Spring Break!

I'll be taking a break from blogging this week to spend time with my family and do family things.  

 This means lots of drinking and eating.  

Many Tums will be had. 

Peace Out and Happy Passover!

Art + Interior

I love Marci Washington's gothed out paintings. It's so 80's and Twilight-y at the same time.  

 It also makes me want to smoke clove cigarettes with heavy eyeliner and hang out in these rooms...

 I could do without the taxidermy.

This mirror needs to be mine.

And the head.

Have a somber day everyone, and remember, don't smile! 

Bon Jour Amy!

I just cannot say enough great things about Amy Abshier-Reyes' work.  

She is one of my favorite artists and a former Kansas City Art Institute graduate.  

Her haunting portraits of women are mesmerizing, murky, and ethereal.  

Right up my alley!

1. Name, Astrology sign, and location please.

My name is Amy Abshier-Reyes, I'm a Scorpio (November 13th), and I live in Kansas City, Missouri.

2. What are you currently working on?

A whole bunch of stuff! I can never work on just one thing at a time, so right now I'm working on a commissioned eye portrait, some oil paintings for the Blue Gallery, and some small watercolor pieces for my Etsy shop. I have a day job, too: I manage an auction house that deals primarily in antiques. Sometimes it's hard juggling the two, and unfortunately working on art usually loses to the promise of a consistent paycheck. But I paint as often as I can, and at least try to draw or sketch something every day. I post daily sketches and sneak peeks on Instagram (user name Curvilinear) and Flickr. 

"A Time of Hunger and Despair and Giant Insects" oil on board

3. Who are your favorite artists?

Ooooh, that's a tough one. Seems like it changes all the time! Perennial favorites include traditional portrait painters like John Singer Sargent; Pre-Raphaelite painters like Waterhouse; I love Kees Van Dongen, Jenny Saville, Walt Kuhn, Edward Hopper, Lu Cong, Kris Knight. I love figural painting, and I love to see how other people paint flesh. Some painters have got that dialed in so perfectly, I want to just stare and stare at their work and try to figure out their methods. I love discovering art and artists that inspire me. Those are the moments when I want to just drop everything and go paint!

Untitled pencil and oil study on board

4. What's the best advice you ever received about your career choice?

I think the best advice I ever got was actually not advice, but acceptance. My parents never questioned my passion for art, never quibbled with me about my decision to go to art school instead of a "real" college. They believed in me and my abilities, and I think that's pretty awesome. It allowed me to pursue my dream, sharpen my technical skills, and grow as an artist.

5. Favorite place(s) in your city?

Hmmmm. I like the fact I can drive for ten minutes and be out in the country; that's pretty nice. And on the flipside of that, I like driving through downtown, looking at the skyline and the architecture. I love the Toy and Miniature Museum, and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art is a wonderful place to visit (and it's free!). The Nelson is a mile from my house, and we go there often.

"Noleta" ink and watercolor on paper

6. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And while we're at it, what about a different era?

I'd move back to California, no question. The five years I lived there were pretty wonderful, but too expensive to maintain. If money were no object, I'd be on the coast in a fabulous modern home with a HUGE studio. I think I'd stay in the present-day, though. I like my mod cons. And I can still have a 20's inspired bob and wear whatever style of clothing I like. When I hear people talk about simpler times, my brain immediately goes to worst-case scenarios like: "You mean back when people dropped dead from curable diseases? Yeah, that must have been pretty awesome".

7. What do you usually mindlessly doodle? (do you have a picture of this?)

 
Faces mostly, but I also scribble out boxes full of lines and circles and other patterns.

8. First website you peruse of the day?

Lately it's been Pinterest, then Etsy, then rotten old Facebook. There's a ton of design blogs I love like Remodelista and Desire to Inspire that I look at almost daily, too. I love looking at houses and interiors as much as I love looking at art.

"In the Wayward Garden" oil on canvas

9. What's the worst movie you've ever seen, but secretly love?

I shouldn't say it's the worst, but I LOVE the 1960's movie "Smashing Time". It's a ridiculously silly little movie, but I dig it. 

10. Any pets? Any kids?

I have an elderly cat named Spooky. She was brought into the record store I worked at in 1999: a teeny 7 week old kitten. The guy had found her up under his truck on a wickedly hot September day, and brought her in while he shopped. He asked if I knew anyone who might want her. She's been with me ever since.
I have two kids: an 8 year old daughter and a 3 year old son. They are smart, funny, sweet kiddos. I never really thought I wanted children until I got married, and even then I wasn't into babies. Until I had my daughter. It's amazing how much you fall in love with them. Nothing can prepare you for it. Nothing can prepare you for the loss of sleep, either. Oh, man.

"Always Looking Forward" oil on board

Thanks so much Amy!

You can find more of Amy here, here, and here

Thanks Mercury Retrograde

I thought, this time I was left unscathed.

Only days away from Mercury turning direct, my computer went insane.  I can only open Firefox, can't download or save any image, and I get 5 zillion prompts about how screwed I am when I restart. I have ground my teeth and had too many glasses of wine over this.  

