Big Sisters!

So, Bioshock is undoubtedly one of my fav games of all time. And with Bioshock 2's release, I, of course was in love all over again. If you've never played the first, I highly suggest you get to doing so. The art direction, design, art deco, music, details, era, game play, etc do it for me every time. I must have played the first (no joke) about 9 times or so. And you know what? I ALWAYS found something new in the game I never noticed or skipped past before. Now that the second is out, it has a multiplayer mode, new plasmids, & a deeper look into the world of Rapture. I loved everything the game had to offer, which is not always the case w/ sequels. I played through the Bioshock 2 once already and am still gunning for more. It took me a bit to warm up to the premise and the Big Sisters but now, the Big Sister is one of my fav video game characters. Her design is incredible. If there is a Bioshock 1 and/or 2 art design book... I need it. I decided to do a piece in inks of the Big Sister. It took about 15 min to do, it was just something fun & sketchy looking. I also included a past piece I did of a guy (who, yes, looks like Shaggy, although that wasn't my intent) running from a Big Daddy done in Photoshop about 2 and a half years ago. I think I might do some more fanart in the near future.. until then, I can't wait to play the game(s) again. :)

All Bioshock characters © 2K :)

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Heligoland

I haven't heard the whole album yet but I love the cover art so much! It's inspiring me to do a similar piece... we'll see :) Gosh... it's loooove!

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Success!

I have literally been tearing my hair out about this photo for almost 24 hours. No matter what I did, it wasn't coming together. What broke my heart the most was that it was supposed to be my "it" shot. I was just about to throw it out when one of my great photographer friends, Steve, showed me a technique and it completely worked! I LOVE YOU, STEVE! :D So there you go, just had to share. Also, I included the colored one in this post because it was taken exactly a year ago from this shoot. Same model. As I was told:

"you definitely stepped up, in terms of shooting locations"

Yerp. Dead trees own bathrooms. XD

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Photo Revivals

There's a great spot on the side of the 10 fwy where a huge fire took out a bunch of trees and all that's left are a bunch of blackened, charred tree skeletons. I decided to do a two part series photo shoot. Starting with the "dark side" of the project, if you will. During the editing process, most of the shots from this shoot were extremely disappointing and there wasn't much I could do to make them look the way I wanted. So, here are two of the ones that were salvageable. Still not very happy with either but like a photographer friend of mine, Nick, said,

"Do what-ever you can and that's it, nothing else you can do about it. The shoot is over. If they're not what you want them to be, try harder next time".

He's right. So, maybe the second part of this shoot will be better. Makeup, editing, style, hair, blah blah blah done by yours truly. I do like the sort of "Alice in Wonderland" feel to this. I'm hoping to exploit that more in part 2. My model for part 1 of the shoot is Alicia Haro. Next part I'll be shooting with my best friend in the world, Lori Hammer. I'd like to do more shoots with more friends and family to help get me back in the mode of photographer so if you want to participate... pls, let me know :) I also spent some time at Amoeba in Los Angeles and was able to shoot Justin Townes Earle during his performance on Feb 10. I think the photo came out decent for what it was worth. Great performance too. I have some great ideas for upcoming photo projects with friends and a possible collaboration w/ my friend Carl, as well (when he gets some time ;D ). When I get money to spare, I'd love to invest in some long awaited better equipment but for now, I'll work with what I have. :) Been meaning to update this blog but just been preoccupied with getting out and reading and all that jazz. It's been nice getting back to my roots, though.

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Blackbird

Top lyrics from The Beatles' song, "Blackbird" (obviously). Bottom lyrics are from Lynard Skynard's "Freebird". JUST as I finished this piece, Freebird came on my shuffle so I decided to include it in the piece. This was all impulsive creativity (is creativity really not impulsive?) & I meant for it to have more meaning but I just ended up doing it bc I love the song(s) & wanted to make something new. It coulda been waaay cooler if I took my time & did what I originally planned. Oh well.

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Vino e Amanti

I had dinner at my aunt's house last night & her place is VERY Venetian themed, which inspired me to create this. As I was sipping my wine, I was taking in all the colors of the Venetian glass around me & really started to miss Venice. I woke up with this image in my mind this morning and just decided to do a piece dedicated to the city & culture. If you've never been... I suggest you do so before you die.

