dreXeL's Blog - Author Archives

Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings, Etc...

For Banksy

Here’s a new painting that’s going into my show. I’ve dedicated it to Banksy, an amazing artist, a man who has no idea how much he has inspired me, and creator of the best manifesto in the history of ever. He reminds us that we aren’t asked by the media whether or not we’d like their message shoved down our throat in public, so it’s completely within our rights to communicate OUR message publicly. You’re right, man, forgiveness IS easier to get than permission. <3

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Solo Show #2

Well, a LOT has happened since I last posted anything. So it’s time to get back to keeping my friends et al updated.

I’ve been working on getting all the paintings done for my new show. Opening night is Feb. 1 at the Whittier Law Library in Costa Mesa, CA. 7 pm. I’m still trying to find out if I can have food and drinks there, since it’s a Law Library and I’ll let you know once I find out. 20 of my paintings will remain there for 3 months, so if you can’t make it opening night, you’re free to stop by any time for 3 months afterward…if you’re so inclined.

I’d love to stay and chat but I’ll be up til about 4am painting for the next 2 weeks or so, so I’d better go. I’ll leave you with one of the new paintings. It’s called “Morning Cafe”, and it’s a place I had breakfast near the Mansion House tube station in London.

More to come…

XO, Erica

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My New Freedom

I have had a recent epiphany about art, and about my own art.  It goes something like this:

My art education is mainly classical.  I learned mostly about dead artists throughout history.  Meanwhile the most amazing things were happening all around me, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Julian Scnabel, and the advent of graffiti art.  And it was all happening in New York, the same state where I was in school.  I missed it all. 

Fortunately for me, I’ve made a friend who’s art education comprises all that mine lacked.  And he’s taught me about stencils and spray paint, and he’s shown me books of amazing graphic artists and graffiti artists.  From all this I realized that I had so many rules in my head from my own education that it really limited my view and what I was willing to do in creating art.  I painted in oils or acrylics, I drew in pastels or charcoal.  I never mixed anything with anything else.  Some colors of paint were to always be used sparingly as they “didn’t mix well” according to some teacher at some point.

2 weeks ago I just gave the finger to ALL OF THAT.  Those rules, the conservatism, all of it.  I have discovered the most amazing artists and the most fantastic art that they’ve created.  And I am suddenly inspired.

My first attempt at mixing media is this commissioned portrait of a friend of mine.  I hand cut my first stencils, and I used spray paint for the first time…and some acrylic.  AND to top it all of, I painted exclusively in the colors that I’m supposed to use “sparingly.”  Now I say a big, giant FUCK YOU to those who attempted to keep my mind closed off to new ideas in art school, those who said my application of paint was “wrong” and an even bigger thank you to my friend who helped me get to this point.

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Stylegoddess Update

A LOT is going on. I have a new art show coming up in LA that I’ll give you the deets on as soon as I know them.

My new site is live. It’s more of an experiment than anything, but it seems to be going well. Lots of people are stopping by and checking it out.

I was just offered to take over my friend’s apt and job for two weeks while he goes to Japan and Korea. If I get the job, which isn’t a for sure thing, but IF i do it means I get to live in San Francisco for two weeks, get paid well, see all my SF friends and just live and work in a completely different environment for a bit. I want to do it bad.

I have plans to go to London in the next few weeks and then Vancouver after that, then back east for Xmas. So things are exciting and fun lately.

And on a more personal level…I just got my lip pierced!

my new lip piercing
I should have some more paintings and illustrations for you to look at soon. Meanwhile you can look at my ugly mug. PEACE! XO

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Lookie!!!!

An awesome person in San Francisco that some of you, my friends, already know and love (Lawgeek), bought “Autumn” and here you can see what one of my pieces actually looks like in the context of a real live room, not just a rectangle on my blog.  These photos made my day.

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Change is Good?

I’ve recently been thinking a lot about what it’s like to change your whole life, uproot, move 3000 miles away from all your family and friends and everything stable that you know. I’ve done it. It was not easy. Sometimes it still isn’t. And it can be depressing and unsettling and unstabilizing. Someone I know just moved from NY to California, and I was suddenly inspired to do this last illustration. I might do a whole series called “Change”, but for now here’s one. To Marco, don’t worry. It will get better.

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Flock RULES

Ok well it took me freaking AGES, but I fiiiiiinally downloaded and started using the Flock browser. I’d wanted to try it for a long time, and started actually feeling guilty about it every time I’d see Will Pate at conferences and talked to him about it. So now it’s done. And I am seriously stoked about it. It’s so much fun to post to a blog or to play around on my social networking sites when I have my flickr pics open. It all goes much quicker and I don’t have to go to like 9 different places for everything. I can see all my new articles, all my flickr pics, all my FRIEND’S flickr pics, upload pics and post blogs all in a click. It’s really the coolest thing ever. You should try it for yourself. DO IT!

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A Success!

Thanks to all of you who showed up to my opening. I had such a good time. You all were awesome. People came from hours away just to see my artwork. I was amazed. And I even got roses delivered to the venue directly from a friend in London. So yeah, Tuesday was my day. And my work will remain up at Borders South Coast Plaza for the next 3 months. So if you couldn’t make it that day for one reason or another, fret not. You have plenty of time to stop by. And when you do, let me know your thoughts. <3

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It’s happening, baby.

One week until the opening. I’ve sent out lots of invitations, but I don’t yet have internet at my new place so I know I’m missing a LOT of addresses. If you haven’t gotten an invitation, you’re STILL invited. And I’m posting the invitation here just for YOU. SO JUST COME!!!

Oh, also, I just found out from my art coordinator that my show is listed in OC Weekly.
invitation to my art show

Peace! XO Erica

More Pieces in my Show

Since people have been having to practically jump through hoops to look at my illustrations, I’m going to make it easier for everyone. I’m posting one more here for now, and in the next week or so I will have a site just devoted to my illustrations, where people can buy them.  I’ll let you know when that’s done.   Meanwhile, here’s a taste.  Obviously they don’t look as good small and as jpgs, but at least you’ll get some idea of what is in this show. Hope you like them, and I look forward to seeing you at the opening. XO
Green Fur Socks

Green Fur Socks