My favorite new artist

Can you even believe this woman's work? I recently discovered her through a mutual friend, and I am just dying to be able to afford her stuff. Thankfully, she has agreed to let me lease a wall in my house to adorn her talent.

I am very impressed with her emotional abstractions. Everything she does always MEANS something, and this agrees with me very well. I remember criticizing one of my college friend's bands name because it didn't mean anything.

I have had the privilege of absorbing some of her philosophies and theories, and I have been inspired by the way she absorbs that which is around her and therefore, her art becomes an expression of her organic life - nothing pretentious or fabricated...a simple and honest representation of her soul.

I have much to learn - and she is the kindest and most humble of teachers.

Ladies and Gents, I give you:

KClarkDesigns
Her oil paintings can be viewed here - and I know she is busy busy at work on a new website, and two new paintings in the studio that have recently been blowing my mind. My personal favorites listed on flicker:

Talus Rocks

Finding the Child

She has been a wayfarer for artists by taking a huge leap of faith and deciding to quit her long bartending career and focus solely on taking care of her art. She combined her decidedly fine eye and background in design and has produced a new form of art for her - some gorgeous and soulfull pillows found at her etsy shop under UmberDove.Bower Pillow

Like Petals for Lemonade

Number 2 in the Summer Solstice series

A custom order for yours truly

She is also experimenting with some plate work, also found on her etsy store. This series, The Secret Life of Trees, flew out of her etsy shop so fast, I couldn't snatch one up!

I am fortunate enough to see the daily workings of these always busy hands. I look forward to more fruits of her labors indeed. I am sure to be gondoling by the Biennale in Venice one fine afternoon and seeing her work on display. And then promptly buying it all.

~mme. bookling

Let's make a commitment!

Good Morning Sweet Bird,

After our wonderful talks last night of daily writing and visual art goals, multiple outlets for creative energy, and the need to create uncensored work / work without an audience, I thought it was time to share the art of Jen Renninger. Jen is one of those artist extraordinars who has decided to create and finish one image / piece of work every day this year.


There is an incredible narrative quality to her work, like dark stories bubbling to the surface, or dreams that have only been partially imagined. I am particularly drawn to her anatomical work (I know, not surprising).
Above, "Everyday Image 1.18.08" and below, "Everyday Image 1.4.08"

This one reminds me of you - before the blond of course.



Above, "Modern Geisha" and below "Everyday Image 1.17.08"


Prints of Jen's work are available through her etsy shop, Please Be Still, or if you just want to read and be inspired, check out her blog, 365.

For the past year, I've been kicking around the idea of a making a commitment to finish one piece of art, every day, for thirty days. It's not that I don't create every day of the week (in fact, I get a little crazy if I do not) but my larger paintings just seem to take such a long time to complete (and not without good reason - the lessons I learn from them are invaluable). However, I think really embracing the idea of completion would force me to become decisive and sure. What do you think? Interested in jumping into this with me? I know of a particular red bird journal that is calling your name...

Jen Lobo Designs

I was perusing SFGirlbyBay in my daily habit, and came across an old post with some sketches that caught my eye.

Feast your eyes on Jen Lobo designs - as well as a very cool website.

the initial image that caught my eye

i love the emotion here - as well as the name of the piece. this could make me weep today.

a part of her sketchbook work - love the colors.

i love the symmetry and coherence of this work

i thought immediately of you

question: are you ever afraid to paint when you are in a state of sadness?
i fear myself, but i do need to do it again soon.

~your little booklover,
mme. bookling

"if i live to tell"

you so knew this was coming.

now, i won't deface this iconic woman by stating all the reasons madonna is ridiculous - because we all know it.

but all the reasons she moves me are the following:

1. she is the most fierce style chameleon i know - always progressive, always making people uncomfortable either with her sexuality, couture, or beauty.
2. she had a full-ride scholarship for dance school - her dancing ahhhhmazing.
3. she is an amazing parent - her kids are not allowed to watch TV, etc.
4. she takes remarkable care of herself, her body, her skin, and is alive in her spirituality
   




5. she is unabashedly HERSELF...and despite it being crude sometimes, it inspires me to let go of the facade of control and people's opinions. fearless, just totally f'ing fearless.
6. she is very very business savy - having basically brought herself from rags to riches. you should read a bio on her - one book i read a while back totally increased my respect for her.
7. have you ever seen one her live concerts? i own the drowned world tour, and her conceptualizations and artisitc direction is so spot on. you have GOT to watch it.
8. she is such a huge forerunner for independent, sexual women. i think she is one of the only influences in my life that forced me to deal with being a sexual being...i am thankful for this.

Her music (mostly from 85-00) can
AWAKEN
something in me that i often forget exists.
you know. you've seen it.

(it looks something like this:)

to my favorite material girl, happy friday

It's after three,
The clouds are closing in
The angels are rumbling overhead
The maple tree is dancing
And you, my dear, are almost home.




I had high aspirations for a day of shopping with Jess at the Brand New H&M, but they fell far short of reality (reality being something about huge store opening, ten million or so shoppers picking over the goods, nothing left but extra-small for my healthy chest, I don't know, something like that). However I did manage to find this sweet hat and will be trying to channel Micheal Jackson in all the glory of his Smooth Criminal days.



How much do I love that man? He puts the beat in my soul and I just gotta dance!



I would have so fallen for him back then. Let's all breathe a little sigh of sweet memory for MJ.

"Show 'em your funky,
Strong is your fight,
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just Beat it."

illuminating the path

i have been craving illumination these days; just one clearing of the twigs entwining my ankles on this intertwined path we all seem to be stumbling down...some ambient glow to gently guide the next baby step - to capture me in all my jumbled thoughts and bring me to the sea of wisdom and serenity (pilfered goldfrapp lyric).

The following are some favorite etsy finds:

i love the contrast with this cobalt vase - wouldn't it look divine in my place?

or this one? i love the green with the brown/orange birds - this would certainly illuminate either of our living spaces with sheer joy and creativity

i love the simple tranquility of this design

this orb is so deliciously captured in the photo - i could stare at its atmosphere for some time

i have had this on my etsy favorites for a while now, but i really love these hanging orbs.

the following are from lit shades, a lamp boutique in our very own Pioneer Square, Seattle.

loving the birds on the lamp

ahhh, the peace that comes from a grove of trees

so kitchy

i bet you could seriously design the shit out of a lampshade

loving this whole table, but especially that middle lamp

And for the grand finale (which joelio found and sent me this morning)- you are going to flip. Here, the gifted designer Jonas Samson has brought fourth light-emitting wallpaper!

oh the words that could hatch while sitting here!

oh, what art could be born while leaning against this illuminated wall!

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in.

~Leonard Cohen

~your partner in illuminating the path,
mme. bookling

more of "what i would rather be doing"

little hints of the bachelorette photos april greer took.

i hope you know that i am most alive

when

i

dance.

~happy anniversary.