Hot Toddy

What Are We Looking For

2009-09-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a month since my last blog post. I know it seems like I take an occasional hiatus now and then, and this is true, but a new life has been metriculating slowly in my direction so it's not really an issue of commitment. I've gone against the grain in many respects (though not like Jean Des Esseintes)...I've been conducting myself a little differently, feeling and thinking differently...and definitely looking for change.

The question I ask myself frequently: What am I looking for? I think too often people find one thing, see that it works, and accept it regardless of it's condition and quality. Now that I'm progressing onto higher levels of education, where the listless have been supposedly weeded out, I'm starting to feel...that expected sense of anxiety that I think even those with predominantly level headed character traits still feel in times like this. I want to tattoo somewhere in the back of my brain: Don't settle, discriminate. There's a certain class of people who should feel it's their true calling to cast a discerning eye on life. Otherwise, how have you really lived? People say, question everything...but since when did tolerating everything and respecting everything also become morally just? These are two polar mantras and I'm feeling it in my bones (not just in my head) the absolute ludicracy of somehow accepting both ideaologies.

Place and Location

Sometimes you don't know how beautiful something is until you see it through a different filter. A movie might do it, or a book. I think I've found another reason why art is a valid element in society, it does for place what a cat scan does for the body or a good wine does to food. In order for these "filters" to really work, you have to seperate creation from creator, art from artist...briefly...and try to see and feel it in a universal way. I think children sometimes have the best grasp on this idea. Children, drunkards and stoners. The best of us can see and feel through filters without fairytales, wine, or marijuana.

One of my Dad's slides from India, I'm guessing on the Ganges. 1970's

One of my favorite filters...

My true love drowned in a dirty old pan
Of Oil that did run from the Block
Of a Falcon sedan 1969
The paper said '75
There were no survivors
None found alive

Trees break the sidewalk
And the sidewalk skins my knees
There's glass in my thermos
And blood on my jeans
Nickels and dimes of the fourth of july
Roll off in a crooked line
To the chain-link lots where the red tails dive
Oh how I forgot what it's like

- Neko Case, Star Witness

My Only Ties to Africa | New Blog Design

2009-07-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

The task has begun. Or rather, it began around 3 days ago when I acquired a film and slide Scanner (Arcsoft OVT)so that I could finally realize my dream of digitalizing my Dad's precious Africa slides. As mentioned in the previous post, my Dad's stay in Africa was through the University of Natal in Pietermaritzberg but encompassed nearly all of the South and some of the North (including Egypt). Here is but a taste of the wonders to come and trust me, they will come...hopefully in the form of a website dedicated to the collection which at times can be almost dream like!

I'm leaving the captions off these for now--to avoid rambling--but also so that the viewer might just enjoy the aesthetic quality of the unknown. Blah blah...

New Blog Design
I know that I just updated my layout some 6 or 7 posts ago, but after seeing Bobbi Brown's new Nude collection, my current color fascinations came to me alive and complete before my eyes and I was wont to resist.

This incredible manifestation of everything I hold dear to my rods and cones is quite pricey, but my experience with Bobbi Brown (we actually go way back, to a time in 7th grade when I was boredly rummaging through the used section of Powell's Bookstore in Portland and stumbled upon a Bobbi Brown makeup artistry book...the title evades me now)has been nothing but excellent. I've loved the quality of her gel eyeliners (voted best eyeliner by countless magazines for countless years in a row) and after a helpful consultation with Bobbi's online makeup artist assistant, I might just splurge for her new Caviar Ink shade. Might.

Many Old Stories | Family History

2009-07-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

I hope someday I will be wise enough to document my life in pictures so that my progeny will have photographic archives to learn from and enjoy. More importantly, I hope I will live a life worth documenting. My Grandmother's albums were acquired after her death in 1992. Sifting through them, I've found moments of periodic greatness worth sharing.

My Dad spent more than a year or so at the University of Natal (which is now the University of KwaZulu-Natal and includes a campus in Durban) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa after recieving his doctorate in plant pathology. During his stay, he did much travelling. The pictures above and below were produced from slides which I have found and intend to make digital...perhaps creating an entire website or blog devoted to shots of Africa in the early 1970's (an unusual time period for African photographic documentation..) I also scanned the backs of the pictures to show my Dad's original captions done using a typewriter.
One of my Dad's favorite stories is of how during his time in "the lab", he refused to use some of the newer word processors of the time and opted instead for typewriters. His collegues laughed at him. He preffered being able to type on any 2D surface as opposed to more limited formats.

