Sagittarius Gallery

Listed today

2011-03-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

Can be found at sagittariusgallery.etsy.com

Just a little update on Potato-gate

2011-03-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

After receiving an email back from the principal of my son's school that he was (unsurprisingly) backing the opinions of the substitute teacher, I called my mother, admittedly worked up to the point of tossing words like "newspaper" and "board of education" about like rag dolls.

My mother, obviously much less vexed: "You know what I would do? Cook a traditional Irish dish and send it in for the class. They'll be so busy enjoying the food no one will be thinking about their silly little potato-heads."

Hmm. Mother knows best?

The next morning I found a slamming recipe for Boxties, an Irish potato pancake, and got to work. 45 minutes later, my kitchen looked like a culinary disaster area, but I had 28 portions of potato pancake packaged up and ready to go, complete with the history of the Boxty printed out on paper for my son to present with the treats.

That afternoon my son came home with a thank you note signed by all the students in the class, as well as a personal note from the teacher apologizing and thanking me for the way it was handled. Here is where I shout out to my mom and thank her for her classy solution :) All's well that ends well.

New work

2011-03-14T05:24:00.001-07:00

Rapture

2011-03-05T04:23:00.000-08:00

20x24" oil on canvas

Available for purchase here

Mr. Potato Head

2011-03-04T05:35:00.000-08:00

Heh. Yes, the title is supreme sarcasm.

My son was sent home a few days ago with details on a project to "celebrate St. Patrick's Day" that required him to take a raw potato and decorate it to create a character out of the potato. As an Irish American, I find this highly derogatory. I sent a letter to the teacher questioning the project and was surprised the next day to receive a phone call just after school was let out. I have to say, I was rather appalled that I even needed to reiterate the negative connotations behind such a project, but it became all to clear to me through the condescension I was addressed with by his substitute teacher who felt it her place to call and address the matter with me, implying I was offended simply because the potato "killed a lot of Irish" and stating that the reason behind the project is that "potatoes are grown in Ireland." Really? Potatoes are from Peru and grown all over the world. Let's not present with such ignorance. It was further implied that because her grandmother was straight from Ireland and she wasn't offended, that I shouldn't be offended, either. My entire family has deep roots in Ireland. My great-great grandmother was an Irish immigrant who, as an Irish maid to a wealthy British family in Manhattan, was shunned by the family when their son, my great-great grandfather, cavorted with "the hired help". I am well aware of my family's history, as well as Irish history, which is why this is so offensive. Even now, minutes before the bus is set to arrive, I am apprehensive about subjecting my son to someone who is so clearly daft. Someone who is to mold my child's mind in the fulltime teacher's absence.

We are prodded to be culturally sensitive at every turn. I utilized this analogy - we would most certainly not tell the children in celebration of Black History Month, they are to decorate a watermelon "just for fun". Why is it then alright in this instance? I am confused why the old standbys of shamrocks and leprechauns - traditional symbols of the holiday - were discarded for such an offensive symbol of Irish oppression. There is no context for this project. The children will not learn of the potato's significance as it pertains to Ireland. They're simply told to "decorate a potato for St. Patrick's Day". 1 million Irish died in 4 years during the potato famine a little over 150 years ago, and we're telling our children to put a face on a potato to "celebrate" an Irish holiday? And no one sees the issue with this? I find that incredible, as I posed this in a social platform yesterday afternoon to stunned recipients who all seemed to feel as I do on the matter. This project, no matter how innocent in its intent was ill-conceived.

This could have been a fantastic opportunity to educate the children. Perhaps they could have all come in with potato recipes and learned of the importance of the potato. Or they could have been taught of the Irish's contribution to the region (after all, it was predominantly Irish immigrants who provided the muscle for the Erie Canal.) No. They were told to dress a potato without any context.

Whether one chooses to acknowledge it or not, it *is* culturally offensive. It's crazy...I am actually one of the last people to cry fowl, I think in some cases we have become *too* sensitive. I will say this is part of the reason for my outrage. Let me explain. I believe it needs to be *across the board*. No one culture / ethnic group has a monopoly on the necessity for cultural sensitivity. If we're going to live in an age of political correctness singing kumbayah, it needs to be carried through and include *everyone*. To me, it's all or nothing.

The project is due Monday and my son will not be attending school that day should the project be continued. Sometimes there are moments in life where we have to stand up for what we believe in...even if it's against a second grade class project. It really does show how far we have come...and how little some of us have to show for it.

Peace.

My art wishlist

2011-02-25T05:57:00.000-08:00

"Synthesis" by Yellena James

"Molecules" by Nicole Line

What would I hang in my house, you ask? These pieces are at the top of my list of paintings I hope to acquire in the future....

What's at the top of your art wish list?

Collection of 5x7 nudes

2011-02-25T05:48:00.000-08:00

Around this time last year a good friend of mine convinced me to offer smaller, more affordable nudes to my collectors. After some trepidation, I decided to give it a go and since then have created over 80 of these tiny paintings. The majority of them are 5x7 (all images above are in this format) but there have been a few 4x5s, 4x6s, 5x6s, and 6x8s thrown into the mix. These pieces would look great all paired together on a wall as a few of my patrons have been doing :)

5x7s go for between 52.00 and 58.00 and can be found here. Enjoy!

My new car!

2011-02-17T13:14:00.001-08:00

Woo! Upgraded my sickly 1998 Plymouth Breeze 4 banger to this '07 Ford Fusion SEL 6 cyl from Fogg's Automotive in Glenville, NY. Can't fully express how thrilled I am...I set the goal in January that I was going to purchase a new vehicle and worked my tush off to make it happen. My tush has been rewarded with heated leather seats.

My tush is, needless to say, pleased. As is the rest of me :)

Pics from "Introductions" art show, Manhattan

2011-02-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

These admittedly are insanely long overdue - Although the show was 1/10, it's still relevant ;)

The show was through Taylor Mackenzie at the World Monument Fund Gallery, Prince George Ballroom, in the Chelsea district of Manhattan. Great time had by all.

Oh, and the fabulous model in the first photo is my little sis. I have a very supportive family!

Faces of the City LX

2009-12-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

Faces of the City LX 20x24 oil on canvas 2009
Available on Etsy

Cornered

2009-12-01T10:48:00.001-08:00

"Cornered" 4x5' oil on canvas

Another new piece for my upcoming exhibition :)

New work on Etsy

2009-11-30T14:14:00.001-08:00

Faces of the City LIX

In The Bay

Holding On

Story Of The Tree Act XVI

4 new pieces listed in my Etsy storefront today with more to come. Also finished a fantastic 4x5 foot piece over the weekend in my kitchen (my husband loves when I create "mine fields" of paint in the kitchen, keeps him on his toes *wink*) and I hope to get pics of that up soon as well. As with the other larger pieces, it is going to be reserved for my upcoming show at Taylor & Mackenzie in NYC.

Black Friday madness

2009-11-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

Having an impromtu Black Friday sale (after much deliberation) on my original paintings that's only available to my Facebook fans at my fan page. It's a big one. Just cause I feel like rolling like that. It might be the turkey. It might be the vodka. Either way, it's good for those who want one of my paintings at a slammin' price. Cheers.

Become a fan here

Shop your pants off here

A peek at all 3 5x6' paintings together

2009-11-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Not the best pic but you get the idea. I love working big. I want to go bigger.... Haha, I should take a pic of me standing next to all of them. That really gives you the full idea of how big these babies are. I have to stand on a chair to paint the tops. Looking forward to seeing them all on a wall :)

The Flame

2009-11-24T09:50:00.001-08:00

5x6' oil on canvas, 11/2009

Progress pics below....

The Flame - 5x6 foot progress shots from start to finish

2009-11-24T09:30:00.001-08:00

The death of a friend....

2009-11-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

2007-2009 RIP

75 MPH

2009-11-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

The skeletal structure of a new series. These photos were taken on my latest trip down to Brooklyn. I have a lot of time to think about things on the 3 hour trip down and back... I grabbed my camera to see what kind of abstract shots I could get to use as reference pics for new paintings. Several hours, 60 images, and 150 miles or so later, I had a collection of photographs chronicling our weekly journey. Some of the pics I think are art in and of themselves....

New work

2009-11-18T05:12:00.000-08:00

A Crisp Breaze

Approaching

This weekends paintings

2009-11-15T13:46:00.001-08:00

Story of the Tree Act XIII

Story of the Tree Act XV

Story of the Tree Act XIV

Blurred Vision VI

All listed on Etsy as of this evening. Click on each image to visit the listing. Hope you all had a relaxing (or productive!) weekend!

Why I paint nudes

2009-11-13T05:08:00.000-08:00

In conjunction with EBSQart.com's month long gallery feature on the subject of the artistic nude, they've asked several artists whose work focuses heavily on the nude to write a little bit for their blog on why we paint it. My feature is today in the blog but I thought I would repost it here too. Please visit the EBSQ Blog for more features!

...

My work has predominantly encompassed the subject matter of the nude ever since 2003 when I was pregnant with my son. Pregnancy felt to me like an invasion and a loss of identity. This mass growing inside of me, pushing my stomach outward, the object of strangers pawing and prying…a loss of self. I’m aware of how that sounds, and don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade being a mother for the world, but the pregnancy part really put me in a strange place. Like, I hadn’t fully gotten to know myself and now, I must get to know this little being even before I have laid eyes on him…Even surmising “how he’s doing” to satiate strangers and their relentless questions at grocery checkout lines seemed so peculiar to me, since I knew he was fine, while I on the other hand carried quite a burden. I didn’t have much of an outlet for this. Wasn’t even sure *how* to go about addressing it, since, even the mere mention that a pregnant mother might not be enjoying every single moment of such a “joyous” time instantly paints horns on ones head and places a pitchfork in one’s hand and the demon that is the uncomfortable, not quite so “glowing” matron gets holes burned through her maternity garb by the same strangers asking to “touch” her bulging belly….

