Album Cover Design

Here's an album cover I designed for local band "Blond Fuzz." CLick here for the article by Reed Fischer at the Broward/Palm Beach New Times about my creative process.

"Stop It!"

It's so easy for the mind to wander forward to fears of the unknown or back into reactions derived from the past...the trick is to train the puppy-like mind to "sit and stay" in the present moment. Here's a great technique as demonstrated by Bob Newhart ;)



Thank you to Yogi E of Yoga Pura for passing this along.

"Once"

Watched a movie that was recommended to me by the all knowing and powerful, Netflix. If you haven't stopped wasting your money on cable tv and just signed up for Netflix, I'd recommend it now. That in combination with FREE books and DVD and CD rentals from the library are more information than anyone could ever hope to take in. Plus reading a couple of choice Blogs or two. ;)

So this movie was about an Irish street musician who meets a girl and they make beautiful music together. What I loved most was that in real life the actors actually were musicians/actors and the won an Academy Award for the music that they wrote specifically for this movie. Listen to this song and you will know why:


As they wandered around the city I was reminded of the series "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke who were each actors/musicians who ad libbed 90% of the movies. Both worth checking out.

Blessed.

All things inspired have a tendency to come to me in the morning, before I've let the weight of the days tasks inside my head. Before I step to the computer to see how everyone else seems to be so far ahead of me. I tend to find my inspiration through quite moments of writing while drinking a cup of tea. I had the most perfect spot in my old apartment where I would read and write and drink my tea while feeling the sun filter through the shades. This self-portrait was born of those moments.



I remember reading somewhere a person who was saying that when they were young they felt the pressure to "have it all." Meaning the great apartment, the amazing relationship/family, a great career..all of the typical wants that people think will make them happy. Then she realized at a certain point that you can have it all, maybe just not at the same time. So then it becomes so important to truly value that which is before you. Count your blessings! I do believe I shouldn't free-write on the computer. In the years that I've been free-writing I take approximately 20 minutes (or longer) to write everything that appears in my thoughts. A to-do list, memories of dreams, things I want and things that sometimes just flow out of the pen beyond what I could've ever conjured up by allowing my thoughts to get involved. This is an amazing exercise to just move energy. For some reason I'm on the computer typing away today and I realized the reason I shouldn't do this on the computer is that:

#1 I can't see my handwriting.
#2 I never read back through my free-writing because if there's emotional things there's a tendency to get drawn back into them once you read it. Writing is a form of letting go
#3 I can't tell when I've reached my three pages!

So for all of these reasons I think I need to stick to the page for this exercise. But one of my to-do list items is to update my blog. I have a hard time thinking people actually want to read about my "stuff." Maybe there will be a day when I'm able to structure this more. Right now I just jumping from yoga to photography to free-writing ;) When all else fails, post some photos ;)

Enjoy your day!
May you realize the quality of your blessings...

"Love Music" Maternity Session

I couldn't be happier with how the images turned out in my latest triple maternity session! These girls are all affiliated with John Ralston's Invisible Music which is why I wanted to do a music themed image. The lucky babies have already been exposed to some of the greatest music in South Florida ;) Just watch this Invisible Music clip as an example:



Do you agree?

p.s. The clip was filmed by Robert Rutherford, aka "Gingerman" Please check out more of his clips as he's got great dedication to filming what music is what here in S. Florida. He's also a nice guy.

Inspirations Part I: Ernst Haas, Photographer

I first learned of phtographer Ernst Haas in one of my earliest classes while attending the Art Institute of Ft Lauderdale. I remember my instructor, Diane Blazy talking about how Haas was a photo-journalist for Life Magazine who was never really given assignments but was allowed to travel and send back his work for publication. If you see his images, you'll immediately know why. For example, the "Snow Lovers" image below was one of the first to capture my attention:

I feel the beauty is in the art of seeing the image in the frst place. Take a look at this image as well, another one of my favorites for it's abstract perfection, a black and white image entitled, "New Mexico":

There are so many more if you'd like to explore his work further at this website.

What is most intriguing is that along with Haas's photos, it seems to me that his philosophies are of great depth as well. His quotes have been especially inspirational as well which leads me to believe that much more in his artistic vision. Here are just a few of the quotes I have used in my journey as an artist;

"Photography is a bridge between science and art. It brings to science what it needs most,the artistic sence, and to art the proof that nothing can be imagined which cannot be matched in the counterpoints of nature."

"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE."

"There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are."

Fresh Art: Monica McGivern

When Collen Doughner of City Link Magazine called, I was a little concerned about the two cups of coffee I had just drank on an empty stomach. I am happy to share that she expertly sifted through my ramblings to create this piece about me as an artist:

Fresh Art: Monica McGivern

Did Andy Warhol predict this? I'd like to hope the "15 minutes of fame" allows me to showcase all of those people who have inspired me along the way!

My husband, for example...