OTT Pink, Two

I had many Barbie dolls when I was a kid.  My favorite was a 50s style Barbie Doll.  She was the epitome of elegance and had the best wardrobe.  As a teenager it seemed to me I needed to rid myself of childish things and I gave away my collection.  I still regret it.  I reminisced about my Barbies the other day as I watched My Six Loves (1963), an old Debbie Reynolds movie.  I gasped when I saw Debbie in this absolutely fab pink outfit.  She looked just like my coveted Barbie!  And my Barbie even had that outfit!

The outfit completely stunned me.  She looks amazing.  But can you imagine putting on all those clothes these days?  For me it's usually t-shirt, jeans and flip flops.

The poor dear fainted from exhaustion.  I'd probably faint if I wore that much fabric too.  But I've never seen anyone look better fainting.  I know what you must be wondering, as I am I.  What shoes does she have on?

Maybe something like this?  I want these shoes.  I adore how the wedge heal and platform toe are covered by the fabric.  I don't remember where I got this shoe.  My bad.  Kate Spade maybe?  Please contact me if you know the source.

Here is a cute dressing area, I see could Debbie sitting here.  Image Graham and Green.  If you love old Hollywood glamor and how it translates in design, check out sfgirlbybay's new feature Separated at Birth.  It's totally fun!

A Serious Man by the Coen Brothers

I adore the work of the Coen Brothers, so I was very excited to watch A Serious Man. It didn't disappoint. I was pleased to see this film nominated for an Academy Award (even though Avatar is going to win). The Coen Brothers' are superb writers. It's not easy to pull off a story about a man whose life is falling apart and not make it whiny. If you're a Coen Brothers' fan, you already know about their incredible character development. I love the characters in this film, they are all wacky and over-the-top, but a little subtle and controlled too. Hey, it's 1967 in the midwest.

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I have to admit I find Michael Stuhbarg's depiction of Larry Gopnik extremely sexy. I gotta thing for nerdy guys whose lives are falling apart. And oh yeah, he's a physics professor too. Awesome. I just want to hug him. I wish Michael would have been nominated for an Oscar, but at least we will probably get to see more of him since the film did well.

You gotta love how Professor Gopnik sticks out his butt as he explains Schrodinger's Paradox. Hey, it's 1967. Those pants have absolutely no give. At least they're not on the ground.

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My favorite scene occurs when Larry's quiet desperation leads him to Mrs. Samsky's door. Larry is trying to follow the hapless advice of a Rabbi who hints at being neighborly. Amy Landecker gives a remarkable performance as Mrs. Samsky. Mrs. Samsky is ultra hip ennui personified. Everything a 60s housewife should be.

She's a sad, nonchalant beauty.

Just look at her! No one could pull off that short set better. Love the colors. To Larry's surprise he is invited into Mrs. Samsky's home. Mr. Samsky is away.

Mrs. Samsky's pad is a reflection of her ultra cool. Look at that groovy lamp! Look at that groovy Moroccan stool next to the end table. I love movie sets.

Mrs. Samsky has an orange living room! Too fab.

She and Larry smoke a joint. Poor dear Larry, you know this is the first time he has lived in a very long time. As they comfortably sit in quiet sadness together, he speaks of his visit with a junior Rabbi. It turns out the junior Rabbi is the one who is correct. He spoke of our problems being a matter of perception. This really struck a cord with me.
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When we are feeling lost, it's a matter of perception. And perhaps we are looking at the world through tired eyes, the Rabbi says. Profound.
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The theme song by Jefferson Airplane says it perfectly. When the truth is found to be lies ... you better find somebody to love. That's really what it's about isn't it?

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Images: I photographed these from my computer while viewing the movie. Didn't turn out too bad.

Blogging - James Camerons' Avatar

As my readers know, I am not big on hype. I do blog about movies, but infrequently. I have been eagerly anticipating the movie Avatar. Even though I have been struggling with illness again, my best friend and I made the decision to see Avatar. Twice. Yesterday we viewed the 2D version. Today we viewed the 3D version because we wanted a comparison. I feel very privileged to have done so.

I am not exaggerating when I say that Avatar is a cinematic experience of historic proportions, not to be missed. This is a film that will sweep the Oscars, break all records and be talked about in film schools for the next hundred years. The 3D version of this film is miraculous, breathtaking. The film takes place on the planet Pandora which is occupied by one incredible species after another. The music coupled with the flora and fauna are a sensuous delight. The species most human-like are beautiful, agile, lythe beings who live peacefully with nature rather than attempting to dominate her.

The battles scenes are predictably Hollywood in that they drag on too long. I do, however, understand the business reasons for this. The movie was expensive and must generate huge profit, and a lot of people like that shit. I don't understand why, but that's not really the purpose of this post. The movie has enough spirituality for even the most nonviolent of souls, and even though there is a lot of battle, there is so much beauty.

