So far this year I’ve really gotten into sketching digitally since I was gifted a wonderful Wacom tablet by my roommate.  I love how forgiving it is to sketch in Photoshop and it’s helped me get a little more familiar with the program. I plan on trying to discipline myself and do a full illustration digitally, as I begrudgingly join the modern world.

These past few months have been a little slow for me creatively, and I haven’t created many serious pieces.  However, I just completed my internship with the fine gentlemen of the wonderful DrinkPhilly, with whom I’ve done 2 gallery shows.  I created this for them, an infographic of sorts depicting some of Philadelphia’s proud drinking history.  Curious? Just take a look!!!!! Really like it? Buy the poster!!!

Here’s some eye candy for you:

Some shows should be happening soon, one being another exhibition at DrinkPhilly in July.  This next month will be a busy one, much to do with my personal life and doing those annoying things like moving -.-

I’ll be hoping for the best and churning out art in the process.

Until next time!

Aprilina

I left off with the grand opening of the Drink Philly Gallery in early August (the painting above is from that show and titled “Boy in the City”).

A few weeks later, August 24th, I showed with the wonderful Megan Coonley, a fabulous painter who also was a part of the Drink Philly opening.  She had a show titled “Melt” which was all about food.  You’d have to be crazy to think I wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to paint food.  Plenty of eating happened to spur on my inspiration.  Research.  You know…

After that the wheels started turning on my second show at Drink Philly.  The show was “Bitter Sweets” and featured my dear friends Jeremy Goodfellow, Millie Landis and Linnea Vegh. Oh, yes, me too.  It was a great success, great turnout, wonderful people and loads of fun.  I’d like to thank the gentlemen of Drink Philly once again for being so great and supportive and wish them fantastic success in their future shows.

And pictorial documentation of exactly how great the show was.

Us artists and friends, My work, Millie’s work, Linnea’s work, and a mask I made “The Great Grey Owl”

Keep an eye on my website (aprilkuhn.com) for more work that will be posted. My center pieces were portraits of Florence +the Machine, Ingrid Michaelson and, brace yourselves, Lady Gaga.  They are great.  See what I mean!

I can’t seem to come down from the show, so I’ve still been creating artwork like mad.  I also have a particular liking of making masks. I had one in the show as seen above, and here is the new guy I’m working on. He’s based on crocodiles, because I love reptiles and love making animal-spirit masks even more.  I just baked him in the oven tonight, on to sanding and painting.

Well, I suppose that’s all for now.  Big wheels keep on turnin’.

Stuff is in the works.  Art is being created.  Be prepared.

Until next time, dear reader.

Life’s been busy for the past few weeks.  Some interesting events in my personal life mixed with trying to get ready for my first gallery showing made for some sleepless nights.  Ah, felt like college again.

About the gallery showing.

Some months back I worked in a chocolate shop with a super-awesome fella named Justin.  We both have moved on to different places of employment, but one day I stopped by his new job to pick up a cupcake, didn’t find him there, text him to express my sadness and wound up getting drinks with him and his super-cool friend and business partner, Adam.  These amazing gentlemen had just opened up their office for their company Drink Philly (check out their site! It’s fun, cool, and full of useful information including bar specials throughout the city!!) and wanted to also use the space as a gallery for First Friday.  And from there the first show was born!

A few weeks and a lot of cups of coffee later, I had three new pieces to show.  Sweet.  And can you guess who I showed with?  Millie!! Because I can’t help but rope her into every endeavor I embark on.  No matter how stressful or crazy it may be.

There were three other great artists there and everything was a smashing success with a great turnout.  See for yourself!

And my favorite one.

Millie is on the right, I’m on the left. <3

I just want to thank all of the fine gentlemen of Drink Philly for being so awesome and making my first showing special.  It has been great working with you and I can’t wait to do so again!

Congratulations on your success, you’ve earned it!

At this moment I don’t have any good photos showcasing the work.  That will have to come later.

See what I’ve also been working on!!  It’s a mask I originally wanted to display in the show but wound up starting over on the painting part.  Meh. It will eventually be some kind of spirit.  It’ll be awesome.

Thanks for reading.  Until next time, dear friends!

It’s a perfectly warm and rainy day which means it’s just the right time to make a blog post before I run out the door!  I just thought I’d post a little self-portrait I started on Thursday.  Self-portraits are what I do when I want to paint but don’t quite know what to do, they’re also fun and easy and it’s always good to brush up on anatomy.  It’s not quite finished yet, the hair has to be resolved a bit more and I need to tweak some other anatomy issues. But it’s so nice to get back to my fine arts roots. Oil paint on gessoed illustration board over a few hours in 100 degree weather.

And for for the sake of updating, here’s some progress on Bird Boy. His shoes make me happy. Also, that he looks less like an underdeveloped fetus is a plus.  Whoo-hoo!

