Green, Green leaves-- falling from the trees

I just finished Bukowski's book Women and it was excellent, explicit and soaked in vulgarity. Bukowski has successfully replaced Hunter S Thompson for the top spot in my canon of literary awesomeness. I love the artful, witty use of expletives.

New Piece

This one was done in watercolors, colored pencils and acrylics. It was inspired by Marq Spusta's art for Dinosaur Jr's The Farm. His tree people are just too cute. I also added my own personal touch with the broken instruments in the thorn bushes. This is probably influenced by the Elliott Smith b-sides and live songs that I have been listening to non-stop. Smith's music is perfect to watercolor to... and so is Dinosaur Jr's song Puke+Cry!
I am SO glad that this semester is over.

Marq Spusta is amazing

Check this guy's illustrations out... they are gorgeous. I love the Sasquatches/tree people he drew for Dinosaur Jr's latest album. I'm inspired to make my own Sasquatch piece after looking at his ethereal, whimsical pieces.

This is the ONLY Christmas song that I can enjoy. I love me some Kinks.

"the sun rose high and went screaming by"

I need to create something other than secondary criticism of my favorite works of literature. It feels like a cop-out to dissect the art of others, but I guess that is the basis of academia. I just want to start back into the visual arts that I have completely abandoned since I went back to school. I have traded the honest art of the paintbrush/pencil for the art of verbs/nouns/syntax/critical schools of thought. The proverbial grass is always greener on the other side I guess.

...time to start a new watercolor piece.

Just gimme some truth

Something has sapped all of the creativity from me and left some blinding nihilism in its place. I think its all of the Christmas-bred consumerism and the sticky, saccharine music that accompanies it. Time for some burnt coffee and good music to warm me up.






This song is SO good.

roll over rocktober

Genius.

loobiecore

yay lou barlow!

loobiecore.com

saint skull-- finished today!

la petite mort

This chai tea is amazing on a night like this. I love the feeling of early fall, with the trees rustling with powerfully ominous winds. The moonless sky and the infinite cricket songs. I love the creaking sounds the house creates and the whistling sounds the wind makes when it bludgeons through the screened windows. I love the dampness of tonight and how the air is dewy and heavy. Nature's violence is beautiful when you're safe indoors and clutching a steamy,sweet cup o' chai.



Listennn!

Revised edition

I fixed a few proportions, and added a halo-esque crown of ivy and broken lightbulbs.

New/old drawing

I started this back in June and its been sitting around in my closet for all of this time. I finally got around to finishing it after watching half a season of Gravity (awesome show). This is L-Dopamine Queen.
As of today... I'm back in school. Its awesome, yet daunting at the same time. No more being apathetic and lazy.

First day of September

I am OBSESSED with this show. I'm really mad that it was canceled. Eric Schaeffer is awesome in it.

A New Tee for my Dad's Guitar/Accordion Band..

As promised to my dad, I have created a fan t-shirt for his bar band (as I secretly titled it, The Drunken Sasquatch Band). It's kitschy, cheap and ridiculously apropos for the situation. Viole, Dumpsters Inc. has its first client. I've already had 4 requests for this tee at his gig.
My head is throbbing at the thought of the end of summer, on a depressing note. I'm excited to finally be back in college, after a strange semester off... but I'm not excited at preschool being my main source of income this year.

New creation avec Dumpsters Inc.

Hand sewed and painted by me. This song facilitated the creative process and thanks to fluoxetine HCL for getting me out of my apathetic slump :

I made something!

My first venture into t-shirt surgery and I'm pretty pleased. Its not perfect, but I'm definitely going to wear this out often. Next up, perhaps Kafka shirt... if not, a Drunken Sasquatch band tee. I recently just picked up an awesome tee from goodwill that I will operate on soon. For gods sake, theres a giant tomato on it. That is exquisite in and of itself. My company will be called Dumpsters Incorporated.

(some) Cool people

I want to be all of you when I grow up.

new

Another quick draw straight from the head. My mood changed quickly after finishing this-- even more proof that drawing is complete (well.. maybe semi-complete) catharsis for me.
I found this and it added to my better mood

I love jason Schwartzman's band Coconut Records.

My stomach is killing me tonight and my head feels like its about to explode with toxic waste. Mom says I should drink pepsi, but I'm skeptical that it'll do anything. Ah well, what can I do, except vow to never eat at TGI Fridays ever, ever again.
I think I saw Samantha Ronson (Lindsay Lohan's ex gf) at my dad's gig last night, but I'm not sure. I wonder if she liked the tunes of the Drunken Sasquatch Band (where Bruce Springsteen reigns supreme and the cheesy tunes flow like cheap beer). No disrespect to my dad, because he's doing his thing and doing it relatively well.lookee here, an old timer cat!

New-- fire fly in the bell jar

Torn straight from my sketchbook, and its a free association draw torn straight from my brain on this thundery evening. I especially enjoyed making the cigarette butts in the bottom of the jar.

the learning curve

I'm learning dis song on guitar. It's quite pretty(also meaningful to me in countless ways) and its just what I need to get my ass in gear in terms of practicing guitar.

