HOOORAYYYY!!! Mark your calendars Honolulu friends! I’ll have a collection of my all new Shadow Play series on display all month with a special First Friday opening reception.
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originally published October 9, 2018
Studio vlog straight from my lovely lil lanai nest:) I've got an upcoming art show featuring new works you haven't seen until today... Yaay!
I'm also challenging myself to go out of my comfort zone in the coming weeks in an effort to get my artwork seen by more people. Cold calls are not fun so any and all advice for bravery is welcome in the comments! (I'm also going to create a series for you all about how to get your artwork seen by more people as I tackle challenges and get creative with my own art marketing)
Plus I've got a whole pile of my handmade one-of-a-kind Sock Monsters to introduce you to as well as where you can adopt one for yourself. (Hint check my Story Highlight):
https://www.instagram.com/caleighbird
And last but not least I have an update for you on that horrible Facebook scam that cost me hundreds of dollars earlier this year.... spoiler alert: somehow I'm still getting f*%!ed over despite not giving them any ad money since July. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should watch this vid (especially if you've ever considered using FB ads for your small business!):
Jump on my Birds of a Feather list for a more personal peek at this artist's life:
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originally published October 4, 2018
Oh man did I have a smashingly good time visiting South Carolina for some hometown stomping-ground adventures! I cannot believe how much I packed in in just under three weeks!
Got to visit Charleston (where I grew up) for some fabulous shenanigans starring a multitude of close friends, some live music, and trips to my favorite dive bars and music venue. We even stopped by the Angel Oak and good ole Folly Beach as well. So grateful for my friend Laine for hosting me and making sure I got to see everyone I could.
Next I went to my mom and stepdad’s house about an hour inland on the Edisto River where they run their treehouse rental eco tourist business. It is so calming to be there tucked away in the woods, and so delightful to swim in the freshwater river right behind their humble little abode.
I also managed to attend and volunteer at a four day camping music festival called Surrounded by the Sound which was just what this lil Birdie needed. Music festivals are the one thing I miss most about living on the mainland; I really miss jamming out in the woods in such a care free environment and connecting with so many other free-spirited people.
And last but certainly not least my closest aunt and uncle who I love and miss so much drove out from Nashville to stay with us in an amazing glass house which is a rental property owned by my parents’ neighbors. What a special place to relax and catch up with family!
Whew, what a whirlwind! I was so happy to be there every minute, but am happy to be home now and back in my studio. The best thing about living out here is when you’re done with vacation, you just go back to Hawai’i! Ha!
Howdy friends, today’s little tutorial is mostly geared towards beginner or possibly intermediate artists, and has to do with the famous ‘rule of thirds’ you’ve probably heard mentioned in the past.
Having strong composition within a piece of art is every bit as important as technical skill when appealing to an audience. Our eyes naturally flow in certain ways when taking in a scene so understanding how to direct and manipulate your viewers’ attention can have a huge subconscious effect on how your work is digested.
This is an incredibly simple and super inexpensive tool to make, yet totally invaluable to any art student, and will probably the easiest tutorial you’ll ever see on my channel! Enjoy!
wood picture frame*
ruler
sharpie
rubber bands
hammer
tack nails
pliers
*it’s important you get wood because plastic or particle will break and split if you try to hammer in tack nails
https://drawpaintacademy.com/rule-of-thirds-in-art/
https://www.creativebloq.com/art/how-use-rule-thirds-art-21619159
http://emptyeasel.com/2009/02/03/the-rule-of-thirds-why-it-works-and-how-to-use-it-in-your-art/
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originally published September 27, 2018
I think I was just gifted my favorite drawing of myself to date by my friend and fellow artist Patrick Mizumoto (@paintedpatrick) during my last figure modelling session at the Museum of Art School here in Honolulu. I’m so honored to be drawn like a little forest fairy nymph..:)
Modeling at these open figure drawing sessions has really helped me connect with a new artistic side of myself. When I'm up on the platform I try to imagine myself from the outside looking towards my poses with a mental eye for lines, composition, and of course lighting and shadows. I try to make an interesting piece out of my own body with the goal of facilitating beautiful creations from the other artists. When they are able to make something unique and lovely, I like to feel like I can share in that win in some small way.
