Give a little bit, Give a little bit of your love to me

These days I am finding it hard to not just explode on people, maybe I am in the wrong but I know what I am seeing and it is not good, even in the slightest. Is there no social conscious anymore? Do people just not care, or is it just the people in my life? Seems as if that is so, seems the people in my direct line of sight on a daily basis and the most least caring people ever. Like I said I know I could be wrong here but it is all I see. People are more into selfish things like shopping and shows and concerts, traveling across the country to see something that will only last an hour at most. Instead of donating or lending a hand to someone who needs it, and I have personal experience with this when I continuously post charities online, in their faces and it just goes to the way side, drifts slowly down the page day by day with not a moments glance. This time has been better to say the least, I have had some donations to a very good cause and I am happy to be a part of it and have made it a point to make a fundraiser every month from now on.

Maybe it is just me but I don't see the religion in religious people these days. It is so easy to claim to be religious and to accept the positive connotations it implies to be. But when you are selfish and never take one second off yourself to lend a hand to someone else trying to do something good for the betterment of humanity I find it hard to like you. I find it hard to trust you in anything you say and do, I am losing faith in people on a daily basis. I am not a religious person, or a western religious person but I seem to be more into helping the helpless more than these people who claim to be better than so many other people. If you can stand on a soap box and bash so many people for who or what they are under the name of god, but you never try to do something good in the name of god, or just in the name of humanity, you are no better than the people you are bashing. Just my opinion.

So many people are talking negatively about this Occupy movement. Not really understanding all the negative things behind it. You would assume the poor people of this country would be behind a movement for their improvement, but I am wrong. It is sad that people would rather stay inside their homes and huddle up close to their expensive material possessions. These people are braving the cold, the rain and the never ending beatings by a police force that is suppose to protect us, a tool we put in place to protect us from real criminals, but now they are just turning us into the criminals. I am in no way a protestor, I don't claim to be. I have never slept outside, been arrested or pepper sprayed illegally, but I am a supporter, I take the time to educate myself on issues. What I don't get, also, about all these "americans" bashing the protestors and calling them lazy hippies is that this is not an american issue, this is worldwide. Cities all over the world are Occupying their governments and speaking out against their own versions of Wall St., they all have a stock market and big corporations that are exploiting them. Oddly enough in the poorer countries the big business is still american, but we are not all to blame, there is also the London Stock Exchange that is failing as well. I think we need to stop attacking the right people and start looking at the real issues and if you are not brave enough to sit in the street then be brave enough to say you give your support.

So many people around the world do not have adequate living situations, no jobs to even speak of, and no clean water. This is my cause, my issue that I am spending all my time on now. I just wanted to donate some of my time and space to speak out about these crimes of humanity. To think we have taps no less then a foot away from us at all times is crazy when you think about people walking miles a day for a chance at a glass of water, and some die along the way. These people are not fighting a war, they are not screaming out against high prices of oil or televisions. They are merely walking to get a sip of water and some just never make it back, and the real victim is the children who will never get that sip of water let alone see their family members again. Water and food are something we take for granted everyday, we use it as a means of comfort and joy. We use water to fill swimming pools, wash our cars, dishes and selves. We use food as a way to deal with life problems and in the process waste so much of it, it is sick to see how much grocery stores and restaurants waste everyday, all that could go to feed someone if we didn't put so many guidelines on our waste. These people who will never have a car, or a home with central air, would be satisfied with our waste. We could feed each person around the world for a month on our waste, daily waste. I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty, but I am just trying to educate and make aware these tragic stories. I am in no way better than anyone else, I am also a slave to the ways of living in america, I waste, I carelessly use, but I am becoming more aware and have since tried to cut back on my waste, tried to improve my life while improving the lives of others. I think I have found my calling.

Please read, donate if you can, and just spread the word as well. Give water.

Wake up call!

terrorism - is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. coercion - is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner (whether through action or inaction) by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. sound familiar? we are systematically stretching our country thin with all these "wars" we are involved in. while we are out "policing" the world and publicly throwing out the word terrorism we are in fact the terrorist, our actions have created or flurried these small groups of people (i in no way condone what they do, just making a point). all the while we are starving at home, more and more end up in the streets, jobs lost overseas, more and more people needing government assistance. is this a tactic by our government to make us dependents, to make us fear them because if we disagree they will take away the last means we hold on to. step outside, take off whatever blinders you have on and truly look at the state of things in our country, whether you agree with "Occupy" or not, whether you are political or not, seriously wake up and see if we stay steady on this course we will end up in a hole that we wont be able to dig ourselves out of. and if you fear "terrorists" now, imagine what will happen when our guards are down and we are helpless. TAKE A STAND, USE YOUR VOICE!

