Rachael Padilla

Old t-shirt

As many of you have noticed, a lot of my older content has been removed due to theft. But I want you to know that I have heard your requests and concerns. So, I have pulled together a series of redux videos to be released this week.

First up: "Old t-shirt"!

Old t-shirts are the best. they seem to last for years and within those years they've been worn countless times. Resulting in the perfectly broken in feel and touch of amazing softness that feels like a warm hug...

In this performance video, I create a work starring  the old t-shirt. I think when I filmed this one my red velvet curtains were still fairly new, created with the express purpose of being a backdrop for just this kind of  performative art. 

I created the musical score myself. 

New Video!

Join me on YouTube for a new video about change. The inevitable changes happening outside this Autumn meeting up with the intentional changes I'm making in the studio!

Selfie in Three Parts

I’ve sat at the computer a lot today. Carefully and meticulously snipping and placing bits of footage together. My first minute of a video usually takes me the longest. A haiku:

It’s edit day

Bringing the bits together

To tell a story.

Making Some Noise

There was a time when I struggled to call myself an artist. 

There is still a time when I struggle to call myself a musician. As it is,  I often feel a little more comfortable saying I am creating background noise. 

I will undoubtedly grow to feel comfortable making music, and stepping into the role of music maker. For now, though, I will call it background noise. 

In this case, the music I've made is set to many of the shots I've taken in a single day. Even with several wardrobe changes! 

The younger me that started out in one outfit and ended up in another, or ever several iterations of an outfit, would be very pleased! Welcome to my crazy day! 

An in depth, behind the scenes look at a day in my life.

Proof of Concept

A few seconds of silence for the proof of concept!

Inspired by a great contemporary filmmaker, I thought I'd try the concept myself!

After much work gathering a gigantic pile of leaves, I leapt in! Only to emerge sans shirt and able to prove that I could create an interesting twist by manipulating time and space.

This is only one of several takes today. I think this one solidifies it. Even though I appear to have developed a limp! 

Wednesday Walk

Today's Wednesday Walk under gray skies, past a fleet of dump trucks is highlighted by golden boughs! 

The juxtaposition of nature and man-made strikes a lovely balance! 

Tuesday Update

Another week, another Tuesday, another update! It's been busy. I've filmed a lot of bits and pieces already this week as I appreciate the predominant feature of the season: CHANGE.  This season always puts me in the mindset of what is to come.

Also, a peek at my latest attempt at a chawan: made of speckled clay with a glaze of clear and "power turquoise"!

I sincerely hope that your week is off to a great start! 

Bits and Pieces to Come

A few years ago, when I began this journey into a new medium (film) I really wasn't sure what I was doing. I don't even think at the time I really considered it an art medium. But with the last couple of years under my belt making movies for YouTube and Patreon filmmaking has showed me what an art form it truly is.

I am now thrilled when I feel like I've captured a beautiful shot, or when I've married the content up beautifully with music, or the way that I tediously try to perfect the balance between ambient sound and voice overs. Just to name a few of the techniques and nuances that I've come to know and respect.

I wrote in today's Selfie in Three Parts post  that creativity often comes in spurts and spatters and how at the end of the day I am often left with bits and pieces. On this day, I have bits and pieces and ideas in digital film. These may likely become what I now know as b-rol.l Which will potentially make a movie more visually interesting or help aid a storyline. I wanted to put a few of  them together to share with you.  A glimpse at some of my raw materials before I've polished them into art.

Selfie in Three Parts

Today was filled with bits and pieces of creativity. As I've started to pay attention to my own creative process, it's come to my attention that is often the case with creativity. Even if it doesn't necessarily come together as a complete thought when I expect it to. So when there is the desire to film, photograph, paint, draw or write an idea, I do it. Completeness of thought may or may not come later.

Many times by the end of the day all I've got are pieces. 

Today's haiku: 

Creativity 

Flowing in spurts and spatters;

Bits of things to come.

Preparation

I'm preparing for the week ahead.  

With the camera on, I took the time to prepare 5 canvases for the coming week. My hope is to be prepared for spontaneous bouts of creativity! 

Selfie in Three Parts (a little extra)

Today’s selfie in three parts is a little extra. Extra in the number of photos and drawings, as well as extra that is only achievable by being unafraid of looking foolish!

The face is so expressive and I don’t portray it’s range often enough. So today I thought I’d try some new faces!

Today’s haiku is included in the last photo.

Today's Drawing

Today's drawing took me a bit longer than previously, as I focused on getting some details in on the face. I was back to using only charcoal. 

As I am just beginning to incorporate the face again with the past few drawings, I feel myself becoming more comfortable.

Selfie in Three Parts

Gentle rain in a fine mist helped to make for a lovely walk this morning. It also made me particularly grateful for the dry and warmth indoors!

Today’s instant pic was taken from a slightly modified tripod in an effort to get height in order to capture all the lovely leaves scattered about. I blinked when the bulb flashed, so my eyes are closed!

It’s been the prettiest autumn in recent memory and even the fallen leaves are beautiful in a wide range of colors thus a bonus picture for context. Finally, a hand written version of today’s haiku is included with photos.

Working on a Clay Chawan

I created this chawan from a ball of white clay. It is in the Kurinuki tradition of hand built pottery from a single lump of clay. I was excited to film part of this process to share it with you!

As I work more with clay, I've really come to appreciate the process of hand building. The process of taking an unworked mass of clay and turning it into a thing is meditative and rewarding. 

