Timelapse of Watercolor Ribcage


Hi there lovelies! It has been a busy week and a great week at that! I've been at the tattoo shop and have been loving it. Aside from the usual cleaning and setting up, I have started assisting in drawing the line work and making stencils. My mentor has taken on another apprentice and so I've been helping him get the hang of the apprentice duties. lol 



So a couple weeks ago, I started this piece and worked on it as often as I could, I finally finished earlier this week, and I filmed it as a timelapse to show you how I created this! 


I actually just started using watercolors for painting on watercolor paper. As weird as this may sound since I do a ton of face and body painting (and technically that is waterbased lol) but I do not paint alot as far as canvases. I want to change that. I have painted some pieces using acrylics, but have a hard time blending and creating the effects I want. As I have mentioned in previous posts and videos, I do plan on exploring oils. So, far I have two canvases prepped to start two pet portraits. 

This video took me two days to edit! My computer has been really slow, and the video is pretty basic. I had no time to film an intro or outro-so bear with me! Here is the link below if you want to check it out! I hope you enjoy it! 


Tattoo Apprenticeship Progress and EXPO

Hi there lovelies! It has been a busy and amazing week so far at the shop. I am learning so much and it makes me so happy to pursuing something I love so much. 

I watched my mentor do several black and gray pieces which was great because for some reason black and gray tattoos kind of intimidating because I am still learning to shade and blend while tattooing. After watching him do so many amazing pieces, I feel more comfortable and I cannot wait until I can tattoo and put what I am learning to use. 

I managed to make a quick update video on my youtube channel, so check it out and I share an embarrassing but very funny thing that I did at the shop. 





In two weeks, The Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival will be going down and I will be there with a couple of the artists to help with whatever they need to do to make sure everything goes smoothly. I have been to several expos in this area but not on the artist side, so I am looking forward to the experience.






If you can to know more specifics on the Festival, you can check out their website here. 

If your'e from the 757 area, or will be attending, hope to see ya there!

xoxo, Cecilia

The Single Woman's Valentines


Now that I am in my early 30's, it does not bother me in the least bit that I am spending this Valentine's Day alone, in fact, I rather prefer the solitude as opposed to the awkward pressure to have a good time with someone new.  That doesn't pertain to committed couples, although I am pretty sure I would still be awkward even in a relationship. lol 

I am happy and blessed to be single, especially after the crazy few years I have had. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those relationship haters, I am actually a hopeless romantic at heart. I am taking time for myself and refocusing on my goals for the future. So, this year I will be my own valentine thank you very much! 



With the Valentine's Day approaching quickly, I am trying to think of ways I will be spending my day, Four years ago, I wrote a blog post on Valentines Day Gifts (you can check that out here)  and I thought I would like to do an updated post on that. 

So, for me, I plan on binge watching either youtube, netflix or hulu since there are no good dvd new releases for this month. Then, maybe ordering some pizza, hopefully Papa Johns will have their heart shaped flatbread pizza again. I remember ordering that and the kids and I demolished it. 



If you're a flower person, go buy yourself some flowers! I love having flowers or plants on my desk and smelling their sweet perfume. I have a few favorites when it comes to flowers. My top favorite is Roses, then Stargazer Lilies, and any Hawaiian arrangement. 

Roses
Lilies


Hawaiian 

So, we got pizza (check), movies (check), flowers (check) what's next? Besides the smell of flowers, I love to pick up a few new candles. I pride myself on finding unique and funky gifts online, and if I see these things in reality, I would scoop them up in a heart beat. 


Candles that "cry" wax when you light them
How cool is that???? After you burn the candles, you can use them for plant holders, or candy holders, or other candles. So cute! 


