Today as I was riding along a quiet, wide neighborhood road, I rode past Perry Farrell. You remember, Jane’s Addiction and Prono for Pyros, amongst others, I’m sure. Lollapolooza, he made that up. You know who I’m talking about.

We'll make great pets

Anyway, so I stopped to chat with him.

“On my way to paint a mural on a garage door,” I said.

“No kidding.”

“Yeah. I mean no. Er—I’m not kidding. Ha ha.” I always get nervous when I meet rock festival inventors. That said, I don’t know what the fucking deal was with that awkward “Ha ha” thing.

“I’ve been riding for this guy for months,” I explained, “you know, trips out of town and delivering messages to his friends. And now he all of a sudden wants me to stay put and paint in his backyard.”

“Huh. Wait, you a freelancer?”

“True,” I said.

“No shit!” he said, taken aback. “Ah man, that’s great. So glad to finally meet one! Damn! I’ve heard about you guys for years. I’m uh, hey, I’m Perry,” he said, reaching his hand out, suddenly as awkward as I had been a minute before.

Is Perry Farrell nervous when he meets Freelance Bicyclists?

I took off my glove and shook, about to apologize for the clamminess but then remembering that this guy probably kills squirrels with his bare hands and eats them raw. He didn’t mind clamminess.

“Think I could go with you?” he asked me.

“Where? To do the mural?”

“Yeah, yeah. My bike’s in the garage!”

“Of course you can go with me, are you kidding me, I can’t paint for shit anyway. And the scope that a mural requires…” I trailed off. He stared at me. “Sorry,” I said. “I just always assumed that when talking about a mural, one should trail off.”

“It’s cool. One probably should,” Perry said. He was standing on the sidewalk.

“Well…” I said. He just stood there looking down at the ground. “Well,” I repeated. Nothing. “So…” He just stood there. “What the hell are you waiting for, Perry?”

“Oh sorry! You’re right. You’re right! I’m waiting for nothing. I was also trailing off there for a second, I guess.”

Perry Farrell ran back into his garage and got his bike out. He also put on a bike helmet that had Soundgarden! stenciled onto the side. I felt blinded by rage-filled jealousy. Soundgarden probably fucking gave him that helmet. It looked like he had been wearing it for twenty years. They probably all ate squirrel out of it in like 1991.

“Candace!” he called out to the house. “Candy, babe—I’m going with this guy to paint a mural. He’s a freelance bicyclist.”

“Shut up, no way!” a voice said from inside. I saw the front blinds open a bit and a small set of eyes looking out at me. “Get a picture for me!” she called out excitedly. I had gotten used to this sort of adoration, because people everywhere for some reason just love freelance bicyclists, but it was still funny coming from Perry Farrell and his wife.

“Of course I’ll get a picture with him,” he said. He looked over to me. “That cool?” he whispered. I nodded yes.

We rode over to the house, which was only a few blocks away. He whistled and asked me about riding and I told him that he played music and he agreed and I told him that riding wasn’t as fun as touring and he told me I had it all wrong and we laughed and laughed and then arrived at the house.

The client almost lost it when he saw who I brought with me. The client was actually wearing a Porno for Pyros t-shirt that day—I know, right? What are the fucking chances?—and luckily I caught him and told him to change before he ran out to meet Perry.

Two strokes in on the mural, the client smartly barred me from painting another inch, if Perry was cool with that, cool with doing the rest of it, because Perry was obviously a great painter and understood the scope of a mural.

“Hell yeah, bro,” said Perry, already starting in on a blue rat with unlocked jaw about to consume what looked a lot like downtown Chicago. The rat’s tail stretched down from the garage door and onto the concrete and halfway to the house.

When we were done, the client paid me a grand for bringing Perry to do his mural. I offered half to Perry on the ride home, and the asshole took it! I meant it as a gesture. Unbelievable. He’s all, “Cool, I’ll get something for Candy.” Still, it was fun. It was worth it.

On his front porch we set up his camera on timer and took a shot of the two of us. We looked at the picture afterward. I did this crazy face like I was auditioning for Kiss, while Perry was kneeling next to me, smiling.

You must be Candy

Join us for the opening reception of Harvest on Saturday, November 21st from 10am-11am at Boundary Bay Brewery.  Find a great gift for the locavore or art lover in your life-perfect for the holidays. This is an art show you can feel good about…a local artist, celebrating the local agriculture of our region, showcased in your local brewery: Boundary Bay!  Complimentary coffee and baked goods, too!

