Illustration Friday - Worn

IF word of the week is "Worn" - i was thinking literally about this...about things people wore. i've always been amazed by corsets and why people (because some men did) wore them. and still do. Crazy. All in the name of fashion.

i was trying for a "saloon" look with this young lady, possibly even a little steam punk but it's not quite there...need some metal and ruffles...

Illustration Friday - Drifting

The Hudson drifts behind her...

wow. Two cool words in a row...this week's Illustration Friday word is "drifting"...i kind of feel like i've been doing that myself this whole week - drifting in and out of real world vs. book world. I read The Good Life by Jay McInerney - mostly about what happened to relationships after the twin towers came down. I'm stating the obvious but many New Yorkers (as well as out of towners) were drifting around like ghosts after this happened. Many knew people that were lost, many were almost lost. On my trips to NYC right after this happened i watched the New Yorkers, their sleek urban veneer still intact yet their hearts visibly damaged. You could feel it. I will never forget it. Even as time drifts passed this terrible event.

My young woman (influenced by Tamara deLempicka) is hopeful about going back into the city, damaged heart and all.

Oh what a great word. Maybe it applies to me this week more than the actual illustration. Maybe i'll try to do one that is more apparent. i think i visualize it already.

Illustration Friday - Unfold

Lyra and Iorek

Unfold. Finally a word that really evokes meaning for me. Illustration Friday has been a challenge most of the time for me because i'm not very clever and many of the Illustration Friday words just made me almost give up. But that's the idea, right? To get your mind to work? I didn't really have to work on this one - in fact i think it has been a theme i've been concentrating on since December. To unfold. Unfolding.

That's what a great writer does. That's what Philip Pullman did with His Dark Materials Trilogy. The story was in his head and it unfolded. Into a miracle. Yes i really feel that way. Never have i wanted to be a character in a story more than Lyra Belacqua. What is Lyra's life like now? How has her life unfolded? i think of these kinds of things...thank you Mr. Pullman.

i love this word so much i might try to do more than one...might is key though.

Illustration Friday - Craving

this is kinda corny but let's face it, what do most people crave? why, heart-shaped rubies of course! Ok, not that...we crave love love love...

the tattoo on her left arm was inspired by Mike Tyson's face tattoo - how many people can say they were artistically inspired by Mike Tyson today?

Illustration Friday - Adapt

i guess there isn't a group much better at adapting to their surroundings than gypsies...i just learned the original gypsies were displaced Egyptians (that is Isis behind her) and that many of the ladies were trained in "magic"...hmmmmmmm love that....

Illustration Friday - Cracked

the Illustration Friday word this week is "cracked" but i think i'm going to name this "the guardian"...

Illustration Friday - Contagious

Happiness is contagious. So is melancholia. I think this young woman is making me feel both.

Small Acrylics

i'm posting a few small (10x10") acrylics on canvas that i did in the last few days...i scanned these in so the sides were a little cut off - sorry about that -

BumbleSpike - Spike from the Humane Society of Berks County

http://www.berkshumane.org/events/events_pints.asp

A Good Sign


The Main Man

Immaculata Art Show - May 9-17, 2009

UPDATE: as of 5/19 sold five paintings and five prints - woo hooo - in this economy right now i can't tell you how thankful i am to be selling!

WOW! Very excited about the upcoming Immaculata Art Show that i was invited to participate in - Preview starts this Friday and i will try to take pics...also excited about the fabulous invitations they sent out to their patrons - one of my paintings is featured on the invite...here is a link to the show - Immaculata Art Show





that's me in the spotlight (painting in the middle)!


List of artists (you can't really see names but can if you go to the show's website - just wanted to show you the amount of peeps involved)

on a different note, i want to give a shout out to Bekah for introducing me to her friends Paper Route and their great music - xoxo!

Illustration Friday - Theater

i am a teensy bit obsessed with geisha stuff so this might seem like a stretch but i definitely thought this painting was very relevant to the illustration friday theme...i mean: costume, make-up, painted set in the background, drama...Theater!