (nikl.lodi@gmail.com) or phone (801 336 0466). Also, there are ready-to-purchase originals at the Expressions Art Studio Etsy Shop. 

Thanks so much for your support and business.
 It helps me by helping me pay for my education! Thanks again!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

What a great time I've had... I painted a little this break, spent a lot of time with my family, got a lot of awesome things from my family, and finished wrapping my presents just in time!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and fun break. Thanks for your support!!

Happy Holidays,
Nicole


Here are a couple of snow paintings, since we didn't really have too much here this year :)

Etsy!!

We are now on Etsy!!

Take a look at our fantabulous watercolors that you can buy.
We'll post cards and prints if business gets up a little...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/expressionsartstudio?ref=seller_info

Sweet.

Do What You Love: A Spontaneous Lecture by Professor Tholen

Today in 2D Design, my professor gave us quite the motivational speech on art and doing what you love. A lot of people are worried that they won't make it as an artist... but according to my teacher, it's possible and plausible.

The teacher says that:

There is room for everyone in art. Anyone that wants to can participate and can succeed. But, in order to succeed, you need to be the best at what you do - better than everyone else. That is how you get jobs and commissions.

But how do you become better than everyone else?? That depends on YOU. For some, it helps to go to school, to have people that can teach you how to be better by telling you the rules so you can break them. School is a good place to fail, and to get back up. It's a great place to develop style, to learn deadlines, to acquire skills. You have to go FULL FORCE, put your best effort into EVERY assignment, or you are wasting your time. Getting through school to get through school doesn't work with art. If you want to be good, you have to take what you learn, do your best to understand and to apply it.

But, in the long run, no one cares where you went to school. No one cares what your grades were (unless you are on scholarship, or you plan on teaching art later). HOW you acquire your skills is not important, its how you UTILIZE them.

If you get discouraged by others, get over it. My teacher suggests a mourning period of about 15 min. Then, you get on with your life. The world has BILLIONS of people in it, and chances are that if someone doesn't like your work, someone else will. If you quit now and become a taxi driver, or a Wal-mart cashier, then, in 30 years, you are going to wish you did something you loved.

Wow. Wasn't that motivational?? For me, totally. As an artist, it's something you worry about all the time. And, I certainly don't put my 110% into every assignment I ever have. That's my new goal for next semester - LEARN TO LEARN. If you fail, it hurts. It costs money. Maybe even a scholarship. But I want to be a successful artist, whatever it takes, and so I am going to be THE best. I'm going to go FULL FORCE and PUSH ON. I'm going to learn to learn, and I'm going to do what I love.

Thanks, Jane

Everyone knows that the best teachers aren't the easy ones. The best teachers aren't necessarily the hard ones, either. They can be easy or hard, but the point is that the best teachers are the ones who you feel the caring that they have for the subject and for those they are teaching. And, you learn more when you have those teachers. And your GPA usually doesn't suffer if you are a responsible student. Those who are teachers for the right reasons generally get as much out of their career as the students get out of their class. It's a win-win.


We need more real teachers in the world.


I just got through taking a class from a real teacher. Her name is Jane Bush. I love her to death. She is one of those real teachers who wants you to be better. She taught me watercolor this semester, and I have seen so much improvement I cannot even believe it. She cares about her students. And she is adjunct. which means that she is getting pushed out of her job by "real" professors, who are there for the wrong reasons. She is in her 60's, but she's sharp, on-the-ball, and is just amazing. But because she's older and adjunct, she's losing classes. And it's a complete shame. Shame on the University. Shame on the Art Department. Shame. They are completely, utterly, and purposefully shutting her out. Discrimination because of age. Sad. It makes me sick.


But, maybe it's because I'm a little sad today anyway. It was the last day of class. And probably the last of Jane's classes. I am just so grateful that once in a great while I get to experience the amazing opportunity of having a real teacher. Thanks, Jane! http://janepaint.blogspot.com/

FINALLY!!

I've finally got everything up to date. EVERYTHING I've done this year is up on the blog now. Here's a small preview of some new things you'll see:

Thank you all so much for your support!! Thanks again for reading!

