What I am doing, right now.

All at one time I am:

Watching LA Ink, 

photoshopping, 

and writing a story :) 

It makes me happy. 

HELP me win by voting :) :)

I just entered a contest (really late), but I still think I've got a chance to win! I totally need your help, as I have no votes or thumbs up. LOL.

All you have to do is this:

1. Follow/click this link 

http://photoshopyourpet.smugmug.com/gallery/6412905_8eiXK#416441693_iHk9h

2. Put your mouse over the pic, and click the GREEN thumbs up and

3. Comment the pic giving it 5 gold stars! *****

(You don't need to sign up or be a member of anything, so it is really easy!!!)

Thank you so much to everyone for the support!!

More Interiors I'd love to create in my own home!

Interesting Interiors (unfinished)

When it comes to my personal interior decorating sense, I find that I have a wide range of inspirations. If only I could do each room in its own style! Here are a few pics of rooms that I love! 

Some recent art.

what I've been up to :P

Haha. I just recently checked a bunch of things off my "To Buy" list. That included a bunch of frames and matting for artwork, prismacolor markers, marker paper, and more! So each day I've been starting a new piece, and trying different techniques with my pens! Thus far I have 3 pieces, but I am definitely liking these pens. Oh oh, I want more colors already! :P 

Pictures you should check out!

"Earth From Above" is an exhibit from photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand who has been taking pictures around the world from interesting angles, inspiring people globally to think about sustainable living. 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/10/earth_from_above_comes_to_nyc.html

http://www.yannarthusbertrand.org/index_new.htm

Booklist update!

Thanks to my friend (K) for telling me about this book. While we were living in London as flatmates, she came to realize how much I love good graffiti, all the while going on quests to find untouched Banksy pieces... We were successful on one of our last days in the city! :) 

I digress. She called me because she discovered this that book shows an in depth, behind the scenes look into the sketchbooks of graffiti artists from NYC (and all over?) I haven't yet gotten ahold of this, but you can bet I will check it out once I find myself near a bookstore! 

Paprika.

The animated movie, not the spice :) I've seen this movie around the video store for sale, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I have this knack for picking out a few weird movies that I end up wondering if I was out of my mind. But there have been a great few, a maybe this will be one to add to the list? Either way, I think it will be my next rental... or I could find it online :) *Better idea*

My Ultimate travel list & wishlist :P

1. Japan

2. Egypt

3.Greece

4. Spain

5. Ecuador

6. New York

7. Uzbekistan

8. Peru

9. Morocco

10. Ireland

1. Prismacolor markers

2. Lightbox

3. Telescope

4. Mushroom Piadini's from Starbucks

5. Marker paper

6. AA batteries for the Wii

7. To travel! 

8. Live in England again!

9. Chocolate/peanut butter cups

10. Frames for artwork

Things have been busier.

Hehe. Didn't think I would say that again, now that I've graduated college. That last semester was the craziest time ever, and my poor closet was littered with scraps of paper containing list after list of different tasks I needed to complete in order of priority. Now I find, I have started my queues again.

I am currently working on a freelance website project with  my other 2 partners in Hawethorn V :) It's been really great to get back into design and flex my skills... Just what I've been missing. Also been working on a bunch of business cards for.... well me. I've always wanted them and got motivated to start that up again because of  a great deal through lady :) The only problem was my card didn't go through.. so it's kind of on hold. 

That combined with perusing other blogs online have inspired me to make my passion work as my profession. Easier said then done, of course I'll be updating you on how that goes!

Inspirations.

I love illusions. 

3 in 1.

3 movies in 1 day. Here's the review:

1. Party Monster -- really interesting movie based on a true story (find the book Disco Bloodbath) of the club scene in New York in the 80's. The story of drugs, excess, and murder, oh my!

2. Sweeney Todd-- (Yeah I fiiiiiiinally saw it!) Once I got over the fact that the entire thing was a musical I got really into it. It happens to be macabre and horror, honestly a bloodbath to watch, but if you aren't too squeamish, it is artfully done and a treat to watch. 

