Art lessons: Alaya Gadeh

Have you ever had a dream so beautiful that you wish you could permanently capture the images that played in your head?  German photographer, designer and artist Alaya Gadeh seems to have the rare ability to do just that. Alaya’s works are beautiful, imaginative and inspirational. She combines various art techniques  to create images that appear to be dream-like and full of fantasy. While viewing Gadeh's work, I feel almost as if I am seeing a part of myself that I buried deep down. Her work is subtle. She uses bold colors, but frequently mutes the tones with an overlay of texture or pattern. Gadeh incorporates elements from nature in her self portraits. She also creates colorful and intricate mandalas, which often aid in meditation and the process of finding one's true self. Here are some of my favorite works by Gadeh.

Couleur Royale de la Mandala, no. 1

Floral Dream



Friday Five

Friday is finally here! I have been M.I.A. for a while, but I am back and feeling quite inspired. I hope everyone enjoys a great weekend. In New York, it is going to be sweltering, so stay hydrated. Here are my five favorite things for this week. Enjoy!

1. Photoville NYC -  Located in Brooklyn Bridge Park along the waterfront, this unique photography exhibit is made up of freight containers "transformed into temporary exhibition spaces." There are many photography styles and techniques used throughout the exhibit and it all comes together into a large, ecclectic mix that can appeal to anyone who enjoys photography. Showcasing works from amateur photographers (the "underage" section featured works by artists all under 18), student photographers and professionals, Photoville had something that could speak to everyone. The scenerey was enjoyable, the selection of food trucks were great and the workshops offered were very interesting. I went to Photoville last weekend and was thoroughly impressed. f you have time this weekend, check it out before it closes. Oh, and if you like to spend time with your dog on the weekends, Photoville is very animal friendly. There is even a dog run for your pup.

For more information click here

2. iPhone Scuba Suit - I love that I know will have the ability to take my phone in to the water with me and get some great underwater shots. While I am not a big beach person, I think this will be fun for some goofy pool images. This case is 100% waterproof, so there is no need to worry about any damage.

Available here

3. Princess Vera Wang for Kohl' - On July 9, Vera Wang will be launching her new line Princess Vera Wang - a wallet-friendly junior's line of clothing, jewelry, shoes and accessories for Kohl's. While I do not usually shop in the junior's section, the video has my inrest peaked and I can definitely see myself mixing in many of the pieces. The line is will combine Vera's "vision  of playful sophistication and incorporate many of the styling elements and design characteristics for which she is best known, including mixed media and artful whimsy."

4. OPI Spotted - Because shattered nails are so "last year", OPI has released its newest top coat effect polish - "Spotted." Apparently, the polish is only available in France. It replaces the Green Shatter from the Spiderman Collection. I love the look and have found it readily available on ebay, if you are willing to pay the hefty price.

Image found on lacquernails.tumblr.com

5. Summer Berry Pizza - Have you ever eaten something and felt that all is right in the world? Well, sorry if I sound dramatic, but that is how I felt when I ate this dessert pizza. It was amazing. Every bite was perfection. We cheated and used store bought pizza dough, but the result was heavenly. Everyone should run out and get the ingredients for this pizza! The recipe can be found here.

Receipe found on DonalSkeehan.com

Friday Five

This week flew by and I could not be happier. I have a packed schedule this weekend - volunteering at the MoMA, BBQ with friends and family and celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday with brunch. So to kick off the weekend, here are my favorites for this week. Have a great weekend and enjoy the sun!

1. Trina Turk for Banana Republic: California native, Trina Turk, has brought her signature Palm Springs style to Banana Republic with a line of colorful clothing and accessories. The items in this line are adorable and perfect for summer. Filled with punch colors, these pieces will add a bit of glamour to your summer wardrobe without the usual hefty price associated with Turk's designs. Oh and the bracelets practically beg to be stacked!!

Shop the collection here

2. Cindy Sherman at the Museum of Modern Art: Cindy Sherman is a genius and a pioneer for women in photography. This is the last weekend to catch her retrospective at the MoMA and I highly recommend going to see it. The show spans her career from her early series of  Untitled Film Stills to her present work. This show is truly a must see for photography lovers.

3. Big Apple BBQ Block Party: For the 9th year, Madison Square Park is hosting the Big Apple BBQ Block Party, featuring amazing BBQ food from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Rack & Soul and more. Admission is free and plates of food are only $8 each. The Party starts on Saturday, June 9 and lasts until Sunday.

For more information click here

4. Monet's Garden at the New York Botanical Gardens: Claude Monet was an avid gardener and his love for gardening was evident in his paintings. Monet even hinted that flowers might have been the reason he became a painter. From now until October, the New York Botanical Gardens will have on display rare artifacts from Monet's life, as well as paintings, one of which has never been exhibited in the United States before. Photographs of Monet's garden at Giverny are also on exhibit. The Conservatory features gorgeous plants, including Monet's beloved waterlilies.

For more information click here

5. Watermelon Sangria: I am known (well in my family) for making an awesome red wine sangria. This recipe calls for white wine and watermelons. It is the perfect summer drink for BBQs, summer parties or anytime you want something refreshing. I plan on making a batch this weekend.

Friday Five

Happy Friday everyone. This weekend is the unofficial start to Summer. I am so looking forward to all the fun things NYC has to offer me this Summer. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Please remember what Memorial Day is actually about - not just BBQs and the beach, but the men and women who served our country. Here are my Friday favorites!

