Sloppy wonderful mess

Rain, rain go away.  Sometimes I really don't mind the rain.  It forces you to stay in and just get things done or... convinces you that yup, it's okay to just stay in today and veg!  Today was a bit of both.  I got a painting done and it gave me some time to just sit and relax.  Painting is one of those things that I absolutely love to do because it's mindless; at least for me it is.  I have a vision in my head and sometimes it comes out on the canvas and more times than not I get an entirely new creation than what was originally in my head.  Honestly, so many times I have tried to do exactly what I picture in my head and I go about executing it entirely wrong BUT in the end... somehow... it just works.  That is basically happened with today's project.

I wanted to do a city scape that was a bit more hand drawn and not so perfect.  I'm trying to be a bit more loose lately so I figure I should try that mentality with my artwork too.  I wanted to have these white buildings that were drawn in with Sharpie marker... but THEN, I thought it needed some texture so I added newspaper to just give it a little something extra.  Well, you know how that goes, one thing led to another and I then wanted texture in the sky... and I whitewashed the buildings because I didn't want the newsprint to be legible... and then the paint started to run and I liked the way it looked so it turned into one sloppy mess and my bedroom floor aka my 'studio' now is a piece of artwork itself.

I decided even before I began painting that this was going to be for one of my roommates for her new place (sadly, we are parting ways after two years, but I could not be any happier for her).  When this mess began to spin a bit out of control I made her sit with me while I painted (she did not know this was going to be for her), so I kept asking... "do you like this?"  "do you think this works?"  "it needs something else doesn't it?"  and I know her well enough to know she's a fan of whatever I do but at the same time tell me the honest truth.  Finally I couldn't hold it in any longer (this being after she told me she loved it) and I told her it was for her.  I love making people happy!  It only took two years of her asking me to paint her something for it to actually happen, but sometimes you just have to wait for the right inspiration!

Tada!!!

Plastic Jungle

It's been one of those weeks where I don't want to get out of bed and I wish my laundry would wash itself. Low and behold though, I have gotten out of bed each day and surprisingly enough in a pretty bubbly mood.  Monday night I stumbled upon some great music which has added a much needed bounce in my step.

Some song I recommend (I have found myself air banding all over the city this week)
Plastic Jungle - Miike Snow
I Hear (Click, Click, Click) - The Rosebuds
Stitched Up - Herbie Handcock (ft. John Mayer)
Black and Blue - Miike Snow
Embers - Just Jack
Wondering Where You Are - Tyrone Wells
Take Me on the Floor - The Veronicas

Just a few that have me bopping my head, hands and feet on the train to work in the morning.

And I'm going to leave you with this little cutie fella for the night.
Cheers!

Up up and away

I keep a folder on my desktop called 'Things I Like' just for moments when you come across something and you know someday you'll be looking for it again.

I found this image a few weeks ago when I would doing some image research for work and knew one day I would need it for a little pick me up.  (no pun intended)

I wish I remembered who I got this from, but it's from Flickr.

Crazy, funky, fresh

Sometimes you find inspiration in the oddest places... and with this set of my work each painting had me asking "really?"  and answering "yeah, it just works".

With that said, not ALL inspiration is odd.  I stumbled upon this illustrator on commarts, Linda Zacks, and just fell absolutely head over heels for her work!  I love the funky style, hand drawn work, use of colors with blacks and grays.  Somehow she manages to capture everything I have felt, smelt, and dealt with since moving here.  I told people about her for weeks.  And to be honest her style was the main inspiration for my NYC Silhouette series.

Back to the odd inspiration thing... where yes, Linda Zack's style inspired them... of course there was other things behind them too.

Inspiration

Yes, I know, it's so strange... but I started painting and this story had just happened.

I have a small obsession for silhouettes and this story just showed hope.

End Result

Inspiration

I took this while at the DUMBO Art Festival Under the Bridge, one of my 

favorite art fests I have ever been too.  Brooklyn has THE best views of Manhattan.

End Result

Inspiration

There's no real image that inspired this next one, but I also love eyes.  I am going to be

vain and say I love MY eyes.  They change colors, with what I'm wearing, when I'm out

in the sun for a day, and even when I have the winter grays.  I also have a thing for 

loud bright neon colors right now.  AND lastly this just expresses how moving

to somewhere that you have your eyes set on may be appealing by sight but has the

possibility of being different than what you expected.  Something I like to refer to

as "shiny object attraction"!  Hence the silver stamped words.  

Lyrics are taken from the Matchbox20 song "Bright Lights".

End Result

It can come from anywhere... and I live by that.  I never feel the need to explain the "meaning" behind my work.  Sometimes, it just was a moment thing, the way my brush went, the twitch my hand, the words someone whispered to me the night before... the look a stranger gave me or the horror that life may hand someone one day.  It just is, and we all have our different ways of dealing and expressing.  

Back at it

Finally after many weeks of dreading trying to redesign my blog, I have found some time.

I also found time this weekend to get back at what I love to do most, which is take photos!  I convinced my roommate to join me as we trucked over to Brooklyn (of course the subway was running local so it took almost an hour to get there... it's like complaining about getting stuck in traffic, but you're stuck with 40 strangers in the dark).  Once getting to Brooklyn, I just fell in love the moment I walked into the botanical gardens.

Finally, a real breath of fresh air.  And I mean that in every context possible.  It smelled like home, fresh cut grass and blooming trees (this did not sit well with my allergies, but I dealt with it for the day).  Anyone who lives or visits NY, GO!!! (and I was told the Bronx Botanical Gardens is even better)  It was a nice different thing to do.  There were tons of families and friends hanging out, having picnics, running around and taking pictures.  I must admit, if I was ever taken on a date there I would have LOVED it (hint, hint).

Here's a small taste at what the day looked like...

I just loved the couple... they give me hope!

I boosted my roommate up into the tree
(also there was a man behind me asking if she needed a boost...)

I don't know what it is about spring flowers but they just melt away the winter greys!