dreXeL's Blog - Author Archives
Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings, Etc...
Some of Me Stays in Brooklyn…
My “Is This What You Want” painting is now being used on the Brooklyn Art Project’s membership signup form! That makes me extremely happy.
Back story: The first thing I did when I moved to Brooklyn a few years ago was an internet search for “brooklyn + art”. What came up was BrooklynArtProject.com. It was relatively new at that time. Of COURSE I signed up IMMEDIATELY. I met the owners, Anthony and James Cospito, and we all became friends. Instantly I felt like I was part of something in Brooklyn, part of the art movement, part of a good group of creative people, and no longer some random individual trying to make something happen in NYC alone. I went to their events, met a TON of amazing new and talented friends, and was involved in several group shows with them. When I moved away a month ago, I was silently worried about not being part of BAP anymore. I tried not to think about it, but I was definitely hoping I could still figure out a way to be part of it all, and hoping that they wouldn’t forget all about me.
Since I’ve moved I’ve been invited to a show with Brooklyn Art Project as well as this new feature on their website. So I realize now that location has no effect on our relationship, except that it makes it a bit tougher for me to stop by the studio or drop off/pick up paintings. But to be honest, I’ve never been very good at those things anyway. 😉
NOTE: If you’re an artist, or you just like art, check out brooklynartproject.com. sign up, make friends, collaborate, do things and make stuff!
Upcoming Younity Show!
As you probably already know, I’m in the process of moving to Las Vegas. But that doesn’t stop me from being part of the best collective of woman artists EVER-Younity. One of the best experiences I had living in NYC was having the honor of being part of this collective with Toofly and Alice Mizrachi. And if I have my way I’ll be working with them, collaborating on projects etc. FOREVER!
That said, there’s a new Younity show coming up October 3rd. The flyers are shown below, but here are the deets:
Younity presents: “FRESHER! Spread Change Now”
Press Hour 7pm – 8pm
Opening for General Public 8pm – 10pm
7 Suffolk Street (betw. Stanton and Rivington Streets)
NY, NY
If you’re in the area, you should definitely come through. An entire year goes into the planning for these Younity shows. They’re ALWAYS amazing…great art, great music, a LOT of people and a ton of media coverage. Last year’s show was pretty much the event of the year. And this one will be even better.
So there’s your briefing. You feel briefed?
XO, dreX
[tags]younity, fresher, art show, art exhibit, artist collective, urban art, street art, toofly, drexel, alice mizrachi, am, lady pink, martha cooper, aiko, diana mcclure, erotica, erin yoshi, fever, flygirrl, jenevieve713, marthalicia, shiro[/tags]
Vegas Baby!
Well, I’m moving to Las Vegas this week! A new chapter, a new adventure. I can’t say no to a new adventure!
I’m going to try to keep my blog updated with pictures and haps during my drive across the country as well as once I get there, finding a place to live, all of it. If you happen to live in Las Vegas, or know Las Vegas, feel free to contact me with ideas and suggestions!
So far I THINK I want to live in the Arts District…which I think is where Freemont Street is and is considered part of “downtown”. I’ve seen some crazy looking apts and condos on the internets. And the prices are good. I also keep looking at the luxury high rises, which apparently can be bought OR rented OR leased with an option to buy. I also have the option to find a room on Craigslist, or get a whole place myself and find my OWN roommate. I like having roommates.
A lot of places in Las Vegas have pools, spas and gyms I’ve noticed. Condos mostly, but also some houses. Might have to do that, since it’s a million freaking degrees out there.
Anyway here are some pictures I saw today on Craigslist. Just starting the looking process, but I’m considering getting a 2 bedroom luxury high rise condo on the strip or downtown and splitting it with someone. It will be gorgeous and most likely cheaper than what I pay now…and bigger…and a crazy awesome view. Plus they all have every amenity on earth. Anyway, it’s something I’m definitely considering and I’ll keep you posted…
XO, dreXeL
Geisha Necklace on a Live Human
This is Robyn Pirylis, salesperson extraordinaire, wearing Missy and my collabo jewelry. Thanks for supporting the arts, Robyn. You’re the best. XO
you drink tea now
ok testing blogability from flickr again. do not be alarmed, this is only a test.
[tags]art, merch, tshirt, geisha, girls and guns, version3point1, flickr[/tags]
“you drink tea now” in the UK!
you drink tea now, originally uploaded by *version-3-point-1.
(Note: I’m trying the blog feature from flickr for the first time. Let’s see how it works…)
I just found out today that an AWESOME girl in the UK heard about my new tshirt from a mutual friend (also AWESOME) named Martin. She is the first person I’m aware of that’s outside the US who has one of these tshirts. So I’m really excited about it. Just thought I’d let you know. Oh and also, she is an ace photographer and seems to have flawless taste in like…everything.
