Now this is what it looks like to be scared and excited at the same time.  Now I carry a dry eraseboard everywhere—in my car anyways—to teach art at any moment or time.

This workshop was tough on purpose.  This was serious like facial reconstruction that the police could use!!  My worksheet with 7 pages and the ride to get to the end was fun.  This took some “Art Math” to the extreme and the lightbulbs all lit up at the same time…the first picture they did right off the top of their head vs. after the class was shocking.  Here’s to my new calling!

This is my newest workshop and new bio:

Drawing butterflies is easy and fun when you learn the basic shapes and colors, then move forward with step-by-step instruction in how to make your own beautiful creations.

Instructor Heather Deogracia is a graduate of California State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Illustration with a double major in Fine Art and Pre-Medicine. She was selected for the Legacy Trust Award Collection Statewide for 2014, 2016 and selected for the 2015 Midland County Art Letourneau Award for Collaboration and Creativity in Community Support. She has been a Midland Artists Guild Member for the last 3 years, and regularly exhibits in solo shows at local venues throughout the Midland area.

$20 / All materials provided. Please call 989 837 1885 to pre-register.

This Saturday at 3 pm is the fundraiser for the Do-All Inc. organization that helps disabled individuals to find work and sustain a positive experience working with others.

What makes this even special is that the artists are allowed only 3 hours to create an art piece in most mediums and participate in buyers that attend the event.  The event usually draws around 100 artists and there are cash prizes for up to ten.  This is the third year for me, sold my pieces the past two years for $80 and $125.

I wanted to challenge myself more so I picked a complicated illustration to challenge my illustration skills.  This is the original art work.  Deep I know!!  Gonna strain my brain.  Above is a 20 minute sketch…good to start with outlines and go soft on the color.  Let the magic begin.

 

 

 

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to look different and to try new things that are in fashion and in-style beauty wise.  That led me to a site named http://www.wise.com that sells artificial hair for $10-$50 in hair extensions and this color was dead on what the screen would look like for my hair color.  In all honesty, I have used the same hair color since I was 14 so who knows what blonde I am or if I have brown hair underneath.   I’m on my way to growing my hair out to a bit from my shoulders so these fit right in with no problems…I forgot why long hair feels like *I had long hair in college.  They do snap in and last for 6-12 months.  Look at the fun I have now.

This art project is for a state-wide competition of the Legacy Trust Award Collection held at the Museum in Grand Rapids in May.  This year I am submitting my colorful work “Logic of Tigress” completed in two days last weekend-I work fast.  The piece is on a painted canvas with graphite and colored pencils as the forefront medium.

The meaning behind the piece is about a woman that uses her animal instincts to hunt down the truth of life.  She seems like two beautiful creatures and the vibrant colors were actually a surprise for me…this canvas was given to me by the gallery I volunteer at.  They said I could paint over the orange and this is the result of my imagination of my illustration using the bright colors.  Many positive comments were made on Facebook so I hope others can admire it and try to receive the message as well.  Some women have to have claws right?!

My artwork was selected in both 2014 and 2016 and was printed in the Midland Daily News at:

I was selected in 2014 and 2016 for the collection and the piece was printed in the newspaper.  The work in the article for 2016 was sold from the museum for $500 from a buyer in Grand Rapids.

http://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Midlander-s-art-part-of-Legacy-Trust-Award-8358637.php

The top three prizes of this collection are for a cash prize of $500 and sponsorship in ArtPrize fall open art exhibition.

Yeah I am back from my “chemical holiday” at the hospital.  Don’t worry…I am much better now and was worried that my art inspirations and motivations would fade to a very bad place.  Alive and kickin’ is what I say.  Just did this in three days so I know I did get some webs out of my head about the art part anyways.

Just saw this “Call to Artist” application at Studio 23 Art Center in Bay City, MI–about a 25 minute drive away on my fave list on Facebook.  The Leadership Bay County Chairs are going to be displayed in parks in all the city parks.  Bay City is going to providing paint, brushes and the chair for this project! You just need to provide your talent and time.

 

 

Heather Hurts Inside: Illustration of a Broken Human
Graphic Novel due out June 1, 2017

It is the big date!!  2.2.2017 is the start of my graphic novel and 10 days before my birthday.  I am finally forty right this day…hmmm..this is my first ABSTRACT project three or four years ago.  Wiping tears and my mentor Dave Emmel (name is wrong) said this was a new staring image he has ever saw and then when I told him that I did it with my eyes closed, freak fest 2013.  Need to alter present techniques to this.
My heart lungs and mind are poured into a new website blog that shows the process of art, science, technology and a stream of my personality.  I am a sunshine girl with a purpose now for the morning routine and my life.  Watch out and come to play…my sister used to bite people in pre-school and I promise not to do that to you.

Oceans of Love.

