Going Away For A While

I hope everyone had a lovely Holiday and here's hoping for a brilliant 2013. Myself, I will be hiding away for a while, collecting freshening breaths for my mind in any and every form I can gather. Although it seems I just finished my big show (in August), I have another on the horizon for Spring 2014 that I need to ready myself for now. I'm nothing but terribly eager for a change in life and therefore art and I'm going to grab it this very moment. I'd like to just strip myself down to my bare bones and build myself back beginning with a thankful and honest heart. I think that would be the best place to start and a great foundation for the person I would like to be. As always, the fruit my life bares dictates my painted work and I am so looking forward to reaching great heights in both arenas - even if it's quiet and the only witnesses are my own beloveds. So, my beloved visitors here, I hope your new year brings your own hearts thankfulness and happiness and I hope you reach great heights in your own arenas ~ whatever that may be. Here's a toast to finding an honest foundation and building up to the skies and heavens. HAPPIEST NEW YEAR!

Christmas For Christmas

As we only have 5 days until Christmas, I thought a Christmas Greeting here would be appropriate. I do believe all my Christmas tasks are finished, now alls I gotta do is try and enjoy these last moments of 2012. This pink Christmas Tree in my bedroom is definitely helping...

Here's to a Merry Christmas and a loveliest New Year!!

Geleaskins For Christmas

If you're still looking for that perfect gift for Christmas, head on over to Gelaskins and have a look around. They fit any format you need - laptop, games and phones - they even have hardcases for IPhones. You can choose from your favorite artists or make your own with any image your provide - that's why it's the perfect gift for anyone on your list (including yourself!)

New Paintings

I'm excited to finally share with you my two newest paintings that will be exhibiting at Miami Art Basel this week with the Corey Helford Gallery at Scope. This is "We Have Just This Moment" acrylic on wood measures 24"x36". Both these pieces are inspired by music. After having finished a large body of work in August for my last solo exhibition, I wanted to spend the moments creating these surrounded by music. Namely Pink Floyd. And more than just surrounded, encased. Letting the music fill my head completely and allow my imagination to roam freely. I ended up with a strong Wizard Of Oz feeling with "We Have Just This Moment" which took me back to memories of when I was little. Warm and safe and happy, and how it's gone in a flash. I have memories of being tucked in my bed at night in the winter and hearing the heater rattle on through the house. Feeling the satin trim of my blanket against my face and scrunching up into a ball to get warm. The thought that that might have been 30 years ago is just frightening to me.

And "I Can Sing To You Forever" acrylic on wood measures 20"x24". Again inspired by music, this one is about the isolation of love and the depths of letting yourself feel how you feel with no brakes or guards up or preconceived fears. "I Can Sing To You Forever" is a love note. Just a really embellished love note. :) ***Please contact the Corey Helford Gallery for pricing and availability!

Divulge Magazine and Christmastime

I had the pleasure of being the featured artist in Divulge Magazine back in October (I know, we're in December now...).

Now, I'm not the most relaxed person in front of a camera and I'm envious of those that are - but sometimes with the right person on the OTHER SIDE of that camera, I can find a little relaxation which was the case with Victoria Lara of Divulge Magazine. She put me right at ease and I found myself having a good time. Like for real.

Thank you Divulge Magazine and Victoria Lara for the pleasantest feature and making me feel at home...in my own home.

And now I'm feeling like Christmas, my most favorite time of year! Altho the decorations have been up in my place since the week after Halloween, it's just now starting to feel real with the rainy wet weather and all the jolly lights on houses.

Black Friday Holiday Sale!

Hello hello! Just popping in to announce the Black Friday Holiday Sale going on now at MY SHOP!! For those of you who choose not to be part of the~day~after~Thanksgiving Holiday shopping frenzy nightmare ~ stay home, relax and have a look around my shop! Affordable original art goodies to be had that fit spectacularly underneath your Christmas Tree.

Something Wicked ~ acrylic, pencil and ink on board

Dolly ~ ink on paper (from my Color Ink Book feature)

Pumpkin ~ acrylic, pencil and ink on board

Magic Bunny ~ ink on paper (from my Color Ink Book feature)

Sugar Thieves ~ acrylic, pencil and ink on board AND MORE!! Visit MY SHOP to see what's for Christmas!!

Sadly, I wasn't able to make it out to New York for mine and Camilla D'Errico's The Candy Escape at Tara McPherson's Cotton Candy Machine. Super bummed, but those of you that were able to attend - thank you for stopping by! I saw they had cotton candy outside in the chilly weather too which made it even harder not to be there!!

I love this photo of Jon Schnepp outside Cotton Candy Machine opening night, I've posted it everywhere!

The show will be up for a couple more weeks so if you're in the neighborhood stop in and say hello. I will be as I was then, working away on a few more exciting things to be announced in the near future. I hope all is well out there!!

The Candy Escape

October is right around the corner now, things are getting Halloweenie all over the city and I couldn't be more inspired. Also around the corner for me is my two person show at The Cotton Candy Machine in Brooklyn NY with Camilla D'Errico!! The show opens October 12th from 7pm - 11pm and runs til November 4th. Please make your way over to see the show and say hello!!

And more super fun Halloween themed items are in the making for Baby Tattooville which is October 5-7 at the Mission Inn in Riverside. There are a few tickets still available for the event, if you're interested go get em!

