Mural

This summer I have been working on designing and drawing an enormous mural with 2 of my close friends.

The theme: under the sea

The walls: very long (215 feet long to be exact), of a formally scary dark tunnel that connects 2 hospitals (SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center and St. Louis University Hospital). Some kids go through the tunnel to do radiation and other procedures at SLU. It is also used by many employees and patients of both hospitals.

There was a group of volunteers that came to help us paint it since it was such a big project but we drew and designed everything on the walls beforehand.

Here are some pictures of our finished work:























Today, I am grateful for: life, happiness, good things, grad school starting soon, God, family and friends!

Rach

BA Show

As part of my graduation, I was in the Bachelor of Arts-Studio Art show. I wanted to share a few images from the show. I cannot believe graduation is so soon!

Ceramic piece: Facing My Back

This piece addresses the scars on my back that are from the extensive tumor removals and resections. The scars represent all of the healing and trauma that has gone on within my body-emotionally, physically, psychologically and spiritually-since being diagnosed for the first of three times.

Painting Title: Inside Grief
Acrylic on Wood

This piece is representative of the feelings that emerge sometimes about having had cancer three times and all that it entails. Usually, I am very positive but this shows the other side.

Sculpture piece: Tumor
Wire, fabric and LED lights

Hanging sculpture piece: To Mix, To Suspend, To Simplify

Clear Thread, Hot Glue and Fabric

Painting Title: Hope
Acrylic on Canvas

Dragonflies are my personal symbol of hope.

Today, I am grateful for coming this far, family, friends, new opportunities and much more!

Rachel

Art as Therapy

Obviously art as therapy interests me-a lot-thus why I want to become an art therapist. On Fridays at my university, the art students work in the art studios (we have classes off and are expected to be there working on stuff and also attend a noon artist lecture that the university arranges). I really like the set-up and have been pretty productive the last 2 Fridays which helps to enjoy the weekends even more.

Last Friday I had a paint mixing exercise to work on and had some leftover paint. Since growing up, my family wasn't big on wasting anything, I did not want to waste the paint.

I took it and started playing around on some extra paper. The more I experimented, the more the art became introspective of life right now. I had a busy background with swirls and various colors and overlapping designs. Then I painted a person in white with some dimension that is looking towards the chaos and the arms are crossed or outstretched (unseen from the viewer's angle). I realized it is somewhat representational of my life right now. I was pleased with the outcome and am thinking it might get a 'wall spot' in the condo. Here it is:



Today, I am grateful for a night to relax, hopefully a snow day tomorrow (crossing my fingers b/c it's my 13 hour school day...), friends, family and God!

Rachel

Plaque in the Grade School Library

View of Life Copyright: Rachel 2008

(Still stumped by the Glamour magazine thing...)

But, I was excited to hear tonight that people were fighting over the painting (above) that I donated to a charity's silent auction. It was for a new children's hospital that is being built at the hospital where I was treated.

Anyways, the family that ended up with it, goes to the church I went to growing up and their kids go to the grade school. So, they donated it to my former grade school (where we still know a lot of the teachers, etc.). They are going to put it up in the library with a plaque for all time. How cool! I have a lot of great friends from grade school (case in point: one came in town today and we hung out at the condo for awhile, a few were at the wedding or in the wedding or were invited) and a lot of great memories were made there. This will be pretty neat. I look forward to going and seeing it at some point!


Today, I am grateful for kind people, seeing old friends ;), getting a new SUV!, family, friends and of course, God.

Rach

Self-Portrait

This is a painting I mainly did for my portfolio review for school. It is a semi-self portrait. Enjoy!

Today, I am thankful that my speech-writing process has been going so well, that I am healthy and able to juggle everything that is going on right now, for friends, family, God and life.

Love,

Rachel

I've Been Painting!

So I finally got out the (dusty) paintbrushes last night...I was experimenting. About a year ago, I used gesso to affix handmade paper to canvas and last night I took eye droppers and dripped acrylic ink while changing the direction of the canvas from time to time. The ink became a nice contrast to the more organic, circular ridges on the handmade paper (as you can see in the close-up pic). Very therapeutic, fun and long overdue...

It's abstract and an experiment and I'm happy how it turned out but I'd love to hear people's honest opinions-no need to be nice just to be nice ;).

The painting is about the craziness of life and resembles never-ending roads, at least that's what I saw but again, I love to hear what other people see in my artwork!

Today, I am grateful for: running so many errands with Gabe's grandma for the wedding, getting some fabulous ideas for reception table stuff, cooking dinner tonight for my family with Gabe and God, family and friends!

Ciao bella!

Rach

Rad Fairy

Aloha! Last night I did some MAJOR cleaning in my 'apartment' and came across an old friend from my past...My very own Radiation Fairy or "Rad Fairy" for short (pic above). When I had radiation 4 1/2 years ago I did some mind imagery. One of the radiation beams carried a sweet fairy that would come in to my back and work on the tumor between my heart, lung, spine and pulmonary artery. The other beam was a big burly tough guy who would chisel away at the tumor. Well, they seemed to have done their jobs quite well! I never got around to making Mr. Tough Guy but I did make Radiation Fairy...she even inspired a big painting that I donated to the radiation department at my hospital!


In life, it's like do what you need to do to survive and that fairy and macho man got me through radiation (and some tough times) with flying colors...no pun intended!

Today, I am grateful for: more nice weather, an easy day of classes and of course, friends and family!

Love,
Rachel