Just a plain honest open rant...

So, just a basic observation that just makes me so mad. I tried to get a fundraiser going for a real noble cause this holiday season, was just something strictly pure of heart with no intention behind it. I made a article on my art page on my site and tried promoting it. Slowly getting nothing back I was wondering what was going on, did no one care about helping others as much as i did? Guess not. After making some posts, and yes I will admit, some prodding comments just to try and get people into the discussion at least. Nothing! So I was slowly losing hope and giving up on this project, all I mere asked was people donate if they could, and if not then please like what I was doing or share so that others could participate if they wanted. Nothing! Then one day I get a comment, the gist of the comment was that "I seemed shady" and that nobody wanted to donate to me because of that reason, and or maybe people don't have the money, which I totally understand I am not rich either. So after these comments against my integrity I left those group of people and moved on. After not getting anywhere at all I ditched the whole project, sadly I am not the one losing out. I was going to try and raise a nice chunk of change for the children's hospital, just wanted to give back this year to the one's who need it. After some thinking and weeks out of this group I decided to rejoin and just take it as a loss and let those sad pathetic people delete me and know that I am a better person then they are. I mean if you didn't want to help fine, but don't attack me because you are to selfish to do something to give back. I even had one guy tell me what he does for charity, like I needed someone telling me that what they do is better than what I am trying to do. Anyway, back to the point which got all fulfilled today. These same people that ignored me, belittled me as a person and just totally blew off any thought of giving back (even just a dollar) are publicly posted how they just blew $100 to $300 on themselves on this bands holiday presale of overly expensive pointless items. Now just so no one thinks I am bashing anyone, I know we all work hard for out money and it is precious, if we need it. But all I asked was for everyone to donate a dollar if they could, and then I see this. I see people posting about spending hundreds and thousands to go to shows in support of this band, or on cruises. Now all they had to do was maybe miss out on a pack of gum for the month and donate a very small amount to a great cause, and even one guy made another comment on how people wouldn't want to donate to me because they would want the tax cut, really, a tax cut on a fucking dollar. I am slowly realizing the people, whom I don't even know, but surround my life and me beliefs are selfish. In a group all about love, peace, unity and giving, I witnessed none of this, I witnessed selfishness and hatred towards me for doing something good. Oh! another comment when I stated all people had to do was share if they couldn't donate and one actually commented with a link to another page saying that more than 30 people liked that page, and it had nothing to do with charity or what I was doing at all. On a group site where someone can get 30 likes and shares and comments for weeks on a post about how they just "dropped" an absurd amount of money on clothing items for themselves and a post about charity for children gets no likes, no shares and comments that bash the whole idea of what I was trying to do is just sad! I hoped for something better, but I am slowly realizing on the cusp of a global revolution that people are just ignorant and apathetic. I admit I let my emotions get the best of me when I was just being ignored on all fronts, all sites that I posted on, I mean short of standing in front of a store with a cup I did all I thought I could do get this fundraiser off the ground. Did I go wrong somewhere? Did I make the wrong approach? or did I simply address the wrong people? I am still clueless on those answers, I went straight to the group that I thought was full of love, a group that will collectively get together and raise money so someone who has everything but can't afford a cruise or a concert can go, I witnessed this. I know they are capable of doing good things, but only for themselves, even these small gestures of kindness are still only selfish and help only the members of this group spend money on something that isn't that important in the scheme of things. Just imagine what could have been accomplished and given back of the so odd thousands of members of this group, worldwide, just donated a dollar. Skipped buying a t-shirt for the holidays, missed out on the next bracelet for whatever gathering they were planning next, maybe it is just me but I don't see the love or unity in this anymore.

Still no matter what I am a 311 fan, and I believe in love, unity, respect and peace.....giving back so that others can have a little something too!

