Note: These "Throw Back Thursday" entries are meant to be useful to prospective students wanting to take a closer look into the graduate program in Studio Arts in Emerging Media at UCF, as I found no such resources available (from a student's point of view) when I was in the same position, back in 2021-2022. I entered the program in the fall of 2022 and graduated in the spring of 2025. Feel free to drop me a line in the post's comments section if you have any questions. ; )
June 8, 2023- Session A.
This month I'm volunteer-assisting an undergraduate Drawing Intensive class taught by Senior Lecturer, Assistant Director and Graduate Director for Studio Arts, Jason Burrell, twice weekly. The class meets Monday through Thursday, but I am still living far away so I am grateful for the opportunity to help limited hours.
Yesterday the students started gesture drawing and I gladly joined in. After my first attempt, the professor reminded me not to elongate the figure, so I spent the rest of the class suppressing my good old Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY) days, when I was encouraged to stretch the figure from eight to twelve heads while pursuing my associates in fashion illustration. I haven't practiced straight gesturing for a bit and now I'm hungry for it again. The students took turns modeling for five, three and two minute poses. I had fun challenging myself, but we stopped after every sketch to talk about it briefly. I wish we had gone straight ahead for at least four drawings, but I must remember that these students are in a different place on their path than me. I enjoyed drawing different body types and the individual characteristics of each student within the same drawing session. It kept me on my toes, as we usually draw the same person for the duration of one class.
Here are a few drawings from the session, in chronological order. Both in high school and college in NYC, I worked on a 18in.x24in. rough newsprint pad, so I am still getting used to this new, large size pad. My arm definitely felt sore after such workout. It was an awesome feeling!
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Charcoal pencil on Newsprint. 24"x 32" |
I got to do some much enjoyed drawing practice while assisting the Drawing Intensive class this week. We did something pretty cool yesterday, which Professor Burrell called a cage drawing. I've never done one and it was a lot of fun: Easels are placed around the model and cord strung between them at different angles and levels. The model sat on a chair placed in the middle of this string cage and we drew her, concentrating on preciseness and using the strings as guidelines while studying angles, measurements and negative spaces as accurately as possible. Students were given three forty-five minutes sessions to complete their cage drawings. Our model was the awesome Janna Yves. All images of Janna shared here are aproved by her.
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Cage Drawing Set up |
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| My cage drawing. Charcoal on newspringt. 24" x 32" |
Today we also got to play with changing the setting as we wished, so I added the suggestion of a tree and a rock to my figures. I love the figure to the right and will be using it in a future painting, I'm not sure how yet, but I will be using it.
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| Two forty-five minute classroom drawings. Charcoal on newsprint. 24"x32" |
June 17, 2023- The Search for Housing is Over!
At this time last year, I was deep cleaning my classroom as a public school art teacher and assembling my portfolio to enter the grad program by the July 1st deadline. I was informed of my acceptance to the program about two weeks before my first graduate class started, in early August, once I had already started work at the school district for the 2022-2023 school year, so I did not have a chance to make any living arrangements. This year, from the time classes ended, I have spent my time desperately searching for a new place to live close to school, to eliminate my hundred and ten mile daily commute. My goal is to be able to walk or commute to the graduate studios on a bicycle, and be able to leave BooBoo (my little nine pound poodle and companion), behind without worrying about his safety and loneliness. Earlier in my second semester I called the housing department at UCF and was told that only first years get priority housing on campus, not graduate students. I was advised to get on the waiting lists for a lottery space at Northview, where there are some grad students, and Rosen College Apartments, located in downtown Orlando and connected to UCF via a thirty-five to forty-five minutes commute in a free shuttle bus. I did as told but was never selected for either location. I looked at a number of roommate situations listed on special FaceBook pages, like this one and this one, as well as nearby marketplace listings, but not much satisfies all of my requirements, mainly because I still need to pay my mortgage and cannot fix and pack my house to put it up for rent so quickly.
