Life, the "Spirit Animal" & Curating an Art Exhibition...

Though I wish that I blogged more, I only get around to it a few times a year. Well, I have lots to write about now, so it was about time to update this "Open Canvas" with some news. :)

2011 has been QUITE the year!

This past spring, I had a two-woman exhibition with the amazing Dina Pizzarello at the Jadite Gallery in New York City. The show ended up being a catalyst for an entire new series...my "Mad Hatter Girls", as you have seen in my last post. I feel like this series really has legs, and am excited to start working on more pieces, and to see how it evolves.

In September, I got married to the most awesome man ever, Matthew! <3 Planning the wedding was super fun, but I had to put my creative projects on hold for a while.  We traveled to Paris and Italy together for our honeymoon, and saw so many brilliant pieces of art. It was a huge inspiration!

Now, as 2011 winds down, it brings on projects/goals...including curating a group art show!

The idea for "Spirit Animal" came to me well over a year ago. I knew that I wanted to curate a group art show, and needed to figure out a theme that people could run with, and that would also keep my interest. The tie between nature and humans is a strong theme in my own artwork, as well as many colleagues and artists that inspire me. It seemed like a great place to start!

Once I had the theme settled, I talked to the Blood Dumpster Art Collective and spread the word to the artists in the group, as well as some other friends. It took a very long time to find a venue, but luckily after months of searching, I came across the White Rabbit in NYC. Working with the wonderful curator at the space, Samantha Levin, has been an absolute pleasure!  And with all of the great submissions I received from some wonderful local artists, it was sure to be a hit!

So November 4th, we had our opening and it was a blast! (Click Here to see pics from the opening!) The turnout was wonderful, and have already had an art sale. What I haven't mentioned yet, but is probably the most exciting part, is that a portion of the proceeds from art sales will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund. I love when the opportunity arises to use art for a good cause!

There are even more plans for future events throughout the course of the "Spirit Animal" exhibition. A Poetry Night, and a Model Sketch/Scribbler night will be happening in December, as well as a closing exhibition. I'm loving curating, and hoping to do much more of it in the future!

As for 2012, here's hoping to more blog posts, more exciting artwork to be made, and also more art shows!!

New Year, New Paintings, New Show

For New Year's, I took the advice of a friend and tried not to make resolutions, but rather pick a word to be my theme for the year. My 2011 word is "CREATE". I was thinking more than just painting, although that is obviously one of my goals for the year. I was thinking of creating the life I want for myself and re-creating myself as the person that I want to be.

I want to be true to my calling, the fire in my belly, the thing that makes me happiest...my art. This year is all about making more art. I am focusing on the things that I find interesting and WANT to paint. When I create the art that I really want to make, people seem to react to it....isn't THAT interesting?!

So, this year is being kicked off with a new series of paintings. This series is called "Mad Hatters". It consists of my favorite subject matter: women and nature. The paintings are a comment on society, and the pressure on women to be young, and beautiful, but NATURALLY. Ahh, there's the key. ;) As more and more plastic surgery becomes the norm, what becomes truly beautiful are those who can hold on to their youth and beauty with no effort at all (or so it seems). Of course we all age and this is inescapable. This series shows the struggle of women to retain their youth/beauty by ways of nature. Now, I'm being quite literal by showing this aspect of nature with actual animals. Influenced by the famous Bob Dylan song "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat", these women in my paintings pile on the animals to disguise their flaws, become over the top, and let nature make them beautiful. Since I come from an illustration background, I can't help but inject a bit of a story into each piece as well.

For example, "My Precious" shows a woman with a rooster and hens balanced precariously on her head. Meanwhile, there is a fox draped around her neck and she is holding on to some eggs (the aformentioned "precious"). Everyone here wants the eggs. They represent youth, fertility, and food. The fox obviously wants to eat the eggs, while the chickens want to protect them. The woman wants control over the situation, but it's all about to topple over and become chaos. She is trying to be beautiful and seductive, but the chaos of the situation is ruining it a bit. The compass earring signifies the changing of the winds, how things can turn quickly, and that change is inevitable.



