painting – Emily Brickel Edelson

Articles Tagged with: painting

September 20, 2012

In imperfection there is truth.

So I just went to this amazing fashion illustration drawing class held in the Brooklyn Public Library. That my friend is quite a feat for me as it was an hour subway ride into the unknown BK to get there. However, it was for a great reason. Many of my fashion illustration idols were showcasing their work there as part of a fashion week presentation and a free drawing class was being held and taught by THE guy who wrote the BOOK on fashion illustration, literally – the text book. He is none other than Steven Stipelman and he is a pretty big deal. His work graced the covers of Women’s Wear Daily (the fashion bible), Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Vogue, Du Pont, Estee Lauder, Lord & Taylor and many more. I would travel way more than an hour to Brooklyn to see him. So, I did.

We were to bring our own drawing supplies and the first 20 guests would receive a fashion week gift bag: brand new Prismacolor markers, pencils, and pens. Heaven!

I sat down, next to some elder gentleman and he was setting up his gigantic sheets of paper, watercolor palettes, brushes and water. I didn’t really think anything of it until he started drawing. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’m pretty good at this illustration thing and I had assummmeeedddd that I would be in the top 5 or so of the class in terms of skill. Back in my FIT days I would always take pride in being, or trying to be one of the best artists or designers in a classroom. Student, on the other hand… A lot of FIT girls were smart so that was a bit harder to be in the top 5ish.

Anyway, we were to draw from live models and had variations of 10 and 20 minutes to draw each figure. This guy was good. Really good; intimidatingly good. The instructor told us to draw with our pencil in a flowy motion, to use the side of the point to get a range in size of the marks and to shade. I hadn’t done this in a while, and my illustrations as of the last two years were much more precise and realistic. Then I saw the man drawing next to me with his gorgeous watercolor paintings. I decided to experiment. I used my Prismacolor markers to shade, I tried quick hand drawing in a more “flowy way” the live models. I guess at my office I got a little used to spending more time, and making more precise, anatomically correct lines as opposed to these freeform and exaggerated fashion illustrations.

So to make a long story, err short(er) I noticed that in trying new things and voyaging into paths untaken you must start from the beginning, or a few steps back. In imperfection there is truth. Imperfection shows your growth, the mistakes and trials it takes on your JOURNEY to get to the horizon. You must go out of your comfort zone more, especially when you are getting good at something – in order to get better. Sometimes you must recalibrate your compass and get back on the track you may have veered off of. What can you do NOW to get back there, what new things can you try and habits can you break to push your capabilities and educate yourself a bit further?

The same goes for imperfection in general. I choose to use these sketches above from the aforementioned drawing class to show how they came out – if I was in my usual perfectionist mindset I surely would not have used these images. I am not perfect and showing your imperfections reveals and reminds us all that we are merely human. We make mistakes, we have off days.

Applying this understanding to life, and relationships you sometimes have to show your raw, imperfect and unpolished truth to really connect and allow people to see where you are truly coming from. Sometimes in relationships, playing the perfect person, friend, wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, sister, brother, etcetera is misleading and often times can miscommunicate what you are really intending. If you make a mistake, you need to own it, take responsibility and don’t try to cover it up. I am so guilty of that myself. Having the desire to be perfect and not letting anyone see your flaws is a surefire way to protect yourself, but sometimes so much so that you draw boundaries and put up walls that others can’t knock down, or may turn away before they even try.

In imperfection there is truth. Where can you show your imperfect, yet beautiful truth with others?

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

March 31, 2011

Inspiration – isnt' that what its really about?

Writing a blog about inspiration is, well, inspiring. That is exactly why I do it. I feel incomplete with out being inspired – for my art, for my dreams, for my goals, for my passion, for the relationships I have, for life etc. Sometimes, it takes a while to come up with something that is really jaw dropping and doesn’t just fascinate me, but INSPIRES ME!

It’s amazing that especially when you’re not looking – inspiration finds you. I was checking my profile on A Small World (aka. ASW www.asmallworld.net) that I had busily neglected and after taking the day to do some maintenance, organizing, spring cleaning, reading and just catching up on things (all the juicy pleasures that I had been putting to the side because “I had to get “”WORK”” done”) and it fell into my lap! An ASW message from the talented Inspirationalist Dodo Newman. I saw her tagline – The Inspirationalist- and obviously had to scour the web to find out more about her.

Dodo Newman is an artist, a fashion designer, a survivor, a philosopher and a spiritualist. She has an astounding circle of supporters, an awe-striking resume and list of experiences, a worldly pedigree and is soon to be the subject of a book and television show based on her life.

Dodo Newman – Siddharta

A few inspiring excerpts from her bio:

“Because Dodo has grown up in various continents, countries, among various nations and religions she has seen the real faces of the different cultures. She has seen poverty and richness, beauty and ugliness, happiness and sadness, Life and Death. Dodo through her projects and individual works, supports many foundations and initiations with her art.”

