Posts from — March 2009

Eep! Not only is this an alert sound on the classic Mac OS, but I said it as well. I didn’t get around to writing up my weekly “what inspires me” post yesterday. The good thing is, I’m writing up about it now! One day late… well almost two days, not too bad, right?

I’m pretty stoked to do some show n’ tell about Tori Amos with you all. I’ve been a fan of her music for… let me think… seven years now. It’s funny that I’m writing about her, to be honest, in the last year I haven’t listened to her much. I own her latest album titled American Doll Posse… and have maybe listened to it only twice. Writing up this post has been good for me to get back into her music (I’m actually listening to that album right now). Four years ago I had the pleasure of seeing her perform live. My jaw dropped seeing how she jumps back and forth between four keyboards & pianos. My oh my, she’s got talent.

Not only has her music influenced me, but I absolutely love all of her albums’ art. They are visually stamped in my brain, if that tells you anything. They are very representational of her and the lyrics that she whimsically belts out. Since I’ve imported all my music into iTunes, my CDs rarely see light these days. They are all tucked away in storage. This last week I pulled them out so I could scan them to share. Pulling things out of storage always takes longer than I anticipate. I’m the type of person that likes to pull everything out, I love to reorganize and easily get nostalgic over pieces of paper… in this case, album art. Before I start listing a few of favorites below, I first wanted to show you the huge Tori Amos print that hangs in my living room- framed by my good friend Steve. This print is from her ‘98 album, From The Choirgirl Hotel.

The image below comes from the same album. The CD booklet folds up into three sections. I love how it looks like a miniature Tori was laid on a photocopier. Dramatic shadows- love, love, love!

Speaking of a miniature version of Tori, her album Under The Pink has been the most influential to me as an Artist. Below you can see a tiny version of Ms. Amos (on the right) laying among twigs, wings, syringes, eggs, and microscope slide. I love the combination of nature & scientific elements and how they make a path spiraling inward. Someday I hope to see a larger version beyond the 4 3/4″ CD booklet, even if I have been spoiled with my humongous framing. The Under The Pink booklet also includes a closer image of Tori and her root-like hair, which I happily scanned and posted below.

After looking over these images and falling in love with them, I’ve wondered what the artist’s or designer’s process was like, from the brainstorming step and to the development one. But maybe I would dislike it if the steps were broken down right in front of me. Would this spoil the mystery and amazement of these photography pieces?

My 12th piece has been completed! I drew snake grass that I found on Sauvie Island. Off to the right you can see an old map of Omaha.

Monday, Monday, Monday… hey, let’s go back to the weekend!

Over the weekend I had a chance to snap some better pictures of my work titled Breathing Fidelity (original) which is for sale in my Etsy Shop here.

A little info about this work: Raindrops evolve into delicate snowflakes while coffee spills and orbs float around them. This original art of mine measures 5″x7″ and is behind glass, which has stencil graffiti of a honeycomb pattern.

When I was 5 or 6 years old I was given a porcelain doll with long brown locks for Christmas, or maybe it was for my birthday… I’m not for sure. I remember being excited to get her but that’s as far as my interest with dolls went. I was more into creative artsy activities and definitely a Legos kind of girl. She sat propped in a rocking chair on the shelf until she made her way into a garage sale years later. I’m surprised she stayed as long as she did in my bedroom. To be honest, I was rather spooked out by her beady eyes staring at me in the middle of the night. So why am I now having an interest in Blythe dolls? For those that don’t know, these dolls have very large eyes which definitely are eerie. Their captivating eyes are color changing from blue to green to orange to pink. The more I’ve thought about these mysteriously strange characters, I’ve realized that that is part of their attraction. The chances of me owning one are very slim, the price ranges for NEO’s are from $80 to $3,000. Below are some great Blythe finds. Thanks to the following for letting me share them!

Chocolate and Toffee Pixie Hat

AmandaRuth’s Etsy Shop

Oona via via jemmielina’s Flickr

CherryMillie via jemmielina’s Flickr

Handknit Bobble Hat

PetitTricotage’s Etsy Shop

Doll Sized Acorn Necklace – Green on Brass

via Art School Dropout

felted helmet

Bigsmudgeuk’s Etsy

Vintage Handkerchief Eden Halter Dress

silkenstone’s Etsy

Good evening to you all. Whew, it’s 10:00! I’m wondering where all the hours of the day went. With trying to keep my eyes open, I have an Etsy shop announcement to make.  For those out there requesting the owl to come back, here is the lil’ guy. AND he has a milky white frame around him…

A Bit Befuddled print with frame

(click image to purchase & to see more info)

Also, there has been a request for some original artwork of mine to be available for purchase in the shop. So here I present to you “Breathing Fidelity” and it also comes with a frame… of avocado green goodness.

