Welcome to my Explorations in Art 200X website. This is my fourth (and potentially final) year here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I initially enrolled as an undeclared student, eventually declaring a major in Foreign Languages and Literatures with a concentration in Spanish and a minor in geology. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend the last academic year on exchange in beautiful Seville, Spain, an experience I highly recommend to anyone that will listen. My summers are spent basking in the Alaskan sun – and working too.
I would not describe myself as an “artist,” but just like most people, I have an affinity for beautiful things. The occasional trip to an art museum is welcome, but I would much rather visit a small venue featuring art from local artists, such as a First Friday event. I took a couple of art classes when I was in high school, where I was especially taken with watercolor. Given the chance, I would love to get back into watercolor – I suppose I’ll just have to sit down and do it. Although I don’t self describe as an “artist” I do find that I have my occasional artistic moments.
Malia's Explorations in Art 200X 
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That was a fun video. I have always felt sorry for the little princess Margaret Theresa. She posed for so many portraits as a child. Having to wear all those stuffy clothes and stand still for long periods of time. That doesn’t sound very fun. She probably was told frequently that she was pretty, and court painters needed to paint their royal subjects in a flattering light. They nailed that in the song.
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Nice video! I had a chuckle. Looking forward for great content like this in the future. I will be looking out for your posts.
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I don’t speak Spanish, so I can’t understand the video. However, it seems like it’s pretty amusing! I look forward to reading your posts in the future!
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Cool video and post ! Glad to see that there’s another fellow Spanish speaker and language student in the class !
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Great introduction! Linguistics are very interesting. Growing up in a bi-lingual home, and then learning Spanish in school, I became fascinated with how language works. I love the photo you took, photography is another thing we share. And watercolors – I have not done it before but I would love to learn!
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Hi, Malia! I’m so jealous that you were able to study in Spain. What a beautiful opportunity to be immersed in the language!
Like you, I don’t consider myself much of an artist, but I do make art sometimes. I have recently gotten into watercolor as well. Now, all there’s left to do is sit down, get inspired, and make something!
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Wow! I bet Spain has a killer art scene. I’d love to visit some day.
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Absolutely amazing music video lol. I need to go to Spain sometime, it’s on my high priorotiy list of places to travel!
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I also really enjoy water color. I really like the way that there are few things you can mess up with water color that you cant go back and “fix” with more water or more color. That is so cool that you had the opportunity to study abroad. Some of my craziest experiences and most cherished memories have been overseas. One of these days I’d like to take the family on an extended vacation. Although in the interest of keeping it real that may not happen until my children are grown. I look forward to reading your posts throughout the course.
Elizabeth
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Spain is definitely on my bucket list. I wish I could be able to spend some time there. I really enjoyed your video tying music and an art painting in one was pretty cleaver. That video had me cracking up. Very entertaining and now I’ll have to download it to my playlist.
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Hey Malia,
I am kind of in the same boat. I enjoy doing art when I have moments of inspiration, but I don’t necessarily do it all the time. How was the schooling in Spain compared to here? I think that would be some place that I would like to visit in the future.
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Great post! My first degree also focused on foreign languages. Also, I approve greatly of the graffiti art you posted. I hate white washed walls and gray drab buildings making up the majority of the city. Nature is filled with oddities and color , so why cannot a city have expression and flavor the many structures we reside, work, and commute in. Great post.
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I really enjoyed your post, it was sweet and to the point you gave a good description of what you like. The picture you chose as art spoke to me. My favorite kind of art is the unconventional kind like street art, or tattoos. This kind of art not everyone appreciates but some people thoroughly enjoy it and I am one of those people.
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Hi Malia! I am studying Spanish as well and am hoping to travel to as many Spanish speaking countries as possible! From your time in Seville, what would you recommend doing, seeing, or eating while there?
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Hi Kaitlyn, there is so much to do in Sevilla! The top attractions would probably be the cathedral, the alcazar, barrio santa cruz, metrapol parasol (aka las setas), plaza de españa and parque de Maria Luisa, Triana and the Triana market, and just walking around in general (especially along the river). It also depends on which time of year you go there. In October there is a huge festival of nations in one of the parks, in December there is a big Christmas festival in the same spot, during holy week (semana santa) the city is absolutely crazy, and during la feria de Sevilla, which is usually in April, there is a huge fairground set up. As far as places to eat, there are so many. There is a really cute strip of places called Alameda de Hercules which is a good place to start. Apart from that, there are bars everywhere, so definitely no shortage of places to go. El Rinconcillo is the oldest tapas bar in Sevilla and worth the trip if you’re interested in the historical aspect of that.
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Love your photo. I always felt that street art was made to be photographed. Was there a lot of pop/srteet art like that in Spain?
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Hi Steven, it depends where you are. The area in which I took the photo happened to have a lot of street art. But in general, I would say there is more street art there than I’ve seen in the US.
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