Primal Astrology, my own family story.

As an avid astrology expert when I discovered the website of Primal Astrology I became fascinated at what it entails. Primal Astrology combines your western astrology sign with your eastern astrology sign and the result is your animal spirit. For example I'm a handfish because I'm an Aquarius/Sheep. Visit the website and discover yours. What my project is for this blog entry is discussing all of my families animal spirits and how we all interact with each other based upon the traits that accompany our particular animal spirits. 

I'll start with my dad, his animal spirit is an eagle. Majestic, clever, commanding and untamed my dad is a very smart man with a very short temper. However, he's always provided for us and has always provided a nest that all of his family is always welcome to. Also, whenever and wherever I've been that I needed to be rescued from my dad has always been there to scoop me up and take me to his safe an humble home. 

My mom is a beautiful crane. Unlike my dad who gets a lot of flying done, she likes the comfort of the ground and shallow waters.

My sister is the sneaky squirrel. It's funny because my sister when she was in elementary school used to hide her lunches under her bed being a very picky eater. She reminds me of the Geico commerical where the squirrels make the car get into a car accident then they hi-five each other afterward. My sister likes to drink also so there's that drunken squirrel thing she's got going on as well.

My brother is a toucan. A beautiful exotic bird with huge sense of humor. Much like my dad my brother can fly high and hang out in trees, where who else would they find in that tree? No other than my sister the squirrel which makes the trio of my dad, brother and sister being the closest to each other in my family. 

My father and mother divorced after 35 years of marriage. My dad re-married and his new wife is a swan. I guess birds attract other birds. Speaking of that, my brother married a dove, so that theory is definitely in place there also.

Which brings me back to me being a handfish, very different from any other creature in my family. Ironically I am the black sheep of my family and my animal spirit shows that. The only person I am close with is my mom who can interact with me being a half land animal and half water animal. All of the others don't do water.

So far this year...

So far this year I've had one art show, Heart of Art Gallery 1907 Rodeo Rd, Los Angeles near USC. February 7th 2015. It was a good turn out and I showed 3 pieces. San Pedro Pirate, Wondering Woman and Head in the Clouds. Later in the month of February I'll have another show, The Chocolate and Art Show on Feb. 27 - 28. Producing art has slowed down a lot, during the years of 2012, 2013 and for the first half of 2014 I painted and did artwork every single day all day and night, I think now I've taken a well deserved break from it.

My Favorite Artists

My Favorite Artists:

Annie Preece
Jules Muck
Darby Krow
Buff Monster
Atom St George
Carissa Louise Martin
Lizzy Falcon
This Means Mar
Sarah Sandin
Anthea Missy
Timoie
Jennifer Korsen
Septerhed
Booleep
Angel Diaz
Sarah Doll
Luis Fileto
Nicole Bishopp

*Links to their website to follow*

Not only a painting artist...

About 10 minutes ago while driving home of course, I had a sudden urge to blog. The topic today being about not only possessing talent in painting but also what it means to be an artist in today's society. I think the label of being an artist has muliple meanings. On the one hand sure I love to paint and draw and create beautiful pieces of artwork. Artwork that I hope sells, but not only that, touches hearts. What it means to me to be an artist is much more than painting. It means to be on a journey much like any other human being is on their journey. Along the way however there are little things that we come across that makes us feel certain things. For example, seeing a bum on the street that I know is really in need is something that hurts my heart and I wish their lives could be different and their circumstances which brought them to that point, I'll never know. I just see them on the street begging for money and in that way I see them as angels along my journey. I say a prayer for them and I go about my business. Also, I remember what it was like being a young teenager. Having crushes on certain celebrities or musicians. Having a Motley Crue tape in my walkman. Hearing The Doors album for the first time impacted me for the rest of my life. All things that are apart of this important journey I call life. It's sort of how I embrace being alive and being able to be an artist and paint what I feel moves me. See art shouldn't just be a decoration on someone's wall. I believe it's meant to jerk the soul and make one think. That's my intention, and that's what the meaning of being an artist is to me. Thank you.

Then and Now.

It's been awhile since my last post. I apologize. Been recovering myself from the pits of being a drug addict and am proud to say I have 60 days (2 months) clean. Life has slowed down tremendously and a lot of change has occurred due to this huge choice I decided to make a couple of months ago. I had an art fan/teacher comment on the differences he saw in my work recently as opposed to the work I was doing while still in my addiction and his thoughts really amazed me so I thought I'd share that with you here:

              ..."Whoa!! It's almost night and day. One thing I'm noticing is that before you seemed completely caught up in the abstract features and wrinkles that distort and characterize a face. Now, you've really seemed to pull away from that. It's almost like before, you really wanted to showcase the ugly side of a person (I use ugly as less of a description of them or your work, and more as a sense of what you were trying to pull out of them.) But now,  you seem more at peace and whimsical. Almost a childlike innocence or something. And it appears as though your branching out from just faces and trying other things. As though you're not only focused on the person, but in the here and now. Being at peace with the present and the surroundings. Content is a word I would use..."

A New Chapter

A new chapter in my artistry has emerged. A new me so to speak. After battling an addiction problem for years I've decided I owe it to myself and my art fans to become clean from drugs. Thank you.

And then sometimes I have to save a painting

Almost finished with this painting which is 40x30 in size. Interesting thing happened with this one and it's like I had to save it. I probably did a couple paintings on here (as I recall) then decided to throw some latex primer on it thinking it would give me a clean slate. Well, the primer was not for canvas paintings obviously it made it real shiny and streaky and so it was difficult trying to apply any more paint on top really. I ended up with the background mostly black and added a gray faced lady with white hair and big shapes on each side of her, with the exception of the drips on the upper left hand corner. The shock blue light montana marker saved the day though really id have to say.