It has been a while since my last post, I apologize. Summer time runs me down to the ground with activities! If you will be in Philly for July 6th, 1st Friday, I will have a few pieces of art up on the walls for Drink Philly. Stop by for some art, drinks and BBQ! http://philly.thedrinknation.com/articles/read/8108-First-Friday-with-Art-In-The-Age-Q-BBQ-Tequila-July-6
” When He Can’t Be, She’ll Take Care Of You”…funny, as much as I missed painting, it made me think of other things I’ve missed such as a seeing a good friend of mine. This is for her. (Unfinished)
It is Friday. I can not wake up for the hell of me, I probably should have laid off the wine last night knowing I had work in the morning. Then again, I should probably do a lot of things knowing I have work. Anywho! To keep awake and productive I am doing mini sketches and because coffee is my companion today, I am featuring my eternal love for this delicious caffeinated liquid and the only forgivable reason for taking it away from me! Dawww!
When I have the television on I can never just sit there. I have to draw, or paint, or eat. I have a small appetite to drawing it is most times. Day in the life of Brandi. Black & White.
I was just listening to the newest Radiolab episode and my hands could not seem to relax. I even managed to unintentionally organize everything on my desk in height, so after tapping my fingers on the desk to the sound of the radiator I just whipped out some paint and started to “paint doodle” I would call it. It’s a half ass painting/ not paying attention but more I posted the pic cause I wanna prove to my buddy Clint that I am in fact wearing a towel on my head because I am procrastinating going outside in the snow. It is very warm inside, just like it is in a uterus.
I’ve recently come across an extremely well-done and inspiring video about the John Muir Trail on Vimeo.com that captured the beauty of backpacking and the beauty of exploring nature in America. If you happened to watch the Ken Burns documentary on American National Parks, I was one of those folks that became emotional towards the end. If you’ve backpacked before you understand. There is something about being out in the middle of nature with nothing but a pack, some water, enough food to survive on and time. You learn more about yourself and others than you ever thought you would or could and no matter what you go through while you are out there, you always have a urgency to go back. Sure, to an unexperienced backpackers mind it is all just a hippie gathering full of drum circles and drugs but for that I just smile. The ignorant can only find out for themselves how amazing this country can be if they take the time to appreciate it’s free beauty. Here is the video:
In 2009 I met a lot of amazing folks on the Appalachian Trail. I would have to say those days were some of the most eye opening days of my life outside of Africa. I realized how real and amazing people can be, I felt at home and within minutes and with one introduction we felt we knew one another for years, after all, we were there for the same reason and that’s sometimes enough to understand a person. Everyone on the AT (Appalachian Trail) at some point if thru-hiking gets a trail name ( & a beard if you’re a guy), Forever you remember that person by their trail name because that is what will suit them the rest of their life in your memories. While I was out there I drew a few doodles of some of the hikers I met.
The John Muir Trail has been on my list of trails to complete in my lifetime. That video reminded me that I still have time to take advantage of and get my ass working on a plan to high-five that goal! Experiences inspire art, and art inspires the world. Make it so!
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
To follow more of the Almost There: The Muir Project, check out their website
Tis the season to be thoughtful. Sometimes when the holidays settle down and my brain has time to jump around through thoughts that have been pushed aside to allow the day-to-day actions to be completed & I always end up sailing deep into memory lane when I was in Uganda, Africa. To not turn this blog post into a large emotional journal entry, I will keep this simple. August-October 2010 I had a lot of money saved up from working. I refuse to use my money for pointless things that I really do not need so I decided to go to Africa. I applied to teach and live in Uganda for a month or so and I was accepted. I purchased my plane ticket and within a few months I was on a plane by myself going to a 3rd-world country where I knew not a soul. When I arrived I was escorted to a small village called Golomolo near Lake Victoria where I lived among 300 orphans in a hut without plumbing or furniture (you get used to it almost immediately). I taught art & science to the children and I fell in love with every single one of them. The emotions I experienced I can not describe in depth enough for people to understand what a beautiful experience it was, I have never cried so much in my life, and leaving was the hardest thing I ever had to accept. I write this today because I woke up today thinking about my time there and I started to tear, I really miss the connection to humanity I felt while I was in Africa.
Honestly, my first few nights in Uganda I cried almost every night. I felt guilty for taking advantage of so many things I had back home and how easy life was for me. I wanted to give every child that same life and so many times I wished to trade places. But the thing was, these children were as happy as could be! Happier than any kid I’ve ever seen in the States and then I thought “why would I want to take that away?” That is the beauty of culture. I admit, when I returned home I tried to work on some paintings I started in Africa but I got too emotional while trying to finish them so I have about 4 canvases that are not done and I wonder sometimes if maybe they are as complete as they will ever get. People ask me if I’d ever go back again and I reply, “If I could I’d be on a plane there right now to stay.”
If you’d like to see more pictures of this life-changing journey I’ve got more on Flickr
Christmas. The Season for giving. In my case, the season for creating. What I love most about this season is giving what I create. Rarely do I have a list to hand of things I want. I believe a gift should only be given if it represents the relationship between the giver and receiver. It shows you sincerely know a person. It’s why silly inside joke gifts are so precious. I have been doing this since I was born for my family and friends. I love being able to capture a moment we shared and visually present it in my own way. One time I made my mother this stop motion video for x-mas. It took a long time to make but in the end, it spoke the message I wanted to send to her and on x-mas morning when I saw tears roll from her face while watching it I said to myself “this is what Christmas is all about.” My brother is in the military and recently became a new husband. I now have a sister in law. I am painting for them a moment the three of us shared last year when were were stuck in a blizzard the day after x-mas, we took silly pictures in the streets. It’s in progress, I am going to have to paint the perfect snowflake.
Art Gift Progress! UPDATES
Currently I am working on about 5 paintings at once! Today I started my mothers gift, her sweet little spoiled boston terrier whom I love named “Yoda” aka “Little Crazy” will be greeting her in a painting this Christmas! I shall finish it pretty soon. I’m painting it on wood, I can’t wait to coat it in gloss when it is finished!
I hope you all are doing special things this holiday for the ones you love! As crappy as it can be due to angry shopping cart shoppers, there is still time to personalize your items! Eff those shoppers! Make it worth smiling for.
The year 2006. I went to Paris for the first time. I fell in love with the culture, the city, the vibe, the art, the music, the food, the feeling, the…everything Paris was made of…and when I left, I think tears rolled off this cheek of mine because I did not want to leave this beautiful, magical, romantic place I call the verbal heaven. A few months ago I was just laying in my bed listening to a mix I had in iTunes and Dent May’s song “Oh Paris” began to play and that feeling came back to me, so instead of tearing up, I decided to paint to the song with my emotions leaving Paris that day in 2006. One day I know I will make it back there, even if a zombie apocalypse breaks out.
Dent May: Oh Paris!
When I think of Life Aquatic, I think of happiness. Awkward happiness. This particular painting I made not because I am a huge Bill Murray & Jeff Goldblum/ Wes Anderson fan but more for the sentimental side of me. It was a gift to my sweet sweet penis machine, a.k.a my lover boy. This was one of the first movies we watched together while eating gummie worms, awkwardly getting to know each other through semi-questionable giggles. I remember thinking to myself “if he likes Bill Murray and Jeff Goldblum as much as I do, I think he is going to last longer than a Wes Anderson related one-night stand ” and I was right, he could recite quotes from the movie and I learned not only is he awesome, but also, that I’m effing easy!
