My latest painting

this untitled piece was done for a client for her cape house. the inspiration for this dyptic is the ocean, the need for color in the room it's to be displayed, shapes of objects that interested me in the room, and the earthiness the entire house invokes. it's surprisingly less complicated image-wise compared to past works, yet still painstakingly detailed in my own visual style.











as with other recent paintings, i've wrapped a second border (or layer) of canvas and newspaper around the edges of each stretched painting to give a sense of depth and slight tactility.







i was pleased how some of the added layer of material withered away after being painted and the canvas underneath shown through.
















originally intended to be a triptych, the simplistic nature of the design chosen by the client from various sketches of mine fit better on two 15"x30" canvases. the diptych better breaks up the space of the wall the painting will be assigned to.

My moment of a lifetime

it's no secret that i've been a fan of actress/singer lynda carter and because of her, wonder woman, the amazon princess who rights wrongs and often makes allies of enemies, a character carter famously portrayed in the mid to late seventies on television. flash forward to now and lynda is on a cd signing tour with barnes & noble promoting her third album (which I blogged about not long ago). i finally had my moment of a lifetime when i met the woman who inspired me to read comic books, that germinated my interest in art, and thus my teaching art as a career!

almost two hours before lynda was due to appear a line began to form. my boyfriend and i decided i would wait in line with cd in hand while he fetched lunch, we would eat while we waited. the crowd was a mix of anxious lifelong fans of lynda and curious onlookers hoping to catch sight of the latest celebrity to visit boston. i was pleased i made friends in the crowd to keep my mind of the clock and also to help forget my nervousness of meeting my childhood idol. without warning, lynda appeared thanking everyone for showing up! i was immediately taken aback at how strikingly beautiful this woman was -- a well earned reputation she garnered over the years.


almost immediately lynda began signing cd covers and answering questions. everyone was in awe, but lynda wasn't the least bit pretentious and seemed rather gracious to even those few fans who were ... over the top.








when my turn came to meet lynda i was afraid i would begin to babble, but lynda's poise and soft blue eyes seemed to help put me more at ease as i expressed my gratitude for the precious memories she gave me.


















i couldn't contain my excitement when lynda realized who i was after a short facebook exchange days prior when i posted a painting of wonder woman done by one of my students (age 6)!














While our conversation was brief, this moment building up for over twenty something years will be unforgettable!

Getting ready for summer via music

the anticipation of my favorite season, summer, is quickly building as new music by popular artists hits the airwaves and i rediscover music from the past i may have overlooked. here's a new playlist that rapidly developed in a day or two time.

Video Playlist Vol. 4

Beyond Wonder Woman there is a real chanteuse in lynda carter!

lynda carter has been all over the country in recent weeks promoting her third album, Crazy Little Things, from appearing on tv to touring her popular musical act in well-known clubs. major interest in carter stems from her role as television's original wonder woman as well as a new series starring the iconic character that's due to air later this year. but beyond the amazing amazon who regularly lassoed evildoers and the glamor carter has been exuding since the mid-seventies, there is a very soulful voice that is evident with this record. carter continues to take songs of bygone eras and adds her own twist with a little r&b, country, and rock & roll. these songs of different genres become a whole under carter's care into a more mellow contemporary blend. at first listen, my favorite remake was john denver's, "Leaving On a Jet Plane", a melodic ballad carter has now made all her own. also to compliment carter's vocals is an outstanding band that highlights the songstress in magnificent ways (check out, "Let the Good Times Role") into a perfect blend of harmonic beauty and excitement. friends who have seen carter's show tell me she and said band are amazing live, judging my what is heard with this cd, i would whole heartily agree. there are a few tracks that when listening you can't help but start shaking from side to side, "Choo Choo" being a prime example! overall this is a fun new album from a hollywood legend who's doing what she loves to do and the proof is here with, Crazy Little Things, available in record stores or online today.

Music to inspire you

getting to my painting studio outside of the state has proven difficult as of late so i'll be working on some creative projects from home as i have no classes to teach on mondays. i've created an extended playlist of tunes that have inspired me over the years in one form or another. perhaps you'll find they do (or have done) the same for you. cheers!

Video Playlist Vol. 3

Ready to dance?

it's a new month and i've created a new playlist of top 40, this one dedicated to motivate you to get out of your seat and dance! enjoy!

