Stacey Rozich, Kobe Bryant's Chiseled Cheekbones & How I Became an Insta-Whore

Quick Update:

• Found a place in Orange County that sells gouache paints finally. Aaron Bros on Newport Blvd. Can't wait to test those babies out. I can only hope to achieve an end product as epic as Stacey Rozich, whose work inspired me to try this medium out in the first place (see above). (Finders fee to Chris Steblay.) She is am-ahhhhzing. (Any "Happy Endings" fans out there? I want Penny to be my friend so bad.)

• I've decided that my next painting will be a portrait of the NBA's leading scorer, and forever reigning MVP in my heart, Kobe Bryant! Is he not the most handsome man in the NBA, not to mention one of the greatest to play the game eva'. But that last part is a given. Everyone knows he's got game, but how many take note of his perfectly chiseled cheek bones? Not enough, I tell you. As a tried and true Lakers fan, I plan to pay homage to both his beauty and his braun. It will be a lovely addition to my growing portrait wall. 

• Somehow I managed to accumulate 735 followers on instagram (shameless plug: @amyhoodlum) merely by posting pictures of my outfits. And now I am a monster. A monster who's only goal is to make it to the popular page. Seriously, it's an addiction! I'm not the only one. I have many a friend yearning for the honor (it ain't gonna happen Zach Hendrix). Someone call Dr. Phil. I got a record 102 likes on my pic today and yet STILL did not make it! What does a girl have to do? Anywho, here are some of my ensembles from the past few days. I'll get you Popular Page. *Sinister Laugh* 

Skirt: F21, Top: Old Navy, Hat: UO

Pants: Mossimo, Top: H&M, Leopard Heels: Steve Madden, Bracelet: H&M, Watch: Nixon, Bag: Moda Viajando.

- Amy

Listening to: "That Is What Makes Us Girls" by Lana Del Rey

Painting Sabatoge, DIY Earrings, & Special Agent Dale Cooper

 

[ Fig. 1: Foreground: Yours truly in my snazzy new DIY earrings (plus new sweater via Old Navy - I know, who'd of thunk?). Background: The painting with the dreaded halo as it stands now. ]

I've been on a Netflix spree of recent. I got tired of listening to music while I was painting so I started watching television shows. I re-watched all of "Twin Peaks" [see Fig. 2], which if you haven't seen your life is not complete. It's suspenseful, funny, and just plain weird. Well, it's David Lynch. So there you go. Next I'm conquering "Damages." Which looks really gnarly. Glenn Close is terrifying just to look at.

 

[ Fig. 2: Agent Dale Cooper (left) with Sheriff Harry Truman (right) of Twin Peaks. I have an unexplainable crush on Agent Coop. You will too, be you man or woman. Don't believe me? It's on Netflix Instant Watch. Just do it. ]

My painting is SO close to being done. A slight wrench was thrown into the machine when I ruined the halo [See Fig. 1]. I made it too small. I couldn't find anything bigger than the saucepan lid in my kitchen to use as a circular guide, and I thought it would be big enough, but alas it was not. I'll figure it out. I just had to walk away from it and cool my jets before I did something compulsive that I would later regret. 

 [ Fig. 3: Dangly, feather earrings. ]

So instead of painting last night, I got crafty and made some earrings. I used to have these great black feather earrings, but I left them somewhere. I wish I could remember where that somewhere was. So I decided to make some new ones. I bought feathers, silver chain, and ear hooks, and busted out my pliars and clippers. It only took about 30 minutes - if that. And voila - long, daingly, fun earrings [See Fig. 1 & 3]. I need my own show on HGTV.

- Amy

Listening to: Middle Brother's "Blue Eyes"

Awesome Tattoos, Hoarders, & The Ramblings of A Tired, Buzzed, White Girl

I found this photo on Pintrest today. Yes, I am a proud new member of Pintrest.com. I actually discovered it because people were pinning my Constellation Tattoo Posters on their pintrest boards. Pretty cool, eh? It's a great way to store ideas and inspiration! My "Inspiration Folder" on my mac is so unorganized and cluttered. It's worse than an episode of Hoarders in there. Pintrest is like hiring an organizing specialist... or one of those people who redoes your closet.

