Tags

  • Published on

    painting season

    paintingprogress wip
    ​Happpppy tuesday everyone
    ​
    ​Belated entry today because it’s been a long week. Basically, I scrapped the plan to work on any remaining apparel. Instead, I spent every day painting. It started with the initial big canvas project I’ve been working on, then just became a full week of working on any WIP from the pile. I finished just one completely: “Everything is going great and in the end one realizes that it's not going at all” – acrylic and pencil on 16x20 stretched canvas. 
    Picture
    ​Most of the other projects are still in progress, but I’m glad I spent the week working on them. I like to pour my time into every medium, but painting and drawing feels different - I think I feel most connected to the work. Maybe it’s because it was one of my earliest ways to express myself artistically. The act of painting is also just kind of super satisfying to me, even when a piece doesn’t work out exactly how I like it to. I like the impermanence of the process, and I like to work in layers. I spent these last few days trying to build these pre-existing paintings into something I appreciate better. trying to keep in mind my ability to just paint over and re-work the original plan. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with choice and just end up avoiding the canvas for a while. I’m hoping to stop overthinking it. My work is pretty unserious as it is. 
    ​​Also, the chuck e cheese project is on the back burner! It’s not first priority right now, and since my initial excitement, then re-direction of the plans, I now want to work on probably 3 projects all relating to fictional, animatronic bands. It’s in my mind’s eye and it will happen eventually. I wish i could do everything all the time.
    ​Next week: I’m just gonna keep painting
    ​I have the canvases out, and lined up in my living room, so why not? I also am realizing I haven’t really made any effort to practice anatomy drawing the way I’ve wanted. I’ll pick up my figure studies book and maybe practice a bit. It probably won’t change my characters from having obscene proportions, but at least I’ll know how to draw someone who doesn’t : )
    More progress/paintings next week too. 

    thank you thank you for stopping by  <3
    x o x o x o x o

    - the little kenzie that could 
  • Published on

    2000s design & chuck e cheese project

    jewelry paintingprogress wip
    happy monday evening! 
    Picture
    I made progress on the big canvas this week!
    ​
    I had to do a lot of shifting elements around, and only put a little color on the canvas, but It kind of feels like it’s rounding out. I’m really enjoying the project, but I’m having some mixed feelings. I can’t put my finger on why it is, but I’m not feeling a sense of fulfillment with the piece right now. Maybe I’ll enjoy the process and its outcome more when I start adding more detail. I guess time will tell.

    ​All in the name of design appreciation x__X

    ​
    ​I also disassembled that pile of jewelry! I hadn’t fully gone through all the pieces I’ve made these last few years and it felt so worthwhile. Re-visiting some of my favorites and even some of my least favorites was inspiring. There are definitely a handful of charms I hope to repurpose for projects in the near future, the rest will be stored with supplies until I find use for them too <3     ​
    Picture
    Picture
    ​Next week: a little of everything??
    I have a few loose ends that need tying, as well as the canvas WIP I want to spend more time on. So here’s the plan: 
    1.  work on big untitled project (as much progress as possible)

    2. Finish bleach projects! I finally got a bleach spray bottle and plan to use it to transfer stencils onto some black shirts. I’ve never applied bleach this way, so I’m hoping it comes out how I hope it does. Either way- new thing, so worthwhile to try (:

    3. work out the details of the Chuck e Cheese side project? I think I got a little overzealous about the possibilities of the project, and am now trying to think a little more reasonably about its the feasible outcomes. I initially wanted to make a full portrait-style animatronic bust (non-functional) but then remembered the reality of that model comes with FUR!!! I’d have to get my hands on some ratty grey fur for a ratty old rat in a bowler hat holding a cigar. Now, I don’t have a problem with that- I just think I have to work my way up to that, and for now, start more simply. There will always be more time for chuck e cheese side projects. So now, I’m considering making an homage to “The wink”: a small Chuck E emblem that sits just over some show stages. Once the performance is over and the curtain drops, the emblematic mouse winks! I love him. I’m considering that, or maybe just something else to honor the rat. There’s a lot of CEC art that exists to inspire- or maybe I do something completely my own style, with just the influence of Chuck in mind. I guess time will tell with this project too.
    I’ll be sure to share next week
     
    Thank you for stopping by!! So much
    XXXOOOXXXOOO
    ​
    -Mackenzie mozzarella ​
  • Published on

    confused blog post (some of everything)

    doodles paintingprogress sewing wip
    happy tuesday
    ​I only ended up working on a few small sewing tasks this week. I like when I get into a rhythm when stitching, but it got tiresome quickly when the threads would tangle up. I mostly added small details to existing pieces and cut some felt for projects that needed it. I also sketched up a few outlines i want to use for future plushes, i just didn't get the chance to print them. I may re-visit these next week if I get a second.
    I also spent time doodling a bit & spent some more time planning the big painting. I think it’s something I need to do on a daily basis again. New ideas felt so much easier to tackle when I spent more of my time drawing. The last sketchbook I’d carry around filled up quick, and I haven’t gotten another since – I think I’ll change that.
    ​Next week’s projects: traditional art, WIP box, and sewing (?)
    I’ve been thinking about painting often this week. I think I’ll work on the new big canvas and a few others if I get a chance after work. I want to spend more time cutting into my pile of half-finished wood-panel collages, etc. It’s getting so close to done, some just need so much more time than others. I want the work that comes after this week to come from newer ideas. It's fun finishing these projects i never saw to completion, but I'm wanting to spend less time on crafty pieces. I'll still work on them occasionally, but my mind has really been on painting and elevating my abilities in hand-drawing. It's where I started, and where i think my interest mostly lie. 
    So plan is to finish what lingering projects I can, and spend next week working on new projects and ideas.
    I'll do my best and see u next week  

    thanks for stopping by this kind of confused blog post
    xoxoxo
    ​kenz 
    p.s I’ll be updating the site and the stay a while page for June in these next few days, so check that out if you’d like <3

    p.p.s with summer around the corner I think of this song often. It makes me feel like anything is possible
    ok bye <3
  • Published on

    hey you 3 women! also update on the new painting

    apparel paintingprogress wip
    happy monday y y y
    ​I made progress on the new painting. I’ve been spending most of my time on it- it’s a larger canvas and has a lot more visual elements I’m still trying to put together, so it’s required a lot of planning. I’m using washi tape as placeholders for the parts to come. It definitely makes the arranging pretty straight forward, especially if I end up moving things. 
    ​I don’t expect to commit fully to realism- I’ll most likely mingle elements of surrealism as well.
    Picture
    ​Of course, like clockwork, my attention feels split between my current hopeful project that barely exists, and a new one that doesn’t really exist at all. This nonexistent project doesn’t even really have a basis yet, I think I’m just feeling extra inspired by this and that. I won’t go into detail now, but I’ll work on some outlines while I’m out of town these next few days. Maybe the start of another new project ​¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    This week I also got the chance to finish up a personal tee shirt project. (ignore the cat hair) Letters were stamped, then painted with bleach. Enjoy and watch the video it’s based on if you hadn't already.
    Picture
    ​Also speaking of wearables, in case you’ were curious about the purse I was working on: it’s been finished and is in the right hands <3 Maybe this'll be my motivation to tackle my stack of blank purses once I'm back :)
    i'll see u week after next 

    ​Thanks for stopping by
    X o oxoxo ox
    kenz
  • Published on

    progress on new painting

    paintingprogress wip
    H a p p y   M o n d a y   : )
    ​I’ve been working on the big painting project I mentioned last week. I don’t have too much to share as far as my feelings or thoughts on the piece, so I’ll just drop a picture of the progress so far. I had to move some elements after the fact so I didn’t get as far as I wanted, but have a clearer idea of what I want.
    Picture
    ​It’s been a minute since I’ve gotten excited about a painting and for that, I totally blame my tendency to overwork pieces until I’m sick of them. I just want to have fun with this one.
    I had planned to finish my apparel projects from last week, but didn’t get the chance; there isn’t a whole lot to do so I’ll probably finish those in the coming days.
    This week: finish apparel & work on paintings
    Outside of the new painting project I do have a few larger canvases that need some big changes. I’ve been putting them off because the changes will definitely entail doing some erasing and starting over, but I think now’s the time since I have some motivation. I’ll share some progress pictures soon - for the canvases and the remainder of my wearable projects. 

    ​also completely unrelated, but did you guys hear Domo is making a comeback?? It was announced on the Domo HQ Instagram page. Idk what this means but I thought I’d share.
    I'll keep it short today <3 Til next time

    Thank you for stopping by <3
    Xxxxxooooo
    - Benzie 
  • Published on

    fish lure mobile and more painting progress

    mobile paintingprogress
    ​⋆ ٭ ☆ Happy Friday ♡ ! ☆ ٭ ⋆
    Posting today instead of Monday, what’s become my usual blog day, because of some of hiccups with the site :p but I’m here now!!
    ​
    Last week I made progress on my current painting projects :D I even got to start and finish a new project entirely (the first one) ♡ It's nothing fantastic, but I had fun doing something unplanned and I used 1 brush and a Posca pen to do the whole thing. It's title is "Stares fixedly". It's acrylic on a stretched canvas. 
    I added more to the second one - thinking I'll work in sections, finish the trinket border and leave the background white. (Still untitled.)
    Third and fourth paintings needed some white touch ups. Still trying build the background around sandwich man. Hoping to envoke a springtime picnic. 
    for the fifth one (also untitled) I plan to assemble some clippings and make a collage border.
    and the sixth just needed touching up, but I'm calling it done now. It's title is "Shrink" - acrylic and pen on 8x10 canvas board.
    okay also, I got the chance to start another project I've had on my mind for a while. A few years ago I got my hands on an old set of fishing lures and a small first aid kit. I've wanted to put them to use and decided to use the lures to make some home decor.
    I trimmed the point from the hook, took apart a wire hanger, and fashioned them into a mobile. It's currently missing a few lures but I wanted to stop where I was and hang it to see how all the pieces fall into place. I like it so far! I actually think they're so cute, I'd probably buy more lures to make the display bigger. I'm not exactly sure of their era, but they feel mid-century to me. I'll probably make it a little longer, and maybe add some cute metal beads if I see any that inspire me - but here's process so far :-)
    ⭑ ☆ this week's projects : more paintings & some collage
    I've loved being able to catch up with my canvas pieces so much that i'm gonna keep at it. I want to incorporate some clippings and collage so i'll get some of those projects done too. My stack of finished pieces has started to become a little overwhelming, so next course of action is probably making an attempt at selling? I haven't sold anything lately and I’m a little intimidated, especially with something as personal as originals. Alongside that, I’d also love to submit to some galleries – it’s been a while for that one too so I’ll need some psyching up. I guess if I don’t make space for my art, no one will. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ For the past year or so my paintings have just kind of existed in my apartment once their done, and that just doesn’t feel like enough like it has.
    Adding goals to the list
    • Reach out/submit to a gallery
    • Have a painting displayed by a gallery :)
     
    Here’s to following through, picking up beloved old things, and trying new things!