The chawan is currently in a leather hard phase meaning that it is no longer malleable and soft, but has stiffened up a bit. Once it's bone dry, it will be ready for the bisque firing. Once fired, it will be ready for glaze. I hope to find a technique for glazing this one that will emphasize all the texture and facets that I've created in the building process, and seal it all in with a clear glaze. Then it will be fired again to be completed. I'll be sure to share the finished piece!

As I intend to make several more of these, I will strive to find better camera angles to really show the process. 

Selfie in Three Parts plus Work in Progress

Today’s drawing was created in both charcoal and graphite. The charcoal allows me to create the lines I’ve become accustomed to, and the graphite allows me to create the details I’m striving for.

The instant picture captures the likeness of how I’m perceived while I hold a creation of clay in my hand.

As a bonus, some close up shots of one of several Chawans I’ve been working on lately. At this phase, I’ve only just finished creating and forming it. It is still drying.

A haiku:

My hands mold the clay

Forming bowls into being

Something from nothing.

Exploring the Lakeshore

I took a walk along the shore line of a man made lake. I filmed it all. I was merely looking at what I could see. 

I found both natural and man made detritus. 

Come for an exploratory walk with me! 

Selfie in Three Parts

It may well be the last time I mow the lawn this year! Instead of waiting for evening or an overcast day like I do in summer, autumn mowing is pleasant any time of day!

Today’s drawing is an exploration in graphite.

A haiku:

Mowing the last time

At the end of the season.

Summer’s now long gone.

Wednesday Walk

It was such a beautiful day for a walk! Warm temperatures, a blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds, and so much autumn color.

For a change of pace, and as I am always seeking out new perspectives, I took a different approach to filming. Also, to emphasize the experience of the walk itself, I did not set the walk to music in editing. There is just the ambient sound of nature and the crunching of leaves beneath my feet as I veer from the beaten path. 

Selfie in Three Parts

Today’s three parts highlight the face. My face. The same face I have seen in the mirror my whole life. Obviously, we all have seen our selves in the same way.

Over the years, my face has changed. Smile lines, worry lines, frown lines, and the like have marked the years. Yet, I still look like me! What a relief, I’d hate to wake up as someone else.

A haiku:

My face shows the years.

The laughter around my eyes

From countless giggles.

Tuesday Update

Happy Taco Tuesday!

I've been working in clay and planning new projects while continuing to streamline the functionality of the studio! I think my next organizational build will be a stand for me various battery chargers, I'll be sure to post updates of that as is comes to fruition. 

I hope your week is going well so far!

Behind the Scenes

A behind the scenes look at taking today's photo for my selfie in three parts. Plus why I'm showcasing my pants!

These pants are a unique and fun find. They have so many pockets, unlike the average pants made for women. They're deep and spacious! I'll be able to carry lots of things. 

They're also a camo print. Which is cool not only because they're genuine military cargo pants, but because I hope that they won't show paint as readily as most of my clothes. I spill, smear, and oops a lot of paint on my clothes. Most of what I own (if I've painted in it) has paint on it! 

Selfie in three parts

Partially deconstructed my pants to put them back together again so they will fit!

Today’s drawing is in graphite, a completely different feel while drawing. But enables me to draw finer lines for facial details.

Today’s haiku:

You won’t be able

To see me in camouflage!

Or, perhaps you will.

The 5th of November

In honor of November 5th, lest we forget! Set to sneaking music and a poetry reading of a nursery rhyme. 

Penny for the Guy?

Today's Drawing

Today's drawing is edited in real time with some modifications to color, aspect ratio, and special effects done in editing. Also, it's set to some music that I found interesting. Altogether creating a similar mood to how I felt while drawing it. 

Selfie in Three Parts

Happy Saturday! I hope that you’ve had some time to take a leisurely walk, sleep late, or just enjoy the day in some small way!

I both slept late and had a nice walk. After a healthy lunch, I practiced some exercises with my stick and took an instant pic, and did a drawing. I’m also busy planning and dreaming of new projects!

Today’s haiku:

Early morning light

Peaks over the horizon,

And I sleep through it.

New Painting Reveal

Join me on YouTube for the inspiration and process of creating my latest painting in acrylic and mixed media!

Art Cleanup

A behind the scenes look at cleaning up an art project. Heart Among the Clouds was a piece I created and shared last week. It features the same motif and pattern featured in my most recent painting. 

I often use my body in my work, whether it serves as a form in which I wear some of my creations made from fabric or various other wearable artforms, or as a subject for a self portrait, or in this case as a canvas. This is a look at the cleanup after the art is made! 

A cold day in Georgia.

It's very chilly here today and I wanted to take the opportunity to share a moment that I really enjoyed.  I should have probably turned the camera on sooner or left it running longer.  It's a long walk along here and lots of people can see it from the surrounding buildings and the street on the other side of the tracks.  Even though it can easily be seen it's a bit hard to get to, and so I was about as alone as I could be while still being surrounded by so many people.  This reupload is of a really fun walk and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do! 

Selfie in Three Parts

It is so cold outside today! What a way to kick off November.

I’m sure that warmer weather will return again shortly, but I broke out wool socks and a sweater for this first bout of cold.

Today’s drawing consisted of focusing on the face. I’m excited to see my improvement as I continue to practice with smaller details like the eyes, nose and mouth.

Today’s haiku:

Cold day with clear skies.

All the robins descended

On lawns without worms.

Spooky Tuesday Update

Happy Halloween! I've been busy organizing and de-cluttering the studio. 

For this update, which isn't spooky at all, I share some of the recent updates to my organizing, and a full view of the newly completed painting!