1. DisneyBound: DisneyBound is by far my favorite tumblr site to visit. The amazing Leslie Kay puts together adorable and fashionable outfits based on Disney characters, rides, experiences and movies. Leslie takes requests (she even put together an outfit for me for my birthday at Alice's Tea Cup) and manages to make dressing up like your favorite Disney character something every adult should do.

2. Pixar Movie Weekend: This weekend, AMC theaters will have 4 amazing Pixar movies in theaters once again. Wall-E, Up, Toy Story 3 and Ratatouille, will screen in select movie theaters nationwide. Wall-E is by far my favorite Pixar movie (possibly my favorite movie ever) and I never got to see it in theaters. This is a great time to experience it. While everyone will be clamoring for Men in Black 3, I get Wall-E on the big screen. Check out the AMC site. Most places are offering the Pixar fils for $6 a ticket.

3. R2 Fish School Training Kit: The R2 Fish School is a complete training kit that claims to include everything you need to teach your fish tricks. Does it work? I have no idea. Is it awesome? A fish that can do tricks - yes it is awesome! The videos on the site shoe fish doing some incredible things, so I might have to check this out. My beta fish, Barnabus, spends his days in the mouth of a ceramic shark. This is much more interesting.

4. Polaroid Z340: The Polaroid Z340 is a digital camera with instant printing capability - think  your cell phone camera merged with a 1980s polaroid. Digital images are instantly printed into 3"x4" photos. They can be printed with or without borders - that adorable white polaroid border can be omitted if you so choose. The rechargeable battery lasts thru 25 photos (a little low if you ask me, but this is still a great idea).

5. Fleet Week: From now until May 30, New York will be celebrating Fleet Week with plenty of events to honor the men and women of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. This year there will be aerial demonstrations, a parade of ships and plenty of adorable men (and women) in uniform.

Friday Five

1. May The Fourth Be With You:  Happy Star Wars Day! I hope the force is strong in all of you.

2. Art Fair Weekend: If you live in New York, there are several art fairs happening around the city, fresh off the heels of this week's auctions. For those of you looking to combine your passion for food and art, head to Frieze New York on Randall's Island. It is a little out of the way and a bit too pricey for my taste, but it is sure to draw big crowds and have some great art. Verge New York will be showcasing "Tomorrow Stars" and if you are hoping to be one of 2013's picks for Tomorrow Stars, you can apply on the site now. I will be attending the Pulse New York fair. I am excited to learn about some new artists and to see the work of Bronx born artist Fred Wilson.

Fred Wilson, Reign 2011

3.Fred Segal: This week it was announced the New York firm, Sandow Media, bought the worldwide rights to Fred Segal. For the last 50 years, Fred Segal has been a California-only shopping staple, leaving all of us East Coasters a little bit jealous, but that is about to change. With this purchase, Fred Segal stores could be opening in New York, Miami and Las Vegas in the next few years.

4.Anna Dello Russo for H&M: Anna Dello Russo, the creative consultant and editor-at-large for Vogue Japan and fashionista extraordinaire, has announced an accessories collection for H&M. In true ADR style, expect glamorous accessories with lots of gold - think extravagant at an affordable price. The line will include shoes, bags, sunglasses and jewelry and will be available in October.

5.Vogue Magazine Intends to Promote Healthy Body Images: Vogue Magazine editors across the globe have united to take a stand against too-skinny and too-young models. They have agreed to no longer work with models under the age of 16 or who appear to have eating disorders. Casting directors are now required to ask for identification to show proof of the model's age. This announcement is inspiring. Many young girls have a negative body image and fashion magazines that showcase stick thin models are partly to blame. Vogue is the ultimate fashion magazine, so maybe other magazines will follow suit and normal sized models will begin to grace the pages of every glossy!

Art Lessons

I have been home sick for the last few days, so I have spent most of my time sleeping or searching the Internet for cool stuff. This morning, I found the COOLEST of things - the work of Alexandra Valenti. Alexandra Valenti is a photographer and artist. Her images seem almost like vintage snapshots from a trip to the dessert in the late 1960s. Valenti is from Berkley, made her way to New York and now lives in Texas and it is obvious that these locations have influenced her work.

The black and white images and the contrasting bright painted shapes make for such engaging images. They are serious and happy, serene and vibrant at the same time. The images are simple, but the added colors make them so interesting to view. Valenti's images remind me of the gorgeous, laid back attitude of the West Coast. They are one part hippie and one part magical, which makes a lot of sense considering that she has photographed ad campaigns for Free People.

The Muse

In Greek Mythology, the muses were 9 females who inspired the creation of literature and the arts. They were idyllic, beautiful goddesses who personified the understanding of the arts. 

 Artists, writers, musicians and fashion designers still refer to their muses today. These women help to inspire the designer to create their new line, pose for the artist, and often become the face of the brand. Givenchy had Audrey Hepburn. Richard Avedon had Dovima. Alexander McQueen called Daphne Guiness both his muse and his friend. John Galliano and Kate Moss have both a work and personal relationship. Muses become more than inspirations to the artist and designer. They become an extension of the brand and give the customer/viewer someone to relate and aspire to. 

I don't have a muse. I am inspired by people, places and things, but there is not one specific person that serves as the inspiration for all that I do. I think having a muse might be exciting for a while, but I get bored so easily. I do not know how long it would last. Do you have a muse? What inspires you?