why buy handmade?

Buy Handmade Video from Etsy on Vimeo.

check out this great find, a site about buying handmade creations. there are numerous good reads on the effects of corporate consumerism and what can be done to help your local artists. be conscious of what you buy.

http://www.buyhandmade.org/why-buy-handmade

"meditation"

to anissa

"floral meditation"

rice paper

a few weeks ago i came upon the denia flea market one friday afternoon. i found a stall of various items from tibet and india. purchased some lovely rice paper and started these decoupage paintings.

female ceramic figure

@ salvador molla

donations

@ salvador molla

mosaic car

@ salvador molla

arch

@ salvador molla

salvador molla

right outside of javea is a cool sculpture garden. gallery owner, salvador molla has a wonderful exhibit of various ceramics mixed in with an assortment of metals.

"spirit of hokusai" - mini - detail

"spirit of hokusai" - mini

this one is going to a very friendly, very helpful woman i know in javea.

"spirit of hokusai"

duplicates

view of "spirit of hokusai" paintings, the mini is a gift.

Avant Garde Selections 1

diy or die dvd 7 of 8

check out this video from youtube. directed by michael w. dean. there are 8 episodes that interview various musicians, artists, performers, photographers, and more. this is one of my favorite episodes.

"psychic blend" detail

"psychic blend"

modern designed church

spotted this beautiful church in Valencia. the side panels are interesting, almost art nouveau-ish similar to klimt's work.

churches in valencia

while in the historic city of valencia, spotted some beautiful churches. there's never a shortage of churches, holiday for saints or fiesta of any kind in spain.

Palau de les Arts and L'hemisferic

while in Valencia, checked out the Palau de les Arts and L'hemisferic. The architecture is unbelievably beautiful. The architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava has created an amazing facility for the arts, music, dance and theater.

church of the sea

the church is situated on a tiny street in the port of javea. the design of the church relates to everything about the sea. the exterior walls are tall and column-like with the columns arching out, resembling waves. this type of construction with the walls acts as an echo chamber, so when the waves are crashing along the beach it sounds like you're in the ocean.

street performers

the street performers in europe are like no other! the costumes are amazing, the ideas that they come up with, all very clever.

barcelona street

view of a street in barcelona off of the ramblas.

barcelona artists

a view of some local artists in barcelona selling their works, primarily drawings, watercolors, oil paintings, and 2D mixed-media artists.

the inspiration

the untitled piece posted on the 9th of october was completed after having seen this door and walkway on my many walks down to the port. the door is beautifully designed and the walkway is mesmerizing . many times i'm tempted to take a chalk rubbing of the tiles to keep in my journal. the tiles in spain are beautifully painted with designs of saints, surnames, house numbers, and southeastern influenced designs.

"drop"

this piece had me at a large wall that i couldn't figure out how to climb. there was something about the IDEA of what i wanted to create that had me blocked. after a brief interpretation by alex one day, i realized i had to just jump in and finish it. the idea for some of the design came from a door that i passed as i walked down the montgo into javea the day before. the pattern on this beautiful door that i speak of was of southwest asian influences. the door looks hand carved from wood, it's very impressive. i'll have to get a photo the next time i'm in the area.

new piece

back from the states

well rested and happy to be back in spain. picked up stretchers and canvas which are hard to find in javea. while in the states stopped by the national geographic museum in dc. the current exhibit is titled, 'critter cam'. in front of the entrance were two lionesses by bart walters, one of last projects i worked on at the new arts foundry. very happy to have seen them completed and on display. this set belongs to the maryland zoo but was on loan to the national geographic society.

"olive"

sneak peak

painting in the kitchen

"tree"

dali

dali has always been an artist that i've admired. mainly for his strangeness in his art and for his character. his paintings have such a mystery to them. the content and composition of subjects have always intrigued me.

espana

this adventure starts in spain. living along the costa blanca. trails. smiles. the port. sepia. windmills. paella. cafe con leche. hedgehogs.