Erica Epperson’s show, Harvest, celebrates the relationship between locavores and the land that feeds them.  She works in both acyrlics and oils to capture the beauty of everyday life as well as to honor the connection between people and the sustenance that the earth provides for them.  Epperson relies heavily on photographs she takes of food she has grown and eaten herself.  From running a sign-making business to mural painting to opening a tattoo studio, Erica Epperson is a self-taught artist who has had art as a consistent theme in her life. Her painting style shows definite influences from both art deco painters and WPA murals.  She now finds rich inspiration from Bellingham, which she currently calls home.
Harvest (works by local artist Erica Epperson)
Opening Reception
Saturday, November 21st  10am-11am
Boundary Bay Brewery
1107 Railroad Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

View oil and acrylic works by local artist Erica Epperson at Boundary Bay Brewery from November 15th through January 1st.

´Bibliothèque de la Cité´, each Photography 75×50 cm, Lyon, France, 2009. The library, la Bibliothèque de la Cité is an awesome painted building, trompe l’oeil, see more at cite-creation.com .

FRESH is a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) – Los Angeles & Orange County Chapters

See FRESH at the 19th Annual ASID Design Trade Show.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Bren Events Center – UCI Campus, Koll Room
901 Mesa Road, Irvine, CA 92697
Register: www.asidocc.org

We are pleased to announce the initiation of a new project at TYO: “Triple Exposure” will aim to develop identity and awareness through photographic expression and public art. Art and photography classes will be taught to children ages 7 to 16 from our target population.

Over the course of the next two years, the children will work with international and local staff and volunteers on mural painting and photography activities around TYO and Nablus. Throughout the project we aim to involve international and local artists, photographers, and journalists as trainers and mentors for the children.

The progress of classes, mural painting, and photo projects will be documented on a “Triple Exposure” blog. We will announce the launch of this blog in the coming weeks: stay posted for the announcement!

-Doris and Kelsey, former Summer Interns and current Project Coordinators

The making of this mural is chronicled on Three Rivers artist Nadi Spencer’s blog where she writes,
“The students of La Sierra High School, in Porterville, CA., painted this mural last year with my assistance. I hope they had as much fun as I did. If you want to see how it was done, follow this blog for a few days. I’ll walk you through it…I met with the art students in the classroom. All students in the school would have an opportunity to paint, but we needed to meet with a core group to design the mural. They were surprisingly quiet and I had some difficulty getting them to open up. I spread out on a table an array of photos and clippings to give them ideas. They liked the idea of masks, and since Shirley and I both brought our cameras, we jumped right in and had them pose for masks. They wanted to include teachers and their principal, Jan Mekeel, so we photographed them as well.”

__________________________________

Nadi was assisted by another Three Rivers artist, Shirley Keller, whose husband, Bruce, teaches at this high school.
Follow Nadi Spencer on twitter @Nadi_art and Shirley Keller @Keller_art

Mural Painting was held on 24th, 25th and 26th June. We conducted it at Whispering Hearts FSC at the Love room. Before the three scheduled dates, a group of us went over to prepare the room for the big mission ahead (: Basically, we cleared the room of books and litter and traced out our designs on the wall with chalk.

On the three days, groups of us went down for about 7 hours each time on average. We had to line the floors with newspaper and paint the different drawings. Some of them required the usage of masking tape as we had to be careful not to draw outside the edges of the designs. A few talented ones among us also shaded some pictures to make them prettier and more presentable.

It was a joy helping to make the room more conducive for the children to have lessons there. We all did our best, and indeed made the love room a room full of love. <3

Citrus Square Sarasota resembles typical French downtown with its recently renovated condos situated above eateries and specialty shops. The French inspired neighborhood that features lampposts, trees and sidewalks, is helping to promote urban living in the area. Residents and visitors are excited to see something other than the typical Mediterranean style or concrete block structures being built. The French charm of Citrus Square is sure to invite interest from onlookers and become a thriving community.

Don’t fall behind the trends and get Brighter World Painting to update or improve your home by painting your exterior and interior walls. They are experienced in creating the current styles like faux-European. Matthew Lemmons, a Ringling Art School Alumni, is Brighter World’s custom muralist who is also an expert in faux finishing.

Contact 941-773-6988  for more information.

Professional painters painting homes in Bradenton, Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, Parrish, Palmetto, Lido Key and beyond.

Your Manatee and Sarasota County preferred paint contractors! Call us for a FREE QUOTE!

Painting with the world in mind – YOUR SARASOTA GREEN CONNECTION APPROVED PAINTERS.

Jessica Benoit
www.BrighterWorldPainting.com

The deterioration of air quality  in the country most especially in Metro Manila has adverse impacts on public health.

An epidemiological study conducted  by the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Public Health, showed that the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is 32.5 percent among jeepney drivers, 16.4 percent among air conditioned by drivers, and 13.8 percent among commuters.  The study further stated that up to 55 percent of the total burden of bronchitis was found to be attributable to pollution in urban and rural areas of the country.

The Blue Ribbon Club

During the past century, ribbons have been worn by people during gatherings to show or get support for a good cause.  Red ribbons symbolize support for Persons with Aids.  Purple ribbons symbolize support for Women with Breast Cancer.  The Partnership for Clean Air and Hangin.org last year started the wearing of the sky blue ribbon to symbolize support for the Save the Air movement.

Students can organize a Blue Ribbon Club in their church community or school.  A Blue Ribbon Club’s mission is to make people know more about air quality and how to lessen air pollution.  Students can make cleaning the air fun with activities such as group talks, poster-making contests, mural painting, kite-flying, passing information sheets about air quality, or bicycle marathons around the neighborhood.  The Blue Ribbon Club can be contacted at:

Partnership for Clean Air Secretariat

Penthouse A, JMT Corporate Condominium

27 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center 1600 Pasig City

e-mail:  info@hangin.org

write “Blue Ribbon Club” in the subject line

In my many years of painting murals in children’s rooms and businesses, my favorite challenge is to be in balance with my personal artistic self and my savvy business-woman self in order to meet my client’s needs.  When I paint a mural for a client, I am surrendering my own personal agenda or ‘artist ego’ for the purpose of creating FOR that client and not ‘for me’.  It’s a delightful and sometimes delicate line to walk.  I always know that my artistic self is coming through every drop of paint I apply to the wall, and my greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that I have satisfied my client and given them a result that is (hopefully) beyond their expectations. If my client is thrilled with their mural, I can be 100% sure that I have gotten out of my own way and focused on manifesting my client’s vision, and not mine.

I use the spiritual principal of serving in my mural business.  Being of service opens the door to bigger possibilities and greater results.  I enjoy incorporating spiritual principals into my business, and the creative process in general always offers rich territory for this experience.

As a creativity coach, I give workshops and classes to creative people who want to be more successful with their business skills. I teach ‘Five Secrets a Fully Expressed Artist Must Know’.  I am including ‘a key to having a successful mural project’ along with each of the five secrets. Your mural might be in a new baby’s room, or the lobby of an office, or a restaurant.  Every wall is a blank canvas waiting for a beautiful expression.

“The 5 Secrets a Fully Expressed Artist Must Know”

1. Create all the time. Always be creating. Produce something each week.

If you are planning a mural, prior to meeting with the artist spend some time collecting images that you like from magazines, children’s books, greeting cards, etc.  Do this for a few weeks before you initiate the project.

2. Follow your heart – it knows what to do.

Many of my mural clients have ’sold out to a trend’ in choosing the subject for their children’s mural.  Your child will likely grow out of a popular character or movie theme VERY SOON.  Check in with your ‘gut feeling’ or your heart as you consider different themes for your mural.

3. Surrender to your process. Show up as an artist, and the results will follow.

This one works best for surrendering to the feelings you have about wanting a mural in the first place. Allow your vision for what the mural will bring to your environment to open your heart.

4. Visualize your desired outcome, FEEL into it. The perfect action is always inspired.

Give yourself permission to manifest the mural of your dreams. Don’t hold back and allow the artist to show you their best creative ideas.  Trust your feelings about the mural project as you go along.

5. Notice how the world is changing all around you. Creativity is a powerful force. Nurture and express yours above all else.

Let your mural be an inspiration for your own creativity. You will be interacting with it on a daily basis, so why not give it some power to inspire you every time you look at it.

Imagine an inspiring partnership between your own ‘inner artist’ and the finished result of your mural.  My wish for you is that your life expands as you invite more creativity into your experiences.

Jenifer Novak Landers is a muralist and certified professional creativity coach.  She owns a decorative painting studio, is a published children’s book illustrator, and provides coaching programs that support her clients to play a bigger game. Visit her websites:

www.novakartstudio.net

www.fullyexpressedcoaching.com

www.contemplatingdivorcecoachingclub.com

Three Rivers artist Nadi Spencer starts a new mural with the help of local kids.

You can watch it unfold on the outside wall of Three Rivers Drugs on HWY 198.

Got busy the other day while it was raining hard and we couldn’t play outside. This table is made out of wood….we simply cut out our Ral Logo on all sides ,put lights in it ,nailed it together ,painted it with wood finish and white paint and cut some glass….took like 3 days…..

The other day we had crazy Aislap from Chile and today we have Banos and others in Bucarest…..nice pic indeed!

Love this, crazy idea…word.Now imagine a piece on the wall and on the car…sick!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/8030766.stm

Globe trotters Ayslap aka 2×1 from Santiago de Chile doing their thing……

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This lamp is a must have for any boring desk! Made from a vintage Krylon can in Portland, Oregon by artist Jake Rankin. The arm clips onto any tabletop or bookshelf surface and swivels for your ultimate viewing experience. The on/off switch is the paint nozzle!

A canvas How and Nosm did a while back for Joe Budden and Busta Rhymes…..you can only see it a little bit in the background but hey look at all the s%&t that is going on in front of it!
Bg183 found the canvas for sale later somewhere in the Lower East Side…….funny