Hipstamatic Blossoms

hipstablossom1 by m.diaz hipstablossom2 by m. diaz

Paper-Cut Stop Motion Animation Inspo

Anyone who really knows me knows I am a book fanatic and I love to write. In fact, at this moment I am drowning in books on my side of the bed and have to walk over stacks and piles that block my path. I would say my weekly shopping addiction is in the form of books and magazines (and why yes the kindle and nook would solve some of the obvious three-dimensional problems and I might one day look into them) I love the feel, smell and handling of a physical book in my hands.

Anyway, I digress. I live with the dichotomy of creating visually artistic work when I'm not writing and writing when I not creating visual art...and you all know I love me some stop-motion!

I bring all of this up, because The New Zealand Book Council has cleverly brought the two together with this phenomenal and very inspiring little ditty- if you have 2 minutes and 11 seconds you need to treat yourself to this:

Produced by Colenso BBDO
Animated by Andersen M Studio

One day I will finish my hub and I's stop-motion...one day...

-Ciao Amarettogirl

Bestia Fera Gallery Opening

Follow my blog with bloglovin Talking @ the opening with fellow artist Ben WadlerFace painting at the entrance Gina and I at the Azucarera Gallery Opening Kassie a faithful art connoisseur next to her favorite paintingOne of my watercolor paintings 'Rapture' by m.diaz watercolor 'Horsewoman' by marisol diaz hanging at the entrance - crowd is gettin bigger Hub with current students at Azucarera Gallery Chatting with other artists watercolor painting 'Warrior'

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The art opening was a whole lot of fun and I'm thankful to all the fam and friends that showed up and made that place a happenin' hub of bestial amicability! It will be sad to see the furry little friends of original paintings that sold go- but I'll be sure to document them well. There are more pics, but the outdoor air and sun is beckoning me...

-Ciao Amarettogirl

Today is my Solo Exhibit at Azucarera...

If you're in the Azucarera Gallery area (Harlem, NYC 145th between Convent and Nicholas Avenue)tonight between 7-9pm stop by! We'll have some finger foods, wine, animal masks and art!

Thought this might be a good time to explain the title:
Bestia Fera is Latin for Beast, Beast, but if you're a Spanish speaker (like me) you'll note Fera is related to Feral which is defined as Salvaje/Wild. Hence making the title imply something more like Wild Beast to some. Still, my intent for Beast/Beast is purposeful since many of my subjects are half animal half human. I chose Latin as opposed to Spanish to drive the antiquity of the meaning home.

And I'm so happy to learn the event has been posted on ARTSLANT !

There are some new never before seen pieces in the show and there are some classics that started it all.

detail of watercolor piece entitled ' I entered the saltwater and She Consumed Me' by marisol diaz Run rabbit Run by marisol diaz

There are still a few loose ends to tie up, but after that I can exhale and be done! This show has been a bit more difficult than the other two exhibits from this previous year - I guess that's the feeling a solo generates. Not to mention, I had forgotten about the booking of this exhibit up until a month ago (and since I'm not a just-show-old-work-kind of girl) I had to produce the majority of all the work in the past three weeks. Then I got bronchitis, teach full-time and well - life happens. The show has only four previous pieces and that is because they play a significant conceptual role in what I'm doing today.

Two days left before my opening....

flyer click to see

There are now only two days left before my opening. I have to go buy frames today (I still need around 7 more) and as many artists know, financially frames begin to add up, costing a pretty penny.

I'm also beginning to work on the artist statement for the show. In the past my threads of work are often developed by a concept, quote or self-definitory aspect of my belief system.

However this time my work was really inspired by an image. I have a small collection of antique books and while perusing one of them, I came across this image that really moved me. It's entitled Gladiator Fighting a Lion and its a sketch of a marble sculpture found in BAVARIA with no artist attributed to the drawing. The title means little to me - its the image itself that really moves me.

I thought I'd share that image with you today.

I'm not too affected by the gladiator aspect of this image as I am the continuos futile struggle with the natuarlistic/animalistic part of who we are. And I'm curious - What does this image make you think of?-

Ciao Amarettogirl

P.S. I've been chatting with a special indie business owner about a possible giveaway that is good for Gals AND Guys! Coming soon so stay TUNED!.

The Flyer to My Opening This Weekend

My Flyer for the Azucarera Exhibit by m. diaz

Basically, I ran out of funds this time (go figure - for my first solo in a long while) and couldn't order a postcard so I had to resort to making a flyer. I like it though - hope you do to. Wish you could ALL come! My goal is to have images from the show available for sale as small prints on the SHOP NOW! button up on my top menu bar so if you love a design it is accessible and afforadable.

- Ciao Amarettogirl!

New Work...is on its way...

Since I have to get back to work (art making that is) for my up and coming exhibit at the Azucarera gallery (April 10th - 30th), I spent the majority of yesterday preparing the ground on my paper. I revived good 'ol tea-staining and experimented with marbling. I actually love the results and then I stood up until 3:30am starting the first piece. Thought you all might like to see what I'm up to.

If you're interested in tea-staining be sure to have a whole night - the results are much better with good quality rag paper and an overnight soak.

black tea staininga detail shot of the overnight results of tea-staining prepared grounds with experiments in marbling and my first piece on its way pic by m.diaz my newest piece in progress by marisol diaz a detail shot art and photo by marisol diaz

I really don't know what direction this will all go in - but its seems I'm still caught up in the last Unearthly woman concept...We'll see where it wall takes me.

-Ciao Amarettogirl

A Winter Day

Today has just been cold, wet and gray. Half-snow, half-rain (not conducive to driving) and plain ol' yukky and thats how I feel too. It feels as though winter is lasting 4eva...So I thought I would kick-up a fire and share a sneek-peek into a new project (or two) that I'm working on.

another winter day photo by m. diaz New drawing/painting and linoleum print of my wolf girl by m. diaz a cupcake pinchusion I bought

I have another exhibit coming up after Spring Break and that means more artwork for me. I'm really interested in continuing the theme of the shifter-like creatures from my last exhibit. I was also so moved by my Benecio Del Toro's Wolfman movie I knew it would affect my work and show up there.

Last year I visited the Putney School in Vermont as a visiting artist to do an artist talk. While I was there I got to visit the local town, have some wonderful food and I visited a delightful book shop with a diversified children's book section, which is where I found this adorable cupcake pincushion.

I had been seeing quite a few 'feltie' pincushions on the blogosphere, and since I love all things cupcakes (just see my Mai sweetshop line that I launched a year and a half ago), I really had to make my own. So now I have.

Here is MY version of a cupcake pincushion. Yay.

Cupcake Pincushion by m. diaz

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows part II

So here is the second round of Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. After the last round, I'm sure you'll all agree that the artistry in the windows is undeniably superb. Still this round has some of my all time favorites. So here they are:

All Queens Play The Game Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Her Tower of Cards Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Curiosities Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Uprooted Home Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz

And we're not done yet! Stay tuned for another round with mirrors, monkeys and galloping topiary horses!! Hope you're inspired...-Amarettogirl

Unearthly Woman Opening

My Blythe Cake by La Promenade in Tenafly me during my fortieth b'day celebration with my Blythe cake My painting of Alexandra My Charcoal Drawings me and my cousins, Mimi, Ally, Me, Tai, Kassie and Sabrina Dwight Englewood Attendees at the opening My Falling Figure Paintings full gallery Me and fellow teachers Phil and Jesse

Update on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 10:55PM by Amarettogirl

Music performers Micah and Eric in front of one of Nova's Art Pieces