Don'ts of an Artist

As I have began to come into my own, and truly make what I do a form of art, I find so many road blocks on my way to being where I want to be. The only way to succeed as an artist, is to have guidelines to live by. I know that sounds ironic because artists are free spirits, but there are things that you must constantly remind yourself not to do. I'm guessing thoughts like those are what brought about the ideals I wrote the other day. Who knows.

Ideals

This is me thinking in Art.

COLOR-BLOCKING X NEW SCHOOL

So, the new thing is color blocking. I think it's adorable. I'm about to do a big shop for school, so I'm making a list, so to speak of things I'm looking for in my wardrobe.

1. Striped top (horizontal)
2. Striped tights (vertical)
3. Mustard yellow sweater
4. Minnetonka moccasin fringe boots
5. Distressed jeans
6. Normal jeans
7. Wedges in as many colors as possible
8. I made some color schemes that I'd like to fulfill:

So, currently, I'm on an intense hunt for shoes, peg-legged pants, and the other things on my list. If you can help, pleeeease do! Buh-bye.

Inspired x Jia Jetson

So, I guess it was like... yesterday. I'm at home, being lame and I suddenly get a post on my Facebook wall.

It was this girl, whom I've never met, but am friends on Facebook with, telling me how amazingly inspiring my boldness is. I was overwhelmed. I LOVE feeling the love, especially from fellow black women. I SO dearly appreciate gestures like these. They don't come around too often, but when they do, it's my everything. I just wish more people let their inspiration be known.

ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE.

So, this morning, I went to a bajillion yard sales with my mom. I'm totally joking. We went to like 3. The first one was a bust, but the last 2 were scrumdiddlyumptious! I took pictures of all my fashion finds. Nothing I bought was above $2. These aren't everything I got, just a few things.

Burnt orange/black striped silk trousers: $1

This is the print close-up. The first picture didn't do it justice.

Vintage pearl necklace: $3

Gold and silver arm cuffs: $2/ea.

Silver single cuff: $1 // Gold bangles: $1/ea.

And last but not least, dark stoned studs for a dollar!

Now, before finishing this post, I want to tell a story that I got from the second yard sale. (That's where I got the pants) It was given to me for free by the woman of the house. She was an artist. In her house there were paintings, photographs, custom clothes, EVERYTHING. She was obviously extremely successful because of the items being sold. (My mom got a Ralph Lauren umbrella for a dollar). When I and my mom went in their house to look at the furniture, the woman told us about her husband. Three weeks ago, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It's predicted that he has about one year to live. He ceased all treatment and decided to sell their house. They made the plan THAT day, as well as put it on the market. It sold in two days. They're selling everything in their home for $1, and moving to a beachfront property in Mexico on June 1st. It's complete with a maid, butler, and poolboy. It has both an indoor and outdoor pool. She told us that everyone thinks they're crazy, but she wants to enjoy her last year with her husband. Live.

CURRENTLY ADDICTED X MUSIC

Frank Ocean x Tyler the Creator = She


Off Tyler's new album. It's super dope. LOVE the track. F/O did his thing too.



Kendrick Lamar x Jhene Aiko = Growing Apart

We all seem to stumble, planning our own demise,

Forgetting the big picture and making it wallet sized.

So to what's important in my life, I apologize:

I promise to stay faithful, focused and sanctified.

We all get distracted, the question is:

Will you bounce back, or bounce backwards?

Would you not know how to act or take action?

That's apart of life and if your vision's impaired,

You'll probably lose it all tonight.

The epitome of power through words.

TWITTER WISDOM.

This is why I have a twitter. Not because I'm so bored and need something to do, but because the wise words that float around my timeline each day keep me moving. This is what I need to prevail. Positive reinforcement.

PERSONAL UPDATE.

