Smell much!

Who would have thought that I would have soaps on my mind for anything other than a wash:) Art is in the soaps for me today! See what I mean! Some of them look delicious enough to eat...at least I would if someone didn't stop me:)

Metropolis Soap Co. is one that not only has an amazing collection of flavors but interesting packaging as well. I am a big time admirer of beautiful covers and this one does not disappoint. One other on that list for me is Sandisolis who is currently working on a 'Monkey Farts' soap!!! I can't wait!

Now, check out the vegan bath bomb ala carte at the Bomb Shop!

And the Bungalow Bath And Body. - I have never seen smoothie looking soaps or ones that have a coconut lime flavor! Or the raspberry waffle cone ones at Vintage Soap Shoppe ! Or the ruby grapefruit bomb cupcake at Candie's Beauty Shop. I think just laying in my bath and surrounding myself with all these lovely soaps will calm me more than real food...hmmmmm....

And my post is never complete without mentioning a local favorite Cammie's Handmade Soaps.

I can only imagine how long a bath can take............

????

Should artists, especially the up and coming ones, sell their skills for a lower price until such time when they become known? I was approached by a design house to make commercial art for them. I have no problem doing that. I dont have any grand ideas of my art selling to the richest russian patron for 70 times its cost price(wink, wink Mr.Rothko). But, it seems like there is a certain kind of art that is in demand and that is what the house expects me to churn out. Mind you, I am not opposed to making repetitive art but is my original work in danger of getting picked up by someone who has no more inclination than to match it with their sofa?
Maybe so. I also have a sunny side to me that looks at this as an opportunity and will make use of it to not only produce what is in demand but add my unique signature to the work. This is a first for me and hence the discussion.
trala!

Thads

So there is this lovely, old town shop in 'Old Town Spring', TX that has a unique charisma to it. Thads has married art and decor so well, it sings to your soul the minute you enter the shop. I want to call it quaint but that almost makes it sound old grandmotherish and this is no where near there.

I am amazed by the owners' eye for the art collection on display. Even the soaps are arranged with so much care, its hard not to capture them:) But thats the thing about this place, I cannot talk about just a single thing in Thads without describing everything surrounding it. The blue room vignette that had me thinking if I was in design heaven, the owls that followed me everywhere I went or the splash of eclectic that hits you hard in the face as soon as you step in!

See what I mean!

Udomsak Krisanamis

Udomsak Krisanamis entered my life with a bang....well, as much bang as a book can make. I am an ardent student of technique in expressionistic works. During one of my journeys through off beat books, I came across this very strong creator that had me in awe!

The man uses acrylic and noodle on canvas or newsprint! And believes in artistic deconstruction as much as we believe the sky to be blue. He destroys all the parts of letters on newsprint except the 'o's. Imagine blackening out all the letters except the circles,ovals and ellipses on a piece of newspaper with a felt pen. Now add separate colors to the backgroud and foreground. Try it at home. It creates a magnificent effect!!

The newspaper became part of his texture as he was trying to learn english! Being an immigrant to the US from Bangkok, his work is a direct result of real life needs. I am astounded by the amount of patience it takes to black out all but the 'o' shapes in canvases as big as his and make strips of that newspaper and then use those strips to create his paintings. There are a million ways to assess his paintings, many say they see cityscapes, some draw parallels to emptiness and some others see golf balls:). Its all good! That right there is what expressionism does to you. It gives you a chance to think about art in ways most suitable to you.

I just think it is his way of interpreting the news!!!!!!