Rachael Padilla

Heat Wave

The current heat wave being experienced in a majority of the US is being referred to as a "heat bubble". When we have to think of new names for weather phenomena, it may be an indication that things are in fact changing.

I am trying to make the most of the weather. A little Vitamin D, a little sweating-it-all-out like I'm in a sauna, and lots of cold water!

How I Make Zines

I feel as if I've been editing this movie forever, but it's finally done!

I've highlighted my process for how I make my zine, "Conceptually Formidable". Not only do you get insight into that process, but you'll also get a sneak peek at the zine itself!

The Mystery on My Desk

I've been working on editing my new YouTube video for what seems like days! I'm happy to report that it is done and is currently uploading. Be sure to check it out tomorrow.

"The Mystery on My Desk" is a bit of a teaser. Not only for the upcoming YouTube video, but also for a project that's been months in the making. More to come soon!

Wednesday Walk

. This walk for equality on a city street doesn't just document my Wednesday Walk, it swings on its own dreamy spectrum. I love to test how I can alter mood and vibe in the editing process.

Tuesday Update

Happy Taco Tuesday! For Today's update, a bit on what's been going on for me so far this week. Including filming "B Roll" and broadening my horizons!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Dare Mighty Things

A short movie highlighting the sewing repair of one of my favorite t-shirts. It's a shirt by one of my favorite artists: Tom Sachs. The mission was the Mars 2020 mission, the rover was named "Perseverance". The chute (featured on the back of the shirt) has a secret code saying, "Dare Mighty Things".

Behind the Scenes: Bath Time

He may not be quite as big as a bear, but his fur feels as thick as a bear's. He requires a fair bit of maintenance to fend off itchy skin and excessive shedding. As a result, he gets frequent baths.

It's no simple feat bathing this guy! I'm happy to do it for my loyal companion, and I'm thrilled that I can further these moments with an artistic documentation of the process.

"Thoughts on Communication"

Today's YouTube video is part of my current collection of work on communication.

Friday

It's Friday, and I have a few plans for the weekend. Nothing too exciting, but broadening my palette is on the menu.

Big Hair

My hair is my signature look. It's impractically long.

There's a reason for that. As a little girl, I had thin and wispy hair. I envied older girls that seemed to have an abundance of it I vowed that one day, I would have hair like those girls!

It has taken a long time, but I have finally figured out how to take care of the hair that I gained when I was a teenager. It has a natural wave. Not incredibly curly, but curly enough. And when encouraged, it will hold an amount of body.

Here, a performative piece on developing the body and curl of the hair that I've always dreamed of!!!

Rough Draft

My current body of art work is centered around communication. In creating art within this theme, I find myself exploring concepts. I am a self portrait artist, which requires using my own image and likeness in my work. However, I am equally a conceptual artist. But the cross-section of those works requires a bit of work. Often including the creation of "rough drafts" for the sake of expansion and experimentation.

This idea and rough draft will likely provide the means and path to greater and additional works. The later works will ultimately be more refined. I feel that it's important to include a behind the scenes look at how a completed work comes to fruition. There is nothing deep or meaningful within this draft. By seeing this version, I am able to progress to a finished piece with added meaning.

Stay tuned for more polish and refinement.

Wednesday Walk

I haven't been taking walks as often as usual in the past few weeks, but I did today!

It was early day, and the sun was not quite as hot as normal, but the humidity was outrageous! Even in the darkest parts of the woods, which made for a hot and muggy walk.

Tuesday Update

Happy Taco Tuesday!

For today's update, I'd thought I'd delve deeper into the process of cyanotype printing.

Today's Drawing

A behind the scenes look at today's drawing. Set to sound effects and music. Dramatic lighting reveals the drawing for the "Selfie in Three Parts".

Selfie in three parts

I’ve been doing my very best to embrace the heat as summer is settling in. It’s actually been relatively cool so far, at least for Georgia. Half an hour of lying it in the afternoon sun is just about the right time limit. Any longer and I might melt, or burn.

As per usual with the selfie in three parts: a gesture drawing of how I see me, an instant picture of how others see me, and a haiku on my thoughts:

Hidden under hat:

Rays beat down on browning skin

In afternoon heat.

