A Time of Change

This one is called a Time of Change. It shows a restaurant on the dock over looking the water. You can see that someone was just sitting there because there is one chair pulled out and a lone glass of wine. I painted this one around Yule (12/21) to show us coming out of the darkness of the year and moving into the light. I thought showing the night time fading ad the light moves in was beautiful. Change is the only constant, I have to keep reminding myself of that!lol This one is also done on canvas board.

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Some New Stuff

Ok, so above are a few of my recent paintings. The first one is called A City by the Beach, I did that one for my cousin Donna. She loves the skyline and she also loves the beach so I figured I'd combine them. I am very pleased with that one, I tried to use lighter airier colors beings my usual style seems to be a little dark and heavy. I love it! Man, I just love painting, I wish I could just do it all day!lol The second one is called The Cliffs of Avalon, that one is on canvas board and it is very colorful. It is a scene of a lone house surrounded by mists on the cliffs of the mythical isle of Avalon. The boat in the water is either bringing the body of King Arthur home after the battle where he was mortally wounded, so that he can be brought back to life in Avalon. Or it is the boat that is taking the revived King back to battle. Either way the lone house is the one where Gweneviere waits and watches for her King. I am obsessed with the Isle of Avalon. As soon as money is better I will be saving for a trip to Europe so that I can spend one of the Sabbats in Glastonbury England that is said to be Avalon.

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The Return of the Sun/ Jury Duty

This one was a tribute to the returning sun. One day I came out of work at 5pm and it was still light outside. I was so happy. I was so ready for winter to be over and spring is my favorite season so I was inspired to dedicate a painting to the changing seasons. 

It was about 57 degrees out today and I had a serious case of spring fever. I asked my cousin to hit happy hour at a local bar with me and we had a good time. I told him all about the day I had on Thursday when I was stuck in jury duty. Of course jury duty isn't usually a pleasant experience. We do it because we have the pleasure of voting and we don't feel like paying a hefty fine. So I was all set for a boring day. To my pleasant surprise, I met a few nice people, I gave out my card and hopefully will get a few people to look at my art. One of the people I hung with called me already, now I'm only waiting on one more. So if he happens to be reading this...I would like to hear from him! (hint, hint)lol. He could even....text me if he wanted!lol

I'm sure I was blushing quite a bit during the time we all spent together, damn this light skin of mine!!

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Blessed Be

This one reflects my interest in Paganism and Wicca specifically. It is of a women, maybe my alter ego Lola, who caught the magnificent moon and decided to take advantage of it. She may be waiting for her Coven or she could be preparing for ritual alone. The full moon is when her power is the strongest and she has come to draw energy from the moon. I have a triple goddess symbol painted in the moon and the symbols earth, air, fire and water are also shown throughout the painting.

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Autumn Sky

Well, this is called Autumn Sky as you can see. It is of a striking shot I took on my way to my car after work one day. The contrast of the setting sun against the buildings in the city made huge shadows. It was something I just couldn't pass up so I snapped a picture and I just had to turn it into a painting.

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Vanilla Sky

Ok, so this is my new favorite. I didn't draw anything before hand, I did it right on the canvas with the brush and it turned out so well. 

I was walking to my car after work and noticed this beautifully colorful sunset over a bridge.  So I took out my camera and snapped a picture.  It reminded me of crazy vanilla ice cream I used to get as a kid. it was basically just vanilla ice cream but in  a lot of crazy colors. This sky looked cold kind of reminding us that winter is coming. And crazy Lola managed to leave her mark as usual. She somehow managed to get up there and spray paint her name

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Pink!

This is one of my latest. It's called Pink! in honor of breast cancer awareness month. A friend of mine at work is a breast cancer survivor and she has a lot to do with organizing the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure walk in October. She knew I painted and asked if I would like to donate a framed piece to be raffled off. It is a great cause and I have an aunt who is a breast cancer survivor.

Anyway so this friend of mine has seen my painting, Through Rose Colored Glasses (See Below) and she really like the concept, considering that people diagnosed with cancer have to try and maintain an optimistic outlook. That specific painting is hanging in a gallery right 

now so she asked if I could create something similar. The walk takes place at the Philadelphia Art Museum so I figured the background on this painting would kind of be like that. I will also be there at the walk painting pink ribbons on people faces. It's great because I don't have any money to give so giving my time and donating my painting is something!

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That Darn Lola....

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Ok, so this one is called, The Morning After (Lola Was Here). As you can see this is the reflection of Lola leaving a one night stand, in the bathroom mirror. You can see her signature AppleBottom Jeans, too.  It must have been a good night because she's left her phone number in red lipstick on the mirror.