Cheers to those who also truly believe this, give back and do good things, maybe misguided but with good intentions. I am no saint by any means, just a rant and observation on something personal and in my life.

Oh! No! Fantastico.....?

September 21st started out as any other normal day for me. Not remembering at the moment if I had to work that day but that is not a major factor in the story. From recollection I headed down town around 5 p.m. and found my way to the intersection of 12th and Porter. Upon arriving extremely early, what? I like to be punctual, I decided to have a few beers before the reason of the evening. I found my way to Rooster's and had a few 2-for-1 beers. Then as the time approached 8 p.m. I made my way over to 12th and Porter to check in for the show. Okay now I know you have all been wondering, it was the Alien Ant Farm show. I had been so stoked and waiting for this for so long. I did my research as I always did of the opening bands, sadly I turned up minimal results and what I had found I wasn't too sure how I felt about them. Sadly I will tell you now that AAF did not end up playing, do to some disagreement with the venue owners. But, I had my mind blown by these opening bands. Before I get into it I would like to start off by saying I was a little buzzed and just chilling by the bar as the venue was still getting set up. I saw this guy walking around handing out bracelets, I was intrigued. He then came up to me and we started to chat, I got a bracelet and found out it was the lead singer of one of the opening bands. The one and only Michael Gossard front man of the band ACIDIC, we had a nice little chat and he went upon his way to continue his noble grassroots approach to meeting fans and promoting his band. A few more beers later I watch as the first band gets ready to take the stage, had no idea what I was about to see, so I eased my way closer to the stage (was a very small crowd so I had plenty of wiggle room). Then lights go down and my eyes light up and I can not stop staring and listening as Lindsey Stamey began to sing, probably the most beautiful and powerful voice I have ever heard in person. The band Oh No Fiasco from the moment they started playing I was an instant fan. Before the first song had even ended I was over at their merch booth and got two bracelets and proceeded to head back to the stage, I was in awe. After the show I went up to the guitar player and gave my honest admiration and asked for the set list, he told me to meet them at the booth and they would all sign it for me. Very amazingly nice people.

Set list I acquired from the band Oh No Fiasco

All songs listed were absolutely amazing, some of which I can not get my hands on. A few were not on the EP I purchased after the show. But the one song that stole my heart and still does is Clarity, that song just exposes so many truths and emotions in my own life. What I enjoyed and still do about ONF is the pure honesty in the music, you can tell what she is writing about and how real it is. That to me is so hard to find these days, the music doesn't fit the lyrics, but in this case the music is ripping at your heart strings just as much as her voice and words. What impressed me so much was their energy on stage, you can tell they were born to be up there. From the moment they started to the end they were so into the whole show, and I can say for such a small crowd you would have thought they were playing for thousands. I was so thankful for being at this show, opening my eyes to such an amazing band, getting to meet such amazing people. After the show I continued to follow them on Facebook and Twitter and I felt so bad for them that they broke down in Odessa Texas and had to cancel the remainder of their show, but that little break down led to an amazing home movie and an even more amazing song recorded in their hotel room. I can honestly say I am in love with this band and will be happily seeing them back at the same venue on December 3rd, and then again on the 18th, this time I will be bussing up to Knoxville for the special christmas show. Needless to say I am very excited and this time I will be getting many more pictures and video.

The lovely Lindsey Stamey 

Kamryn Cunningham

Seth Rowlette

Lindsey

Seth, Lindsey and Thomas Boyd

Our Heart

I found it, the other day. I mean I wasn't really looking, I know I put it away for one reason or another. But after taking it back out and holding it back up I realized, it is so strong and durable. It has been through a lot over these years. Kicked around, throw at the wall, left in dark rooms all by itself while the owner ran around being young and stupid. So many good times and bad times, times when I thought it would just swell and break all on its own. Although it has been scuffed and tattered it still remains as it was when I put it away. Upon holding it up to the light I can see the tiniest shimmer of gold, maybe a few more years and it will be all cleaned up and ready to shine again. Who knows, there are always going to be dark roads and careless strangers. Somewhere out there there is a person who will appreciate it and take it in, set it up high and never leave it in dark rooms. Maybe rest it by the fireplace and keep it warm, always near the conversation in the room. That is the goal I guess, what we all search for when we give away our hearts.

