Mix n Match: art + fashion

So as an avid seller of prints and art goodies in my own Etsy store, I of course try to do most of my shopping there in other people's stores too spreading the small-biz luv!  Recently I've become slightly obsessed with two shops in particular and it's not hard to see why.  With this little tattoed tail-mermaid painting being one of my favorites up on my wall right now, I was amazed to come across these leggings by QooQoo:

Mermaid at Dawn, 14" x 6.5", oil on wood (gold edges), Available

Navy Phantom leggings by QooQoo

Slightly obsessed with anything "mermaid", I paired my Seaweed leggings (also by QooQoo) with this awesome mermaid necklace from this sassy Providence, RI-based designer ("I'm your Present"):

The "I'm your Present" store first caught my eye when I found this super cool - and great priced - blue deer necklace that reminded me of the "My Deer" painting I showed at Zoe Boutique this past Autumn (& even though the original sold fast, I still have $20 signed prints available here):

Love is in the air...

Tis the season of love, valentines, and ...my birthday (Feb. 11th, yes Aquarian!).  Gearing up for Valentine's Day, Zoe Boutique just got in a bunch of new art cosmetic bags that are going fast, and will soon be getting in a selection of Valentines that will be included free with every purchase in February til they run out! Here's a sneak peek along with two pink fashionistas that will go on display as well:

"Hello beautiful dreamer" "I think you're purrrr-fect" "Will you be my hunny bunny?" ~Zoe

And don't forget to love yourself this month too - a little pampering never hurt anyone;  as the consummate Aquarian, I admit it - I love baths like a 6 year old!  So when Lady of Moore skin, bath and body care approached me to design their bath and body product labels, of course I jumped at the chance.  Plus, the products are all 100% organic (not to mention the "white flower" scent is divine):

Lady of Moore: Skincare, Bath and Body Products

Speaking of love, one super fun project I completed last weekend was "live painting" at a wedding ceremony and reception of Marti Hoffer and Jessica Conaway.  You can see all the watercolors I completed on-site here. (They even brought in a SHINE coffee truck for dessert!)

SHINE Coffee at Marti and Jessica's wedding, 8" x 10" watercolor

Jessica's father makes a speech during the reception, 14" x 11", watercolor

Also coming up in February is this exhibition of 4x6" postcard-sized original artwork to call attention to the grave issue of human trafficking. Organized by The Boston Initiative to Advance Human Rights (BITAHR) this exhibition will open it's display Feb. 2 at Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, then on Feb. 3 will go to the Modern Theater (also in Boston).  The work will also be available for purchase online, and 100% of proceeds go towards BITAHR.  Here's my submission:

The Sea of the Lost, 6" x 4", pencil on thick watercolor paper

Also did you know in Mexico, Valentine's Day is called "Dia del Amor y la Amistad" (which translates to "Day of Love and Friendship"?  I like that, because it pretty much covers everyone! So from me and Frida: Happy Valentine's Day to friends, family and everyone I know!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I'm a fan!  Several years ago I read Steig Larsson's trilogy, saw the Swedish version of the movie, and now am anxiously awaiting David Fincher's version.  That being said, one of the things I love about books is your imagination builds the images for you... So here's my version of Lisbeth Salander and her tattoo (although admittedly I love the film teaser so much, it did influence my background). I imagined her tat to have a more eastern feel to it than the films depict, so this shows a Chinese dragon (the "deliverer of good fortune and master of authority"):

Year of the Dragon, 40" x 30", oil on canvas

Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander and clip from teaser in David Fincher film

Now, we are also entering the "Year of the Dragon" come January 23rd. Going along with the fortuitous symbolism associated with the dragon we can assume this is a positive transition, and not only that - it reoccurs every 12th year.  And yes that's right - we are entering 2012, so THIS Year of the Dragon should be an especially great year!

Dragon Girl, 12" x 9", oil on canvas, (2003)

Blending Worlds at Wilde Meyer Gallery

Here's a peek at art I recently brought in to Wilde Meyer Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ.  The gallery, which represents over 70 artists, has a unique approach to displaying art.  Alongside all the paintings on the wall, the owners display handmade wooden furniture and stone statues they personally picked up in China. Since Chinese art and mythology has always been a great inspiration in my artwork, I love how the paintings blend with the surroundings here:

Phoenix and the Tiger, 38" x 38", oil on canvas, silver frame

Glass by Tom Philibaum in Chinese Cabinet

(detail of Phoenix and the Tiger)

The addition of one of these statues to a room adds an overall meditative, balancing quality... a quality that I was going for with my "Cherry Blossom Dream" painting.  Like a stone Buddha head or Foo Dog statues placed in an entrance way, the floating head in this painting gives a sense of overall protection and serenity:

Cherry Blossom Dream, 24" x 24", oil on canvas

Qi-yang Statue

And if those aren't enough reasons to stop by, I also work here.  So stop by for a visit if you're around :)  If not, you can always check out the goods online here: wildemeyer.com

Venus through the Ages

Victoria's Secret annual runway show this year proves the motif of "Venus" is a timeless one.  Even the most well-known depiction by Sandro Botticelli is used on the cover of Adobe Creative Suite!  In my 36" x 48 oil on canvas depiction Venus was Here, I honed in on the classical Greek myth of her birth from sea foam and elaborated it into a narrative that suggests a juxtaposition of destruction and beauty, of love lost and found.

Venus was Here, 36" x 48", oil on canvas

Boogie Wonderland

I love this time of year so it's only natural that I'm making some art to go along with it!  Here's a sneak peak of two new paintings going up soon at Zoe Boutique for their annual Holiday Spectacular, Dec. 17th, 6-9pm.

So it's no shock to those who know me that I'm slightly obsessed with sharks;  they are fascinating creatures and I love the mystery they leave with their beautiful fossil teeth and prehistoric ancestory.  A recent Great White sighting right off the coast of my hometown -Wilmington, NC- provides a perfect parallel to my new painting too (see actual phone cam footage here).  But enough with discovery channel stuff; let's throw in a mermaid and some icebergs and then we have a real blend of surreal beauty and mystery frozen in time:



Great White, 16" x 20", oil on wood



 And here's a peak into my process for "Boogie Wonderland":

The flowers and retro jumpsuit pattern were the final additions.  To make sure I got placement right, I took a quick pic of the painting so far with my phone cam, pulled it up in Photoshop and digitally placed flowers I pulled from old 70s fabric patterns where I wanted.  Then I used this image as a guide while painting them on top of the background:

    For your ultimate veiwing pleasure, listen to Earth, Wind and Fire's rendition of "Boogie Wonderland" while looking at this image; it will make you want to dance... or throw snow balls, or both.

Boogie Wonderland, 14" x 11", oil on wood

Sneek Peek into October

Here's a sneak peek of what I'm working on for multiple group shows next month - "Dia de los Muertos" is the theme!  See the progression of My Deer headed to Zoe in Tucson, AZ:

sketches for My Deer and Kit Kat

My Deer, 12" x 9", oil on wood

Speaking of skulls, I just added my new series "Dream Bubble" to my website with a variety of new stuff inspired by mythology and unnatural creatures creeping into dreamland...

Preservation, 24" x  24", oil on canvas

I'll also be doing live painting of a tattooed femme fatale in L.A. at the next Cannibal Flower show, Saturday October 29th, so if you can't make it to the event be sure to check out the pics on my Facebook page, xo!