It's weird, the idea for this one came to me in the middle of the night, I think I woke up to get some water and I had this picture in my head that I thought was clever. Lola gets into all kinds of trouble but I think it's fair to say that she has pretty much fun while she's doing it.

The Still Of The Night

Ok, so this one is called, The Still of the Night. It is actually the view from the front steps of the house that I grew up in, in North Philly. I remember sitting out there in the summer time. I didn't really have a bed time when a lot of my friends did so I would be left alone when they all had to go in. I remember it being a little chilly and very quiet, for the most part and kind of lonely. If my mom was home, she was upstairs, but usually she wasn't back then. Usually it was just my dad sitting in the living room, either asleep in front of the t.v. or actually watching it. It was kind of lonely and a little scary but it was comforting to look inside and see the light and the warmth and knowing that I could go inside anytime I wanted, (I was weird like that). 

This is exactly the view as I remember it. When I told some family what the picture was of, they asked, "But how do you know what it looked like there?" It's simple for me, I can see the picture in my head exactly as it was. Right down to the steel scraper that was next to a lot of old houses, where people used to scrape the crud off their shoes before going inside. Our scraper was actually the only one that was intact.  The abandoned candy factory across the street that burned down when I was a kid. And don't forget the trolley tracts in the street.

I thought using different shades of of blue for the whole painting was quite fitting. I wasn't really sure how to convey the feeling of loneliness I used to get sitting out there, but the blue really seemed to help. 

I recently showed some of my work to a new friend of mine and he also asked me, as someone else once did, why there is so much blue in my work. On one hand I do love to paint the sky and there is usually a lot of blue in the sky. On the other hand I think blue is a very emotional color and I am a very emotional person, so I think it's pretty fitting. Maybe I will get to a point in my life where the most prominent color in my paintings is pink, red, or yellow. I guess, for now, it may just be a phase I am going through. Even Picasso had his blue period....right?

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Ode To My Mother

 

Ok, so this one is called "Ribbon in the Sky". This one is for my mom, Marilyn, who died of Colon Cancer a few years ago. The ribbon is blue which is the color designated for Colon Cancer. 

I just wanted to do something that reminded me of her. I actually think I might do one of these for each of the Moore sisters in my family (both of my mom's sisters) too. Each of the sisters have had Cancer and now there is only one left. 

 

There is another one I am contemplating. It will be another painting that will be ode to my mom. The title of that one will be "For all the things I never said". It will be about 24X30" and it will show Lola starring out over the boardwalk out to the ocean. The view of Lola will be from behind, you can't see her face and most of the painting is in muted colors, except for her. You can see words written in the sand below and the words will be, ANGER, SADNESS, FEAR, TRAPPED. Stuff like that. I haven't started it yet because it will be a pretty important piece with a lot of feeling in it.

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The Secret

Ok, so this is a recent one that I did at the request of a friend of mine from the gym. We are both trying to put into practice the principles of the law of attraction as told by the movie The Secret. I just made a vision board today and I am really gonna try and make this work for me. The painting shows the concepts of the law of attraction. This is a close-up of the door, specifically the keyhole in the door. You can see the key coming towards the door and you can clearly see through the keyhole into all the possibilities that the future holds if you only use the key. Through the keyhole I tried to show symbols of what most of us want in some capacity, money, peace, happiness and love.  

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My Latest

Ok, so this is one of my most recent paintings. It's called " Over Troubled Waters". The story behind it is, there was this bridge that I used to take home from my customer service job in Allentown. I lived in Reading and I traveled across this bridge at around 2am. This was a pretty dark time in my life, I was depressed, my job was stressful, I didn't feel that I would ever be able to get ahead, and everyone else was doing better than me. Not to mention that my disabled mother was too dependent on me. I lived with her and she let me know frequently that I could never leave her so I felt trapped. She was also not the most positive person, and she was the one who kind of put the idea in my head not to dare to dream because you'll just be disappointed. So never-the-less, I was under a psychiatrists care and I took anti-depressants. I used to think about driving off of this bridge sometimes, and as far as my mother goes, I did have a life insurance policy she would get. I used to talk about it with her and I guess that was a sign that I never really wanted to do it anyway. That was just the only way I knew how to express my desperation with the whole situation. And while my mother never wanted me to die, she saw my desperation and didn't care. She only cared that I would stay and take care of her regardless of how miserable it made me.

