Papier-mache sculpture in progress: Susan Komer art

My last post showed the process of building the armature for this piece.  The photos that follow are first layer process photos.  During this phase, I'm working to get the first layers done to provide a more stable surface for shaping the form.  The plastic & tape armature I've used is something new I hadn't tried until now.  I think that its great to get the proportions right, but it does have a tendency to lose its form.  I'm doing a lot of shaping on the backside as when I did the front, the weight seemed to collapse the form.  A bummer for sure, but something I can work with.

We've had some rain and windy weather for the past two days, so I was forced to move inside which slows the dry time.  Drying layers before moving on is crucial or you'll have collapse in structure...while I know this full well...I still tend to push it a bit which only adds more work.  Patience...something my creative flow has a tough time dealing with!

Papier-mâché armature process photos by Susan Komer

For those of you who follow my work, you know I'm very interested in sculpting...particularly papier-mâché. Yesterday I finally started one that is to represent myself.  It will end up being a  part of a much larger project, but I've noticed an interest in these sculptures so I thought I'd share something new that I'm trying out as an armature.  I've never done this before and only recently discovered the wonders of it.  I'm going to include a few photos but the process is basically to wrap yourself in tape, cutting it off and reassembling it to create a shell that can be used as is or as an armature for other things.  Its been interesting to say the least.  I'll keep posting as it progresses so stay tuned :)

Sketch of the day...by Susan Komer

So, if you're wondering where I've been...I've been working!  On art of course, all sorts...playing with watercolor, oil pastels and most recently...drawing!  On Monday I started sketching again...now every day I do a warm up sketch and this week I've been working on a portrait of my youngest son.  The portrait is not yet complete, but I thought I'd pop in and let you see my last 3 sketch/drawings.  It has been awhile since I really focused on my drawing skills and I must admit that I'm truly enjoying my drawing time.  Yes I'm still out photographing constantly, but this girl is no one trick pony.  Art, its all I know, its who I am and it makes me happier than anything else possibly could!

Catch of the day: heron photographs by Susan Komer

Wildlife photography is one of my favorite genre to work with.  I spend as much time as I can outdoors hiking to find true wildlife, hoping to catch things in action...showing us their true nature.  My husband enjoys fishing as a way to relax...as he fishes, I sit quietly...often perched on a rock...waiting.  On this day, we were down by a spillway when I had a chance encounter with this heron who didn't seem to mind my presence as he fished for his dinner.  Its not that often one stumbles across wildlife camera hams, but I'm pretty sure this guy was one.  I named him Slim and we spent a good hour together before he'd had enough of me, though I could have watched him for hours.

If you'd like to see more of my photographic works, please visit me on Flickr at the link provided below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

photo work by Susan Komer

Some recent photos taken while exploring different dams & parks in Ohio.

Acrylic on panel sculpted painting by Susan Komer

So I have two paintings to share, one is a 22"x22" acrylic on panel...it is based on the other sculpted piece which is mixed media 16.5"x17.5" also on panel.  I began the smaller piece first, experimenting a bit with my medium.  As any artist knows...sometimes an experiment works...sometimes it doesn't.  In this case, my sculpture cracked...I kind of thought it might, but I went with it anyway and yes...cracks!  But, rather than toss the cracked piece in the 'never to be seen' pile, I decided to keep working it.  The painting is just about complete, the 3D sculpted piece is still being worked...but I thought I'd share them both on the same post so that you can see the two together.

The idea behind it...facing ones fears.  While I've been pursuing my dreams of art school and an art career for the past 5 years, I had spent the previous 20 as a stay home mom & wife.  Going back out into the world to pursue my own dreams was a terrifying thing to do...especially attending OSU where my peers are all younger than my own children.  Now, I'm one semester from graduation and more happy than I could have ever imagined.  Fear, what a thing...you either have to face it head on or let it hold you back.  I chose to face it, a choice I will never regret!

If you like what I'm doing, please feel free to find me on Flickr and instagram as well...work in progress is often posted on instagram and my Flickr account features lots of my photographic work.  If you like to hear my thoughts...this is the place to be!  Don't forget to follow me so don't miss my updates and to hit the google + to share my work with others.

Thanks for stopping by!

