Sunday, January 31, 2010


Look what I got the other day

Remember I told you I went to the art supply store? Before going I made this huge list of things I needed or wanted to see were on sale. I'm very pleased with what I got and I'm really looking forward to trying them. Here are some pictures of my acquisitions.

That's some oilpaint on the picture below, I needed a few colors so I only bought those. I also took some watercolors, just a few tones that aren't that average. I noticed I bought the exact same colors as for the oilpaint, isn't that funny? I guess I just love them.


Getting colorsoft pencils had been on my to-do list for quite some time, but I always thought them too expensive. Luckily they were on sale and I could handpick the colors, which is cheaper than buying a pack with a case, and that way I wasn't obliged to get colors I wouldn't use anyway.


Working with ink is something I really enjoyed doing, I only tried it a few times and just with black ink, but was planning on starting again. While browsing the store I spotted these gorgeous little bottles of ink. I got orange, red and gold, which I didn't expect to be so shimmery. I am totally and utterly in love with these cute little things and am sure I will get some more colors, after I make sure these are as great as I expect them to be.


As I told you yesterday I should've gotten acrylic paint as well. Turns out the cheap ones that I have aren't any good and I really need some decent paint to finish what I started in art school as well as to paint some more for myself. Plus I forgot to buy a plastic pallet for the ink. So I guess my next shopping trip to the supply store will already be in the near future.

Saturday, January 30, 2010


I'd love to...

>buy some acrylic paint, which I didn't do at the art store, but apparently should've done
>receive the copy of "the to-do list" by Mike Gayle that I ordered
>go to my high school reunion next week



Friday, January 29, 2010


Lovely Movies

I wasn't planning on seeing this movie, but it just so happened to be on TV right after a show I watched. "The Big White" turned out to be a great movie with great actors such as Robin Williams, Tim Blake Nelson, Woody Harrelson, Giovanni Ribisi, Alison Lohman and the always superb Holly Hunter, who played the most adorable role I have ever seen her in.


It's this not so fast paced and a little bizarre movie, but still very accessible, cute and funny. And it has a great soundtrack, plus it has beautiful opening credits in which the dots on the i's fall like snow. I hadn't really seen a movie like this before and I'd definitely recommend it.
As if that all wasn't reason enough to watch it, Robin Williams and Holly Hunter make the cutest couple, it's probably the weirdest and yet happiest marriage I've ever seen on screen.


Thursday, January 28, 2010


Wishlist

I have one little black dress with a Peter Pan collar and although I love it to bits, it's not that clearly Peter Pan collar-y because it's all black. And since I really have a thing for those collars I would love love love some more clothes that had them.


It's one of those things that's cute on little girls, but also on women. You can't really grow out of them (or at least not that soon).


Hopefully they'll get in fashion some time soon, I haven't seen them in stores for ages. I guess I'll just have to make something with one of those lovely collars.

Or order them online.

This one is from xenosdesigns on etsy.


Just a Little Update

I just went to my favorite art supply store, unfortunately they're closing within a few months. The upside is they are having huge sales. I came back with a lot of lovely things, some I was planning on buying, others I just came across while browsing. I am really pleased and might show you some things this weekend.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you because I'm so excited about the supplies, I have great news, my creditcard came today so I'll be opening my etsy as soon as possible. I still have a few things to do beforehand, but I think it'll be taken care of soon enough.
I hope my camera will work with me. I had a few problems, but I'm hoping to still take some more pictures to put up there.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010


Pretty Paintings

I am so excited about this whole art school thing and what makes it even cooler is that it's on the same day I write about art on my blog. I just get all happy and inspired on Wednesdays!
And also on Saturdays since I have art school then too, last time we made this painting and had to rip it up, glue the pieces back on and paint over it again, so it turned out to be abstract. I usually don't do abstract, but it was fun and not as hard as I thought it'd be. It got me a little out of my shell and because of that I'll show you something now that's a little different from what I normally like.


Being a huge supporter of recycling, I am glad to see artists do it in their work. I really like Nick Gentry's style of painting, and by recycling old floppy disks and VHS cassettes he really creates some unique pieces of art.


He also tries to make a great statement by using the things that were modern not too long ago, but are now these old fashioned things we throw out without a second thought.