Crap. I just broke a nail trying to open my giant Redvines container. #WhiteGirlProblems
I digress.

Anyways... Pintrest is awesome. And I found this amazing photo of a sleeve. I cannot for the life of me find the tattoo artist. One of the downfalls of sites like tumblr and pintrest is that crediting authors/artists rarely happens correctly. I google searched my heart out to try and find the tattoo artist so that I could credit his fine work. But, alas, to no avail.

Oh wow. Demi Lovato just came up on my iTunes shuffle.
#Shame #WhenGoodPeopleListenToBadMusic #ItsTooDamnCatchy #WhiteGirlProblems
I digress yet again.
[Note to self: Never blog when groggy and at the bottom of your glass of vodka-and-mango/pineapple-juice.]

To wrap up this horribly dishevelled and unorganized blog (another metaphor for my inspiration folder? Bringin' it full circle, baby), this tattoo is amazing and it makes me want to get more, against my better judgment. I really think I will try and pick up tattooing. I think I might make a good tattoo artist.

- Amy
Listening to: Le Blorr's "Boy You Need Jesus" (To redeem me from the Demi Lovato reference.)

I Wish I Had A River

It's been a rough past couple days. Maybe the roughest. 


Me and my friends always joke around about how applicable the movie You've Got Mail is to everyday life and how quotable. 

"Do you know that Joni Mitchell song? "I wish I had a river I could skate away on?" It's such a sad song, and not really about Christmas at all, but I was thinking about it tonight.." 

Yet again You've Got Mail imitates life as I sit here and listen to "River." Maybe I'm not Meg Ryan and maybe the lyrics to this song don't fully apply or make sense to me, but it's a beautifully sad song and sometimes I do wish I had a river I could skate away on. Sometimes you just feel helpless. But life isn't easy, and at least I know I can count on God for a merciful hand and to help give me some clarity when the going gets tough. Here's the rest of my playlist for the night. More thinking, writing, praying, hoping...


- Amy

Jimmy Fallon as Bob Dylan, Charles In Charge, & Some Laughter Inducing Videos

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: 

Jimmy Fallon as Bob Dylan singing the Charles In Charge theme song. 

How is he so good at these? I'll still never forget him impersonating Dave Matthews on one of the Celebrity Jeopardy skits. Hilarious. I think I might be the only person on this planet who doesn't like DMB. But I do like Jimmy Fallon. If you want another good laugh after this video, just watch this Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell in the Jeffrey's Clothing skit from SNL. 


Laugh on, my good friends.
- Amy
Listening to: "Evening Kitchen" by Band of Horses

My Could-Have-Been Life As A Groupie, Guest Blogging, and Photoshop Hilarity

Today I suggest you head over to my lovely friend Blythe Hill's blog for her "Five Things Friday" post featuring moi! That's right - yours truely is a guest blogger. Moving up in the bloggin' world, baby. (Cue The Jefferesons theme song.) It involves me fraternizing (very intimately sometimes) with some very legendary rock stars. My theme was "I Like That Old Time Rock N' Roll: 5 Classic Rock Bands/Musicians I Wish I Got To Be A Groupie For." The photo above is a taste of what you'll get. Photoshop is so much fun.

- Amy
Listening to: Led Zeppelin's "Since I Been Lovin' You" (A band who didn't make the list, only for the mere fact that I couldn't find any pictures I could easily photoshop myself into. Not a good excuse. I'd loved to have been Jimmy Page's lady friend!)

My Grandmother's Guide To Getting The Fellas, Bauhaus Dopplegangers, & What I've Been Wearing

I saw a terrible preview for the movie Yogi Bear recently. All I took away from it was that Tom Cavanagh looks like the lead singer of Bauhaus. Am I right or am I right?

