Archive for the ‘The Art’ Category

Feb
20
2010

Lastly First


Wow, I am almost embarrassed to post an entry here since I have not posted anything since October 2009.  However, not totally true, I have many thoughts, ideas and ponders to post - several in the “edit” stage and have not earned the right to make the grade to make it “online”.  I have been on-line in several other social media avenues (namely but not limited to…) Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Biznik, myspace to name a few, but wholly cow, do you know how much time it takes JUST to get a thought posted on-line in each special charater limit to each flavor of the social media preference …

Yeah, yeah I know, I keep hearing it….people telling me to just Twitter from your iPhone, Crackberry, PalmPre etc., correct?  If I was THAT connected, I know for sure that I would never get the  things done that I need to get done.  You know, the small little things that keep the gallery ticking….. that teeny little thing called “painting”.

Let's Paint!

Let's Paint!

I have so many things to share here on the blog and will make an effort to get more out, sooner than later. I miss the fun creative writing portion of my creativity, but it does take time and when you run your own gallery, greeting customers, networking, hosting events, building awareness, working with your community and walking my dog, there is little time to spread the love per se.  I promise to do better because I know how fun blogs are to read and I hope that you can capture some enjoyment from being here and hang in there with me… let’s look at this way, ride the wave and go with the flow.

I am in the process of working on another entry of ” a day in the life….” paralleled from the series “24″, a up to the minute snapshot of my day in the life as a working artist.  I do, however feel the need to organize the blog entry and that’s the hard part…  So, with the same feeling of how the day really goes I will document as a photojournalist would with their camera as their canvas;  honest, to the point, gritty, grimy, sincere, gory, frustrating, elated, tired, giddy all in one fell swoop.  I am sure this will not be a “news at 10″ type of documentation series, but perhaps a fun project that can be interactive as well.  I will select Wednesday, February 24th from 9am to 9pm as the docu-day.

I cannot promise any sort of outlandish predictions, but at least getting this will be an interesting project and perhaps some fun therapy in the perspective  process.

Till then… ciao!

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Aug
16
2009

Romantic Patina

Creativity does not just appear, one needs to be inspired and rejuvenated.

When do you get inspired…? What makes you tick…? Are you creative on the fly, or is it a desire… a craving… a fad… or perhaps a need…?

For most of the creative type of folk, it’s difficult to move with the motivation of being inspired, it is not unusual to procrastinate on this craving when it surfaces. Oh yeah, stop making that “face” you know you procrastinate, You do, I do, we all do… accept this and move on!

So, what’s the problem, no note book to jot the idea down, no pencil, no drive…? This may be the perfect introduction to journaling, this way you always have your arsenal at a moments reach. Book and pens/pencils, right there. read - set - go! Journaling is a fun way to be creative, especially mobile-wise and on the go. It’s not just writing or doodling, it’s a large scale creative outlet involving personal perspective, pencils, pens, painting, pasting and passion.

I am one of those people that when I write something down, I get a mental memo and remember it more so than if I type it or verbally state it out loud. (Sideline note: People that know me really well, are aware that I do this and they area also aware that that memo will retain in my mind for a long time. It kind of freaks people out too).

Dale Chihuly Glass

Dale Chihuly Glass

There is something to be said for the “studies” that artists create, I feel that these are the pieces that are most vulnerable, honest, energetic an to a point rather romantic. Even folks that create in the large 3-D format, the studies that mature for these are amazing. I once heard
American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly discussing the creation and history and facilitation of Venitian glass sculpture exhibit. Chihuly is simply fascinating and truly inspiring. During one of the cooling process of the glass he described it as having a “Romantic Patina”. These two words have stuck with me for quite some time, there is something about it that lingers bold creativity.

Simple statements with such powerful meaning. Carefree colors with simplistic hues. Prolific inspirations with tenacious perseverance. This is not a fad or a gimmick, it is a love for what you do, what you create and how it’s executed. The love for excellence.

Need I say more…?


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Jun
07
2009

Tall Dark and Handsome

I love history and creation of monumental architecture and monuments. Modern marvels that will engulf you into amazement and true awe.  The creation of the fine things in life are the ones that are the most grand, visual and practically unobtainable.