Chiari Walk Across America

As I mentioned a few posts ago (see post HERE) I have a friend who just recently went through brain surgery. She was diagnosed with a brain malformation called CHIARI- her case was so severe that her doctors urged her to have surgery immediately. This surgery wouldn't "fix" the malformation, it would just hopefully lessen her painful symptoms and put her in less danger of potential paralysis or death. It spun her in a frenzy to get as much information to make a sound decision on the surgery. In her frenzy for information about Chiari, sadly she found that there isn't much out there. This girl isn't the type to just get through something herself and never look back - she's one to blow the doors off this thing and do all she can to get information out there to people who may need it - even if it means shouting at the roof tops. She's an amazing person.

Along with my friend, I will be participating in Conquer Chiari Walk Across America this Saturday (Sept. 22). If you'd like to donate to the Conquer Chiari Walk Across America, CLICK HERE where you'll find info and can click to donate through my personal page. If you've been diagnosed with Chiari or know someone who has been, it would be wonderful to hear from you. One of the hardest issues for my dear friend is feeling like she was alone - not knowing anyone who even knew what Chiari Malformation was or what she was dealing with. It would be nice to hear your voice if you're reading this.

Instagram Grams

Now that my show has come and gone, I find myself even MORE busy than before! I have a few things coming up that I will announce very soon. Annnnnd Halloween is just around the corner ~ that makes me very excited! This is my very favoritest time of year!

Come follow me on instagram (I am @brandimilne)...

Music Inside Paint

I want to take a minute and talk about music. I would say it's the single most important source of inspiration for my painting process aside from personal emotions. I love music and what it does for me in the long, long, LONG hours I sit in front of a painting.

{This tiny dancer took inspiration from Elton John's Tiny Dancer}

{Strutters strutting - inspired by Strutter from Kiss} Allll the live long hours I've mentioned planted in front of an easel can be gruesome. They can be the antithesis of inspired. And when you have a deadline and NEED to be inspired to get through a painting, music in headphones is your best bet. Or at least it is for me.

In that music I allow myself to be open to wherever a particular song wants to take me. With this last series of paintings for Before I Hide Away - Tool, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Ween and Mastodon were in HEAVY rotation, supplying the perfect amount of depth, heaviness and wonder - taking me from point A to point Z. The music mixes with the emotions each story is based on in every painting. It clears my mind from any distraction, and helps me tune in to every brush stroke...which otherwise can be difficult for me.

{"Oblivion" carved on the inside of this figure's arm as I sat listening to Mastodon's Oblivion} Listening to Mastodon was a great way to feel empowered when I was stuck in uncertainty and needed to just trust myself to pull a painting out of it. Their music has such positive aggression and strength. I definitely needed that at times.

{"Your Song" from Elton John is one of my most favorite Elton songs, I incorporated it here} My show title "Before I Hide Away" was borrowed from a lyric in Tool's "Reflection" that I was listening to over and over (among other songs by Tool), I changed it a bit to suit my show. Lyrics set to music have such a surreal quality, and so many fill my mind as the hours press on while working. Annnnnd you never know where, how or what will spark new ideas.

{My painting titled "I Don't Hear You Anymore" was completely sparked from that lyric in Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" after years of it swimming inside my brain} The actual circus feel to this last series was inspired by Pink Floyd's "The Trial" which has a very surreal sense of losing your mind. I was able to see Roger Waters perform The Wall at the Coliseum in LA. I just about died it was so inspiring. And when he finally got to The Trial...guh, I can't even tell you...

{"Here Alone With You" illustrates what music means to me, among other things} Music is everything. I'm envious of musicians. They're so naked in the world, even more so than artists. I love them for it. So thank you thank you Elton John, Pink Floyd, Tool, Ween and Mastodon for what you've given me.

Thanks A Million

My show Before I Hide Away has officially come to a close, as all the paintings came down off the gallery walls today. Now they will all be shipped off to their new homes. I just wanted to say thank you to Jan and Bruce Helford and the Corey Helford Gallery for everything that went into my show. I had a blast and I'm so grateful for everyone's hard work and support!!

No Time To Hide Away

Pale Girls; myself with the lovely and talented Abigail Greydanus Opening night was quite a blur, and I'm sad I didn't get many shots of the night with my iphone. But here are some photos from other sources (Sam Graham, tomi Monstre, Holly Payne).

With Chantal Menard and Ryh~Ming Poon

And Natalia Fabia

{she knows I love it!}

Bob Dob, Rick O'Brien and Steven Daily

Chantal Menard with Gustavo Rimada and Miss Mindy

Bob with Jack from Daily Du Jour

The night goes by so flippin fast, it's hard to remember to take a few minutes here and there to relax and breathe and laugh with the person next to you. I'm so thankful for all the support and love from so many lovely people. It doesn't slip by unnoticed.

Lucky guy Jay Bentley with three beautiful girls, Jan Helford, Peribeau and Natalia

Michael & Amy with myself and Holly & Jon with twinkle lights!

Asian Babe sandwich with Kimmy Chueh and Tomi Monstre

And so the show will be coming down soon to be broken up and sent out to their new loving homes. Get out there and have a look before Sept. 5. Thank you to all the eyes that have looked my way - online as well as in person!