The Ultimate Artist Date: New York City

In March this year, I had the priveledge to stay in my friend's apartment in Manhattan for a few days and go and play in New York ! Honestly, there are a zillion guide books and many many of my facebook friends told me what to see, where to go, where to eat, and so many things to do that it could make your head spin. The city alone could do that anyways, minus the lists and suggestions from books and your friends. But for an artist date the goal is to get out to somewhere new, with myself, and preferably with no agenda --- and I have to say that New York City is the ultimate destination to do just this.

So here we go, a few shots from my "New York Artist Date" random wanderings around and exploring. Never been happier. Never have I fell deeper in love with any city. And yes, I want to go back!

Could'nt find a tofu street hot dog ( they have plenty downtown Vancouver) but I couldn't resist snapping this picture as it's definetly part of NY culture these food vendors on the side walk.

This reminded me of all those scenes in movies where the hero or the heroin is stuck in traffic trying to get to the loved one at the last minute!

If I lived here I would for sure have roof top bbq parties

and invite friends over to dine with a city view.

My never ending fascination with brownstone city buidlings - so tall!

Gum or cigarettes anyone? it's all right here on the street corner.

Gotta love these tiny street side stores. super cool.

Times Square.

Times Square, even better at night.

Couldn't resist. I have to say I got super sucked into the tourist " I heart NY" stuff.

I lusted after the shirt, the hat, the magnet... All the stuff I usually avoid when I visit a city, but New York is just so amazing, I wanted to declare my love with souvenirs!

Random artist's work in a retail clothing ship. Could not stop myself for sneaking in and taking a pic. LIked the art better than the clothes at this place! :)

Darn, I wish I could remember the name of this store. It was like a chinese dollar store but the stuff was higher end. More like IKEA meets china town. Super cool trinkets, nick nacks, house wares and more. I could have spent several hours there! ( its in SOHO --- If I recall the name I will post it in the blog comments)

Just love the buildings and architecture and who doesn't enjoy the cobbled streets? Charming!

I think this was some sort of street art but I just kind of whizzed passed it to take a super close up look. I like the idea though - really you can have art anywhere. No need for walls or a gallery, just make it on the street. Why not.

Artist's Date: Streets of Philedelphia

An artist's date walking the streets of Philedelphia...

In March I had $400 credit with Air Canada and a deadline to use-it-or-lose-it so to speak towards a flight anywhere. I actually had no clue as to where I wanted to go to. Honestly, I have been so happy/busy in my home studio and settling into life in Vancouver with new friends, the ARC, the great outdoors, fun with my little girl, painting, teaching -- I actually was not inspired to go anywhere! (unusual for me as in the past I have been an avid traveler and adventure seeker!)

Well, With 2 weeks before the air credit expired a friend from Philadelphia serendipitously called and basically said in not so many words; "when the heck are you going to come out and visit?". I booked a ticket right after our talk and finally made it back east in mid March!

Here are some photos snapped along the streets of philedelphia during the first few days of my visit. I was really taken with the brick, lots and lots of brick !! and the beautiful door ways. The streets actually reminded me of London, England. So I spent the first few days of my vacation waling around a lot, writing in my journal and well, that's it....

Doors, streets, bricks and windows were what inspired me these first few days walking around South Philly.

Yes, I love wrought iron and painted doors and red brick with white window trim. So quaint!

All the brick and house styles reminded me of being in London, England!

This image/scene reminds me of one of Natalie Goldberg's paintings.

Didn't really see a whole lot of people riding bikes but I liked this image of the bicycles all lined up parallel to the street.

Beautiful old church.

Inside a cafe, several of which I enjoyed writing my three long hand morning pages. Just loved the old eroded textured walls and - of course - more brick!

Beautiful old buildings. These could definetly inspire paintings!

Yes I'm a sucker for fresh flowers! always !

Love the torquoise and red brick colours together...beautiful.

I love interesting doors and windows.

Another one of hte cafes where I wrote in the morning before walking around. Had some really nice green tea there and met a parking enforcement officer who told me stories of his two little girls and how into playing sports they were. Seems this is a big part of life in Philly - the sports! 

There were these signs everywhere along the street where they would sahre information about a famous person from PHilly and tell you about them.

Most of my walking as in south  Philly area but I made it downtown also.

They are in the backgorund but I love those currogated iron doors with light green blue painted on them in contrast to the brick!

Artist Date: exploring an antique shop

This week I wanted to share a few photos I snapped when I serendipitously found this super cool antique store a few blocks from where I live - downtown east side of vancouver. The whole store and it's layout were fun and inspiring to explore and there were a few items that really caught my eye. Enjoy the photos of my little artist date.

Outside the first thing and caught my eye were the wrought iron gates.

Peeking in through the large wooden main doors lots of treasures to see!

Lots of buddhas and cement status of chinese/tibetan looking people :)

Need the letter 'P' or a buddha head? they've got it.

Brightly coloured old chinese looking chest of drawers.

Looking down from upstairs and a zillion chandeliers.

Love these saddle type wooden stools, baskets and wooden buckets.

This chair looks like a regular chair in this photo but it's actually doll sized. Super cute.

Good old coca cola vintage memorabilia.

Like the look of this place and want to visit?

Here's the scoop:

Antique Market

Warehouse Sales

1324 Fraklin Street

East Vancouver

604-875-1434

http://www.antiquesdirect.ca/

An Artist's Date in my new neighborhood - pictures

Just moved into The ARC (Artist Resource Center) a work/life studio building located in east Vancouver. There are about 100 artists living and creating here and truly this is a wonderful place to be!

Since being here for a little over a week I've had the chance to meet a number of my fellow artist/tenants and received a very warm welcome on my move in day! It's an exciting step in many ways for expanding myself and my daughter's lives in seeing what's possible, how other people live and learning a new part of the city.

As a gesture of self care after the big move I decided to take an *Artist's Date for myself - go for a walk, bring my camera, and shoot some picture of the industrial landscape which I now call home. Check it out...

* Artist's Date: scroll down to page 18 of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Outside The Arc building.

Love the colours.

Lots of industry. Don't know what they are doing

but they make a lot of noise and sometimes it really stinks here!

(gotta a super duper air filter!)

Sweet little kitty cat on someone's front door step. No pets allowed at The Arc. One day I will have a studio cat. I sure miss our old cats!

Love the rust colours, metal textures and wear on this old building.

This could inspire a painting!

Same building but further back. I really liked the contrast of the metallic/rust coloured building to the yellow one on its right. So much art everywhere!

At artist builds a garden right outside his studio! Beautiful.

Good old Vancouver sky: clouds, clouds and more clouds.

Just like the colours and the shapes here.

Graffiti art how liberating!

Like the dark browns with the mint green. Colours look beautiful together.

More of this because I got enamored with the cute old white rickety building on the right.

Reminds me of the poetry/art book called "Top of my lungs" by Natalie Goldberg where she painted images of buildings with windows. Loved those paintings.

Looking through train carts to the old sugar refinery building in the background. Beautiful brick and arched windows all boarded up.

City view.

This is the area where the big tankers dock and unload their cargo. believe me, when the unloading happens you can hear it - always lots going on here with the trains coming and going. Love the colours of the crates and the glimpses of the ocean.

Our backyard.

The view from the back stairwell.

More industrial shots taken from my 7th floor window.

The view from my main window. I love it!

Docker's Diner down the road. Apparently, says my beautiful new neighbors Heather and marie, it makes a killer breakfast.

Ashland, Oregon

This October I drove from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco, California to meet with a friend who is opening an art gallery downtown San Francisco next year.

My boyfriend and I decided to make a trip of it and made a few artistically inspirational stops along the way that I wanted to share with you here from our trip.

Here's our first stop in Ashland, Oregon -where the annual Shakespeare festival is held- and where we enjoyed some fabulous food at the Dragon Fly Restaurant, a walk through town and some time in nature at the park located in the center of town.