So this is the bridge and it symbolizes a lot. My mother passed away and that is really when my life began. Now, while it isn't perfect and I am not where I want to be, I know that I will get there. Killing myself is not even a thought I would entertain.

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Gallery

 

I've decided to take a much more proactive approach to my art career. I want to be in galleries, I want to be "the next be thing" I want to be the hottest new thing out of Philly!  I have been researching art galleries in Philadelphia and I have checked out their websites. I have started contacting them to find out how a hopeful artist would be considered to show there. One emailed me back and said I would need to send disk along with a copy of my artist statement and my resume'. I plan to do that shortly, although I don't really have anything on my resume', I spent a year at University of the Arts, attended 2 flea markets and sold 2 paintings to co-workers and friends. Another gallery's website said that you only need to email them a link to your blog so I figured I'd update and add a few more paintings before I do that.

I also got an idea for a new painting that I might sketch out tonight and try to paint tomorrow. In addition to all of that I also think I may have found a solution to my money troubles for now. I have a lead on a job at Starbucks. The store is really close to me and they  have hours that would coincide with my schedule to allow me to work part-time. I think it is something I could make work, it'll help get my bills paid and give me a little extra to spend this summer. Who knows.....maybe Starbucks would even let me show my art there! Wouldn't that be great??? Killing two birds with one stone!!!

The painting at the top is called "Smitten" it's mushy and inspired by my man. I took a picture of his sweat jacket and in the painting his jacket is draped over my heart. The heat from my feelings for him seem to be changing the seasons. I know...I told you it was mushy!!

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,

Risk

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Risk! The concept is terrifying! I think especially for me considering the way I was raised. I think one thing that my mother instilled in me, probably stronger than anything else was fear. You know the plastic hand puppets that kids used to get with Happy Meals from McDonald's? My mom used to poke holes in mine before she gave them to me for fear that I might suffocate. I carried scissors and knives by the very tip of the handles and at arms length because my mom had me convinced I'd cut myself. 

I am afraid of everything and I am struggling to get over that. To go after what I really want in life is going to require risk and I have to be okay with that. Faith is another concept that I struggle with and I think that might be completely related to my risk issue. One takes a risk, with faith that they will get the best outcome. That whole concept is hard for me. One might invest all of there savings in starting a business with faith that it will be successful. While I would think, "well I know I won't lose my savings if I don't risk it to follow my dream", so my bet has always been on the sure thing. I also need to learn to take a risk and have faith with my feelings. I need to dare to dream and have faith that they will come true.

In the past I have never let myself dream or get my hopes up regarding things that I couldn't logically plan a way to make some true. Like I never let myself dream about beautiful condos, expensive vacations and things like that because I couldn't wrap my pessimistic mind around a way that I would ever achieve those things, so to me it was too painful. 

My new outlook has me dreaming and focusing on what I want and believing that the Universe will provide me with the circumstances in my life that will allow me to achieve those things. Even logically, 10 years ago, I never thought I would be able to work for a bank, hell 10 years ago I didn't think I could hold a job anywhere. I never thought I would have a house or drive a car and those things have all happened anyway.  It's amazing the things that I have accomplished when there were other people, myself included, who thought I couldn't. So my new saying is anything is possible if you believe that it is.

The painting above is titled "Through My Mother's Eyes" I attempted to show how even on a beautiful day without a cloud in a sky, my mother only saw the storm that may or may not be coming. The tree in the center represents me, it shows that I was blossoming with potential for greatness and she still couldn't see it. She was trying to look out for me and keep me from getting hurt, but in her eyes it was better for me to never attempt anything rather than to try and risk failing and getting hurt. It kind of set the tone for my perception of what I could do.

Hopeful

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I emailed some of my favorite pieces to the art gallery owner friend of a coworker friend of mine. Now my coworker told me that her friend is going through some family things right now, I think she has someone getting married and she is planning a wedding in another state, I think. So who knows when I'll hear but I am sure I will. I am very seriously practicing following the principles of the law of attraction so I am certain that I will get discovered in the art community, I just can't focus on how exactly. I will be donating a painting to the Breast Cancer Awareness walk to be raffled off in October. I should gain some recognition from that as well. I have this picture in my head of what my life should be, I should be living in a wonderful condo in center city with a big studio to work in, with the recognition and respect of the art world, making a living off of my art. That will happen I am sure.

The painting above is called "The Street Where I Live" I recently bought a house and this is my interpretation of a beautiful sunrise that I witnesses one day as I left for work. I took out my camera and stood in the middle of the street to take the picture.

