So I wake up in the 4 am period of time when the whole world is still, quiet and weightless.  Usually having to go pee, I sit then stand afterwards and see in the shadowed mirror of who I am.  As I wash my hands in the dark, I notice my eyes the most.  My eyes I am familiar with when it comes to being retrospective.  Staring at me, the real me, is a flash of showmanship and the what if I could have done more with my life.  Admitting being a double minded individual takes bravery and a step beyond routine.  I have to fight two sides instead of one.  Putting up the white flag a long time ago, I have surrendered about my past and the time I waste on the war of reflection.  Even the starting or observation of this work, I can taste the disgust of using the word “I” all the time.  Making me feel selfish, I try constantly to switch to other topics.  Everything is just fine with me so carry on while I scratch myself to the level of comfort about expressing what the mirror tells me.  I reflect how others have trampled my soul and out of it is a bloom of luxury of a field of Asian white roses.  Not only have I written my newest fleck of thoughts, I shall now draw unexpected illustrations that come to mind.  Sometimes words annoy me and I’d rather hide behind those silly lines.  The lines of lies.

Digital Images Downloaded today for your viewing pleasure and on sale for $85 for the original print in a small black frame.  If interested, call 989.941.9993 and describe the blind contour image you prefer.  Fortunately, you will get to see the images before the public at my first solo exhibition with brand new art pieces that have never been displayed before.  This was a hobby project of letter size images that I put together for IHuman.  I am still in the process of loading bigger images in my next blog.

Press Release Art Statement for IHuman

Never viewed by an audience, this first solo exhibit by Heather Deogracia uses a blind contour abstract technique or best described as figurative illustration carried out single ink line from beginning to end with her eyes closed. With over 50 images created during her free time (usually starting at 4 a.m.), her drawing addiction intent is to create entire stories from one image of line and color theory.

On the face of the front page of a Sunday Feature article of the Midland Daily News in October of last year, Heather Deogracia describes how art saved her from suicidal ideation and manic psychosis from her brain disease of bipolar. Deogracia earned a double major Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Illustration in Pre-Medicine and Fine Art from California State University in San Bernardino. Her professional career includes Award-Winning Graphic Layout and Design, International Art Director and a Continuity Director in Radio Broadcasting. Around the end of her twenties, she had the first manic episode of psychosis and was sent to a Psyche Ward and prescribed medicine by Psychiatrists. After over 10 visits to psyche wards and more medicine to keep track of, she had a very rough time to find a balance emotionally. Fortunately four years ago, the breakthrough of her lifetime occurred when she could concentrate on art material and found an addiction in producing Award-Winning Studio Fine Art. With over 30 displays of various realistic and abstract images in fundraisers, restaurant venues and art exhibits, she has the experience and material to present for a new audience. Her brand new abstract illustrations in IHuman is a chance for a viewer to witness that mental illness must not stop an individual from creative behavior even in times of depression and mania.

http://www.counterculturearts.org/

Yikes!  My very first stab at the solo exhibit scene and thrills me end that they love my abstract world is going to be out there for all walks to see.  The only thing freaking me out is how to price items, $70.99 for small and $190.99 for large.  Since the deadline is so close, I have been working it into my schedule which is NOT a pain to me all.  Here are just a small sample of what I have done in the first two weeks.  Enjoy and feel free to comment if there is one you like a lot.  Tah tah!

With two day notice I whipped these images out for display.  On one wall of my series named Smarty Girls (faces with scientific theory comin out of the head.  All the images came out of wood.  The bar tender liked them so off to a good start for this year…timing to sell these are slim an I do them to feel so tingly inside when they are all hanging.  I work from home so seeing them in an establishment is a thrill.  Below is the food they serve as well.  I’ve never eaten sushi so I might try soon.  This exhibit is for two months and really would like you to check the place out!  Very young hip and high end.

Much love for my boyfriend da Vinci:

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.
Leonardo da Vinci
Reading. Writing.  Illustrating.