Wine has the grandios power of turning any room/mood/person quite colorful and lively. I happen to be quite enamored w/ all of the incredible masks made in Venice for the carnivale every year... hence the subject wearing one. Venice also happens to be one of the most romantic places on the face of this earth... hence the flowers & part of the title. Yahhhh. :) Again, quality is shit bc of a lack of a proper scanner/camera but it is what it is. I had bigger plans for this piece but it was too late by the time I realized that I had accidentally started my Venice piece on the back of another previous artwork of mine. :( Sad pandas all around. So, I kinda had to just wing it. It has many a flaws but it's from my heart <3 Perhaps one day, when my skills aren't as sophomoric as they are now, I can revisit this & do Venice better justice. In my defense, I was just trying to do something fun and not get caught up in technicalities. India inks on watercolor paper 9 x 12.

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I Like The Way It Tastes.

This is another self portrait therapeutic piece. I've been struggling with a lot in my life lately, especially myself. I know that just like everyone in this world, there's a good side and a bad side to me. But sometimes, I feel I only have a "good" side to mask the real awful side. I've done a lot of horrible things in my life... maybe moreso than the average person and perhaps, that is why my life is as such. Only in the end of things will I truly know the answers to anything. And maybe not. So, here you have it. I titled this piece 'I Like The Way It Tastes' because I do. It feels good to be a bad person and do bad things, sometimes. Again, sorry for the shit quality photos, don't have a proper camera or scanner atm.
This is actually the second version of this idea, the first looked like this:
The photo is taken at a weird angle that makes the arm look shorter than it is and I fucked up the shadow. I decided I should try a more creative approach anyway. So, the second version is made of cut out pieces of bristol board (everything is actually separate, eye, shirt pocket, hair, skin, eyelash, etc) colored w/ India Inks pasted on 9 x 12 watercolor paper as opposed to the original that was just pencil and black & red ink.

The only good thing depression & reclusive behavior is good for is time to make mediocre products. Better than nothing, I suppose.

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Writings From the Past Pt. IV

One of my good & old friends, Scott, and I have gone through a lot of ups & downs in our friendship. At one time, Scott had feelings for me and attempted to woo me w/ his words. Lucky for him, he happens to be quite the poet. This still makes me smile.

Jenn asked me to continue from the previous free-written...
So, I went off topic and started rhyming about her. This one's for you, Jennifer.
(P.S. The blog title is of the song I listened to partially as I wrote this.)

Just a Free Write
i just want you to know that to me, i think you're beautiful /
a mixture of kelly kapowski and winnie cooper, too /
you're the super glue, that holds this heart of mine together /
and without you in my life, would crumble worse than the city of rome - never /
could i have imagined that this heart of mine would blacken /
by the fact that what we once could have had can no longer happen /
i'm not acting, just rappin, hoping i might be able to show you just a fraction /
of how much i care, my apologies for referencing math and /
know i'm just spittin' some free-written off of the top of my hairpiece /
don't stare please, not like i'd be staring at your derriere, peace! /
i want us to go to a land called disney /
and i hope that you might have a good time with me /
but strictly, understand that i might not remain on consistently good behavior /
you know that i'm not a player, but instead i'm just a rhyme sayer /
a dragon slayer, who wants to get comfortable in your lair ;) /
if you ever wonder "what's scott doing?" know that i'm right there /
right above your left breast, in your heart, in a high chair /
but i'm not no baby, nor am i implying that you would be mine either /
but believe, if we were together, we'd shine through this ether /
i'm not a preacher, but i am a believer,
that things happen for some reason or another /
but don't deny me when i say (in pharell's voice) I JUST WANNA LOVE YA!* /
but be who i am*, i mean no disrespect ma'am /
just know that my heart's not one to fuck with, like the Wu-Tang Clan**

- Scott N. aka Scotty Blaze
July 9th, 2:10 a.m.

References
* Pharrell's guest vocals in the chorus of Jay-Z's "I Just Wanna Love U"
** The Wu-Tang Clan song "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin' To Fuck Wit"

ZzZ

Another old sketch. Was done quickly & it's quality is also shit bc of my phone but I still like it, for what it's worth. It's not a good sketch, by any means, but was listening to this song in Switzerland while I was alone & it prompted this. Just nonsense. Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense.

Let's go to sleep in Paris,
And wake up in Tokyo.
Have a dream in New Orleans,
Fall in love in Chicago,
Mayne.

Then we can land in the motherland,
Camelback across the desert sand.
Take a train, to Rome, or home,
Brazil, forreal.
Wherever I go she goes.
Wherever I go she goes.

-- "Paris, Tokyo", Lupe fiasco

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Internet Dating.

So, my friend Carl & I decided to collaborate and do an art project based upon internet dating. His was way better & I got lazy and never finished this concept. I planned on a doing a different idea but just never had the motivation to do it. Anyway, sorry for the crap quality of a photo, using my phone bc my camera is currently in Chicago :)

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