So, I painted. My first real attempt was aptly titled “In Utero”, a woman suspended in painterly viscosity mimicking the bottom of an unclean pool…it grew from there. With each painting I get to know myself a little bit more. It’s me. Bare. Exposed. Much like I felt standing in line at countless check outs. Sitting in class barely able to fit between the seat and the desk. Standing in front of the world silently screaming that I had a voice too.

In short, each nude is a therapist. And I’m cool with that.

Preparing for the Holidays - Segment 2 - Marketing

2009-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a super important area we need to address - Market your work - but don't spam! There is a fine line between keeping past and potential customers updated and throwing a big ole' can of spam at their heads 24/7. Be smart with your marketing.

•DO create a newsletter and ask your customers if you can add them to your mailing list.

•DON'T add every email address you have to your mailing list - you must obtain permission first!

•DO send newsletters out periodically with the latest news as well as incentives - offering an exclusive sale through your newsletter will tell you how effective your newsletter is and will keep subscribers looking forward to seeing an email from you in their inbox!

•DON'T send daily newsletters with buckets of links begging your customers to check out your site. Desperation is not your friend and you'll lose subscribers. Try and send out a newsletter no more than once or twice a month.

•DO at the very least try social networking before you write it off. Twitter, Facebook, blogs, they all have quite a bit of power in driving your brand as well as keeping your name out there (exposure is important!) They might not all work for you, but mastering one is a good idea.

•DON'T twitter links to your items every 3 minutes. Short of being a porn bot there's no faster way to getting unfollowed. Temper your business tweats with other content and interact with other individuals in the twitterverse. It's called social networking for a reason. Socialize!

•DO offer strategic sales from time to time. Because people are going to be seeking out deals on days such as Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and Cyber Monday, you might want to offer your own sale - a percentage off, BOGO (buy one, get one), that sort of thing. Sales for smaller businesses though on days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are hit or miss. Last year I only got one sale on Black Friday and zero on Cyber Monday. This year I will be trying out having a sale either right before Thanksgiving or right after Cyber Monday. Timing is everything! Remember - you're in essence "competing" with the big box stores. Sometimes it's best to tackle it in a more tactical manner. We as small businesses don't have the advantage of massive marketing budgets, PR firms, ad spots on TV, radio, and in print...we have to work with what we've got.

•DON'T have a sale every single week leading up to Christmas. You'll find after a while people only purchase on the days they know you'll have a sale. Sales are supposed to be special.

•DO carry around business cards and have them ready any time the topic of what it is you do comes up.

•DON'T scatter your business cards all over the place like some new age Johnny Applesead. It's tacky and really, it's littering :P

•DO leave your business card in targeted areas (depending on what you sell and who your target audience is.) Not on the floor. Not on a desk. Pinned to a public board maybe?

•DO purchase your domain name, even if you aren't going to create a website just yet. You can at the very least redirect your domain name to your blog or online shop until you feel you are ready to get a website set up. A domain name helps with brand recognition and legitimizes your endeavor to your patrons. An actual website takes that legitimacy one step further and creates trust.

•DO secure your username on as many sites as you can. It's all about branding. Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Blogger...and then all of the online venues - Ebay, Etsy, Artfire, 1000 Markets, Zibbet, DaWanda, Shop Handmade - You might not ever sell at any of these places or utilize the websites passed laying down your profile, but you don't want another business taking your name. Here's a nifty little guide of a bunch of popular sites and their classifications I found - http://blogs.oracle.com/jobsatoracle/images/SocialNetworking.jpg

•DO create business profiles on sites like LinkedIN and Ning. The more your username is out there and linking back to your website / domain address, the more traffic you will get streaming in. It's not guaranteed, but with millions and millions of websites on the internet, you have to do what you can to be recognized!

•DON'T then go into those sites and spam the hell out of the public spaces. It just pisses people off. You definitely don't want to piss off potential customers!

That's all for now. Watch for the next installment focusing on commissions and holiday deadlines! Till next time, kittens.

Peek into Taylor & Mackenzie Gallery space, NYC

2009-11-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

In a few months time, my work will grace those fabulous walls. Seriously stoked. The space showcases rustic and aged architectural details peeking out behind a modernized facade...think, shiny steel meets peeling paint. There's something truly marvelous about the pairing. Can't wait to see my work hanging in there.

Show Preparation, a preview....

2009-11-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

Both paintings oil on canvas, 5x6 feet.

Preparing for the Holidays - Segment 1

2009-11-03T06:15:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I hosted an Etsy virtual lab on the topic of getting ready for the impending holiday season as a small business owner. I know I'm a little late in getting this up, but as we still have a few more weeks to prepare ourselves for the fabled "Black Friday" and even more mystical "Cyber Monday", I think this post will be timely just the same.

I've been selling on Etsy under the name sagittariusgallery since January 2007 and I've been selling online fulltime since April, 2003, so I'm going into my 7^th holiday season. But, I gotta mention I actually have more holiday retail experience than that – when I was 10 my mom managed a Christmas store in the mall, she did so for a few seasons, and my sister and I were faithfully by her side every chance we could get (we even found inventory to be fun!)

I've worked black Fridays at the mall and I've seen Cyber Mondays online, so, I know a little about the holiday season in retail :)

Today I'm going to talk to you about the holiday season and what to expect. This is geared more towards new sellers who are entirely unfamiliar with the online holiday shopping season, but of course, there might be nuggets more seasoned sellers may find useful :)

The first thing I want to stress about the holiday shopping season is that it is not the busy season for everyone. Truth be told, my busiest months are traditionally January, April, and June. So my number one bit of wisdom? Be ready for anything and assume nothing!!

I see it in the Etsy forums a lot where there is a prevailing myth that for all shops during one magical time of the year sales rain down like gum drops from the heavens and paypal accounts overfloweth with extra income. Not so. December is traditionally one of my slowest months. Usually, for me as an artist, commissions stop by the end of November (I do have a deadline for commissions to ensure I don't over extend myself - will talk more on commissions later) and December ends up being a trickle of orders here and there. I have found my art is more of a personal purchase so orders pick back up in January when people are spending Christmas money on themselves.

Everyones business is different. It's important, especially during your first season selling within any venue, be it here, another online site, or offline, to pay attention to your traffic. Learn your customer. And again, it is super important to have no expectations but to be prepared for the unexpected.

It is smart to be over prepared if you can, rather than under prepared. This starts with inventory and accessibility. Here are some tips to maximize your customer base -

• Offer products are varying price points. One upon a time I only offered larger work from 100.00 and above to potential customers. Needless to say I was cutting out a wide demographic. Once I opened my product line up with more economical options such as smaller work at a lower cost as well as inexpensive prints of my originals, I tapped into a whole new audience who previously hadn't considered my work because of the cost.

Do not compromise the quality of your products to lower the price. Quality is paramount. Be creative when considering new product lines that open you up to a wider customer base.

• If you don't already, do consider opening yourself up to accepting commissions from patrons. Quite a bit of my business is from custom work. People want that personal connection. Sometimes they want something you offer only tweaked to suit their individual needs. Make it known you are open to discussion custom pieces with prospective patrons and make sure either your website or (if on Etsy) your alchemy page includes all of your terms. The less questions a customer needs to ask the better. And outlining everything before hand ensures anyone pursuing a commissioned project is on roughly the same page as you. It's all about making the process flow easily for both you and your patron.

And remember, if there is a request you don't feel comfortable with, be up front and open with your client.

•If you don't already, consider offering international shipping. Really folks, customs forms are not difficult and there is a whole wide world out there - a significant market you aren't tapping into if you are only offering your work domestically. Remember, ecommerce is global. There are certain restrictions with certain areas. Like, I know I can't send anything larger than a 22x28 inch painting on the stretcher bars to countries such as Australia because of size limitations. The postal service website has all of these limitations outlined on their website. Dip your toes in. If you're on Etsy you should at least be shipping to Canada, Australia, and the UK as well as the US, *bare minimum*, as those countries have the most customers shopping on Etsy. Acclimate yourself with those countries first and then begin to explore offering shipments to other regions. Once you get a few international sales (and customs forms!) under your belt it will be a piece of cake, trust me!

Because there is a lot of information I am going to split this up into different segments. Easier to chew on and swallow, me thinks. Next segment? Marketing do's and don'ts! Until next time :)

Faces of the City

2009-11-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

LIV

LIII

Sometimes I will get into a series of work before I even have a chance to realize how far it's blossomed I have 50 pieces to show for my endeavors with at least as many more to go. It's funny, people had been urging me to create cityscapes (especially my mom!) and I resisted cause, well, nudes were my "thing". I also felt like perhaps, I couldn't say something that wasn't already said (who hasn't seen the impasto, palette knife painted city scenes too numerous to mention plastered all over Ebay and Etsy for what seems like eons? You haven't? Trust me, they're there, and they're everywhere.) But, as I've gotten into the series, I've noticed I actually do have a unique vision to bring to the entirely saturated genre of impasto cityscapes offered on these here interwebz :P

Blurred Visions

2009-10-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

Just a little gallery of my newest series of work I've been listing on Etsy, to which I added the top three pieces today. The first one (on the bottom) sold earlier in the month and the second from the bottom was featured on the Etsy front page 10/26 at around 5AM.

Will get my arse in gear and paint more of these babies. They'd look stellar all paired together on a wall, dontcha think? ;)

Harvest

2009-10-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Newest piece listed on Etsy. 24x36 oil on canvas. I really do wish autumn would last longer around here. Seems just as soon as the colors peak they turn a dull brown and you have to wait another year for that moment once again. That's why I paint it. Cause that moment is way, *way* too fleeting.

Musings on Etsy forum shenanigans....

2009-10-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

As an Etsy seller and one who frequented the forums on a daily basis for the passed almost 3 years (I almost got hired to be a forum mod at one point!) I've come to know the ebb and flow of the Etsy forums quite well, I think. I've come to know the lingo. I recognize the inside jokes. I've rejoiced in times of a united community only such an online platform can uniquely provide. I've also been witness to some of the most petty, immature, and down right defamatory behavior such a platform of assumed anonymity can uniquely create.