The second piece in the series is called "Bird of Paradise". She's a Brazilian, carnavale dancer. Atop her head are certain birds of paradise; exotic, rare, beautiful. She wants to be like a bird of paradise, and lure the perfect mate. Many birds do mating dances (which I personally love to see and wish human men had to do these ritual dances! lol), and so this is like her mating dance. With her many exotic birds and her elaborate outfit, maybe she will disguise her flaws for just long enough to find a man.



There will be more pieces to come. About 4 more, to be exact. I'll be showing these pieces in a two woman show in mid-April at the Jadite Galleries in NYC. More details on that show to come!

Hope you enjoyed my Mad Hatter girls! And just curious...what is YOUR word for 2011??

Baby It's Cold Outside Burlesque Coat Drive!

This Thursday, I will have an original painting, "A Long Way From Home" on exhibit at the Burlesque Coat Drive event! This event is going to be so much fun! Hosted by the ever fantabulous Blood Dumpster Artists Collective, which I am a proud member, we never fail to impress! Not only will there be burlesque dancers, artwork, raffles with great prizes, but it's also an event that will bring in lots of coats to give to poor New Yorkers for the winter.

Please come by...bring your gently used coat with you so you get in for free! Not to mention, you will gain some "Nice" points with Santa for giving to charity (although watching burlesque could also add some "Naughty" points too lol).

The event is December 2nd at Fontana's 105 Eldridge Street @ Broome and Grand. Hope to see you there!! xooxoxx

New Art! "Streetlamp Musician"

Hey Everybody!
It's been a little while since I last posted. I wanted to share with you a piece that I recently painted for a good friend of mine. Her name is Natalie Gelman, and she's an incredible singer songwriter. I wanted to capture the passion that Natalie puts into her music. Seeing her perform live is a real treat!

The imagery in the painting reflect some of the lyrics from her songs. Specifically referenced is "Streetlamp Musician", a song about street performing in New York City.

Check out Natalie's music at: www.nataliegelman.com

Going to India!

I am excited to say that in just 3 more days I leave for India! I'll only be there for a little over a week, but I can't wait! I'll take lots of pictures and post them up on the blog when I come back. In the meantime, here's an India inspired T-shirt design that I created. It's called "Hennaphant". :)

Dumpster of Love Party!

I'll be showing two paintings at The Dumpster of Love party (Blood Dumpster Artist Collective's launching party!). I'm proud to be showing once again with a such a great group of artists!

The Blood Dumpster, a NYC-based art collective, celebrates another year of art, beauty and mayhem with a pre-Valentine’s bash in Brooklyn. The event, entitled Dumpster of Love, will bring together the creative class in Brooklyn with great drink specials - $3 Yuengling drafts and $5 Absolut cocktails, an all-night raffle and more creativity then may be legal in most states. The party is part art show that will feature many members from the collective’s wide range of visual magicians. Expect artwork on display from Melissa Dowell, Rebecca Memoli, Jeff Moore, Aubrey Roemer, Nate Bear, Laura Galbraith, Vincent True, Tim Kellen, Katelan Foisy and many more.

The Blood Dumpster is bringing along a few artists of the musical persuasion for this one. Funk House DJs, Jason Orrell and Tobeytech start the night off right, leading up to Rhinostrich’s 8-bit inspired melodies, then on to Epileptic Peat, a bad ass 8-string bassist armed with an artillery of pedals, the band Skullbuggery, a sea shanty styled child of the Reverend Billy choir, and Belltone Suicide, a Massachusetts noise artist. Not to mention, an appearance of Memo the Clown!

Dumpster of Love takes place Friday February 12th, 2010 from 9pm and lasts until closing, at TBD, 224 Franklin Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Arrive early for free swag and to scoop up some raffle tickets, the prizes get only get better as the night goes on.

Take the G train to Greenpoint, exit at India street.

Who Says Business Magazines are Boring?

I've been working on a few business publications lately and have had the chance to make some very fun illustrations to liven up the issues. Below are some icons I did for Insurance & Technology: