Sylvia Ji

I discovered Sylvia Ji when I was working on my Masters Essay in 2009 and have been fascinated by her work ever since. The expressions she creates in her portraits are realistic and amazing. The viewer is drawn in to the painting by the subject's gaze. The use of bold colors and this gaze are what draw the viewer into the painting.

The series that most interests me are her paintings of gypsies with faces painted like sugar skulls or Mexican death masks. In this series the women are depicted with flowing hair or messy up dos and make up reminiscent of sugar skulls. There are traditional roses that are often seen surrounding sugar skulls, but she puts a twist on them by giving each girl a viscous, haunting look. They are all haunting beauties.

Several of these gypsy-like women with sugar skull make up are dressed like the Virgin of Guadalupe. This gives the painting power, because of the strength the Virgin of Guadalupe holds, but it also gives Guadalupe the hard stare and haunting presence that the other paintings posses. The Virgin of Guadalupe in these paintings becomes the haunting beauty. She haunts all that view her and all that believe in her.

Paintings by Sylvia Ji- Virgen de Guadalupe

Updates

I've been missing for a while... I started a new job at the Holiday Inn, got engaged and am now in the trying to find a venue and colors and and and and phase. So in the midst of all this, my fiance got the brilliant idea to start a blog titles Holy crap! I'm getting married!, seriously. He's pretty funny and has this dream of making it big... so now I'm off trying to find a place to make bumper stickers with his new website on it. Just trying to keep my creative juices flowing some how! I still have my dream, but for now I guess wedding planning will have to do :)

The Future

While I know it is not possible in the near future, I would love to own a business some day. My dream is that I could open up a gallery or just a quirky shop with handmade items from local artisans and artists. I'd also like to offer beginner classes in different mediums and an art kids camp in the summer. I think art is one of the most important things in a person's life, whether it be visual arts, music, acting, dancing, etc. I would obviously like to deal with the visual arts because that is what I know best, but I think it would be great to have a space where anyone can put up advertising for whatever art they participate in.

I do not know if I am meant to work for someone else my whole life or that I am cut out for managing my whole life. Sometimes I think I'm too laid back for it, but I guess we will see.

So does anyone want to join in this venture with me?

Taking back my life

I have made a commitment to take back my life.

I once had a very wise advisor tell me to study what I like, and not worry about what career I will have after I graduate. She explained that it was not good to make what you love your job because it will consume your life. I think this is exactly what my old job did. It consumed my life and everything that I knew. My job was me and I was my job.

Now that that chapter is behind me, I am going to work on reviving my life...