Mr. Cameron's adept writing skills are to be commended. A less skillful writer may have been tempted to create a Utopian, overly didactic film. And while the film has an important and timely sociological perspective, it does not patronize. Without beating us over the head, Mr. Cameron has skillfully shown the atrocities imperialistic societies commit. For too long certain cultures of humans have justified the annihilation of indigenous cultures and the destruction of their land while stealing their resources. And he's done this in a way that is entertaining and enjoyable.

I am reminded of the time I saw Barbra Streisand in an interview. She was asked whether she would consider running for public office. Her reply (I'm paraphrasing) was that she could affect more change for good in one film than she could in years of public service. I think I fully understood the breadth of her words today.

I've said it many times - Art has the power to change the world. I look forward to seeing the change this film will bring about in our world. We are now on the brink of the second decade in the 21st century. We should have set aside our belief in war long ago.

Mr. President, you know I love you and support you. I've professed this love on this blog many times. I jumped up and down when you were awarded the Nobel peace prize. However, your Nobel acceptance speech was disappointing. No one will ever convince me that war is justified. Forgive the digression - see the movie.

Mr. Cameron, I look forward to your Oscar acceptance speech.

I will miss you

Dear Brittany, I will miss you. You recently gave me a piece of your soul. During a weekend of illness I was unable to get off the couch. And you lifted my spirits. I absolutely adored you in The Ramen Girl. Your loving depiction of a lost girl overcoming her considerable challenges filled my heart with optimism. Thank you for that gift. I watched the film over and over. In fact, I intended to watch the film with my dear nephew. I only watch the most special films with him. I thought he might enjoy it because he speaks often of becoming a chef. I don't think I will be able to watch the film again for a long time. Rest in peace, sweet angel.

Color Scheme: Hot Pink and Ice Blue

Last week I watched the movie Down with Love for about the 10th time. I watch it mainly for the wonderful costumes and set design.  I absolutely adore Barbara Novak's apartment, and it has me wanting to redo my apartment in a more retro-Barbie fashion.

Oh if only I could afford that pink sofa! And I adore those paintings. Her apartment has me thinking about one of my favorite color schemes once again. Hot pink and ice blue. It looks great with pops of green and tons of white. Here's some inspiration. Hope you enjoy!

Designers Guild.

My Mod Style.

Maybe I'll repaint my apartment. Love the pink walls and blue trim. Image from flickr user hippyxic.

I want that hot pink coffee table! Looks so sweet with the little blue vase. Image Living Etc.

Image Lucyina Moodie.

Barbara has a great collection of glass and ceramics. I'm thinking of mixing in some glass pieces with my ceramic collection. I adore these bristol blue pieces by Morgantown. Image Heart of America Glass Collectors.  I am itching to play with canvas. Is it Friday yet?

You don't have to be pretty ... or ... wish I'd said that

Venus Beauty Institute (1999)

I've been watching a lot of French film lately. I dearly love Audrey Tautou since seeing her in Amelie. I want to devote an entire post to Amelie, but today I would like to talk about the actress to the left. The wonderful Nathalie Baye.

I adored her in this movie. She's mean, she's unsettled, she's lonely, she's sad. And she's just too damn tired to give a shit that she's mean, unsettled, lonely and sad. She's way too tired to put on makeup and fix her hair, which is ironic because she works in the beauty industry. But somehow, her beauty still peeks through, and when she is gentle with her clients you sometimes get a glimpse of what she was before life was too cruel to her. A passionate man falls in love with her exactly the way she is.

I found myself identifying with this character. I'm no where near as mean as she (I hope), but some find my sensitivity challenging.   As a sensitive, artistic soul, I've never fit in corporate America so have not been able to achieve much success. But the days where I cared about that are long gone.

Several years ago, I left a good job. Well, truthfully, it didn't pay all that well, the benefits were good. But they wanted my entire life. I often worked until midnight, weekends, holidays. On those rare occasions I was home, my employer called.  A lot.  Even when I was sick.  I didn't have a vacation nor a raise in four years, and I was supposed to feel lucky that I had a job.  That's what they told me.  My existence was sleep, work, eat (usually at my desk), sleep, eat, work..... I never had time to do anything else.  They told me if I was unhappy that I should leave.  So I did.  Without having a new job lined up. A careless mistake that I paid dearly for.  But what do you do when you are so unhappy?

Since then my goal has been to simplify my life. I have an easier job that pays much less. A very small place, less stuff (could actually even have less). And...I'm beginning to feel happier.

As I watched Nathalie's character over and over, I figured a few things out. It's okay not to be pretty. And I thought a lot about an essay I discovered last year on this topic.