Like A Child

Sometimes I feel as if I have the heart of a child. So honest and pure, hopeful and easily loving of others. Sometimes I feel that is a huge downfall, who wants to be this old and still get there heart smashed to pieces because you are just to innocent with love. By far am I saying I am the best person in the world, I do have many flaws and have made many mistakes, maybe I deserve the pain that has been given to me. All I am truly saying is I love too easily and too often, I love in the wrong direction, I love strangers who have only but showed me a small portion of their time. I can fall in love with the idea of a person before ever meeting them. Why is this, is this something wrong, is this is a misfire of something in my brain. Can this actually be considered a flaw, maybe, I mean no one wants a fool. Sometimes I want to retract from the world and just be alone, I am far too scared of getting my heart hurt again, like a child I must protect it from the people wanting to do it harm. Sometimes, most of the time, I never want to feel that way again, I never want to try, to put myself out there. But then I think, maybe this time will be different, maybe I will be loved back as innocently and as strongly as I love them. Someday I hope this to be true, as for now I wait silently in a world of strangers, too hurt to really open up to friends who aren't really there anyways.

Lady In Black

Oh, why? Why do you come into my place of work? Almost every night I see you, but you never see me. You come in many shapes and shades but always donning the same casual layers of black. Black shirt sweetly tucked into the form fitting black slacks, black belt ever so seductively wrapped around the waist. You intrigue me the way you seem to effortlessly float around the place, the building conforms to your every movement, like the ocean reaching out only to caress the shore as often and shyly as possible. The one enigmatic thing I would love to ask you, or maybe ask the universe, is why I never see you leave. You come in like a crook only to escape unseen, nothing out of its place, only specific items that were there just for you to take. Items I had no clue were even there, so their disappearance has no effect on me. I only catch a glimpse of you as you enter through the corner of my eye, like a mystic, an enigmatic creature spoken of throughout time but never proven to exist. Why? Why do you come into my place of work?

From the childhood, reawaken the mysteries....

This painting was inspired by all the glory and joy of being a kid and finding the mystery in everything. Whether it be happy, fun or scary, we used our imagination and we saw things that we never thought we could. Things that never and will never truly exist, but we believed hard enough to make them real. So I said "why can we not have that as an adult", I don't see why not, and we very well should. This is an offering to all the minds that got lost along the way, through hard days in high school to a rough day at a job you hate, daydream and set your mind free, don't be afraid to make believe. 

I had the best time painting this, it was all very random. I just sat down, flipped on my video camera and just started, little to no sketching involved, just let the idea create itself as I was painting. There is also a video to this on youtube, I tried to post it on here, will try again. I am hoping if I can post here, and have videos on youtube I can spread my art around more and hopefully break into this art world full force.

Weight of the world

The basic meaning behind this painting is very simple, the title is "Weight of the world". It is a sort of self portrait but I know this is, and can be related to many others. Everyone has their day to day troubles and it may feel as if we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Sometimes we just break down and no one sees it, sometimes we just need to stop and catch our breathe, as if we are running from our troubles. The ropes in the picture interpret our restraint, sometimes we are afraid to face our troubles or whatever issue is holding us down. The water signifies being bogged down, almost sloshing around in this hard to move through substance, as if we can not get out of it, never ending. I know all of these images seem negative, but I added something to the character that I feel in my heart is the strongest positive in my life. The tattoo on the arm is the Buddhist mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum. What I am trying to show with this little addition is that no matter how bad things get, or how impossible situations seem, we just need to take a step back and breathe. Everything is a message or a sign, every struggle and problem is a tool to help you learn and not make same mistakes twice. The mantra is strong in my life, but this is a self portrait, so whatever there is in your life I know everyone has something that can get them through. Stay strong and positive. Thanks.

Back To The Drawing Board

It has been awhile since I have felt like I have created something to be proud of. Well folks, here it is. These next few images have recently been created and it all happened so fast, I think I started and finished them all within a day. Each one is a though I had to go along with a character I am trying to develop more. The character is of course "Kid Zero" my alter ego, or stage name or whatever you call it. I feel like all three of these paintings are current in how I am feeling about things right now, all very positive. There was also another painting that popped into my head as I was falling in and out of sleep one night, I tried to paint it the next day and have been working on it since, not turning out how I imagined. Oddly enough the painting or picture that I had in my head could have been a daydream, but I believe it is a good sign of things to come, so hopefully the painting will turn up, in a miracle. Also I have been working on some other random things, I am learning how to paint on fabric, starting out with a bandana, then working on some ideas on trucker hats. I have never been someone who really draws out my ideas before hand, maybe that is my downfall when I mess up half way through a project. Then again I think it makes me stronger, makes me have to learn faster and just go with my instincts and heart.