So, either I figure this out, or just buy a new one.  And since this one is old and my sweet little Ivy has ripped out most of the keys anyway, I say I just start over.

Ok, that's settled. Now lets look at some old pictures since I can't figure out how to download new ones!

 "They knew well enough poor dears"  2000

"The history of my bed and Ferdinand the Bull"  2000

Stay tuned, cause I have another great artist interview this week!

 

Green and Flowery

It's not quite yet spring, but it already feels like it is here. So naturally I am craving the color green, pretty pink flowers, long flowy dresses, strawberries and chilled white wine.

I am finding lots of green in my palette.

Pretty roses popping up in my backyard. It's ok to be jealous of this.

My "still in progress" green nude.

 

 

 

I'm also loving the art of Elizabeth Terhune and Ryan Pickart a lot lately.

Probably cause of all the florals and pretty pastel colors.

The only thing I'm not loving this time of year?

These assholes.

 

 

I consider myself a pretty peaceful person, but all fire ants need to DIE!

I HATE YOU LITTLE BASTARDS SO MUCH!

WHY CAN'T I KILL YOU?

 

 

ahem.

Isn't spring such a happy time of year?

Have a lovely day!

Hello, Mindy

Time for your weekly "I have cool friends" installment!

 

Mindy Bledsoe makes movies, takes great pictures, and makes a fabulous martini companion. 

And for those of you here in Shreveport, 

she and I have something very special happening in May 2014.

 

You'll have to be patient.

 

Love the red hair

1. Name, Astrology sign, and location please.

Mindy Bledsoe, Taurus, Shreveport, LA

2. What are you currently working on?

Pre-Production for my first Feature Film & prepping a photography show with the hotness, Rachel Stuart-Haas

3. Who are your favorite artists?

Photography: Robert Mapplethorpe. He forced me to look at the human body in ways I never had. AND David LaChapelle. He makes photography an epic story.
Filmmakers: Paul Thomas Anderson

4. What's the best advice you ever received about your career choice?

I don't know. I'm still awaiting that advice.

5. Favorite place(s) in your city?

Patio @ Starbucks. I've done so much writing there while I people watch. Also, my epic shower. Seriously the best shower I've ever had.

 

6. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And while we're at it, what about a different era?

If I could live anywhere, I'd probably pick an island off the coast of Thailand. But if it were the 1920s, I'd pick New York, all in hopes of being friends with Dorothy Parker (my favorite poet) and the hopes of sitting at the Algonquin Round Table.

7. What do you usually mindlessly doodle? (do you have a picture of this?)

I don't doodle. I can't draw a stick figure. However I do write random words or sentences that pop in my head.

8. First website you peruse of the day?

Idolator.com for music updates

 

9. What's the worst movie you've ever seen, but secretly love?

Drive Me Crazy. Yep. Laugh it up. It was also the first DVD I ever bought.

10. Any pets? Any kids?

I have two pets: Buffy the cat and Yoshi the dog. They are my children.

 

Thank you Mindy!  To see more of her work go here.  And for her blog, here.

Astrology post

The moon is void of course all day in Aquarius. This means she has made her last aspect before she changes signs. In other words, the moon is resting.  So, if you can, do this:

 

 

No, you really don't need to be so unconscious, although all that Pisces energy in the sky does prefer it.  So what are good things to do when the moon is void?  Resting and relaxing, anything that doesn't require too much mental energy.  Meditation, yoga, painting, really all things right-brained.

 

Now since the moon in still in Aquarius which favors groups of people, today would be a great day to relax with friends.  And because Mercury in Pisces is square Jupiter in Gemini there should be lots of great conversations to be had. 

 

So go enjoy the day!

Color Run!

I am very excited to do the The Shamrock Color Run next weekend here in Shreveport.

 

 

However, after doing lots of things like this:

(This picture is so damn old.  I'm somewhere in Boston eating God knows what. And looking good!)

 

And very little of this:

 

 

I am fairly certain that I will be waaaay in the back mostly walking. 

So if you you see me sauntering around say "hi!". 

 

I will also be at the block party afterwards taking full advantage of that bottomless beer cup.

Cheers!

 

Doctor visits are fun!

I have been a huge fan of Louise, from Art and Ghosts, work like forever.

Not only is her work exquisite, she is crazy, nutty prolific.  

 

I think she posts a new piece almost every other day. 

 

Obviously she doesn't have a three year old with pink eye crawling all over her.

Poor, poor Ivy.

Meet Kellie!

She's just a crazy talented artist that I have happened to have known since college.

She also agreed to be my first victim in what I'm hoping will be a continuing segment of interviews, cause listening to me talk about my work all the time could be very boring for some.

What? I know.

 

She's so sparkly!

 

1. Name, Astrology sign, and location please.

Kellie Bloxsom-Rys
Sagittarius (Gemini moon)
Kansas City

 

2. What are you currently working on?

I currently just finished up a project of doing one 5 x 5 piece of artwork a day for the month of February. For some reason I need to give myself deadlines to keep me motivated, stupid really, but its just how I am. This one was a little over ambitious once I got into it....but it worked itself out. The hardest part was having to put up the pieces on my blog I didn't like, but I kept reminding myself the point wasn't about creating a perfectly crafted pieces, it was more about getting out a bunch of quick ideas/sketches to inspire some bigger pieces in the future.

