Here are the scans I finished today. I am still working with 'vanitas' symbols- the flowers, fruit and hourglass; but these newest self-portraits are also Alice in Wonderland inspired. To see more of my scanned images from today and the past few days go here.

Here are a few more of my attempts at self-portraits. I added a skull-like rosary as a reference to momenti mori. The skull, dying flowers, and seashells are symbols used in many vanitas paintings.

I have started working on my piece for a group show in June at the Snelgrove Gallery. I will have three self-portraits based on 17th Century Dutch still-life paintings, also known as vanitas. Typically vanitas paintings are highly symbolic and are meant as a reminder of the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death. Pictured below is my first try at scanning myself with flowers. I want to somehow include more vanitas symbols, such as skulls, hourglasses, bugs, rotting fruit and flowers.


This summer, I am working in a collaboration to photograph fairytale narratives. I was trying to find images from Alice in Wonderland, and I came across Arthur Rackham. He illustrated a lot of fairytales, but my favourite illustrations of his are from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Some of these illustrations are pictured below.

Here are some scans and photographs I have been working on lately, I am loving the antique look with touches of colour ...

As promised, here are a couple pictures from my photo shoot with Zachari and Barrett today. I edited all the naked body parts out and antiqued the pictures afterwards. Both guys looked very stoic in the photographs, and true to the real definition as well. It was very cold where we were photographing and they don't seem to be affected at all.


I recently discovered Spanish photographer Eugenio Recuenco. He mainly photographs for fashion and advertising. He sets up these elaborate backdrops and then manipulates his photographs afterwards, which creates a cinematographic style to his work. I especially love these works of his, because they are very macabre. Below are some more of his recent photographs with fairytale narratives.

Pictured below is the most recent painting I have almost completed. This is just a detail of the larger painting.


I am doing a photo shoot this coming weekend, and if all goes well, I will have some of those photographs posted soon. Here are some pictures I had previously taken last fall of Zach.

I found some great photographers' websites. The first two are New York based photographers Sarah Wilmer and Meike Nixdorf. Sarah Wilmer is mainly a portrait photographer, whereas Meike Nixdork mainly focuses on cityscapes. Both of their work is stunning.

Another photographer I really admire is The Polaroid Kid. He mainly photographs people. I especially love how he will take 2 or 3 photographs of the same person, gradually moving closer to reveal what they are holding in their hands; a way of giving a clue into their character. I love the rawness of his photographs, and I especially love his polaroids. Pictured below are two of his polaroid photographs "The Bird Man" and "Long Live the Derelict".


Oakland-based artist Monica Canilao's work is amazing!! She is very versatile, she works with many medias. I love her illustrative style and her uniqueness. Pictured below are two of her works "Destroy Everything" and "Typewriter Hands".

Click on images to view at larger scale.

Here is a picture I took at home today... a small ceramic bunny on my kitchen window sill ...



Tamar Mogendorff creates these fantastic creatures, from different birds to bunnies, mushrooms and dogs. She uses different fabrics and assorted vintage buttons and ribbons. They are so arty, funny, and crafty. Here is an example of her work.


Here are some great blogs to check out...

art indulgence
house on hill road
love forever
polka dot pebble
tru design
kay starr
hodge podge farm
monmartre's sketchbook
free people
handmade-design

The Perception Laboratory and the University of St. Andrews have developed the face transformer. You can upload an image of yourself to see what you would look like as different ethnicities, at different ages, and as different artists would have painted your portrait.

This first picture of me is if Bottecelli had painted my portrait.


This second picture is of me if Modigliani had painted my portrait.