One late afternoon, on my way home after touring a roommate situation, I decided to drive around the neighborhood. I asked anyone I saw walking their dogs, washing their driveways or working on their cars if they knew of a room for rent, where they would accept a little dog. I came across an older gentleman fixing his project house and convinced him to show it to me. I begged him to let me rent it, offering a reasonable amount, handywoman services , and a steady supply of future renters from graduate students. Unfortunately, he has other plans for his project house, but suggested that I live in his house for a reduced price, if I am willing to help clean and cook for him and his wife. She is ill and can no longer take care of the home. The house is located down the street. I accepted right away and waited eagerly for his message confirming the deal. Two weeks passed since then, so I drove by the place yesterday, to touch base. I just heard from him and was invited to bring Boo and myself to meet his wife and see the room! Yay!
June 20, 2023- Home is Where the Boo is.
I just moved into the room near UCF. I'll be heading home for the weekend and will be here during the week until the fall semester begins. I'm currently working as a volunteer assistant and taking a few extra classes, so I'm still driving a lot during the week. The best thing about this place is that my little Boo is welcome with open arms and he is near me. I hated having to leave him alone at home for so long, to return to school only a few hours later. Boo is very curious about this place. Let's hope he does well with the change. The room is in need of deep cleaning but it is a perfect location for us. I can now walk to the graduate studio and bicycle or walk to SVAD! Both my landlord and landlady/ room-mates seem very nice and appreciative of me being here, with Boo too!
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| BooBoo in our new room, on move-in day. |
June 26, 2023- Mamma Gets a Gift. I received a congratulatory gift box from my twenty year old daughter today, for having finished my first year of grad school: A cute plushie, a set of cute gel pens and incense. How sweet is that? This means a lot to me, because at times I still feel guilty about taking the time to pursue my MFA, instead of working full time like the majority of people my age do. But then again… what good is it to be working a job where you feel under appreciated and unfulfilled, when you have the power to change it?
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| Gifts from my daughter, celebrating completion of my first year of grad school. |
While acting as a volunteer assistant for undergraduate classes for thirty-two hours a week in session B, I am also working on three academic graduate classes, attending a ten-week docent training for the Rollins Museum of Art and working part time at Elite Animation Academy online. I believe this highly productive time for me is directly related to my new living situation, where I can spend more time doing and less time stressing on the road or resting after intense commutes during our notorious, torrential summer rains.
This summer, my friend's wise words became one of my mottos:
THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH
Right now, I've got six assignments, five docent training sessions and two final research papers to complete in the next few weeks. I'm looking forward to August 7th, when it all ends. I will then have about two weeks of rest and visit with my family before I start my second year of graduate school.
Reminder to self: Everything is temporary. Keep going. It's not supposed to be easy.
I'm really hoping I can keep my studio spaces for next year, but I will not know for sure until the new year's orientation happens in mid- August, when everyone is given a choice to pick. Although I wish it happened earlier for returning students, the process is plain and fair: Third years get first choice, then second years and last, first years. All studios have locking metal gates and there are two large studios with locking doors, which are available only to third year students. There's a small room to the left of the entrance, which used to be a utility closet and is now a locking studio. The program also has a few extra rooms with locking doors in the building next door. I was lucky last year because there were only three of us coming into the program, so we each got two spaces, in the same building. The only hiccup a third or second year student may find is that if two, first year students decide to share a larger space (like mine, I guess) they need to give it up. -Please Nooo! I have put a lot of work into this space and I don't want to do another in-depth cleaning session again, anytime soon!
My studio spaces are next to each other, without a wall between them so it makes for a nice, big wall where to paint and step back into a long area, which I find essential in my process. I just purchased a new set of Ikea Ivar shelves to complete a wall unit with my existing units. This year, I found that although it is convenient to have my tall bookcases on casters, they are cumbersome to move. So, I'm making a solid wall of shelves instead. One half of my studio is dedicated to working space, the other to academic research/ admin/ and materials. I first came into the program convinced that I would only paint but I am enjoying working with different media, so I added a dry cart (pastels, charcoal, pencils), a wet cart (oil & acrylic paints) on casters, as well as a peg board and bins with other tools (hand tools, sander, heat gun, clamp lamps etc.). Although the studio has tools, I am a grouch when it comes to finding misplaced stuff, so I like to have my own. Also, it is nice to share when others are in need. Besides that, I have a desk area within my standing shelves, a mini-fridge from Walmart, a saddle stool that floats around, a hand-me down recliner like this one (but destroyed by a cat), a gifted H frame easel and my own three-step ladder on the wall.
