Peinture Nature

This post is sort of a continuation off of my Peinture Abstraite post from last month. I really do enjoy abstract paintings. I think they are absolutely beautiful; they are expressive and unique. My boyfriend loves realistic paintings. After giving realistic paintings a shot, I completely understand his appreciation for them. They are difficult. (This could be why I decide not to paint them as frequently... I'm still a very new beginner.) Despite the difficulty, I have attempted to create "realistic" paintings of nature. Here is my collection thus far:

Sunset (1 of 6)

This was my first painting EVER. My mom, sister, boyfriend, and I found a picture, cropped the picture, cut the picture into sixths, and each took two of the six clippings to paint. This was the top middle clipping. I was pretty proud of it for being my first painting! It is acrylic paint on 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" mini canvas.

Sunset (2 of 6)

This is my second painting from this picture. It is the bottom left clipping. The coloring of this painting and the one above may be a bit off because our printer's ink was running low (we were painting based on those printed pictures). It is acrylic paint on 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" mini canvas.

Bluebonnet

This was my first experimentation with watered down acrylic. I am now obsessed with the looked of watered down acrylic. And, in case you didn't know, the bluebonnet is Texas's State Flower... And they are beautiful. This is watered down acrylic paint on 4 1/2" x 4" acrylic paper.

Falling Leaves

I just finished this painting yesterday and I absolutely love it. I'm still working on painting with dimensions and perspective. It is based off of this picture. It consists of acrylic paint and various levels of watered down acrylic paint on 9" x 12" acrylic paper.

Beach Sunset

This painting is still a work in progress. It is based off of this landscaping lesson. I started out with the lesson then just decided to do it my own way. I began painting it about three weeks ago and still haven't completed it. I get super frustrated with the clouds and I've had to paint over spots several time. I'm pretty proud of the beach/ocean area though I need to maybe make it a little darker. Anyway. It is acrylic paint on 9" x 12" acrylic paper.

So. Those are my "realistic" paintings of nature that I have so far. I hope to complete the Beach Sunset eventually... But we will see. 

À la semaine prochaine.

-Desiree

Bon Voyage!

In just five short hours I will be leaving for my road trip to move to North Carolina. I know that’s not necessarily a “bon voyage” trip, but it’s a huge move for me. There is SO MUCH that goes into moving across the country that I never even considered!

Shortly after I graduated, my last paycheck was supposed to arrive in the mail. It didn’t. I had to call payroll from the school I had just graduated from in order to understand the mishap. I did everything I needed to do in order to cancel my direct deposit and have my check mailed, but I was told I did something incorrectly. Eventually my paycheck came in the mail to my hometown. There was an error in payroll and I was shorted $80 or so. Another week or two passed before I was delivered the rest of what I was owed. That was the first major issue/step towards my big move.

Have you ever tried to pack your whole life away? If you haven’t, let me tell you this: it’s such a pain! Especially when you know the storage space is limited at the house you are moving into. I’m a girl, so I have an emotional attachment to everything that I own. Getting rid of ¼ of my closet (there was no way I was giving up more) took quite a while. Also having to keep in mind that I will be looking for work when I move limited the style of attire I chose to pack. We ended up shipping two 20” x 24” x 34” boxes filled with mostly clothes and shoes but also some books and DVDs. I’ve never moved away from home (other than for college), so I wasn’t quite sure what all I needed to pack.

Once I am in North Carolina, it won’t be long until my car’s registration expires. In order to register my car, I will need to get a lovely North Carolina license. How lovely! In order to get my license, I have to take the North Carolina driving test (just written, I think). BRIGHT SIDE: I will officially get a 21+ driver’s license. ;) I will also need North Carolina plates for my car. Fun fact: Only the back plate is needed in NC! Unlike Texas, where you need both front and back plates.

The most important part about moving: finding a job. I have been looking at various museums for volunteer work or part-time work. I actually found a children’s museum that is hiring part-time employees! Though, I am sort of struggling finding a full-time job that I qualify for. I know most everyone fresh out of undergrad already has a job/career lined up or grad school, but what’s a little struggle to make you appreciate life and hard work? (I think my boyfriend’s optimism is rubbing off on me.)

Well, as I said, five short hours until I leave for a 15 hour road trip to Atlanta, then a 6 hour drive on Thursday to Raleigh. Here’s to hoping I won’t miss my dog too terribly much!

À plus tard!

-Desiree

Peinture Abstraite

My boyfriend bought me paint brushes and acrylic paint for Christmas this year because I told him I wanted to start a hobby. I have never taken an art class in my life (I was into band and theatre), and have never painted a single thing ever. So the past month and a half I have been dabbling in the art (pun intended) of painting.

I have always thought abstract paintings as beautiful and amazing and absolutely inspiring. I completed four abstract paintings today that I want to share! I think they're fun (even if they are amateur-ish).

Kiss the Rain

This piece is called Kiss the Rain. I painted this piece as I was listening to Kiss the Rain by Yiruma. It is slightly watered down acrylic paint on a 8" x 8" canvas.

Kill Me

This piece is called Kill Me. I painted this piece as I was listening to Kill Me by The Pretty Reckless. It is slightly watered down acrylic paint on 9" x 12" acrylic paper.

Spring Bouquet

This piece is called Spring Bouquet. This is my slightly different rendition of this Abstract Art Flowers painting. It is watered down acrylic paint on 9" x 12" acrylic paper.

Volcanic Eruption

This piece is called Volcanic Eruption. This piece is photographed upside down from how I painted it, but I  think it looks better this way. It is slightly watered down acrylic paint on 9" x 12" acrylic paper.