Stay tuned, viewers.

I’m still working on the painting of “Bird Boy” (see previous post for value sketch).  Much to my relief painting is getting easier and faster as I work out a process, and the painting is looking pretty good so far.   However I will refrain from posting the progress because it is in a terribly awkward place where the figure has no eyes or hair yet and bears an uncomfortable resemblance to an underdeveloped fetus.  No, don’t worry, I’ll spare you.

While doing some housework today I happened across one of the sketches I did for a painting demonstration back in February.  I’m pretty happy with this one.  My model, once again, is my dear roommate Jeremy, he just has such good features – that and he is the only person I have access to at 10pm when I need to shoot reference.

I think that is about all for now.  Back to paint, paint, painting!

Oh, and if you’re looking for a new artist to check out, here is one of my favorites, Pete Ferguson.  He’s a fantastic painter and an inspiration to me.  Also, a cool guy. Enjoy, my friends!

I’ve been a bit lax about my weekly posting.  Whoops.

Here’s the latest piece I’ve been working on, it’s for my own story about a boy who turns into a bird so he can be with the moon (he happens to be in love with the moon. sweet, I know).  Being a particularly creative individual I address him simply as “Bird Boy” so far.  I’ve been sitting on this sketch for months and I’m very excited to be starting the final after so long.  Funny story, the line drawing doesn’t look anything like my roommate, who posed as my model, but the b&w study does.  Hilarious.  OK, maybe not.

I’ve got big dreams for a show in about a year.  Millie will hopefully be in it with me, she’s started turning out some cool new stuff, too!  Stay tuned, viewers!

All images (c) April Kuhn 2010.  Obviously.

I’m trying to stay on top of the blogging and art aspects of my life, while simultaneously trying to get everything else in my life together as well.  Ambitious, I know.

Here is the first one week assignment I’ve given myself.  I’ve really taken a liking to pretty designs involving circles and I have a deep love of nature which I’ve never really expressed. This is simply a post card featuring an oak leaf and acorns (obviously).  Figuring out my process in oils is getting easier, which made this piece a lot more fun to work on.

Tomorrow a new sketch is due, I’ve made up a list for the next two months, some assignments are pieces I already have in the works, others are new ideas.  I still have to decide which concept I want to do, so we’ll just have to wait and see what I post tomorrow.

Other art nonsense.  I’ve decided that I want to have a show, most likely in a year (since I just decided on this and I’m no where near ready) and I think I’ve successfully roped my friend Millie and possibly my roomie Jeremy into it as well.  This is actually what spurred me into starting my intense regime of weekly assignments (though in comparison to college and I expect some aspects of the real world this is not so intense).  Well, off to bed, will be updating tomorrow with a sketch.

Much love.

all artwork copyright April Kuhn 2010

Just a short post, I want to put up a sketch / work in progress photo of something little I’m working on now.  It’s a personal piece, oak leaves and acorns, I like nature <3  Part of the 1 week assignments that my friend Millie and I have decided to team up and do in an attempt to get our mayhem and foolishness together, this will be due next Monday the 24th.   These should hopefully prove helpful to me because I’m going back to painting in oils after using acrylics to create all of my senior porfoilo last year.  Just gotta work the kinks out of the process.  More stuff to come VERY soon.

Also in the works: brand new website!  Whoohoo!

Much love,

April

Edit:  Oh hi! another wip shot…pardon the terrible quality.

I’ve been getting really great feedback about my thesis, every comment means so much to me.  <3

Contrary to popular belief, things will not be easier from here on out, now is time to bang out some amazing pieces and get my portfolio together.  A tough job, but must be done.

School was tough this semester, I’m not gonna lie.  It took me a long time to fall in line and my perception of myself being boarderline perfect was shattered.  I always thought I worked hard enough and that my work would fall in line and be good eventually…but I still got an intervention and some tough love from my teachers.  I am now thankful for it, my work has grown in leaps and bounds in two months and I am a much better artist.

My senior thesis is coming along quite well.  I’ve chosen to do the Greek tale “Cupid and Psyche” set in Victorian England and as a children’s book.  Whoot.  Here is the second piece in a series of four, it is the bookcover, all painted (including type) in acrylic paint on Illustration board.

Apart from the things that have sucked about this year, ya know, my lack of money, the economic meltdown and a few other things, I’m thankful for the people and things I have.  I pray for a good 2009 and thank all the people in my life who have blessed me with their love and kindness. <3

Here’s some more art…pre-intervention.

I have also discovered this amazing Illustrator, P.J. Lynch, and now own two of his books “Gift of the Magi” and “A Christmas Carol”.  His work is beautiful.

http://www.pjlynchgallery.com/

http://pjlynchgallery.blogspot.com/