do you really think he'll pull through?

I’ll be moving into my new apartment within the next two weeks. I just bought the most comfortable bed that you just sink into and some velvety, ruby red slip covers for my couches. I have a huge empty wall space above my couch which I’ve decided is the perfect place for a new painting. I don’t know why, but I really want to paint a walrus. I haven’t made a painting in quite a while, but I’m pretty confident I can churn out a giant walrus in a few weeks.

And I have the strangest desire to title it “Walrus in a Coma.” And maybe he’ll have rubies for eyes.

Imajica is Majical

I just felt like sharing a wonderful chapter from a really wonderful book.

girly pearls

I've had this obsession with pearls, lately. Not only because they are beautiful, but I love that they are considered a "gemstone," yet they grow from within a shellfish! It's literally the hardened secreation of a slimely little mollusc!

I've also been obsessed with looking up the healing and emotional uses for gemstones. Pearls emit peace and tranquility. They are symbolic of the moon and it's effect on the human body, balancing the hormones. Pearls also represent fertility and purity, as well as influence the wearer to more openly accept love (for themselves and others). I believe the pearl is also a great symbol of femininity and womanhood.

I had used pearls, or the idea of pearls, in my work in the past (see here and here). I recently felt the urge to continuing exploring pearls and femininity in my work. Out of nowhere I had this idea for a stop-motion video. I've never done stop motion before, nor have I ever wanted to.

Images of baby oysters on a beach, the birthing of a stream of fluid and pearls from a human womb, and a bird warming a pearl in it's gooey nest were flowing through my mind.

formspring.me

Do you have an exact, personalized definition of 'success' when it comes to your artwork? by godownmatthew

No, not really. I don't have a formula or a checklist. If I am successful with a piece of my work I have: faced and completed challenges I have given myself; solved unforeseen problems that may have occurred to the best of my ability; and have completed or went beyond my own expectations of myself or the work.

I'm pretty easy to please and I don't place too much pressure on most things I do. When I work I usually have an initial idea or goal, but the fleshing out comes during the process of creating the work. I go with the flow and try to make what I have work. And if it doesn't work, it gets placed to the side and I keep going.

Some pieces are more successful than others not because they are better crafted or more aesthetically pleasing, but because in the end I translated my thoughts more clearly.

This sounds conceited, but I usually like most things I make. I think because I start to actually love them like my own babies.

Ask me anything