Anyway. Those are the four paintings I created today in the order I created them. I have some other paintings I have created that I might post later. But I'm kind of proud of these!

Salut!

-Desiree

Mon Petit Ami

Ever have a moment so monumentally exciting but you find yourself so unbelievably anxious and nervous? That’s how I am right now. Why, you ask? Well, I am moving in with my boyfriend NEXT WEEK! And it’s not just that I am moving in with my boyfriend next week, it’s that I am moving in with my boyfriend next week after about THREE YEARS of being long distance! How’s that for a change? (You can read all about my relationship/LDR advice here.)

I never saw myself living in Texas my whole life, I just never knew when I would be leaving… That is, until I started dating the bf. Sure, I like Texas. Well, I only like the hill country. Of course I have my family and friends here, but I just don’t belong. Everyone is so… country. Granted, North Carolinians are country as well, but at least it’s a step in the right direction for me.

So, my plans are simple really. Well, simple on the outside. I leave for the road trip to North Carolina on Wednesday, February 27^th. We should be arriving Thursday evening. I graduated in December and don’t have a job lined up or grad school in the fall. Looking for work will be a joy (that’s sarcasm). But the reason for this journey: my boyfriend!

The bf graduates from law school in May! Can you believe I stayed with him, in a long distance relationship, throughout ALL of law school? Crazy, I know. I am super excited to finally be in the same city as him! I’ll try to keep this blog updated with my personal progress of being in a LDR to living with the guy. I mean, that’s kind of a huge change. Right?

À bientôt!

-Desiree

Fashion Faux Pas

I am in NO way a fashion expert, but I feel like these fashion trends (and I very much dislike the fact that they are actually trends) are just too absurd/annoying/ridiculous to not comment on.

1. To all you lovely ladies who like to commit fashion faux pas, in the words of Blair Waldorf: "Tights are NOT pants... honestly!" Maybe the fact that I spent the past 3 1/2 years of my life at a public state University has impacted my absolute hatred of tights casually making their way into the female wardrobe as laziness towards putting thought into appearance ensues. Maybe I'm being harsh, but good fashion at a public state university does NOT exist...

2. Speaking of college fashion faux pas, who ever said over-sized t-shirts with Nike shorts are acceptable anywhere outside of a gym?! I’ll admit, it can be quite comfy, but only in a lounge-around-the-house, I-won’t-be-caught-dead-wearing-this-in-public kind of way. Working out and lounging around. Otherwise, I go insane when girls actually accessorize with these “outfits”.

3. Animal-print ANYTHING. Okay, I lied a little. I can handle some really cute leopard print shoes, but that’s about it! Maybe some animal print accents I can handle, but full piece made purely of the print? It’s a bit more trashy than classy.

  

4. Crocs. I feel like my boyfriend, mother, and I are the only ones in the world who hated the shoes when they first came out and still refuse to try on a pair. I completely understand wearing the shoes for gardening or work purposes (my sister owned a pair for when she worked at Texas Roadhouse, and I know they make great shoes for nurses/people in the medical field), but I cannot understand the attraction for actual cute outfits. Am I the only one who wants to say “oh honey…” when seeing a girl’s adorable outfit topped off with a pair of these?

5. Ex-girlfriend jeans/skin-tight pants for men. No explanation necessary. I can’t handle thinking I can share my jeans with a guy. The end.

À la prochaine!

-Désirée

Bonjour! Je m'appelle...

Hello! My name is Desiree.

I just graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology. I don't know what I am going to do with my life. Oh, and piece of advice, anthropology is a great subject to take classes in, research, etc., but it doesn't really seem to mean a thing as a major unless you continue on in higher education with a Master's or a Doctorate's. At least, that's how I am pretty sure it is. That's how it seems now. I'm hoping that changes.

I have another blog about long distance relationships (I am currently in one right now. You can find the link here.), but I decided to also begin writing about my everyday life in a place that allows more than just 140 characters at a time.

I’m currently prepping myself for the biggest change in my life to this point: moving across the country to live with my boyfriend of nearly three years. How am I prepping myself for this life-changing moment? A Gossip Girl marathon of course! Netflix is my obsession, as I’m sure it is yours if you have an account. Netflix has grossly taken over my life. Take the term “grossly” whichever way you’d like, because it is probably accurate any way you look at it. Hours upon hours of marathoning various TV shows. Not only that, but rewatching the same select shows over and over again. Netflix has ruined my life. (I’m a bit overdramatic.)

Back to the Gossip Girl topic: I know it’s not just me who wants to change my life after watching this show. (It happens to me every time I have a GG marathon from start to end. Let me tell you, this happens often.) Every character has their own purpose and their own goals, and not to mention, FABULOUS style and poise. Who wouldn’t want to live like a New Yorker? The “It” Girls who are our closest thing to royalty? (Yes, I threw in another Cecily vZ reference.)

And after every GG-watching marathon comes a GG-reading marathon. Though, this time I couldn’t wait until after I finished my viewing spree. I listened to the first two audiobooks last time I had a long roadtrip, so I jumped right in to book four “Because I’m Worth It” yesterday (I can’t seem to find book three anywhere in my house).  And I forgot just how much the TV series differed from the novels. “Differed” isn’t the right term. There are minute similarities (I mean, the main characters, sure), but very big differences. At least big differences to me. And, with rereading the novels, I realized the characters are not nearly as glamorous as they are portrayed on the television series.

But that’s beside the point. The point is, I am starting a new chapter in my life soon. With new chapters come new beginnings. With new beginnings come new experiences. And new experiences call for new makeovers. Total makeovers. Not just the exterior, but of the mind as well. Let’s see how long this actually lasts.

À tout à l’heure.

-Désirée