31 days down, 334 go. Today marked the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards ad it was a blast as usual.
From the overwhelming positive responses towards this project and the internal strength I have gained so far from expressing my I feel really good about this year. I'm gonna go as far as to predict that next year I will not only be a Grammy nominee, but a winner multiple times over. A tall order it might seem but i think this project is really supercharging my creativity in many ways. The music I have written and recorded in the last month including my Haiti tribute song 'Rescue Me' which can be downloaded below for free are some of the best I've ever written. My mother used to say "reach for the stars and you just might land on the moon". Here is my quote although not as eloquent as my mothers but rather blunt and simple "what good is having ambition if you can't be ambitious sometimes".
Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy. I will be using this color for its earlier association. However I can't overlook the fact that unchecked ambition can lead to greed which go hand in hand with jealousy. No wonder they are all associated with the same color. With all that said, I am still left with the question of what image to use to depict my ambition for Grammy awards in 2011? Ho about I introduce something that I haven't used since I began the project...letters. Perhaps the number 2011 or better yet just 11. But knowing me, there has to me more layers to what I choose to paint than meets the eye. I like the number 11 to represent the year of RIZ but how about painting it in it's Roman Numeral representation; XI. That's it, I will add the Roman Numeral for 11 on my gold record. Eureka!!
Here is a closer look.
30 days down, 335 go. Can you feel it in the air...the Grammys are coming. Tonight officially kicked off the two-night Grammy celebrations, the biggest event for musicians like me. It's a time when we get to be recognized by out peers for all the work we have done. It's also a time to network and schmooze with music's biggest superstars all under one roof. I just got back from Clive Davis annual Grammy dinner for nominees and friends. In attendance were Rihanna, Slash, Adam Lambert, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Hudson, Keri Hilson, Neyo, to name a few. We were served a three course meal while chart toppers like The Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha, ets, took the stage. Here is a picture to Clive and I.
So obviously my paintings for the next these two days are gonna be Grammy inspired. Tonight I will be painting a classic phonographic record (the best way to hear music by the way) because any true musician or music lover would appreciate the acoustic richness of a record over any digital form of music. Also we all have seen the actual Grammy trophy in all it's golden glory, I thought it best to not just paint an actual trophy but paint what it represents. You see every Grammy nominee is voted on strictly by music industry insiders. So it an award by peers and thus it truly represents the epitome of music which I relate to the phonographic record. Actually the Grammy trophy is a gramophone and so I just took it one step further and painted what gives every gramophone life...the record it plays.
I will be painting it with the color gold because the first plateau every artist strives for is a gold record. Also the Grammy trophy is cold plated. So there you go. I should have one adorning my mantle piece soon enough. Here is a pic of Clive Davis and I. If you don't know who he is, he is a legend in music...the true genius behind the American Idol phenomenon and many of music's greats like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Alecia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, P. Diddy, Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Jimmie Spheeris, Electric Flag, Santana, The Chambers Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, Andy Pratt, Chicago, Billy Joel, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Pink Floyd, etc.
So here is what I came up with. I decided to paint half of it behind my sun from Day because as the sun is the center of the universe, music is the center of my universe. So in effect the center of my universe both literally and figuratively is the sun and music, two equal halves as represented in the painting.
Here is a closer look.
29 days down, 336 go. Today my trainer told me the only way I can keep up and maintain my sexy is by "doing numbers". I guess in the fitness world, "doing numbers" means doing a good number of reps with every fitness routine. Not focusing on bigger weights but rather sticking to manageable weights that you can get the most reps out of without compromising you strength buildup. I've always thought the bigger the weight or resistance, the better it is for building muscle. But I've been schooled. Apparently if you keep going up in weight and resistance, you muscle keeps expanding but without any definition. So you look big but not fit. I prefer the latter because with big weights, you can only get through a few reps. Repetition is the key to getting that chiseled Brad Pitt Fight Club cut. So do your numbers people and you too can be like Brad Pitt...that's the morale of of the story. lol.
So today strength is gonna make another appearance in my painting but nut just strength but endurance. The color red is sad to represent endurance because you usually see it when things (especially machines) reach their breaking point. And since the body is a machine, I will paint my triangle red. Again I'm hard pressed to find any other representation for strength better than the triangle which is nature's most strongest bond. I will add this triangle within my larger triangle further segmenting into five smaller triangles from four.