It's not only my place of business, but has also become my playground. Hell, it has for a good number of people. We defend etc as a water cooler, even if it really isn't for all intents and purposes (after all, the water cooler is usually concealed in the back room, and even then when congregation commences around the jug banter is usually quietly exchanged and isn't an all consuming, all day affair....)

That said, I have made some fabulous friendships in the Etsy forums that I think is pretty amazing since we've never actually met face to face. Say hello to the 21^st century community. I've laughed with these people. I've wasted time with them. I've learned from them. I've grown with them. Just like any other relationship, only separated by the glowing computer screen and countless miles between us in “real” life.

Something happened the other day though that made me question whether it's all worth it. A member of the community was in trouble and needed help. So I answered the call, without question, and basked in the glow of good karma for all of a few hours until the blog rings, forum threads, and twitter feeds began to buzz with the snarky, largely anonymous cattiness that sought to degrade the efforts of those of us simply attempting to do some good for another individual in need. The worst part? The nastiness spread like wild fire and soon a simple, random act of kindness was reduced to a verbal civil war with factions and derogatory flames the likes of which would make even children question the maturity of the “adults” involved.

It seems we haven't really come all that far from the days of the sophomoric, wittless jabs at complete strangers on AOL pick-your-number.0 from behind ripped and photo-shopped pop culture avatars and cutesy inane screen names flanked by numbers cause all the “good” names were snatched up in the mid-90's. One would think, like anything else, the internet might evolve. Technologically it most certainly has. But it's community, for the most part, has remained a stagnant snap shot of years long passed. You tube videos are full of the useless rants of bored trolls who are simply legends in their own minds, yet we lift some of these Perez Hiltons and Joe Cockers up to the point of social network celebrity...a quite new phenomena I'd love to toss in the annals of history to be long forgotten.

It's a double edged sword.

With new media apparently, all of our opinions matter. Freedom of speech at its most unabashed. Good for the tear stained, emo loner desperately seeking attention, be it positive or negative. Bad for societal intellectuality that seems to die a little every time Larry King interviews the newest internet sensation as if to validate the preposterous musings of some tired asshat transparently lamenting celebrity whilst working their bum off at becoming that which they profess to loathe. To a lesser extent we take what some of these bloggers have to say and run with it, as if it really matters. In the end, just like this here blog post you're reading right now, it's all just personal opinion and carries no weight unless you allow it to.

The championship of hypocrisy. The downfall of intelligence. I'm at an impasse it seems. It's no secret unnecessary and trivial controversy is not only tolerated but brain candy for a large portion of the zombified masses who simply traded Jerry Springer and Maury for Twitter and blogrolls. But when I find myself caught up in it simply because of a charitable contribution, I have to take a step back from it and wonder, why?

This *isn't* Springer. No taglines that read "Pregnant hos and the midget pimps who knocked them up" are splattered across the screen to let us all know what we're getting ourselves into. And I for one kinda like that predictability.

A cautionary word to the wise who's made it this far through my admittedly extended and meandering diatribe - it's the internets people. Just a bunch of tubes and words. We could get caught up in what I've outlined above. Or we can move on. I shall do the latter. But...I will move forward with this morsel in my belt as a reminder. Don't get involved, it'll only end up hurting your head. That is all.

A Tale of 10 hours and one 5x6 foot canvas in pictures.

2009-10-18T16:42:00.001-07:00

Small note to Hollywood movie execs and the city of New York...

2009-10-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

A thought came to me upon seeing you had closed off half of the financial district in Manhattan to film "The Other Guys" - if you want authentic NY, stop hiring extras and instead, simply allow those living in the buildings along the streets you closed off to come and go as usual. You know, since they live there and all. I am sure they have better things to do than wave "Hi Mom!" signs toward the cameras if that's what you're so worried about. Going so far as to dictate whether they can enter their homes? And you're worried about *your* boundaries?

And to the city of New York, we get there's a certain financial boon to you selling off NYC streets like time shares in Boca to industry fat cats creating a film, but it might be nice to have a little respect for the residents of the streets you sell off....

That is all.

New Brooklyn Fire Proof studio space

2009-10-06T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yup. 125 square feet or so on the first floor up, room 216, a.k.a my new studio space. Apparently parts of Top Chef season 5 and Make Me A Supermodel were filmed at the building next door (or so the website says....) Kinda nifty if you ask me.

I do feel like I am fumbling blindly a bit through this process - the extreme commute aside, I am finding it particularly difficult to put my trust into a neighborhood I have visited but once and believe that my request for my art supply company to deliver 6 foot wide bulls-eyes...er, boxes of canvas to the locked building will result in said supplies actually making it not only into the building but somewhere preferably near my studio space....) That's putting a whole lot of trust into a whole lot of anonymous strangers....

Coordination is key I suppose. So, I'm calling my supplier today and seeing if I can't somehow coordinate 400.00 of hulking canvas arriving at my studio when I am there, which is no small task, let me assure you. This is assuming I can coordinate with my ex, as he has informed me his scheduled time with our son this weekend has been called into question because he wants to attend...Harvest Fest. Alrighty. I shall coordinate around that too. Just call me task manager 9000, model A. To be fair he told me about this months ago. But, my career waits for no one and has always had this sneaky way of blind siding me as if to scream, "Are you ready?!?"

I figure if I can make it through this much fuss I can make it through pretty much anything my new situation can throw at me....Right?

**update - I want to give credit where credit is due, my son's father is taking our little one this weekend after all. He said he'd rather help me out. I gotta say I am surrounded by the most supportive people :)

Patron Gallery Shot

2009-10-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

I just love it when my patrons contact me and want to show me their personal gallery of my work, and this one in particular blew me away - she artfully hung everything up on her wall and created something that seems to truly transcend simply decorating a room with some artwork.

Ali, you've done my work proud. Thanks for sending these terrific shots!!

*If you've purchased work from me in the past and have built a gallery of your own, please by all means send along pics! With your permission I'd love to post them here :) Thanks!!

New 4x5 foot painting WIP

2009-09-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's my fridge being dwarfed by the painting.

New Painting - WIP

2009-08-13T08:22:00.001-07:00

Kind of a crude shot, I know, but my studio and camera don't really get along and I'm not lugging this baby (all 30x48 inches) outside for a WIP shot. Just a little sneak peak - this only shows part of the painting, the part where all the action is currently. It actually extends another foot or so to the left and a few inches to the right. Been spending all of my time on it...I can't get away from it...not that I want to, but yeah....

The Girls Next Door

2009-07-22T11:45:00.001-07:00

The Girls Next Door - 24x36 oil on canvas, 2009

Through the mill....

2009-07-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Ok...so some of you know that I went to NYC yesterday for the open casting call for a new (as yet untitled) art competition show on Bravo. I have some thoughts on the experience...I believe I can share my insights, though I will say the contract with it's stereo instruction meets legal jargon contract prohibiting artists from divulging certain aspects of the process leaves me wondering just how much I can say here...but then I wonder if SJP and Magical Elves would care about the musings of a "rejected" artist - yes, I was turned away.

I will say I had quite a good time standing in line for 6 hours - and I am not being sarcastic (Shout out to Lauren, Kevin, and Donna, numbers 157, 159, and 160...my line buddies :D) It was a festive atmosphere and a perfect day - seriously stoked we got there when we did, leaving us against a construction site wall that offered the *perfect* amount of shade.

Portfolios were passed around and fawned over, critiqued and conceptualized, props were given or looks of confusion (what was that thing?) were silently shared from within the line to perfect strangers wondering the same thing. Theories were created, conclusions were drawn...someone sneaks by with their portfolio announcing (but not too loudly) they have 3 days to create a piece, videotape it, and send it back. News spreads like wildfire...the crowd became amped. Catch phrases for the show's host were bantered about "It's time for you to go back to the drawing board" and 5 foot "portable" canvases were disected. Validaty was questioned. Egos were shot. Lies were dispensed. Iced coffee was abundant.

Tents erected in the hot summer sun marked the beginning of the end. The professional validaty of those skipping through hard copy portfolios, deciding the fate of hopefuls was scrutinized and probed by the masses - an audience wondering just who these people were and why their opinions were of importance buzzed with notions - everything from "Maybe they are gallery directors?" to "I bet they found them this morning at the subway." I wondered if they were somewhere in between...A few, not all, but a few, although charming, seemed more worried about where their coffees were than the actual thoughts of the artist with which they are speaking and the portfolio they were viewing. Of course I can't go into specifics, I will say I felt rushed through (this is a fact most could see from the street even...) I was ok with that if it meant I could speak to a panel directly, this was what I thought was going on through the "hallowed" doors we were all hoping to get through.

I didn't make it there though. Told I wasn't a "good fit" for one reason or another and sent on my way.

I wondered. I wasn't loud enough. Wasn't bitchy or edgy enough. I wasn't one of the "characters" they were looking for. I wasn't a skinny hipster. I was married. I couldn't understand her thick accent and fumbled...whatever it was, I really feel it had little to do with my portfolio.

I wonder if there is a repository somewhere filled to the brim with emerging talent waiting to be picked through for a price.

I don't worry about my work. I know I have a strong artistic voice. I wasn't what they were looking for, and I think they're right. I really believe they are looking for more varied talent to fine tune through the process so they can say they created an "art star". Academia tells us to fine tune our focus and hone our voice to create a cohesive body of work. I don't believe this is what the show wants. Which, I understand. I really do.

So, you won't be seeing me on TV anytime soon, but that's all good. I wouldn't take back the experience (though I would change a few things, like I wouldn't have spent 100.00 to get my passport application started if I knew I'd be cut straight away, and I would have worn sunscreen on my now bright red nose) I can say I was there.

I do have to say I overcame my fear of driving in a huge city. I drove my butt down there with my "entourage" (sister and good friend) and tooled around the city with ease, so now I can scope out galleries and take day trips down and get moving with that aspect of my career. NYC watch out. I'm not intimidated by you anymore :)

After Glow

2009-05-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

20x24 oil on canvas 295.00

On shipping....