If you don't have a cuddle buddy, dog or cat or kiddos, you can cuddle up with this huge 7 foot shark, or if not cuddle with it, you can climb inside it. If you wanna take it s step further, you can get inside it and prank the hell out of a someone. lol 

7 Foot Shark 

Who says you have to buy lingerie or sexy sleepwear for a man, or partner to feel beautiful. Go buy that cute teddy or sexy bra and panty set you saw hanging on that hanger in Victoria's Secret. Go in there and buy some new underwear, a bra or two, a cute sleepwear set. Treat yourself. Love yourself. 

For me, I am a tshirt and sweatpants type of girl...I would go for something like this: 



Tattoo Leggings 

Its rare that I get the time to take a bubble bath, but I try to at least once or twice a year. I should really vow to take a hot bath at least once a month. I used to love lavender Epsom salts, but since LUSH has been around, I love to indulge in their famous bath bombs. My favorite scents are roses and lavender (surprise, surprise) 

Twilight

Rose Bombshell

And to finish the day/night off, gotta have some desert. My ultimate comfort food is Entemanns Coffee Crumb Cake. Whatever you love to treat yourself to...go for it. Get chocolate wasted, or whatever you love to eat or drink, just don't over do it! 

Celebrate the love you have for yourself! Celebrate your body, heart and soul. 



From me to you, Happy Valentines Day 


Starting an Artist YouTube Channel


Like many other artists, I hoard a ton of half finished sketchbooks and random sketches shoved into books, magazines and who knows where else. It's nice to see the progress from my first tattoo drawing to how I draw now. It really goes to show that practice makes perfect, and as an artist, you never stop learning new techniques.

Rose 2009
Rose 2013


Rose & Mirror 2017


I have converted most of my decent illustrations to an online portfolio, but lately, I have been really wanting to film my artistic process of drawing, coloring, painting and share it with other artists and maybe help someone along their journey of being an artist.

So, here is what I have gathered for my new YouTube adventure. If you are looking to start an Artist YouTube channel, you can use my list as a starting point and adjust as needed.

 Most of which, I gathered over time or already had. If you click on the link or the picture below, it will redirect you to where you can purchase each item.

GO PRO HERO 3
2 SD Cards
SD Card Adapter
3 Battery Packs w/ charger
Tripod
Computer (of course)


 GO PRO HERO #

GoStick Tripod

Other supplies needed- and kind of obvious...a computer, so you can edit and upload your videos. And your art supplies or whatever it is you want to film yourself creating!


I am sure as I start filming, I will make adjustments. I know there are a few things I want to pick up. So, you might wanna add this to your list too!

Desk Microphone (for voiceovers)

Camera Wall Mount.

Desktop Vintage Inspired Microphone


Camera Wall Mount


I have to admit that I didn't like the way my videos looked filming with the GO PRO, but after doing some research on how to edit and fix the settings, I am looking forward to getting back into editing videos. I will post more on how I film my videos if I get a request on my youtube channel.

Thanks for tuning in! See you in the next post!


Back Into Blogging

When I started blogging in 2010, I never thought I would have come to enjoy it this much. What started as a way to write down my thoughts, somewhat an online journal of sorts, ended up becoming a creative outlet, a way to express my pent up artistic energy.

2010 when I began this blog


I blogged for years, documenting my journey through college classes, Hair school, body and face painting, photo shoots, video shoots, hair shows, and so many exciting and the not so exciting events. If you look back through the years, you can slowly see how I began to transform, becoming more comfortable in my skin and confident in the things I am passionate about.





It wasn't until last year in August when I decided to delete my blog. I didn't expect to have an email from google telling me I had a significant number of errors because I deleted it. I began to miss it, even though I didn't blog as much as I used to. I went through blogging withdrawals


I don't even know if this gets read at all, and frankly I do not care. I write this for me. My mom thinks I write too much, I get too personal. Maybe she's right. This blog is an extension of me, so of course its personal.

I am not sure I had a purpose in today's blog topic. I guess I just felt like writing. I want to say thank you to any of you who keep up with my blog or who have been on this journey with me, or even if you just stumbled across this blog somehow. I will give a more updated blog post on what I have been up to lately here soon!