coney island paintings

 madam zola
acrylic on board

 old steeplechase
watercolor on paper

 cyclone
acrylic on canvas

 you must be this high to ride
mixed media on canvas

the old parachute jump
ink on paper

Book Review:Paris Street Style

what can one say about a coloring book? this is an elite coloring book, as fun as it is charming.From it's gorgeous cover of gold on brown, Paris Street Style ,  a coloring book by zoe de las casas, is pure entertainment.. the book is an elegant size with the feel of a journal. complete with a bookmark and elastic band to keep it closed. once open, the pages are covered with whimsical drawings, detailed enough to be interesting but not so detailed as to make your eyes hurt. the fashions are diverse and beg for color!!

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once you've heard the blue guitar version five

Modern Printmaking A guide to traditional and digital techniques

This book, Modern Printmaking: A guide to traditional and digital techniques by Sylvie Covey is a comprehensive study and history of printmaking.The book is well presented, with easy to read ,informative text and many beautiful illustrations of the many different methods of printmaking. The book is printed on heavy weight, glossy paper, which compliments the prints.
I was a little disappointed that there was only one chapter focusing on  digital printmaking techniques which is my main interest. but all in all , this book is informative and beautiful.  I would recommend it to anyone interested in printmaking.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for the purpose of this review.

Book Review, "Pop Painting"

I knew nothing about this artist, camilla d'errico or the genre of "pop surrealism" when i began this book, "pop painting".  This is  a beautiful book, filled with dozens of full color illustrations which take the reader thru the artist's entire process.from concept to finished painting.Along with step by step instructions, camilla d'errico includes chapters on tools, techniques and how to take your work from hobby status, to presenting a portfolio to galleries...valuable information for any artist. There is also a section of how to deal with rejection which artists of all genres face...and is all too often unaddressed.
While it turns out that this is not a style of painting I particularly enjoy, i was very impressed with the quality of the work
I received this book from Blogging for Books.,

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once upon a time, continued

photos: tony tirado

once upon a time

batiks on silk

the goddess smiles/ an early batik

some batik silk from a long time ago

Book Review: Art Student's League of New York on Painting

As an artist, I have always held the Art Students League in high esteem. This is the art school I wish I had attended.  This book, Art Students League of New York on Painting, Lessons and Meditations on Mediums, Styles and Methods, by James L. McElhinney and the instructors of the Art Students League, gives us the opportunity to peek into the classroom studios of many prestigious artists.
The book is divided into three sections which provide a wealth of information regarding the entire painting process.
The book reads rather like a text book and should probably be required reading for art majors\\\\\

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I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

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goodbye rockabelly

i hardly have words for the rain that falls in my heart tonight..

rocky had to be put down. he was only 4 and a half years old.. He had been a very sick kitten who was not expected to live beyond a few months.. He rallied and grew to be strong and beautiful.  i was fortunate to witness that.miracle.

sadly, today his history betrayed him and he had to be put down..  this is a huge loss ,Coming so soon after kohl's passing....barely 3 weeks,

the house is so quiet tonight as we continue our journeys separately. .   good bye rocky. kohl will be waiting to welcome you when you cross that rainbow bridge.

crossing the rainbow bridge

my kohlie girl passed last night.  she was the sweetest creature and she will be missed.

RIP my baby/

Book Review: Design the Life You Love, a step-by-step guide to building a meaningfull future

When this book arrived in the mail, I was eager to get started.

Presented in a simple, easy to  understand manner, the book is filled with illustrations and spaces to record your own progress.

Designing your life (or maybe RE-designing) is accomplished in 8 steps.  It begins with a "warm up" of your right brain, where you do a simple drawing.  From there you go onto a more detail oriented study of your life, which entails "deconstruction".  This is basically listing any and all things that your life entails; friends/family/work/children/movies/art/volunteering, etc.  The list is endless, and yours alone.

The book goes onto to lead you on a search for what/who inspires your life, then asks you to shift your point of view from your present life to your future life.  At that point, you begin REconstructing your life; picking and choosing from that list you made to deconstruct, and possibly adding new things to the list.

At this point you will have created a whole new design for your life.  The book is filled with ample space, and suggestions/prompts that will help you flesh out this new design, and give it EXPRESSION.  This is accomplished through creative means of drawing, poetry, creating vision maps and such.

Exercises for deconstruction and reconstruction are presented throughout the book, as this would ideally become something you do on a regular basis.

It is not easy work.  It pushes you outside your comfort zone, perhaps.  But it is worthwhile if it triggers some shift in you to begin building a more meaningful and purposeful life.

For more information, see the following links: 

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I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

 

fall colors

was missing the autumn colors which haven't yet arrived in brooklyn....so i made my own!

some shots from the roof