I promised that I'd come in and update you on my current mental state, so here I go. Honestly, I'm content. I was really stressed about college and all, but I am no longer. I'm excited now. Excited, scared, and anxious. I'm about to be free. A super duper college student. I'm somewhere between "I can't wait!" and "Can't I just stay in high school for one more year?". Polar opposites. I've managed to maintain homeostasis by not allowing any negative energy into my life that doesn't have to be there.
What do I mean by "have to be there"? I mean things that I'll  inevitably have to learn to cope with, like my parents' situation, or internal problems like my ever-changing mental state. However, things that don't have to stress me out, like boys and girl drama, have been erased. Once you stop letting things bother you, life seems to work itself out.

*IN OTHER NEWS*
Yesterday, I accepted my offer to UNCG, officially. I'm finishing my application to the honors college sometime this week.

I've decided that I want to paint. I love water colors on canvas. So, I'm going to buy some water colors, a canvas, and some decent brushes and make it do what it do. When I was younger, my parents used to let me paint as a diversion from other problems or just to relax me. I miss it, now that I think about it.

This camera situation is getting ridiculous. I am literally dreaming about a Nikon D5gs at this point. I need it. I would be so much more comfortable if I had it. Come May 23rd, I'll have her though! Her and my new Macbook Pro. Every time I think about those things, I find myself more ready to graduate than before.

TTFN :) *muah*

DIY INSPIRATION X PAVONNYC

I'm super-obsessed with these Pavon NYC dresses, but... they're $83 a pop. I'm about to be a broke college kid and I'm gonna go ahead and say it— I can't afford it. Sooooo, I'm gonna DIY it. Well, DIM. I'll need:

— solid strapless dress

—1yd. of zipper

— masking tape

— asorted spray paint

— 3 yds of lace trim

LEHGO *puts on gameface*

I think I'm only gonna make 2. One with a ridiculous print and one that's like the "pink", just solid-colored with black stripes. I have a feeling that'll be amazing on me! I'll update ouyae when I purchase my materials! Tah-tah.

Meanwhile, while you're interested.. check out the site: http://www.pavonnyc.com/

LOVES DECEIT X BIG RUBE

So, I just finished watching ATL (you know? the movie with T.I. and Lauren London?) and I realized, well remembered, how much I love the poem at the end. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it so I figured I'd share it with you guys. I put my favorite lines in red.

Pleasure turns to the pain of lessons learned from the strain of the questions burned in my brain about whether love is humane in its touch
These thoughts are like salmon swimming upstream in the tears of your deceit
Fighting a current hurt that kills more than is created by the chaos of our intertwined emotions
Chaotic because the anchor of Eros’ arrow has been plucked from the vessel of my undying infatuation
Separation not as simple as the distance between us
My mind no longer possessed by the demons that had been the overseers of my enslavement to your lies
The seeds of these lies rooted so deeply they’ve cracked the foundation of what we once shared
Allowing the faith in us I had sealed inside to gush out like a river
Ripping the image of our future together from my thoughts as violently and as brutally as if it were a child being taken from its mothers arms
I’m left surrounded in darkness but I refuse to be swallowed by it
My loneliness like night air; invisible to the eye obvious to the touch, in its cold uncomfortable ness
Yet If I could do all over again I’d do it in the same skin I’m in
To lay down and let love die, just stay down and let love lie
No, no, no, no, not I
I’ll stay around and let love fly
Even though I’ve seen its darkest form; deceit
Nothing else could tastes this warm or feel this sweet


Big Rube

KELIS&KELLYOZ X HAIR INSPIRATION

I've been going back and forth between these three pictures of wild hair color at its classiest. Btw, the lilac Rihanna one is artificial. Her hair's never been that color, but I think we can all agree that it should've been. I love it all! Starting May 7th, I'm growing my hair out for a few months and re-perming it. This low-cut allows NO versatility! It's not even low-maintenance. I have to go to the barbershop all the time. I'm there once-a-week at least. The only thing I can change is the color. Speaking of which, I might just pull one of these:

I think this is what'll end up happening though. I'm not too sure yet. We'll just see how the weeks move along.