Press week is here again. Guhhhhhhh. Following are some shots from my friend/co-worker Blythe and I's many back alley photo shoots here at work. I love seeing what other people are wearing, so here's what I've been wearing. My granny would be proud. She firmly believes in dressing up. It's a part of her rules to nabbing the fellas which are as follows:

GRANDMA JOST'S GUIDE TO GETTING THE FELLAS

1. You must be able to cook.

2. You must be able to make a quilt.

3. You must wear heels, dresses and lipstick. Skirts are also acceptable. Pants are rarely acceptable. Heels and lipstick are non-negotiable.

Number 3 is the best, because when I say that heels and lipstick are non-negotiable to her, I mean it. This woman wears wedges while gardening! They're only 1 1/2 inchs max, mind you, but still! It is for this reason that she is 67 and has three boyfriends. Now that I think about it, she's been telling us she's 67 for about 7 years. Either way, she only looks 64. One of her gentlemen suitors is only 55! When she tells us about them she has them neatly compartmentalized by purpose: Bob can dance (she goes dancing every Friday night), but Jesse has money, and John helps her around the farm (she owns a farm and a big beautiful farm house in Bowling Green, KY). 

I'd like to take a moment to clarify that my grandma is by no means "loose." All the fellas are aware of her wish not to settle down this late in life, and I'm pretty sure it makes them even more wild about her. It's that whole "I can't have it so I want it more" thing. No one plays hard to get like this woman. One of the gentlemen bought her tickets to the Kentucky Derby and a hotel suite to stay in. When she was telling my sister and I about it she said, "girls, he didn't even see the inside of the room."And it's all thanks to her 3 rules. Especially rule 3. Which brings me to my recent outfits. I'll probably never reach the level of foxiness of my grandmother because I don't have the discipline, but I try to abide by at least one of the three rules at all times. "Che-Ch-Che-Ch-Check It Out."

- Amy

Listening to: Sam Cooke's "Nothin' Can Change This Love"

[ I love this hat. It's definitely Kentucky Derby worthy. ]

[ Oops... no heels. But they're silver gladiators. That's gotta count for something. ]

[ Grandmother would not approve of this outfit at all. But hey - sometimes rules are for breakin'. ]

OC Gazette Logos, Bringing Back The Monocle, & Crushing On Bill The Butcher

[Fig. 1: Mr. G. He's wearing an monocle - see it? Doesn't he look so dapper and clever? Be cautious of him however - he's a man of mischief and mayhem. ]

Here is some branding I created for the magazine I work for, The OC Gazette. Fig. 2 is our masthead and Fig. 1 is our little mascot, Mr. G (for Gazette). I had help creating Mr. G. (Shout out to my former co-workers Jen Hood and Sara Wilkins!) Our plan in creating him was to make stickers and give them out at events so people could stick him all over Orange County. Then people could take pics of where they find Mr. G chilling around OC. Kind of like our own personal Where's Waldo. One co-worker intelligently pointed out that this is sort of akin to vandalism, but I figured as long as we gave them to others, we couldn't be blamed for how Mr. G was used after he left our hands. It should be noted that my co-worker is one of the smartest broads around and is always prepared because she thinks before she acts, unlike me who acts and then thinks. Thus, we listened to the voice of reason and held off on our brilliant scheme to deliberate further.

[Fig. 2: The OC Gazette logo I created. ]

In our minds Mr. G was a man of mischief. He lures you in with his gentlemanly charms and perfectly waxed mustachio, but behind that monocle are eyes glimmering with devilment, and beneath that cocked hat is a mind spinning with schemes and shenanigans. Someone should try to bring the monocle back. The Teddy Roosevelt style is already back with a fury, why not bring the monocle too? I read this hilarious blog post on GQ Magazine that took a look back at the mens' styles of 2009. The author, Mike Albo said, and I quote:

"The turn of the century called... and it wants its waistcoat, specs, and mustache back. Between gin-fizz-slinging barmen in suspenders and Brooklyn dudes in bowler hats, you couldn't swing a walking stick in '09 without hitting a Teddy Roosevelt look-alike." 