One of my favorite pictures from the collection, Rhodesia is now Zimbabwe (and was known as Southern Rhodesia under British rule until April 1980). The Peugoet took him everywhere.
______________________________________

My Dad has had a few good cars in his day, aside from the Peugeot. This VW Carmen Gia (originally Karmann Ghia) convertable from the late 50's looks like a graduation present...today it's worth up to $15,000 if perfectly restored. One day I'd like to get one.

I recall my Dad mentioning something about his first car being bought with spare change he collected over years and years (typical old man story). Perhaps this ivory colored beast? From the hood ornament, it looks like a Cadillac. I'll have to ask.

This is the VW Notchback I grew up riding in...proof my Dad is terribly oldschool. The picture is taken in front of my Grandparent's old home in Culver City, California before the thing had deer dents in it.

__________________________

Growing up my Dad was an avid player of the accordian (which he didn't love) and a skilled horse trainer (which he did love) under the guidance of a guy he calls "Red Kennedy". He also loved cats, and still does.

With some black bear cubs in Yellowstone.

_____________________________________

My Dad with early, somewhat primitive looking lab equipment. This could be at Oregon State or University of California in Davis..or the Netherlands. He wrote many papers on things like Potatos and Filberts.

_________________________________________________

My Grandmother much later, on a bus touring Europe. The surrounding photographs were from Vienna.

Krazy Kat | High Yellow Notes | Gloria Swanson

2009-07-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

The weather, for the foreseeable future, is awful. Downcast, tepid air, dank...the sky spits on us from above! However, this is of no concern. For my plans--dear ones--were to paint, read, and gamble away precious hours cavorting through the interwebular world (this last one needs no justification, I've uncovered many many life changing and fabulous things by 'wasting time'--and money). In fact I did put in a very satisfying amount of work. I set-up a pleasurable still life and proceeded with a canvas (a material I don't usually use) of a fairly large size (something I've been meaning to do) with the hopes of attaining something of the more classical approach. I feel successful and you'll just have to wait for the evidence.

The Krazy Kat

It's curious to ponder all the new fangled ways the Internet allows for total stagnation. PRODUCTIVE stagnation, even. For example, these wonderful Shorpy finds have me longing for my own group of les bohemes and with our own bohemian tree-house cafe-bar!

The Krazy Kat Club in Washington D.C. featured some sort of...classy vagabond tree fort dining/smoking/painting area...a more primitive way to waste time. These photos are from 1921.

High Yellow Notes

The following paintings are proving to be huge inspirations for me and my current artistic ventures.

Van Gogh, Vincent: "Harvest", 1888

Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri: "At the Moulin Rouge", 1890

Van Gogh, Vincent: "Nature Morte Aux Oranges"

Van Gogh, I think, was referring to "Harvest" when he spoke of achieving his high yellow note. So so beautiful, this is what I admire about paint!

Timeless Fashion Muse

Strong, ethereal-- Elle est la femme fatale extraordinaire. Gloria Swanson's beauty is flanked by rich fabrics and feathers. There is not a single reason why grace like hers could not be achieved this very day.

Garance | Decorative Muse | Parbuckles

2009-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit upset that it took me so long to discover the wonderful-amazing fashion (and photography)blog by illustrator Mme. Garance Doré. Her street fashion photography is truly inspiring, and so characteristically French (that is, unless she is in New York..or some other part of the world!). Garance currently has a display up at the Holt Renfrew in Vancouver, so I've heard.

From "Yesterday, At Dries", a beautiful older woman epitomizes a classic and timeless sense of fashion. Not overdone, not too busy, not too structured. Natural, great silhouette, excellent details.

One of Garance's friends has begun a line of very fashionable and unique frames in subtle colors such as 'crystal gray' (a milky taupe) and "Zebra horn". The frames are each named after a major city (Rome, Paris, New York etc.) and seem duly fitted with characteristics from each respective metropolis. I've been struck with the realization that my eye wear collection is limited to one (albeit expensive) pair of fairly new J.F. Rey's...pretty weak. I would love to invest in a pair of hand crafted daring frames from the Prism line! You can view the line at thePRISM homepage.