– I have come to find that Ms. Newman works only in natural daylight and paints through her emotions, she delivers masterful artwork done in fragments of gold, crystal, stones and pearls. She incorporates Swarovski elements into her art and not only paints something valid and worthwhile, but as an investment piece a collector can actually own art composed of precious stones and elements. Dodo muses that her collectors and admirers often express the same emotions whilst observing her art as she herself experienced while painting. What an astonishing example of a transfer of energy through art.-

Dodo contrives incredible emotion from her past experiences and is so inspired by her triumphs and tribulations. She says “Every step, falling, sadness, fight or victory forms a part to the final aim: praise your mistakes, (and) your struggle; you need them all for the final story.

Another of my favourite quotes from the insightful Ms. Newman: “Our soul knows more than what we think or believe…”

Dodo Newman – Forms of Life

Ms. Newman continues; “There were many periods of my life when I had nothing to eat, when I was hungry and most of these times the persons I most expected to stand by me were the ones who did not. It is usually very hard to achieve an objective without the background support of the family, especially if there is no one who appreciates the aim one is fighting for.” – “In life anything we create is a long process, taking time, it is impossible to expect from anyone to achieve them immediately. When I was a teenager once I have given up my dreams and I needed more than 15 years to find them again. Now that I have found them I will never let them go!”

“For me the process of marketing, (and) sales of my art represented always a difficulty, just as for all artists, but fortunately I had the best people around me who helped me in this, although I fought my life’s most serious battle in Berlin. I had to learn that there are walls that only I am capable of breaking down, that there are aims that only I can reach. On 13 August 2009, I was lying tired and anguished on the battlefield, which has been created by my own dreams, aims. I was bleeding from all my wounds and I knew that if I will not win today then it will be my end, I will bleed away and I will die. My Soul flew out from my body but the will to win was so strong that it did not let go, and so it was that I won my battle and I was reborn on 14 August at 04:15. My aim became a reality by dawn and my project became stabile. Now I am LIVING and I am very happy from my true heart!” – DN.

I would like to think of myself as an “Inspirationalist” as well, and for me – this heart-wrenching journey of a young woman pounding the pavement, beating her fears and turning out the victor, really establishes the notion that your dreams are only as far away as you deem them to be. In reality, your dreams have always been with you and are always with in reach, you just have to slowly take down the wall that you built around them, each brick, one by one, of all your perceived misconceptions.

Dodo Newman – Life Lines

Dodo has an extreme version of this story, she was born in Hungary where her dream began, grew up in India where her heart and creativity was nourished, attended High School in Iran, over coming adversity and oppression, fled to study Fashion Design in Italy where she accessed the freedom to create and experiment once more, attended University in England, summered in Monaco and now is a resident of Germany living her dreams.

She speaks Italian,  French,  English, Hungarian, Farsi and Hindu. Are you not yet inspired?

Ms. Newman’s artistic experiences include New experimented resin art (current, since 7 years), Oil and acrylic art, Japanese ink technique (early years) and  Fashion design in Firenze.

Her biggest selling price in 2009 for one single artwork was 265.000 Euro (Year 2009 – Canvas artwork). I must say, that is an inspiration for anyone who things “Impossible is nothing”.

Dodo Newman – Gonaives

Dodo Newman – Itiah

Find out more about Ms. Newman at:

www.DodoNewman.com

@DodoNewman on twitter

Hope that inspires you!
Xo

Emily

January 11, 2011

Be your own *AIKHAN

This post’s theme is Be your own *AIKHAN, and whenever I am for lack of inspiration – I call upon my friend and mentor Nicholai Cerezo Khan, aka NICHOL*AIKHAN, pronounced like it sounds, icon. Nick is an artist, life enthusiast, enlightened philosopher, entrepreneur and self made mogul. Personally, as an artist and someone who thrives on inspiration, occasionally I hit a creative block. Part of the reason I began this blog was to make it “my job” to inspire myself constantly and to hopefully impart some inspiration onto you. Below intertwined in to this post are works done by Nicholai Khan.

Nicho is one of those people that if you have never encountered him – you have probably heard of him, if you have met him – you will never cease to be amazed, if you spend a day with him, you conclude you must spend many more days with him. His vast knowledge and ingenuity is astounding. He is my teacher and friend. A mentor and guru in his own right. He’s the guy with the impossible story, the one who has overcome mountains, and comes back to you screaming for more. He has been to the depths of the world, and back. His bio page on Nick’s Aikhanbuyhouse.com (another one of his ventures with co-partner Leon Bourn, others include NicholaiKhan.com ) describes him as living a “nefarious lifestyle, realizing the folly of his ways and decided to clean his life up.”

Nick started out as a graffiti artist, getting arrested for it’s illegal nature, educated at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York facing the streets of Manhattan then, years later traveled the world and studied at The Oneness University in India. He had achieved the path of enlightenment by way of study, meditation and reading through sleepless nights of Da Vinci, Machiavelli, Chopra, Hoftstadter, Lipton, Osho as well as books like “The Secret” and “A Course in Miracles”. Nick is an artist, an entrepreneur, a visionary and an inspirational leader. He believes in the strength of humanity and the guidance of your heart and intentions.

(Emily Jessica Brickel) EJB: What Inspires you?