2009-05-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Ok. Since my Quit Your Day Job article was published on the Etsy Storque I've had a number of inquiries on how to ship paintings from new sellers. I'm going to post this here (mostly so it's easy to find as I get more inquiries) but maybe someone will come across it and find it to be useful :)

I know the shipping aspect can be intimidating at first and can seem rather daunting. I actually go back and forth between shipping through a local shipping place and doing it myself, it depends on the time I have and the size of the painting. I've built a repertoire with the place I ship through over the past 4 years or so and finally took the plunge a few months back and it's helped to have someone who can wrap up and take care of the really big ones instead of me fooling and fussing with it at home. When I do it I buy frame boxes and bubble wrap from them, there's a bunch of sizes to choose from and I buy a good amount at a time. I have an account with FedEX and USPS.com and I have them pick the packages up. The accounts were easy to set up and it's really convenient. You can also print shipping labels through paypal - hee's there help explanation on their site - https://www.paypal.com/helpcenter/main.jsp;jsessionid=KT0DSyptYvvv5wHXdQynbdQplDtrc4WJGzS52hfKb4G8KJQn5ppC!-685170754?locale=en_US&_dyncharset=UTF-8&countrycode=US&cmd=_help&serverInstance=9004&t=solutionTab&ft=searchTab&ps=solutionPanels&solutionId=10773&isSrch=Yes

It's really quite simple. You do need a scale - I got mine at Walmart for 10 bucks.

Larger paintings should really go through FedEX because of the cost and the shipping "zones". 16x20 I'd send through FedEX. 11x14 can go just fine through the postal service.

For all of my small shipments (anything up to 12x12 or so) I use the free boxes you can get through the post office. You can order some online for free - they are for Priority shipments though so if you plan on sending your paintings first class you can't use the free boxes. I always send Priority when I use USPS because it looks more professional and is faster for the most part. Here's a link to order free Priority boxes - http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductCategoryDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=13354&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=11820&top_category=11820&WT.ac=13354

The place I go to for my other boxes orders theirs from uline and sells them to me at cost. It's good to start a relationship with a local place cause there can definitely be perks! Take a day and shop around. A really large box for me costs 16.00 - that's for a 36x46 box, unfortunately sometimes you gotta cut um down since they don't always have the size you need) I have heard some people go to Michaels and get their boxes on garbage day, but you have to be there at the right time - they wouldn't hold them for me and it was like 20 miles for me so I just broke down and bought them outright. But that is an option.

When I am wrapping it myself I wrap the painting in plastic and tape it to secure moisture from compromising the painting. Then a layer of bubble wrap is tightly wrapped around and taped. Another layer of bubble wrap is then wrapped around the first, bubble to bubble, creating a "pillow" that is extremely effective in securing the painting from damage. The pillow is then placed in a sturdy mirror box for shipment with more bubble wrap or paper if needed.

Please copy and paste this URL in your browser to see how these "pillows" look just before shipment - http://tinyurl.com/5ws4ah

Note that with international shipping, to most countries the largest stretched canvas you can send is 22x28 through the postal service. The postal service has strict dimensional guidelines - length+girth (a tape measure wrapped around the middle of the box gives you the girth) can't be any larger than 79 inches. This includes Australia, a popular shipping destination. For places with the 79 inch cut off I offer taking the painting off the stretchers and rolling it in a tube. This doesn't always work though. I can't do this with gallery wrapped canvas, only with canvas that has staples on the back - I can take staples out of the canvas. Can't rip it from that groove the higher end canvases have, and I won't cut the canvas from the stretchers. It's best to advise your patrons of these things so they are aware. That's why in my shop I only show US and Canadian shipping prices for larger works. Canada has a 108 inch cut off, so pieces up to 24x36 can go through USPS. Any larger and it has to be sent through FedEX or UPS - which for an international destination can be a couple hundred easy. If a patron is willing to pay the actual shipping cost then by all means. But it really is exorbitant!

It looks like a lot to take in, and initially it is - but after doing it a while you'll become a pro and it will be second nature :) Best of luck!

Let's not have that happen again, thanks.

2009-05-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

So tired this morning...I decided, after putting the little one on the bus, to lay back down a while. I fell back to sleep but apparently I was having inner conflict with the fact I was still asleep and not up working. My dream reflected this... I "woke up" 5 times, in my dream, walked out of my bedroom into a place that was completely rearranged. I remember thinking in my dream "this is strange...this isn't real...all I am doing is trying to wake up..." There were boxes strewn about in my kitchen. Perched upon thin shelves were some of my paintings...I picked one up and thought "this piece was sold a while back...I sent it out, I know I did...what is it doing here?"

I was in this strange place strattling the line between consciousness and sleep... I even went back in the bedroom several times and laid back down, saying to myself, "let's try this again". By the 5th time I became frustrated because I was becoming even more conscious of the fact that I was trying to wake up, but couldn't.

The last time I came out of the bedroom I entered another bedroom, empty but for a single bed against the wall on the right...I stepped passed it as I heard some shuffling coming from a hidden corner. I walked forward and looked to the left to see my mother going through a corner hutch, sifting through linens.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked.

"I thought this would be better" she replied.

I turned around and looked back in my bedroom and cried "This isn't right! I know I am asleep right now, I don't know how long I've been trying to wake up, it's all I wanna do!"

That's the last thing I remember. Upon waking up, I walked through the house to make sure things weren't out of place and I wasn't still dreaming....

Faces of the City XX

2009-05-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

Faces of the City XX - 12x12x1.5 oil on canvas
SOLD

Stories From A Field Act XXVIII

2009-05-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

Stories From A Field Act XXVIII - 12x12x1.5 oil on canvas
SOLD

Stories From A Field Act XXVII

2009-05-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

Stories From A Field Act XXVII - 5x5x1.5 oil on canvas 35.00

Faces of the City XIX

2009-05-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

Faces of the City XIX - 8x8x1.5 oil on canvas 70.00

Bask

2009-04-30T06:08:00.001-07:00

Bask - 24x30 oil on canvas 575.00

Faces of the City XVIII

2009-04-29T12:00:00.001-07:00

Faces of the City XVIII - 12x24x1.5 oil on canvas
SOLD

Feel

2009-04-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Feel - 20x24 oil on canvas 290.00

Autumn VII

2009-04-27T19:34:00.001-07:00

Autumn VII - 16x20 Oil on canvas
165.00

Daily Painters

2009-04-27T06:16:00.001-07:00

Ok...so the topic of Daily Painters came up in the Etsy forums and it got me thinking. I'm a painter. Who paints daily. Maybe it would be a good goal to have to be accepted into the daily painters website...so, I suppose I should really start keeping up with posting new work on this here blog.

So...count today as the first day I am going to attempt to really keep up with this endeavor. A painting a day. Look for it :)

Summa summa summatime

2009-04-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

"Just Wanna Be..." 24x30 oil on canvas

"Shine" 14x14 oil on canvas

I know, it's not summer yet. But these pieces remind me of it :) Click on each image to visit the listing where they can be purchased.

"No Mercy" Mature 30x40 original

2009-04-20T11:48:00.001-07:00

You should have seen my mother's reaction to this one. *shakes head and laughs* It's taking her some getting used to....

Click the image to visit the Etsy listing.

New painting - "No Mercy" WIPs

2009-04-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

New Cityscapes

2009-04-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Unveiled my newest series of works last week to a fantastic reception on Etsy, they're selling like little hotcakes :) They're all between 5x5x1.5" and 6x12x1.5" currently. I'm loving the tiny canvases and the challenge of fitting big city flavor into a bite size surface area ;) One patron has already mentioned putting several together to create her own little NYC. Gotta love it! Please check them out. There's more to come!

Cupcake Parade!

2009-04-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Handiwork courtesy of my sis and I :) Pretty, no? People actually seemed to have a hard time eating them because they looked so nice. I always wanted to make artful cupcakes!

2 new pieces

2009-03-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Two new pieces listed on Etsy today.

Top - "Ghost Reverie" 30x40x1.5" oil on canvas
Bottom - "Dip" 6x6x1.5" oil on canvas.

Please click each image to visit the listing. Thanks!

My humble abode....

2009-03-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

I was taking pictures of the place to upload to the flickr group "There's No Place Like Here" and thought I would post a few pics here on the blog so you can see what my home looks like. I've spent so much time on the place - the flooring and cabinets in the kitchen my mom and I rocked out in 2 afternoons last fall and I am in love with the look. There's such a sense of accomplishment to it, doing it yourself. Everytime I walk in the kitchen I say "Wow, I did that!"

My livingroom was more recent. Total update in the furnishings. I did have a 20 year old futon where the beautiful couch now sits...it was time for a change. The other half bought the set (couch and matching loveseat) for me for Christmas. It feels like a home now. I love that I have the house all my friends want to visit :)

To see more check out my flickr - I have more pics there.

Haze

2009-03-01T14:05:00.001-08:00

"Haze" 20x24x1.5 oil on canvas 3/2009 Available HERE.

Yeah, so after what, 4 days now of being pretty sick I got motivated to get out of bed and do some painting. It was incredible to me how easily this piece flowed. Different color scheme for me too... I'm loving this piece.

"Loaded" 36x48 oil on canvas

2009-02-26T13:15:00.001-08:00

Available on Etsy

More progress pics of 36x48 piece

2009-02-26T12:44:00.000-08:00

Studio shot of WIP

2009-02-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

It's big. I wanna go bigger though. Too. Much. Fun.

36x48 WIP

2009-02-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Just a peek at the skeletal structure of the piece. I am so bad about documenting pieces for work in progress updates but I actually thought about it today, so here it is :)

Maybe later I'll take a pic of the mammoth taking up my studio space. Boy it's gonna be tough doing a 48x60 in here like I want to....

Back to painting I go!

I am in awe...

2009-02-24T12:42:00.000-08:00

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, Jeff Soto, 2008

I just came across Jeff's work on NotCot and must admit to salivating a bit. I must own one. One day, that is. Check out his website for more eye-candy.

