Tis the Season part 2

I have to say making the holiday cards was the most enjoyable to me.  Listening to Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack along with other Christmas music was a lot of fun.  So, after countless hours of creating the cards...I really did not take the best pics of them before giving them out. :( But, here are a few that turned out okay.

To my oldest sister: Card named Noel





Inside of Noel

My other sister holding up: Joy

The back of Joy

Peace: For my stepmother

So, as you can see the pics suck. haha! But, everyone seemed to enjoy their cards.  I had made my brother and father ones too...but, they were not as exciting as I did with the ladies in my family. :)

Tis the Season

Hey all!  I know it has been a while and I promise I will not go this long without posting something...but, I have been crafting and painting this holiday season.  By the way, I am hoping that everyone had a great Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa!  I did and I would like to share with you some pics and some of the cards and crafts I made.

My Penguin Gang

I dreamt of these penguins! I really did.  Upon decorating for Christmas in the office, I said I am going to make penguins....try to make them as fashionable as possible.  And here they are on the office wall looking very fierce I must say. haha!

Penguin fellas: Rufus, Benjamin and Edward

Penguin gals: Sally, Kelly and Patrice

They were a bit harder to make then I thought....I wanted to do like twelve of them but, I decided I will cut in half and do six so I could sleep at night.  I enjoyed making them!

Inspirational Overload: Album Covers

Yeah, I know what your thinking....why is she saying Album Covers?  Okay, well there is a lot of new music coming out by some of my favorite artists and I have been really digging the album covers.  And I wanted to share with you.  I am just gonna start with my favorite and go down the line. 

Kanye West

by Artist George Condo

Not an album cover as many know but, this painting...you have to admit it captures you.  Its funny cartoon face, a little bit scary but, you have to admit, you can not help but to stare at it.  Because its staring at you.  Unapologetically.  So much like Kanye himself.   It made me want to look up who painted this.  Who's behind Kanye's Covers.  His name is George Condo.  His work speaks for itself.


He's also behind this (possibility of this album cover which still remains to be seen since it's banned in the US)



My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

so I believe they opted for this one instead

.
And Cleveland's own Kid Cudi.

Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr. Rager

I love the ol' picture finish.  Mr Solo Dolo looks amazing although somewhat depressing.  It has a lot of feeling to it.  In which from what I hear, the albums is really good.  I still have to get it.

Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday

Nicki Minaj

Look no arms.  hahahaha!  Elongated legs, funny face, pink wig. I cant help but love this chick.  She's crazy and for some reason...I find myself singing her lyrics from time to time. I can not wait to get her album.  I have a feeling she is literally Massive attacking a lot of so called Rappers out her.

I love NERD.  Always have....always will.  Great album by the way.  Photographed by Terry Richardson

Nothing

And how can I forget.....Maroon Five a.k.a Seksi Music.

Hands all Over

Great album.  Period.  The multiple hands, the covers, the bed.  Enough said.  Very Seksi.

Oh, Tom. (Sigh)

I love him. No I really do. A man that knows how to dress a woman. A man that takes sexy to a whole new level. I looked forward to his collections, I am so, so, so happy he is back. Just look at him, look at him.

I mean who wouldn't want that waiting for them at home from a long days work.  Wow.  But, enough about his handsome, undeniable looks, his talent is what's a really turn on.  A director, a visionary, a fantastic designer and one of the true inspirational geniuses in the fashion world. (I love him)  I love the controversial campaigns for his men's line,  perfumes, sunglasses.

I love this one of Erykah Badu

But, man oh man when I saw the article in Vogue December magazine.....I died.

and these...

Oooooo...I got so excited.  I love the studio 54 look.  70's glamorous looks of Diana Ross and Cher...to die (Rachel Zoe's voice)  I am so excited to see more from him.  My fashion lover is back.  Be still my heart.

The Thriller (Happy Halloween)

Happy Halloween Followers! :)

Now Listening to: Erykah Badu Pt 2 Return of the Ankh

New Amerykah Part Two: Return Of The Ankh

Erykah Badu

In Heavy Rotation and listened all the way through.  (Which is seriously hard to believe these days)
This is my favorite song:

Finished and some unfinished business to attend to.

Hey all!  So, I am slowly but, surely getting my painting "swag" back and I am excited to show you what I have been working on.  So, some finished works well... work is this piece here.  I call it Autumn season.  Very much inspired by my favorite season and some of the Fall 2010 collections.

Autumn Season

And here's another which is unfinished that I would like to show you all as well. It's not done unfortunately but, I made it my goal to finish some of these this weekend.

and this one...

and this one

and this one

So, as you can see I definitely need to get to painting.  In the meantime check out my Etsy store to check out some of my other works.  New posting will be coming soon with finished works. Promise.
XOXOXO.

Kanye's Runaway

So, with much anticipation I have been waiting to see Kanye West's directorial debut of Runaway.  And I loved it.  Cinematically, the colors everything about I loved.  So, many symbolic elements used it's gonna take me probably a few months to figure it out.

So, see for yourself Runaway, the opening song is ridic.  I Love it.

Selita Ebanks is gorgeous as the phoenix and I really felt she played her role very well.  And I found myself laughing at Kanye a bit because #1 I am definitely not used to him as an actor and #2 if he decides to go that route, acting classes are definitely needed.  Kanye as a director was amazing. Visuals stunning, the colors and camera angles done really well.  I loved Selita's twitching in the 'Power' scene and than starts to do this African dancing sort of movement.

The ballet dancers were very graceful during the runaway song. 

And the dinner scene was priceless.  The costume, feathered piece was done beautifully and the headdress was so Royal.  To me this was another symbolic scene.  Everyone dressed in all white except Kanye and his Phoenix.  Almost like a "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" kind of theme.

What I noticed the most about this short film is that Kanye never tried to change his Phoenix.  He did not tell her to do anything she did not want to do.  Even when the scene in which she sort of seems like she attempting to drink out of teacup.  She just did it.  Also, when she tried to break bread with the others around the table.  They weren't have it.  So, symbolic of discrimination amongst class or cast system or just with people who look different or maybe different from us.

Then, the Phoenix basically says I am outta here because I am not trying to turn into stone.  As you know stones are hard, solid objects.  To me the Phoenix represents free flowing fluidity.  So, when she explains to Kanye that Phoenix's turn to stone what I feel she is saying is that I wouldn't be me if I stay here.  And of course the whole epic scene of Kanye running (in slipper's by the way and hard too) and she flys way up in the sky and than the message of "Who will survive in America."

I loved it.

All of it.

BRAVO! BRAVO! Kanye! I admire his passion to be different and take hip-hop towards in upward movement.  Thank you, sir.

Hi! Ummm....I have a YouTube Channel.

LOL! Because, I honestly forget I have it sometimes.  But, I have made some vids on most of my past illustrations with some great music.  So check it out: Subscribe, follow, we can be friends. I plan to use it more so stay tuned for much more to come! :)

Le Mahogany Channel

New Sketches!!!...New Sketches!!!

Hey all!  I have been steadily working on some new artworks.  The Collection is called BFF's better known as "Best Friends Forever"  The idea originally came from this painting I did a few months ago.



BFF's

Which by the way is featured in my etsy store.  So, I have been sketching out a few ideas and I have been painting away.  My goal to make at least six more like this....we'll see how it goes. In the meantime here are a few my sketches.

They are fun to sketch and paint.  Final looks will be featured soon.  In the meantime check out my online etsy store for features of my other paintings at http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeMahogany