Plaster mold Beach Project



Over the weekend we decided that Sunday would be a great beach day. I was also able to do the plaster cast molding project while we were there. My oldest daughter, Isabella, was very excited about the project. She's a crafty kid and loves art projects, especially if they are messy.

It was a difficult trip since the baby is only five months old and cries unless she's being held. She definately did not like putting her feet in the sand. I thought it would be cute to do a mold of her little feet, but she wasn't having any part of it. My older daughter kept going further and further into the water making me nervous since the rip current was really strong that day.

It was a fun little trip and we had a good time taking advantage of such a pretty day. I think we will try doing this again but leave the fussy baby at home with daddy.

Avery excited Isabella getting ready to start plaster cast molds at the beach



Pressing her hand into the freshly fluffed sand

We poured the plaster of paris in the imprints left in the sand



Isabella's hand print



The plaster is starting to set

Seeing if it's all the way dry yet



Digging up the mold



Digging up the rest of the molds we made



It worked!



My mold is missing a finger, it broke off    :(

A fun family day at the beach

Survival of the Fittest and Beauty $$$

Beauty is equated with health and good genetics and has been the way species attract mates in the animal kingdom. Those who possess youth and beauty most likely are healthy and have the genes to pass on to ensure the species to continue on.  This is seen in brightly colored birds as well as human beings. But what about those animals that are so hideaous and frightening looking that they are able to survive and reproduce BECAUSE they are in fact so ugly that no predator is brave enough to attack it? Is that animal purposely ugly to others as a defense mechanism against predators?

The mockumentary about the trials and angst experienced by those who were considered to be The Beautiful People talked about the down side of being so beautiful. Would they have an easier time in life if they were to make themselves a little bit ugly? They might, but I can't imagine anyone doing that because it is so ingrained in our society and hardwired as a species to be the most beautiful possible that is almost unthinkable to make oneself ugly in order to fit in and be seen for what's inside.

The prettiest woman in the universe is named "Miss Universe" and is considered the most beautiful woman on the planet for that year. What does that title earn her? Money? Fame? Does it ensure that her genetics will continue on for generations to come? Of course it does. She will marry a billionare and have financial security and have beautiful little children who will also be financially secure with good looks as well.  But what if Miss Universe married a poor, unattractive artist or became a lesbian? Than her finacial security and procreation of pretty and finacially stable kids would most likely never be a reality.



Donald Trump Jr and his wife and  new baby

 So trying to be the prettiest, richest and strongest in today's world is just our species way of ensuring the survival of our species and to encourage procreation. The ugly, fat, unattractive, unhealthy, hairy and short millionaire will marry and lovely, healthy, young, leggy, blonde to ensure his genes will continue to proliferate. And they have a 50/50 chance of being beautiful as well. If they turn out to be unattractive adults, atleast they have their daddy's business sense and money, right?


Donald Trump and his wife and baby



Food art, more than just a cruise ship buffet decor?

These adorable and entertaining food sculptures are very inticate and detailed, showcasing the artists talents

A typical food sculpture/ carving

Renaissance artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo was perhaps the first artist to use food in creating images. He used paint rather than actual veggies, obviously since this painting was created far earlier than photography.

Knitting project

I liked the suggestion  of making hats for one of our art project that was made in class a couple weeks ago. Actually, I liked it so much that I decided to try teaching myself how to knit a hat for my baby girl. It didn't go so well, though.
I started out looking at the craft store, Michael's, with my 40% off coupon in hand. Searching through isles of yarn and books trying to figure out where to start was pretty ridiculous. I have never knitted or crocheted in my entire life and I have only seen my grandmother crochet blankets a few time and regretably never really payed much attention to how she did it.
Finally, I found a cheap and easy kit for kids that seemed pretty doable. It was a loom kit with four different sized round circular looms with a hook and plastic finishing needle. I was excited to try it and bought some cheap and soft yarn.
Well, the instructions were very vague and the black and white pictures did not do much to help in figuring out how to knitt the little hat. After a few days and couple of tries, I did actually complete something that resembled a hat.

Poor Baby Macy, she doesn't seem to like the ugly little hat either! It served it's purpose of keeping her head warm while driving big sister to school, though :)

Luxury of Questioning Reality

I beleive it is a luxury to be able to question your own reality. Centuries ago, most people were just trying to stay alive  and feed their families. They woke with sun, farmed worked and did what they needed until sun down just to start again the day. I highly doubt they questioned whether or not what the true meaning of their lives were. In the days of small pox and the plaque, people were just trying not to die and keep their children alive as well. The "Dark Ages" as these were called did not allow people time or the luxury of questioning their lives and the meaning of it.
After the Dark Ages and the into the rennisance, there became a much different attitude about life. Since suffering and struggling were no longer the norm. People were able to consider art, celebrations and have enough leisure time to think about things. With freedom of religion and availability of educatio, they were also able to spark thoughts about a higher power, the after life and the meaning of their present lives.
In the modern day, most of us do have spare time to consider a great many thoughts, good and bad. One of the common themes is what the meaning of life and the realities we have created. If we have a lot of free time to stew and think about these things we can become obsessed with the notion that there is more to what we see and how we live.  Many books and philospers have commented on the subject about our own reality and how we make them into what we want them to be. It's all very person and we choose our own reality and meaning of our lives as we feel comfortable to do. That is, if we are considered to be in complete mental health. Those who are mentally ill....well that's whole different topic.

Iconic Album Covers

Iconic album covers from Rock N Roll over the past decades can send someone back in time with a wave of nostalgia from the era in which the albumn was so popular.

The above albumn covers are very recognizable to most of us who are rock fans and even some of those who aren't. These were very popular albums by the Def Leopard and Pink Floyd, both with a large fan base and cult following. Did these artists and the record companies know these albums would be so popular and did this knowledge infulence the choice of art work? How does a piece of artwork become a contender for an album cover?
A band like Pink Floyd were notorious for political views inbedded in their music and the artwork on the covers of their albums reflect this.

Two of the Beatles album covers. Most of all their albums have their faces on them and little artwork as apposed to Pink Floyd who had a ton of artwork on all their albums and very rarely had photos of the band members. Maybe because the Beatles had that heart throb status and their pictures helped to sell albums?


U2 is a band who is also was origionally known for politcally charged lyrics and later on love songs. Most of their covers have band photos as well. Many consider U2 members to be "heart throbs" as well.

 While these metal band covers are very "Metal" they do not really reflect any type of polital message. These are pure advertisement for the music and the band. They are considered creepy-cool, which is the goal to attract a certain audience, mostly young men looking to be tough. These albums and bands were and still are very successful, proving that this artwork worked it's magic in sales.

This Is Not a Blog

This is not a blog.
This is not an art class assignment.
This is not an excercise in free speech.
This is not an expression of artistic opinion.

Interpret however you'd like according to your own reality.