Yum.

Regarding Libertine

2009-02-23T16:29:00.000-08:00

I was asked by someone on DeviantART about the piece. Brought up some interesting points I thought I would address here as well as there, as it is so rare to receive a thoughtful critique on my work that I'd like to take the opportunity to not only respond to the person who posed the issues to me but the audience watching my work at large....

***

It was mentioned the piece in the work in progress pic was more tender and soft and that the final product was perhaps violent, frustrated, and flat. ( http://sagittariusgallery.deviantart.com/journal/23346931/#comments )

Truth be told I was having an issue with it when it was soft and tender because that's not what the imagery was. The scene isn't a tender moment. It's visceral and rough. The before and after is the difference between making love and fucking. There's an aggression to the scene that was not channeled in the work in progress pic further on down the blog. It was where I was hung up. It wasn't saying what needed to be said.

Depth...I either work it in or I abandon it completely. Many of my works (such as "Enraptured" for example [link]) don't focus at all on depth but more color and movement. A color making up a certain part of the body. This piece I would say has more depth than my "color block" pieces (the extended leg pops from the canvas a bit for example) but yes, it is quite flat. Of course, the point of view comes into play here - it's there. It's in your face. It's unabashed. He is hidden aside of course from his manhood penetrating her, but she is the focal point. She is the act. The act is her. It's a raw statement on lust for the flesh. It isn't about love. It isn't about making love. It's about a basic desire to screw.

We exist in this strange dichotomy where romance is amplified by chick flicks and presented in the video store steps away from Debbie doing *something*. Men aren't the only lustful beasts roaming the earth looking for a hole to satisfy themselves with. This piece explores the other side.

Libertine (Mature)

2009-02-22T13:22:00.000-08:00

"Libertine" 24x36" oil on canvas 2/22/2009

This is the 3rd piece in my new series of mature abstract erotic artworks. This piece took a very long time with me and is, I believe, my largest challenge to date. It's a maturing of style, a melding together of many different facets of my painting technique into one piece. I'm strattling the line between overt and abstract, though I do believe the imagery in this particular piece to be quite evident. The paint application reflects, and even replaces, the movement of the actual act. The colors used echo flesh on flesh in the middle of the night....

As you might have read here or on Twitter (or both...) this piece was a real struggle for me. Please click the image to see the larger one, there is so much paint on this piece and so many intricate details it's tough translating on a small format (unfortunately a limitation of the digital age...but this piece was made more for a gallery setting anyways....)

The "before" is below. It's transformed a lot in the past few days. I worked non stop on it and thought about little else. It was actually all consuming and I wonder where the week went....

Crossroads...?

2009-02-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks Junkyarddoll for the shot!

WIP

2009-02-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

I am *not* feelin' it. Needs more contrast. Definitely. I feel like just swirling black on it. Sometimes I need to do that, just take a drastic measure to get past the issues I have with a piece. Sometimes I need to ruin it to save it.

Marination

2009-02-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

So I've been feeling pretty exhausted lately...maybe I'm coming down with something, maybe it's the late nights at the easel. Either way I can't function before noon. And that's irritating to me.

I sit here sipping on a coconut iced coffee trying to get motivated. Fridays a bunch of us get together and make dinner and just chill out. It's my turn and I am making fajitas. Found this fantastic recipe online - http://blog.cooklikeyourgrandmother.com/2008/10/how-to-make-steak-fajitas.html - and just finished marinating the flank steak I picked up at the market. It calls for quite a bit of fresh cilantro, which I love (and hope everyone else does too...I know cilantro can be one of those hit or miss herbs....) and the kitchen smells fabulous with the aroma of cilantro and lime right now. I usually like to light my scented candles (I have this thing for Yankee Candle, especially any and all of the beach scents) but I am holding off for right now because it already smells like summer in here...a welcome reprieve from the 30 degrees outdoors.

I'm going to try and fit in a little painting. I have an hour and a half before my sis shows up. I feel like I haven't been all that productive the past few days. Although I stayed up wicked late last night working and reworking my newest 24x36 painting, I am still unhappy with where it is and don't see where it's going. I have this awful habit of not being able to set a painting aside until it's finished. It's an internal challenge...and probably a character flaw. I just can't let go.

We'll see what comes of it. I haven't worked on anything else since what, Monday? If I can let a steak marinate, why can't I let a painting do the same?

Snow....

2009-02-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

It's snowing right now. It gets so quiet when it shows. Even though I live in NY and snow isn't something we're unaccustomed to, never the less it becomes quite still as the heavens open up and the first flakes fall to the earth.

It's 5:30 here, and with it being February, daylight lasts a bit longer. We actually get an "evening", instead of say in December where it's as if the lights are suddenly cut and day becomes night in a matter of moments... I like this combination. Everything glows an eery blue....

It's quite inspiring.....

Dive

2009-02-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

I've been in the studio a ton lately. I had decided around Christmas that I am not going to just float along as I have been. I mean, I *love* Etsy. I'm a regular cheerleader carrying cupcakes on a platter whilst enjoying a swing in my handmade hammock, but I need *more*. I realized I've been painting (to an extent) pieces for my shop and shying away (to a degree) from the more gritty work I have a craving for. That post last month? That's what I mean.

My parents...their reactions to my new direction were well, priceless. And pretty much what I expected. My mother, during a dinner party a week or so back, took a peek in the studio and returned blushing and muttering "oh my."

Cecily Brown has, since my freshman year of college when I picked up the contemporary painting bible "Vitamin P" and flipped through to her juicy, naughty paintings, been a key inspiration for me in my work. A chick that ballsy...right up my alley. I've watched her work over the years transform as mine has done the same. And honestly? I have to question where it's gone. And I mean both of ours.

I took a long hard look at it and decided I wouldn't just paint. I'd *paint*. I'd breathe it, sleep it, live it... Not that it's something I ever simply "did". But I felt the need to dive into it with more ferocity and hold nothing back. As I feel her focus has shifted (whether on purpose or due to demand...) mine has as well. My early work was all about the female form and exaggerated perfection. I feel like I need to be more honest and less iconic.

So, I've used my inspiration from Brown as a diving board. I still love her work but it's meaning...it feels like it's been lost a bit. More abstraction and less of that naughty representation hinting through. Stripped to paint application and colors and yes, here and there, the hint at a figure. The hint at something more.

Me? I've never been much on good old abstraction for the sake of abstraction. Even when I paint an abstract piece, a wholly abstract painting, I fight myself on adding something. I see abstraction (as I apply it) as an exercise in letting go more. But really. I'd rather not leave a painting void of "something". So, my work is striking that balance. Especially the more overt pieces. Fine art pornography...na. I want it to say something more. I want you to look for it. And when you find it, when it smacks you in the face, as it usually does, I want you to feel something. Feel dirty. Feel exhilarated. Either way.

So that's where I am going with it, for what it's worth....

Tempestuous

2009-02-17T13:38:00.001-08:00

Ok...so I know I haven't
exactly been keeping up with this blog I have here. There was a time way back when that I relished the moments I'd sit, mix up my favorite drink, and ramble on about everything and nothing just to exact a release. Somehow that dissipated into the occasional "hey there, I'm still alive, see, I'm painting!" posts that eventually faded into static cause, let's face it - of course I'm painting. I loathe complete redundancy just for the sake of it.

Etsy contacted me about writing an article on facing one's fears and approaching a gallery. A how to of sorts, to artists, from an artists perspective. It got me thinking.

I need to write more. So, I am going to try. Starting now.

6x6 landscapes

2009-02-17T13:12:00.000-08:00

A patron of mine asked for a pic of all of my current 6x6x1.5 inch landscapes together so I thought I would post it here as an example of how fantastic these little guys look all together, you know on a wall (or a porch railing as it were *wink*).

I've really gotten into these little guys. They're great for playing around with the paint and experimenting with different application techniques.

Of course all of them are available in my Etsy shop, along with some larger landscape pieces that I've been working on too.

As you can see I am *sick* of winter. I long for the days where I can leave the front door wide open and the breeze dances through my kitchen as the light scent of summer tickles my nostrils.

A couple more months though. Just a couple more....

Pendulum

2009-01-27T13:07:00.000-08:00

Title - Pendulum
Dimensions - 30x40x1.5
Media - oil on canvas

....

2009-01-27T12:30:00.000-08:00

Taking a break. Exhaustive back and forth with a new mistress. No. I'm not cheating on my husband. Just a 30x40 oil sopped frenzied toil on my easel, tucked away, but not far away, in my studio at the other end of the house. It's probably only momentary, but I felt the need to step away and write for a moment. Though Type O Negative just came on the mp3 player and I paint pretty damn productively to Wolf Moon....

Be right back. I'm not done here.

The motives of an abstract artist

2007-08-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

I heard the statement below uttered once amongst a forum of artists that truly shocked me....

"Art started as a history, a way to record the past! not, Ohhh! look at what the poor, depressed artist splattered on the canvas, then came up with an explanation for!"

Unfortunately, I believe this to be a sad social commentary on the general atmosphere that seems to surround the abstract artist.

It is true that there are artists who embrace abstraction purely for its markettability...but their dollar driven choices do not speak for all who choose to express themselves through abstraction, just as I do not expect a predominantly realist artist to even begin to attempt to speak for my motives as a painter of the abstract.

The sort of archaic way of thinking quoted above is the same sort of thinking that led the Impressionists of the 19th century to break away from the academically realist French Salon and create their own venue in which to be seen and hopefully, finally be taken seriously as creative forces with ideas and messages to convey - no less important than their realist counterparts. From this spark ignited an art for art sake revolution, leading us through Pollacks overly analyzed drip paintings at its height. Just why is it so incredible that more than one person might find paint splattered onto a canvas purely about the medium with which it was created fascinating in an early 20th century America and beyond? Is it more incredible that people would continue to piggyback off of an idea, be it splatter paintings, clothing styles - or if we really get philosophical - just about any idea or advance in an infinately evolving society? Furthermore, would it really be so amazing to consider the possibility that when an artist like Pollack has an explanation for his work, he might not be speaking out of his ass?

