Portraiture :)

Ive always been fascinated with drawing people, especially their portraits. Something about trying to grab a silly quirk, bloodshot eyes, crooked smile or hairy mole that makes me giggle, makes me feel more human, and connected to the people around me. We all have our flaws, our insecurities, our body parts that we aren't the most proud to show off as well as the ones that make us feel beautiful and special. I like to highlight this duality and smash it down on paper as quickly as possible.

Josie

GAGA

Danny 

Dani und Manny

Hedwig 

Someone once told me that artists are the recorders of history...and Im gonna be recording some history today with my $5.00 per portrait booth at the SKI RUN FARMER'S MARKET from 3-8 pm!! :) Sweet Haley Davis drew my portrait last week at her booth but shes tied up with all the celebs today at Edgewood so Im pickin up where she left off. Come see me yall!!

Craig

This is a quick painting I did of my friend, Craig during finals week in one of our last semesters of college. We were both tired, over-worked and under-fed. We needed a break. I did this in about 2 hours, maybe less. I dont think Craig liked this painting very much, but I love it.  Usually he is so fab, bright and shiny with nary a hair out of place on his perfect head. Hes bouncy and fun and always has more energy and charisma than anyone else in the room. But not that night. That night he was human. Worn, sleepy and irritated.
I feel I caught the dark side in him...Coooll ;)

Amsterdam

Its been awhile since Ive updated my blog...Summer flew by, I got my painting studio together and moved back to Tahoe from Berlin. Only after all these months, with a day off, a slight cold, and an empty schedule have I taken some time to browse through my eurotrip photos again.

This duo at the train station made my morning. They were chatting away and giggling with their eyes closed. I was really happy I was already going in their direction or else I would have had no chance but to follow them like a puppy and take the next train. 

HAhHA Wax statue of Tiesto. Hilarious. 

I AMsterdam :)

Bitter Ballen and beer. So lovely. After an afternoon of walking, shopping and exploring, we checked out some art and then went over to the highest vista Chrissta knew of to have drinks and watch the sunset over the city. 

Beautiful Chrissta was an incredible host and guide. Thank you girlfriend!!

Utrecht

Off to the Netherlands to reconnect with Chrissta and Bas! I havent seen them since their spectacular, week-long, Caribbean wedding last April and Im pumped to finally see their home in Utrecht.  Bas took us to this beautiful restaurant called De Zakken Drager. Soft light from various chandeliers and candles twinkled off cast iron details and ornate mirrors. The back of the restaurant looks almost like a greenhouse with slanted glass windows and lush, hanging plants. Id love to come back in the summer and sit outside. 

Next we headed over to Bas and Chrissta's favorite watering hole, Oliver's to sip on some Le Chouffe. Its an old building that used to be a church and looks almost like an old apothecary store too. I loved the high ceilings and old organ on the second floor. On game days, there is a big screen projected onto the wall so all can enjoy the action. 

 Bas said good night after a beer (hes a working man!) and his cousin Theirry came to join Chrissta and I at her favorite jazz bar. There was a jam session that night and a SUPER BABE of a saxophone player was belting out a funky version of a Bob Marley song when we entered. Sweet.

We ate, drank and were merry. So good to be reunited :)

Keukenhof Holland

On the last day of my incredible weekend with Chrissta and Bas (I know, Im going backwards, just cant wait to bust out these gorgeous flower pics!) in the Netherlands, we visited the Keukenhof. Translated it means "kitchen garden" and is essentially an enormous park devoted to various types of bulb flowers and greenery. Bas explained to me that the Netherlands supplies the majority of world's flowers and bulbs! Amazing.

The air was still chilly and the sun was peeking in and out from behind the clouds. Most of the bulbs were still underground or just beginning to flower, so the majority of the action was inside the greenhouses. 

Fringe-y tulips. SO eighties ;)

These were HUGE.

These smelled SOOO goooood. Actually the soft fragrance from each greenhouse was different. So soothing. Next time Ill bring some blankets and just camp out in the flower beds for a nap...

Lovebirds: Bas and Chrissta

Doing my best "Japanese tourist" pose. 

These were so interesting. They looked like plastic.

TWINSIES!

Happy Easter xo

London: Rose Lychee and Ladurée

Roy Lichtenstein

Rose Lychee martinis at Ping Pong :)

Ladurée at Covent Garden. Devine!

Chanel Pop-up floral boutique for Mother's Day

Tiny, fluffy, sweet and delicate, the Orange Blossom macaron was my favorite. 

Street food is the best. 

This cute young man was picking out flowers so carefully. 

St Pauls!  Visually its astounding. A purely massive structure that I couldn't even fit in my camera's lens.

It was a whirlwind of a weekend for my first visit to London, and my gracious hosts, Katy and Josh showed me an incredible time. From an inspiring visit to the Tate to see the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective to the steps of St. Paul to sipping cocktails overlooking the Thames River, our reunion had nary a dull moment. 

Harry told me that sometimes he'll wake up in the morning and the fog is so think that he cant see the other side of the river. So cool.