Blog Love - or the Artist as Art

The editors of Creative Influences are pleased to announce the latest blogs to be added to our blog roll. We love art and are enamored with artists who live their lives as art. This week's edition of Blog Love finds us completely smitten by two artists, whose lives are a work of art.

We are totally crushing on Elsie a.k.a. Elise Cake. She is just too adorable! Her blog, entitled a Beautiful Mess is full of

Image from A Beautiful Mess.

Elsie is on a mission to make the world "sooo cute," and I am sure she can do it. If you are feeling down, read her blog - I guarantee it will cheer you up! Elsie is a prolific artist. I adore her graphic artwork.

How cute are these monsters she painted on an old school desk? From Elsie's flickr set.

I want this painting, but it already sold! Great work, Elsie. I will be adding one of Elsie's sweet widgets to my sidebar, because I am sucker for free widgets. Check out her shop called Red Velvet Art.

Meet Elsa Mora a.ka. Elsita, one hot mama. Mamasita is quite the fashionista!

and I adore her fashion blog, entitled The Hidden Seed. Damn, the girl does create. Elsa's flickr set is an amazing demonstration of how prolific she is. This installation piece is entitled Air Dress 2005. Fab!

She does cut paper. Recognize it? That's right - it's Frida Kahlo's necklace. She paints. See her Etsy shop here. Is there nothing the girl can't do? As if that's not enough, she's got a new book too!

Elsie and Elsa, thanks for making the world a more beautiful place!

xx00

Gettin' My Mojo Back

I spent some time experimenting with paint this weekend. I'm thinking of changing to watercolors. Paper is much cheaper than canvas, and takes up a lot less room. For the longest time, I painted exclusively on 16" x 20". I was intimidated by my first 24" x 24" canvas. It seemed so huge, I was terrified! In no time, however, I was hooked. Then I started painting 24" x 30". I've got the bug, I want to go even bigger.

This weekend I didn't have a canvas - and my neighborhood being the chaos it is on July 4 - I didn't feel like going out to get one. I wanted to paint something large, so I decided to tape together four sheets of watercolor paper. I've been painting on the floor, which is hard on the back, as well as on perspective. I really need an easel! I decided to tape the paper to the wall.

I posted this in-progress shot on flickr. Midcentury Jo asked if I was painting directly onto the wall. I wasn't - but what a cool idea! All of a sudden I want to paint large paintings directly onto the wall! How fun. But since it's a rental, I won't.

I'm definitely loving pink and orange, and I was highly influenced by the movement and swirls of Wouter Dam's pottery, that I wrote about below. I danced with the brush and was in heaven, I listened to the melancholy sounds of Moby's new CD. I entered the zone.

Here is the finished product.

Untitled, 2009, 28" x 36", acrylic on paper.

Like my other recent painting (see previous post here), I am not completely satisfied. My hands are not as steady as I would like. However, my recovering is progessing along nicely, and they are getting better every day. I don't like the medium of paper as well as I like canvas. Canvas seems to facilitate the movement I am trying to achieve in a gentler way. I am pleased that a style is emerging and I am definitely getting my mojo back! Stay tuned for more experimentation with paint and color.

P.S. I hate clean up. I need a studio.

Mojo

If you've been reading my blog, it's not news to you that I am totally obsessed with ceramics. Pottery's fluid forms are extremely sensual and erotic. A beautifully vase is a tactile experience, it begs to be touched. Just like a sensual woman. In fact, some of my favorite pieces pay homage to the female form.

"Pink Vase", 2005 an original painting by Peggy, 15" x 30", acrylic on canvas. For more of my paintings, click here.

I receive an ezine called Ceramics Arts Daily, and it is such a joy. The other day when perusing this ezine, I discovered the work of Wouter Dam. His work is orgasmic. My mind boggles when I think of the skill needed to execute these ethereal pieces.

See what I mean? I would love to see these pieces in a large, white industrial loft, with no other art to compete with it. After all, if you had these pieces, you wouldn't need anything else. Pure mojo.

I miss eye makeup...

Image Etsy user jkldesign.

I miss eye makeup. I haven't been able to wear it in about six months. Makeup is an art form, and above all else it is fun, not a requirement.

Images from Vogue Beauty. Collage by Peggy. Above two images, flickr user kdavis5891. Image flickr user Farl.

Above two images flickr user La caitlin.

Image flickr user neverletmego.

Image flickr user beverlybuttercup.

Images flickr user ya ye5

Whether I wear eye makeup or not - I am still a girl. I still like girly things. Here's a few things I bought to pick me up. A cute hat and purse.