"Finding Love When you Stop Trying" 2011.
The title of this painting reflects how it always seems when you stop actually looking for love or anything in life it finds you. It's like the universe is teaching you to just go with it, live your life and when you're ready, pow, there it is. I believe this happened for me, I have always tried finding something where it didn't belong, and when I stopped it hit me, and I couldn't be happier.

"Getting Carried Away" 2011.
This painting is more simple in emotion, basically I tend to get carried away with my heart. I am a hopeless romantic.  So this is just a basic concept, that I and apparently so many others like. It did really well when I unveiled it. I really just love the colors and the smaller and larger image contrast, I will be doing more stuff like this I guarantee. 

"Letting Go of the Past" 2011.
This painting at first I am sure looks bad, or sad. But I only intend good things from it. It is about letting go of all the bad things in your past or anything that you feel has been bringing you down. Everyone has something like it. I used a logo pattern in the background that is a mock of Louis Vuitton's Logo. I have always loved it and it is something I can see me using in the future, so in a sense the picture is all about future prospects.

I would love so bad to be putting work in galleries and going to shows and making a living off of this, but until then this will be my voice. This and all the other media sites. This is my love, and in every way inspired by the ones I love. Kudos to those in my life. Cheers!

Self Made Art

"Realizing the Self" self portrait, 2010.

Walking through miles of sandy beaches, traversing branches and rock that clutter our way. Staring at the distance we covered on the mornings glow, a breath escapes, a sign of relief or despair. Staying dry on a rainy night, warm when the cold ocean breeze breaks the sun. The moment we take the world into our own hands is truly the moment we become free, we own ourselves. We can now pitch the tents of the mind and climb inside, build the fire to light up the night and sway of the ghosts. Making it through the darkest days are the diamonds that shine brighter than the morning sun. The value not measured in gold, but measured in the weight we unpack from our hearts. discarding the waste, only keeping the tools we need to make it through the dark misty nights alone in the sand. 

Art has always been a way for me to express not myself, but express the struggles of "man". We all go through things in life and sometimes just don't know how to deal with it. One way for me has always been drawing or painting, self taught I found it hard to learn from someone else when only I knew what needed to come out. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I agree, with words can come emotions, stories and realizations. Sometimes they come out quickly and easily, sometimes it takes days of staring at the white blank canvas awaiting a memory or story to unfold. As time progresses I hope to dive deeper, produce more detailed pieces for others to enjoy. I hope that with what I can get out others can sense in the painting and open up in there own way, I feel that art is the thing that will transcend all history, from the beginning of us to the end. I just feel lucky to be a part of it, and to have seen so much of the world in the form of art, to me it is true love.

Paris, France

Eiffel Tower at night.

This trip was the first of many that facilitated the idea that in all trips something extraordinary has to go wrong, and with true traditions it carried through. To further explain this me and my fellow travel buddies (Jon and Terri) had a night full of experience on a trip into Munich. That night we learned that together what can go wrong will go wrong, or at least something will. Upon taking the train into Munich for a day filled with drinking at the Hofbrauhaus we had to take a bus to another town due to work being done on the tracks. After a good deal of fun times and drinks with many random friends who showed up we decided to meander back to the train, to catch the last train at 11:30 p.m., the adventure doesn't stop there. As we were walking we stumbled upon a fountain, and being drunk thought it was a good idea to run through the fountain, my idea. To add a hint of clarity as I went running into the fountain I was blasted in the face and lost my balance and slid across the whole thing, getting fully soaked. This was fun at the time but the immanent danger was awaiting us, we learned as we arrived to the station that due to work being done on the tracks the last train was an hour earlier. Leaving us soaking wet and stranded in the train station, now I have to say that the station is massive and not enclosed, it is very cold in Munich this time of year. So after wandering the streets from bar to bar trying to stay warm, getting kicked out of a strip club was the last straw. We then shivered as we slept on the floor of the open station, we eventually caught the first train back home at 5 a.m., this was the start of a glorious pact. So we decided to travel together to the great land of Paris, France. The start of the trip was great, we had a good flight in, arriving at about 10:30 at night. Navigating our way through the twisted corridors of the Paris metro system we found our way to the center of town. We checked some sites, took some pictures and tried to locate our hostel. Now keeping with tradition no one printed off the hostel info, I will go ahead and take the blame for that one. So we ended up near this massive weird looking building with the clever lighted name of "Respublica", this was after we wandered to the Eiffel Tower and realized Paris is not so safe after hours. Upon arriving at said building we decided we were gonna sit, then noticing graffiti and trash this might not be the safest of places, then we were whistled and yelled at by a group of men. We then were followed by said group until we lost them on side streets, which led us to our saving grace, the Four Seasons. The front desk clerk let me behind the front desk to look up our hostel location, best show of customer service ever by the way, they then proceeded to call us a cab and we made it to our hostel. And now remembering bits and pieces of that night, all this was after we randomly found a circus and rode a ferris wheel, and we got our picture taken after we got off. Good times!