According to some, I have gone overboard with my studio. Some barely clean the walls and are content with a table and chair, but I absolutely love my space as it is now. It is withdrawn and private, at the end of a short hall. I never had such a space in my life, and since my house is in a constant state of remodel, it is especially appreciated. This space is my sanctuary and refuge from the chaos outside; salt lamp and all. I also treat it as a personal gallery, so it is important for me to put systems in place to keep it presentable. I painted the walls grey inspired by the ateliers I have visited and loved, such as The Florence Academy of Art and the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art. The color also hides dirt well and has a calming effect on me. Inspired by Cesar Santos' studio set up, I installed outdoor carpet on a work wall to hide damage from repeated staple and thumbtack punctures, and put in place a poor woman's version of an art hanging system (inspired by this one), made of 1"x2"s, cording and clothespins. I also make sure to cover the floor under my work area, so no one has to get on their hands and knees to clean after me in the future.
I love having a welcoming space where I can work freely! Today I changed things around a bit preparing for my second year. I got rid of the 1"x2"s/ hanging system, set up the wall of standing shelves, installed two wall shelves and my peg board above a DIY pine desk. I can’t wait to see what comes out of my space this year! You can see the general studio set up for year one in my quick midterm tour (semester two).
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| Studio spaces at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, with grey walls. |
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Studio location and set up- Year one and two. |
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| Year one, studio set up: Painting the walls grey, clothespins hanging system, carpet wall, floor covering and Ikea Ivar shelves on casters, containing fridge and desk area. |
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| Year two, studio set up, WIP: Standing shelves to the left, wall shelves, pegboard and desk to the right, in my admin/ materials space. |
July 15, 2023- Session B.
During July and August, I volunteered to assist two, six week classes: 2D Design Foundations with Associate Lecturer and UCF Gallery Director Shannon Lindsey, and Drawing Foundations I, with Senior Lecturer and Director of Flying Horse Editions Printing Studio, Theo Lotz. They graciously allowed me to shadow them and interact with their students, who are entry level.
The design class is meticulously planned and delivered. Professor Lindsey's professionalism, methodology and high standards are inspirational. This is no surprise to me, as she was my first professor of Studio Concentration, a required graduate class, during my first semester. It was then that she said to me: “You must increase productivity”, in a serious and respectful tone, during my first critique. I will never forget that day. Her slide presentations are clear and expansive, leaving no room for unknown parameters in a project, but still allowing the student’s creative vision to flourish. The hands-on demonstrations are engaging and explain every step of the process to be taken, having into consideration a beginner's level of familiarity with tools and materials, which are mostly provided for the students. She offers me friendly advise and resources on class pacing and presenting expectations regularly. Outside of UCF, Professor Lindsey volunteers as the Vice President of Finance for Foundations in Art: Theory and Education (FATE). According to its website, FATE is “an educational association dedicated to the promotion of excellence in the development and teaching of college-level foundation courses in both studio and art history”. After working with her this summer, I can say that she embodies this mission clearly. Student work is shared with permission from the students and instructor.
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Samples of student work, first project. L: Cut electrical tape on paper. M, R: pencil and ink on paper |
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Student work, Color project. Acrylic on paper. |
Theo Lotz’ Drawing Foundations I class is a blast, if you are willing to work hard. He is energetic and pushes students to work beyond their self imposed limitations, setting up huge still lifes that reach the fourteen-foot high ceilings. His expectations are clear: show up on time, do your best and put in the time required to outdo your previous self. Like Lucey, he uses inter-crossing line inspection, proportions and angles in his methodology. Students begin with contour line drawing, and describing planar structure (cow skulls are great for this) then move on to value. Compositions evolve from a singular object to a multi layered, complex set up for the final drawing. I love seeing his demonstrations, which show a flowing line expertly put down in just the right place. Really... how on earth? I think his energy is due in part to his bicycling every day from Flying Horse Editions, located in downtown Orlando. I also enjoy his humor and relaxed personality. Then again... I’m not your average college student. Age has taught me to relax and have fun challenging myself. The class is intense and may be intimidating for level one students, so I enjoy helping them a great deal.
Here are some of the set ups from the drawing class, my drawings as WIP and a few student works.
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| The study of planar structure and line quality by drawing cow skulls and bones is a basic exercise at UCF. Drawing WIP by Stella Arbelaez. |
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| Behold Theo Lotz' Final drawing set up. Isn't this a work of art in itself? |
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| Final review set up. Drawing Foundations 1, Instructor: Theo Lotz |
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| Final Review. Drawing Foundations 1, Instructor: Theo Lotz |
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| Final review. Drawing Foundations 1, Instructor: Theo Lotz |
Aug.4, 2023- One class down. Two to go.
I just completed my Preparing Tomorrow's Faculty class, a twelve-week, P/F voluntary class offered to all graduate and post-graduate students interested in teaching, regardless of major. The class is free if registered for a minimum of six summer credits, so I have also begun coursework in one of many graduate certificates offered at UCF, which I love.
In Preparing Tomorrow's Faculty class, we learned teaching practices, how to design coursework, including syllabi according to UCF standards, and assembling our teaching portfolio materials, including teaching philosophy and CV. My classmates were doctoral and graduate students from various disciplines like math, science, computer engineering, history, physical therapy, health, psychology and more. Interacting with such a varied and seriously academic lot broadened my perspective and challenged my communication skills, specifically when discussing artistic terminology and benchmarks. These were twelve weeks very well spent! I'm so excited about it!
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| Tadaaaaaaaa! |
The hardest decision of the summer for me was figuring out the most beneficial graduate certificate to pursue. I considered the Professional Writing Graduate Certificate seriously, knowing that I have a thesis to write and need a good amount of practice and guidance in this realm. Also, because I love writing. But I decided on the College Teaching and Leadership Graduate Certificate instead, hoping that it offers plenty of opportunities to exercise my writing skills and provides required knowledge to increase my employability in the future. Although I started the coursework this summer, I plan to complete the certificate after graduation. This certificate is offered through the College of Community Innovation and Education. The two courses I am currently taking (Contemporary Issues in Community Colleges, with Associate Professor Thomas Cox, Ed.D. and The Community College in America with Professor Lisa Jones, Ed.D), are challenging and enlightening. I enjoy the academic research involved in both courses and expanding my community to include new classmates with diverse career paths. Still, I hope to someday also complete the Professional Writing Graduate Certificate.
August 7, 2023 - I’m a Docent and an a Graduate Teaching Assistant! (GTA).
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| Ten weeks of work in a nutshell. |
Today I met with the Graduate Program Director, Jason Burrell, to talk about my summer accomplishments and upcoming semester. It felt good to share my efforts and progress, especially regarding my living situation and completing the Preparing the Faculty of the Future class. I was leaving the library shortly after our meeting, when I received a call from him asking me if I would like to work as a GTA in the upcoming fall semester. An incoming student was unable to commit to the program, and the position is now available. I celebrated the proposition with a loud “Yes! Yes! Thank you!”. This is wonderful news to me because I was unable to meet the priority deadline application of January first last year, to be considered for a GTA position from the start. I will be an assistant for Advanced Printmaking with Senior Lecturer Larry Cooper and grader for the Theory and Criticism of Art class taught by Professor Ilenia Colón Mendoza, Ph.D. Somehow, circumstances are shifting to make the upcoming year an amazing one for me!
After having to prioritize my ex-husband’s career opportunities and goals for almost two decades, I am incredibly grateful to be here, forging my own future. It is intense but I love it, and I can't imagine being anywhere else right now.
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