Video Playlist Vol. 2

Staying fresh

i've always secretly appreciated my ability to stay ahead of so called trends, particularly those of music, art, and fashion. friends and newcomers alike often give me compliments for my tastes in clothes, music, activities, and creative ideas. the truth is, i made a conscious decision not to pay heed to popular followings, rather do my own thing whether it be the "in" thing or not. with that in mind, i believe it's important to stay fresh, to update one's appearance, perspective, musical playlists, food pallet, etc -- to always continue to read, learn, and listen. i can never have enough new experiences! the important thing is to do it for me, what i like is what i like, there doesn't always have to be a reason. my more serious concern is to never be bored or fall into a rut, which can easily happen to any one of us - always mix it up. haters out there will demand i'm no more unique than the next guy, i would possibly agree with that. perhaps it's my confidence that i simply don't care of people's opinion of me that brings me more attention than the average joe. truthfully, i can't answer that.

the idea of this latest blog came to me on the way home from the salon. on an impulse i made an appointment for a cut at a place i've never been to. the overall experience wasn't much different from past salon visits, but having a new pair of eyes and hands overseeing my 'do was worthwhile enough to feel less guilt for not scheduling time with my usual stylist. without realizing it the co-owner and i began to open up about the importance of staying current in his line of work, also about inspiration for the both of us, artists in two very different fields. the more i thought of staying current, the more i realized it's a battle of futility. trends and fads are always changing, sometimes at such a fast pace that it's impossible to keep up. i much prefer my way of staying true to ones self and not focused on what's more popular.

that's not to say i don't regularly watch early morning MTV for the latest music videos, or check out the current issues of GQ, Vanity Fair, or the like. in fact i cultivate my ideas for my personal "look" and my own art and even my art lessons for my students from a number of sources. as i write i've begun to understand that i look back, as much as i look now or to the future. i love fashion from bygone eras, as well as the album artwork of albums decades old. used book stores always have hidden gems. comic books have always inspired me, from wanting to help others, to being the best i can be. i could go on and on, but instead i've decided to create a short list of resources i like to use to stay away from being stagnate or dull. if you're reading this and have your own list, please email it to me, i'm always interested in new and bright ideas to aid me in staying fresh!
1. 100 Years of Fashion Illustration
2. Jody Watley: StyleFile - Jody Watley knows, music, fashion, health and has used her gifts to inspire her fans and more for over twenty years.
3. Amazon Archives - The Amazing Amazon, Wonder Woman, is a fictional character, but of all the comic book characters I've read since I was young, none have had more of an impact than DC Comic's premiere heroine.
4. DapperLou.com - Ludget Delcy is a stylist with a keen eye for fashion, not just for himself or clients, but of those in his world of New York City - awesome stuff.
5. LPCover Lover
6. Cher: Forever Fit - Laugh if you must, but this book originally published in '91, purchased by my aunt, set me on the path to a better life through fitness and nutrition. I was nine years old.

New year, new beginnings, and new music!

it's been a rough start for the new year. i've had no less than three accidents on the road, all weather related, coupled with numerous unpaid snow days. one can imagine how far in the dumps i've been, but i've been blessed with some wonderful new and steady friends in my life that allow me to see the brighter side of life. i've been seeking out new music and artists to help make every day a successful party in some form or another. friends often comment on the music i play in my studio, classroom, car, or those tunes i post on facebook. below is a link to the first video playlist i've created for everyone's enjoyment!

un_taco video playlist vol. 1

Private art teacher

as of february 1st, 2011 i'll be accepting new clients for private art lessons in drawing, painting, and art history! i have been an independent artist and instructor for over three years, with a bachelor's degree in studio art, and i am currently pursuing my master's is art education. my paintings have been shown in galleries and art shows in and out of boston and i am enjoying a second year contract position as an educator of the worcester art museum. i bring an enthusiastic, professional, and detailed approach to any lesson. for more information please contact me at, swartstudio@gmail.com.

Self-promotion

as the director of youth programing and his staff finalize the winter and spring semesters at the worcester art museum, i'm pleased to confirm as of this posting two classes i'll be teaching!

starting january 11, 2011, FUNdamentals of Sculpture, 11-13 years old - students and i will start with basic sculpting materials and tools to produce individual pieces of art inspired by various works exhibited at the museum. as the semester progresses so will the creativity! surprises are in store for all involved as this learning experience expands a child's imagination and basic understanding of the fundamentals of sculpture!

starting march 19th, 2011, Painting Intensive, 14-17 years old - for the serious artist looking to perfect his/her skills and hone their talent in ways to prepare them for college, art school, and beyond. using my own personal and professional experiences as a student and artist, as well as historic stories of artists highlighted in the museum galleries, i will begin to introduce the career of the artist with its challenges and great rewards. a regular sketchbook will be kept, weekly critiques conducted, and work outside class will be assigned. a variety of techniques, tools, and materials will be used before each student begins one final piece to be shown in the musuem student show in mid spring.

also, starting as of february 1st, i'll be taking on new clients for private art lessons in anything studio art related or tutoring in art history. more on that later in the week!