Speaking of Coffee

It's been some time since I've written a new post, but I wanted to talk about coffee for a minute. There’s a reason that I named it as part of my blog. First of all, I love it. I drink coffee for several reasons:

To socialize
To kill time.
To concentrate throughout the day.
To cure a hangover.
To feel comforted
To feel warm up when its cold
To feel productive.

Coffee is something that I doctor differently every time I get it. Sometimes with just Splenda, or milk…..I get it iced or hot; I even opt for instant coffee when I’m feeling desperate. Coffee is such a part of my day that even my co-workers know me as being “that girl” that walks in the office every morning with a fresh cup --- followed by the 3 o’clock run… it’s become a part of my personality… sad?

So, while flipping through a magazine, I came across an interesting artist: Susan Jane Belton

Like me, Susan takes a good cup of joe to heart. In fact she makes it the center of her artistic inspiration (I personally think this is genius) ... She paints coffee cups in oil. I can picture the several paper cups that shes collected throughout the day and uses them as still life models... you not only see where she’s been, but what kind of coffee drinker she is… or maybe her art is just another good excuse to buy take-out coffee, which to me, isn't a bad idea at all.

Mr. T Designs... Who Knew !?

For those who grew up on the A-Team TV Show or are big fans of Rocky, Mr. T will always be a memorable personality which is simply larger than life. Although you do not see him as much in TV or movies these days, he is still a personality to be reckoned with.
This collection of Mr. T designs includes various pieces of art, design, products and more which prove that Mr T is still popular today, and if you don’t agree…then I pity the fool.

Oink!!!!

Long before Swiss banking and online account management..... “Swine Banks” existed. They are better known as PIGGY BANKS!!!!

The beauty of these money containers (besides no overdraft fees)... is that they're generally made of ceramic or glass material. In order to get your money back, it comes with a sacrifice -------> you have to kill the pig that has been nicely sitting on your bookshelf for the past decade. To this day I still have my piggy bank that I've yet to break. That said, I started Googling "piggy banks" and got amused by what I found. ...

THE MUTATED HELLO KITTY (MEOW)

Some scientists probably made a laboratory experiment and tried to create a new species out of a cat and a pig. The result is this mutated ‘hello kitty’ piggy bank above.

SPIDERMAN-BANK

Pork, spider webs, and money. Now that’s a perfect combination! This superhero might just save the day, especially if the ATM is offline.

THE MOO-OINK?

This bank has dominant pig characteristics, except for cow-like spots all around its body! That’s why it’s called Moo-Oink! A splendid union of cows and pigs. Random.

THE CREEPY JAPANESE VERSION

Because the above piggy pair came from Japan, let’s assume that their names are Yamamita and Sokagoku. They seem to have animated eyes, and there’s a certain cheerful but meditative calm about them that surpasses all pig culture. These kinda scare me.

THE NERD

Many people have complained that this piggy bank is an insult to human intelligence. Despite the harsh criticisms, “nerd piggy” has stood the test of time and reached vintage status. Standing 8 and 1/4 inches tall, he has enough money to regularly buy new glasses and overalls.

THE WILD HOG

Beware, this is not your typical cute little Oinker. This animal is wild, ferocious and menacing. Because of its size, it can make you more money than the other piggy banks too.

THE FIRST SLIM PIG

know, I know. This pig looks like Snoopy or Odie (Garfield’s dog friend). But in actuality, this is the first pig to ever succesfully lose weight and eliminate a bulging tummy. Look at that ribbon around his neck. That’s an award from his ancestors.


I decided to paint my very own piggy bank. Color and floral designs was a fun way to cover my little guy!!

Mammoth Painting 2010 ... the Stages

So apparently, you have up to a year to provide a wedding gift for a couple. Well, My very best friend, Kelly Duffield, tied the knot this time last year in Mammoth Lakes.

To be honest, I wasn't the least bit excited about the 7 1/2 hour drive out to the mountains for the small ceremony. But the wedding took place outside in the woods with just a few family and friends. The smell of the pine trees, and the pink mountains at sunset -with just a sprinkle of snow left over from a fantastic winter season-- was such a visual experience..... I will never forget it. To this day, Kelly's wedding as one of my most favorite celebrations that I've been a part of. I'm so thankful I went.

So, when I thought of a gift for "Miss Duffy" and her husband Chase, nothing seemed more appropriate than to give them a painting that captured that very weekend. I had gone through my pictures and found an image from when I went hiking that Saturday. I knew that would be my inspiration for their art piece.

I documented the process of my small painting (it measures 12" x 8") ... I always begin my paintings the same. I paint it one color and layer it with details until it seems appropriate to stop.






"Mammoth Lakes" -2010 Acrylic on canvas 12"x8"


Actual Photograph taken of Mammoth Lakes

Beach Art

Jim Denevan's beach art is so impressive due to its HUGE scale. His simple images of circles and swirls have a new impact when photographed. Enjoy. They are so lovely.

Artwork Made From Your Desk Supplies

When I was a kid I would make necklaces from paper clips, paint my nails with whiteout... and make funny creatures with big pink erasers... oh..... and remember playing that kick football game with your friends by folding up a piece of paper? Yep, school supplies at its finest....

As an adult I don't really use my imagination the way I used to... Well here’s a group of artists who put all our paperclip necklaces and origami jabberwockies to shame with stunning works of art made from office supplies.

COFFEE STIR STICKS AND CUP LIDS:

The photo above is entitled “Sticks, Sleeves, Straws, and Lids” an installation from the “Eternal Return” exhibition. The white tube in the foreground of the photo above is made of white plastic coffee cup lids. Pretty cool.

PAPER CLIPS:

Using 4,000 paper clips, Gary Ponzo made a chandelier that casts mathematically awesome shadows. Reproductions of the chandelier sell for $5,400 to $7,200. Or you could buy four cases of paper clips for $25 and lock yourself into a room going slowly insane trying to reproduce this chandelier at home. Hey, it worked for Howard Hughes.

PENCILS:


How amazing are these carved pencils? I'd love to buy one and go back in time and be the most ballin’ kid taking the SATs, Then I'd only score 200 because it wasn’t a #2 pencil. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

PAPER:




STAPLES:




While we were trying to get our staplers to unjam, Baptiste Debombourg was creating unbelievable works of art with staples. The pictures above are of his Air Force One and Air Force Two installations, made out of 35,000 staples in white drywall. He says these took him 75 hours of work to realize. Meanwhile, the rest of us spent those 75 hours looking for time-waster videos on Youtube.