A photograph from the now deceased Domino Magazine, the color scheme, choice of fixtures, textures, and materials basically represents everything I am feeling aesthetically at the moment. It's simply the most beautiful indoor decorating arrangement I've come across.

The Hovey blog brought me a store called Parbuckles --specializing in nautical,safari, and campaign furniture (SO suitable for the aforementioned blog's aesthetic). This unique rattan "bar trunk" would be a beautiful and classy addition to any salon. Best of all, you can pack it up and move it on the fly. One pretty penny (more like $3,299) will get you this beauty.

Cream Colored Ponies

2009-06-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

My iPod has been sitting in one of my many handbags for weeks now; neglected, scratched up, battery drained. Part of it is probably just my preferance for the sound quality of CDs and also, it's summer (though judging by the overcast skies and rain, I could be wrong)...I can't be bothered with technology and updating my iTunes. On top of this, my Leeroy Jenkins iPod skin gives me mild headaches when I look at it and I've come to the conclusion that even music must be aesthetic for me. With that said, a new skin is in order! These ones have been customized with my artwork...favorites, anyone?

"American Passage"

"Tarts"

"Hummingbird"

Okay, I didn't do this one...but it's potentially my favorite painting in the entire world. And to think, I first saw it in an issue of Veranda...
"Nature Mort Aux Oranges" - Vincent Van Gogh

Browsing Molly Young's website full of insightful and witty comments about...anything, I happend upon this delightful yellow lounge from the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I wish I knew more about it.

Bob Willoughby--photographer of the cinema, whoes work was "literally never out of print for one week during his 20 year career in films"--has a flickr photostream up of his Audrey Hepburn shots.

Here she is getting into some big beautiful American beast.

A Few Summertime Considerations..

2009-06-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

You can't exactly compare summer in Washington to summer in the rest of the greater United States. After pretty brutal winters(or maybe just annoying when you consider freezing temperatures on the east coast..)Summer in Washington is possibly the most beautiful around. Void of the humidity and heinous touristy types, the occasional overcast day is an afterthought once the sun comes out and the world turns green (for a while). Here are a few aesthetic assets (some necessities, I swear!) that I would love to have and a couple that I do.

1.Deadly Ponies - Mr. Zipalot Bag {Bonadrag.com $425}
2.Erica Weiner - Hummingbird Skull Necklace {Bonadrag.com $80}
3.Skeem - Amber and Clove Pillar Candle {Skeemshop.com $22}
4.Dolce Vita - Rayne Heel {Urbanoutfitters.com $178}

ASOS - Woven Metal Tassle Drop Earrings {ASOS.com Now $4.23!}
Minka Aire - Brushed Nickle Retro Desk Fan {Lampsplus.com $69}

Laurel Hurst Fan Company - Casablanca, Venice, and Parkview Wall Mounts{Laurelhurstfancompany.com $499 -$695}

According to Skeem, the pillar candles will burn for 90 hours and I haven't been timing myself but I burn mine incessantly throughout the day and it's only down by maybe 1/8th. The ASOS earrings are also SUCH a deal, they look lovely and can be seen when my hair is down.

Summer Atmospherics

2009-06-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

Last week I picked up copies of Lykke Li's "Youth Novels" album and another Madeleine Peyroux (her best according to some) by the name of "Careless Love". I'd been wanting these two for a while now but simply hadn't found the funds in my meager budget for music. It's funny that something so aesthetically important can't compete with my love for fashion...

Regardless of "Youth Novels" quality as an album, Lykke Li is an artist that I admire on so many levels. Her sound is not quite groundbreaking, but she does have an incredible knack for picking out simple but yet high impact melodies. I would describe her music as an assortment of primitive/tribal electronic sounds with folky undertones set in an urban background. And I hope my initial comment didn't phase you, because I really do believe that "Youth Novels" is a great album with equally great songwriting. Try "Let it Fall" and "Little Bit" to experience something that could easily have been pseudo-Bjork or "hipster" but rose above both of those things, artistically speaking.