Antonio Gaudí

Antonio Gaudí

For instance, Antonio Gaud, the Spanish Catalan architect who belonged to the Modernist style - Art Nouveau movement and was famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs.
Gaud, throughout his life, studied nature’s angles and curves and incorporated them into his designs. Instead of relying on geometric shapes, he mimicked the way men stood upright.

Just short of three years after Gauds passing, Frank Gehry was born a few thousand miles away to eventually become another notorious architect who’s work was not only criticized for his unconventional design methods, however embraced by many. Thus taking the unusual and making it a reality. His designs of buildings that mimicked crinkled dented boxes and slick metal formations that keep the eye adventurous through light and shadows.

Truly amazing and incredibly inspiring.

Frank Gheary

Frank Gheary

I admire the gumption that these artists retained. For myself,  in most cases when someone tells me that I cannot do something or should never try something - it’s my passport to the rebellious nature that tells me different.

I find this style of tenacious mentality of the “auto-dismiss” very intriguing - imaging that… people who actually want others to fail and fall on their face is such an absurd waste if energy. Therefore challenging it to the extreme.

When I was in elementary school there were few people that were entertained by my “out of the lines” thought process. I often got criticized and put down by educators for having the imagination to for see elements in such a distorted dimension. Go figure…

I get asked often where I received my degree in fine art or where I received my masters degree… I simply state that I am a graduate of the UHK… University of Hard Knocks. Basically, a lifetime of hard earned learning, scrapes and knowledge. Just making it happen… Now now, do not think that I am dissing’ the educational system, but for some strange reason I have always felt that all of the self marketing and having the no fear attitude in business was perfectly normal. I mean, doesn’t everyone think in this way?

Cosmo Politician - Dark City

Cosmo Politician - Dark City 2002

Proving to myself more than to try and prove things to others was also a no-brainer. It is what it is and you “just do it!”  The more interesting and bizarre my works or ideas were (are), the better and more energetic the outcome is. True from the heart is what I feel and I never ask anyone for permission for creative freedom.

Never had and I can wager to say … I never will.    :o)

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Apr
27
2009

The Imagination Factory

I have this strange uncanny ability to remember things from decades ago that seem to be seared into this database I call a brain. Thoughts of things that were scary to me as a child appear in my mind as if it were yesterday, I flash back to being in the second grade and my brother tormenting me with the TV guide of just only the print of the words “Creature Feature”.  However, in my mind I can visualize a scary face just within that text.  Scary monsters were just a small portion of what my imagination had in store for me, I had a plethora of things that were of other scary sorts, getting in trouble in class was scary, falling down and scabbing up my knees from my untied shoes was scary. Going to sleep in the dark without a book to read and fall asleep to was really scary… there was always something hiding under my bed…

Some Things are Scary - Book 1969

Some Things are Scary - Book 1969

It seemed back in the day there was not as much visual stimulation as there is today, the scary things of this generation are they are right there, pretty much in your face  - plastered all over the movie posters, commercials,  Internet, magazines etc., the imagination factory is out of business… maybe… or just on temporary leave.

I believe that the power to create in my own mind was acceptable. I mean heck, it was just me thinking this, it did not seem unacceptable, to me at least. I am perfectly fine and the objects or visions that I create with my over stimulated power of thought was just darned normal. I was the hardest critic on myself and that lead to stride for perfection.

At the age of 8, I  had a cardboard store in my room, the fascination with being a business owner was truly a spectacular thought, I had imaginary customers, my made up products, a typewriter for my register and my dog Snoopy to keep me company. In my mind my imaginary store was an entrepreneurial enterprise.  This is what I believe was the right way to do things, I just emulated what I saw the department stores do, how the commercials marketed their products and it all made sense.

Today as an artist, a business owner, designer and marketeer of a very visually centric style of products and business model, I take the things that in my life that were/are scary, enticing, flavorful, disappointing, disturbing and for the most part, comical and use my imagination to give life to something so visually interesting. 

Dream City - Created 2000

Dream City - Created 2000

Creation, straight from the brain is the best way to catch and release the most in depth inner workings of ones self. I used to the one most feared by my own imagination for how wild it would got, but after many years of conditioning my thoughts and getting closure to the silliness of it all, I have such a pretty ecclectic database of thoughts and memories, these are sure to explode into something that will truly tell a story about who I am and what’s really ticking. 

