Today I am a Publisher

Blogging is so wonderful. I can wear whatever hat I dream of. Last week I was a paparrazi and a rug designer. Today I am a publisher of art books. If I were a millionaire, here are the first three books I would like to produce. They are by amazing flickr users. Come travel around the world with me. Our first stops are India, Japan and Russia.

First stop, India. To me India is temples, loving hands and passionate color that I can almost smell. This is how I experience it through the magic of flickr user, Nairvee. She is a master at capturing colorful geometric precision as well. I highly recommend her set.

See more of Vineeta's work at her wonderful blog, artnlight.

Next stop, Japan. Ta's work is like a slow-paced, contemplative movie. I literally get swept away by his magic. I experience Japan through the wonderousness of his model. She is stunningly gentle, every action is done with reverance. Experiencing the magic of Ta is a welcome break when mundane reality becomes too fast and too loud.

Look at those hands. Even the way she holds a cup is an artform!

Our next stop is Russia. And our next book for the coffee table is from flickr user Chelakmaxim. In my youth, my lover and I frequented the arthouse and chatted spiritedly with other film lovers. Sadly this is something we no longer do, life is simply too hectic. But thanks to Chelakmaxim, I feel as if I am in an art house, and I experience Russia through the poised intellectual ennui of his models. I can almost hear the trance music and smell the smoke.

Thank you to flickr users Nairvee, Ta and Chelakmaxim for taking me away from mundane reality for a little while. And thank you for being an inspiration! I believe Steigletz would be proud.

What I'm reading

This is a must read for any artist trying to find themselves. I wanted to pull a quote from the book to post here - but it was impossible to find just one. Not only should anyone who wants to be an artist read this, but they should carry it with them and refer to it any time they feel discouraged. This slim volume is nothing short of profound.

To my fellow creative traveler, Vineeta. Thank you for recommending this book to me at a pivotal point in my life and for your support since the very beginning of this wonderful endeavor.

Marketing People are Geniuses

Logo design from National City Bank.

Logo design is an art form. I am consistently in awe of the creativity and genius that goes into graphic design. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the talented people who work in marketing out did themselves. Everywhere I looked were beautiful pink logos.  Also bought a beautiful pink filing cabinet on the cheap from Staples.  And leave it to Campbell's soup to do a tribute to women as well as to Warhol. I don't ever remember seeing a pink commemorative soup can before!  I love it! I want to line up multiples of this fab can on my kitchen shelf.

Thanks to National City Bank and Campbell's soup for making the world a little more pink, and hence a lot more beautiful.

TGIF!

I was a paparazzi at lunchtime today. There was so much beauty all around me I didn't want to stop clicking! SNL & BB - thanks so much for the new camera!

Here are a few of the things I saw.

Shoes for a New Year's Eve party. They have a zipper in the back. How cool is that?

Even though I'd need a wheelchair to wear them, I'd still look fab because I'd wear this dress with them. Every girl needs to let the inner vamp out sometimes.

These shoes make a little more sense. They look infinitely more walkable, and let's face it - every girl needs a pair of lucite shoes.

Dig this Hello Kitty Bag. I swear I'm really five years old. Of course if I bought this bag, I'd have to have pink boots to go with it.













And dig these goof balls! They actually light up! Looks like pop art to me. One of each, please.
How much is that poster in the window?

I love me some Tokidoki.


Just 'cause it's an important cause, doesn't mean the poster can't be pretty. Love and want this. This artist and I are in sync. I've been painting with ice blue a lot lately.
A lovely siren posed for me.

There were so many beautiful people I wanted to photograph. Hey, forget Paris, Britney, Lindsey, Nicole, Angelina, Katie, etc. "Ordinary" people are infinitely more fascinating.

I thought I'd better eat before I got back to my last-minute rush jobs. Okay, just one more pic. Look at this groovy light fixture. I want it for my dining room.

Finally, I sat down to an Atkins lunch. A gyro salad. The guy who served it to me was wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt and told me how great revolutionaries are motivated by love for their people. He was so cute I wanted to take his picture, but I was afraid to ask.

Yum! Herein lies my hypocrisy. I'm not a vegetarian. Wish I was. But you'll never catch me wearing leather or fur. Is it 5:30 yet?

Oh No! Chiasso!

OMG - look what Chiasso went and did now! My latest obession. The wing vase. I need these. Honestly, there is no shortage of beautiful things. What's a girl to do?

Karen Zilly

All images from Shenspace.

If I had a choice of any contemporary artist to train with, I wouldn't even have to think twice. It would be Karen Zilly, hands down. In my opinion, she is one of the finest painters of our time. I love images of Buddhas, and have been experimenting with painting Buddha faces. But, if I can't paint like Ms. Zilly, there is really no point.

Her canvases are full of love. They are ethereal and romantic. Deeply contemplative. And so soft. In fact, I find her soft hand almost unprecedented. These paintings seem as original as possible (keeping in mind that there is no such thing as true originality). That is, I really can't pinpoint an artist whose influence is evident in her work. However, I am sure there will be artists who will be influenced by Ms. Zilly's work.

