Saharu Fakhraie

It's been a while ^^;

2010-08-02T18:01:00.004-05:00

Sorry for abandoning this blog again! I got caught up with deviantart.com (DA). I did a couple of commissions for my friends, and I was hoping to build my gallery on there. Unfortunately my right wrist has been troubled with every little thing I try to do, whether it be using the mouse, drawing, painting, or even housework. So, my DA page is still not filled up as much as I want it to be. Oh well, I guess there's no other way than to keep at it.

Most of the pieces uploaded on DA is very different from what I've shown here. They're a lot more cartoon-y, which is what I'm used to.

I know, I said I'll work on the paintings, but I end up losing interest in them...either that or I just think they look awful, and stop. I really should get back to them though, since my friend's father is opening up a restaurant and he invited me to hand some of my paintings there. Maybe I should do something big again...hrmm :)

It's going....

2010-05-14T18:52:00.006-05:00

Well I did as I said and painted some more. I still find it difficult to call something finished, though. I know I'm close on this one but I'll have to come back to it later. I have 3 more that I wanted to upload but I'll save those for later, since they're much less done than this one.

I'll have to upload an example on the next post, but recently I've been trying to put more detail into my paintings, since they're a lot smaller than what I used to paint. It was very difficult adjusting, but with some struggle and much needed practice, I was able to explore new ways to create images on canvas. It pretty much goes back to what I've done on paper with colored pencils (if anyone has seen them, their the stuff with oceans of detailed hair.) Hope it won't be too long 'til the next post!

Long time no post =p

2010-03-26T13:51:00.003-05:00

Sorry I've kind of abandoned this blog; I've had this artist's block that I've been trying to overcome but everytime I seem to be doing better I end up messing my paintings up. I have started/worked on a few more pieces nonetheless, and I'll try to work on them again and post them when they're done (no guarantees though!) I've also had tough luck with finding a job, so I really have to get going on that >.<;

Asides from that, I have done alot of other things....they're very far from paintings and I don't really want to post them here, but if you're curious you can message me on Facebook or Twitter (hamsterfest) or something :S Or here, I guess, whatever floats your boat.

That's about it for now. Thanks :3

A couple more

2009-09-27T20:33:00.008-05:00

Hello~

Finished one more piece (the red one) but am not sure what to do with the other. While debating on the second piece, I decided to start on another one (hopefully I can post it soon ^^). I'm still not done with some of the others I've started, but I'm confident I'll get to them when the time comes. I guess that's about all for updates. Thanks!

New pieces

2009-08-12T19:23:00.011-05:00

Yes, I know these are not the ones I showed in the previous post; I was actually stuck on those, and needed to work on something else. The flower ("Magnolia Stellata") is something I started working on at the demo at the Arts Festival. I am hoping to get at least a couple more done by the end of August *crosses fingers.* It all depends if I can get a part-time job soon, I guess. I do sincerely apologize for not having a website up yet. Do bear with me, I will try to get it up within this year!

Works in Progress

2009-07-26T19:26:00.009-05:00

I finally have something to show! Both of these pieces are what I am working on right now. They were actually started before the festival, but were not finished in time, so here they are now. Hope to finish one before August.

Not so smooth

2009-07-09T14:44:00.003-05:00

Who would've ever thought unpacking would take more than a week....

Bad news to those who were expecting some update with my works within the next week, it is going to take a little longer for me to get on top of things and start painting again. Fatigue from stress and moving and such was a little more overwhelming than I thought it would be. I do not think I'm that far off from schedule, but I do apologize if I take forever doing things....I tend to do that unintentionally.

Well hopefully, I can start making art again soon, because I'm craving it right about now =)

Des Moines Arts Festival

2009-06-29T15:22:00.010-05:00

Thank you so much to those who visited me at the Arts Festival!!! I got many flattering comments, and was able to make more than a decent contribution to my new computer fund. I can barely say how much I am thankful for you all, and would like to continue serving you through art!

Currently, I am in the process of getting ready for building up my inventory. Hopefully within a few weeks I'll have a website and be able to show you my new pieces!

Thanks again!

Back from Japan!

2009-06-06T16:39:00.007-05:00

Hello~

After visiting my grandparents and aunt in Japan for a few weeks, I am back at my parents' in Arizona. It was a great trip! Although everything seemed dense, compacted, and crowded over there, I had a very relaxing vacation. I was very happy to see my relatives again!