I began listening to Madeleine Peyroux towards the end of the spring season. At the time I was searching for music that felt like it fit my ideals of feminism. Something with a timeless feel, a milky voice, bittersweet instruments for bittersweet melodies yet something with a sense of progress. Peyroux is really all these things and "Careless Love" does not fall short of the description aforementioned. I don't know if it means the same as "Half the Perfect World" did for me, nor do I know if "Bare Bones" (an album entirely of her own songs) will compare to the well roundedness of "Careless Love". Listen to "Between the Bars".

Her rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" is really great.
Anyways, Madeleine Peyroux is sort of my...spirit of summer, if you will.

On a final note, I feel like looking out at the world with the same gaze as the young and dapper Miss Gloria Swanson...

Don't we all?

Artisanal Symphony in Two Movements

2009-06-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

Those of us living in the greater Bellingham area will know that despite its rich artistic scene and multicultural fervor, Bellingham lacks the quality gourmet food joints that a city such as this one should have. There are a few odd spots, however, that give Bellingham residents all the more reason to be proud.

The Abbey Tea Rooms, tucked up a cobble stone "road" in Fairhaven, provides kitschy English decor with comfortable old chairs and benches at a reasonable price. While you could hardly compare the food to say...the Empress in Victoria, B.C., there is an extensive tea selection and a price range for everyone. Try the Sow Mee with a little sugar.

On a different note, I fell in love with John Galliano's recent Fall/Winter 2009 runway. Though it's obviously a bit early to be worrying about cold weather wear, Galliano's line represents something the fashion industry needs in these recessive times. "[Frozen] Ukrainian virgin brides" are the words Galliano uses to describe the aesthetic of his new line, but more importantly, he claims the line hearkens back to "poetry, romance, and [his] roots" as an artisan. And as usual, Galliano's runway was as beautiful as his clothing. Lasers and glitter evoked something akin to an otherworldly portal...a little J.K. Rowlingesque but always uniquely Galliano.

Lady of the lake or Helen of Troy?

A fantastically detailed cerulean jacket that I would wear any day..in October..

Annnnd just because I can, a couple shots from his renowned 2007 show involving an interactive runway and a beautiful selection of props. The clothes, of course, outstanding in their vintageness.

Sorry I didn't catch this one in time for Prom...

A little modern suffragette!

Photos: Of Me - Kieran Lyons

Runway Shots- InStyle.com

A Long Time Coming...

2009-06-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

Countless things have taken place since the last time I posted anything, most of them for the better! Take for example, a simple new layout (which is still in the process..) to usher in summer and some recent Art Deco influence (really the only positive thing to come out of research papers). While cleaning up my living space, I thought simultaneously uncluttering my blog space and getting rid of that dense color scheme would put me on the turn around as far as posting goes.

The end of last month signalled my school's Evening of the Arts juried art show and I garnered several blue ribbons and a juror's choice. Juried art shows can be risky business for the ego...such a relief to feel justly awarded. My winnings included 1st Place display, 1st Place Painting (a piece from the cross cultural concentration), 1st Place Portraiture (Baron C.C.), and a Juror's Choice for "Blowfly" for Mr. Ron Boat. Below, a shot of my display prior to judging.

Final thoughts for this art year? Some of it seems childish, and some of it is.

However, the newer series feels as though it's taking me in the right direction. My latest, entitled "American Passage", stays true to the visual elements expressed in my last post but some expirimentation is evident and I'm pleased with the overall size of the "canvas" (it's really masonite..).

And what of it....

When we look at the quality of craftsmanship of the glory days in American automotive engineering, it certainly isn't horsepower alone that made the automobile. Perhaps it was the sense of something well built, luxurious and maybe even 'too much' that we remember...and what a difference it made for travel!

4/29/09 - Recent Concentration Work

2009-04-29T19:21:00.001-07:00

Below are the first two finished (?) pieces from a new collection of work I've been doing about value (monetary and intrinsic) and action. It isn't terribly focused yet, but I've been making good progress. The following are acrylic and air-dry clay on wood and gesso board.

Objects from top to bottom: Sparkplug, Red Beetle, Souvenir Spoon, Monogram "R" Charm, Small Bird Skull, Blue Weevill Type Beetle, Gold Button.

Objects from top to bottom: 1955 Packard Emblem, Oil Palm Fruit, Pearl Drop Earrings.

My next pieces will be on much larger coated masonite, 4 by 2 feet to be precise; an interesting challenge for the current visual themes.

And the verdict was...