(Nicholai Cerezo Khan) NCK: There is inspiration found everywhere in life itself, in everything I see, and in everything I experience. The little lessons that we learn along the way are inspiring. We can discover great clues about ourselves just by being truly present. A lesson in consciousness can be learned from anyone whether it be homeless person or a billionaire, you have to know how to truly hear their story. I try to get to know everyone I meet and get insight from them, deep and intricate insight and information. Almost like a celebration of humanity. When you find individuals you see real raw life, everyone is experiencing it and no one is alone in that.

EJB: So would you say you get your inspiration mostly from people?

NCK: No, everything, anything, deep thought. A good feeling will be inspiring to me, an Ah Hah moment and I realize Wow, I can make this feeling into something tangible. If you step into something unpleasant and you invent something from it you can make it so no one ever has to step into that something again. It (life) can be either a comedy or a tragedy, you have to take the positive out of it. Every step is a reality.

EJB: Do you ever have a creative block and if so, how do you get out of it?

NCK: No, I’m chasing with my creativity, I have things running through my mind all the time and I let them play, your thoughts should be allowed to play because life is not that serious, and when it is that serious you should let them play more. My thoughts fly, they have their own wings, and one day those thoughts will come back to me and give me a new experience and then the hands of my physical being will create it.

Let your inspiration come though, It’s not a matter of doing, It’s a matter of being and awareness of what you are being, and everything comes out of that. THE FLOWER KNOWS TO BLOSSOM AT SOME POINT. DOES IT BLOSSOM RIGHT AWAY? NO, BUT IT DOES WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, WHEN IT IS NURTURED BY THE ELEMENTS, WE ARE ALL MEANT TO BLOSSOM, THAT IS THE REALITY OF IT. The truth is that we are all unique and amazing! We need to see this about ourselves before we can truly be free in our own lives. Each flower holds infinite beauty, and each person should embrace their need to expand and flourish in order to find such radiance in themselves.

EJB: Thats amazing, What do you hope to leave as your legacy?

NCK: I want to leave behind a group of individuals, and not just a group but a reality of individuals that will inspire the world – not just wait for inspiration but play with it and create. (I want to leave behind) Smiles, recognition, (and) Ah Hah moments – for everyone. If I were to go tomorrow, I want everyone to have an Ah Hah moment and say, yeah I get it, I finally truly understand what he was saying. (On Nick’s many teachings and speeches).

EJB: What is your daily routine?

NCK: I wake up and I’m on my phones Immediately. From that point on I am giving advice and helping people create businesses for themselves. Those are the things I do constantly, building businesses and giving advice. There’s no such thing as a routine in my type of lifestyle, there’s only doing, being and handling one task at a time, giving the time allotted to each task. Easier said than done, time management is an art in itself. Harnessing time and making it work for you is difficult but once you get down to it and most effectively be motivated by just being and doing what you have to no matter what (comes up) or no matter where you are. Thats how they (artists, entrepreneurs) are successful.

EJB: Quote to live by?

NCK: Know your goals, know the steps to take, always be patient, never settle and never give up.

EJB: Who said that?

NCK: Nicholai Khan. I live by my own quotes, not any one else’s. I love other quotes, I have hundreds that speak to me, but I WRITE MY OWN BOOK.

This “Lennon” resembles another great besides John. See below photos of the Guru himself and a few of his projects.

Nicholai’s AIKHANIC Clothing Line

Nicho The Tiger Children’s book NichoTheTiger.com available at Amazon.com

Nick’s Beginnings as a graffiti artist.

The artist with his work, at Aikhanbuyhouse.com and Vespa Restaurant in NYC

Meet the guru.. Nick all over the world. Modern Renaissance Man

Nick living life to the fullest.

The man himself…

I’m not even sure this can do him justice but I hope, at the very least this inspired you.

It’s the true story of the power of intentions and taking control of your destiny. Nick was a huge force in the creation of my baby Rock Hard Atelier along with many other companies in his profile and for that, his friendship and his guidance I am eternally thankful.

January 1, 2011

Getting inspired….

Ok.. here we go. I’ve been wanting to do a blog for the longest time and my focus is to blog about INSPIRATION. Something I am constantly on a quest for, a thirst for, to satiate my palate. I crave it and never can get enough. So many times I’ll hit an artistic block and I hope that this blog will track my search for the zing we call inspiration.

So here I am flying about 34,862 feet above the United States on one of my biggest “inspirators” Richard Branson’s Virgin America. Flying Vegas to NY and roaming the internet for inspiration, for my next epic, for my next muse or idea.

Just wanted to share something that tickled my fancy – www.pecha-kucha.org Barcelona #10 “Painting with Light” by Mateusz Staniewski, Piotr Wankowicz, Agnieszka Sobota and friends – Which led me to their blog – http://selectedlightworks.blogspot.com/ Genius!

Check it out, their half paintings / half photographs are out of this world and really amazing. Click through for images or listen to how they created their masterpieces. This team really is a talent – and they are pretty cool themselves!

In imperfection there is truth.

Inspiration – isnt' that what its really about?

Be your own *AIKHAN

Getting inspired….

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