3.23.2010

Celebration Post: 3K

I just want to congratulate MYSELF on reaching my goal of 3,000 members. I originally wanted to reach this goal by Christmas...I was being extra hopeful, but the fan page has consistently grown at about 100 members a week. My desire for 1500 in 4 weeks was a bit, EXTRA, though not impossible. I'm actually right on time based on the way it's been going. I'm low key wanting to grow another 1,000 members in the next month though. I'm going to try my hardest. Oh wait, I think you're supposed to take a minute to enjoy your victory. Here I am planning for the next one. My bad. Let me go paint something. Shoot tomorrow...guess who...nvm. Let me go. Thanks everybody for all your help and support!

3.12.2010

My SYMspiration: Sankofa

It's RARE that I get completely original requests that say..."I trust you, do whatever you like." So, this was the start of something wonderful. My dear SYM1 supporter, frequent commenter and soror, Tanaya, sent me an order requesting a Sankofa bird on the front and the continent of Africa, a woman w/ locs, and the words "know thyself" on the bakk. That's it.

Essentially, the Sankofa bird symbolizes a need to know where you came from in order to know where you are going. To read (a little) more, go here:   http://www.duboislc.net/SankofaMeaning.html. Many of you don't know, but I was an African American Studies major, so I was feeling in touch with my studies. Of course, I was happy to do it, but really had no idea where I would go with the design. It was a simple request, but I wanted it to be grand. So, I had a meeting with one of my business partners, Google, and he gave me a few pictures to work with. Here's the one I liked most.

However, I remember Tanaya having this same bird on her graduation cap (that I didn't do), so I decided not to copy the colors. (Nor do I understand why this Sankofa has left her egg unattended. I was a little disturbed.) She also requested to have the letters from each of the Greek organizations she is a member of on each of the wrists. The dominant colors are red and blue, so I started there. Then I sat in front of my paint shelf and laid the colors all side by side to see which ones worked. I don't know why or how, but I ended up with a indigo and violet-less rainbow. I REALLY wish I had taken step by step photos for this one, but I didn't know I was going to fall in love with it. My bad.

1st things first. I sketch the bird. I fill it in with the rainbow colors. Then I do the black outline. I don't like it. It looks flat. UGH! So I decide to add some details to the colors, but I wasn't sure which kind of pattern to use. I wanted it to keep that "African" feel. So bakk to my partner Google. Here's what I came up with...



At the time, I didn't really pay attention to the masks, but I like those too. Maybe a future piece. Anyway, the designs within the bird come from this piece. Yay! It looks so much better now, but I still don't like it. Lol. So, I decided  to wrap the spiraled squares around the entire design. :D Great idea! *cabbage patch* I'm the man.


I added a similar detail to the strings on the hood, put the letters on the sleeves. Signed my name...then flipped it over to do the bakk.




I chose to do Africa in red, and filled it with the same pattern I used on the bird. The woman was the main thing that I was really concerned with. I got the idea that she should be dancing. That has nothing to do with Sankofa, but I personally feel like there is a freedom in knowing. Dancing is the ultimate expression of that freedom. Google and I linked up one more time and he showed me a picture of a woman dancing.

She doesn't have locs. *shrugs* But, I'm SYM1...now she does. lol. I added the Sankofa symbol in yellow, simply because it felt naked. Now, I'm all done.

I love it. I want to do it again. It's getting a great response on Facebook. YAY! I want to make another one. (Said that already, huh?) Maybe on this green track jacket I have...hmmm...

#random: I want to do a shower curtain. I'm tired of looking at mine. I might be feeling colorful!

3.02.2010

My Inspiration: Scheduled Vacations

I'm away for my birthday. I'm really enjoying myself. Sometimes it's good to just get away. I think about 36-48 hours in....I was in desperate need of paint. I can be home and not touch paint for three whole days and not have any desire to do so, but as soon as I'm a way, I'm itching and shaking like a drug addict in detox. I am troubled.

I'm so relaxed too. I think since I'm surrounded by my work, even when I'm not working, I never get a break. My mind is always busy conjuring up grand ideas and color combinations. I need to find a remedy for this. It's a problem and I need to work on it, because I'd like to feel like this more often. Relaxed and inspired and WANTING to be working. I think it would be better for my process.

I need a more designated work space. That may not happen for a minute, soooo
I should probably try to take a day off (like all the way off) every now and then.
A VACATION every now and then may help. Since I work from home, anywhere outside of my house would be great. I'm not sure how this would work, but if I could be away 3 days a month, I'm sure I could create this feeling on a regular basis.

I'm happy.