The Space art collective grand opening and weekend progress

So!
Danny and I had a tun of fun on Friday.
We drove over to Vancouver Washington for the First Friday art shenanigans that included The Space art collectives grand opening night!
It was a total swoon. i am in love!
There was drumming, poetry reading, live community painting, local music, face painting and more!
Here is a peek into the drum circles:

( photos and compilation by the dear Anni Becker )
The beats were strong and full of wonderful intent!
It lasted for a good while before coming to a close so that we could enjoy more local musics.

and then came the live community canvas painting:

( more wonderful photos by friend and photographer Anni Becker)
Here you can see Danny jumping into the community canvas at full throttle- painting Ganesha!

This was the end result of the live community canvas free for all painting:

( another photo by Anni!)
a wondrous, spontaneous community creation.
As Danny helped paint the community piece i was busy giving and receiving face paintings!!


( photo by Danny)
And thus the face painting madness began. Here i am painting Kelly Keigwin(a dear heart and amazing artist) ....and not for the first time either. i have a feeling this will become a well cherished ritual at such art collective opening nights and i look forward to many more!


( photo by Kelly Keigwin)
here i am painting Colleen! Another main member and creator at The Space art collective, whom i truly enjoy interacting and trading creative energy with!


( photo by Kelly Keigwin)
and here i am painting Anni's face...which she then turned around and painted my own- imagine my delight!


(photo by Kelly Keigwin)

and so here we were:

(photo by Danny)
...i dare say a wondrous time was had by all!
On our way home Danny and I stopped by the Guerilla Gallery to enjoy some late night musical musing from more local artists.
I went home with a big goofy Cheshire grin on my face.

The rest of the weekend seemed to pass in a blurr. On Saturday Danny and I drove all around town hunting for treasure at estate and garage sales. Since we will be moving soon we are lookin for some new area rugs and furniture. We found a super groovy lavender shag carpet that was huge along with a few other awesomely wonderful area rugs, end table, book shelf and much more. We filled up our car's hatch back and decided to call it quits for the day.
Sunday we enjoyed the morning, danny made soyrizo breakfast tacos. We then took a nice long walk around the neighborhood( trying to make sure we do get some regular exercise)....the weather was perfect. The sun was up but not glaring and the breeze was choice and comfortable. By the end of the day however, the sky turned grey again so we headed in doors and got a lot of packing done( it finally does feel like we are moving!)
So that wraps up the weekend bizz. i didnt get much of any work in on any of my art projects- in fact most of my art supply is already packed and ready to be relocated. So we shall see when i get to finished my current work in progress, perhaps it will be sometime we move and the dust has a chance to settle.

Hope all is well with everyone and that the weekend was sweet.
best wishes for this new week.

Many blessings,
-Chelsea Rose
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Friday art hanging and paint flinging Madness+ weekend progress

Wow...whats a crazy few days its been. Friday was a hoot.
It started off with danny kindly picking me up from work and taking me out to lunch. Then we went home, grabbed the rest of my paintings in the apartment and dashed off to InOtherWords feminist bookstore.
Danny and I hung up my paintings on their display wall in the back:



We used fishing line to wire them up there...so in person they kinda flaot off the wall.

My artwork will be featured in the book store for the month of April. So if you are in town come stop by InOtherWords bookstore and explore! I talked with the art curator a bit more as we hung the paintings and she says she would like to display my body painting series at some point as well. She was thinking it would be perfect for "body image awareness month"...but we have to figure out when that is and if it will work out.

.....After we were done hanging my artwork we drove on over to Vancouver Washington to partake in some much needed community paint flinging madness with The Space Art collective. It was an open house for the new studio space that is becoming the heart of unabashed creation in the Vancouver area. The event revolved around some breathtaking local bands playin trippy melody as a large gaggling crowd painted each others faces and took part in painting a large piece of "community canvas" that was open for all.
Of course the first thing i did when i got in was put on my warrior woman marks:

Photo taken by the amazingly talented and sweet Anni Becker
( do you like my sour puss samurai concentration face?)

...and then i got to paint other peoples faces, much to my delight:

another photo by Anni Becker
(Here i am having fun talkin with and painting another amazing artist, Kelly Keigwin )

Once we were all properly ritualized in tempera paint...we began to attack the community canvas piece:

Here is danny gettin into the groove of it all and painting away!


Anni and I havin a go at the canvas with much reverie!


many hands knuckle painting!


amidst the crowd.

Here is the almost finished result of the live community painting free for all:

It was an amazing night. i met some wondrous souls and had so much fun painting and hangin out. Big thanks and to The Art Space Collective!

The weekend was relatively uneventful compared to Thursday's Piratical Magic art opening reception and Friday's artwork hanging and paint flinging madness.