Hilarious.

 Mr. G also sort of resembles one of my many inordinate crushes, Bill the Butcher [see Fig. 3]. (I have a problem with being attracted to very strange men whom a woman of only 24 years should not find tempting; another key example being Adrien Brody and that big schnoz of his.)

[ Fig. 3: Daniel Day Lewis as Bill The Butcher. ]

- Amy

Listening to: The Pogues' "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six"

Smoking Stogies, Adventures With Caroline and Jen, & Crazy Jordanians

[ Fig. 1: My fancy photoshop blending/layering skills. ]

Every Tuesday I hang out with my friend Caroline and my sister Yenny. Mayhem inevitably ensues. And by mayhem I mean happy hour assaults, chick-flick-a-thons, mall-trolling - and this week - smoking stogies at our neighborhood gazebo (a.k.a our secret hideout which is now not so secret). Batman and Robin have the Bat Cave, The Babysitters Club had Maryanne's bedroom, Bart Simpson and Milhouse Van Houten have the tree house, and we have the gazebo. The gazebo has a great view of the man made lake. If you blur your eyes it's almost like you're in Venice. I said almost. The only problem is it's flanked by grass riddled with duck poop. Minor setback. 

After a successful trip to the Cheesecake Factory (where we caught the tail end of the Lakers win over the Timberwolves), we hit up H&M (oh how I love that store) and then it was off to our secret lair. I had recently come into possession of some cheap stogies that had to be smoked. How? The strange Jordanian I work with. This guy is such an interesting specimen, and a little weird. A couple of years ago he got in a car accident that put him in a coma. He woke up a year later to find that the wife he had been matched up with by his parents back in Jordan left him while he was in the coma. Gnarly, right!? Despite having been put in a coma from reckless driving the guy still drives "like a bat outta' hell" (cue Meatloaf). He also insists on giving my sister and I presents everyday, most of which are either his ex-wife's old possessions (awkward) or items from his brothers Kwik-E Mart (talk about a stereotype filler, eh?). This is where the stogies came in. He gave me a pack the other day. This was the first gift that I readily accepted. Below are some fun and sort of trippy shots of us getting our Clint-Eastwood-via-The-Good-The-Bad-The-Ugly on [see Fig. 2].

[ Fig. 2: Clint Eastwood as The Man With No Name. ]

Most of the photo creds go to my sis. Except the ones she's in. Obviously. I got creative after being inspired by Tamara Lichtenstein's photos and had some photoshop fun with my photo. It turned out pretty rad if I do say so. [See Fig. 1.]

[ Jennifer Hood ]

[ My lovely friend, Caroline Landon. ]

[ Me and Care-Bear. ]

[ And again. ]

[ Caroline giving that come hither stare. ]

[ Taking  a good toke to try and get an artsy smoke photo. ]

[ It only sort of worked. ]

[ Caroline Landon ]

[ Caroline, Yenny and ghost. ]

[ Jen hilariously pointed out to me that this looks like the cover to that horrible movie with Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock. See Figure 3.]

[ Figure 3: Forces of Nature Cover. ]

Cheers,

Amy

Listening to: New York Dolls' "Personality Crisis"

You Are What You Wear, The Usual Suspects, & Why I Have A Crush On Benicio Del Toro

via Style And The City

I really like this girl's coat... and bag... and general overall look. I mean, how many people do you know that can pull of a yellow furry/feather coat? Exactly. If I could afford her coat (which no doubt I can't) I would rock it. Until then, I'm sticking with my 20 dolla' Forever 21 faux fur vest. I realize this is my art blog, but it is ALSO a blog chronicling my life and thoughts. Art is a reflection of the artist. So I always like to know about the artist as a person behind the canvas. There is nothing more annoying than an artist with an about me page that has one sentence. I'm kind of being hypocritical here because my about me page is extremely vague as well, but I seek to remedy that in posts like these that fill you in on the fashion, design, music, film, thoughts, etc. that mold and shape me into who I am. 

