Gallery Room @ Better Than Jam

Better than Jam Pop-Up Shop on Governor's Island consisted of two apartments. One was designated for kids stuff and clothing, the other was for t-shirts, jewelry, and two rooms serving as gallery space for art. Here are some photos of my oil painting hanging on the wall of one of the rooms.

Better Than Jam: Pop-Up Shop

This summer, I was honored to be selected as one of the talented Etsy crafters to be featured in the Better than Jam Pop-Up shop on governor's Island. The traffic was a bit on the slow side, mainly due to our location. But it was a learning experience and I made a few new friends. Plus, I got some really photos of my products (hello, free photoshoot).

HairBows Barrettes with art prints enclosed in recycled bottlecaps.

Adjustable charm bracelets with my signature art.

Art Lockets and small pendants with my original art prints.

Small art pendants in ornate bronze settings.

My black mushroom giclee print framed.

New Work:in Progress

A new painting is slowly coming to life. It's taking a while to finish it because I keep changing my mind about the color scheme ( must have changed it about 5 times already).
Anyway, it's a giant shroom growing in the midst of Venus flytraps.
I haven't picked out a name for this piece yet. Any suggestions?

Dawn: Original Oil Painting

A light, refreshing piece of a girl lying in the dessert field at dawn, with her hair softly flowing on the ground. I like how this piece is almost monotone, mainly in the yellow/green family pallette. I feel it has a very serene mood and whenever I look at it I feel calm and at ease.

Daydream

6x10

Oil paints on canvas, graphite

close up details

Giclee Canvas: Mushrooms

Introducing Giclee Prints of my mushroom trio, printed on stretched canvas. I am very impressed with the quality.

I have done extensive research to find a good, reliable printing company. I must have spent months researching and contacting different printers. Many were simply unreliable, unavailable,  and I felt they didn't care. I'm not going to name names as this is not a venting post.

Anyway, I am very satisfied with these canvas. The Canvas arrived a week after I ordered and were sealed with maximum protection (took me a while to unpack it). They even attached hooks on the back for hanging and little velvet dots to keep the painting form bumping into the wall, so it doesn't damage the painting or the wall.

On sale at byMarta:

New Work: Progress

Another piece I started on. This time, I'm planning on combining acrylic and oil paints in one painting. More progress photos to come, so check back soon.

Eve

I've noticed that I'm really drawn to green tones when painting, actually all earth tones in general. not sure why that is yet. But that brings me to this very green painting "Eve". I love the rich moss green colors. I was debating whether or not to add an apple but decided not to. I like it just as it is, a portrait of the first natural beauty, Eve. Beauty was her downfall, for she couldn't resist the temptation of a perfect apple.

"Eve"

Oil and Graphite on Canvas

8x10in

Peace: oil painting

A while back I sketched out an image of a tree branch curved to look like a peace sign. Originally I thought it would look cool in watercolor and printed on a shirt or something. But then I really wanted to paint it and fit a little cute birdie inside the peace sign. I'm really happy wiht the result. I like the deep contrast of the dark wood against the bright blue background and the subtlety of the cherry blossoms.

"Peace"

Oil and Ink on Canvas

12x12

The subtle cherry blossoms filling in the gaps of the branches, completing the peace sign. Cherry Blossoms have been identified with many symbolisms, among which is the theme of moratality. The delicate flowers that only bloom for a short time then die conveys the fragile circle of life that many take for granted. I think they fit perfectly with the theme of Peace. As many take life for granted, holding on to grudges and filling their hearts with grief and hate, cherry blossoms serve as a reminder to instead take the limited time we have to enjoy the simple things and learn to be at peace.

Since ancient times, birds have been symbols of freedom and a link between the heaven and earth. Inspiration that soars the sky without limits.

Well, I hope you like it. Comments are greatly appreciated.

Wild Shrooms

 

My series of mushroom creatures started with these three little guys I did for the Charming Gallery in NYC. They were on display last year. Since then, my love for all things shrooms grew and now I have about a dozen shroom painting I'm trying to finish.I don't remember exactly how the idea came about. It might have been after attending the Tim Burton exhibit at the MoMA( which was mind blowing by the way) and remembering the old Alice in Wonderland cartoon with the talking flowers in the garden.

"Wild Thing"

Oil and Graphite on Canvas

6x6 in

"Autumn Dawn"

Oil and Graphite on Canvas

6x6 in

"Foliage"

Oil and Graphite on Canvas

6x6 in

Summer Melancholy

"Summer Melancholy"

Oil, Graphite, Pastel

Wood panel

One of my first paintings on a wood panel. I was experimenting with color washes on wood. And I must admit, painting on wood surface is a luxury. The paints glide on so much smoother. The end result is soft, subtle and dreamy.

So apparently, this is almost a self portrait (although I didn't meant for it to be that). A lot of my friends have commented that it looks like me, not sure if I agree. Then again, I suppose many artist paint themselves into their work. Take Leonardo de Vinci's "Mona Lisa" that has been speculated to be his own self portrait by some historians.