So he has a message, he recycles and makes some pretty great paintings. What more do you want? How about being part of one of his works (well, in a small way anyway)? You can donate your old stuff by sending it, so he can build a stock of supplies. This guy get's cooler by the second. I am really looking forward to see what he'll do in the future. And am dying to try some art-recycling myself.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010


Owl Things Considered

Ever since the first time I browsed through Etsy, I have been hooked. Especially on owls (surpise, surprise!). I've spent ages looking through all the cute stuff and have already bought a couple of lovely items. I might show you some other things another time.


Today however, I'd like to show you what I bought over at Lorienna Designs. I spotted the cute retro baby owl earrings and just had to have them, I took a while deciding whether I'd go with the blue or the pink ones, but I chose the pink pair in the end.

Like many of her items, they had a freebie, a pendant to match the earrings. And they were really cheap. She has the cutest jewelry starting at $1.50. I was very tempted to get more, but stuck with the owls for now.


There are six other owl items (including the lovely "anxious owls") and she also has a "simple but whimsical collection" that has the cutest little things such as tea-bag or scissor earrings. Not to mention the beautiful "berry" beaded earrings and necklaces.

If you're already getting excited by these pictures, go check out the store.

One more thing: I found out that my creditcard application got approved, which means I'll probably be able to open my own Etsy in about two weeks! I'll keep you posted, of course.

Monday, January 25, 2010


Marvelous Music

Ever since I've heard Asa's music, her songs have been stuck in my head quite a few times, and I mean that in the best possible way.


Her music is often described as "Nigerian soul"; she was born in France, has Nigerian parents and her music really has that African vibe.


When I was in France during the summer I saw her cd in lots of stores, it seems like she's really getting the attention she deserves in her home country. She has also opened up concerts for some very famous artists, including Snoop Dogg, which suprised me since their music couldn't be more different. Hopefully it does mean she'll get an international breakthrough some time soon.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Great Reads

Ok, this isn't really a book you can read, it's more pages and pages full of eye candy. "In the Land of Retinal Delights" is really a report of a Juxtapoz art show at the Laguna Art Museum. Even though I've had the pleasure of going there a few times, Laguna Beach isn't exactly a place I pass by a lot. Had I known it had such great exhibitions I would've looked into it sooner.


To be honest I'm already thrilled I got my hands on the book. Usually art books, especially on Low Brow art, are way out of my budget. They are expensive, because they are not that popular and often come in limited editions. The upside is, they sometimes go on sale, because not that many people care enough to buy them. This one was less than a third of the original price, lucky me!


It is filled with art from some of my favorite painters as well as ones I was unfamiliar with. Every painting is by another artist, which is great, cause I got acquainted with so many new ones. I won't go into details so I'll still have lots of artists left to show you on Wednesdays, where I have room for lots of pictures. What I can tell you is that "the Creatrix" by Mark Ryden is in it, which would be reason enough to buy the book.

Saturday, January 23, 2010


I'd love to...

>wear my cowboy boots more often
>take a course in felting
>buy a second hand lab or army coat to wear in art school to protect my
clothes




Friday, January 22, 2010


Just a Little Update

As you might have guessed I've been really busy. Wednesday afternoon was my first art class and even though it was more of an introduction and a chance to meet a few of my classmates, I had a great time and I have a feeling this course will be amazing. I've only talked to a few people, but they all seem really nice. We were divided into two groups and it will stay that way throughout the course, so I'm not sure if I'll really get a chance to know the other group.

Tomorrow will be the first "real" day of classes, where we'll actually draw and I believe it involves compostion, I'm so excited!


Yesterday, I went to the craft store for some more supplies for my etsy, they also had buttons on sale and I got a few tubes, including some really cute vintage buttons. All that's left really is waiting for that creditcard to arrive.


So, Today. I went to a museum. The exhibition was about the Russian court and had clothes (beautiful gowns!) as well as paintings. After that, my mom and I pretty much cleaned out the entire gift store. I would never have thought you could do some serious shopping in those, but it is possible, I found that out last time and I think this might become a new tradition. I got postcards and magnets and a lovely notebook (I know, I have a serious addiction to them) which has a blank page for sketching on the left and a ruled page on the right, isn't that awesome? There was one painting that looked like a drag queen, so I bought one magnet for myself and one for a gay friend of mine who'll probably get a laugh out of it too.

