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!

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.