Breathing Fidelity original artwork with frame

(click image to purchase & to see more info)

78, that’s the page I’ve made it to thus far… of The Virgin Suicides. Recommended by a close friend back in Nebraska, who has also recommended The Bell Jar. Do you ever have those moments when you are fully engaged into the world of reading novels? I think I have reached that point for the first time in my life. Thanks to Multnomah County Library and cold evenings, I’m currently reading three books: The Effects of Light, The Bell Jar, and alas The Virgin Suicides. I’ve been this way about art and design books in the past and now novels have taken their role. I think I’m becoming a book worm, seriously. I look forward to when the day grows to an end, throwing the tea kettle on the stove and sitting on my comfy chocolate suede couch, sipping and reading. Speaking of tea… over the weekend a friend and I made a drive up (in rush hour traffic I might add), to Ikea. I purchased two sets of these darling mustard colored coffee cups and saucers, they are perfect in every way. I’m a little persnickety when it comes to mugs.

image source: Barnes & Noble

Anyway, back to the Virgin Suicides, I had watched the film years ago… visually it was beautiful, with warm colors and sun bursts. Now absorbing the story in another media… the words of Jeffrey Eugenides is so extraordinaire. I am fearing the melancholy ending, I know it’s not very pretty. I remember turning my eyes away from the television and asking whoever I was with to tell me when that scene was over with.

image source: Amazon

The soundtrack lives in my music library, I highly recommend listening to it. Anything that has to do with French music duo, AIR grabs my attention. On a side note, I hopped on over to Wikipedia and learned that, “The name AIR is a acronym for Amour, Imagination, Rêve which translates to Love, Imagination, Dream.” Interesting.

Lastly I discovered a nice Flickr group tributed, take a look here. I’m interested to hear your experiences relating to the film and novel, feel free to comment about them.

Congrats to Kotori, winner of the Standard Movement drawing, titled 00005! I wanted to graciously thank Jackie of Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle for taking the time to interview me and I also wanted to thank you all for the lovely comments on her post. For those out there that would like to purchase this print, it is for sale here.

Morning, morning, morning! I took a few snaps of my latest Standard Movement pieces. Did you notice how I caught some of the morning’s warm rays? He he. Yes, the photos below are a bit yellow but I’m not complaining, it will be nice to be reminded later of this sunny and cozy Friday morning!

Here are the beauties I worked on this week for your viewing pleasure…

“00009″

“00010″

“00011″

If you would like my Standard Movement Series to be displayed at your gallery or coffee shop this Spring… let’s talk! Feel free to drop me a line.

I’m pretty excited about this weekend! I’m going to hit up the local art store and do some experimenting with some new media. My heart is just fluttering thinking about it. Hope you all have a relaxing weekend!

PS: Just a reminder if you haven’t visited Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle’s blog, do so! For your last chance to enter the drawing to win some art of mine, go here. “Goodbye! Chances are not forever.” –Apostle of Hustle

Those darn gray clouds have gotten in the way of the midday sun here in Stumptown. For the most part I have accepted these typical March weather conditions of Portland… but today I have been pretty antsy for sunnier… warmer weather. Especially listening to the Black Kids (the band), they have that effect on me.

Thought I would give you a lil’ sneak peek of what I have been working on this week. I will be posting these new Standard Movement works Friday… which is tomorrow!

So I have decided on Wednesdays I’m going to share my inspirations. For the most part this will be a weekly occurrence. Last week was Sigur Rós and now this week I will take note about Coraline… Over the past weekend I went on a movie date with my love to see the eerie Coraline flick. Going to movies is a rare occurrence for us, since it’s so pricey. But we felt that Coraline could be a good reason to drop the 20 bill.  The internet waves first grabbed my attention about this movie. I came across articles that explained that Coraline was a stop-motion feature shot by LAIKA, which is located here in Portland and that it’s a FOCUS Feature… always a good sign. Also, I was excited that Henry Selick directed the movie, same director as James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas. An intriguing article about the creators (which I highly recommend reading at Willamette Week) is what reeled my theater viewing decision home. After watching the screening we even felt more confident about our viewing purchase. Yes, after watching Coraline I have to say it’s the best animated flick that I have seen in a long time.

image source: coraline.com

The Coraline website is full of spectral finds. You can download marvelous posters and desktop wallpapers that are actual wallpaper. And you can button your eyes in the Other Mother’s workshop, as shown below. (I was a little spooked out about buttoning my own eyes.)

Over the past year I become a button lover, I even catch myself daydreaming about finding tops accented with prim buttons. So when I saw this poster below, I fell in love.

Listed below are some of my other finds on Coraline.com…