Here is a closer look.
28 days down, 337 go. As usual and true to form, reps from the opposing party to the president's party were in full force today all over the media shooting down just about everything the president proposed in his State Of The Union address last night. Again it goes both was as the same was done when the other team was in power. However there is nothing like true unity behind the common good. That's when the good in America shines through like after 9/11 and also recently with the earthquakes in Haiti. That's what's severely lacking in Washington today. How soon they forget the strength of unity. It's just like high school over there with the he said she said and either side eagerly waiting to catch the other side slipping.
So with that in mind, I decided to further emphasize the division between both partied on my painting by adding a crack between both parties.
Here is a closer look.
27 days down, 338 go. Picking what to paint today was kinda tough cuz everyone who know me, knows I go nuts for everything Apple except the iphone. I've already given my heart to Blackberry but I digress. Today marked the unveiling of Apple's new magic tablet dubbed the Ipad. And as you can imagine, I was gripped with ipad fever all day no scratch that, all month. I gat to have one. Today was also Obama's State Of The Union address so you can imagine what I had to go through emotionally and mentally to pick what to paint about today. I'm not equating the release of the ipad to a State Of The Union address but if you're a geek like me, the ipad is kind of a big deal.
Choices are never a bad thing because they give you the opportunity to critically analyze both options and figure out what is best for the situation at hand. so logically, I went with the State Of The Union address.
Obama never fails to deliver an amazing orator experience. Despite whether you agree with what hes saying or not, you definitely like the war he is saying it. However I couldn't help but notice the obvious division in the audience between the Democrats and Republicans. Again and again you would see an entire side of the audience stand up and applause and the other side sitting and unresponsive. So this led me to the theme of today which is 'Division'.
This deep seated partisan politics that has plagued Washington and it's the reason why nothing gets done. So I felt compelled to express this in my painting and I already have the perfect spot for it. I will incorporate it into the traffic jam depiction from day 5 by including the signature red and blue colors to represent the Democrats and the Republicans. The traffic jam will also symbolize the gridlock that plagues Washington and their law making decisions and in the driver seat right in front of all that gridlock sits the blue and red; the Democrats and Republicans. Both parties are equally culpable in this problem and that's why they both get equal shine as ringleaders in this circus that we call the legislative branch of government.
Here is a closer look.
26 days down, 339 go. Initially, I had already decided to paint another drop of rain to my rainfall because as predicted yesterday, we were gonna see some more rain today. However after having dinner at my favorite Thai food restaurant in the known galaxy Original Thai I cracked open my fortune cookie and it read "Your talents are in fine shape utilize them to their fullest". After reading this, I felt a sense of conviction befall me because I was doing just that. No just sticking to my day job which is music, but expanding my creative prowls...perhaps strengthening my creative muscles by expressing myself in ways beyond music.
So I'm gonna do something creative today...as fortune cookie are often associated with good luck, Id like to paint something that represents good luck not just for me but for everyone that would see this picture and read this blog. The idea of what to paint hit me like a lightening bolt. Since I already have a rainbow in my painting and rainbows are often associated with good fortune and the sign of better things to come, I have to build on it. And what is mythically said to exist at the end of a rainbow...a pot of gold. So a pot of gold it is. But knowing me, it cannot just be that simple. Where else can I take this?
In Irish folklore, pots of gold are said to be owned by Leprechauns and Leprechauns are associated with the four leaf clover which is green. I haven't used green much yet in my painting except for in the rainbow. So this is perfect for my next addition to the painting...a four leaf clover.
Here's a closer look.
25 days down, 340 go. Yes the rainfall is upon us in Los Angeles again. I can feel it at our doorstep just waiting to shower us with all it's might tomorrow. I didn't have to consult the weather man or that, all I did was take a look outside and gloomy it was. I don't know if I can take another week of rainfall because if you're like me, you don't feel motivated when it rains. For some reason when it rains, I just wanna stay home and do nothing. That's not good because I have soooo much to do this week including preparing for a concert in Chicago later on this month.
