AphroWoman: Native Tongues (extremely tentative title)

apparently this is still in progress... i'll say more about it when it's done.

PUNCH CLOCK PROMISE series

this is not AphroWoman... but i made it. part of the PUNCH CLOCK PROMISE series. the series is based on lyrics in Lupe Fiasco's song, "Gold Watch": "Might not go to college/but my street smart polished.../Firm disbeliever in your punch clock promise."
i don't feel like typing right now, so i'll explain more when i post up the rest.

so inspired!!!

this picture so perfectly captures how i feel right now. i feel like i jumped to get the goodies on the table, and while on my first attempt i didn't actually make it - if i can just hold on a little longer, i'll be able to pull myself up and get the reward.

i participated in NoDaRioty, a local art market featuring all kinds of artist. i sold an AphroWoman piece that i wasn't really expecting would sell that night, but a couple walked in, saw it, and immediately responded to it. and though i didn't sell much photography (though i was able to grow my art collection with some trades), i got so much positive feedback on it! it feels strange to do something so personal and people like it - not only do they like it, but they are truly affected by it!

i put all of me in my art, but i don't give nearly enough time to creating. i can accomplish so much more! thank you mr. cat. your persistance is my inspiration this coming four day weekend!

super mario fix

clever.

ROBERT MARS

some incredible artwork i stumbled across by artist Robert Mars.

"I am determined to capture the independent aesthetic of the not-so-distant past that has been replaced by homogenized corporate culture and standardized cityscapes. Industrial design, graphic design, architecture, vintage neon and mid-century icons all render important roles in my work.

My paintings employ layers of color, subtly collaged printed matter from the 1950’s and 1960’s, and stark, black imagery. Remote, indistinct landscapes capture the once poetic, and now nearly lost highway strips of the American past. Formerly the promise of hope and prosperity; these icons are now a sign of desperation and ruin."

Supermarket Shooter

tryna up my street cred, i decided to go shoot in the supermarket GUERILLA style!! this is what i captured before i got kicked out. i'm so hardcore...

jessica is cool.

chillin wit' jae (part ii): throwin' $#@!

chillin' wit' jae (pt i of a possible iii)

some days when i have off work, i like to just drop in on jasiatic
and shoot the poo. she's cool 'cause she lets me hang out, kill a few minutes/hours and play with her kids. we talk about photography and a personal thing or two. she'll shoot me for her blog. i'll ask her for tea. she'll get up an make herself some and (i honestly believe) forget to make me some. she's a pretty busy woman, but she makes it look like fun.

k-pilla (at work and at play)

"...it's where you at"

faux real doe...

my big brotherly duties

last night my little sister asked me to create a poster
for her seventh grade stundent counsel campaing.
i created this. it's simple - i know, but i hope it's way fresher
than the posters actual seventh graders created.

yes we can!!

it went well.
everyone's work looked great on the walls and complemented each other's work.
a nice amount of people came out.


hopefully, more people - new people - will come out for the next gallery crawl.


in the meantime, check out these shows:

living is your job...

so show up.
and show up on time.
sometimes the job sucks,
but the pay is good, and the benefits are amazing!

texture, dreams, & rustic pinwheel

a tributeto CHD:WCK - WTF?!?!?

CHD:WCK! is the GREATEST!!!

...well, he WAS the greatest.

remember when CHD:WCK! was 20?

you know - before he started drinking beer.

before the go-tee and the shaved head.

back when he was in jersey and wasn't so old and homely looking.

before the plaid shorts.

before he got all artsy and $#@!.

you know - before he was CHD:WCK!

when he was just Chad.

THAT'S when CHD:WCK! rocked!!

before he died, CHD:WCK! sucked @$$.

too bad he died.

we'll miss him.




the thing i find ironic about this is, the period "when michael was cool" was when it was becoming apparent that he "wasn't". sometimes i think he was on some stuff too, but that's part of who he was. if he was normal he wouldn't have been a genius. his misfortunes are tragic, but you either like someone or you don't. you don't give them an uncomplimentary tribute.

"you one of them fishes, I know your mind switches",

PREFACE:i only come here to say it,
because once it's down on "paper"
i can return to it to see it everyday.

i was reflecting on a conversation i had with my big sister recently.
i was reflecting on my internship and reflecting on my job (both of which i enjoy).

i feel like Common when he said

"i'm writing for my life cause i'm scared of a day job."

i realized i'm scared of a "9-5" - not because i'm lazy.

i've realized i don't fare well in situations where my excellence has to be validated by others. i don't like having to impress somebody every day and proving my worth to them. i'm not the perfect employee, but i hate when what i do well is overlooked by others. i love when i get to work and someone gives me 6 to 8 hours worth of work to keep busy. i hate when i get somewhere and there's nothing to do. a bad work day for me, is when i'm busting my @#$ or when i go above and beyond, and it is unsure whether my work is appreciated.

and you don't pay me enough!

and i don't have any vacation!

that's why i love art. i love looking at an image i captured or a piece of art that i created and thinking, "damn! i'm nice". i only have to prove it to myself. i recognize that i have a lot of growing to do as an artist, but when i grow, i see it. and as long as i see it i don't have to stop. no one can let me go, because i'm not the "most valuable" employee. i don't have to compete with others for my value to be appreciated. i don't have to BS anyone about what i do. i shoot stuff that doesn't move. and i do it well. i paint a woman with a big @#$ afro. why because AphroWoman is a hottie. and if you think she's as beautiful as i do - cool. if you don't - cool (now pardon me, cause i'm about to paint her again). i can let people see things how i see them. you can see what i think is beautiful. i can give you a piece of me. and that feels great. i could do this ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

"i'm writing for my life cause i'm scared of a day job."

money's tight. but it's a recession. i don't need to worry about a damn thing. all i need to do is paint, paint, shoot, learn how to draw and paint better, draw, shoot, paint at dia's, paint with antoine, draw, paint with jaeson, draw, and paint. and when i don't have room to put the work, find some walls to throw that $#@! on.

preferably, someone elses.

my boo...

urban bushwoman