cosmic consciousness

Nebulae continue to be the most reoccurring theme in my artwork and one of the best things in the Universe. I cannot get over these awe-inspiring, glittering bundles of cosmic life dust. Aren't they just surreal? The vibrant colors, the beauty, the depth, the magnitude, the evolution- they are so incredibly magical. One glance through NASA's Astronomy Pics of the Day and I'm reminded of how much mystery, magic, and constant creation there is in our Universe. They inspire me to trust in the unknown and the unseen, to believe in the bigger picture, to dream, and to rest in the knowledge that there is so much more going on in our Universe than we could ever imagine. I was super excited when I was asked to do a commission of the nebula Monocerotis (below). Not only do I love painting these probably more than anything (mountains are a close second), but I feel my star pieces are the best representation of who I am and what I stand for, so they have extra meaning and symbolism for me.

A few more galaxy and nebula inspired pieces I've done:

Oil Spill Nebula- 24 x 24 Acrylic on canvas. Contact for prints.

Signs commissioned for Mountain Sun Pubs in Boulder

Galactic Growth. An old favorite.

I'm reminded of the forms and elements of nebulae in the most random places... wet oil stains on the pavement and colorful agate stones. Some nebula induced awakenings for you all to feast on:

   

   

I loved the old Stardust sign in Vegas. I saw it one day before they tore it down. I could write a whole entry on the space themed style of the late 50s/early 60s- such a great genre of style! That sherbet sunset adds an even more spacey vibe to this vintage postcard.

I wish they still did these kinds of psychedelic light shows at concerts. Just colored oils and water on a the glass of an old school projector. Such a natural, biological feel to those swirling, twirling projections... and it leaves the imagination up to you...

   

Candy agate

Erte "Starstruck"... Always so ahead of his time

                                         

And if this video doesn't inspire a feeling of Universe awe or a desire to heal the earth, I don't know what will. John Muir would be proud..

sources top to bottom: My own painting, Brice Bickoff photography, agategrrl.com, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, unknown, Nat'l Geo Northern Lights photo, Brice Bickoff photography, postcard unknown, Zappa concert Joshua Light Show,  Michael C. Turner galaxy painting, agategrrl.com, Erte "Starstruck," 60s couple unknown

Paint Whisperer/Levitator/Beach Plastic Art Sculptors

Just a few inspiring creators~

My father turned me onto this article. This women is a Color Consultant! Yes, that is her job title. She helps people decide what colors to paint their walls. Just another way someone has made their creativity a lucrative and fulfilling career.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/garden/eve-ashcraft-the-paint-doctor-is-in.html?_r=2


This couple has collected different colored plastic "trash" that has washed up on the beach by their home for years. Cleaning and sorting the plastic, they make bright and playful sculptures and artwork out of their findings- decorative, kitschy, and thought provoking. Art made out of recycled materials pleases me immensely. Consider how much waste is floating in our oceans, and how much they have collected from their local beach. Inspiring.

http://www.treehugger.com/culture/couple-transforms-beach-plastic-into-works-of-art-video.html

This young lady takes pictures of herself "levitating" all around Tokyo. There's something so whimsical about these photographs. The artist says it often takes her 100+ tries just to get the right shot. They're fantastic. Check out her website below:

http://yowayowacamera.com/

Home is where the heArt is.

I've been thrifting in the Denver/Boulder area for 10 years now. Having grown up with a family of antiquers, collectors and flea market frequenters, I find the whole diamond in the rough thing comes naturally to me. It's an adventure- scavenging the city- not know what gems you might find that day. Ninety-five percent of the time, I choose an ARC or a Goodwill over a place that does the grunt work for you (flea market, antique mall)... and I can go all.daylong. I've often thought about how I could make this hobby a business, because I love it. I took great joy in decorating my apartment on the cheap- completely from thrift store finds and free-bes. Several people have inquired about what my new place looks like, so I decided to post some photos. Interior decoration is a great form of expression- my place is me- and it doesn't have to be expensive to be unique. Can't wait to go all out on a house of my own one day...

KITCHEN NOOK: Found these chairs about 8 years ago at ARC on E. Colfax. $5 for the set- amazing find! Sadly, thrift stores are catching on as of late- and hiking up prices on vintage goods. It's exceedingly hard to find deals like that these days- I'll have these chairs forever. They went perfectly with a giant canvas I splashed with paint and some vintage fabric as a tablecloth.

Tulip lamp- one of my favorite finds ever. Fit right in with the turquoise/green theme of the kitchen nook. Great little vintage salt and pepper shakers courtesy of my best friend, Mrs. Sarah Geier. Painted wooden box with flea market knick knacks on top from my aunt's store: Good Girl Art Gallery. www.goodgirlartgallery.com

This mirror was found leaning against a dumpster during CU move out weekend in Boulder. The bookshelf was $10 on Craigslist. Vintage ashtray collection- one of the only things I actually "collect" besides vintage clothes. Love them ashtrays (see below). Marshall and Led frame the mirror- album art is timeless, and a great way to adorn walls.

ASHTRAYS! The turquoise, horse piece is a personal fave, and quite a find, according to my papa. People go crazy for the old western home furnishings. The wooden framed picture is of my mom and dad driving down a Colorado mountain river in the 70s in my dad's old FJ-40 Land Cruiser. My dad made the frame. 

Three of my most coveted pieces in this corner. The two-panel felt mountain scene was discovered at ARC on Broadway- $10. The colors, simplicity and 70s feel to it were ideal- exactly what I had in mind for above the fireplace. The giant 20-slot ashtray is another wild find. Wooden, twelve-sailed ship print finishes it off.

