It’s already freezing here in Italy and although I am sad the days are getting shorter, I am also looking forward to snuggling in bed more, since I love staying in bed just a few more minutes every morning.  I decided it was time for some blog maintenance given the change in weather.  Tah-dah! A winter look softer colors and matching background patterns.  I also added a little santa hat to owlie up in the header for extra Christmas spirit!

I have been working on some holiday card designs, but can’t decide exactly what I should get professionally printed.  If anyone knows of good printers in Europe – that actually ship to Italy – please let me know!  As I work away, here is a little holiday greeting for all of you!  Thank you for visiting my little blog space – I do very much appreciate it

Posted on October 30, 2009 at 1:34 pm | blogging | No comments

I have been busy these days with many things on my list of to do’s, but not busy at the same time because I cannot get myself to finish anything.  Although I have great plans in my mind, I wasn’t able to start up properly.  Finally, going through my RSS feeds this week, a few things together sparked me up.

Interesting enough, it all started from Inspire Me Thursday.  An image of Mademoiselle Rivière was offered up for download, with an open prompt to do whatever with it.  I was struck by the image and recent thoughts about the role of women in today’s society.  How so much has changed and not changed.  Coincidentally there’s also a woman challenge from Italy on Sunday and the theme this month on Creative Every Day is to connect. Somehow all those ideas together struck a chord within me and I decided I had to do something. But what to do?

I jumped in completely unplanned and created something without knowing what the outcome would be.  No thought of composition or the end result…just do it!  Somehow it felt like the right path to take, to reconnect with myself and the freedom of creativity.  Give myself the freedom to go wherever my hands took me. It was liberating to not have to do something for a client, to not do something for the purpose of creating products…instead just having fun creating.  I suppose we all do this in journaling and doodling, but usually I don’t share that type of stuff.

I decided I have to share, because all this could be inspiring to others and in the spirit of community and connecting – sharing your work means creating a dialogue with your blog visitors.  Even if I can’t say in words how I feel or communicate exactly what I am thinking in proper prose, perhaps my work will demonstrate better.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Posted on October 28, 2009 at 11:22 am | inspiration | 20 comments

Growing up my brother used to always say that being a jack or jill of all trades is no good.  You would dabble in everything but be an expert in nothing.  Oh how those words have hung over me these many years…and still haunt me a bit at times when I get frustrated.  I happen to love a lot of different things, enough so that I pursue them with all my heart (at least at the time of passion).  I have varied interests, darn it!  Variety is the spice of life, don’t you think?

Digital Card Design

Sure, there might be a few things that I might be more passionate about than others.  Graphic design and photography are biggies…but I honestly also enjoy acrylic painting, watercolor, doodling madly and coloring them in with my niece.  Sometimes I embroider, sometimes I bend some wire and make a pair of earrings.  I’ve dabbled in hand-printing methods and love to make cards scrapbooking style.  I used to play the violin, but now I like the acoustic guitar and hope to write some real songs one day.  Depending on my mood and what inspiration hits me, I go with different avenues to express what is inside me.  The list goes on and I have started to document on my Flickr.  Most people probably just think I’m crazy and flighty!  I know many crafters who hide some of their side passions for fear of disapproval or judgement.

Watercolor and Ink

Normally I can go about my creative ventures without interruption because that’s just what happens.  You find out about something really cool and you simply have to try it out. I’m not thinking about what others think or really thinking about anything else, because I’m engrossed and super excited to learn something new and create.  However, usually when you get into the middle of something, there are times when doubt sets in.  Trials and tribulations come along with the process and perhaps I get impatient as well.

Photography

Suddenly I’m thinking…can I justify spending all this money for an interest that might fade in a short time period?  Do I really have time to learn another skill that I will probably never master?  Why am I jumping to something new and not concentrating on something I know?  Why am I so flighty and disconnected?  Is it normal?  These questions spin in my head and cause me to freeze at times.  Suddenly I’m deprived of the freedom I once had to explore at will whatever the consequences. I don’t want to lose my freedom in curiosity.  Why should I deprive myself?

