On Display: HIP HOP ART SHOW

Exhibit announcement...! My work is now on display at Amen Real Estate, located in Downtown Sacramento! My Rappers Series + Mac Dre relief print pieces will be on exhibit in the office for the entire month of September.

Reception will be held on the 2nd Saturday of September 9/12, from 5:30-9 pm. Refreshments + treats will be served! There will also be a free raffle for an original piece of art! 

Please feel free to invite + share with your fellow art lovers! #SupportLocalArt

Cheers!
Noonie

Livin' the Dream

"UGH" 

Mac Dre Egg Carton Relief Print + 

chain on canvas 

Had a good run at both Cafe Colonial + The Paint Chip...! And now my art is back home with me, minus this piece which sold at The Paint Chip! Always such an awesome feeling to sell a piece...! To know that someone actually likes my work enough to spend their hard earned money on it means the world to me! So thank you Miss lady at The Paint Chip for supporting my dreams! This bad boy is going to be heading to Seattle as the chica who bought it is sending it to her brother as a gift! Super grateful, blessed + stoked! 

Next up...my HIP HOP Art Show! Going down next month at Amen Real Estate, located in Downtown Sacramento. My Rappers Series + Mac Dre relief print pieces will be on display for this solo month long exhibit. Artist reception to be held on 9/12, time to be announced. 

The Paint Chip Show!

New exhibit to announce...! Going to be having a solo exhibit at The Paint Chip, an art supply store shop that's located in Davis, Cali. Super stoked for my first show in Davis! I lived there for years when I was growing up, so it holds a lot of great memories. 

Going to be exhibiting some new bright, bold abstracts for this 2 week show! The opening reception is being held on Friday July 10th from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm. There will be refreshments and a few other goodies to snack on while you check out some art. My opening reception is one of many things happening art wise in Davis that night, as every 2nd Friday Davis holds an artwalk! So there will be lots of art to enjoy :) Hope to see ya there! 

Cheers!

<3 Noonie

P.S. My art is still up at the Cafe Colonial for a little while longer! If you want to see my latest "Rappers Series" pieces + my newest California Flag piece that's the only place you can currently view them, as I haven't shared any pics of them online 😆 

Bona Fide Artist

As Nelli mentioned a few posts back we've both been blog slackin', our bad. Life has been crazy the past few months for me, between preparing for my first art show + Christmas, the time has just been flying by! But it's definitely a good thing, as I've been spending my time gettin' shit done + it's been paying off! 

My first art show was a total success!  I got lots of exposure + positive feedback on my work, sold my 2nd + 3rd pieces ever, met some awesome fellow artists, my honey bought me my very first original painting from one of these talented people (pic below!), + I was surrounded by my closest friends who came out to support me! I mean it doesn't get much better than that for a first art show or any art show for that matter! I'm beyond thankful that I was given the opportunity to participate in the show + to be grouped with so much talent...it was a true honor + dream come true for me! I guess I can call myself a bona fide artist now  Thank you again to all of my family + friends for your support + for believing in me + my art! It truly means so much to me! 

Noonie's 1st Art Show!!

Yeah yeah I know, I've been blog slackin', lol. Life has just been a little hectic for me lately, I guess it all began a few weeks ago when I received word that I was chosen to participate in an art event...my very first art show! You may have already heard the news as I've mentioned it once before on BSOM, but today I thought I'd go a little more into detail + tell ya the whole story of how this exciting news came to be!

Artist State of Mind: Russell Willis |Abstract Expressionist Painter|

I'm so so excited to introduce you to a very talented Abstract Expressionist painter by the name of Russell Willis who also happens to be a Sacramento based artist! In fact he's the very first Sacramento based artist to be featured here on BSOM! Pretty damn cool right? I thought so. :) I discovered Russ's work by way of Instagram + I immediately loved his unique style + the bright palette he paints with. Definitely eye catching work! 

Enjoy the show! :)

Meet Russell!

Current City: Sacramento....Cali

BSOM: What artist do you feel has influenced or inspired you the most?

RW: William De Kooning and Jean Michel Basquiat...oh and never forget.

BSOM: What types of art do you prefer?

RW: I love things that push the art form. Art that moves you and you feel something.

BSOM: When you first began creating art, what medium did you experiment with first?

RW: Spray paint but I haven't used that in a while. It's about the brush nowadays :)

BSOM: What is your favorite medium to use + why?

RW: Painting in acrylic is what I've been working with and it's what I enjoy.

BSOM: What creative medium would you love to pursue but haven't yet? 

RW: I want to work on some 3d projects...and maybe film.

BSOM: How long have you been consciously creating art?