North side of the living room. 

This yellow chair was a giveaway from a one-day event at an old job. They were going to put it in the trash. The red chair was $5 at Unique Thrift in Westminster. Pillows from ARC (yes dad- they are clean). Wooden candle stick set- $3 from Unique. The stripped, silk fabric was given to me by a women on a trip in San Diego- whole roll- high quality. 

Ripped fabric tacked to the ceiling. The second time I've done an installation, if you will, of this liking on my walls/ceilings. (See mixed media tab on my home page)

BEDROOM: $5 nightstand from ARC. Velvet dandelion wall hanging- Salvation Army Boulder.  The milk glass lamp was a hand-me-down from my mom- with a new lamp shade from Target. Varied purses and scarves gypsy-up the area.

Plastic milk glass mirror- $4 ARC. Peacock feathers from the Boulder Farmers' Mkt. 70's green wood dresser from Flea Market in Longmont- $25. Various dishes/platters from thrift stores. 

Vintage Shiva picture from India. A gift from my brother. Bright and powerful. He said it looked like me. Apparently, finding these in good shape is hard, as the monsoons there often water stain things. Shiva- watching over me and protecting my space. Baby nebula painting by yours truly.

Vintage bedspread passed down from my mom. Once I had an idea of the color theme for this space, I pried it from her hands. Homemade curtains cut out of vintage fabric. You can often find whole rolls of old fabrics at thrift stores. I've used them for everything and plan on using them more once I acquire a sewing machine (I know, ridiculous that I don't have one already). Lace cloth with tassels cut in two and draped from the ceiling as a feminine touch. Twigged headboard was a hand-me-down from my godmother and blends with the vintage feel quite well. The old yellowed painting in the back was $5 at Unique. 

inspiration.

Nasa Pic of the Day- Pleiades Deep Field

     

     The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. 

      

 love. www.siyuart.com

I have not tried to reproduce nature: I have represented it. ~Cezanne

Roger Dean

Erte

We all start out knowing magic. We are born with whirlwinds, forest fires, and comets inside us. We are born able to sing to birds and read the clouds and see our destiny in grains of sand. But then we get the magic educated right out of our souls. ~McGammon

www.audrey-kawasaki.com/

Rockwell Kent

The real voyage of discovery consists
not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes. 
~Proust

      

                 claire scully: www.thequietrevolution.co.uk/

Street Art Blossoms

Street Art/graffiti has taken on a whole new level of creativity and brilliance. I can't get enough. There was the original hip hop era of graffiti, which eventually progressed to thought-provoking commentary from the likes of Banksy, Shepard Fairy and Margaret Kilgallen. I don't even know how you would classify this new wave of expression: it's an explosion of color, visual stimuli and immense creativity that is eminently outside the box. How far we have come from the age of stylized lettering, which still holds a place dear to my heart... nonetheless, street art is evolving in all the right ways. It can be simple and endearing, political, environmental or social commentary, colorful and playful, vintage or high art, or just plain hilarious. As a Leo, the colorful crochet really gets me- although the pieces that incorporate the urban landscape itself- a silo turned into a gnome, a plumping pipe becoming a straw into a thirsty face, or lego bricks built into gaps on a red brick wall- are most impressive, simply because someone looked at something and saw something else within it. It's fascinating how a lot of this art is moving into museums and galleries all over the world- a tough dichotomy for street artists originally intending to be deviant and covert. I had to resist the urge to post about one hundred photos here, but I've included a few favorites, as well as some links to some street art sites and resources I frequent often. I am most inspired by this work, and by the way it exposes, enlivens, beautifies and plays with our urban and natural landscapes in alluring, accessible and provocative ways.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Losers_(film)

The OG: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084904/

http://www.streetartutopia.com/

Probably the most well-known: http://www.banksy.co.uk/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/aug/08/margaret-kilgallen-art-graffiti

http://unurth.com/

Yarn Bombing and/or Guerilla Crochet. So colorful, and it doesn't cause any property or environmental damage! Just saw some of this on a bike renting kiosk in Boulder.

My friend Danielle found this in Denver. It has now been all over the blogs and news. Talk about endearing. So simple, and so sweet.  

LOVE!

Toward the end of August I felt an immense surge of creativity, and began to remember how much I love making all sorts of things- not just paintings. The creative ideas that come through me daily range all over the board- from crafting to furniture refurbishment, photo projects to interior decoration- a constant waterfall of notions infusing my mind as I go about observing daily life. I've been inspired lately by art composed of recycled, found or natural materials and came up with this idea for my friend Sarah's 28th birthday present. I biked the neighborhood for hours plucking flowers, looking for varying hues and textures. I found these white cotton ball like plumes that ended up being ideal for binding the flowers together to create letters. As I dumped all my gatherings out on the floor and began to compose the word, my apartment and finger tips smelled earthy and alive. There's something to be said for using flora and fauna to make art, and I caught myself smiling as I watched this come to fruition on my floor. Next came my bin of vintage fabrics I've collected over the years from thrift stores- four patterns were elected- one for each letter. I quickly photographed the pieces as the sun was setting, a lighting that helped illuminate the natural brilliance of the flowers. White 5 x 7 frames were perfect with the vibrant flowers and vintage patterns, and I love how the photos look 3-dimensional- as if the flowers had been framed themselves. The four photos can be arranged any way- up the stairs, horizontally or vertically- whatever feels right.

I LOVE this project because it could not be more Sarah, more me, or more the essence of our friendship and the ideals we share. A little vintage, a little 60's, and a lot of natural beauty.