Sketch of My World (Altel / Ast)

My current work for my Student Thesis show was born from a couple of sketches I drew for my story I have been working most of my life. The world I have created is called Astel. If you have seen my hobby blog, it is named Astelian Studio. Yep, same world. These sketches are from a different part of Astel named Ast. The Utopian/ sanctuary that most of these Deities I have created reside.Think of Astel like Earth and Ast is Heaven, a different plane of existence from the "real world" of Astel.

This is the first vision I drew for the Kingdom of Ast. Like a regular world there is a sun and a moon. These orbs of power are held by the Deities which they are named for. The Sun God near the front is melting while holding the sun in his horns. I found it strangely ironic that these all powerful beings would inevitably end from the task given them.

The sun god wasn't fitting what I had originally planned. He seemed rather weak compared to the other strong and daring gods I have learned in true religion. Thus, the new god was born from the old. I assumed in this universe that his joints would melt and break under the pressure and heat of the sun. He gained a mask like feature to fit in with my Depression Mask Watercolor Series from earlier.

The Moon Goddess got a face lift as well. Before she was clothed and now she is taller and older looking, to match the sun god. I modeled her body from one of my Ball Jointed Dolls. I entertained the idea that the only organic feature about her would be her ever melting hair. She doesn't have a mask feature like the sun god has, but she does have a wonderful head dress that represents and holds the moon behind her head.

Most stories and images of "Heaven" Come with their own Angels. This is my version and in my clay studies, I created a plethora of melted angel wings that seem to have been frozen in time. This is what the Angel would have looked like. They serve as sentries and report back the the duo of higher Deities that are the Sun and the Moon. Mostly represented as female to imitate the Moon Goddess, these Angels see all from their perches.

In the Utopia of Ast, there must be balance. Angels can not exist without Demons. These male figures report solely to the Sun god and keep the Angels in check. Some of the Angels have been known to go rouge and try to overthrow the existing deities to take their place. I think of these Demons as knights or soldiers.

For my student show and a project for my Ceramic Studio class, I must create 3 installation pieces. Toward the end of the semester I will get to use the "Hot Boxes" which are display cases of upcoming artists work for my show. I thought and sketched different ideas and my favorite so far is to create Installation Alters for the two main Deities of the Sun and the Moon and then the third to represent the Angels and Demons.

My designs are modeled after closet alters I have seen used in other cultures. Due to lack of room for churches, some families will make an unused closet into an Alter space for a lost family member or for the Deity of their choice. With my upcoming woodworking pieces in my Advanced Sculpture class, I can create tables and shelves to place different offerings that would be seen in Astel for the Gods of Ast, bringing my world into this one and creating a finished art piece out of the instalation.

I can't wait to get started and show you all the progress!

Past Ceramics ~ 2012

This class back in 2012 - 2013 is what originally got me into ceramics. We learned from our teacher Laura Kukkee how to properly document and photograph our pictures for our portfolios. These photos were the fruits of my effort back then and I can not thank her enough for the knowledge and the push  in the right direction that would inevitably shape my life forever.

Wolfs Light Blue Glaze

Blue China paint wash over Stoneware plate with Clean liner glaze ontop

Japanese inspired coil pot watering can

Japanese inspired Terra Sig Coil pot

Green and Black slip over Earthen ware with clear liner

Hump mold design platter

Portland Copper red glaze with clear liner set

Portland Copper red with clear glaze Jar set

Studio Space Tour at NWMSU

As an art student as Northwest Missouri State University, we are given different studio and work spaces depending on what medium you are working in. This semester, I currently have three different studios to my name! Which I am grateful for due to all the different media I am utilizing for my Senior Thesis student show coming up at the end of this trimester.

I also know how important it is to document all of my resources for the future to create my own studio back home once I graduate. These pictures will remind me all of the things I will need, a visual documentation and shopping list for the future. 

This is my Advanced Sculpture area. The cardboard boxes and old window shudders might be used for future projects.

Two desks along this side give me plenty of room to sketch and look up references on my laptop.

Down a little ways from my sculpture studio is my Drawing studio. This was the first studio space I was given as an advanced art student.

Inside view of Drawing studio.

 Extra space and hanging wall are behind the curtain.

Rather clean Ceramic studio. This is in a separate building from the Fine arts building called the Fire arts. Rather fitting due to all of the kilns and machinery in this building.

 Sneak peak of current work as well as the view of my throwing wheel in the corner for functional pieces.

Kiln room with swing door kiln,  

car kiln, 











and small baby kilns.

 Glaze mixing room.