2009-04-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

J.F. Rey model 1121 in tortoise and white won my heart at my local optical center. According to the assistant, the spendiest pair in the store (insurance is SO USEFUL). Perhaps not too evident in my quicky photo, a slight cat eye rise and diagonal white banding on the interior. All handmade somewhere in France.
http://jfrey.fr/

Blackstrap Project Complete

2009-04-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

The final product for my Blackstrap Tea Co. project. Might possibly hit Etsy, may not. I formulated three blends: The Raj, Mistisa, and Absinthe.

The Raj
An alluring blend of organic darjeeling, heady lapsang souchong, ginger, cardamom, allspice, crushed cloves, cinnamon, anise, orange rind, and the warmth of tellicherry peppercorn.

Mistisa
A charming bouquet of fragrant jasmine green tea, rich allspice, crushed cloves, and whole rose blossoms. Aromatic notes of rum and vanilla.

Absinthe
Using original period recipes, an addictive assortment of spritely peppermint, gunpowder green tea, anise, cardamom, fennel, and sweet licorice root.

The product labels are an original design (notice my blog banner?) adapted for black tea tins using a toothed khaki cardstock with custom made "B" monogram wax seals.

Last Night

2009-04-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was accepted into the Art Deparment at Western Washington University.

I also cannot decide on a pair of new frames.

Potentially wonderful tortoise Versace pair...

Gucci with gold monogram siding...

Or a spendy pair of Jean Francois Reys..from France,even!

More Work

2009-03-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Excuse my grainy phone photos...

These pieces are probablly the result of a certain grim cloud that has settled over me in the past two weeks or so. I don't feel that they are depressing, but I don't feel much at all about them really. I did enjoy painting portraiture and I intend to keep using that glossy black.

Art Department Portfolio

2009-02-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

My portfolio for the art department at Western Washington University. I really have no idea what they're looking for, and I guess it's of no real concern. My main goal in doing this is to secure myself some classes for next year.

Resin Piece - #1 [Clay Figs/Garlic]

2009-02-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Finally, my very first resin art piece! I created a gradient background on mat board that has been treated to withstand the resin and a polypropelene mold. The little white embeddings are made from a polymer clay, and were originally figs...but I realize that their whiteness makes them look more garlicky. I shall work on this.

I'm very pleased with the results. I spent an hour with a 220 grain sandpaper "frosting" the surface and annihilated my wrist in the process. But sitting here with my ice pack I'm finding it well worth it! There will be plenty more where this came from.

You can tell that the frosting has its imperfections. I'd like to find a better buffing compound or finer sandpaper. If anyone has a reccommendation, let me know.

Plaid courtesy of Banana Republic (the old stuff of course).

Hold Time

2009-02-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

I received my copy M. Ward's new album "Hold Time" in the post today as a gift from my dearest. As M. Ward is my favorite musical artist of all time, I'm still in the process of listening and relistening...it's going to be incredibly hard to match the quality of "Transistor Radio" or the listenability of "Post-War". But when you look past the difficulty of getting the jewel case free from its clear plastic sleeve (I personally used a Swiss army knife...), the album artwork/packaging combination is quite refreshing! So far, tracks entitled "Hold Time", "Fisher of Men", and "Epistemology" have me fixated.

Post-Valentines Update

2009-02-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

It's been most definitely been the most love filled Valentine's Day for me to date. In the above picture you'll see the customary box of chocolates but not depicted are the gorgeous white Calla lilies from Vera Wang Bouquets, the expensive underwear, and the framed photograph of me and my love in New Mexico..all despite his physical absence!

Also above, a pair of silver convex drop earrings I crafted yesterday, a thank you card from Olivia Olason for the Tarts painting that she won at the fundraising auctions (which fetched a nice $140 or so), and right alongside the Liquiriza de Calabira tin (Italian pure licorice that I'm supposing you never actually eat...at least I haven't found a way) is my first experiment in casting resin. You can look forward to seeing more resin casting soon.

*Notes: You'll also notice I've added a list of books I've read/and am reading for 2008-2009. Contact me if you'd like to know my thoughts or reactions on any books contained there.

New Town Bakery - Surrey B.C.

2009-02-07T16:17:00.001-08:00

My day began with a little adventure to Surrey. We stopped at an unpretentious asian bakery called New Town right in the heart of downtown.

Oh delicious!

