What a transformational month February 2026! I shifted from drawing to digital exploration with image editing and abstracts.
February 2026 Projects
I always have some projects that are ongoing. This month my creative flow crossed several of my ongoing projects. One of the ongoing projects has been about utilizing the abstracts created for the model name cards. I tried to keep my main focus on finishing model gallery pages. As part of that process, I also wanted to create new digital work for those new pages.
Mixed Media with Painted Abstracts for Image Editing Projects
This particular project with painted abstracts from the name cards was used with previous work from several models this month. The digital work resulting from the image editing is shown below. The models included in this project are @malemodelmtl, @mistry.3y3z, @mrkendonagasaki, and @lifefigure_.
@malemodelmtl
@mistry.3y3z
@mrkendonagasaki
@lifefigure_
Along with the digital image editing of previous work, there is also new sketchbook and artist trading card work for @lifefigure_.
Newsprint with Painted Abstracts for Image Editing Projects
Another project for February 2026 was digital exploration with archived newsprint drawings. For the abstracts used in the digital image editing here I utilized some of my paper bag abstracts. (More on the paper bag project coming soon to my artcie.com site.) From my archives, the newsprint life model for this digital exploration was Christine K. from art gym at San Diego Art Institute in 2013.
I also worked a bit on image editing with archived model photography. The images below are of Donovan from a San Diego Gay Men’s Art Group (SDGMAG) event in 2018. One of the digital images below uses the abstract for Donovan from the name card project.
Donovan
Model Pages
Well that’s the direction I was headed in. I am in need of catching up on model pages for the site. I did finish a new gallery page for my work of @lifefigure_. Other new model pages are still in development.
Thank you for your time and your continued support. It is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to what’s ahead in March 2026!
Happy New Year! It’s 2026! It is still January, right? It’s difficult to come out of hibernation while still shedding the skin of 2025’s Year of the Wood Snake! But that cycle is nearly complete!
What else is new? I’ve continued my ongoing work of building ciejavie.com from scratch. The site continues to evolve and grow. In 2026 site sections and pages continue to be enhanced with updates of new, revised, digital, and archived work. New pages have also been added for some model galleries. There’s also a new look for the menu.
Somehow in this process , new work and explorations are also beginning to emerge as I continue to work on unfinished projects and a few new ones as I proceed with the site development. Ready for forward movement in 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse!
Cie Ja Digital – 2025 from Bridget SDAI 2013 – Cie Ja, Jaron, and Tony Magpantay, Jr. collaboration collection
Tori – Collaboration with Jaron StokesBree – 2013 SDAI Lena Gardelli, Jaron Stokes, and Cie JaCieja – Digital 2025 from James – SDAI 2013 a collaboration with Jaron StokesJames and Zoe – collaboration with Jaron StokesCollaboration The Blue Plaids – Cie Ja, @stokesjaronalex, Johnathan WilliamsValerie – collaboration with Jaron StokesTori – Collaboration with Jaron Stokes
Journals is another new page. The majority of work in the journals is early wet media explorations from 2013 to 2015 with watercolor and inks as well as other mixed media. I’ve shown a few of my favorites in the gallery below. You can see more through the link above. Journals are listed by size on the page.
Sketchbooks is another newly added page. The work here spans from 2013 to present. It includes my work with dry media, wet media, and mixed media. The page is organized by size of sketchbook from smallest to largest by the papers weight. All sketchbooks less than 98lb. weight will appear first in the lineup by size smallest to largest. I’ve shown one of my favorites from each in the gallery below. You can see more through the link above.
Most of my work tends towards mixed media, both wet and dry. This requires heavier paper weight. Sketchbooks currently in use are the 98 lb. mixed media sketchbooks. Under that title towards the end of the sketchbooks page you will find the remaining sketchbooks also organized by size from smallest to largest. I’ve shown one of my favorites from each in the gallery below. You can see more through the link above.
My sketchbooks projects have been on hold recently as I have been pouring the majority of my work into the new sites. I have started the new year inspired to slowly begin again on delayed sketchbook projects. There are six new ones shown below.
