I have to thank Instagram for introducing me to one of my recent artistic obsessions, Sabrina Eras. The Brazilian born artist keeps her account (@samesjc) fresh with daily images of her sketches and works in progress. Also, her adorably colorful new site just launched, so be sure to check it out.
Category Archives: Art & Culture
South Florida Tattoo Expo 2011
For all you tattoo lovers in South Florida, check out details below and online for the 16th annual South Florida Tattoo Expo taking place August 12 – 14, 2011. All proceeds benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, so you can do a little good while you’re there.
New Ink: Part 1
It’s been a while since the last time I got a significant tattoo, which means I’d forgotten just how painful and exhausting they can be… But they’re also thrilling and beautiful if done by the right artist.
Maytee did a fantastic job with clean lines and beautiful shading (despite the shaking I was totally unaware of but that she politely pointed out at the end of our session). In this initial phase of what will most likely be a three session process, she added an ornate antique frame to my existing Mark Ryden piece. Following this piece, she will add two portraits from the work of Angelique Houtkamp.
Also, Tony was able to document a bit of my experience, so here’s a video of my decidedly goofy self getting a beautifully painful tattoo. Call me a masochist, but I can’t wait for the next!
Date Night: SoundScape Cinema Series Miami
Tony and I are headed to the beach tonight for a long overdue date night (with Romeo in tow, of course). The SoundScape Cinema Series is offering a selection of free family-friendly films on the lawn of the recently opened Frank Gehry-designed New World Symphony campus. Bring a blanket and some snacks to enjoy a cinematic evening under the stars at the ExoStage on the corner of 17th Street and Washington Ave.
SOUNDSCAPE CINEMA SERIES @ExoStage
April 13 – Moulin Rouge
April 20 – Big
April 27 – Casablanca
May 04 – North By Northwest
May 11 – Wall-E
May 18 – 2001 A Space Odyssey
May 25 – The Sound of Music
June 01 – Fantasia
June 08 – The Wizard of Oz
A Day with the Girls
Sometimes all you need is a day with the girls to lift your spirits (and perhaps some other areas that may also need, ahem, a lift). I spent the day at the Terribly Girly studios yesterday with my friend, Nicole. This was her first time experiencing the hard work and production that goes into each of these sessions.
After a few hours in wardrobe, hair, and makeup, she asked if I could remember my first shoot and how I got started in the first place. Turns out, I was feeling a little low and decided to treat myself to something fun. It was around Christmas, I was living alone, feeling lonely, and coming out of a bad relationship that had left me with more than a few self-esteem issues. The minute I stepped into the TG studio, all that stuff was pushed out of my mind. The girls were friendly, confident, and encouraging – and SO talented!
Nine shoots later, I’m glad these women are keen on making a point about beauty and self-image. I may not be a cookie-cutter beauty, but they don’t seem to mind – and neither do I.
Here are a few behind-the-scenes shots from another wonderful day of playing dress-up:
Unconventional
I can hardly sit still today. This weekend is packed with colorful plans and I want to jump right in. My appointment with Maytee is only a few hours away and I honestly can’t contain my excitement about getting tattooed again. It’s been over 5 years since my last meaningful piece and these things are always cathartic for me. I’m only a little bummed that my little sister will have to sit this one out due to a nasty throat infection… but it only gives us an excuse to keep coming back .
Also, on Sunday I’ll be shooting with Miss Valentine and all the lovely ladies of Terribly Girly. I’m not quite sure what the end result will be, but at this point, I don’t even worry. I know they’re creative enough to come up with something interesting and fresh, so let’s just put on some eyeliner and see what happens.
Check back soon! I’ll be documenting everything. xo
Tattoo Planning
My life has been a little crazy lately. I’ve been planning my sister’s fifteenth birthday celebration more arduously than I did my own wedding (maybe because I had professional help for the wedding that I’m that much more grateful for now as hindsight is always 20/20), working a grueling day job at a prominent fashion/retail company, devoting significant time to my freelance writing in hopes that it will take off soon, and generally just trying to keep the mood around all of these things more pleasant than not.
If I’m honest, I’ll admit that none of this phases me – I rather enjoy the idea of tackling all of these challenges head-on. But with all the hard work, I’ve decided a reward is in order. With the recent compensation from my last job, I have booked a session with the ever-talented Maytee Bringas at Phat Joe’s on Saturday, April 9th. This session will double as a reward for my sister for being so great to work with on her birthday festivities – she’ll be piercing her tragus there as well. (Nothing quite like some ink and metal to bond two sisters together.)
The pic in this post is a mock-up that Tony worked on to illustrate how this piece will look once it’s complete. I already have a Mark Ryden portrait on my lower back (done by the talented Chris Garver back when he was on Miami Ink) and will be building around it with some inspiration from Angelique Houtkamp. Once that’s done, I’d like to start working on other pieces (keyhole pin-up, etc.) but this one has me particularly excited as it’s going to finally give some beautiful detail to work that was begun years ago. It’s time to get going again and I can’t wait.
I’ll be posting pics of the work in progress. Check back soon. Only a few weeks left for some fresh ink! <3
MiMo Madness
Today’s weather was absolutely perfect for a street fair so Tony and I headed out to one of the many outdoor events taking place in Miami this weekend. MiMo Madness, nestled in the heart of Biscayne Boulevard’s Historic District, promised an eclectic bunch and it did not disappoint.
Along with the burlesque acts and street performers, I came across a few great artists and boutiques with unique handmade pieces. Chiquita’s is definitely noteworthy with a dedicated focus on vintage pieces from the 1920’s to the 1980’s.
Karen Keith Designs was another favorite with self-proclaimed jewelry designs for the bold and free-spirited. Wish I’d had the cash on me to take home a vintage miniature magnifying glass on a long black chain.
Check out my finds below. I’m now also a fan of Treasures by Alicia‘s handmade bags and jewelry. (I’ll admit, the name got me):
Vladimir’s Vodka (Short Film)
Vladimir’s Vodka is the new short film by Cuban American filmmaker Jokes Yanes, editor of the upcoming Magic City Memoirs, set to debut at the 2011 Miami International Film Festival next month.
The Drowning Men
I’m still kicking myself for leaving behind my camera last night and missing an opportunity to capture what could have been an opportunity to meet and chat with California’s own The Drowning Men, a band of four longtime friends who have been part of other collaborations but have recently formed this ensemble that did more than just warm up the crowd for Flogging Molly.
As promised, the band waited around their table in the Fillmore’s intimate lobby trying to personally sell us their t-shirts and music. While I wish I could offer more than just this brief introduction to their music, the melodic runs with moody undertones and revival rock influences are worth a listen:
The Drowning Men will be joining Flogging Molly on all their tour dates. Click here for more info.