And shoes in two basic colors - silver and gold.

Sometimes it's not easy being a woman. We forget that we are each beautiful in our own way. And that makeup and accessories are just fun, they are not part of who we are. The wonderful essay, "You don't have to be pretty," by Erin of A Dress A Day should be required reading for all women and girls. I've written about this subject and essay before (see previous post here). I wish I'd written it. Check it out. It will make your day.

Out and About, Vol. II

I always carry my camera when I am out and about. Below I wrote about my day thrifting in the city, and focused mainly on pottery. Today I'd like to focus on paintings. I saw a great many vintage and amateur paintings that day. All reasonably priced and already framed. A couple of them are tempting me. If you need art for your home and are on a budget, thrifts shops are a great way to go.

I found this sweet little postcard by Anthony Merritt, I want a poster of it! Made in the 216, is an indie event featuring artists, musicians and food, and devoted to the local economy. It is sponsored by Room Service, and I'm sorry I missed it. I will be sure to check it out next year.

Apparently, interesting things are happening with the development of the Gordon Square Arts District. I must check out the lofts before the construction is complete and they are all gone. I will keep you updated on these developments.

I spotted what appears to be a gallery, called the Glass Bubble Project. I think this wall is too fab. Wish I'd painted it! I intend to investigate further and will keep you posted.

A Tribute to Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett

It's taken me a while to write this tribute. Like the entire world, I am shocked at the loss of Michael Jackson. You know those moments in your life where you can recount in exact detail where you were? For a lot of people in the U.S., the tragic assassination of JFK is a poignant example. I never tire of hearing these stories from my older relatives, and so clear is the memory of that moment that the stories never waiver.

In my lifetime, I have three such moments like that. One, of course, is 9/11. But it strikes me as ironic, that two of my three moments - are moonwalks.

I clearly remember the day in 1969, when Neil Armstrong made his courageous moon walk.

Image from PRWeb.

The other was Michael Jackson's moonwalk in 1983 at the 25th anniversary celebration of Motown. I never watched TV, so it is a fluke that I even saw this performance. I was a newly wed at the time, married a mere two months. We were living in Tampa. My husband said something like this to me: "Will you quit reading that fucking book and come watch fucking TV with me for once?" at decibels which approached the sound barrier.

I obligingly dragged my pouty ass to the sofa, and told myself: "For chrissakes, Peg, please try not to gab." Attempting small talk while observing television with my now-ex-husband met with severe recriminations. Then ..... gasp.... I saw.... Michael Jackson's performance at the 25th anniversary of Motown in 1983.

To say that I was awestruck is understatement. To this day - and even at this writing - I get chills when I think about it. Here was something that I have never seen before or since. I consider Michael's performance to be one of the best performances of the 20th century. In my mind, that evening Michael upstaged the great Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain, not an easy feat.

Such a performance happens so rarely, and I'd like to thank Michael for giving me a moment that I will always remember. I am so grateful that you shared your gifts with us. I adore your videos, my favorite is your collaboration with Janet, Scream.

Yahoo images.

I'd like to take this opportunity to ask my readers to say a prayer for Lisa Marie Presley. When I read her blog entry entitled, He Knew, I wept. Dear Lisa, I pray you will find peace in your heart and, baby, do not blame yourself. Maybe it was just his time. We are only here for a brief moment. That's why we must let our lights, shine, there's no time to waste. I mean this, not as a lesson to Lisa, but as a lesson to me. We need everyone's light if we are going to make it. This is what Lisa and Michael taught me.

I don't mean this to be a postscript but - Farrah Fawcett died the same day, and was perhaps eclipsed by Michael. Farrah was influential in my life in her own way. I had a love/hate relationship with her.

Image via Amazon.

I, of course, had the ubiquitous Farrah Fawcett hairdo. But the ubiquitous poster made me want to vomit. Every boy I ever dated had this poster in his room. One went so far as to tell me he wished I looked like her. Needless to say, he got no nookie that night. I was terribly unhappy that I did not look like her, and I hated her for it.

But Farrah proved that she was so much more than just a poster girl. She actually became better and more interesting as she aged. I could write a dissertation about the contribution to feminism her performance in the Burning Bed made, but I probably won't. I may never be as beautiful as she was, I can only hope that I age as gracefully.

Michael and Farrah, thank you for influencing my life, and for generously sharing your creativity with me, and the world.