5 x 5 blue sketchbook
Glen mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel photo reference – see my Model Photography page
A5 layout pad (this sketchpad has not been added to the sketchbooks page}
Rob D. mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel photo reference – see my Model Photography page
5 x 7 rainbow sketch – Purple
Glen mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel photo reference – see my Model Photography page
6 x 9 black sketch
Glen mixed media – acrylic, charcoal, and pastel photo reference – see my Model Photography page
5.5 x 8.5 mixed media 98lb. sketchbook
Earl –@mr_sdleather2024 semi-blind blind contour collage – cardstock and silver foiling mixed media – acrylic, alcohol ink, charcoal, conte, and pastel photo reference – see my Model Photography page
Most of my new work in 2026 has been with my artist trading cards. I’ve also been behind on this project for some time and it feels good to be catching up a bit. There are twenty-three new atc’s. The new cards are all photo reference from my own photography with local models (see my Model Photography page). There are two exceptions noted that were submitted from Instagram life models.
blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper mixed media – charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper mixed media – charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel
blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card acrylic painted cardstock, charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper mixed media – charcoal and pastel photo reference –@vivastra_life_modelling
modified blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card collage – cardstock, alcohol ink and acrylic painted recycled paper mixed media – charcoal, conte pencil, and pastel
blind contour – 2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card collage – cardstock and acrylic painted recycled paper mixed media – charcoal and pastel
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card photo reference – see my Model Photography page
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card photo reference – see my Model Photography page
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card photo reference – see my Model Photography page
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card photo reference – see my Model Photography page
2.5″ x 3.5″ artist trading card photo reference – see my Model Photography page
2026! and that’s January!
I am finding forgotten work, rediscovering and revisiting older work and techniques, developing new routines and approaches, and managing at my own pace. Of course, I am also learning more about myself along the way. Thank you for your patience with my process and your continued support. It is gratefully appreciated.
Welcome to ciejavie.com. All work is my own unless otherwise noted. My life drawing journey and work with life models began in 2013 and continues to evolve in the present.
You will find images to models listed alphabetically in sections. Models with large amounts of work will have gallery pages created.
I have worked with many life models in various locations around San Diego. I started in life drawing courses at San Diego Mesa College in 2013.
Tori – Digital
I sought out what was available to me to supplement my classes. I found that with “art gym” at San Diego Art Institute’s (SDAI)Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park.
The opportunities for model photography there also allowed me to acquire images for photo reference drawings and digital exploration.
I’m fortunate and grateful to have met and worked alongside a large number of talented local artists and models there. I am especially grateful to have collaborated with several of them.
James – 2015
collaboration with Jaron Stokes, Lena Gardelli, and Jonathan Williams
I would also draw at San Diego Art Department (SDAD) on Ray Street in North Park. Opportunities that allowed me to explore my creativity freely were at the top of my list.
Anonymous Three – SDAD 2013
I was grateful to find another opportunity with North Park Drawing Group at the rec. center in North Park.
Christa – NPDG 2015
I also enjoyed excursions for drawing to My Art Shed in La Jolla. I would collaborate with Jaron Stokes and we would also draw individually there (see my drawing below) with life model Yoni – @bakermodel.
(My Art Shed – La Jolla 2015) Yoni – @bakermodel
Participating with the San Diego Gay Men’s Art Group and having the opportunities for both drawing and photography at Diversionary Theater and Twiggs Coffee in University Heights was also truly a blessing.
SDGMAG 2018 – Brock, Chris, Donovan, and Jaron (back to front)SDGMAG 2025 – Donovan, Brock, Stu, Jaron, and Scott (left to right)
A Model Photography page has been added. The creative digital work and reference drawings that were inspired by those images are being processed to be included. The page is in continued development.
Chris – 2018 SDGMAG at Twiggs (2025 digital)
As pages are created this post will evolve. Thanks for your patience with my process and new site construction.
Models A to E page includes the following (linked names go to Instagram profiles or ciejavie model gallery pages): Aileen, Amanda, Angele, Anonymous One, Anonymous Two, Anonymous Three, @artmodelstl, @ayax_moon, Bart, Bree, Bridget, @brocktonwarwick, Cadi, Chelsea, Chris, Christa, Christine A., Christine K., Cynthia, David, Donovan, Earl, and Erica.
Bree – Collaboration with Jaron StokesBridget – 2013 Collaboration with Jaron Stokes (digital 2025)
Models A to E page includes work from 2013 to present with images from life drawing, photo reference, collaboration, and digital photography.
