Somethings Happening in my Head

Now that Christmastime is in full swing, I'm happily gathering inspired bits wherever I can find em. This time of year is most bestest for painting, although the distractions come at me from every angle ~ as I'm sure is the case with most people. Still, the magic is in the air and I intend to take full advantage of it where I can...

{not my photo}

{not my photo}

I've just finished my biggest painting for my next show {May 2014 at Corey Helford Gallery} and although it put up quite the fight in areas I didn't see coming, and it took me double the amount of time I intended, I'm pretty flippin stoked on it - beyond what I dreamed initially. It will set the tone for the entire show, including the 4 paintings I had started before it. I have a long road ahead of me in completing what paintings haven't even occured to me yet, I know each one will slap me across the face repeatedly - I'll cry and I'll stomp around the room like a 7 year old as goes the drill. But I'm hoping to wrestle each one down in the end and the outcome far more victorious than if they all lay down and make my life easy.

Here's hoping for some excellently worthy opponents to take me on like Lincoln Hawk in Over The Top.

Frohlich Now Available

My new book Frohlich is NOW AVAILABLE in my shop!! Books will ship signed {with sticker} while supplies last!! Hardcover {embossed and stamped}, 152 pages, published by Baby Tattoo Books.

I'm so excited it's finally arrived and I'm able to spread the word, Frohlich has been in the making for quite some time (as books of this nature go). I've discussed the process in a few posts a while back (Here, Here, & Here) and I even promised the book's availability in October (sorry!), and now I can just shut up and deliver.

If you follow me on IG and Twitter (where I am @brandimilne) you've already heard the news (thank you for all the early orders!), sadly, my blogging skills have experienced a slip as of late. I've quite literally only been focused on painting for my next show (at Corey Helford Gallery) - finishing up the largest painting which will be the show title piece (so very excited). As always, I thank each of you for your interest and support, for even coming here to read my silly words. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it!!

Black Sheep Sugar Lamb Go

Newly released "Sugar Lamb, Go!!" vinyl figure now available in "Black Sheep" color way!! I really couldn't NOT do a black sheep version of this figure, could I??

Now exclusively available HERE, only 20 signed pieces ~ don't miss out!! There are just a few more of the original color wave figure (see post below) also available so make haste!!

Sugar Lamb, Go in my shop!!

I can finally offer my new vinyl art figure "Sugar Lamb, Go!!" to a very limited few!! My shop has been updated with a few new goodies, including this little silly ~ hurry over and get yourself a piece before they're all sold out!

Created and distributed by 3D Retro, sculpted by October Toys this figure is very limited edition. See my post HERE about the process and inspiration behind the figure. I hope you all have a wonderful October!!

All Hallow's Eve Prints

And it's October, just like that. In celebrating my very favorite time of year, I made time to play around with some Halloween imagery, and now it can be yours! Tomorrow, October 1st I will have two exclusive fine-art Giclee prints available in my shop!! "The Pumpkin Witch" Print (on archival white Cotton Rag paper) measures 8"x6", signed and numbered edition of 30 will be available for $55 (shipped).

"Let Go The Ghost" Print (on archival white Cotton Rag paper) measures 14"x10", signed and numbered edition of 30 will be available for $80 (shipped). When I was growing up, Halloween and Christmas were a big deal in our house. My mom would decorate the kitchen for Halloween in September, and usually that was accompanied with Christmas music from the 8Track stereo. I cant explain the crazy excitement and jubilation that was pulsing through the house at those moments as a kid. The imagery of those old cardboard velvety Halloween decorations were monumental in my skull - and still to this day. I hope I can touch on many of your nostalgic memories with these two prints, in even the smallest way. Happy October!! xoxoxoxoxox!!

Come Frohlich With Me

My first art book "Frohlich" will be available come October ~ you will be able to grab a copy on my website!! I'm so excited, I got my very first copy today from my Publisher today (Baby Tattoo Books) and I am super stoked and pleased as punch with the outcome!! I've written a bit about the process here, Frohlich has been very long awaited...