Heather Hurts Inside
Due June 1, 2017

 

OMG!!!  I made my biggest dream come true!!!  Three years ago I said “I am going to hang my work in this gallery in three years”.  Daydreaming…raising my hand high.  There was 12 pieces of the illustrations lined the stage wall for the 4 week exhibit in November.

Creative 360 Workshop for Express Yourself Artshop of abstracts made with names of students, favorite activity and three colors.  All images are created with the eyes closed method.  I close my eyes, use bistro board surface for illustrations and use a black pen to create what enters my mind for all the ink outline.  I do not lift the pen up so it flows pretty smoothly.  I open my eyes and then fill the entire shape with an equal amount of ink that I think makes the piece personalized.  On occasion, I use penciled pencils or watercolor.

New fundraiser for Safe & Sound Child Protection Advocacy for February 3rd, 2017 event at the Dow Diamond.  Donated art work is for taking action to end child abuse and neglect in the Midland, MI community.   This artwork was my new combo art that shares both realistic and abstract together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I am on my way to share, I am on my way to be humbled.  While I am on a purpose based life, I am aware that my talents include my art, losing weight and gaining artistic business practices.  There are times I speak unfiltered or what I have really in my head, the line is still drawn to those that love me or the those that hate me.  The word hate or swear to god is not for an offending front on my agenda.  Who am I to make proud is my business and my spiritual expression.  No excuses or my waste of time.  When I said I am changed in a past post of mine, there are a lot of reasons that are secrets I stay in my mind alone.  Bipolar really gave me so many an artistic matrix and it is time for me to figure out.  Fun is my game and I have the freedom to take it as a slap on my face.  Wake up and get on your “grind” game girl.

Internet Story

http://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Using-her-illness-to-an-advantage-not-giving-up-9973997.php

 

 

 

You tell me to think outside of the box buddy…I’ll show you ah ah ah.  Give some animals, a hammer and some flowers—bam!

 

 

 

Project Little Library.  15 artist had the pleasure to decorate these little library houses to be spread around town where you can take a book or give a book. 

 

 

 

Received a beautiful art supply from my art student and these pics were drawn a few days ago.  I am learning a new technique of Chiaroscuro that is showing me that I don’t have to draw heavy deep illustration contour lines.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro

 

At the Midland Antique Festival for September 19 sat. and September 20 at the fairgrounds, I am going to rent a table inside and trying to think up ideas about what I can sell.  The love is to sketch for people and children and making personalized gifts.  I am planning on the craft of garden gloves with fancy additions of bows/flowers or a felt princess headband with jewels, glitter, flowers..

My table has silver balloons and a neon pink tablecloth.

I come up with this idea last night for the sketches I can sell.  The idea is to take a space of the artwork with options that you personalize.  The choices are really simple. Just point at what you want and I will sketch it for you.  The two stories below were favorites of mine as a kid…

Princess of the Pea

Monster Under the Bed

The princess will be beautiful with the following accessories…a crown, top of the dress, jewelry, bottom of dress, hair.  Each sketch are going to be drawn on a model doll on the bedroom scene with many mattresses.

The monster under the bed is a person bending over to see what is under there…it is going to be a sketch monster using descriptions such as the shape, mouth, hands/feet and other additions.

With the blind abstract sketches, I am going to use three word prompts…some samples below.

happy chicken popsicle
grapes wine buckets
bear apple kiss

**I would have to just to put on my blindfold to close my eyes and takes me a few minutes to guess what a pic would look like in my head.  My imagination can be quite out there and most need a description..my best-est-est love in my life is to have someone explain what the piece is about…sometimes I don’t know what I’ve drawn either. Prices vary on b/w/colors, size 9×12, 11×14 or 16×20 and shipping costs.

Can’t wait!

I am taking pre-orders at the following e-mails.  I can send you a request form…

starting at $150 midlandabstract@gmail.com

starting at $35 midlandgardengloves@gmail.com

starting at $35 midlandprincessfelt@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my first day of the story board and image planning.  I’m very excited from the beginning page listed below.

 

The other title was too scary.  I am more positive then that.  Knowing my past would definitely help others that survive from the past memories.  If I only had a dollar for every person that said “I can’t believe that happened and you turned out so normal”.

Three Word Graphic Novel

1. Sweet Death Wish
2. Dungeon of Men
3. Medicine o’ Meditation
4. Hide My Cookie
5. Double Purpose Heart
6. Suicide or Art
7. Lovely Funeral Rose

 

Opening Page

“How many **cked with you growing up?  Not a one.  What do you think that was?  You had a way of making everything turn your way and you won’t stop until you get it.  I love you and I have always wanted the best for you.  But no. Behind the scenes, I heard people talk **it about you…I was like f noooooo.  Do you remember always seeing me in Mr. Principal’s office at Liberty Union? ”

“What happened?”

“Are you trying to attack my self-esteem?  I am confused.”

Blank

Phone Call.

Blank

 

 

 

 

I took this two days ago.
My life is not going to be the same.
You wait and see.