Reading a list of 200 books to read before you die.  Second week in and almost done with 10.  All of them have like blown my mind!  I study them as I read and really respect rich vocabulary lexicon, how important a “central” character takes place and how the plot is what it is.

It is like art, you can let it melt your chemicals and it hurts so good.  I thought I would be reading in my spare time but all I want to do is read, write and draw.  Crazy and in a safe way I must.

I took off a quarter of teaching workshops where I volunteer but kept my volunteer jobs teaching some elderly retired women on drawing and watercolor (*I draw them beforehand).

Did a huge Princess Illustration this morning…totally out of my head how I like it.  I’ve also been kicking down some abstracts for parts of the story.  Getting a copy editor very soon but she I on vaca for awhile.  Gives me a chance to cement the table of contents.

I promise to post new images that I draw in groups.  Just fell in love with watercolored pencils that I got for xmas.  Sooo in love.

Tah tah for now and wishing you a happy New Year!!

The book labeled The Artists Way Workbook by Julia Cameron has morning page journaling.  Believe it or not, I wrote this entry in 2014 and feels just as significant as it did back then.

1. Hunger for reasons: I used to drive my mother insane with questions she had no explination of, I think in sokme ways she was both ignorant and uneducated, it was like I was a philosopher and wanted to tind the mean of life: I was always reading to do so
2. Book smarts:  I used to be in the “reading Olympics” as a child I used to read all the time, book worm girl-the lirary used to make me sooooo excited.  I just read to escape my childhood-gavea chance to be left alone by everyone-in addition, my mother didn’t have to discipline or watch me when I was just reading.  I hated my my mom never read a single book the whole time I was raised
3. Very outhoing with stranger: it was veary constant to get to know other people then my own family.  My mom didn’t like me to invite friends over or even fun when she didn’t know “their parents”.  I was fascinated by how instant a connection could be made if you were just nice to a stranger-I also was also sexually abused sso I assumed that every person had my male behavior
4. Easilly entertained: I used to scream/giggle a if someone was trying to hold or start for my attention.  I was scared of clowns.  Just some of them.  I would clap my hands and have a huge smile from ear to ear.  My parents were not entertaining and never grasped the concept that laughing was the best medicine and having a sense of humor made life so mo much more stimulating and for a reason to get involved with people yoou felt “happy” around for a reason to get involved with people you felt “happy” around
5. Chatterbox: I was born with this gift to meet anyone to respond to my compliments or ful with my “real” personality.  I was to be ANTI-chatterbox and my mom would get Furious if I talked too much or was popular because I was outgoing. “mostougoing” was wh “” was.  I love hearing stories or listening to another person to share because my back and forth sresponse was pleasing for eachoof.  Chatter bosing also gets you prepared for that persons individuality to shine.

Last year one of the students from Dow High was recommended  by her art teacher to give me an interview for college credit…she contacted me with fair questions after she read the interview after she read my front page story of the Midland Daily News for a Sunday Feature about Art Therapy for those with mental illnesses. She did a fine job and I was happy to help. What if an art student with a talent for science as well as art…hmmmm…now is the exact moment to host next year.

Brand new idea came to me yesterday about having a Dow sponsored event named the Dow First Annual Art Science Fair at Dow High with prizes that would be scholarships, gift cards for art supplies for the top winners. The themed fair must be judged by the instructions and administration with all knowledge of the mix of art and science instructors of the Dow staff. Dow knows a little by science, indeed, and I want to shake it up for high school students…applications or in the art word as a call to artists for schools in the Midland District under the age of 18 want to stay in the teen or younger years. The art could include photographs, 2-3 drawn images, multimedia and sculptures. I have been a volunteer at Creative 360 for over 4 years and want to branch out my real skills of my college degree in Medical Illustration. My website is www.heatherdeogracia.com if you ever need to see my resume and my work. My contact information is below this email. Thank you for your time and feel free to let me know if this is something you would put your heart into.

1Wow1.28.2018NEW.ResumewordPDF