Could it be that when Joseph Albers painted his "Homage to the Square" series of minimalist, smooth, precise blocks of color, he really did want to "proclaim color autonomy as a means of plastic organization"? Or is it truly so incredulous to wrap ones mind around the thought that Albers had a vision and wished to convey it through large colored squares reminiscient of giant post it notes?

What about Chris Ofili's contemporary works, utilizing elephant dung? Is it outrageous to think that his fecal smeared portrayal of the Virgin Mary was a sarcastic commentary rather than an elaborately composed creation made to shock and dismay, lacking substance and meaning? What about the possibility that Ofili's driving force as exhibited through his use of elephant dung, racist symbolizm, pop icons, and the typical African American stereotype, is really meant to denounce the black stereotype in society? Or could it be possible that he looks to celebrate cultural differences through sarcastic and ironic works, all perpetuated by a Nigerian born artist living in a predominantly white UK? If we know the background of some of the choices made, does it change anything?

I am not laying these questions all out to confuse but to consider - I have my own thoughts and individual answers for each inquiry. Generalizing based on assumption or ignorance is a crime committed throughout time for when faced with confusion we as a species like to fit it into a little box and set it aside, rarely taking the time to open the box back up and consider the possibilities within. And I suspect as technology advances and life gets easier, even automated, the box will fill more and more with elements of life we believe to be trivial and too time consuming to understand. I believe that is where the abstract artist shines the brightest as we have the unique opportunity to unlock the box and create work based on our understanding of the elements long forgotten. It is through this constant sifting, creating, and presenting to the public a new perspective that we hand the keys to the box over to the viewer, even if it is just for a minute or two....

Just a thought....

2007-07-23T16:11:00.001-07:00

Understand that the world is art and it is up to artists to expose that beauty.

Featured on DeviantART!

2007-07-21T16:09:00.001-07:00

My painting, "Glow" was featured as a daily deviation on the DeviantART homepage on the 19th! Course, I didn't see it until today! Been so busy with commissions and such that I hadn't been on dA in about a week or so when I signed on to order some prints for a few customers and found 200 - some odd messages about my being featured :)

Awesome! So thanks, jesusIV for the feature! Truth be told, you rock socks too :)

BTW, as an aside, I am offering prints of that piece in a variety of sizes! I'll be listing them in my Etsy shop in the coming days.

Woo!

Artella Daily Muse interview!

2007-07-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Today I am the featured artist at the creative web magazine Artella Daily Muse for their "In the Studio" section of the site. Below is a copy of the interview :)

Daily Muse: How would you describe your art?

Aja: How I would describe my art would simply be 'abstract impressionist'.

DM: Tell us more...

Aja: How others would, and have described the majority of my work would be 'Wow -- those are naked chicks, aren't they?'

DM: What is your favorite piece of your own art? Why?

Aja: Right now it is my newest piece, “Glow”, and it's nice when that happens. I can name a handful of pieces that made me go, “Wow, did I really paint that?” and those pieces raise the bar for me. It's a need at that point to shock myself even more. It's then that you know you are on the right path.

DM: What people, places, or things inspire you most?

Aja: I am inspired by all around me but have an affinity for the Abstract Expressionists such as Rothko, de Kooning, and more contemporary examples such as Susan Rothenburg and Cecily Brown. Selling in such venues as eBay and Etsy has opened me up to a treasure trove of inspiration.

DM: How do you organize your art supplies?

Aja: I am not familiar with that word, organize. Sounds like something I should look into, haha....

DM: What art supply can you not live without?

Aja: My palette knife, oil paint, and canvas. They go hand and hand. I lost my palette knife once and nearly cried as I tore apart my studio looking for it. Tell me more about organization?

DM: What favorite book(s) can you recommend?

Aja: A compilation of contemporary painters called Vitamin P. I purchased it while at the Whitney in NYC, and it has become my handbook of sorts. Someone somewhere said painting was dead. This book has hundreds of pages of examples to the contrary.

DM: What is your favorite charity, volunteer interest, or cause?

Aja: Diabetes. Really. My grandmother, grandfather, great aunt, and best friend's mom all died of it. Now my mom has it. So, when I can, I donate to the American Diabetes Association or related organizations. I also recently donated a painting to the Seneca Falls Historical Society Charity Ball – my great-grandmother is heavily involved, and I am happy to contribute.

DM: What movie(s) do you consider your favorite(s)?

Aja: I love the ones that make you think, or challenge you somehow. “Donnie Darko”, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, “Memento”, “Requiem for a Dream” -- they all challenge your mind and make you consider something you might not have considered previously. I also must throw in Grind House flicks. I watch them regularly on IFC – they are like visual crack.

DM: What music do you love to hear while you’re creating?

Aja: Oh, that so depends. I love my hardcore and metal, truth be told. Type O Negative, Opeth, and a now defunct local band from upstate NY called Section 8 are all faves of mine. I also love classic rock. Pink Floyd's work is some of the best music ever created.

DM: What is your favorite quote?

Aja: Honestly, I am not “in the know” really when it comes to quotes. Half of me wanted to Google something witty... but then that would be cheating. I'm more of a lyrics kind of chick. It's so hard to think of something like that when music is blaring in your ears...

Maybe... "Do or do not... there is no try." I think Yoda said that, didn't he? I am such a dork.

DM: Who is, or has been, your mentor, favorite teacher, or favorite artist?

Aja: Easy. Thorpe Feidt of Montserrat College of Art. He is the stuff of freshman legend. The professor with little patience for the half-assed art student looking for an easy career doodling on tablets all day, like so many parents are afraid of. The cliché. He has challenged each and every student that has ever crossed his path – told me the first time I had a review class with him that my work was too contrived, and I got into a 20 minute debate with him on just why I felt he was out of line – even though he was absolutely right. He is the reason I am the artist I am. Even now I look at my work sometimes and go, “Thorpe would kick me right now... this looks to comfy.” He taught me to paint, even though I thought I already knew.

DM: What is your number one tip for budding artists?

Aja: Don't second guess yourself. Did you know Matisse literally had hundreds of scrapped canvases sitting in storage rooms to remind him of what not to do? But he painted them anyways, and then kept them. He never stopped to go, “Wow, that sucks, I am so done with this, and I will never be the artist I wish to be.” Now that's persistence and devotion to one's craft. Let your vision guide you, and don't betray it, not even for a second. It will haunt you.

DM: What favorite “quickie recipe” for creating a piece would you like to share?

Aja: Canvas goes on the easel; paint on the palette, palette knife mixes gobs of undiluted color and dances across the canvas without a second thought. It's best to consider the whole in one's mind's eye instead of obsessing so over the parts. It's when I obsess that my work takes on a stifled, stuffy appearance. I know it. The viewer knows it. And generally those pieces are the bane of my existence. Those pieces become other pieces. And those pieces are rarely seen. Not because they are rare – but because I demand more. Abstract artist as perfectionist – the oxymoron?

DM: What suggestions can you offer for moving through creative “blocks”?

Aja: For me, it's loud music and stepping away from the studio completely. Writing. Right this very moment, I have a 16 x 20 inch canvas that I keep eyeing through typed words, contemplations on the questions laid out here, and headphones at max volume blaring Opeth's “Bleak” into my ears... frantically chain smoking and considering the possibilities of the blankness before me both in word document and primed canvas. It will become something. I've thought too much about it. It's why I am here. Stop thinking. Just do. If it's mud, it's mud. There is nothing worse than a blank canvas at that point, because you have no excuse except perhaps for the fear of failure. Think of the possibilities instead of the ramifications. Even ramifications can be beautiful sometimes...

DM: What do you do for rest and relaxation?

Aja: Rest and relaxation is all relative. Sometimes I work to relax. Sometimes I scratch it all and drink the night away to relax, only to realize my mind is on the painting sitting on the easel. It can be a bit torturous at times, the things I put myself through. The things paintings put me through. Not to say my work is torture, not at all – or I wouldn't do it. It's self-exploration and self-sustainment. This can be exhausting and relaxing at the same time. Goodness... now I'm confused.

I have a four year old, on top of it all, who keeps me going. I guess what I do for rest is sleep. Moms never rest, and an artist's mind is always at work. It's nuts.

DM: If you could go back in time and have lunch with anyone, who would you chose?

Aja: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – he hung out in Parisian dives all day painting can-can divas, liquored up and void of any pretentiousness so affiliated with the perception of the serious “artiste”. An afternoon with him would be an afternoon in psychological surreality with an artistic demi-god who never saw himself as such. Fantastic, if you ask me.

Individuality - the "originality" issue in art confronted

2007-06-09T14:28:00.001-07:00

Originality. Not derived from something else; fresh and unusual...short and sweet in its definition if reducing reality to black and white is a comfortable practice.

The question and debate surrounding originality is as much a focus in the creation of art as the artists exploration for their creative voice. This is a truism particularly in the ultra competitive atmosphere of online auction venues such as eBay. Yet as subjective and complicated an idea, some have taken it upon themselves to single handedly tackle the abstract concept of “wholly original” art, deeming theirs the only truly “original” work available in their chosen style. These artists not only preach their originality, but attempt to police it through the formation of elitist “clubs”, email intimidation of artists whom they believe haven’t been innocently inspired by them but are actively attempting to copy their styles, colors, or subject matter in order to simply sell their wares, and make libelous public statements regarding those artists.

I have been both fascinated and disgusted by the course of events inspired by the issue of originality in art as of late. The delusional notion that Contemporary artwork can be entirely original free from elements derived from artistic influences from the field’s predecessors is a rather arrogant notion at best. Unless an artist lives the secluded life of a hermit in a cardboard box of sorts, free from media or educational guidance, it is virtually impossible to emulate the very definition of “original” through the creation of a work of art. Through a bevy of movements and the masters who forged the paths through the great artistic revolution from academic realism to art for arts sake, inspiration has inevitably trickled down from the first cave drawings to the modern day artist in the search for an individual voice of expression. This unavoidable chain of influence is purely human in its existence, as it is our nature to retain inspiration in the conscious or even subconscious where it may resurface without preconception or coaxing in the evolution of society.

So, it becomes not the question of “originality”, but “individuality” after all things considered.

So just who is qualified enough (if anyone could be qualified in such an area of subjective considerations) to differentiate between originality and individuality in something as ambiguous as an artistic creation? Some may believe they have the authority to make such judgment calls, but it all really boils down to personal opinion and little more.

Artistic “essence” and vision can not be duplicated, even when “copied”. There will always be the residual artistic fingerprint in the finished piece. Unless replicated artificially through technical means, an artist can not single handedly undermine the artistic integrity of another through inspiration and the creation of a work of art considered to be “derived” from another. No one can steal the essence of another anymore than they can steal their soul. If that was the truth then may the art gods smite me for believing otherwise as I am quite confident that no one could duplicate my emotions, visions, and artistic voice -- even if they were to reproduce my work to match it. There is just no way - I refuse to believe it. If I did then I would have to stop creating because I would know my voice was no longer apparent, or unique. There is a difference between having a sincere emotional response to the world using ones personal artistic voice and instincts and the rip off that strives to have the passion of the latter.

And so...the debate ventures forth into the future as this question will not be answered in our time if at all, destined to become more complicated and heated in its delivery and reception as time progresses and artists come and go. “Originality” as an issue in the art sellers market is nothing more than an advertisement tempting the viewer with catch phrases and buzz words playing on implications and semantics. But the conceited marketing geniuses behind the incessant tooting of their own original horns don’t want the general art buying and collecting public to know this...

Or they might be out a slogan.

Newest Commission completed!

2007-05-30T06:52:00.001-07:00

New work

2007-05-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Semi-homemade Baked Beans. Yum.

2007-05-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

Semi-homemade baked beans by sagittariusgallery :)

So last night, much to the other half's delight, I made my baked beans. They're wicked easy and really good. Eat at your own risk they are artery clogging, methane inducing delicious ;)

Simple Ingredients -

1 28oz can Bush's Boston Style Baked Beans
1 16oz can Bush's Country Style Baked Beans
1 package center cut bacon

molasses
tobasco sauce
onion powder
garlic powder
black pepper

Simple preparation -

Fry entire package of bacon on stovetop until crisp and allow to cool on paper towels and reserve a small amount of bacon fat (probably the amount of liquid fat from 4 slices of bacon).

While bacon fries...

Turn oven onto 375 degrees.

Empty beans into 8x8 caserole dish. Sprinkle 7-8 liberal shakes of tobasco sauce, drizzle a tablespoon of molasses, and skake a very fine layer of garlic powder and onion powder over beans. Stir together. Mix in bacon fat. Break up 3 strips of bacon and mix in as well.

Cut up the rest of the bacon into 1 inch strips with scissors so they don't crumble apart. Make a bed of bacon over beans. Sprinkle more onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper lightly over bacon and drizzle with thin ribbons of molasses.

Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 after pulling beans out for sauce to thicken a bit.

Enjoy :) It's so bad for you but so yummy.

Ouch.

2007-04-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah...so I dusted off my Winsor pilates dvd yesterday after a particularly calorie heavy Frito pie lunch and felt the burn for an overzealous 40 minutes - first real workout I have done since November I'm afraid. Today I feel like someone punched me in the "powerhouse" for 40 minutes instead of my creation of longer, leaner, sexier abs heh. I'll pick it back up tomorrow...unless of course tomorrow is a repeat performance of today.

As for tonight, I ran to Michaels today for some canvas and more white paint (I'm horrible with the white paint....) and will be nursing my poor midsection with a palette knife in one hand and a nice rum and coke in the other. It's one of those nights - cold out, raining all day (of which I was out in like a drowned rat most of the day doing all of my running around) and it's time to relax over drinks, painting, and some on demand movies.

Sounds fabulous to me :)

Feeling the love :)

2007-04-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

An awesome patron and fellow Etsy seller lespetiteschoses purchased the piece in my previous post, "Summer Wood IV" this afternoon and posted in the Etsy forums about how excited she was about the purchase. Support for my shop and work poured in from so many people I just had to post about it here - it made my day!! You can take a peek at the awesome etsy forum thread here :)

Thank you everyone, especially lespetiteschoses, for that!

Before and after - a revision....

2007-04-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

I listed this piece entitled "Summer Wood IV" earlier today thinking it was done. Sometimes after a ton of time staring at a painting from night till day and back you lose perspective. It doesn't help I am a bit impatient, even though my technique - as free flowing and chaotic the knife strokes may be - requires a certain amount of patience. I know that may sound obvious but I mean patience - paint, let layers dry, paint, let layers dry, paint.... A lot of time ends up being involved to create organized chaos :P

So, I thought it was done. Until the other half with fresh eyes walks out and says "it looks really good *so far*". That's all I needed to see what the painting really needed and I was back at the easel to finish what was left undone.

The top pic is the before. The bottom the after. Yes. Now it is complete :)

Entered....

2007-04-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

Yep. Entered my pieces "Restoration" and "Portrait of a Vixen" in the 24th annual art competition held by The Artist's Magazine. It would be fabulous to be featured in the magazine's December 2007 issue should I be one of the lucky 13 to be honored...of course the prospect at a portion of the 25,000 in prizes isn't too shabby either ;)

Ice

2007-04-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Secret Garden IV

2007-04-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Virginia Tech shootings, media spin, and politics....

2007-04-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

Ok...so I've been watching all day about the shootings that happened on the Virginia Tech college campus early yesterday morning...and I have to say if there is anything worse then the shootings themselves it would have to be the obvious media and political spin placed on every aspect simply to boost ratings and discourage law suits. I've been entrenched in this horrific incident since about 11 am yesterday morning...much like I was when 9/11 happened. TV on, flipping from news channel to news channel to get the latest, in search of answers for an incident that so defies clear explanation....I foolishly look to the media like so many others.

Just the facts ma'am. Plain and simple is the way we want it. Leave the yellow journalism for the uneducated masses of yester-year....

As a viewer who's tirelessly kept abreast of the events of the day you begin, after 15 hours of continuous coverage, to get a feeling for the disgusting game unfolding right before our very eyes....First hand reports and first impressions from witnesses on the scene perverted throughout the day, a shadow of the truth.

Lets take the kid with the cell cam bravely playing the role of the videographer in a war torn area, shots fired every few seconds - he becomes the new pseudo-correspondent for the largest news network this side of the Atlantic for the duration. Nice. Like some discovery channel special on the lion cubs long, arduous journey to head of the pride we witness the metamorphosis of college student turned CNN correspondent in hours - shaking and recounting his initial feelings that "life will go on" and little more upon undertaking his new role as "I Reporter" through composure and eventual spin, mentioning finally in the past few hours that the gunman confronted the police, bursting through the doors and then back in again...a fact never, ever relented previously. A fact so deviously and transparently spun through the glowing screen of the television screen that I was prompted to voice my disgust for the whole damn thing through the creation of this blog.

You never said that earlier, brave kid with the cell phone...why now?

Why now do the police speculate there were two gunmen? All eyewitness reports claim the same - one gunman, Chinese decent, tall, maroon cap, oh...and the jacket that was introduced 7 hours into talks with *the same eye witnesses*. Never any mention of a jacket a few hours into the investigation. Students calling in to speak with CNN, MSNBC, Fox news...not one mentioned a "vest that made him look like a boyscout" early on. We mention the maroon cap and the ethnicity but never the vest. All the sudden, after Virginia Tech and the president offer their news conferences, do these same people who gave very clear, very identical descriptions of the assailant change their stories. Ah, and we never actually hear the majority of these witnesses who were so ready to speak to the press early on with their initial recounts changing or adding to their stories later on - on news anchors telling us of these changes after the fact. I wonder why that is....

At 1pm calls poured into the major news channels and they lapped it up, asking every question from here till Sunday to obtain a scoop over the next guy. Calm and collected each eye witness gave their description. One even says she was there for the dorm shooting, knew it was a domestic fight between the gunman and his girlfriend, and the R.A got in the middle and both ended up shot and left for dead as the single gunman ran off - only to disappear for 2 and a half hours while campus officials rammed their thumbs up their rears and tried to figure out a way to notify the campus of the murders - murders students should have been made aware of from the get go - in a calm and collected way as not to incite mass hysteria.

So for 2 hours they polished their campus wide email and press release, allowing the assailant free reign. Time to collect more ammo. Time to grab the chains that he used to barricade the entrance with. Time to execute his next attack. Time for 31 students and faculty in Norris Hall to perish at the hands of a very prepared, very determined gunman with nothing to lose.

It's come up through all of this how very accountable the campus should be held for the inefficiency of security and their lax attitude toward the initial two murders in the dorms at 7:15 am of the girlfriend and the R.A - never ordering a lock down, never even contacting the rest of the campus about what had happened in the dorms until 9:26 am - 4 minutes before the gunman's second attack on the engineering building across the campus.

That's when the spin began.

All of the sudden speculation arises. The wheels turn and the search for the second gunman is on. They're still "searching" for him, whoever he may or may not be. Perhaps he's on the grassy knoll....

See, the thing with all of this, and with most bullshit spins executed throughout history, is it's usually caught by anyone within ear shot.

"You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war".

It went from one deranged individual to two to a terrorist attack within hours. It's all still "speculation" even though I'd be inclined to believe initial, unadulterated reports. They slaughtered the story just as the lone gunman slaughtered the victims in cold blood. I've heard everything today from a modern day Mexican standoff from our good friend the cell phone cam guy to ethnic connections between college campus gunmen and terrorist conspiracy theorized by CNN. There's a fascinating wiki on this very subject and the BBC even has its own "inside sources" to the incident. Everyone is "in the know". Has an "inside track". Even when stories begin to unravel and things just don't seem to add up - if it's packaged neatly enough and people only tune in for the end, the beginning is irrelevant...isn't it?

Right. If you believe that I have a bus ticket to Hawaii I am just dying to sell you real cheap.

Everyone wants something. The college wants a reason not to have the pants sued off of them. The police want to look like heroes so the Mexican standoff scenario is a brilliant speel to feed the hungry masses looking for even more drama then the actual story, that's dramatic and disgusting enough already, even when it is obvious from glorious video what really transpired. The media wants the next story of the year, no doubt sick of chewing the liquid fat of the worn out Anna Nicole story that is as dead as she is. Correspondents from here, there, and everywhere want a chance to psychologically profile the unidentified gunman, so rather than wait for confirmation they too speculate and add fuel to an already blazing fire. Even sweet old Jamal the cell phone camera dude wants recognition for his "brilliant" journalistic feat as honorary "I reporter" for CNN.

The spin is ridiculous and I personally find it disgusting. Do they really think we are that stupid? That blind? That ignorant?

Now I am not saying the witnesses have been corrupted, or the police or even the campus didn't do what they felt was right - but hind sight is 20/20. And they weren't right in the end. And now to spin it just to look better in the face of very real backlash and accountability is the lowest of the low. Take responsibility for your short comings. Yes, you should be sued. The school should have been locked down immediately after the school was made aware of the first murders in the dorms at 7:15 - emails over 2 hours later are not sufficient enough when a gunman is on the loose and *you don't know where he is*. Why it took everyone 2 hours to take anymore action then notifying those just in the dorm where the 2 initial murders took place is beyond comprehension - and someone needs to be held accountable.

31 people are dead because the ball was dropped and that's the bottom line. No political or media spin will negate that. You can't hide from the truth. I only hope the families of the victims demand more for their loved ones lost in this tragedy then officials and the media have. Because if the spin wins, that would be the greatest tragedy of all.

Wading in a Velvet Sea

2007-04-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Exotica

2007-04-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the easel is this 8x10 abstract female nude oil painting I've named "Exotica"...just how it felt to me. A lot of the time I will name my paintings the first word that comes to mind because generally the first impression is a keeper lol.

I've just finished another piece that's sitting on the easel right now awaiting natural light to photograph tomorrow. I'm delving further into the female form, getting closer yet more abstracted at the same time.... You'll see with tomorrow's piece what I mean.

Silent Overture

2007-04-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Projekt30

2007-04-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd let everyone know I was juried into Projekt30's April show! Please click on the pic to see the work I have in the online exhibition :)

Flourish

2007-04-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Wall

2007-04-11T16:01:00.001-07:00

Forget the past. Toss the tinfoil hat in the toybox with the legos and lincoln logs where it belongs... lock it up, swallow the key, and choke on naievity. Show those conspiracy theories and plastic building blocks who's really boss. Unless those skeletons in the closet or monsters under the bed pick the lock and then I'm really screwed. Best to speak softly and carry a big stick to beat the fuckers to bloody submission. They know they have it comin so I can forget about shock and awe, just like I know I have it coming...that's what the big stick is for.

Fester in the open wound that is ironic existence and walk the goose step to the tyranical oppression of one's self. Beat myself with the stick for a moment or two only to turn around and deny self-infliction. If anyone asks it was anyone but me. Plausable deniability so transparent the hollow eye sockets peer through the cracked closet door and see right through. Can one really discern pitty in the empty orafices where the windows to the soul used to reside?

Sure...why not?

Keep the masses at arms length, build the brick wall piece by piece against my will but in line with my better judgement. Skeletons can't get to you when you have no closet. Let's hear it for loop holes.

Yeah right. Like I wanna confine myself in a one room brick shanty of which was self-constructed. I got too much livin to do.

I wanna be the subject of a power ballad circa 1989 and keep it a secret. I wanna open up a 454 on a secluded Montana highway in the middle of July topless. I wanna drink cheap alcohol for a month straight on an expensive resort island in the tropics. I wanna paint every clock I encounter black and forget time even exists...and not have reprocutions. I wanna climb a tree, smoke a joint, and watch the sun set...and then watch it rise completely baked feeling alittle bit more free and a whole lot of gravitational pull. I wanna ride a train across country, pretend I have multiple personality disorder, and chat up unsuspecting passengers in horribly executed accents while sipping on malibu and coke and periodically arguing with one or all of the other 9 personalities I create.

I wanna find a remote field of flowers and frolic through it like in the movies...while on an eighth of shrooms. I wanna have sex in the grass on a rainy summer night. I wanna spend a week in Vegas and not remember. I wanna be loved so deeply and love so deeply in return that it actually makes me cry.

Now where in the hell is that door in the wall...I know I built one just in case.

Testoster-world

2007-04-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Wrote this some time back, thought I'd share it here. When I am not painting I'm writing....

Welcome to the machine. Step right up and take your best shot, win a teddy bear if you hit the mark. Win an excessively large one with a velvet red ribbon tied around its neck like a noose if you do one better. Take the prize and ride the conveyor belt to your destiny - do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars...it'll all be sucked back into the machine anyways so why even bother.

Locate a match and light another cigarette, one stick closer to demise. Quench the thirst with a frosty cold one and dehydrate in your refreshment. These are the days of our lives. Tip your hat to the passerby who clenches her purse, what a horribly polite mugger you must be. While you're at it hold the door for her and she'll scoff at the gender role you have presented without even trying. Fuck that shit.

Live and let live. Smash the machine with a sledgehammer...brandishing it at the snotty feminazi might be fun too. Who the hell cares anyhow, her opinion has already been made and she's fit you into a box with all the other stereotypes in recent memory so why not go out with a bang? Brandish the sledgehammer and its attempted assault. She pulls a gun and shoots your ass and she's heralded on the front page of the local paper as the courageous young woman who beat the odds and becomes the poster girl for feminine self-defense classes everywhere. How typical.

Speed away in the car you pay an exorbitant amount of money to insure toward the waiting police cruiser who might have let you off with a warning if you had the gift of cleavage and could cry on command and pout seductively. Ain't that just a bitch.

Fine line blurred but the line is still there. Fight for the right to just be you, forget the balls and the dick, just a human sans gender bullshit. Shed a tear, watch a "chick flick", ask for directions when you're lost and hold your head high despite the societal shift in favor of the "fairer" sex.

Pick some friggin flowers in a sun kissed field already so you can smell the roses for once cause it's truly never been tougher being you

"Contemplation" - a freestyle of sorts....

2007-04-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Stop the masses....Behind rose colored glasses I see reality as I have made it. Strange realization in the distance the cloud of resitance never can quell this persitence to break through the pestilance swarming my mind to the point that I can not find what is, infact, right in front of me. Take it on the run I carry this gun, with Napalm fun I slaughter the soldier barackading my inner peace. Whisper thoughts of distaster into my ear that which I dare not admitt to fear, always stear clear yet find myself in it's haunting gaze none the less.

What has happened to the last dog of war, barked up the wrong tree long before I could settle the score, shoot straight to the core and find the door to eternity. Tattered, torn, and worn, I blindly work my way through myself to the site I was born or reborn perhaps, over land mines passed subconscious signs in the confines of my soul. Where did it lead me? Could it have ever really freed me? Has anyone in here seen me...broken party of one, call on line none, tell tale sign of what is to come.

But what is to be found, a shadow of redemption without a sound of pretention I present myself for scrutiny and inspection. Rose colored glasses lay broken on the ground and with thorns crowned I martyr myself to my inner demons. Strung from the gallows, read my last rights I set my sites off in the distance to sleepless nights when the sun couldn't rise without a tear shed from the eyes of she who is bound now in these ties.

Without trial straight to execution, retribution approaches to heed the call before my last fall from which out of the depths I'd be forced to crawl. Reason for being is what I am now seeing, darkness parts freeing me from the confines of self-consecration and the degredation of an entire inner nation.

Who is he that holds my hand now, leads me away from the hell I would allow? Follow the swallow far from the sorrow, take me to the light that envelopes the night I had endured for so long. No need to run with the gun any longer, except to protect my heart that straight from the start fell where I didn't expect it to fall....

Three

2007-04-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

Heat

2007-04-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

The death of inspiration

2007-04-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Wow. With the click of a single image inspiration has been thrown right out the window and utter confusion has stepped in to fill the void over what could have ever possessed Cecily Brown, one of my greatest inspirations, to give up on being the incredible entity she once was.

Now I know this is entirely subjective and many might think the monstrosity above to be a shining example of "high art". Yet to me, an artist who was first inspired by Brown's early work as a sophomore in college in 2002 and was so taken by the seductive complexity, clever sexual puns and in your face provocation of her creations that to gaze upon the work above with its sloppy execution, muddy palette, and predictable and overdone subject matter I feel like the child realizing for the first time Santa Claus is a figment of the imagination. And that just sucks.

We've seen it before. The legendary tales of Picasso's utter arrogance, signing a blank piece of paper and telling creditors that should suffice. And the awful stick figures...artists giving up for all intensive purposes because they lost sight of their craft and only saw dollar signs in the value of their names and not the work they produced. Of course Picasso took several decades to get to that point.

So what's Brown's excuse? Already had her fill of being "revolutionary"? Her work only really broke out into the art scene less than a decade ago...is that all it takes? Nearly 10 years and enough collectors with deep enough pockets and you lose sight of why you painted in the first place? A master in her own mind. Hit the pinnacle before she's even given it much of a chance.

There is no excuse....

There is such a thing as "selling out" in the art world. And I don't mean painting what the masses, Forbes, and Art in America deem to be hot commodities. I mean becoming so self-involved and diluted you actually believe anything you create should be revered and will be the talk of Sotheby's. Oh...and thanks Gagosian Gallery for being so pretentious that you actually snatched up the above piece like it's something to truly be proud of. The celebration of mediocrity. Maybe for a lesser artist that piece would be an accomplishment, but it should atleast be aknowledged that Brown has taken several steps back in the artistic journey.

That should not be celebrated. It should be pittied.

Summer Field

2007-04-09T10:43:00.000-07:00