Out and About, Vol. I

Last weekend I felt well enough to explore some antique shops. Hooray! If you are reading this blog, please take a moment to contemplate a day without physical pain. If you're not in pain, you might take it for granted. But I am here to tell you, that a day without pain is a joyous thing indeed. Tomorrow, if you wake up and you feel no pain, remember to feel grateful.

Don't hate me because I have a beautiful bag. A day of thrifting necessitates carrying a lovely bag. This one fit the bill just right. With my matching silver ballet slippers, I was just too cute.

First stop. My favorite vintage store. They always have the best dressed mannequins. Dig that hot pink dress and orange shoes. They have great pottery. I've been looking for a good reading chair. I love the high back of this one. And I love the color. Those pillows look great with the purple. I don't like the wood on the arms, though.

Second stop. There's a new store in town called Big Fun. They buy and sell old toys. And they have a whole lot more - ahem - fun stuff.

They had a ton of cool stickers.

The ceiling was painted by local artists.

And two cute guys work there! The guy to the left has the most bitchin' dreads down to his ass. I was totally tempted by a Gary Baseman lunch box, not sure why. Third stop. A new antique store. The guy has a fantastic collection of pottery. Needless to say - I was in heaven. The big blue vase is a student piece. The speckled white ones tempted me greatly. But they are not really my aesthetic. But still, they are gorgeous... Fourth stop. Pier one. Where I forced SNL to buy a ceramic bird for her bedroom. I felt very strongly that she needed it.

See what I mean? Isn't it cute? It was made in Vietnam.

I bought a cute little wooden box to keep my pink chopsticks in. Every girl needs pink chopsticks.

Reasons to Live, No. 96

When you're feeling blue, the cosmos will send you an angel ..... or two. All you have to do is listen. Image via Cloud 9. That day the angels took the form of Wesley Washington and Jimmy Love, together they are Cloud 9. And the name is appropriate. Now it's not unusual for me to go to lunch feeling blue. But that particular day, I was almost numb, lifeless. As I walked to the The Arcade, I felt empty and not present. I can't even remember what my turkey sandwich tasted like, or if I even ate it. Then I heard sweet music. Guitar, singing and the most beautiful whistling. I looked and saw two angels serenading me. The lyrics were especially poignant. "You can be a superhero," they said. Image by Peggy. The melancholy was no contender for these sweet guys. The ennui vanished, my mood uplifted. I stopped to chat them up. Wanted to let them know that I appreciated their art. Two guys, just doin' their thing, workin' to make their dreams come true, is how they described themselves. Yeah, cuz corporate jobs are death, said one. I may be paraphrasing - or maybe even projecting. The message was clear. We just need to remember who we are. And we can be anything we choose to be - even a superhero. Thanks for the love guys. I wish you all the best. One day I'll be saying, I knew them when. Image by Peggy. For more peace sign photography, click here.

Turquoise!

Today I have turquoise on the mind. It is a color I think about often. The perfect turquoise can be elusive. I prefer the teal blue turquoise, as opposed to the aqua turquoise. One of my favorite posts featured all turquoise lamps. See previous post here. I want to add turquoise to my decor, with lots of pink and white. Isn't this cute? It's a new ring that I got for cheap at Pier 1.

My turquoise vases.

Turquoise fabric with pink fabrics. Love this color combination.

Turquoise items cleverly displayed in a window. I love doing reflection shots. For more of my reflection shots, see my flickr set here.

Turquoise pillow from Etsy user sassypillows. Now this is what I call the perfect shade of turquoise. Thinking of ordering two.

Look at this totally fab chandelier! I'm sure this is too expensive for my budget, but it would look great in my sleeping area. I fantasize about having a chandelier and totally going glam in my apartment. Image from Elle Decor.

This image from flickr user Christianna's Earthly Delights. She made the sofa cover and pillows. She is so talented, I wish I could sew like that. Her home is beautiful. Check out her flickr set.

Gorgeous pendant from Etsy user 1480degrees. Mod dish from Etsy user jensstudio.

Stay tuned. I think I will be experimenting with turquoise paint in the next couple of days.

In the Pink!

My recuperation is going well, and I am feeling in the pink today! You can never have too much pink. I moved a few things around today. A vintage pink LSA glass vase on the table feels just right. Looks great with my pink curtains from Target.

Dance of the Pink Booties under a Cancer Moon III, 24" x 30", acrylic on canvas.

I haven't been able to paint for a while, but I completed this painting this week. Oh, how I love vibrant pink. The painting did not turn out as perfect as I wanted, my hand felt a little unsteady. Still, it felt wonderful to put a brush to canvas again.