Rachael Padilla

In Progress

A day full of editing! But I did have some time to work on some other stuff. A bit of painting and a bit of pottery.

Drawing from Life

A few days ago, I shared a video I created with poses to use for gestural drawings. This is how I intend to use those poses! I set up my laptop just behind my easel so I could watch and draw what I see.

https://vimeo.com/803749475/380ec69047

Tuesday Update

Hope your week is going well! Here's what I've got going on.

The process of drawing

I sketched and recorded another gesture drawing. As I reviewed this footage, I realized how it really reflects the process of drawing. To draw something even remotely accurate, it really requires looking and seeing. I remember an a-ha moment as a student. It had occurred to me that I couldn't draw what I think something looks like, but what I saw. 

Gestural Poses: a behind the scenes look at the process

I've been working on gesture drawings a lot lately. I feel like it's a necessary practice for the improvement of not only my understanding of the human form, but the improvement of my drawing and painting skills. That being said, when I use a mirror as I have been, my view and practice become limited to just portions of my reflection. I thought I'd create a video of filmed poses that include the full body. I'll be able to use the video for creating more complete drawings. 

Trying a New Thing

I tried a new thing today. 

It's called land paddle boarding. Think paddle boarding but on land with a large push stick instead of paddle and a board with wheels instead of one without. 

I have zero experience with this: it is completely new. I may have stood on a skateboard once or twice before. 

I went to a big empty parking lot today with lots of space for my first try at land paddling. I didn't do it for very long as it did start to rain, and slick ground ...

In Progress

Turns out, I can post a video from Vimeo easier than I can post images. 

1. An image from  today's gesture drawings (my favorite one). 2. A collection of vines , ready to be turned into charcoal (after having been peeled of their bark) for drawings and 3. The tea bowl that has been fired the first time, and is now glazed in a sage green, ready for its second firing. 

Glitched Out

I've got several images to share with you, none of which are actually uploading to Patreon at the moment. I tried from the app, and have moved on to trying from my PC. Thank you for your patience!

In the meantime, I've continued to work on the projects I outlined in Tuesday's Update. Pottery, collecting and preparing my vines for making charcoal, and continue practicing gesture drawings using my own reflection. 

I'll share photos as soon as I am able!

Record Collection

There was a bit of interest/curiosity in what records I have in my collection, so I've created a reveal of a small section of my vinyl.  Set to a song of what's currently on the turn table. This song is called "Blinded by Rainbows" by a little band known as the Rolling Stones (maybe you've heard of them). It's from the album, "Voodoo Lounge".

https://vimeo.com/800700538/d356d23049

Tuesday Update!

What's going on with me this week: kalimbas, charcoal, and clay. 

I hope your week is going great!

https://vimeo.com/800674492/f81b5088bf

Completing the Gouache Painting of a Magnolia

I began this painting as an exercise. Furthering my exploration of pink. I like to get out the watercolors or gouache sets on occasion just to keep up with it. 

Here, a time lapse of the painting interspersed with me as I paint. All set to music. 

Cringe Worthy

Progress can be a really difficult thing to track. But every once in awhile you may come across something that really points to and highlights the "Where You Were" versus "Where You Are". Such is the case with this cringe worthy video. 

I don't believe that this has ever actually been seen by anyone else. I feel like perhaps it's only ever been seen by me, and even at the time, I found it cringy and awkward. I don't have an actual date on this piece.  It could be anywhere from...

Problem with my Dust Mask

As I worked on my YouTube video "Painting my Plywood Pink", I took a lot of footage. I always try to think of the composition of a shot. Which is what was happening here. I thought it would look interesting if I walked into frame, with the sky and outdoors behind me, and put on my dust mask.

The filters of the dust musk (the pink bubble looking things) kept falling off. As they did again on my first take in this clip. Watching back through this footage it struck me funny.

I overla...

This Week's YouTube Video

It took a long time to get this uploaded today, but it finally happened! 

As I was working on my various projects this week, I was filming, editing, and making music for this. 