 Clay mixing room.

Dry material room.















I also will use the wood shop and the lobby area for my show. I shall update and get more pictures of those areas once I get more use out of them.

Paintings from the Past - Everyone's gotta start somewhere

Starting from earliest to latest works, these paintings have been my fundamental learning core of what I do and who I am today. 

Acrylic on Bristol
High School level show
2007

This Acrylic painting on Bristol board is a landscape study from a photograph. This painting is the earliest I remember getting into a show at High School level. 

 

Untitled 2 

High School level show

2008

This landscape painting was an addition and part of my first ever series about water. Completed a year later but still made it into the show alongside my first High School work.  

Missouri Wood Duck
Second Place in State
2008

This painting was a contest piece for the Missouri Duck Stamp project. Students at the High School level would submit paintings of ducks that would be judged against others all over the State. Winners from all over the state had their pieces turned into a stamp whenever individuals registered for their duck hunting license. My Acrylic on Bristol board painting of a Missouri Wood Duck won Second in the State.

Untitled 3
Oil on Canvas 

2011

This oil on pre-stretched canvas was a challenge given by the professor. We were only allowed to use our biggest brush to complete and shows that we can't always take our tools for granted. I have also learned to push and challenge myself when it comes to my paintings. May not be one of my favorite pieces, but I am proud behind the lessons that it gave.

The Small Purple Cow
Oil on Canvas Board
2012

The Small Purple Cow was an oil painting completed in my community college. Sold and still on display at the Library at North Central Missouri College. This about the first time I had been introduced to oils and I picked it up fairly quickly. Still only using photographs for reference material, I am still rather fond of my past works.  

Buzz Buzz
Oil on Masonite Board
2012

 Buzz Buzz was the first oil painting in my new surroundings at NWMSU. This oil on Masonite board was given as a gift to a family friend and I was so glad to have people be appreciating my work outside of the school setting. I love looking at the later representational pieces I can do along with my surreal paintings. 

The Mask is Me
Watercolor
Depression Mask Series
2015

 This watercolor is the first in my Depression Mask series. I went through a hardship in my life that I was able to use my art to help cope. My issues with depression are sometimes hard to come to terms with and these paintings were what I used to help put those feelings into picture for others. 

Just one of the Crowd
Watercolor
Depression Mask Series
2015

Just one of the Crowd is the watercolor in the series that is in direct response to my family and how we all dealt with my Grandmother's death. Everyone just seemed so mechanic while I was panicking trying to keep my emotions in check. The rabbits were an idea from others' insecurity with animal suits and masks.

The Mask Everyone Knows
Watercolor
Depression Mast Series
2015

The original painting that started the series about my Grandmother's cancer. She was always happy despite everything and I started painting in response to her. 

Mask that is Bone Deep
Watercolor
Depression Mask Series
2015

Watercolor study of my own depression and how it is more than just an issue of sadness. My first use of using inks along with watercolor paint. I spent the most time on this painting due to the issue of the representational skull in a new style I have not perfected as of yet.

Depression is an Animal
Watercolor
Depression Mask Series
2015

This surreal watercolor was the first try at using my own creations from my hobby writing in a piece. it would inevitably become the new series I am working on today due to the popularity from viewers. The world these two creatures came from is called Ast and will be represented in my Senior Thesis show this May 2016.

Lauren's Other Art Sites

Fine Art America.com

I use Fine Art America's website to collect a lot of my Fine Art pieces I have finished at school in one place. This was the best free site that was recommended by my teacher that is well known and gets my name out there in the search.









Instagram.com

Just recently added an Instagram since I would like to document more of what I am currently working on that may not make it to the final edits of the posts. 


Disclaimer: Fine Art America is the only site right now that I have my collected portfolio of my fine art. Everything else past this point in this post is my hobby and craft sites. Please feel free to take a look to support them but you are not obligated to do so with an open mind and without judging.









Deviant Art.com


 I have used this site the longest out of any and you may already know that it is not well known for showing off fine art. Deviant art is, however, a wonderful spot for me to post my hobby work the the art I do on the side apart from my school work. I have a new name I will be moving to that I will work out of when selling my hobby and craft illustrations from but until then, here ya go!



  You Tube.com

This is my video blog channel for you tube, I also have another channel I have up for my Illustration Studio that I link with my new Deviant Art Studio. This is my first channel and I made it for my hobby collection and crafts made for my ball jointed doll collection. I have since that time, picked up my new camera and hopefully will create more videos on how I create different pieces. In case you were curious and wanted to know more about me outside of school, there is You tube.