However, if you are in or around Portland, there will be a very exclusive launch at the Rose City Comic Con Sept. 21-22 so come find me at the Baby Tattoo Booth and nab a copy!!!

Also grab a copy of the Rose City CC booklet, I painted the cover!!

Now that Instagram has video option, I can share some process of my lonely working days with moving picture! {Although it looks much better on your tiny phone on IG than here on this blogger layout?}  I guess I could've done that anyway, but I like a good filter and editing helps too.  I was on Vine {and I guess I still am} but those videos don't save to your camera roll which is why I've embraced IG video in favor of Vine. {I am @brandimilne on both}  Anyway, my days are passing with much paint and pencil and my mind hangs on a balance of totally freaking out that I don't have enough time to really focus on each painting and complete hearts in my eyes for what is coming out.  And now that Halloween is popping up in stores I'm over the moon for the inspiration to come!

Following is a collage of pictures of the rare nights I had the chance of escaping to the city to feast my eyes on what some other artists are offering at the moment.  Fools like Jessica Louise, Natalia Fabia, Lola, Hannah Aitchison, Jan Corey Helford, Rhy Ming Poon, Angelique Groh, and Greg Escalante can be seen in the shots and provided wonderful company.  Also just shots of work. Until next time...

The Haunting Of The Fools

Some of my very favorite things to work on are small drawings. Especially when the days are filled with painting large pieces for a large series. Here are my recent drawings for the Tiny Trifecta show at Cotton Candy Machine in New York over the summer. This one is titled "The Haunting of the Fools; Werewulf"

This one "The Haunting of the Fools; Yule Goat"

And "The Haunting of the Fools; El Diablo" Thank you Cotton Candy Machine (Tara McPherson and Sean Leonard) for having me!! XOXOXOXO!!

Lamb Ride Go!!

Now I can finally share with you my new vinyl art figure "Lamb Ride, Go!" releasing this weekend at San Diego Comic Con (Booth 5051)!! It's my second vinyl figure with 3D Retro sculpted by October Toys!! I'm super happy with the figure, George Gaspar is a wonderful sculptor and once again hit the nail on the head.

The figure is based off my painting "Carousel Flight; Lamb Face" from 2008. I always imagined the paintings from this series as figures and when Ben from 3D Retro approached me for the second figure, this was definitely the figure I imagined.

I'm also super stoked on the box!! Here's a shot at Comic Con (NOW, as I type this!) of front and back of the figure in the box :)

This figure is a limited run and as I mentioned it's release is this weekend at San Diego Comic Con. Find them at Booth 5051 with 3D Retro and October Toys Here is the official release: Brandi Milne's "Sugar Lamb, Go!" is one of 3DRetro's SDCC-Exclusives, and is the second "Ride" figure 3DRetro has produced with the artist. As adorable and allure]ing the first release "Bunny Ride, Go!", this slice of vinyl beauty stands approximately 7-inches across, and is limited to 200 pieces, each priced at US$90. Brandi Milne will be at the 3DRetro booth to sign this figure during SDCC, time and date TBD. I personally like this piece as it seems to be going for a slice of nostalgia like a porcelain statuette / collectible that one might find at the corner of the shelf somewhere belonging to your hip grandma ... that. and I have a weakness for fairground attractions :)

"I'm excited to release and finally talk about my vinyl figure with 3D Retro! The second of a two figure series, Lamb Ride, Go! is based on my painting "Carousel Flight; Lamb Face". The thought behind the painting is the possibility of escaping life's seriousness and taking a ride in the sky on your favorite carousel ride from your youth. Forever. I hope the figure can spread some of that nostalgic joy to art fans everywhere." - Brandi Milne. (All official photos taken by Victoria Lara Photography)

Hip! Hip!

Let's see, I think I've been working on my art book for 3 years now. I remember the night Bob Self asked me if I'd be interested in making a an art book with him (Baby Tattoo Books) I believe it was in 2010. I was so naive and thought it would take about a year to complete...now three years later, it's on it's way to print!!

I went over the color proofs with Bob yesterday and now my excitement cannot be contained!! The last thing I need to do is see the cover dummy in person and approve the colors and such on that and then we're off!!

