A three day weekend with Killlsonic

Secondhand Haunts

This is by far one of my favorite secondhand haunts.

When I was little, I remember having a microscope

and looking at dirt, and hair, and tiny bugs through the lens. 

This one is not in working order, but it's much more

eclectic and makes for a pretty dandy dust collector.

I found the microscope at the Council Thrift shop for $5.00!!!

and the plastic zoo animals are from the $1.00 section at Target.

Secondhand Haunts

Remember when those chocolate/gift wrapping companies 

would come to your elementary school 

and urge you to sell their product in exchange for 

your choice of any prize in their 

catalogue of candy, toys and gadgets?

anyway, I always wanted the gum ball machine.

It was obtainable, practical, and who doesn't like rainbow colored sugar.

I can't remember if I ever got one, but I have a really cool one now!

I found this at Goodwill for $3.99

p.s. I just got back from watching James Blake.

soooooo amazing.

If you haven't checked him out,

do it. now.

you won't regret it :)

I'll help you, 

you're welcome.

September Giveaway!!!

The winner of this giveaway will win a signed print of this painting.

to enter, leave your answer to this question in a comment below.

make sure to leave your name or email address.

What is your favorite memory of summer?

September WIP

Oops, I managed to start painting over

My first layer of color before taking a proper picture of it.

Sorry for the quality and crookedness of this image.... :/

Secondhand Haunts

I found this framed wood block? at Rummage Rat for $3.00
A few new thrift shops have opened up near
where I live. I'm so excited!

Void of color

work in progress shot of September

Birthday presents

I'm not really one to go out 

and buy someone a birthday present.

Every once and a while I will, 

but the majority of gifts I give are handmade.

And usually it's a drawing or a painting.

Tomorrow, I'm attending a birthday brunch

and this is what I made for the lady of the hour.

I wanted to do something soft and simple.

I'm so so so happy with the result,

and I kind of want to keep it for myself.

but I won't.

Sketches of September

Just some progress sketches for my September painting.

Sketches of NHM

While we were at the Natural History Museum in Manhattan,

I did some sketching. I've sketched at the zoo before,

but never at a museum, and I really enjoyed it!

The animals are frozen in place and dramatically lit.

I wanted to keep moving, so I only sketched for ten minutes at most.

I can't wait to go to the Natural history Museum in Los Angeles

and take my time and maybe my watercolors...

Harmony in Harlem

 José took some amazing photographs, and even better

video (which I hope to show you soon). These are a few of my 

favorite pictures from our trip to New York.

note: there are no pictures of killsonic because Jose never took the 

camera when we played. These are all from when

it was just the two of us.

 José and I on the plane

 Me(left) Luis (center) and Frank (right)

waiting for a train at 3am on 

a 115 degree subway platform.

José. Self portrait number one.

 The L train. This is how I walked around a majority of the trip.

Brooklyn. Down the street from where we stayed the first two nights.

 There's just something about taxidermed animals.

 they make great subjects for sketching.

 and cool compositions for photographs.

 see? there's just something magical about them. 

I love the silhouettes of the two kids in the center.

 I need one of these headdresses.

 It was tough to draw in a tiny sketchbook while standing.

I was relived to find a place to sit for a bit.

 José. Self-portrait number two.

 The aztec/mayan art was my favorite.

the intricate design, the animals, 

the gold, and all wrapped

into one!

 The Chinese wedding carriage, took my breath away.

I kind of wish he was real...

 José. Self-portrait number three.

 storm chasing.

 The military was crawling all over Manhattan. 

 Times Square. Saturday night. 8:30 pm. not a soul in sight.

 Irene's coming!!!

The entire city was shut down. Windows were taped up,

but the lights still shone bright :)

 The day after Irene hit. Driving into New Jersey with my cousins.

 The exoskeleton of the weirdest bug i've ever seen.

It kind of looked like a frog. with claws?

 The winds of Bedminster. 

 Repeat caption above.

 Harlem.

Taco mix in Harlem.

 There were several artists painting throughout the Metropolitan Museum 

of art. I just love everything about this photograph.

 The paintings were HUGE!!!

 I could have looked at this Rembrant painting for hours.

The religious paintings were pretty gruesome.

The hair of the dog

On Sunday, Dulce de Leche played an intimate gig

at the Thirsty Crow in Silverlake.

Every sunday our fellow Killsonic Brother PrincessFrank

hosts a free event called "Pero del Perro".

It's free and he's pretty awesome. He opens and closes armed with

his bass drum, a tamborine, and his Eastwood electric guitar. 

all the images (except the last one) were captured by Taryn Nicole Piana

and there's us.

It was quite fun, and we hope to play again soon :)

plus, their signature drink has magic in it!!!

and here's a self portrait...