3. The Bank Job-- This is my kind of movie. Also based on a true story (wow...) I found the twists and turns of this movie to be great and tantalizingly suspenseful. I was also getting some nostalgia because it was filmed in London... Ahhh. 

It's cool to be.....

Asian. 

Observe. 

Harajukuness. Anime eyes. Heck, anime. Punk Tokyo pop. Tattoos in the Asian style... (I am rambling because I am SO tired.)

Last week at work, I was walking around the framing station only to glance at what I thought was a famous Hokusai poster. Instead it depicted "The Divine Wave" frothing into millions of bunnies. I thought it was brilliant, and had actually never seen it before. Just a couple days ago I stumbled upon a badbutt website, featuring the very popular, half asian inspired illustrations of well... I won't mention their names. Check it:

Original + bunnies= Modern. At least that's what they do a lot of. Taking traditional well known woodblock print pieces from the Edo period and throwing their twist on it. So this mostly means splashing millions of bunnies everywhere... do I sound bitter? Nah, I love it, but hate it. Just like all those people who think they can become Japanese by pretending they are. Ooops. 

Awww.

Yesterday morning my bf brought home these two pieces of cardboard for me, that he had cut out of some shipment boxes from Japan. (He works at a huge Asian market). He said the other guys laughed but I couldn't help but feel it was the sweetest gesture ever. 

Anywho, being half Japanese, and completely fascinated with the art of Japan and the difference of expression/communication between our culture and theres' I fell truly in love with these two hand drawn comics. 

In the meantime, I am going to figure out how to display these two odd pieces :) 

New Inspirations

I've decided that until I have a better income and can afford more supplies, I can still work on designs, and do other creative things like painting smaller pieces of art that could be more affordable for people (when I try to sell them), framing prints of drawings, or creating handmade gift cards.

I don't know why I love that last idea so much. I think it's because I used to do that kind of thing anyways, just never tried to market them before. 

Graphic Design advice from Banksy, haha maybe I should try that too! 

Finally.

Some good art. 

It's really interesting to see the kinds of artwork that comes through the frame shop. I mean really, who has the money for frivolous things like art when simple necessitous things like milk and bread have become 7% more expensive? 

The funny thing is that people seem to spend a 300% markup more on their frames than the art. I mean... I've seen it too many times. People go on vacation to Europe and buy cheap prints or canvas art from local vendors and come back to the states to pay $350 to frame the thing. Art is worth its weight if you love the piece, but seriously? These are upper middle class Americans settling for boring landscapes to hang in their living room. Ugh. I'm tired of that, let's be more adventurous. 

But today, a buyer/reseller of art came in with an original Joan Miro lithograph. *music plays* A breath of fresh air. Apparently, it could fetch $30k. 

Question du Jour

So, this is like my dream come true--  I would LOVE a bookshelf. Secondly, I would LOVE to have it in the Pantone matching system. My goodness that is amazing. 

Today is under construction. Thank you for waiting.

Aren't these cute. Of course they're not any more useful than normal, but great packaging idea for the typical matchbook. I would totally collect these. Besides... who doesn't love playing with fire? 

Thought for today.

1. OR is for elitest hippies

2. The View is for crotchety menopausal women

3. Free newspapers cause most of the trash on the street 

4. Perfume ads will only and always purely sell an image 

5. The secret to higher education's steep prices isn't the education itself, but the elite alumni and impressive name with which to network

Interesting

You shouldn't mess with graffiti writers.

The longest recorded piece of graffiti was painted by a
student in the toilets of his college at Changsha, China
in 1915. It consisted of over 4000 characters criticising
his teachers and the state of Chinese society.

After completing this masterpiece the student handed
himself in and was paraded in front of the school and
threatened with expulsion. The student was a 22 year
old Chairman Mao. A graffiti artist who later founded
the People's Republic of China and was responsible

for the deaths of over 30 million people.