Maybe it's vain - I don't think it is, but some would say it is - but I think how you dress says a lot about you. Not in a judgemental way, but it is how you are choosing to portray yourself to the world. Whether you're taking a lot of care or not about what you wear or not, you're portraying something about how much you do or don't care. I like clothes and fashion. I think it's another way of being artistic everyday without picking up a paint brush. So here is what I wore yesterday. I wonder what it says about me to the world? I like all the psychology stuff.

Dress: (Well actually shirt- I have a problem with making over sized shirts into dresses. My sister yells at me all the time for it.) Alexander Wang T.

Boots: Vintage Frye boots from a Goodwill in my old hometown in KY. These bad boys were only 5 bucks. Best $5 I ever spent.

Vest: Forever 21

Belt: Nordstrom

Knee High Nylons: Target

Necklace: Hiya Moon bullet crystal necklace

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: This ingenious clip from The Usual Suspects.

I have a crush on Benicio Del Toro in this movie. I can't explain why. The below clip is the best explanation I can give.

- Amy

Listening to: Mumford & Sons' "Gave You All"

All That Glitters Is Gold, Tamara Lichtenstein, & My Days Playing Fiddle In The Band

I think of that line from "Stairway To Heaven" when I look at Tamara Lichtenstein's photography: "all that glitters is gold." It reminds me of dusk and summer and stardust. She blends her photos with photos of stars or sun pouring through the leaves of a tree and the results are magical. It's like a real life Wonderland. I want my life to be a haze of sunlight and stardust. It also reminds me of all my mom's old photos from the 70's in Huntington Beach. They're all gritty and golden and warm.  I've got to find some so I can post them. My mom was a little beach bunny and my pops was quite the stud.

What else is inspiring me these days? Well I've been listening to a lot of bluegrass music. Mainly instrumental. I never thought I would ever say this, but after listening to music at work for 8 hours a day everyday, you start to get - gasp - tired of music! It's at that point you want something soothing and melodic but easy to kind of zone out to. That's when I put on one of my classical, soundtracks/scores, or bluegrass iPod mixes. No words - just music. Sweet, sweet music.

I played the violin in orchestra when I lived in NY growing up, and then when we moved to KY my sister and I played in our uncle's bluegrass band too. Those experiences taught me a lot about genres most kids never really get into because they're too busy listening to N'Sync on repeat (although I did my fair share of that. Side Note: I used to run home from the schoolbus to catch "Tearing Up My Heart" at Number one TRL everyday of 7th grade. Ahhhh what a hormonal little tween I was.) It really makes me want to learn the slide guitar or the banjo. I should really just practice my violin since I already know how to play that one. Me and Jen tried to jam the other day, violin and piano. I'm pretty positive I heard the neighbors' cats howling. Practice makes perfect though!

Cheers,
Amy
- Listening to: The Infamous Stringsters' "Fork In the Road"

Mustachioed Men, Time Warps, and Old Man Crushes

[Fig. 1: via The Sartorialist. ]

5 Things:

1. I hope to have an old man boyfriend like this  [Fig. 1] one day. 
2. He looks like a British Naval officer who's ship got stuck in a time/space warp that teleported and dropped him in the middle of a London rock n' roll club where he asked some punk rock kid to borrow some pants and Doc Martins. Which is a good thing.
3. He also sort of looks like the captain from King Kong, who I also have an old-man crush on.
4. He has great follicle fortitude, much like these rad posters [Fig. 2] I found on one of my favorite design blogs designworklife.com. They were done by AIGA for a show called Full Bleed.
5. He and the posters both remind me of the art and tattoo work of Ricardo Cavolo. He does a lot with carnies and mustachioed men.

Cheers,

Amy

Listening to: Jamie Cullum's "Gran Torino"

[Fig. 2]