Here are a few more from that evening. (The first one is Patrick as well but the others are by artists with no links).
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originally published on September 24, 2018
Howdy folks! Today I’ve got tutorial for you that has been requested a few times and I’m glad to finally share my secrets with you:)
Well, I guess this vid hasn’t been requested per se…. more like I’ve been asked about my specific practices for preparing my surface as well as creating the pre-drawing for a painting. It’s definitely a bit of a process, but as most artists will tell you, having your art materials just the way you like them is totally clutch.
Preparing a painting surface is usually specific to each artist. Many folks like to purchase their canvases already ready, while others of us prefer to create our own from scratch. I can tell you one reason (of many) that I choose to make my own: it gives me the ability to control my composition according to my desired measurements and scale specific to each piece. I'm not obligated to make my paintings fit a 12x16 or 16x24 inch mold, for example.
So hopefully this vid will answer the mystery of how a roll of my favorite Oil Primed Belgian Linen and a piece of hardwood can become a dreamy and oh-so-deluxe surface, perfect for oil painting and sturdy enough for layering acrylic resin.
**Need new art supplies? Any purchases through my special Dick Blick link helps to support this channel. Thank you!!**
Here’s where you can find the rolls of linen:
Or a much, much less costly pre-prepped panel if you’d like to try the linen before committing:
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originally published September 20, 2018
Mixed media oil painting with resin layering is AMAZING!!! I am have so much fun exploring the 3D possibilities!
Today I am bringing you something totally new - layer painting! Now this is not like those amazing 'koi fish in the bowl' paintings, this acrylic pour is including the painting I've been working on for the last month as the base, then adding three different layers featuring sea glass, sequins, snail shells, and another painting component layer.
Bringing mixed media into my artwork has been a dream of mine for years but sometimes one doesn't always have the skills, knowledge, or means to bring a dream to fruition. I am so thrilled to have finally realized this one....
Wanna try resin pouring on your own works? Using my link helps to support my blog:)
Purchase resin here and help support my channel:)
Other links I mention in this video:
Mixing Caucasian Skin Tones: https://youtu.be/XfVn2X2NpN8
How to Paint Dreadlocks in Oil: https://youtu.be/pKUVLeCLmFw
How to Frame a Painting Inexpensively: https://youtu.be/XJcIFE__tlU
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originally published September 6, 2018
This lil Birdie will be out of her nest from August 23 til Sept 9 so it will be probably be pretty quiet around here. I'm going to Charleston, SC for a hometown visit as well as the small inland town where my parents run their treehouse rental business as well as a music fest on the SC/GA border called Surrounded by the Sound. It's gonn be a whirlwind and I can't wait! See you in a few weeks!
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originally published August 24. 2018
'Morning Dew' was a spur-of-the-moment composition inspired by some unusual lighting streaming through the trees surrounding my outdoor bathroom here on lovely O'ahu. I had just woken up and was brushing my teeth when I beheld in the mirror those bright cuts of light splashed across the cool blue shadows of the early sun.
Much to my delight I noticed how warm those deep purple shadows were upon taking my reference photo, giving this painting the unique quality of having very cool lights and very warm shadows. Coincidentally I had been up somewhat late the night before learning about various constellations (and discovering that Jupiter resides just outside my outdoor shower every evening!), so I felt compelled to add a few of the more simple star arrangements into this piece.
You can actually watch me paint 'Morning Dew' in a timelapse video here.
oil and mixed media on linen, 4.5x9 inches
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originally published August 26, 2018
Aloha friends! I've been tagged a few times to share 5 random things about myself so here's my quirky little list :)
If you'd like to read my regular bio you can see that here and if you'd like to see more hula hooping check out my channel here.
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originally published August 23, 2018