More Pink

I guess it's all the pink blossoms, but I was inspired by pink this week. The box cabinet is complete and in place, as is the new pink record stand. Of course, I had to paint one of the beautiful magnolias, but that's still in progress! 

I've been hard at work editing the YouTube video for the week, which will feature these projects. If all goes according to plan, it will be up tomorrow. 

In Progress

The platters I previously built from slab have been bisque fired. Here, I’ve applied coats of glaze for the next firing!

Gestural Sketch

Drawing a gestural sketch in the mirror. Self portraiture is a challenge in this form. Today, I'm using charcoal vine. The speed of this video has not been altered, this is exactly how long it takes. 

Tuesday Update

Join me on my perch in the magnolia tree and see a couple of the projects I'm working on this week.

I hope your week is going well!

In Progress: Hand Building with Clay

This will ultimately be a tea bowl. Traditionally, it's called a chawan and is used for tea ceremonies. The chawan has a rich history and tradition. 

Hand built pottery is time consuming. So I put this video montage together in an effort to convey the repetition involved in the process.

Playing with my radio.

The power went out, and I found myself playing around with my radio. The idea of all of those signals filing the air around me and I'm unable to sense them was on my mind. This little device grabbing the signals and turning them into something that I can hear.  All of the varied forms of music and communication that are present in the room at all times. 

https://vimeo.com/798152810/9652be67cd

Behind the Scenes: Making Music for Video

As I watch and create accompanying music. 

I thought I'd share the process, as it happens, of creating sound/music for a section of video. The video has already been edited in a visual sequence that I feel best conveys the mood I intend to share. As I play back the visual aspect, I play along with the KORG kaoscilator. I attempt to capture the motion and mood with the corresponding sound I've selected. 

Watch as it happens!

My NYC slideshow

I have used these images that I made of my trip to New York.  Some of these have been posted here before, and some have been used as promotional images.  I thought that it would be a good weekend to post my vacation photos!  ; )

On the Easel

Following dreams. It's important. 

As it is, this was some silliness thought up by my subconscious. But I like to think about a world where baby hippos are green and the atmosphere is lavender.

I hope you're having a wonderful week! 

https://vimeo.com/797540673/b16a72e6e2

Behind The Scenes

A behind the scenes look at painting a green baby hippo! 

On the Easel: Green Baby Hippo

As I mentioned in Tuesday's Update, ,I dreamed about a baby hippo. I was feeding him watermelons. And he was green. In the place between awake and asleep, I knew I must paint him. I began today with a level of spontaneity that I've been trying to maintain in paintings of late. I think it's going well. 

Tuesday Update

Happy Taco Tuesday! I'm enjoying a bit of sunshine to kick off the week (before it starts raining again). Here's what's up with me. I hope your week is off to a great start. 

https://vimeo.com/796786841/bbfd471c29

So Meta

I've mentioned more than a few times that so much of what I do now involves editing. It takes up a lot of time, but has to be done. I thought I'd take the opportunity to just film the process. Time lapse sure makes it go faster!

Here, I'm filming the process of editing. Ultimately creating another thing that has to be edited. Maybe I've been reading too many comic books lately, but that kind of layering upon layering seems so meta. 

Makeover

I recently completed the 1989 four series Plastic Man comic books. The story of a common criminal accidentally endowed with the ability to stretch and transform. He is an unlikely hero with an unlikely sidekick. He can transform into anything he can imagine. 

I continued to think about Plastic Man when I came across this red screwdriver. I figured it needed a makeover!

Revisited

Revisiting this concept and imagery, but in digital film this time. The original source of inspiration was a self portrait I'd created years ago. Featuring the heart and flames seen in this movie. I like being able to revisit favorite pieces and expand them into new media. 

https://vimeo.com/795395634/113aa39872

In Progress

As I shared in the Tuesday Update, I had an opportunity to get my hands dirty and play with clay. 

It's been approximately five years since I've used a wheel and thrown a pot. As is the case with most skills, when not used, the skill lessens, regresses. I essentially threw a pot that is less skilled than the very last pot I created all those years ago! So it goes... 

The other piece is a tray imprinted with lace. Lovely in its overall effect! I'll post further updates in...