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!!