OCD, much? And, a bit of awesome news...

Well, the blog is officially reorganized! For about the millionth time, I know... but I couldn't leave it alone. It seemed too much to scroll through per page.

So, each page is now organized as follows:

By subject matter, then year (2011 at the top, 2008 at the bottom).

Super excited!!

Anyway, a little bit of awesome news... at the end of the year, I will have been officially painting for 3 years! Awesomeness!

Institute Art Contest...

So... the Institute is having a conference one-liner art contest...
:)
I entered today. I know it's a bit of a stretch, and that my one-liner is a little long, but here's my submission:

"The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us."

 - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Late Thanksgiving, Everyone!!

    

 I hope that everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving. This year mine was perfect - all of the food worked. Well, most of it worked. My from-scratch pumpkin pie had a tough crust, but, hey, it still tasted good. :)

   





   The normal contention dissolved, and the Grandma's both came over to share in our bounty (which, by the way, included 3 pumpkin, 1 cherry, 1 lemon meringue, and 1 chocolate caramel pecan pie. Pie is my favorite part, obviously).

     After a short bout of hilarious and slightly embarrassing family videos and a little Victor Borge, we kissed the Grandma's goodbye. Later, we all watched a black-and-white together.

What a day! Low-stress and perfect. I didn't get any painting done, but I do have a few from last week that I'll post soon. And now, I'm itching to make some turkey tortellini, but I'm pretty sure that that is not happening today. We'll see.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I am so grateful for all that God has given me. He has given me everything. The more I look around me and count my blessings, the more I appreciate what He has done for me. Everything really does testify of Him. Our trials, the beauty of the earth, the blessings we receive - EVERYTHING points back to a merciful God who loves us.
This year, I've had some hard times, some trials. But I have learned and matured so much from them that I barely even recognize myself.
This year, He has also given me great people that influence my actions every day. He has given me friends that listen, friends that share, friends that care about me and can joke around and have fun. He's blessed me with parents that teach me, and help me to be better. He has given us the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that we will never be lost in this world. He has shown us the way. He gave us the life of His Only Begotten Son. I am forever grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I can't even comprehend all that He's done. But I am eternally grateful for my life and the chances I have everyday to talk to God and to receive inspiration and strength.

Art and Basket Auction

Thanks to Reagan Academy of Springville for having me tonight!

The annual Art and Basket Auction was a blast with fun baskets, raffles, Costco ice cream, and art galore! My auctioned painting (Tetons) [look for it on the watercolor page] went for about $40, which is amazing! Also, there was a lot of interest in my work.

Thanks, as well, for the support of Amelia Olson and Mrs. Olson, Aunt Betty and Uncle Kim Laudie, and Sha Laudie, the one who got me into the whole thing :)

Hopefully I can come again next year?? (That was a self-invitation) It was awesome. And, for all of you who bidded, and the wonderful lady who bought my painting: way to support a great cause - Utah's charter schools.

Just So You Know...

Just wanted to let you know that I have some new stuff up in the watercolor and sketch categories!!

YAY!!


That's about all. Enjoy!


 - Nicole

I really really did it... I really really did it!!!

FINALLY! I got most of the rest of my artwork up... so scroll through a couple of pages and see what's new.
I've added quite a few more watercolors, some oil pastels, acrylics, and sketches...


So, I'm pretty excited. And, feel free to comment or make suggestions.
You can also "like" us on Facebook to get updates when I upload new items.


Thanks for your time and support, all,


Nicole

Welcome to the Blog

The blog has undergone some changes... but the pages haven't yet.

I'll be working slowly but surely to get the bad scan quality fixed. 

Take a look around, and, if you like what you see, like us on facebook (scroll to the bottom).

I really value improvement - especially when it comes to my art. Here's my latest happy-moment improvement: (CLICK TO MAKE THEM BIGGER)

My "Flower" in  2010

My "Flower II" in 2011

I don't know if you'll agree, but I see an improvement in just one year. Same flower, but one is more vibrant. Improvement or not? Let me know!!

As I'm currently majoring in art, I am hoping that I'll make greater progress as I continue to study.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

  -- Nicole