On Saturday morning I woke up and took a critical look at all the blank walls of my apartment- realizing that almost all of my artwork was out of my hands for the time being which made me realize....I have to PAINT!! I must do some creating and fill up all the empty wall space once again.
So i kicked my butt and started a new painting based off of one of my pen and ink drawings that i had named "The Dread Goddess":

I will soon be posting a blog entry on the creation of this painting with a bunch of work in progress shots....so keep a look out for that!


Also...check out two of the newest Mandala paintings that danny has done:

Vishuddha mandala by Danny
ink over watercolor


Ajna mandala by Danny
ink over watercolor

...So now you know the scoop. Its been a crazy fun past few days and its once again a rainy Monday morning in Portland Oregon.
Best wishes to all with many blessings.
I hope this week is fruitful and filled with positive vibration.
-Chelsea Rose
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More Body Painting with Ann Marie + winter SALE items

I had meant to gradually, day by day reveal more of the finished photos from the body painting shoot I did with Ann Marie on Sunday...but I got a little carried away last night and released 6 more photos:


body painting + photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Ann Marie
( I really like this shot, she reminds me of a genie here)


body painting + photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Ann Marie
(this one is the main full body shot. )


body painting + photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Ann Marie
(This one and most of the others remind me of the old vintage tattooed women photos from the circus.)


body painting + photography by Chelsea Rose
model: Ann Marie
(This one is one of my major favorites from the shoot. I love her profile, the way she is holding her head and that she has her eyes closed. i think she looks regal but soft...and the pose shows off a lot of the painting work while being flattering to her curvy shape)


body painting + photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Ann Marie
(There is something very mystical about her bright eyes amidst the dark paint on her face....love her expression.)


photography + body painting by Chelsea Rose
Model: Ann Marie
( this is Danny's favorite. He really likes the pose. Its a good shot of some of the back painting work too.)

.....So thats it for now but there is still more to come.
However I do have other projects i need to concentrate on. My paint that I ordered a week ago should be getting here today which means I will have no more excuses to not finish my Harpy painting. So yes, I need to work on that and also need to work on getting color onto Wonder's woodsman cloak. All of this photo project bizz has really been inspiring, super exhausting and time consuming- but it feels wonderful. I am looking forward to my next shoot with another lovely woman which is scheduled for this coming Saturday the 19th. I need to call T.Ruth and make sure I can still use her art gallery space for the shoot. This time I plan on starting the painting process much earlier so that we can be ready to do the shoot by 12 thus utilizing some of the space's natural window lighting. In the first shoot with Ann Marie I had not anticipated that the painting would take 3+ hours. We had started by 12 and by the time we were ready to shoot we had lost most of the natural light.
You live you learn....thats what experimentation is all about.
----------
The holidays are fast approaching, and yes our etsy shop is still in SALE mode. So stop on over and check out the goodies and wonderful price tags.
Here are a few featured items for today:


to view or to buy click HERE
on holiday SALE
original price: $20
on SALE pirce: $15
tie dye thermal
extra large(XL) 100% cotton thermal
dyed w/ procion mx purple and green dye
51" chest
....Its a great item for keepin off the chill while still staying intouch with your psychedelic tendencies.


8" X 16" original acrylic painting on canvas(studio frame/frameable)
By Chelsea Rose
on SALE for $65
to view or to buy click Here
The gift of art is something could be a token to a loved one that will last for a lifetime, bringing beauty, elegance and emotion to any wall in any home or office.
Grab it while its on major sale too!

And last but not least:


on SALE for the Holidays!
original price:$20 now on SALE for: $10
Mushroom screen-print: in white on a black
v necked short sleeved shirt
women's size: Medium( stretchy )
Bust: 36"
to view or to buy click here
Original silkscreen art by Danny Rodriguez Lucid Optic Lab hand silk-screened/printed by the artist: made perfectly imperfect and one of a kind.

Sale runs through December, so don't miss out!

Peace n Love,
-Chelsea Rose
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Exploration in Body Painting + a few words on nudity and Breasts

I had one hell of a weekend, thats for sure.
On Saturday Danny and I went to T.Ruth Art space to set up the area for the photo shoot that we had planned for Sunday. I was going to be meeting a model that answered a craigslist post on being a live nude body painting model for my art project. On Sunday the model and I met at the gallery at 12 and got right to work. I began with her face:

Here we are in the back of T.Ruth artspace sitting by the heater and doing the first embellishments. We started with the face and worked out way down to her legs.