The scene was just so beautiful I had to capture it, I have actually stopped a few other places around the city, usually when I see a particularly stunning sky with great skyline, and I take out my camera right there. 

I believe that anyone that has gotten big in any creative field (music, dancing, acting, art) has to keep trying. We only see the end result so we of course don't realize the years of waiting that went into it. I've only been painting again and seriously for not even a year. Before it never even occurred to me to actually dream to pursue my art as an actual means to make money. That dream seemed too elusive and therefore too painful for me so I just didn't think about it. So on a positive note I know my time will come,and I will get there, the Universe will figure out how to get me there!

Maybe I'll be big!

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Ok, so I had another flea market. Didn't sell anything this time but another coworker who has had her eye on one in particular (see painting to the left). She asked me to bring it in on Monday for her to buy. I am not sure if I will continue with the whole flea market circuit. People at flea markets do tend to expect to get something really cheap. I understand it I do it to. I bought some really cute shoes for $12 and a great bag for $10. The problem with homemade items is this, a person who puts their soul into creating something can't be expected to virtually give this item away. So I think the whole "flea market thing" may just not be for me. I might try to cater to the more "high-end" art appreciating public who go someplace specifically to buy art. I mentioned before the friend at work with the friend who owns a gallery, well she showed her my work the women liked it and wants to arrange a meeting for us to discuss my showing in her gallery. Also a friend of mine has a friend who knows someone with a gallery in New York who she gave my info to so maybe I'll get a call from them too. With art galleries, people go there expecting to spend money. No one goes to an art gallery with intentions on buying something and thinks they will see something for $15-$20, which isn't the case with the flea markets.

There is a guy at my job that came around with books the other day, he had written and published this book and did the art work on the cover. He had also written and published other books and he brought them around to sell. He is inspirational. The better I get at networking the further along I will get with my aspirations. It seems that now that more people at my job know that I paint and that I want to be a successful selling artist, they seem to all want to help me. I've been told that my style is unique and that makes me very happy. My style was one of the things that I used to worry about before I started painting again. I was worried about what my style would be and how it would distinguish me from other artists. I am so glad that my style, whatever it is, emerged relatively painlessly as soon as I stopped worrying about it. Some of the things that I have painted, I had no idea how to paint when I started. When I sat down, brush in hand the thing I didn't know how to paint came pretty effortlessly from my hand. Worry seems to be the bane of my existence. When I stop thinking so much, things actually seem to turn out fine, go figure!lol

Oh yeah the second painting is called "Silence" it is supposed to be eery and it symbolizes how most people don't really want to hear what we have to say.

Flea Market

Ok, so I did something out of character at my boss's suggestion. Two weeks ago I had a one on one meeting for a career development group I am in at work. I explained to my boss that I had dreams of being a working artist. She mentioned a big church flea market that was in two weeks. So I  told the doubting Thomas voice in my head to shut up and I went. I only sold one painting, but my prices weren't of your normal flea market variety. Quite a few people walked by and took my card, some were very interested in certain  pieces but explained that they had only brought "flea market" money with them. I was told about another flea market next week that seems to be more for the artist, at least that's what I was told. I told all of the people that they could email me for any more info and I would also send them a link to my blog. A few people from my job were very fond of my stuff, one of my new friends asked me if she took a picture of something could I paint it. Of course my answer is yes! Also another coworker told me that if I didn't sell one piece she wanted to buy it. The painting is above, titled "Through Rose Colored Glasses" is the one my coworker wants to buy. Another good thing that came out of this is that I sort of made friends with two girls at work that I never previously really talked to. I think I may be meeting one for drinks tonight and even if she doesn't feel like it I think I may go and have a drink alone. That is something that I struggled with doing before. So the flea market really was the best thing for me to do.

Regarding the painting above, it symbolizes my new found outlook on life, looking at things through rose colored glasses!

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Lola and The City

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This is another Lola picture, I think I may do a whole series of Lola paintings. She is my alter ego and I feel I know her quite well.  I listed an old book I had lying around on ebay, I just wanted to see if I could do it beings I do plan on selling my art on there. I am gonna varnish this weekend (which I've never done before) so I can actually list a painting.

Ok...so more about Lola. She is this outgoing, fun-loving, free spirited woman who I think looks a lot like me. She is everything I hope to be someday...and I think I may be on my way to becoming. I have decided that I need to take responsibility for my own happiness and fulfillment in life. I have started taking art classes at Fleisher Art Memorial. It is a weekly class and it is taught by a guy who actually teaches at University of the Arts also. I just entered a basic sketch into the student show and I would like to talk to my instructor about how one would go about getting their paintings displayed in their gallery. I also found a small, family owned local cafe/gallery in my area. I plan to go in there for coffee, look around and talk to the owner about how one would go about getting their work shown there. I just need to network and make some sort of name for myself. Let people know that I am talented and I am here.

