Mind, Body, Casa

I had an early Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday by being a part of the launch of "Mind Body Casa", a concept and creation of the lovely Tanika Ray.  Invited as the guest artist, I found myself surrounded by the supreme brilliance and queen, Jody Watley, amazeballs actress, Tangie Ambrose, Heaven HI and hallelujah singer/songwriter Niki Leonti, ethereal beauty, Andrea Bendewald, delectable and delightful celebrity chef Ameera, magic hands and masseuse to the stars Greg Lewis, and my drop dead hotness musician with astrological infusion, Randall Swindell.  We dined, danced, sang, teared up and bonded in a way that the universe could only set in motion. A pilot, and collaborative unity that warms, guides, educates, and entertains left me tranquil, and ecstatic!! Hand in hand with producer, P. Frank Williams and so many other amazing individuals, I can't wait to share what was captured, and continues to grow well after the cameras turned off.  This is everything that is FABULICIOUS!!!!

 

Try

For Sale: Visit: http:/www.monicawarhol.com

While watching Pink's performance at the AMA's of "TRY". I had to smile and feel I could somewhat relate on so many levels.  As I haven't been abused in the last year.. nor been involved in any domestic abuse and violence in at least 3 years (joke.. and  I do take such matters very seriously.. but my cynical nature provides me a bit of a buffer to maintain a peppy spirit.) I find Pink’s lyrics, performance, abilities and talents quite amazeballs.  Though aspects of the song, and or performance could be controversial, I have to say that the overall message to continue to get up and "TRY" is something I can relate to, and maybe everyone could be encouraged or reminded to do the same.

This is epic and necessary as an artist... especially with screen printing.  From the journey of concept, to drawing and composition, to Photoshop, to being reliant on a printer (which may or may not be problematic) to exposing a transparency, to proper exposure time, to pressure of water while hosing out, to applying paint with varying weather conditions, to hand registering (which is how I do my work) differently each and every time, so many things can go wrong.  This rings very true on many of my pieces, but especially my "Family Crest" of the Campbell's soup can.  While doing this print, my transparency literally got eaten by the printer... and I had to dig it out after search and rescue to even at least fix the printer.  I took this mess, slop, and did my best to flatten it out, and found that I saw a lot of parallels of the image to myself and who I felt I was that day.  The image and what had happened to my work was what happened, and as a person, I found it unique and wanted to keep going, use it, and just "TRY". 

Chaos + Chaos

We were doing a little bit of filming last night.. which was a family event.  I was surprised at how competitive, and willing the little people and a few big people were with such a notion going on.  It was really great.  I realized that I think that the desire to shine, share and entertain, if unscathed is really there at birth and will grow if given proper light, stage and opportunity.  So I guess we are born that way.  

This brought me full circle back to an original work I did of Lady Gaga, or Stephanie Geramatta.  I really was visually excited with the somewhat simple image of her face for the "Born this Way", album.  Hair that looked like smoke almost... ethereal.  My mind went all sorts of places, and I thought about how amazing, talented and beautiful she is.  I thought about all her amazing costumes and the many hands of artistry that make up such an amazing creation of the production of her.. and as she sings.. "I was born this way..".  I thought ...golly, I know she has worn a dress of meat..and I can't imagine did that smell, or feel cold, slimy..? Who sewed that?  Does a meat dress need to be refrigerated? Is it like beef jerky?  Can you serge a cut of meat?  Is there a possibility of bacterial contamination?  Looking once again at the album cover, I thought she kind of looks like a gorgeous "Medusa", the snake god or whatever from the "Clash of the Titans".  Medusa with hair of snakes though, wasn't born that way... at least not according to the story I know which is mostly based on the 1970-something movie.. maybe 80's I don't know.  Never the less... I wondered why Lady Gaga hasn't worn a headdress of snakes yet.  I thought I would like to just go ahead and paint it.  Only make the snakes somewhat happy.. because I like happy things.

Once well into this painting which takes time, a person had asked me while picking up my little lady from preschool if I had any more little people.. I said yes, and started doing inventory.  The lady looked at me all wide eyed.. and said "WOW... that is amazing.. ", .....and "... how do you do it.. it must be chaos!!!??" ... I thought about what she said.  I wasn't sure what to say, that happens alot.  So I said.." Well, I suppose it is chaos.. but I think after you have a 3rd, it can be chaotic.. and really what is the plural of chaos???". "Chaos + Chaos...= .... what's the difference... the equation doesn't matter at that point.

I went back to my Lady Gaga painting.  My screens gave me WICKED issues... which I am sure comes down to some sort of magical user problem.. never the less... my own challenges.  What is a challenge, or a problem?  It is nothing more than an opportunity... so  I pounded out my ink onto lovely BFK Rives French paper.  One at a time I registered every single one differently.. much like the noise and activity around me.. the "chaos", that I wouldn't feel comfortable if it wasn't. I finished my Gaga... and looked down at my work.  I didn't like it.  I didn't understand why I would have worked so hard ... on an image I just wasn't thrilled with.. why didn't I just stop?  I guess I was just born this way.  Nah, I know I was.  Quite certain..(and that is something to celebrate)

Gaga Chaos is now one of my favorite works.  From frustration scanning my drawing into Photoshop, to redrawing it at least 4 times, to torn screens, to bad photo emulsion, too pleased initial pulls of ink, to disgust of 4th pulls of ink, to tranquil quiet moments in the gallery at Rancho Linda Vista looking at her all framed and deciding, I wasn't sure why I was ever unhappy with the painting, Gaga Chaos, is a full journey for me.  I really like it.

As I went through my collection trying to choose something for the Children Institute for donation, I knew what work I wanted to see there at the London on the rooftop in West Hollywood.  Chaos + Chaos = whatever you decide ... and you can always change your mind.  That is why it is the ever "Big of it all :-) "

One Nation Under Facebook

No time like the present with the election yesterday taking a second to explain my original artwork of my AMERICAN FACEBOOK FLAG.

Initially when I came up with the concept, and jotted it down onto a post-it, I had in mind that Facebook not only is a ginormous part of American life, but also many countries..

That being said Facebook has been the paper, and the user the pen, to post opinions, and argue with otherwise folks they don't have issue with. From Lady Gaga, overzealous teens, and all walks and users... It brings out yet another meaning in my artwork... As most of it does. A bit contradictory to the word... 'United'.

 

Ah the big if it all...

Monica Warhol