The newest additions to the Little Hibachi family : )
It is freakin' hot in the valley, I tell ya! Stay cool this weekend!
<3 LH
Friday, June 28, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
To doodle?
I'm guilty! I'm a chronic doodler! Always have been, always will be. When I was in school I could not pay attention for more than a few minutes before turning to my notebook and either drawing seemingly meaningless lines and shapes or writing out the lyrics to my favourite songs. I have notebooks FILLED with these pages as proof. At my last administrative job I would be on the phone answering questions while simultaneously filling post-it notes with flowers and little stick figure men.
I've always thought that this meant I could never be a good student or productive worker. Even now when I'm working on a production set and someone comes and sits next to me I immediately cover up my work, embarrassed by how juvenile and crude my illustrations are.
But then I saw this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz68b879rOI
If you don't have time to watch the video, the speaker is talking about the importance of doodling and how it actually helps people keep from losing focus and can lead to better retention of information. She states the new definition of doodling should be: To make spontaneous marks to help yourself think.
I couldn't agree more with that statement because any time I am doodling I am thinking about something. There is something about the action between my mind and my hand that allows my mind to come together and I actually pay attention more to what is going on around me. I've just been too ashamed to admit it. So in the spirit of de-shaming this very practical practice, I am going to share with you some of my most recent doodles and then show you the pieces that they have inspired for Little Hibachi.
I've always thought that this meant I could never be a good student or productive worker. Even now when I'm working on a production set and someone comes and sits next to me I immediately cover up my work, embarrassed by how juvenile and crude my illustrations are.
But then I saw this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz68b879rOI
If you don't have time to watch the video, the speaker is talking about the importance of doodling and how it actually helps people keep from losing focus and can lead to better retention of information. She states the new definition of doodling should be: To make spontaneous marks to help yourself think.
I couldn't agree more with that statement because any time I am doodling I am thinking about something. There is something about the action between my mind and my hand that allows my mind to come together and I actually pay attention more to what is going on around me. I've just been too ashamed to admit it. So in the spirit of de-shaming this very practical practice, I am going to share with you some of my most recent doodles and then show you the pieces that they have inspired for Little Hibachi.
So much of my adult life has been about un-learning so many things about myself I thought to be true and in turn learning something new. So, here's to us, the doodlers of the world!
Feel free to share any of your doodles with me in the comments or in an email: littlehibachi@gmail.com
<3
Monday, June 10, 2013
Coffee, coffee, coffee!
My relationship with coffee, like a many of my personal relationships has been a complicated one. When I was a teenager living in Tucson, I was able to drink a 16 oz. Iced Mocha Latte from The Safehouse at midnight and still be able to go to sleep that night without a problem. Then when I was in my mid-twenties it got to the point where I couldn't even have a cup of coffee without experiencing terrible anxiety and espresso was completely out of the question. But now, after slowly re-training my body, I have a nice little caffeine addiction going for me and can't function until I have my first cup in the morning. I would say 95% of the work I've done for Little Hibachi is a result of this wonder elixir. I'll drink to that!!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
When it comes to the future...
Can you guys keep a secret? One of my goals for Little Hibachi is to be able to rent a gallery space and have a show of my own original work. For people looking from the outside in, that seems bold, and it is. The idea scares and excites me, which has caused me to think about these two seemingly opposing feelings a lot. After much contemplation I've decided that feeling both scared and excited is probably the best combination of feelings you can have when taking on a new endeavor.
So many of us want certainty. I know I do! We want definite answers and we are plagued by the anxiety of what the future holds, but there aren't any answers, folks! The best we can do is follow our hearts and I think as long as we're a little scared and a lot excited about what could happen then that is an indicator that we are on the right track.
Just think about when you watch a scary movie. Part of the fun of it is being scared, being taken by surprise. The same goes for thrill seekers jumping out of planes or taking off on roller coasters. I am not a fan of roller coasters myself. I try so hard to hold on and not lose control, but if I could just learn to let myself go and let excitement overtake me, I would probably really enjoy them.
I know things might not seem great and you might be feeling scared and uncertain, but I ask you to sit and think for just a moment and contemplate on recognizing that you are scared, but also allowing yourself to be a little excited too.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
This is how it works.
I have been getting really good feedback on my little clouds. Maybe everyone is feeling the June gloom vibe? I sure am. I've been living in L.A. for almost 10 years and it's still a surprise to me every June when I wake up to gray skies for more than a day. Well, today I've decided to post some pics of my process for making these fluffy little guys. Enjoy!
First I trace the image on the glass using a pen dipped in ink (like in ye olde times :)
Fun fact: Like a reflection in a mirror, the pictures have to be traced backward so that they will look right when in the frame, so if there is any text in the image, I have to write it backward!
After the ink has dried I spray the glass with a few coats of clear varnish so that the paint won't make the ink run. And then I use acrylic paint to colour the parts I don't want to show through the background. I also use paint called glass stain if I want slightly transparent colour that will allow the background to show through.
Oh, I love my little clouds! I didn't mean to paint them baby colours ;p I do know some very special people expecting babies this year though, so they must be on my mind :D That's it! I'll be sure to post some more soon!
First I trace the image on the glass using a pen dipped in ink (like in ye olde times :)
Fun fact: Like a reflection in a mirror, the pictures have to be traced backward so that they will look right when in the frame, so if there is any text in the image, I have to write it backward!
After the ink has dried I spray the glass with a few coats of clear varnish so that the paint won't make the ink run. And then I use acrylic paint to colour the parts I don't want to show through the background. I also use paint called glass stain if I want slightly transparent colour that will allow the background to show through.
Lastly I take cellophane and pack it behind the glass in each frame to give it a shimmery effect.
And here they are finished!
Oh, I love my little clouds! I didn't mean to paint them baby colours ;p I do know some very special people expecting babies this year though, so they must be on my mind :D That's it! I'll be sure to post some more soon!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
It's here!!
I've been busy in my workshop (A.K.A. bent over my IKEA coffee table while sitting on an ottoman) making delightful little pieces of framed artwork. Here's a sample!
I'm having so much fun!! My plan is to keep working on them throughout the rest of this year and then pushing to sell them in 2014. I will upload pics of pieces I've just finished and are particularly proud of. I hope they will appeal to people looking for a little bit of fun and beauty in their lives. Thanks for checking out my Little Hibachi!
I'm having so much fun!! My plan is to keep working on them throughout the rest of this year and then pushing to sell them in 2014. I will upload pics of pieces I've just finished and are particularly proud of. I hope they will appeal to people looking for a little bit of fun and beauty in their lives. Thanks for checking out my Little Hibachi!
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