RW: For maybe 7 years...but I feel I'm getting into a grove.

The man behind the art!

BSOM: Are you a self taught artist or did someone show you the ropes?

RW: Self taught...but I do learn from the greats...they left huge shoes to fill.

BSOM: Do you have any other creative outlets?

RW: I write a little music. Check out soundcloud.com/colorbully

BSOM: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

RW: I draw inspiration from life and beautiful and ugly things.

BSOM: Have you ever suffered from artist block? If so how did you get past it? 

RW: No because I give myself breaks to recharge the energy.

BSOM: Does your art shape you? Or do you shape your art? (just want to hear your opinion)

RW: Yes it shapes me. It helps me grow mentally and spiritually.

BSOM: Do you create art more for yourself or for others to enjoy?

RW: I like to paint for all to enjoy. One day I hope they all will.

BSOM: Is there a purpose to your artwork?

RW: I paint to release trapped energy.

BSOM: What's your favorite subject matter?

RW: The human body and how can I make it abstract for fun.

BSOM: Are you currently working on any projects? If not, do you have anything in mind for your next piece?

RW: I have this large yellow painting of humans abstracted. I'll post it on Instagram soon.

BSOM: Have you sold any pieces, or would you be willing to sell any pieces?

RW: I sell work regularly.

BSOM: Do you have a favorite experience as an artist?

RW:  Just growing each time the brush touches the canvas.

Artist in action!

BSOM: Do you have a favorite art gallery?

RW: Gallery 2110, The Urban Hive, The Crocker, The Brickhouse...all in Sacramento CA.

BSOM: Do you have a favorite art blog you'd like to shout out?

RW: Shout out to BSOM...many blessings to them.

BSOM: Which social network has been the most successful for promoting your art?

RW: Instagram is great for promoting art.

BSOM: If you could see any piece, that you haven't seen before, in person which piece would it be?

RW: Guernica by Pablo Picasso.

BSOM: If you could only look at one piece of art for the rest of your life, what piece would it be?

RW: Woman by God....he stunted when he made her :)

BSOM: If you could meet any artist from any period of time who would it be? What would you ask them?

RW: God....the greatest artist of all time. I would ask him for life advice lol.

BSOM: Any advice for fellow artists?

" Follow you dreams :)"-RW

Check out the links below to see even more of this talented artist's work!

Website: ColorBully.com

Twitter: @ColorBully

Instagram: @DatDudeRus

SoundCloud: ColorBully

                                                         Email: datduderus@yahoo.com

BIG thanks + shout out to Rus for his contribution to BSOM!!

Until next time friends...Cheers!!!

<3 Noonie

"You're Being Watched"

Title: "Cameras"
Artist: SpY

Street art is one of my favorite types of art. I guess one reason being is that it's accessible to anyone, even your average Joe and Jane from any walk of life. Not only that but it doesn't really require you take time out of your day, it's something you see when you're just going about your business  running errands and such. It's just always a welcomed surprise in my book whenever I happen upon a piece of street art is all I'm saying.

I guess I should mention what I mean by "street art" aka graffiti pieces, installation pieces, street performers it all comes in a variety of packages and bows but I enjoy it all. I'm sure many of you have heard of Banksy a household name in the graffiti street art scene. If you haven't ya best go look 'im up, he's pretty damn legit all around the world. I'll talk about him some other time, right now I want to talk about an installation street artist by the name of "SpY". I initially learned about this street artist through the site LostatEMinor, and I have been intrigued since. This is what lead me to want to learn more about this street art vigilant, and so a Google search it was.

SpY is often referred to as the "Spanish Banksy", although he has somewhat of a different style/flair/dare I even say approach compared to Banksy. But I'm not going to get all into that, I did find a good article  titled "SpY's "Cameras: is Less Obnoxious than any Street Art by Banksy" on the site TheCreatorsProject that does go a bit further into details regarding that subject. Although the author obviously isn't  such a fan of Banksy it's still a good read and an interesting opinion, even though I don't necessarily agree with everything the author states. At the end of the day I like the art I like regardless of anyone elses' opinion. But that's enough about that.

Anywho SpY has been an active street artist since around the time I was born (mid 80s). He started with graffiti but progressed towards other mediums such as installations after some time. After reading about SpY I definitely have a new appreciation for his work, mostly because of the reasons behind the work he does and how he goes about it. For example the first piece of his that caught my attention is an installation piece called "Cameras" which can be found in his Native country in the city of Madrid. What caught my attention about the piece was of course the cameras themselves, but it was the message behind the work that incited my interest in this artist. It was the thoughts that began going through my mind when I first saw the piece and after I learned of the message SpY was trying to convey with the installation that all fueled my interest.