Regarding this painting, it really just kind of came to me. I knew I wanted to do a follow up to "Her Name Was Lola" and I also wanted to use bright colors. Red is one of my favorite colors so that was the natural choice for the color of the dress. I wanted Lola to stand out so I made her 3D while the rest is kind of graphic and 2-dimensional.

Anyway...I would love feedback, good or bad. Really! I understand that to be in this business I have to take criticism and learn from my mistakes. I want to know what the art buying public thinks and is interested in.

The Center

This painting is called 4th street, inspired by my view of the bridge on my way to work.

I found this wonderful place called the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, right here in Philly! They have a two year program where there is a career development plan they give you opportunities for group shows with other students and then a showing by yourself. They also have seminars every month on things a new artist needs to know like how to price your work, how to apply for grants and how to talk to galleries. It is great! I talked to one of the people there and I sent her some of my work. 

The program is FREE...that's right...FREE. So it is very competitive. Even if you don't get in the program you can take advantage of a lot of the other things they have to offer. The seminars are twelve-bucks a piece, they also have a library with lots of books on all the topics new artists need to know about. The lady from the center submitted my work into then  registry where artists will show in public places to try and increase the communities awareness of culture and art. You go to parks, hospitals, shelters, nursing homes. I think I could also use that to full-fill the volunteering hours required at my job. I am just thrilled! What a wonderful thing to offer. The lady from the center said that we should meet and discuss where I am now, where I'd like to be, and how to get there. Also she said that we can try to figure out what path I should be on so I can support myself with my art. That is almost too much to hope for.

(Update...I have a meeting with her this month)

I have been reading a lot on the impressionist style and I would try to adhere more strictly to it. Changing my palette cutting out the black, and not paying so much attention to detail. I wanna start limiting my palette an improvising with the colors I am allowed to use. I think it will help me grow. 

There is also a women at work who had been asking me for a few years to paint her something. She asked me again today and I let her know that I am painting again and that I would send her a few of my paintings. She has friends who like art too so who knows where this could lead. I even have a friend who said that if I design them she will make up business cards for me. Maybe this is the start of my life as an artist. It's exciting, and scary! I am so happy that I stumbled on the site for the Center.

Doing what makes you happy

Ok, now I think I might be sick, it's only from nerves though! I have just about made a pretty important decision in my life. I don't think I am going to continue my education at least not now and at least not in the graphic design field. Come to think of it when I attended The University of the Arts a billion years ago, in my freshman year the only class I didn't enjoy was graphic design. It really isn't my bag and although this experience has been a rather costly mistake it's probably better to cut my losses now. Going another year and a half would be another $12000.00 plus books and stuff. And I could be doing what is in my heart. 

So I bit the bullet, I listed my first painting on Etsy and and think I'm gonna puke. No but seriously, my friends have told me to do what makes you happy. What makes me happy is art. I am going to look up local galleries and see if any of them have any special events for new unknown artists. I should see if there is anyway I can get a grant of some sort. I could take a class at University of the Arts for around $500. The class is about 3 months and would further postpone the student loan people jumping on my back. I have also been looking into getting grants in order to start my own business (that being selling paintings). Just since making that decision I feel like  a huge weight had been lifted, I feel so much lighter and happier. I guess doing what makes you happy really is the way to go. Just the way that I feel should tell me that it is the right decision.

Now for the obstacle. In order to make a go of this wonderful dream I have, I have to have faith and believe in myself. Plenty of other people have taken the "not so popular" path and done well.  Maybe the world does think that you'll be nothing without a college degree, I have to believe that they are wrong. Any classes that I take should teach me how to paint or draw better not do something with computers that I have no desire to do.

So...as I'm sure you can see, I am still convincing myself that this is the right thing to do. 

In regards to the painting above, it was inspired by a philosophy class I took a while back. This is my idea of Heaven. You can see the sun and the earth from there. In the center if what used to be the Garden of Eden is the Tree of Life which is now a Wisteria tree rather than an Apple tree. If you look closely though you can still see the apple on the ground with two bites taken. I plan to do a follow up to this piece that will be Hell.  The scene will be of the same place but the tree will be dead and rotting, the apple will have a worm and the there will be fire.