About a month ago I was searching online for private or public painting classes. I came across the Barn Studio of Art, founded by Pat Witt. She is a landscape painter I had heard of and looked into what the studio had to offer. After seeing the web site and reading the following I had to take classes here! The Barn Studio of Art is dedicated to cultivating the love of arts in people of all ages and abilities. The Barn Studio of Art will nurture the study of art and nature throughout the community in a non-competitive, creative, developmentally appropriate and positive atmosphere. I signed up for the week long intensive landscape painting workshop. With multiple instructors mastering different mediums and techniques, I came away with more knowledge then I anticipated and more excited on landscape painting then I have ever been. Seeing areas of New Jersey that I have never been to was such a treat. Some of the locations were so mystical and held many stories. I had a 1 hour 20 minute commute  to and from our painting locations. Each day starting at 9 a.m. until 4-5 p.m. depending on how scorching the sun decided to be that day. If anyone is interested in expanding into landscape painting and are in the area of New Jersey, I would take this week long workshop! With amazing instructors and students, it was a very interactive creative experience. Here are a few photos I would like to share of my week.

Wanted to say thank you to Neil from Tattoo Revolution for the nice interview in issue 7. Thanks Neil !!

I just wanted to share in a quick update on my Gia project. As I mentioned below in a previous post, I had made my sister and new niece my primary focus in my current artistic endeavor. I started with driving to New Jersey to share the last few weeks of my sister’s pregnancy with her, and get the plaster molds completed before she went into labor. With 2 molds complete, torso and belly before the birthday of Gia all I had to work on was painting the molds and collecting my props. Going through the 22 hours of natural labor, side by side with my sister; it was an incredible experience. Though at the end of it all the doctors suggested surgery, so they swooped her away. Baby Gia ended up in intensive care for a few days and I wasn’t able to hold her through her plastic cradle until 4 days later. The most tiny strongest human I know… just like her mommy.  A few days after Gia finally came home for the first time, I dove right into my project with the consent of my sister.  This project is not over yet but here is my vision so far that I would love to share with you…. “Fragile”

Well, I hit the road a few weeks ago… driving from my Breckenridge Colorado home to New Jersey for some quality family time. My sister Jaime was expecting a new baby the end of April. My new niece entered the world April 30, 2011 at 5:14 a.m. Baby Gia Diamond has been the focus of my artistic ventures before and after her arrival. Currently this project is still unfolding, yet I wanted to share a few images until my final chosen photographs and future paintings emerge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Spring travels have kick started in Bordentown New Jersey’s Timeless Tattoo… What great shop with a tight talented crew! Always so welcoming when I visit here with some great tattoo clients! I have extended my stay so if you are interested in getting tattooed while I am working in New Jersey please send me an email request through my contact page above. Next stop  I have a few days the end of May at Gabe Ripley’s Off The Map Tattoo. This is my first time visiting his Massachusetts shop and looking forward to it! Still have a few openings available.

In June I will be tattooing at Aces High Tattoo in West Palm Beach Florida. I currently have June 9th open.  The end of June I will be back in Colorado but for a short 2 weeks!!!  June 17th, 23, and 25th are open as of now. Those wont last long so hurry…   Keep posted for July openings in New Jersey, August Club Tattoo (fills fast once those dates post) and Hell City Phx I am BOOKED!  Stay Tuned for up-dates and future “Gia” art work. Have a wonderful Spring! See you on my travels xoxo

Well, my long awaited trip to Australia has now come and gone. Leaving the snow for mid-summer down under was not that bad since I am quite temperamental of the heat, until a few heat waves cruised through. But I did enjoy the sun on my skin! Queensland was so beautiful and tropical. I met up with my beautiful, talented friend Jo Harrison and her fella Matt. Seriously, the sweetest couple ever! Surf n’ Ink was new for me, and everyone down there was so welcoming and helpful. Even though it was heavy on everyone’s minds of the horrible flooding that was happening just north of us. Queensland had been hit with so many storms, and the floods were horrendous. Before I even arrived and it is still occurring since a cyclone hit the same areas the day after my departure. Artists from around the world and myself, came together to do a few art fusion pieces, that were auctioned off and all proceeds of sales went to the victims of the Queensland floods. I hope the sun shines on them soon.

The second leg of my trip brought me down to the Rites of Passage Fest in Melbourne. This was held in the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building. I was able to do a walk through Thursday before, thanks to event coordinator Claire Reid… and I was in awe of the interior. “Carpe  Diem”  The Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens were completed in 1880 for Melbourne’s first international exhibition, a product of the optimism, enthusiasm and energy of the people of Melbourne in the late-19th century. It felt all so perfect in Melbourne’s hip city, full of ethnic foods, arts, music and architecture. I did a few really fun tattoos, met so many new wonderful faces and had a chance to catch up with old ones. I can’t wait to visit again, and again. Thanks to Kim for a home away from home! Misses and kisses until next year.
For now February and March I will be here in Colorado. April I maybe making a trip to AZ before heading to NJ…. so stay tuned for updates…see you soon xoxo  p.s. here’s a neat link http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/01/21/285295_gossip-news.html