Even though it felt as if it was a completely different world, and I had a hard time adjusting the first couple of days, the trip was very beneficial for my health. 10 years had passed since my last visit, and relaxation after carrying a chronic disease during the hectic days of college was necessary for me. It also gave me time to think about what I want to do, and what my art is to me.

After I get settled and moved in to my new home in Des Moines again in a month, I should be able to start updating more. I hope to get a new computer to install the Adobe CS4 software I got by that time so I can finally finish my website!

Hope to see you again before the Des Moines Arts Festival!

Finals!

2009-04-21T11:03:00.006-05:00

Finals week has come to Grand View. As glad as I will be when this week is over, after that I will not be able to access the Internet for quite a while. Hope I don't miss anything while gone, because asides from the Arts Festival in June, I will be in Japan visiting my grandparents for the first time in 10 years the whole May! Although I plan to have much fun over there, I hope to get lots of things accomplished also. If everything goes as planned, I should be back online and hopefully active by the end of June. See you then!

Thinking about symbolism

2009-04-08T15:31:00.004-05:00

Being critiqued by a professional artist outside the Grand View community was so refreshing and educational! Des Moines artist Larassa Kabel was invited to critique our visual arts mini-body of work for our capstone class earlier this week, and although I chose not to participate directly(since I am a double major and was able to select certain assignments,) I was very glad I sat through the process. Two visual arts majors and a double major had works and small portfolios to show, and after Ms. Kabel showed us some of her work, she talked about what meant to be an artist to her, how she got to where she was, and gave some great advices.

It made me think more so about what my work meant to me; what are the background on specific symbolism I use? How do I explain them to my audience? What can I do now to be ready if and when someone wishes to see my genuine work? I felt that I still had so much to do before having a sufficient body of work. Before the Arts Festival this summer, I wish to deeply contemplate about those questions. Fun fun =)

Feeling Lucky!

2009-04-05T14:19:00.004-05:00

With my last semester of college almost being over, I have been feeling quite hectic. I have been lucky though, since there has been some purchases of my work for the past year. And surprisingly, I was called off the waiting list to join the Emerging Iowa Artist program at the Des Moines Arts Festival! I am so excited, and hope that I will be able to contribute in showcasing some great works.
I am also thankful that I was in it last summer; now I know how to correctly price things ^^; Hopefully my 'new computer fund' will grow; can't wait to try out the CS4 my sister bought me! (or fail at using, one of the two; curse you technology!)

I apologize, I am terrible at keeping this blog up; most likely in the future I shall build myself a separate website to post my works! Until then I'll continue posting them here.

2009-02-01T20:32:00.003-06:00

"Reverie"
two person narrative/school assignment 2008
My draw&paint technique beginning to bloom.

2009-02-01T20:25:00.003-06:00

"Gemini"
draw and paint/school assignment 2008
I realized I preferred drawing at this time. Most works after this one have some kind of drawing element in them.

2009-02-01T20:22:00.004-06:00

"Rain"
focusing on line/school assignment 2007

Beginning of my love of drawing and painting combination.

2009-02-01T20:18:00.002-06:00

"Scarlet"
collage painting/school assignment 2008

2009-01-22T21:33:00.002-06:00

abstract/school assignment 2007

I remember struggling with this one...and wasting lots of paint =)

2009-01-22T21:22:00.003-06:00

"The Flute Player in the Wind" non-objective/school assignment 2007

Finally! I got some time to upload images!
I am hoping to open up an account on etsy.com to sell some small works. I'll post again when I do =)

Topic #7

2008-12-08T21:03:00.004-06:00

Topic #7 "Take a photo of your door. Discuss."

This is the "front door" to my dorm room, and when you get close to it, you will smell lavender. On the other side, I have a lavernder sache hanging on the door knob. I bought it at Whole Foods market at Las Vegas when I traveled with my parents. I love Whole Foods!

The lock on it is quite funky on this door, by the way. The key goes in fine, but the problem is, it doesn't come out very easily. Often times I find myself fighting with it to get it out. Thant's not the only thing wrong with the dorms, but I'll stop here because it'll take me an hour to list it out =)

That's my door!

Topic #6

2008-11-03T20:01:00.003-06:00

Topic #6 "Do artists have a responsibility to society? If so, what is it?"

