It's over.

And what a ride it was. Graduation came sooner than I could have ever expected. It seems like these last four years have gone by in a blur. I have learned from a lot of amazing professors, studied next to some of the brightest peers I know, and experienced things I won't ever forget.

Like it was for most people, the end of the quarter was rather chaotic. I started working more at the mall because of the approaching busy summer season, and I've still been working at the gallery (installing and uninstalling shows, art inventory, etc.) part of my week as well. I will admit I didn't get to do as much art as I had planned after the installation of the BFA show, as I devoted a lot of my studio time to my figure painting class. I don't have images of the final things I worked on for those yet, but they are coming Wednesday and I will be sure to post them just so the faculty can see, it relates heavily to the inspiration for my mermaid!!!!!!

I did, however, manage to scratch down the beginnings of an image of Huitzilopochtli, the brother of the Aztec moon goddess Coyolxauhqui that I drew/painted last quarter. Huitzilopochtli is the Aztec sun god; according to the myth, Huitzilopochtli burst from his pregnant mother's body and sliced Coyolxauhqui to pieces just as she was about to kill their mother in hopes of killing the unborn brother as well, all because of a prophecy that predicted the unborn brother would overthrow the family power. Huitzilopochtli tossed her head into the sky thus making her the moon we see today. Coyolxauhqui's severed body parts represent and explain the phases of the moon and why we see it in pieces, and the battle with her brother explains why the sun and the moon chase each other across the sky.

The final image will be in the same graphic tattoo style I used for Coyolxauhqui. I'm hoping to finish this guy this week!!

Now to the most important part. What I've learned most this quarter (and actually through out the whole entire year) is that I need to challenge myself and create opportunities in my art where I feel uncomfortable. As an artist, this forces me to sort of focus my attention on manipulating my skills to the best of my abilities. I've found that I enjoy being challenged, because like I mentioned in my artist talk, that is how I learn the most about myself and my art. I definitely saw this making my mermaid, and I am so happy with the personal growth I've felt by making her.

As for what's next, I have so many ideas for art that I want to do after graduation. I have a series of oil paintings on wood planned, some more hair pieces (going to try and get them on my head this time!), and some more tattoo graphics I want to make. I am unbelievably excited for the future, and I look forward to developing my art upon the principles and lessons I have learned while at DU. Thank you to everyone, for everything! I am so humbled to be where I am, with the people who I have surrounded myself with. Here's to the crimson and gold, everyone in the art department, COMPOSITE, and the future! :)