 

3. Who are your favorite artists?

I have so many - that's hard but here we go:
1. Jean-Michel Basquiat
2. Jim Houser - jimhouser.com
3. Maura Cluthe - www.frag-ment-ed.com
4. Souther Salazar - southersalazar.com
5. Rachel Stuart-Haas - (she didn't make me put this I promise)
6. Tad Carpenter - tadcarpenter.com


4. What's the best advice you ever received about your career choice?

Probably the best advice for my fine artwork career was from Maura Cluthe (listed above) - I remember her telling me to price my work so its affordable to everyone, because art should be shared. Plus if I don't I"ll just have a basement full of paintings. 

 

 

5. Favorite place(s) in your city?

 Definitely the crossroads here in Kansas City on a First Friday night. The crossroads are located downtown and every first Friday we have over 50 art galleries open and people walk around from gallery to gallery drinking wine. I love the energy of this night ! Also the Nelson Atkins front lawn, probably the prettiest place here.

 6. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And while we're at it, what about a different era?

Ooh, super fun question! No question about this one - I would live in a little beachhouse in Tulum, Mexico with my husband and like 8 dogs. *sigh*
As for era, I think i would pick to be in Paris, France in the 1920's, I would love to smoke cigarettes in a cabaret back then and be scandalous.

7. What do you usually mindlessly doodle? (do you have a picture of this?)

I mindlessly doodle EVERYTHING - I am constantly doodling, faces, words, animals, shapes... see pics

 

 

 

 

 8. First website you peruse of the day?

 Pinterest.
So.
Addicting.

 

9. What's the worst movie you've ever seen, but secretly love?
Bring it On, but hey at least I don't own the DVD like my friend Mark.

 

10. Any pets? Any kids?

 Yes we have two black mutts, Dylan and Ruby and a black cat named Miika.

Thanks so much Kellie!
You can find more of Kellie's work here:

artbykellie.etsy.com
http://www.artbykellie.blogspot.com
http://kelliebloxsomrys.weebly.com/

Meet Kellie!

Meet Kellie! She's just a crazy talented artist that I have happened to know since college. She also agreed to be my first victim in what I'm hoping will be a continuing segment of interviews. Cause listening to me talk about my work all the time could be very boring for some.

 

1. Name, Astrology sign, and location please.

Kellie Bloxsom-Rys
Sagittarius (Gemini moon)
Kansas City

 

2. What are you currently working on?

I currently just finished up a project of doing one 5 x 5 piece of artwork a day for the month of February. For some reason I need to give myself deadlines to keep me motivated, stupid really, but its just how I am. This one was a little over ambitious once I got into it....but it worked itself out. The hardest part was having to put up the pieces on my blog I didn't like, but I kept reminding myself the point wasn't about creating a perfectly crafted pieces, it was more about getting out a bunch of quick ideas/sketches to inspire some bigger pieces in the future.

3. Who are your favorite artists?

I have so many - that's hard but here we go:
1. Jean-Michel Basquiat
2. Jim Houser - jimhouser.com
3. Maura Cluthe - www.frag-ment-ed.com
4. Souther Salazar - southersalazar.com
5. Rachel Stuart-Haas - (she didn't make me put this I promise)
6. Tad Carpenter - tadcarpenter.com

4. What's the best advice you ever received about your career choice?

Probably the best advice for my fine artwork career was from Maura Cluthe (listed above) - I remember her telling me to price my work so its affordable to everyone, because art should be shared. Plus if I don't I"ll just have a basement full of paintings.

5. Favorite place(s) in your city?

 

Definitely the crossroads here in Kansas City on a First Friday night. The crossroads are located downtown and every first friday we have over 50 art galleries open and people walk around from gallery to gallery drinking wine. I love the energy of this night ! Also the Nelson Atkins front lawn, probably the prettiest place here.

 

6. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And while we're at it, what about a different era?

Ooh, super fun question! No question about this one - I would live in a little beachhouse in Tulum, Mexico with my husband and like 8 dogs. *sigh*
As for era, I think i would pick to be in Paris, France in the 1920's, I would love to smoke cigarettes in a cabaret back then and be scandalous.

7. What do you usually mindlessly doodle? (do you have a picture of this?)

I mindlessly doodle EVERYTHING - I am constantly doodling, faces, words, animals, shapes... see pics

 

8. First website you peruse of the day?

 

Pinterest.
So.
Addicting.

 

9. What's the worst movie you've ever seen, but secretly love?

Bring it On, but hey at least I don't own the DVD like my friend Mark.

 

 

10. Any pets? Any kids?

 

Yes we have two black mutts, Dylan and Ruby and a black cat named Miika.

websites:
artbykellie.etsy.com
http://www.artbykellie.blogspot.com
http://kelliebloxsomrys.weebly.com/