"are you sensitive to bugs?"- my camp kids

I want to re-learn how to surf (I did briefly, but really badly, and on a 5'7ish board). I really want to find a used longboard to learn properly (one that doesn't cost an assload of money). I absolutely love the ocean, and surfing properly is on my bucket list. Maybe on my last two weeks of summer I'll spring for some lessons.
Today was actually a good day at work, I hope this becomes the norm for the next 5 weeks.

aye.

Working is killing my creativity... true fact. There is something about being out in 100 degree temperatures all day that just really shits on your artistic inclinations.
Aw, but looky here! This makes everything better

Wow. Beck covering Yanni.

wet dog

Went to Atlantic City and all of its kitschy glory yesterday. There was a parade of male casino employees dressed in drag, shaking their assets to "bad romance" and lots of (really) old people playing slots and chugging mimosas/various comped mixed drinks. It was just how I pictured it to be-- campy and awesome.


Anyway...here are some baby owls in a bucket.

hello tuesday

I dig this a lot, mostly because of the way the song builds.
I'm drinking a pot of strong coffee to get myself hyped up for work and to help me forget about the shitty chest cold I'm trying to get over.

AAA = awesome.

A dead car battery in Neptune, Nj is never, ever a good thing. But, Roman Candle on vinyl is. Thank god for re-releases.

love this.

New Piece! Saint Rosa And the Swallows

Just finished this moments ago and my hands are still caked with acrylic paints. I absolutely abhor my allergies and all the hell they bring. I have to practice some Beatles songs on my guitar for the Beatlesfest we're having at work... and I'm terrified. Its sad that the first time I'll ever be playing out is in front of kids ages 5-12. You have to start somewhere I guess.

new watercolor

<--- This is "feast of friends". I tore it out of my sketchbook after working on it for two nights. I missed the freedom of watercolors

Monday morning procrastination.

So, I have an unhealthy obsession with Californication's Hank Moody. I love the whole struggling writer, whiskey swigging, cigarette-smoking aesthetic this character has. If you don't watch this show, you really should.

Cannes Film fest best

The Antichrist was possibly the most disturbing movie I have seen in a long time. I loved it for all of its genital-mutilating, rotting-baby-animal showcasing, and raunchy-sex-proliferating goodness... but I don't think I'll be able to think of Charlotte Gainsbourg the same ever again. Still, a totally worthwhile movie.

More favorite things!

So I have been online window shopping again, and these items are definitely on my ever-growing wish list! Its rainy, grey and gross and nothing breaks that gross feeling like some pretend retail therapy.


Clothing is always my go-to for retail binges (which can be quite problematic when it comes to my finances). I just love anything floral, striped... or owl related.

This is what I am determined to buy during this pay period. I have an unhealthy fascination with cruiser bikes.

A tribute to E.Smith

I'm really excited about finishing this piece. Its the first that I actually want to hang in my room. Since there are virtually no legit Elliott Smith posters on the market, I decided to make my own wall art. I am usually hesitant to paint musicians or real people in general, but I had to make an exception this time.

i love kitschy crafts + new artwork

Look what I made for work!














On a completely different note, here is my latest painting!

march is leaving with a rainy, grey mess

Being that I am a total clothes-whore, naturally I feel the need to "window shop" online for some new spring pieces. I love ultra-feminine florals and sun dresses, reminiscent of twee-pop and Zooey Daschnell. But, I also love the loosely pulled-together elegance of Francoise Hardy-esque striped t shirts, cigarette jeans and dark sunglasses. Here are a few of my favorite things:

Pretty Mary K

New painting! I've had art ADD lately, with 3 paintings going on at the same time simultaneously. I'm currently engrossed in a new abstract piece.

New Painting-- Blackbird Fly

I did this painting in memorial to my uncle, Michael "Spyder" McGuire. He passed away after courageously battling stage four cancer for several months. I tried to incorporate Beatles imagery in this painting because he absolutely adored them, especially George Harrison (my favorite too). Spyder was a brilliant, sweet human being and an inspiration to me in so many ways. Just listening to George Harrison's "Isn't it a Pity" reminds me how much I miss him.

I hate the snow

But... I love this book! This single-handedly saved me during this so-called "blizzard". So did the Elliott smith video torrent I finally downloaded.

winter weather warning bummer.

I just received the best birthday present ever; Strange Waltz. It's an Elliott Smith compilation DVD with the documentary Strange Parallel, two fan-shot concerts and Tv appearances on SNL, Letterman and Conan O'Brien. This compilation is great, and even the fan-shot video has surprisingly good audio quality. I absolutely love it, and Interscope/Dreamworks should definitely green-light an official concert DVD. Elliott's music deserves to be heard and seen by a larger audience.


I'm stuck in the house since the roads are covered in snow, so I figure I'll finish reading Nausea.

Aint got the power anymore

sunday morning french movies

I'm watching Regular Lovers, and it's pretty good. Its a new wave french film with lots of gorgeous Gallic actors and actresses (e.g. Louis Garrel). It's absolutely perfect for this overcast day.

"Strung Out Again" in progress

Updated version of the painting in the previous post. I still intend on adding strings hanging from the hand and some feathers to give it texture

Edit:: It's Finished! I just need to seal it

In progress-- Organic machine