Acrylic painting on panel in progress by Susan Komer

I've been busy finishing up this semester of school...studying for exams, writing final papers and this...a final painting for my painting 2 class.  I've been working in acrylic on panel...the first panel I've ever constructed on my own.  It was an interesting and quite simple process really, once you get passed the fear of those friggen saws!  Yes they are dangerous and the noise is deafening...but the results of a panel are wonderful.  In the past I've stretched my own canvas and worked on papers, cardboard, and anything else that stayed still long enough for me to gesso...but panel is by far my favorite.

My original piece is a mixed media piece of this same image...though I must confess that through a bit of experimentation I had a catastrophic failure.  I was sculpting the image out of papier mache and wanted to see what would happen by adding an air dry clay to the mix...my greatest fear happened...massive cracking.  In its own way it is interesting to look at...so I'm continuing to work the piece, I'll be posting pics of that later.  For now, this is the work in progress of the acrylic on panel.  I used a glaze for the background/water...the rest is acrylic with retardant for the purposes of blending.

The hardest part seems to be waiting for one part to dry before I start hitting the next.  The painting is currently a bit further along than this, but I thought I'd at least update you all to where I am at this point with a photo of the painting from last night.  As I get a bit further with this one and the other...yes I fully intend to finish that other one...cracks and all...I'll post more pics.

Enjoy!  And don't forget, you can find me on flickr & instagram.  I hope you'll choose to follow me here on my blog & on my other feeds...thanks for stopping by!

Photography by Susan Komer

I went for a two hour walk this morning in Clintonville, Ohio.  The weather was beautiful, 80 degrees, only slightly overcast with a breeze just perfect for walking.  I shoot with a Nikon 610 that I bought just a little under a year ago.  Though I do have both Nikon & Canon, I prefer Nikon.  When I shoot film I have a massive collection of film camera's but favor my old Pentax and my Holga 120mm.

If you enjoy my work, you can also view my photo stream on Flickr by doing a copy/paste of the following link. https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

A few new photos by Susan Komer

As promised, I'm trying to keep myself more active here.  These are a few shots from my hike today out at Whetstone park in Columbus, Ohio.  If you enjoy my photography you can also find me on Flickr by clicking the following link.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

I'm back!

I've been a bit MIA lately...still working my tail off at school while raising a family & trying to wrap my head around my brothers situation while he fights cancer.

I've also started a Tumblr & Flickr account so trying to build and maintain all three can be a bit of a challenge, but I'm finding my rhythm and hopefully getting my work seen by more people, in more places.

My big project for the summer is a self-portrait series that myself & a few good friends are collecting.  As the summer draws to an end, our hope is to have a collaborative show of our work...fingers crossed.

Here's my favorite 'selfie' so far.

I love you Danny!

Life is changing:

So my life is insane right now.  My youngest, the twins, have started high school...holy cow! My second born is moving down near me after being away for over 3 years....and my oldest is about to relocate for work to California...the exact opposite side of the country!  

I'm engrossed in my junior year of college...learning color film & studio lighting...along with a bunch of other must do type classes, such as art history & color studies.

It's crazy...and I never know what is going to change from one day to the next.  For example...my older brother was diagnosed with bladder cancer a month ago...it was give & take there for a few weeks as he underwent 2 surgeries within a two week period of time....but he's up for chemo now...he'll start that in a few weeks, he lives 3 hours away from me, so seeing him is hard since I'm back to school....but he's worth it...I'll find a way...somehow...

So to keep myself sane I'm engrossing myself in film...not so much digital...though I do play with it all the time...its the darkroom time that allows me to disappear...and that's what I'm doing.  

But for today...I want to post some pics of my brother...my love for him goes beyond reality...cancer just SUCKS!  We've seen so much of it in our family...but I don't think it ever occurred to me that it could hit one of my siblings...my heart is in torment...the selfishness of my own...as I can't bare to live in a world where I can't call him and know that he's going to be just who I need him to be....and my thoughts of his son, wife & grandbaby who are his world....and I consume myself in pain over how Danny, himself, must feel.

Please forgive the rant...and soak in my big brother...an amazing man, Father, husband, son; and the most EXCELLENT big brother a girl could ever ask for...I love you Danny!