Note #2: Didn’t work. Text and links transferred, but the image didn’t. I had to removed a couple paragraphs of code that flickr put into the post. At least until I figure it out and fix it so it works correctly.
Note #3 UPDATE: the Flickr blog feature actually DID work. The reason the image didn’t transfer is because of the permissions set by the owner of the photograph. Mystery solved. Yay! Now I have a WAY quicker way to blog. That makes me happy.
[tags]art, flickr, flickr.com/people/version-3-point-1, geisha, girls and guns, shotgun, payback, god save the queen, merch[/tags]
Orders for New Geisha Tee Start NOW!
TastyTees homepage
As of a few minutes ago orders for my new limited edition tshirt have begun! This is a limited run, and will only be available for purchase until June 15th. That’s less than TWO WEEKS. Then they’re gone forever.
Some of the proceeds go to StartingArtists.org, a local charity that provide free after school art classes and art business training to inspire youth to create arts-based enterprises. Which is awesome. And some proceeds go to me. 🙂
Click THIS LINK or click the image above. Support the arts, support children in the arts, support the artist. And thanks in advance!
XO, dreXeL
You Drink Tea Now
Finally finished the artwork for my upcoming limited edition tee. So excited!
you drink tea now
[tags]geisha, shotgun, payback, kimono, tshirt, digital art[/tags]
The New Stickers are Here!
Just wanted you to know that my new Geisha stickers have arrived, and are available for purchase and for…um…STICKING at drexel.etsy.com. I will be giving them out as gifts with purchases of tshirts, paintings, prints or jewelry, as well.
Also my next tshirt is coming this week so STAY TUNED!!
XO, dreXeL
[tags]geisha, art, sticker art, sticker, street art, japanophilia[/tags]
Back to Basics
After years of study and practice with Photoshop, Illustrator and Corel Painter, my life savings spent on iPods, iPhones, iMacs, Macbooks, digital cameras, study of html and css, countless hours reading technical blogs and trying to stay on top of every new development, I’ve come to realize something…
It’s comforting to return to simple things. And there are certain qualities about earlier technologies that don’t exist in later ones. There’s a pride in doing things the original way that they were intended to be done. So it’s no surprise that so many people still prefer filming with Super 8 instead of digital, or making cakes from scratch when the mixes in a box are so awesome. Or handcutting stencils despite how long it takes and how badly your fingers hurt afterwards.
I bought a cheap plastic polaroid camera last week for $10 from a woman on Craigslist. It’s the first time I’ve ever owned a Polaroid camera, despite always wanting one as a kid. When I posted the scanned results of my very first Polaroid photos on flickr yesterday, I was asked what I used to get the effects I got. I laughed because I used nothing. I used a piece of plastic and pushed a button. I even spent an hour that day looking for the place where you put the batteries for the flash to work on my new cheap piece of plastic camera. I asked people in the line at Duane Reade. I made phone calls to professional photographers. Finally I found out that the energy needed to power the flash is actually INSIDE THE FILM. I was amazed. It really made me rethink my viewpoints about technology, my condescension of everything that isn’t the newest, best, latest, coolest thing.
Perhaps what’s coolest is what came first.
No, I’m not going out and buying an abacus. I’m just sayin…
Hey That’s Me!
My friend Scott just emailed me with the subject line “you’re on TechCrunch”. So of course my heart immediately leapt straight out of my chest. I took a deep breath. I clicked the link…
Turns out it’s an article about new features and applications for the Ning platform, with a screenshot of a page from Brooklyn Art Project’s Ning website. Brooklyn Art Project (BAP) is a social network for artists, of which I am a member. The TechCrunch article has nothing to do with me particularly. But as luck would have it, the screenshot they used was probably a month old, from when BAP had my artwork as the header image for their website.
I am accidentally on TechCrunch today.
And that is better than cupcakes.
XO, dreX
Wearable Geisha
I have now collaborated with an awesome jewelry designer named Missy out of North Carolina. Her company is called Oh Sexy Girlfriend. She’s awesome and now my geisha can be worn! So that’s fun and it makes me happy. If you’re interested in purchasing any of her/our jewelry, just contact her/purchase via the above link.
Here are some pics of what she’s created with my images:
Need something slightly different than what you see on the page? Contact Missy via her myspace page. She might can sort that out for ya!
[tags]art, jewelry, collabos, collaboration, ohsexygirlfriend, geisha, cameo[/tags]