Hmmmm, maybe that ‘is’ scary after all.

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Apr
20
2009

The Distillery

I think one of the most interesting things of being a creative person is the ability to run with an idea, no matter how wild, crazy, conservative and perhaps to a degree… on the fringe.

distill_create

Brainfizz of creativity!

Day to day encounters can often lead into a myriad of interesting visuals, to take an experience and distill it into a fun piece of artwork that really tells a story - a mini peek into the thought process that never stops, one that keeps on rolling and rolling to every second of a day.

No artificial flavors or preservatives, no paper, no plastic, no caffeine or alcohol. Just the sheer romantic patina etched by melding thoughts assured to become something memorable. I create straight from momentum - off the top of my head, when working in this way I know that the emotions will rule the feeling and dictate the power of creation. Often the emotion factor works quicker than what the paintbrush can accommodate, it can truly be thrill seeking and intoxicating all at the same time.

The freshness aspect to this process is vital, it cannot ferment for too long as the flavors will simply dissipate and the finished works will never be the same as intended. Thinking positive and by turning uneventful encounters in your life, distilling and processing into fun flavors is a good thing. Be creatively adventurous and let those juices flow - no matter what!

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Mar
22
2009

My Darling Clementine ~ Orange ya Happy?

What do I wear today? For me it can be a challenge, especially for those of you who know me well will  attest to the fact that I am a fanatic for the easy essentials and ultimate comfort. Yup you guessed it… Adidas.  Mainly all the way around, the shoes, the pants, the flattering zip up the front jacket. Do I *have* to dress up today, who’s coming to the gallery, what have I got going on…? Do I really need to keep apologizing for my backroom-casual-everyday-is-casual-day-wardrobe?

This morning was different, I needed to get to the gallery pronto but felt the need to dress more than sweat attire. I grabbed the first top I could grab in the closet (that was clean), an orange sporty zip up top and usual black pants. Not having time to grab a quick bite, I snatch up a couple of these little “California Cuties“, little compact cute as heck oranges with the E-Z Peel skin that makes it very easy to eat on the go. 

Cuties - California Clementines

Cuties - California Clementines

Stopping at the Home Depot to exchange something - I felt as though people looking at me like I was some sort of source of instant information… oh yes, the orange shirt, yeah, well, ok. .. I blend.  I quickly get my goods and dash out before getting bombarded with questions on caulking and sandpaper.

Driving into downtown Campbell, I see a few orange trees that are being pulled to the sidewalk by the clusters and clusters of oranges hanging on them, some have made an escape and have fallen to the ground. Darn, if I wasn’t in a such a hurry I would have pulled over and saved a few of those precious gems…

Orange ya Happy...?

Orange ya Happy...?

I get into the gallery and it just sort of hit me that there is a theme happening here… some sort of citrus infused muse trying to tell me something.

Viola!

I immediately had our sales associate Andrew remove all of the front window display of the February themed *red* flavors and we were going to give this window a fresh facelift. It wasn’t hard to select a few paintings, watches, mini pop art and other orange infused artworks to make the window display look smashing!

It is the small things in life that I thrive on, the simple gesture of something  small and thoughtful. A small juicy fruit on the way to a hectic day can in some odd way, dictate how the day will unfold. Inspiration comes and goes like a flash, it truly unpredictable and never knowing when it will surface can truly be a treat… in more ways than one!  Now… orange *you* happy…?

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Mar
05
2009

Greetings!

Welcome to my new blog!

I’m so glad you are visiting because I am going to share with you what drives and inspires me and why I do what I do.  I will be documenting my adventures and experiences in life as well as sharing my thoughts, stories, dreams, and projects with other artists. I had a blog on MySpace, but I wanted to have a more personal presence that was easier to access… so my favorite writings from that are now posted here.

I welcome my family, friends, collectors, clients, colleagues and anyone who wants to know more about me and why I do what I do.  Please do leave comment when you visit and feel free to subscribe to keep up to date on what’s happening in my creative brain.  I’m all about connecting and I want to hear your thoughts and ideas too.

Cheers ~
Sonya Paz

p.s. If you haven’t done so yet, please visit my website & on-line store at SonyaPaz.com

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