The gallery was open to the public as I was painting and photographing her. T.Ruth had some local musicians playing and she was serving hot coco to all that came in.
This was my first time ever doing a full body painting and while it was a bit nerve racking to be doing it in public i think that my inspiration was fueled by the art space and all the wonderful people there. It was such a supportive atmosphere.

Ann the model was so amazing and patient. I started painting her body at 12pm and didn't finish untill 3:30pm. Then I photographed her till around 5:00pm. It was a long day but i am super excited to announce that the shoot was an absolute success and i cant wait to show you the finished photos.

....So here is one that I retouched and posted last night before I went to bed:

( please click to full view this photo)
So thats a taste of whats to come.

I cant wait to show you a full body photograph...so stunning.
I shot all these photos in color knowing that I would upload them onto my computer and change them to high contrasting black and white. I really am thrilled with the way they came out. Its a very exciting thing to have an idea for so long and then to finally actualize it!
So i will be uploading more of these photos from the shoot as soon as i have time to convert them to black and white. So stay tuned if youd like to see more.
-----
Onto another note i wanted to share an email correspondence i had this morning. This person had emailed me with a question that i have answered all my life about my art so i thought i would share it on my blog.
This is the email I read this morning:

"Hi Chelsea,
I found my way to your blog tonite via flickr, and started reading it. I noticed your Craigslist ad for a model. I have a bit of a bone to pick with you, if you don't mind:-) I am 60. I was a feminist in the 60's, and still am. While your work is excellent technically, I really question all the breasts. I don't know that I would call someone drawing basically male fantasies a feminist. Of course you disagree, and I would love to hear what you have to say. I mean no disrespect. I just wonder if you are aware of feminist history and all that women before you have gone thru in order to NOT be portrayed this way. So, go ahead and explain to me why I'm all wet!!
Best,
-annoymous "

This was my response:

" Dear anonymous,
Thanks for your email and your thoughts on the subject. I have been given crap for the boobs I have draw since I was 5 years old( I am now 22) so I am used to it and understand that in this world our bodies, our sexual organs, our nakedness is something to be feared for some reason. My Aunt always laughed saying the first thing I ever drew were big boobed mermaids...its something I have done unconsciously, unintentionally all my life so I feel its a part of who I am and in many ways I feel guided with my artwork by the spirits, faery, natural spirits that be since my artwork is not so much planned but done on the spur of the moment. These goddess, faery women just jump right out of me onto the paper. why cloth and hide away their truth with bras and shirts and underwear?
I grew up around a lot of powerful women as well as in many clothing optional, nudist communities. I was raised early on practicing earth majick and the worship of mother earth, the goddess and the natural powers that be and was always very fascinated by the big breasted wide hipped symbol of the Goddess and I feel a lot of the figures I draw are very much inspired by that symbol. I think its a very un feminist thing for one to say that beautiful boobs in all their various shapes and sizes could be only what you call " male fantasies". I think its important as woman to take back the image of the female body...take it back for ourselves, explore our selves, our flaws, our shapes and truly cherish our breasts, our vaginas, our clavicle bones, our eyes, our lips...everything. What you see in my artwork is a young woman's exploration of her spirituality and her love of female endowments. If you find that offensive I apologize and know that you have not been the first to be upset by it. But breasts for me are a feminine symbol of creation. We grow them lush so that when we create life we can nourish it and thus they are sacred organs that I offer tribute to in my paintings. I will always be fascinated by breasts and I will continue to paint them whether I paint them perky, limp, long nippled, or lopsided.
Also, I think there is not one way to define a feminist and not every woman will be the same kind of feminist as the next. Labels should not have a set definition in my mind because nothing in this entire world is that predictable. You are an older woman and so I have respect for your plight and your perspectives since you are my elder but I would hope that you open your eyes, your mind because everything changes, including these things we call movements. If they didn’t change, grow and morph with each generation then there would be lil progress in the world and the collective conscious. so I hope you and the others that have issues with the nudity in my artwork stop seeing breasts as a profane sexual thing and start seeing them as a symbol for divine life, creation and giving...and let yourself feel empowered when you look upon my artwork...feel moved by my interpretation of the beauty of the female figure and not shamed by it because that is what man has done to our image in our minds and the only way to break that wall down is to change the way we think and feel about ourselves, our body and the image of naked women and our various parts.
Best wishes and much love,
-Chelsea Rose. "

.....I thought this was a good way to share my thoughts on the nude aspects of my paintings on my blog. Im interested to hear more opinions and interpretations, although I must admit I am saddened that my work can be seen as some half brain erotica bullshit because I feel its far from that. However I recognize that art is a personal thing and we have a different view/perspective then each other and I wouldn't have it any other way. Still, it can be disheartening to find that the nude aspects of my work not only offends people but hinders me from displaying and selling my art work at various art fairs, galleries and websites.
But this is what i create and i have never ever thought to censor myself and im not about to start doing it now, even if it ment me being more successful by reaching a bigger demographic/audience with my work.