My mom had the house special mami noodle soup and I had roast duck congee. We shared some crystal shrimp dumplings.

Hot tea..

Digital Painting du Jour

2009-02-04T20:27:00.001-08:00

Vintage Fiat 500 - ArtRage 2009

Digital Paintings of the Day

2009-02-02T16:41:00.001-08:00

Zircona Caerulea 2009 in ArtRage

From late last night - Bartlett Pear 2009 ArtRage

Découverte!

2009-02-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

I'm am absolutely ecstatic about this new program my friend Amanda at TBH mentioned in her blog. ArtRage is a program that almost perfectly mimics the application of paint/graphite/pastel/marker/pen and numerous other art media all on the convenience of your computer. No mess and no price! You can get the starter version for free. Here is my very first shot at using the paint tools.

Addition:

I couldn't stop at one. My desk lamp!

Photographic Finds - Batch #1

2009-02-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

After weeks of casually sifting through the immense collection of historical photographs at Shorpy, I've selected a few of my favorites. All the photos seem to be incredibly high resolution for their time periods.

Two girls playing with ducklings in a horse trough. They were, at one time, common features in any large city in the United States. 1927 Washington D.C.

Jubilation on Wall Street after Germany surrenders from WWI in 1918.

The White House kitchen in the year 1909. Rumor has it that the pots and pans used to cook former President Taft's dinners are still in use today.

The Rotograph Company of New York created this Easter greeting card in 1908.

All photographs were aquired at SHORPY

Daddy Warbucks at the Mt.Baker Theater

2009-01-29T20:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday night was spent at the Mt.Baker Theater downtown, watching the live Broadway production of Annie. The music and story line were so classically Broadway in that fuzzy, heartwarming sense. Sitting there, on the balcony of the newly refurbished and rennovated main stage (a 4 million dollar project I hear), it felt so fitting that a musical set in the great depression should be played in times when many of us are feeling the effects of a tight wallet and a country in economic turmoil.

Here are a few shots I took of the inside of the main stage from the balcony view (this being my first time on the balcony, I was quite surprised by the exceptional view of the musicians!). There arn't any visible rennovation changes in these pictures, but apparently the theaters circulation systems are functioning much better and the electrical system has been put up to standard.

C'est fantastique, n'est pas?

2009 Arts and Jazz Night Promotional Artwork

2009-01-27T17:36:00.000-08:00

Artwork by C. R. Dimalla
Poster Design by Karena Crotto

The Arts and Jazz Fundraiser and Auction is in three days! The above image is the promotional poster for the night, and the original (below) will be auctioned off.

Winner of the 2007-2009 Blaine Evening of the Arts Show Arts and Jazz Promotional Artwork award. Acrylics on Paper 2007

Valeur

2009-01-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

Oils on matboard, 2009.

Here is Valeur, tentative in name and condition. It's another one I'm leaving to reassess another day. I rarely work from still life (or in this case, composite photography still life), so it's quite a departure from the norm. I'm pleased with the direction it's taking; particularly its similarities with more classical artwork. I was searching for a unique and rare assortment of flora for the piece, and found both at Hollister Hovey's blog. King Protea and Figs! Wonderfully tasteful and tragically expensive.

AP Studio Art - 2D Portfolio Concentration

2009-01-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

Antique Shop - Graphite and Watercolor on Watercolor Paper

Kookaburra - Oils on Mat Board

Blowfly - Oils on Mat Board

Crows on a Holden - Oils on Mat Board

Dingo - Oils on Mat Board

Concentration Work - Independent Art (Semester #1)

2008-12-17T16:12:00.000-08:00

Below are some of the more significant oil paintings to come out a semester's worth of Independent Art class. The series was the product of my efforts in playing around with American symbolism and the meanings of the words "stranger" and "foreign" from a personal perspective.

(2008) Oils on mat board.

(2008) Oils on mat board.

(2008) Oils on mat board.

A Less Offensive Public Transit

2008-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

Below is the interior of a restored Brooklyn Union Elevated Car (#1404 to be precise!) from 1907 housed at the New York City Transit Museum. I find it hard to believe these were actually in service up until the late 1960's, with modifications in the way of paint color and interior fixtures. It's at that point that the beloved gray/orange combo notoriously associated with public transit came in to play. It's an obvious shame.

Photos by: Sapito Lady on Flickr.com