Today’s cyanotypes

It was a hot and sunny late afternoon. Perfect for printing cyanotypes. It will never cease to amaze me how much depth and detail can be attained with this process. I did 3 of each of these altered digital photographs. The process elevates digital photography so much, and I love the unique qualities found in multiple prints of one photo.

"Burst"

Day 2 of trying to upload videos. Yesterday was a complete fail, but the internet seems to be pretty consistent today.

At any rate, this is, "Burst". Named so because the two series of images featured in this video are a series of still photographs taken with my phone on "burst mode". I often accidentally take bursts in selfie mode with a timer going. The result is normally a series of photos where I'm holding a pose. This time, I thought I would take advantage of a series of photos being taken while in action. I then edited them together, added effects in editing, and my own soundtrack.

Skyward

Turning "Skyward", for this performative movie. With a soundtrack that I made myself.

The Dance

"The Dance", by Henri Matisse has often put into focus for me the dynamic movement of the human body. I enjoy the long lines created by reaching hands and outstretched legs.

For this performative piece, I thought I'd choreograph the five poses together for an actual dance. It is set to a bit of modern classical music.

Tuesday Update!

I've got some big news regarding recent shows that I've submitted work for!

Reflections

An experiment with timelapse and mirrored sunglasses. I think my favorite part is being able to see the grass moving and growing.

I think that there is creative potential with this technique. This was definitely the first test, not the final result.

Experimental Performance Movie

This is, "Redundancy". A performative piece focusing on the every day acts of repetition, or redundancy.

The action of walking back and forth is repeated in the process of filming, then it is repeated further within the editing process where it appears to go through a degradation the more it is repeated.

Cyanotypes

I took advantage of some afternoon sunshine yesterday to create more cyanotypes from some of my favorite photos. I can print several of the same image, and each one will be unique into itself. It’s all contingent upon sun intensity, exposure times, and how the chemicals flowed on the paper. Plus, I think it really elevates the image from just a photograph giving each print depth of character.

Tropical Vibe

Welcoming summer with a tropical vibe! I gathered together some of my flowers and made a lovely arrangement. Set up my table with banana leaves and a pineapple. Then, I made myself a tropical tiki drink in my hand built cup, and garnished it with a gardenia flower. One sip of my drink transported me to a private, tropical oasis.

Thus, the tropical fever dream that is this performative video.

It's a good day to celebrate!

Jazzy

This is "Jazzy". A performative piece paired with some really fun editing.

Tuesday Update

Today's update is all about balancing all the things I need to do, and how I intend to incorporate more aspects of life into my art.

Today's Drawing

A behind the scenes look at the creation of today's drawing.

I should add that one of the things I love to do with editing is to set a mood using lighting, camera angles, ambience, music, or digitally in the editing process. Often, it's a combination of many things. This particular edit has kind of a mystery or film noir kind of mood. At some point, I may have to give myself an added challenge of creating different moods using the same footage, just to see what I can come up with.

Selfie in Three Parts

The parts:

1. A self-portrait drawing in charcoal (how I see myself).

2. An instant photo (how others see me).

3. A haiku (my inner thoughts):

Jasmine scent floats on

muggy night air thick with heat,

cuddling mosquitos.

Summer seems fully in effect. Both days and nights are warm, nights rarely cool off here. the cacophony at night time has begun with the choruses of frogs, crickets, and other creatures. It won't be long till the cicadas are added as well, and that is even louder. I love the scent of Summer in Georgia. You can smell the earth and the humidity. It reminds me of some childhood memory of stepping into a greenhouse for the first time in high deserts. Everything from mimosas to Gardenias to Jasmine to Magnolias send a heavenly scent into the night air. I have wished and tried in vain many times to capture the fireflies on film. It's lovely and it makes me smile.

Sun Tan

A behind the scenes look at my summer color of summer.

Summer Color of Summer

I don't paint my nails very often, but when I saw this turquoise color, I had to try it. I painted my nails, all ten of them! It isn't much of an art project, but it's paint and self expression, so I think it counts!

The first photo shown here has some crazy foreshortening which I thought was very interesting. The second one is just a close up of my fingertips.