How Libra changed things

Posted on February 12, 2011 by natasha

“Libra” was the first original of the new series of women I’ve been working on since August/September of 2010.

I was sitting in a small bar in Hollywood having a drink with a new friend. A musician. We talked about doing what we loved, life, etc and the picture came to mind. I told him about all the work I’d done and what I really wanted to do, and that’s when I got a new vision.

I could see myself creating these LARGE, colorfully vibrant, flat work sof women in gardens, jungles and forests. The idea was fresh and new. A compilation of my past ideas together into one thing. Illustrative and whimsical. Vibrant and flat. Much like the illustration works of storybooks and mythological novels.

I literally couldn’t wait to get home and start on the new piece, but I waited. I waited weeks. I wasn’t entirely sure I could execute it properly so that it would come out just as it appeared in my mind. I prepared, imagining every move and stroke. How I would layer it, mix the colors or approach the lining. I practiced painting the piece in my mind whenever I went to sleep and when I would awake. I wanted to prove to myself that I could truly paint it as literally as I could see it in my imagination. Many pieces over the course of my life, I’ve illustrated almost to perfection with what I could see, but the most important ideas, in my mind, never came out right. Either it was impatience that thwarted my ideas or it was execution. I needed to really hone in on my skills and try to focus on the work. Not on the feelings, as much of my present work is based on. I didn’t want to fail.

It wasn’t until a day of art and heavy helpings amounts of sugar that I felt inspired and prepared. I had spent that day perusing a showing at Gallery 1988 on Melrose and the LACMA, followed by an amazing slice of Blue Velvet Cake at The Milk Shop. For some reason the combination was the key and there it was. I knew I could paint her. Straight away, I entered the house, grabbed a glass of Pinot Grigot and headed upstairs to my LA studio, with music blasting in my headphones and painted for 4 hours. She came out absolutely perfect. I woke up the next morning, putting a few final touches on her, but I couldn’t stop staring at her. I wanted to create even larger pieces. Immaculate, rediculously sized ones.

That’s the plan in the summer. But for now, I must let “Libra” go and get ready to start on new pieces in the series. Bigger and grander ideas to come.

Dangerous Creation Methods: losing the plot in art business

Posted on February 15, 2010 by natasha

ART IS SPIRIT

Creating art is never a simple, compartmental type of work.

You can’t schedule it.

You can’t confine it.

You can’t force it.

It’s a free flowing energy. A liberal spark that comes and goes as it pleases, swayed by emotion, moments or inspiration. And when we yield to that force, grand works come to life.

MONEY MAKER

So when we start to make money off of it, it becomes dangerous toy. Continue reading →

Going against the flow

Posted on September 15, 2008 by natasha

You ever have that insatiable desire to do something in your life? That force cannot be quenched without action and will override even the human heirarchy of needs. We lose sleep, nourishment, an even the need for shelter and love due to this force. Sometimes the balance in our life is tipped by it and we have to be honest with our obsession to gain balance back. If you did not that passion became a source of destruction.

Have you had any passions or dreams you had to cut back on in order to have balance in your life? To have life to the fullness? How did others respond to your need to balance?

Burning The Candle At Both Ends: Origin of The Jeweled Tree

Posted on July 19, 2008 by natasha

What is my story behind the curly cued willows that grace hundreds of homes worldwide and garnered such acclaim?

And so it goes . . .

It was in the beginning of 2005. I was overworking myself, burning the candle at both ends, so to speak. I found myself constantly nodding off at the dinner table or theaters, and had a scary visit to the ER. My art was successful after only a year of it’s beginning, and I had been working 18-20 hour days to keep up with demand.

One particular evening, I began to start obnoxiously doodling on the canvas.

Continue reading →

Artist Guide: Artist Brains

Posted on June 17, 2008 by natasha

Sounds like a zombie movie that goes straight to video, about artist with serious issues. According to many statistics, artists tend to have.. issues. lol. But really, what human doesn’t?

This past year has been harrowing for me. Another move, new financial responsibilities, overwhelming demand for my art, the boys going to school, 10 year anniversary of a best friend passing away, and so on. I guess, in a way, this is a new chapter in my life. I’m now only four years from hitting the 3 – 0 and I still feel like I’m still a tiny kid. Age 10, and all of these responsibilities and new experiences!

What is a kid to do!?!

And I go from being the compulsive over worker, waking at 6-7 am each day, working till’ midnight or later, answering emails with lightning speed, to this rediculous slacker. Waking up at 10 am or later, sluggishly rummaging through emails and orders, barely getting one little thing done. What a putz, ey? I lost my appetite, can barely get dressed in the morning, and I’m talking to myself. No, I’m definitely not crazy. I’m not depressed, because mentally, I’m as chipper as ever. I think perhaps I’ve let my new challenges and the lack of space I have to cause claustrophobia of sorts. I’m in like this clusterf**k and don’t know how to pull myself out.

Sometimes, you just have to master the art of organization and distraction.

Continue reading →