You Said, I Said

You say indecisive, I say proactive.
You say greedy, I say daring.
You say irresponsible, I say imaginative.
You say worries, I say opportunities.
You say lost, I say new direction.


Leaving my job was my decision to make.
You may shake your head and tighten your mouth into a thin line in response.
But I see this as an opportunity to not only grow.
But to explore those ideas and hopes I had for my future,
Before I knew how to spell my last name,
And before I could successfully parallel park.
Before I got tied down to a retail job.
I don't expect you to approve,
Or to even understand.
I just want you to open your mind,
And have faith in me.
That I might find a better way,
To live how I want to live.
And for now,
I want to live through my art.
So just sit back,
And enjoy the colors.

Connections

It doesn't take much for me to feel connected to someone.
It can be a small coincidence.
Or a similar trait.
Whatever the reasoning, I find it.
And I hold on to it.
Almost as if I yearn to be connected to people.
In as intimate a way as I can.

Today, I connected to Chintia Kirana.
She is only three years older than me, and yet I find myself looking up to her strengths as I read through her artist statement and biography.
http://www.chintiakirana.com/
One paragraph distinctly reached out to me:
"I am fascinated with memories and experiences, through those I am who I am today. Through “Sentiments” I have discovered “Origin”- the beginning or place where something begin, arises, or derived. I am interested in a minimal form of beginning, a dot. As my research evolves toward spiritual aspects of life, my dot transformed into circle then manifest as orbs. A circle is a flat geometric shape, where an orb contained volume. In that sense an orb is associated with spiritual energy."
You can see her orbs here: http://www.chintiakirana.com/#!__master-page-2-home-copy1/portfolio

But THIS painting is what I connected to.

My work is migrating towards this style presently.
Perhaps it's the confusion and lack of stability of my mid-20s being conveyed through my art.
Whatever the reason, it's still simply a part of me.

I just took down my paintings from my Harrisburg show.
Now, I start anew.

Third in the Burg

My opening was on Good Friday.
It was probably the most professional show I've done so far in my career.
I talked to a lot of strangers about my work.
I wore a name tag so people could identify the artist.
I had Lisa as my curator, watching over the event.
I had friends from all over come to see my show.
And I even sold a painting on opening night.
Overall, it was a great show in Harrisburg.

 The yellow wall made my show.

 Looking over the balcony into the Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

The chosen one.

Glendora

Last Friday, a restaurant opened up in Glendora, NJ.
It's called Kitchen 519.
But on Thursday, they had a test run opening for friends and family.
I was invited because, well, I had the great opportunity to be the first person to hang my artwork on their walls.
And what a great night it was.

That was the best burger I've ever had.

All of my wonderful supporters.

Go check it out! The owners are so friendly and the food was delicious: http://www.kitchen-519.com/

Support from Friends

It isn't just rewarding to hear a "You're work is amazing!" or "Wow, you painted that?"
What really makes me proud is when a friend admires my work so greatly, that he/she commissions me to create a piece specifically for them.
Currently, I am designing an album cover for a friend jump-starting his life in the musical realm.
His description:
A crowd of people, scared but also excited, running away from something or someone. Bright, earth tones with linear expression.
My depiction:

Gives me some ideas for future work.

"What?!"

My reaction to noticing this artist and realizing she graduated with a BA from Swarthmore, PA.
That's so close to where I am!
Right outside of Philly.

Her name is Njideka Akunyili.
Not only are her mixed-media paintings beautiful, they combine realistic portraiture with abstract expressionism. My whole explanation, except far more intricate and established.
First painting to catch my eye:

Charcoal, acrylic, colored pencil, lace, collage, and xerox transfers on paper

7 ft x 7 ft

You know what it's an image of, yet she still leaves you searching for it.
Her color palette is vibrant yet subdued, creating a visual, chaotic relaxation.

She's had several shows in London, UK and New York, NY. She's been in several residencies, also something I admire and wish to experience soon in life.
But what wows me the most is how boldly she flaunts her interracial marriage to her husband.

Now THAT is a strong human being.
http://njidekaakunyili.com/



I will be that bold.

Exclamations

I am one of those people that uses exclamations often.
I feel it helps me express my already extreme feelings about something.
So when I stepped back from my painting and exclaimed,
"YES!"
I was more than pleased.
What a day.
What a feeling.
What a cheeseball.