I also got a chance to visit a paper store and get some supplies there as well, not for my store, but just for art purposes, such as big drawing paper I needed, on sale. To top things of I found a book I was missing from a comic book series.

It has been a great day and there's another one waiting for me tomorrow. Hope you are having a great time too!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010


Pretty Pictures

Since I start art school today and it is a Wednesday, it would make perfect sense to show you some paintings, but instead of paintings, I have some pictures for you today. I came across this girl who was asking people to vote for her in an artist competition just a few minutes ago. It only took one click and no subscribing or anything, so it was easily done.


17-year-old Marianna Fierro was only bitten by the photography bug 2 years ago and has been taking some lovely pictures since then.


She is now competing for Artist Wanted, which has a great panel of judges, may I add, including: actor and director Steve Buscemi and director Chris Weitz ("Golden Compass" and "Twilight: New Moon")

If you'd like to vote as well, just go here and click on the star you think is right, preferably the fifth of course.

Oh, and one more thing, competition is only open for 18 more hours.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010


Owl Things Considered

Yes, it is time for my own owls, the ones I made a little over a week ago and have mentioned a few times. I was planning on making an owl for a long time, but was always waiting till I could go to the craftstore and buy sew-on eyes. Eventually I had enough of waiting and decided to make them with material I did have, and just started to crochet.


I made the big one first.
In the middle of crocheting I stopped to make eyes out of felt, thread, permanent marker and glitter glue. It turned out better than I hoped and really gave him more of a personality than fake eyes would have done.

I hope it's not silly to still give stuffed animal a name, I probably should've grown out of that ages ago. Well if it's silly, at least I gave them silly names to match.


The big one is called Mercator, which is latin for salesperson/seller. Why? I haven't got a clue, but it seems to fit.


I used the same color felt for the beak and the insides of the wings (;that's what the weird picture above is showing). You can really shape the wings in different positions, I love that. And they stay like that until you move them again, I didn't think they'd be firm enough, but they hold quite well.


I made the small one last, with the same material except for one kind of yarn (I used two strands for both), I picked a lighter one since baby owls tend to be lighter. I thought he should be fatter and have his eyes closed. I called him Calabash because of his shape.

They have such great shapes, although they are both completely different, they both have a tummy and a cute little butt.

I already made a different kind of owl, but it's still an idea that needs to be worked out more. I'm planning on putting them on my etsy, when I feel I've got the hang of it. And when I finally get that creditcard. It should be here any day now, hopefully. I can't wait!

I might make one of these owls for my etsy too (probably the baby), maybe in a different color, I still have to try some other things out...

Oh, one more thing! I start my 3-month art school course tomorrow. I am so excited! I feel things are coming together again. December was such a weird month, everything that was going great fell of track. Before the holidays came I stopped eating chocolate and was exercising an hour a day, doing exercises with weights, stretching and some other stuff. Not to lose weight, but to gain energy, although losing weight might be a side affect, of course. Then the holidays came, and the flu, and I started eating more candy and quitting on my program. On top of that my computer isn't working so I lost my workout-playlist on iTunes. But...
I started again yesterday! And have already done it again today. So I feel I'm getting back on track again. I hope I can keep it up when I'm starting school again; I'll try my best!

Monday, January 18, 2010


Marvelous Music

Today it's more about the song than it is about the artist. Because "Just So" is the only song by Obel that has made it out "there".
It was featured in a commercial and that's how I was able to trace it. Despite it's loveliness, I don't think she even has a cd.

What she does have is an owl, that almost makes up for all the songs I wish I could hear from her.


It was only today that I visited her MySpace for blog-research and found four more songs. I'll be listening to those some more tomorrow. Check it out if you'd like to hear more too.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Favorite Videos

I love YouTube, there's just so much on there, I'll never get bored. There are some videos I really love and I thought I could put them up on some Sundays.

This first one I found when I first got into YouTube. It has gotten a lot of response and has been watched half a million times, but I figured you might not have seen it yet. So watch and enjoy:


I love this little video, the music, that it's not to long and not to short and that it's weird in a cute way. It's just great.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...