Graphic and Web Design

Growing up you are taught to find what you want to do, so you can go to school and learn the skills then go get that job.  I’ve done it and found myself still searching for more after the fact.  Why is it so negative to want to do many things?  I understand the concept of mastering something, but I what if I don’t want to be Picasso?  I just want to express myself in paint and be happy!  I sort of turned the tables and thought about why it is okay to explore new things.  Why the heck not?  I suppose I’m not very scientific with my argument, but I do think that people sometimes box themselves in.  They create rules and expectations for themselves and make things harder than they have to be.  Why not just be content and look on the bright side?  Maybe a venture goes sour, well, you tried and now you know.  Move on.  You never know when something might turn into a great and deep passion!

Acrylic Painting

I just read a great post on the wish studio blog, musepreneur :: are you a scanner/slasher with many passions? on this very topic.  It gives very helpful tips on how to work with who you are, rather than trying to change yourself!  I don’t know if I should call myself a musepreneur or scanner or slasher, but I know that I want to continue with any fancy or passion I might have.  That is my outlet and expression in creativity and I can’t let anything stop me!  How do you all feel about this topic and how do you help yourself and others understand?

Digital Illustration and Design

Posted on October 22, 2009 at 7:23 pm | thoughts + discussion | 8 comments

Remember those little baby super hero paintings I worked on a while back?  Well, there’s a total of six and they will be in a group show, yippee!  Details below and you can see more on my Flickr.

Monkeyhouse Toys & Art Gallery proudly presents

UP UP AND AWAY!!!
A friendly neighborhood Super Hero group show
Curated by Jonathan Balajadia, Stylist extraordinaire

Oct. 24th – Nov. 29th
Opening reception: Sat., Oct. 24th, 5pm-9pm

Super heroes…they’re all over our every day life, on t-shirts, on lunchboxes, in childhood memories, and even on television. Curator, Jonathan Balajadia has brought together a super league of 50 or so artists from all walks of life, of all different ages, and of all different points of view, to showcase their own versions of their super heroes, heroines, villains, and assorted hero paraphanalia. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 24th, from 5-9pm, for a super, incredible, fantastic, and wonderous art show.

Artists include: Dough Boy Fresh, Josh Taylor, Alina Chau, Max, Noek One, Jonathan Bueno, Dan Goodsell, Nick the Ring, woolloomooloo, Mary J. Hoffman, Ryan Hungerford, Heather Chavez, bilbetsovic, Christian Robles, eduardo73, Dan Bigelow, Jennifer Lewis, Chatismo, Matt Dukes Jordan, Misha, Erika Icon, Kelly Thompson, CARO, Donna Letterese, Cori Keller, Marcel de Jure, Mel Bernardino, Linda Tieu, Terri “Tooter” Berman, Douglas Alvarez, Culture 3, Tsai-fi, SKART, John Hicks, Art Damage, Andie Runco, edzepln, Mike & Dasha Biggs, Bill Kheel, Smear, Walt Hall, Scom, Subhumanoid, Sal Mendez,  j. fuchs, Christopher Umana, Jesse Cordoza, ichae ackso, Matt Adrian, Christine Curry, Gina Ramirez, Kophns, Holly Wood, and more…

Monkeyhouse Toys & Art Gallery
1618 1/2 Silver Lake Bl.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-662-3437
monkeyhousetoys.com

Posted on October 21, 2009 at 10:10 am | acrylic painting, events | 6 comments

It has been months since I set up this blog, an effort towards eventually opening up a store to sell my designs and creations.  Today I simply decided to open up my very own Zazzle. Enough stalling and waiting for  a complete series, my usual excuse for not presenting my work.  I am sure many artists fall into the trap of hesitating and waiting until xyz… well, I say just take plunge already! What have you been stalling on lately? Think about what the obstacles are and if they are really valid.  Sometimes you just have to go for it.

Although it can be time consuming to set up shop and figure everything out, but it is so lovely to be able to see your designs on real items. I think Zazzle is a great tool for those of us looking towards licensing our art in the future.  It lets you see your designs on a variety of products quiet simply and that is very useful for both designer sand licensing companies. I was just reading an article about how Zazzle is a great self-marketing tool via EmptyEasel.com – 5 Reasons to Join Zazzle.

So, tah-dah! Here is my little Zazzle store, just a tiny little thing in this big world. Although I still have a long way to go, I am happy to have it up because you have to start somewhere. Now I can keep building upon it to make it a strong representation of my designs…yay!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Posted on October 18, 2009 at 7:46 pm | store | 14 comments