You don't have to be pretty. It's okay if you are not. Pretty is not a requirement, it should be fun, if it's what you choose and what you are comfortable with. Sometimes not having to be pretty is a luxury and is so freeing. At my current job, I can wear jeans and tennis shoes. I don't even have to wear makeup. Now here's the thing. My mother would shit if she read this. I often come to work with wet hair pulled into a bun and no makeup. I used to scurry on the street in dark glasses feeling ashamed, hoping I didn't see anyone I knew. No more. I walk with my head up. I don't have to be pretty, I don't owe it to anyone. If I feel like being pretty, I will. Right now what I feel like is freedom and comfort.

I walk down the street joyously sans panty hose. I marvel that my feet don't hurt for the first time in my life. And it's almost sexual to be able to rub my eyes. Perhaps being that comfortable with yourself is true beauty. We definitely need to give up all judgment of ourselves and others and just be easy.

Afterall, Nathalie's character found love without even trying, and maybe that's the lesson. Maybe we don't need to try so hard. Maybe just being comfortable with yourself is enough.

There is an amazing essay written by Erin at A Dress a Day, called "You don't have to be pretty." I have reread this essay about 100 times. Very profound. If I return to substitute teaching, I plan to share this with all young girls. I would like to encourage all women to read this essay.  Wish I'd written it. Erin and Nathalie, thanks for being an inspiration.

A Prolific Saturday

Last Saturday, July 28, was a prolific day. I don't know if the full moon had anything to do with it, but I was creative the whole day. Below I described the ingredients for creativity: music and/or movie, a painting(s) and a blank canvas(es).

The movie was Happenstance starring the lovely Audrey Tautou (my new favorite actress). P.S. I love Netflix! It was coincidental, if indeed coincidence exists, that the movie was about a full moon. I've seen this film many times. This particular day I just listened to the French words as if they were music. No, I don't speak French, but I love the sound of foreign languages.

I was deeply moved by the paintings of Reed Danziger. Her paintings are amazing, I wish I painted that well. They have particles and movement in them, and like my own swirls, make me think of creation. And while there is a lot going on in them, they are soft with a beautifully subtle use of color.


Okay, I paint no where near as skillfully as she, but man was I digging her work.

I was really digging Buff Monster, too. This is embarrassing to say, but I was completely naive about the subject matter of his paintings. I was so taken with his use of colors, and he had swirls and movement. Okay, I figured out what the swirls are and what the flower-like things are. I can be dense sometimes. Maybe his paintings are vulgar, but damn can he paint. And his use of pink is, well, perfect. He's probably best known by the toys he designs for kidrobot . But don't click on his link if you are faint-hearted.



So here's what you get during a full moon, while listening to French speakers and digging Reed Danziger and Buff Monster:


Untitled, 2007, 16" x 20", acrylic and marker on canvas. I could see this one in a hippy joint. More of the swirl motif.

Untitled, 2007. 16" x 20", acrylic and marker on canvas. Seems to be a combination of my graphic work and swirly work.

Untitled, 2007. 16" x 8", acrylic and marker on canvas. I wanted this one to look like a silkscreen. I love silkscreen, but I don't know how to do it.

Angels, 2007, 11" x 14", acrylic and marker on paper. I really love this one. I think I like my graphic work the best.

Dancing With Canvas

Here is an explanation about something that is probably better left unexplained. (Why do we humans use so many words?) This is how I create a painting. It is a symbiotic process. The ingredients are: a movie and/or music, a painting, a blank canvas.

I hear music and/or see a movie I like. Sometimes the movie is subtitled and I just listen to the beautiful words like they are music. Sometimes the movie has a soundtrack that moves me.
I see a painting that moves me. A blank canvas sits before me. Sometimes there is a plan, sometimes not. The dance begins. It is like going into a trance, and time stands still. Sometimes when I am done creating, I am surprised to see that 12 hours has gone by when it seemed like only a few minutes.

It was July 22, 2007.

The movie was Wim Wenders' film, Until the End of the World.

The painting was called Sweet Banana by Gabriela Trzebinski.


While watching Wenders' film I was intrigued by the Pigmy music that William Hurt's character played in the car. Equally intriguing to me were the aboriginal characters in the movie. How ignorant I am about aboriginal culture.

As I danced with the canvas, I thought about dreaming and creation. This is what I came up with:

Dark Angels, 2007, 24" x 24", acrylic on canvas.

By far one of my most eccentric paintings, at first I even felt a little afraid of it. Now I love it. I imagine these angels standing at the brink of creation and facing the pure potentiality unafraid. Swirls seem to be a recurring motif for me in my desire to express movement. I don't mean for it to sound pretentious or to over-intellectualize it because it's really about a feeling.