So what will I be painting today? I know whatever it is, it had to have a lot of gray in it. Perhaps some prison bars over my music wave symbol from day 4. This will best express my feeling of being caged in when it rains. And like I mentioned earlier, I have a ton of work to do i.e. my day job which is music. So when you throw the impending rain into the mix, I wont be able to accomplish much music wise. Thus I feel like my music is gonna be behind bars tomorrow. So I present to you 'music behind bars'.
Here is a closer look.
24 days down, 341 go. Today marked the first day with my new fitness trainer. Whether or not he is going to get me looking like Vin Diesel still remains to be seen. However I believe the best way to sell something is to show how well it has worked out for you. So in that case I am hopeful.
So as I said on day 12, the strongest structure in nature is a triangle. And I used a the color black in painting my triangle then. Today, I will be painting another triangle but this time around, I'm using the color white. I chose white for the simple fact that my relationship and trust for my new trainer is a blank slate as we begin our sessions together. Also my body is a blank slate in terms of his results. So as time goes on, I will be adding more to this slate depending on the results I get from him training me.
As you can clearly see, inserting this new triangle has in effect given me 4 triangles to play with. Here is a closer look.
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We are all horrified by the tragedy that recently befell Haiti. We all need to do what we can to help the people of Haiti rebuild their nation and their lives.
I have written and recorded a tribute song as a memorial to the people of Haiti and you can download it below. If you feel moved by the song as I was moved to create, please click on the 'DONATE' button below and give what you can. No amount is too small. All proceeds will go towards the Haiti relief efforts. Thank you and keep Haiti in your prayers.
23 days down, 342 go. I guess yesterdays rainbow was a sign of better things to come because the almighty sun finally came out today after almost a week of hiding. At long last it seemed, I could finally take a jog out to my local 24 Hour Fitness and get my gym on. However the weather still had a slight chill to it. I attribute that to a residual effect of the tremendous marine layer that just passed over us...pardon my geography lingo. This welcome surprise is my inspiration for today's painting.
Bearing in mind that I already had the sun depicted on my painting from day 4, all I could do was add to it. So I gave my sun some signature flares, just like we see in cartoons and illustrations. Also to show my gratitude to the rainbow for forecasting today's much welcomed sunshine, I took a trip down to my local art supply store Michaels, and got a premixed violet, a crisper shade of green and a lighter shade of blue to better present my rainbow in the painting. So you will notice a few changes on it from yesterday.
Here is a closer look.
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We are all horrified by the tragedy that recently befell Haiti. We all need to do what we can to help the people of Haiti rebuild their nation and their lives.
I have written and recorded a tribute song as a memorial to the people of Haiti and you can download it below. If you feel moved by the song as I was moved to create, please click on the 'DONATE' button below and give what you can. No amount is too small. All proceeds will go towards the Haiti relief efforts. Thank you and keep Haiti in your prayers.
22 days down, 343 go. Today the sun came out for a brief moment, peeking through the dense clouds that has brought with it so much rainfall to the LA area in the last week. Oh what a beautiful sight is was and if you don't believe me, check out the pic below.
You can clearly see the dense clouds almost blocking out the sun but a few rays managed to make it through and gave Los Angeles it's first official rainbow on the new decade.
Evidently this is gonna be my inspiration for tonight session. Getting all the colors of the rainbow would be a little tricky because it's gonna involve mixing a few primary colors here and there. However I feel that if rainbow came all the way ti LA today from where ever rainbows come from, I should be up to the challenge of mixing a few colors...that's the least I can do.
Here is a closer look.
As you can see, I had a little problem mixing the indigo and violet portions of the rainbow. Towards the end, all the colors seemed to just blend together into one darkish unidentifiable hue. So I might have to make a run to my local art store and grab some premixed indigo and violet to better portray my rainbow. But you get the idea for now.
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We are all horrified by the tragedy that recently befell Haiti. We all need to do what we can to help the people of Haiti rebuild their nation and their lives.
I have written and recorded a tribute song as a memorial to the people of Haiti and you can download it below. If you feel moved by the song as I was moved to create, please click on the 'DONATE' button below and give what you can. No amount is too small. All proceeds will go towards the Haiti relief efforts. Thank you and keep Haiti in your prayers.
Here is a closer look.
