Full disclosure...I'm not even little bit girly. I don't like to shop...at all...so I signed up for a mail order clothing service. I rarely wear dresses, RARELY, but when this dress came with my shipment something about the lines intrigued me. I have always loved art related to the Op Art (Optical Art) movement and this piece just spoke to me. It has been hanging in my studio for a while screaming to be an artwork. What I like about the dress is the stark contrast of perfect black and white lines....but decided to draw them anything but because, well that is who we are as humans. "And the world will be as one" Inspired by John Lennon's "Imagine" lyrics. Color, size, shape, preferences don't have to keep us from living as one. "I hope someday you'll join us" This piece was created using many different media and application to reflect the different people in the world. People can be vibrant, subtle, colorful, messy, imperfect, etc. but they all have value and similar elements that weave them together to work as one.
My fourth Donut Date was with my friend Noelle and her baby Claire (aka, bff jr.). Noelle's mom described our friendship once while introducing me to her friends as, "they have nothing in common they just love each other". I heard a quote that said often the people with the least amount in common make the best friends. Noelle likes pink, all things sparkly, and mermaids and I like well....none of those things. It's true, Noelle and I could not be more different in so many ways but what we do share is the desire to be relentlessly supportive of each other. Wanting the best for each other knows no bounds even if it directly effects us. There is rarely an event, family or otherwise, where we don't show up for each other. Though Noelle is relentlessly positive, my favorite part is when she goes off on one of her many (faux) rants about something where she talks non-stop in a random stream of consciousness in which the back of my head hurts from laughing so hard. There are no dull moments in this friendship in that we laugh our butts off, sincerely build each other up and even volunteer to slash tires for the other one (I'll let you guess which one). There is rarely a day that goes by with at least one text, photo, or gif to check in. We've been through a lot together but my favorite part of this ride has been watching her become a mom with so much grace that it has only made me love her so much more. It was a wild ride and she never complained once and has been one of the best moms that has ever "mom"ed to Claire. So I thought it only fitting to make Claire the subject of our Donut Date. Noelle doesn't even like donuts (should've been a red flag right there) so of course I had to share in the glorious occasion of Claire's first donut as her eyes were as glazed over as the donut was. I look forward to showing Claire so many more of the really important things in life...like pizza and coffee. I have waited my whole life for a friend that I could truly call a "best friend" and mean it, and then six years ago Noelle moved into the room next to mine and the first time I walked by and said, "hey turkey" and she came right back with, "hey chicken" she had me. We have grown so much since then and want to be "Grace and Frankie" (Netflix) when we grow up, beach house included. We have plenty of time before then, mostly because I'll never grow up, to laugh through this journey as friends and for heavens sakes for you to learn to love donuts already! (P.S. Ryan, you are also a kick ass dad and would have had a bigger shout out if you hadn't slept through our entire donut date.)
Right before the school year ended, a colleague of mine asked me to do an artwork of her daughter for a graduation present. She had found a quote she loved but didn't like the canvas it was on and asked me if I could do something. It was the best kind of commission as she wanted it to be in my current style. I asked what she was thinking and she just said, "do you". I asked her if she had a favorite pic of her daughter and she brought me two. The one I ultimately used was her favorite, pictured above, because it had her doll in it. Unfortunately this was before the digital age so scanning in a 3x5 pic did not pick up many details, but I was able to find images of the doll online to work from. This was probably my favorite commission I've created in that the only restrictions she gave me what a quote and a pic. If you are interested in having me create a piece for you, send me a message including your idea, size, and budget. I cannot say yes to everything, but I will if it is something that can make us both happy. Currently working on both donut date #3 and #4. Im ages to come! Happy summer!
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AuthorGood art isn't about matching your sofa, but about the conversation it starts. Archives
August 2021
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