Long Time No See

If you are reading this, fantastic! With all the blogs and bullshit to read, I appreciate you reading mine.

The Good News is a large commissioned painting is done. The varnish has cured and will soon be shipped to its rightful owner. It was a test in patience and self-love and I will be sad to no longer have it decorating my walls.

Universe Energy Conduit (Yggdrasil still lives) 36"x 24" mixed media

Song of the moment: "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)" by Beck

Color obsession: Black

Fun word: superfluous

An (unfortunate?) Aspect of an Artist's Temperament

Wow. So, the last time I posted was back in February and one could assume that I had died or absconded to some strange corner of the world with no network connection, but I've been actually been buried in the mist of living life. And as always, it seems to get more hectic the moment I think I have a good handle on thangs.

I have fallen into an artist-specific trait of "Just Drawing/Painting/Sculpting" (basically working)and generally not following through with the well-intentioned updating of the website/blog/facebook or any socializing, although I have been better on the FB posts as it's usually pretty instantaneous and requires no real writing effort. And for reals, I know to be "viable" I have to update on a regular basis. But, really, all I think most of the time is "fuuuuuck that shit. I got some art to do." This is also present in Justin Sweet's recently updated site, which has new work and is, as always, so friggin' cool it's not surprising that he's a huge influence for me.

Anyways, here's some photos that I have posted via Facebook but will be a good li'l artist and post here as well.

ze tiga-a sketch that started somewhere else

"Be a Good Girl"

"Smoke Hyena of the Future Plains"

"Laundry Clairvoyant" in progress

"Tiny Senorita"

"Smoke Hyena of the Future Plains" is a mixed media acrylic and pencil painting. "Tiny Senorita" is gouache and water color on a 2"x3" trading card. "Laundry Clairvoyant," essentially one piece of collage, laundry drying on lines in the sun, on lace affixed surface, is an in progress work.

I will endeavor to be better about posting, although I will most likely fail.

Color: plum
Sound obesssion: Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album
Word of the moment: Hootenanny

A Different Kind of Art: Elaborate Debauchery

Back on Memorial Day weekend, I drove from San Francisco in the wee hours of the morning after only catching 3 hours of interrupted sleep (a big "thank you" to my shitty fuck neighbor who can't seem to learn how to be quiet) to Reno to be apart of some really amazing art magic.  The five hour drive through some pretty heavy rain and then snow (SNOW! In May!), I ended up at my friend and artist extraordinaire Franz Szony's home to be in his new photographic painting.
Franz, if you haven't already Googled his name or don't know his work, you should and will.  To sum up, he is superlative, creating work that breaks out of the bland, safe and by-the-numbers schlock created by fame seekers who call themselves "artists" but don't do anything for art except making really great work stand out easily. 
Anywho, I met Franz back when we both attended art college, and shortly after meeting him he asked me to model for one of his photography projects.  I said yes, because deep down, I love playing dress up and pretend.  It's a great way to indulge, in an adult way, my inner child...the loud, energetic, powerful little girl who dreamed of becoming an artist and a paleontologist and believed, for a short time, that the Moon was white because that's where all the Unicorns lived.
Below is Franz's latest fine art piece entitled "All or Nothing," which debuted at his one-man show Hapenis at Project One Gallery in San Francisco this past July.
This video is a behind the scenes look at the process, the people, the artistry of being on a Franz Szony shoot, shot by the talented Johnny B. Hicks.

"All or Nothing" by Franz Szony

The end result: there I am, in a very expensive dress on loan from Furne Amato (who does wicked fun with clothing design like nobody's b'dness), Franz's Marie Antoinette wig he created himself, and his "Hocus Pocus" jacket.  I call this woman "Marie Antoinetta" and yes, I was really thinking about how to steal that wig.  So there is Marie Antoinetta, holding gold chains and what were roses(and were changed to hygraneas) in this elaborate debauched gilded cave filled with her sad memories, chained to her will, but surrounded by all the dead relationships she's destroyed or let collapse. And look at those poor folks...they are on the verge of death and are still forcing themselves to act happy. (Such great models)
For me, seeing this in its completed form, is such a masterpiece, I'm in such awe of him.  I've seen Franz change and evolve over the years and this is so flawless...I love it.  I'm proud to have been apart of this.

What is not shown is Johnny B. holding my waist so I could get the proper lean back pose, which I was having quite a bit of trouble doing because the dress was, of course, a size too small, and there was no way I wanted to pop a stitch or a gem off of that piece of magnificence.  It was exhausting, but goddamned if I was going to miss an opportunity to spend time with someone I have great respect and love for, helping Franz create his art.  I am blessed and am always humbled when I see his work, and more, the work I'm in, because it's not so much that he has the ability to make me look smokin' hot (and feel like a billion muthafuckin' dollars), but I get to be creative in a way that I don't actively do anymore.  It's truly some of the most fun I have, being on a shoot for him.

Dankë schön to Franz and the super talented and generous folks who helped make this possible.

Song of the moment: "Survivalism-remix" by Nine Inch Nails with Saul Williams
Color obsession: Raspberry
Word that make ya sma'ta': Superlative

"Prolapse Murmur" in progress

I have dubbed this piece in progress "Prolapse Murmur," although that title can change at any point until it's varnished.  I brought more layered dripping and have added some collage material that I believe makes the piece more interesting.  I thoroughly enjoy the skulls in the background and may start doing some larger paintings of them in the near future.

I think after this one is finished, it will be the last Heart piece I do for a while.  Or maybe not.  Who the fuck knows, 'coz I definitely don't (Ha!).  I have created so few pieces in comparison to the experiences to explore, and it has also a great learning process, although why I am surprised is beyond me.  I think that's one of my favorite things about doing art; you literally learn more about yourself and what you can do each time. I'm pretty sure I'll paint some more of these as time goes on, as my thoughts and feelings change, as perspectives and Time is often known to do.  But the first set is, of course, Rage and Shame based.  Oh to be an artist! Laughing like a lunatic and crying bunnies all around =) 

Song Obsession: "Seabeast" by Mastodon
Color of the moment: Bruise turquoise
Words that make ya sma'ta': Penultimate

Drippings Making Happy Happenings

So with all the holiday shenanigans and otherness that's been going on, I know I've been remiss in my blogging duties, so I am typing away, hoping to create some interesting reading for all y'alls.
I finally have photos (properly corrected, of course) of the large painting; from the first night laying down color-runs and then moving onto finding specific things in the canvas, bringing them out, and now, painting the actual focus.

So, there you go. 2012, already lookin' better than 2011...thank god. Oh and Gung Hey Fat Choy. Make the year of the Water Dragon, 'cause it's supposed to be a exhilarating ride.

Color Obsession: Pthalo Blue
Song Discovery: "The Heart's a Lonely Hunter" by Thievery Corporation
Words that make ya smarter: Pastiche

Get Off My Stage and Dream Shaman

Entitled Get Off My Stage. This is what I think Billy Corgan really thinks of all the people who say that the Pumpkins suck, that their not the Pumpkins because only half (now only 1/4) of the original band is touring/recording. Well, at least this is what I would do, what I feel when people try to tell me what to do. A big middle finger to the Naysayers.



And this is the very long anticipated finish of Dream Shaman that I did for the surrealist part of Eccentric Illustration last semester (fall '08). This is what changed the way I work, really unleashing my brain on myself and letting it free to do whatever it is that needs to be done. These are all ink squirts...wouldn't you like to know what goes on in my head. LOL