I've mentioned the book {titled Frohlich} in previous blog posts here, but if you're new the book is a retrospect of my art works over the past several years. It includes most of my works ~ I had to be selective because {obviously} I didn't want to make the book 600+ pages. I worked closely with designer Laurie Young who also designed my So Good For Little Bunnies book and I'm over the flippin moon with the outcome! I will keep you posted here and everywhere else {my website, twitter, Instagram, Facebook..} as the book becomes available.

It's Like This

There are days when I cannot seem to draw. No matter my effort, whatever comes out of my pencil is garbage. And there are days when I sit at my newest painting and I can't seem to jump in with my heart. There are blocks. There are hurdles. Distractions. Unwelcome circumstances that get in the way. There are hang ups and fears and sometimes over-zealosy (that's not a word) that can swing a painting moment this way or that and it's up to each artist to sort those things out, give em the proper attention and address them as they come up. And man, there are a few. That's what has been going on in my world as of late, I've begun two new paintings for my next solo show, and had come up with that feeling of non commitment. I couldn't understand what was happening - I had all the research, all the excitement, all kinda new stuff in mind, all the inspiration and still sat at each painting doing "work". Not allowing my heart to flutter all over the piece... I stopped painting for days (but that always has me feeling like a kid that has to pee really bad but can't get to the restroom), and alas ~ with the help and insight of my favorite dude that knows me so well and a few miles of driving alone with Pink Floyd in my ears (that know me so well), I realized I wasn't trusting my instincts. My instincts are all I have since I was never properly taught how to paint, and I had been watching a lot of painting demos on Youtube and then trying to apply a few tips and professional tricks to my own work. Which is helpful (sorta...I'm not sure yet) but I firstly need to listen to my guts ~ they lead the way best. And that was an invaluable lesson for this old girl. So painting days are back in full effect and I'm feeling extra extra super. I can't wait for the morning so I can paint more!!! eeeeeYAHHH!!!! PS, why this layout paragraph botching, Blogger? Am I at fault?? Is it me??

All My Everything

It's that time again, time to get ta steppin on a new series of paintings. And this time (much like every time) I'm reaching beyond my reach, reaching for the stars. Behind the moon. Beyond the rain... And so I gather images that spark something in my head. I have folders full of images I've nabbed from the interweb and forgive me if I have no reference info, as I've collected and not sorted with any information what so ever. Right now I'm also sorting through my head to pull out the story for these new paintings. I've been studying my mind and putting together pieces of the puzzle of my time here and I'm certain that will be weaved into these pieces. I really want them to be alive. Alive with new breath I've never breathed before. They're going to be special - I'm driven. I'm not gonna rest until I've exhausted all my everything.

Forgive Me

Ok, now I can show you my painting for the Corey Helford Gallery's group show at Circa this Saturday (7pm-10)! This is "Forgive Me", acrylic on wood measuring 12"x12". I'm kinda getting obsessed with long stringy hair everywhere and I bet I'll be seeing a lot more of that obsession in the coming months as I prepare and begin my new series of paintings for my next solo show in Spring '14. I love the look of David Bowie...and normally I would have chickened out on incorporating that lightening bolt on her face - my thinking would have been that it distracts from the more serious tone I intended for this piece. But I want to be more courageous in my work - and by courageous I mean true to what/how I'm feeling at the moment. That's not too much to ask of myself, and this life isn't gonna go on forever. So. Lightening Bolt it up. Also, in keeping with lightening bolting it up, I had the pleasure of posing for one of my very favorite artists (and friends) Natalia Fabia for her 12"x12" painting (for the same show)! Here's her painting "Rainbow Brandi", oil on wood. I couldn't help but come away from seeing Natalia in action totally inspired. Her passion for life and painting and color and craziness is so contagious, i absolutely love her for it! Painting is such a solitary thing, it's easy to forget how much spending time with other artists can boost your own eagerness to work - even if it's just an afternoon taking pictures. So come get inspired - Saturday from 7pm-10pm at Circa in Culver City!!