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

N+N's Downtown Sac Adventures

photo by: Nelli

Nelli + I had a chance to catch up a few weekends ago! She was up from the bay for the weekend + so Saturday afternoon we took a little adventure Downtown. We started with some coffee from a coffee spot neither of us have ever tried, but Nelli had heard good things (like it was the #1 coffee shop in Sacramento) so we headed to Oak Park where Chocolate Fish is located + ordered up some joe. Nelli had a flat white with almond milk + I had a good ol fashion Mocha, extra sweet of course. 

photo by: Nelli

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!

Noonie's SN&R Newsstand!

I've always admired SN&R (Sacramento News & Review) newsstands as most of them are covered with original artwork done by local artists from the area. No 2 newsstands are alike for this reason, which is why every time I see one I always take a minute to check out it. You'd be amazed at the variety of different styles/works of art you can find on SN&R newsstands as many different levels of artists have created works on them, from beginning artists (even children) to professionals. As I was to find out none of the artists are paid to embellish the newsstands, which just makes them all the better as these artists created works on them out of pleasure not gain (although it is a good way to promote ones work).

As it turns out I've become one of these newsstand artists, + I couldn't be more excited to share with you my newsstand story! A few months ago I was reading SN&R + I happened to stumble upon an ad calling for local artists who were interested in artsying up their very own newsstand. As soon as I saw the ad I jumped on the opportunity + emailed SN&R telling them I was very interested in the opportunity + the next day I had a response from them telling me to come pick up my newsstand - which I did that exact same day. 

RIP Downtown Plaza

Source

Rest in Pieces Downtown Plaza, you will be missed. My once favorite mall in Sacramento is currently being ripped apart + torn down *sniffle* in order to make way for a brand new King's arena. I'll admit the Plaza wasn't what it once was before they started tearing it down, but I'm still going to miss it. I loved its location right off of J St. +  how it was an outdoor mall (the only one around Sacramento in fact). I have so many favorite memories of the Downtown Plaza since I have been going there ever since I was about 8 years old. I thought it'd be fun to take a little trip down memory lane + share some of my favorite Downtown Plaza memories as well as a few photos from my very last trip there, which I consequently wish I would've taken more of. 

2nd story views

Views looking out from the back of the Plaza

The path to Old Sacramento

* Dad used to take us to the DTP all of the time on our weekends with him. There would always be different exhibits we'd go see at the Plaza from Dinosaur Days to Gold Rush Days, I remember it like it was yesterday. Fun times.

* Another favorite DTP memory of mine happened when I was about 15 or so + my mom took me prom dress shopping there to get my Jr. prom dress. We checked out all the stores + I finally found one at the Jessica McClintock store. Now that I think about it I also got my Sr. prom dress from the DTP on another trip with mom, this time we scored my prom dress at Macy's. Mom still has those dresses boxed up somewhere but I'll always remember those times she took me to get my prom dresses at the DTP.

* Going shopping after school or sometimes ditching to go shopping with Nelli when we were in high school. We lived in the little old town of Galt so we'd always go to Sacramento to hit the malls when we wanted to go shopping. The DTP was our favorite though, because it had a huge Forever 21, way bigger than the old Forever 21 that's in the Arden Mall.

* + last but not least, I'll remember all of the weridos I saw + encountered at the DTP. Because of it's location there were always colorful characters around the Plaza, this never deterred me from wanting to go to there though, but actually added to the experience. One memory of an encounter with a werido at the Plaza that really pops out is this one occasion...I was at the mall with a friend + we were going up the escalator. Well I went to go grab the railing of the escalator + this guy behind me yells "DON'T TOUCH IT!". He must've been a germaphobe or something. His rant startled me for a minute of course but I held the laughter in + smiled at my friend. We busted up laughing as soon as he walked away. Good times, good times.

Although they are tearing down the DTP at least they aren't going to tear down the tunnel that connected the DTP to Old Sacramento, it's one of my favorite features of the DTP area. I just love all of the murals painted throughout the tunnel + how they play music in the tunnel, especially during the holidays when they play Christmas music, specifically the Charlie Brown theme song.

I shall miss you Downtown Plaza. 
(Yes that's me waving)

Although you will no longer be a mall, I know you will go on to be a lovely basketball arena, lol.

Until next time friends...Cheers!!

<3 Noonie

Promote YOUR Work!

"Seeing Red"
Artist: Myself
Medium: Acrylic Paint

I tried a new breakfast spot today. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was all of the art work hanging on the walls, many of which was for sale. That little detail is what inspired this blog. As an artist one of the first places you would think to promote your art work would a gallery, of course. But there are so many different avenues out there that an artist may easily overlook as opportunity to promote their work. For this reason, I wanted to shed some light, inspire, and inform fellow artists out there. On another note I wanted to keep this list "local", and take the old school route which does not include online avenues.

Noonie's "Think Outside of the Box" Art Promotion List
Fun tidbit: I compiled this list of places as I was waiting for my breakfast to arrive.

- Local colleges

- Local library

- Farmer's Markets
(artists rarely promote their work at Markets so it's an ideal place)

- Local Businesses:
restaurants, coffee shops, art supply stores
A local art supply store in Downtown Sacramento, Art Ellis, features different local artists' work in their window display, which changes monthly. They can't be the only local art supply store out there that would do sucha thing. I feel as if smaller businesses such as mom + pop shops would respond positively if the opportunity arose. But I do know of one Starbucks that features different artists' work every month, so it just goes to show you there is not set formula for promoting your work. 

- Your Street Corner
No I'm not kidding. But I guess it depends on where you live. I know it's a popular place for artists to promote their work in big or touristy cities such as Santa Cruz, Seattle, etc. So hey why not?

What I really adore about the idea of promoting one's work at these venues is that many of them won't take a commission if you do decide to sell your work, and if they do it's very little. I'm sure nothing compared to what a gallery would expect in commission.

Hoped this help shed some light and inspired at least a few of you to go out into your community and show them your work! Not everyone who enjoys art has the opportunity/time to go to a gallery, which makes these venues all the better. I know I'm always excited to see a local artists' work unexpectedly when I'm simply going out to run errands, or going out for a meal or cup of coffee. Let your artwork be that little spark of light in someone's day to day, it'll make both of you feel good! That I can promise :)

Until next time friends..cheers!!