I love all of her paintings and would love to commission a very large painting of Lord Shiva and his consort Sakthi to hang in my bedroom. I love how her faces seem to appear through rain. Currently, I am working on an art project attempting to capture the romance of rain. If I master this project, perhaps I should attempt to paint Buddhas again. But as I said, if I can't paint like Ms. Zilly, what's the point? Ms. Zilly - do you have any openings in your gallery in New York?

Here is my own painting of a female Buddha, which is more graphic and very different in style than Ms. Zilly's.

Female Buddha, 2007. Approximately 11" x 14", acrylic on canvas.

Oh Papillon! Dedicated to My Mom

This sublime image is from flickr user MissKittyKat.

When I was a kid my mom had a tee shirt that was one of my favorites. It said "Oh, papillon!" and had butterflies all over it. My mother loved butterflies. Lately I have been seeing butterflies everywhere and they always make me think of her. My mother was a free-spirit at heart and to me the butterfly is the ultimate symbol of freedom.

This cute bowl is from Urban Outfitters. This would make a great Christmas present for my mom.But it wouldn't be enough. Perhaps she'd also like this Isaac Mizrahi bedding from Target.

And just leave it to Martha Stewart! Doesn't she just think of everything? A butterfly reath for the holiday season!

A search for butterflies at Etsy, revealed this print called "how i got my stutter" by Madelaine. I was instantly touched by this at once lovely, yet somber print. Here is a complicated soul, I thought, a real artist, perhaps deeply touched by the fact that butterflies are endangered. She said it better than I in her description: "... and i'm a sixteen-year-old self-representing artist specializing in artistic photography and digital art. I hope you enjoy my art, as each piece was a joy and tragedy to create - you'll find my metaphorical heart in each one."

Wow! You go, girl! Only 16 and so deep, I suspect that Madelaine is an old soul. Madelaine intuitively understands the purpose of art - to express the complexity that makes up a human being - the dichotomy between joy and tragedy.

It fascinated me to contemplate what the upside down butterfly about to get immersed in tea represents. Perhaps the burning desire to fly away thwarted? Perhaps the deep longing to be understood and to feel free to express uniqueness? Perhaps like my own mother who wanted to be a hippy but was saddled with great responsibility at too young an age. I think my mom would deeply feel this print, so perhaps this will be her Christmas present.

Madelaine, thanks for being an inspiration! Please promise me you will never stop creating and that you will never for one moment think that you are not an artist. You are.

Oops. This was meant to be a light-hearted ode to the butterfly and has taken on a new life. Much like the butterfly itself who is a master of metamorphosis.

Once, I called my love a butterfly. He asked me what color his wings were. Why purple, of course, I said. The thought of flying away together with those purple wings inspired this painting. I hope that this painting conveys wistfulness and freedom tempered with protection. Exactly what a butterfly deserves.

Big Purple Wings, 2005, 18" x 24", acrylic and marker on canvas

Found!

OMG - just look what I found on the curb! I have been wanting new chairs for my dining area for a while, which I wrote about here.

Euro Saarinen Tulip Chairs! I love them. I had been coveting Kim at Desire to Inspire's fab chairs, and love her redo. The paint and the fabric look great. Wonder if her busy schedule would permit her to travel to the U.S. and redo my chairs? I actually like the foot of Kim's chairs better, but hey what are you gonna do for free?

I knew I would attract chairs. Here's how the laws of attraction work. Objects are a part of the dynamic movement of the universe, they should never remain static. Hoarding actually creates scarcity, not abundance. When I want something new, I create a vacuum to be filled. For example, I recently gave this beauty away. The legs were broken and the person who wanted it said they would fix it. I was glad it was getting a good home. As it travelled away, I thanked it for serving me.

Then poof! A few days later, I spoted my new beauties on the curb! I almost ran a red light in my excitement. There were actually six of these wonders on the curb, but I only took two. Hey I'm not greedy, I like to spread the wealth around. Also, my apartment (and car) are small. Oh boy! A new project. I'd like to spray paint them a high gloss white. Now what fabric to use to cover the cushions?

I think I have it narrowed down to one of these:

Or maybe I should do one of each? The blue is satin and the pink is vinyl. Any suggestions regarding fabric or painting techniques (bear in mind that I am lazy) would be greatly appreciated! I was playing with my vases last night and am loving this color scheme:

Stay tuned for after pics. I hope to complete this project this weekend.

My Favorite Vintage Store

Last night I needed a pick-me-up so I went to my favorite vintage store. It worked wonders! I thought I'd share a little of what I saw. They have great furniture, clothes, art glass, ceramics, posters, pillows and, of course, lamps. It was difficult to stop clicking! Hope you enjoy.

Just look at that acrylic table! Love it!

I am kind of surprised because I want the following blue chair, lamp and bottles. Thank God for the digital images. They take up a lot less room and cost a lot less.

I think these bottles are totally groovy and fit with my Hindu-Moroccan vibe. But way expensive.