It is what it is.

That's all the words I have for today.

Peace n Love
-Chelsea Rose
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Recent Events, Musings and To do lists

In my recent absence I have had a wonderful adventure, traveling down to WolfCreek with my dear Danny. We were well met by our faerie friends at the sanctuary where we were able to set up camp, frolic and drum to our hearts content in the lovely wilderness of southern Oregon. I could not fathom a better way to celebrate Samhain! And celebrate we did.
a couple quick lil snap shots as we were getting ready for the Samhain ritual:

here I am playing with face paint at any chance I get. Check out Wonder's beard- its glorious no?

Danny looking quite handsome in samhain ritual garb!

I painted my face up too, for the witch's new year. although truthfully I am guilty at jumping at ANY chance to break out the face/body paint.
Originally Wonder and I had planned on painting his entire body green, and then going over with black lines to create a super intricate green man full body painting. But alas, it was chilly and wet for the days we spent there so stripping down to bare skin and playing with body paint wasn't the best idea. We will get to it some day, I really do so hope!

quick shot of our lil wolf creek tribe before the Samhain ritual. take a look at this lil glimpse of land and the yummy vial of mist obscuring the tree line! so much love : )
A great time had by all, and we were able to finally break in our tent. Had to borrow sleepin bags from dear Shauna Mama, but we are slowly collecting all the gear we may need to survive the beginning of the end! Or rather, Danny and I are rounding enough gear so that we can run away to camp on the forest coast of Oregon during the weekends. sounds yummy huh? Need sleepin bags, wool blankets, one of those super nifty nomad heating systems that are made of tin cans, heating bases on alcohol(Wonder and Tim and one and made us tea in the morning with it), also need an extra tarp for more rain proofing + more.
Danny and I carved pumpkins too:

Danny's pumpkin was great this year. He carved a pattern of I think 9 different faces that went all around the entire pumpkin. Mine, like the last few years was an ode to the Cheshire Cat....i promise I will do something different next year, I swear!

Also, Danny and I have been together for 4 years now. We count Oct 31st as our anniversary date. So this time of year is always a super special time. I cant believe its been 4 years already- time is a strange misstress. I look forward to many more years together. Im excited to think on where we might be in another 4 years with each other, our art and our life style.

( an older photo but a good one!)

As far as my artwork goes- im so behind! But now that the dust has fallen, we are back nestled into our cozy home studio space I am ready to get to work. Tonight I plan on putting the final touches on my wind spirit painting. I will take pictures of her once she is signed and varnished. I still need to post pictures of my painting "posy nymph", so stay tuned.

For the month of November I will be babysitting T.Ruth Artspace Gallery (where my solo gallery show/ paintings still hang) while the owner is traveling. So if you are in the area come say hi and drop by, yes? your company and support would be greatly appreciated.

and a recent poem I wrote to send you off with:

I am a careless heroine
with a brave finger against the brow
holding face in fuming reverie
growling with the entrails of this sorrowing bridge and its treacherous way
this convoluted path manifesting as a dagger of drought on my parched spool of tongue that wallows, shifting in steely indifference with the shrugging of half lidded eyes.
I stand as effigy, revered burden of glowering aptitude teaming in the splinters of steaming electrical coils, placid with the sharpness to inject.
This calibration wrought tight in columns of my spine resting in the nape of unperturbed illusory splendor is ready to spring and command.
My battered crown pulsates as a grafting symbol of granulated edict.
I am a ruthless heroine
My proclamation made deep and luxuriant amidst black opal pupils
gone milky in whisper weeping coals, gelatinous with polluted condemnation forever a scourge, mounted thick and groveling in the winding shores of divination thus bestowed.
The towers before me are glowing, steely dawn rippling like convulsing flesh, dripping splendors of warm smoggy breath all a glow in the chill of this inky shore.
And I stand here, holding this mound of dirt between stakes of armored intent with arms held in the pulsating homage of the sphinx with its claw and feather, a splendor of cruel truth and balancing awe.
A formidable opponent, equipped stark and naked with the gaze of infinity, growing in blazing feral trance.
And I, most like a thorny serpent, my jaw puckered into a blooming flower of wound, fanged and gagging on the heavy blanket of Babylon, my harrowing opponent, abusive in its splendor.
But these breaches have little effect, for a clandestine fortress ripples in this chest of mine where I bare the weapons of elusive voices, the heavenly defiance whipping like festooned brocade, a violent ivy thick with web to ensnare and consume.
Therefore, do not cross me.
I am a careless heroine.
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