Sciency Stuff (Documented & Designed by an Artist)

 
 I had a great time experimenting with one of my videographer friends, Jake. I was assisting him in testing various dye reactions in a variety of water based solutions. He will be filming the final (cooliest) dye reactions as part of a professional project.

 In no particular order...
Water bases: salt water, soapy water, fruit pectin mixed in water
Injected materials: india ink, fabric dyes, food coloring, black acrylic paint
I brought crazy products to try.... These didn't make it to the test kitchen:
honey
glitter
vinegar
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

I guess g l i t t e r isn't very professional.

 

I've never thought about trying to buy needles and syringes...
but you can gather what CVS employees might be thinking.
#promisewerenotdruggies

 Cool food-safe hose hooked up to the kitchen sink.
...the things ya learn

J A K E' S rad camera. 
(Canon 5D Mark III)

  

Behind the scenes

A definite winner.

 
Next we watched dyes travel (or not travel) on dry land (sorta).
We drew water patterns on surfaces like:
poster board, duck cloth, and other woven fabrics.

These are simple snapshots, but the video recording is mesmerizing.
The dye quickly traveled down our handmade paths.


My photography and textile design passions are often intertwined.
I'm amazed at how well they work together.


And VOILA.
A pattern is born.

Admittedly, this is a little grotesque, but with some manipulation the product can be quite beautiful.

  ...continuing with the "gory" theme.
We poured fabric dye in the baking tray so we could lay fabric on it to see if it would absorb around the areas we painted

Heat gun and camera in hand.

What a rich rich red.

Blog Re-Inspired

I was able to get away from my city for a couple of days and I am resting on the sands of Litchfield Beach, SC. As usual, I almost instantly miss city life when I arrive at a place of less "movement".  All this free time has given me more than a few moments to ponder the things I love and things that need improvement in my life. Somehow vacation always does this to me. I don't think it's bad at all. It gives me time to self-analyze (which I do all the time anyways) minus the stress and distraction of work and weekly detailed to-dos.

I am constantly receive confirmation that I am an artist and I am in the right field as soon as I step an inch away from it (and a little nudge from God). I almost never want a break from it unless I've super-indulged myself in a constant creative workflow. So as I sit in a lovely oceanfront hotel room, I think to myself, has my blog reached it's full potential? The answer is No. I want so much more for it. I've just begun to crack the door for people to peek into my life. There is so much more to be said and posted! 

The problem is time and deciding where to place my energy. Most of it is going towards creating my website and building my portfolio for my website. The other issue is that it is difficult for me to vocally showcase myself in the social media world. I would love to share my experiences and growth with the Lord with whoever chooses to read my blog. I have a passion for blogging and I think I want to roll that direction at some point. So what would I direction would I delve into on Half Hipster? Several areas:

- Patterns (wallpaper, textile design, patterns in home interiors and furniture, posts on pattern makers)

- Write-ups on artists of all kinds (mainly ones I am inspired by)

- Introductions to bloggers who are just creatively awesome

- More posts on music and the up-and-comings in that genre

- "What I'm Eating" posts (including more illustrations on top of personal photographs)

- How to be "More American" posts (my growing love for Americana style + 4th of July)

- More posts of film, scanning and Photoshop (not sure why I saved this addition for last because it is my #1 priority and how I make an income...probably because it's the only thing I'm including on this blog currently)

Columbia, SC

 

 

It's been a while since I watched the sun rise over a period of hours...

(in my car)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our trip from Augusta, GA to Columbia, SC for a volleyball tournament.

 

 

 

 

#15

 

 

 

 

A long day of games leaves me and my family tired,

but back on the road for some burgers and shakes at Fuddruckers.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year (2013 edition)

 

 

Since I've graduated from college (2011) a year's time seems to be much more final...complete...like a full chapter. When you're in school all the time, semesters,

months, and seasons blend together to create "building blocks" of experiences.

 

 

 

 

I moved to Atlanta, Ga last January (2012) and this day marks 1 full year. I am looking forward to a productive 2013. I want so badly to be a full-time artist (a "variety artist") and I'm just beginning my journey on this professional kind of path. We shall see where God takes me! He has blessed me with two wonderful part-time jobs with still more part-time space for personal projects

(that little bit of extra time I need to build my own portfolio for future endeavors).

 

 

 

(because I can't stand not sharing these things that I create...here is a pattern I'm still working on!)

 

 

There's no better way I could have spent January 1, 2013 than seeing close friends, drinking coffee in bed, watching the rain fall........

and summing my thoughts up on this simple blog.

 

Task oriented goals for the year 2013:

 

+ Launch www.laceysombar.com

+ Create 1-2 patterns a month

+ Photograph outside my comfort zone

+ Shoot, scan, and PSD more film

+ Save for a brand spankin' new Mac

+ Travel to Vermont & the Caribbean

 

Holly Jolly (Christmastime)

 

Cute Swedish-looking pattern for placemats.

Into their room I crept...

One new iPhone case...received by a crackling fire.

Sadly, I had to depart Christmas day.

But my sister decided to come back with me to my city for a few days.

Yay.

...these are the ways I spent my Christmastime.