Yes and no. Yes, artists are here to give message, entertain, make people think, and create somethings others appreciate.

No, as an individual, an artist is only forced to commit to oneself; he or she is requred by no one to do anything (unless it's his or her job.)

Topic #5

2008-10-15T21:26:00.003-05:00

Topic #5 "Who supports what you do as an artist?"

Myself, of course. I enjoy and like what I do, that is why I do it. My mother supports me as well. And my friends, and my sister, and my teachers. Those who bought my art, I like to think, supports me as an artist also. I sometimes do feel, though, that I am more expected than supported. Because of my abilities and love for art, everyone except maybe my mother expects some sort of artistic career out of me. I guess it is what anyone would do, but at the same time as wanting to make art throughout my life, I just want to seclude myself from society in a way that will not require me to meet new people and keep in touch with many who I only consider as acquaintances. I am naturally shy, so no matter how social I make myself, that thought will keep coming back to me. It sounds a little off topic, but I'll end it there; I really have nothing else I can say.

Topic #4

2008-09-30T16:13:00.002-05:00

Topic #4 "Who do you talk to about art?"

Mainly, I talk to my friend Mariya about art. Other than the fact that we are usually together at least 7 hours a day, I believe we have similar viewpoints in art. We have the same classes, so it is easy for us to talk about the same topics, as well as discuss what we have seen in class and galleries. We show each other pretty much anything we find that is interesting. In a way, she is like a sister to me; someone so close that a lot of times you share the same thoughts. We also critique each others work; it is very nice to have someone your level right there with you for support.

Other than her, I used to listen to my mother and sister discuss about art many times. Also, I ask my mother for critique on my work (obviously this is when I was with her; she lives in a different state at the moment.) Even though she is not an artist, she is very well educated and have interests in many fields, so I know that her critique is still reliable, and I like the fact that I can get a different sort of opinion than what I get at school.

I don't usually talk about art so much in general, but it is interesting to do so sometimes.

Topic #3

2008-09-24T20:07:00.006-05:00

Topic #3 "Take a picture of something that looks cool to you and talk about it."

This is Milo the Scorpio! It is an action figure from a revived old Japanese cartoon called "Saint Seiya" (otherwise known as "Knights of the Zodiac") He is one of my favorite characters from the show/manga, and a year ago, my friend Mariya and my fiance Russell secretly bought it for me! How nice<3

I was very happy when I got it; so happy that I kept playing with it, taking it to college to show around. My favorite part was that it would bring back old memories of my childhood; when he was little, my older brother used to watch the show and read the manga, and of course, he had action figures of the main characters. I had flash-backs of that time when I was handling the metal armor parts, the plastic, movable limbs, and the nostalgic experience was very entertaining.

That's all!

Topic #2

2008-09-20T22:58:00.005-05:00

Topic #2 "Find an art work you like and describe what you like about it without using the elements terminology."

"Garnet Sky and River" oil on canvas by Julia Kottal

It looks like something, but it does not. The abstracted landscape gives off a unique energy, creating its own homey atmosphere. I admire the fact that she has painted it with vigor as well as subtle gentleness and sensitivity. One can stare at it, finding details and interesting spots here and there. It seems as if it is composed of simple brush strokes, yet your curiosity will not be turned down by staring at it.

That is all I can type!

Topic #1

2008-09-17T12:04:00.005-05:00

Topic #1 "How do you feel about art-making right now?"

It's free! That's all I can say. I feel that now a days justification of one's work makes all the difference in the world, and no one can stop anyone.

Well, I guess I should talk about myself, since the above sentences seem to be too scarce for a response....

(By the way, if I start typing funny grammar/English, I'm sorry ><;;)

Sometimes I feel as if art-making is too much work. For example, if I haven't gotten down the technique right, or if I can't draw something quite right....it's all a mess! And alot of times, I'd rather be a secluded housewife and play games on my free time =p~ No more art, I say!!!

But, if I keep myself from art long enough, I will start craving it. Usually, I will start doodling or drawing the characters I created (which I did over the summer XD Fun times! Even though they're sketches, they turned out pretty nice, so I might put them up someday!)

I mean, what's the point in making art, asides from the self-satisfaction part? Throughout history, there has been many reason to make art, but now, other than the above mentioned, money, and commissions, what is the point? To tell a point? Art is very significant to many, but sometimes I just don't see any significance. Maybe I am being too passive. Ah well!