I think it's about time to update my website, what do you guys think?


It's going down this week.  Stay tuned....

What do you do when you have an assignment to finish (for yourself) but you're over it because it's already taken too long and it's your own fault?

I've been working on this picture book now for several years.  I have no idea why it is taking me so long to just complete the darn thing but now I'm to the point where I don't want to do it anymore. I want to scrap it and start on something new.  Can I do that?  Can I just make the decision to bid it farewell? I've been telling people about this forever now, will they look at me crazy?

Me to my book:

I'm not saying this is the end,  I just need a break...
It's not you, it's me...
Can we still be friends?

Last year a friend of mine told me he thought I was a perfectionist.  That was never a word I would use to describe myself, I always felt like I was pretty laid back about most things.  He proceeded to tell me that I probably had a lot of unfinished projects lying around (which was true) and that having a lot of unfinished projects was one sign of a perfectionist.  The idea is that you want so badly for things to be perfect that you never finish because you're afraid it won't get to the level that it needs to be. This really struck me, was I a perfectionist?  All of this times I had been saying that my projects were not complete because I wanted them to be done properly; I wanted them to look professional. 

Now, here I am year later and this is something that I can't get out of my head.  I have to question myself to make sure that my meticulous work is because I want my projects to be professional, and not just because something hasn't reached my highest (possibly unreachable and unreasonable) standards. 

I'm kind of embarrassed to say how many projects I haven't completed because I was afraid they weren't good enough.  It's to the point where if I don't think it's good enough, it sort of becomes trash in my mind.  Then I see my work a year later and I think to myself "wow, that was kind of good."

This struggle of perfectionism seeps into other parts of my life as well, it just looks a little different.  I am often conflicted with whether I am intentionally resting or just being lazy.  A lot of the time I feel like if I am not working on something then I am being lazy but really, I'm just tired and I do need to rest.  I have become a perfectionist with how I spend my time.

Is this the plight of artists all over the world?  When is the assignment complete?  How do you stop yourself from editing and re-editing so you can just present your work to the world already?  When is it time for you to sit down and take a break? When is enough enough?

Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas is known for his artworks that promoted economic and racial equality in turbulent times.  A few weeks ago I had the privilege of seeing some of his work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's " Art + Jazz" event, a collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center.  I went back last week and saw his artwork "Let My People Go" up close and personal.  Two reasons I love the work:
1.  He highlights the current events of the times.  Douglas wasn't afraid to be vocal in his artwork, his work put a spotlight on, slavery, lynching, segregation and inequality in the States.
2. His use of line work, contrast and value speak to me!  There are a lot of jagged edges in his artwork and although that can be disturbing sometimes it works in his pieces, the sharp edges convey the mood.  His work has rhythm to it which is fitting for the jazzy era.   Douglas' work just looks like music (Amazing).  Looking at his work I feel like I know what he is listening to and thinking about.

I didn't say there was a third reason but I do have one,  the issues of the states back then are not that much different from today's current events unfortunately.  The violence, inequality and injustice is still much the same.  Douglas' work has inspired me to speak out and speak loud in my own work.  This will be my soap box and my protesting.  Speak up!

Check out his artworks below

For a little more info on Douglas visit http://prospect.org/article/art-social-justice

When I first started working on Bloomed I really wanted the collection to have some large collage pieces, but I got sucked into the oil paint and using my easel.  All good!  It was meant to be.  Recently though, paste and paper have been calling my name.  

I used to (and still do) really like the work of Elizabeth O'Reilly and Ken Kewley.  Their compositions illustrate comprehensible scenes that are easy for the viewer to read but lately I'm starting to feel a little abstract.  Abstract collage art is starting to speak to my soul.

Here is some of the work of artists that have caught my eye on Instagram.

Artemis- Jessica Earhart www.instagram.com/themedialuna

No. 206- Adam Hale www.instagram.com/the.daily.splice

Beautiful Tonight- DB Waterman www.instagram.com/dbwaterman

Thank you to Akwa Grooming Lounge for allowing me to exhibit my collection in the shop!  My work will be up through July.  Make sure you stop by to see and  get a haircut while you're at it!