The message SpY was trying to convey with this piece....

'"The piece invites reflection about our present and daily interaction with technology and who is behind. The cameras are a symbol that represents it, however it is clear that we are surrounded by devices that act as tools of surveillance.

'There are mixed reactions from people: some just value it’s aesthetics and others reflected on its representation, most people wondered if the cameras are on, and some even interacted with the piece thinking they are being recorded.

'I like to generate some type of reaction with my work, I try to awake and create a more lucid conscience with my interventions. Irony and humour is a way to make the receiver an accomplice, create a dialogue and make one think that the work communicates something with which one identifies. They are small bits of intention that make the person who receives them see their routine as an urbanite hatching.

'If the passer-by who sees the piece likes it, they see the work as a romantic act and will take part of the intervention with them.'" 

(Found ^this quote^ on the site UK Daily Mail)

I guess you could say I fall in the "reflects on the representation" boat. Nowadays privacy is a precious commodity, and I like how SpY represents this feeling with his piece. I also really like this piece because as SpY said people are actually interacting with his piece of art, not knowing it's a piece of art. (I'll admit I'd probably give all those cameras the bird) There's just something about the element of the viewer interacting with the piece that really gets me, in a good way of course. Reminded me of an artist, a Mr. Marcel Duchamp whom I had learned about in an Art History class I took. 

Duchamp once said 

"The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act" (quote originally found here). 

Sounds like SpY + Duchamp would be buddies eh?

I would so love to one day produce art that the viewer could interact with. I hadn't ever thought of that element until seeing SpY's piece, inspiration my friends, inspiration it can be found anywhere and sometimes it'll teach you about yourself. I can definitely say I took part of the intervention with me, so I guess SpY did do exactly what he sought out to do, and I am merely 1 person who just happened to see this piece online. I can't imagine how many other people out there have taken part of this intervention with them. 

That's another thing that fascinates me about SpY and his work he calls his works "interventions". The TheCreatorsProject article I mentioned earlier goes into more detail about SpY's approach which is yet another reason I admire this artist. Not to go too into the subject, but SpY's approach when selecting locations for his installations is to choose places that are "in the heart of the city". You're not going to find too many pieces (if any) in a main part of town where all the tourists go and such, you're going to find his work on a little side street, like I mentioned the "heart of the city". The areas where the cities average Joe lives. I like that he keeps his work for those average Joes and Janes, as it gets back to one of my first points as to why I love street art to begin with.

Before I forget let me mention that I read in numerous places that all of SpY's cameras are looking upon the home of a well known drug dealer in the area. He's just so damn clever.

But enough "tell" let's do some "show"

Intensely awesome right?!

That's definitely not all folks. There are many more amazing pieces to be seen by this talented artist and I highly suggest you go check them out! I got all of the above pictures directly from SpY's website, click the link to be taken directly to his site to see his other works and to learn more about this brilliant urban artist!!

Until next time friends...Cheers!!!

Impromptu Art Show

Few of my favorite 
pieces of art that I own

A couple of years ago a friend of mine went on vacation to Brazil and she brought me back a couple of goodies, including a few paintings done by a local Brazilian artist! If you've read this blog before you'd know these little paintings were right up my alley. Thought I'd share a few pics of them :)

 I love the bright colors that the artist used to create these paintings! 

I decided to include photos of the sides of the paintings as they need their story told too! I typically don't paint the sides of my canvases to incorporate them into the painting which is another reason why I really liked these paintings too. Got me thinking that maybe I should start doing the same with my pieces. It's funny how an artist that's thousands of miles away can inspire a complete stranger, and they don't even know it. The power of art my friends. The power of art.

Back of the painting

I really wish I knew exactly what the # represented that's in the top left corner. My best guess is it's the 119th painting that the artist has done exactly like this? I guess I'll really never know. I like how the artist Flor, included the title of the piece, where it's from, what year it was done, and by whom. I think this information is important to include on a piece so people years from now can track the history of this painting. I had posted a blog earlier about an oil painting my boyfriend and I had found at a thrift store and I would've loved to have known more about the artist and the piece! If only they had included this info. Makes me think I guess it's never too early to start thinking about the long long term future. For this reason I decided I'm going to start including this information on all of my pieces so that one day years from now, when I'm not around someone will know where the piece came from and that I did it. Pretty deep stuff right?

I also really like how the artist painted scenes from the area, depicting different activities that the locals must do.

Hope you enjoyed the art show!

Until next time...Cheers!!

P.S. Are you an artist? Or would you like to share a piece of your favorite art? We would love to feature it right here on BSOM! Check out our Contact page for more info! :)