The next great adventure

We casually walked in to our hostel, glad and relieved that we finally made it, not realizing the mishaps were not over. After speaking with the front desk we learned that we had booked our room for the next day, so we were stranded yet again. After laying in uncomfortable chairs and my fellow travelers sleeping for most of the time, we left the hostel around 7 in the morning i would guess. We walked to get some breakfast and coffee, they (Jon and Terri) got some weird pizza thing with tuna in it, I think they ate about half and decided to toss it, I made the smart choice and just got a pastry. We then deliriously walked around some random parts of Paris, not really knowing where we were. After complaining about our situation and laughing at ourselves we decided to check out other hotels in the area, we just wanted to get in and shower and rest. Long story short we found a better hotel, not a hostel, for less than we had booked the other hostel for. The trip is starting to look up.

Now I can't go into full detail of what happened on what day but I can touch on the best and worse of this trip. We debarked from the hotel early-ish in the morning, we roamed around town and made our way to the Notre Dame, it was a nice display of architecture but not really what I expected, I guess I had it built up in my mind as bigger than it really was. As we stepped inside my mind was changed, the inside of this church breathtaking, then as we were there there was a boys choir singing the opening for the mass, that in itself was amazing. After many pictures and a quick snack at the local Subway, we set off. Like I said this is not a day by day recount. Paris in the day is a very nice city to just stroll through, the weather was great, sun in the sky, and people were out wandering around with us. The main reason I set sail for this trip to Paris was the Louvre, now my mind was blown by this place, I knew it was big but had no clue how big. I could have spent days walking through all the hallways and seeing all the art and statues, even the Mona Lisa. Now the Mona Lisa lives up to its reputation, it is a small piece guarded by glass and a roped off section of floor, and I'm sure there were countless cameras and security present. The one think that disappointed me about the whole place was at the end, I didn't know but should have realized the consumerism has taken over. There was a massive Apple store and other stores inside the Louvre, I thought that was distasteful. Moving on shall we. Another great experience was ascending the top of the Eiffel Tower, the view from the top was amazing, seeing all around us, and we even spotted the "Respublica", and of course I had to take a picture. We also enjoyed a nice bottle of champagne in the park surrounding the tower, as we were awaiting going to a nice dinner in the city. Needless to say we were all dressed to our best as we drank in the park, we even were congratulated by random park goers, and we still don't know why but that didn't stop us from making up our own reasons. The dinner, was a great time. We each had something different, Jon decided to have escargot, I refused to try knowing it would not sit well. I had the filet mignon and it was delicious, and I'm not a big beef fan, I even tried some of Terri's veil and again amazing. To top it off we had a very nice bottle of wine, way better than the grocery store wine we bought for the hotel room.

This trip was a trip of many firsts, things gone wrong and things going extremely right. Bonding a strong friendship for years to come, memories to hold on too, creating events that haven't happened yet. This trip will seal itself as the first best trip of my European adventure. Kudos to all who read this and to my two favorite travel buddies Jon and Terri.

The ferris wheel we found.

Jon, Terri and Me outside the Notre Dame. 2010

Jon, Terri and Me at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Arc De Triumph 

Ready for dinner.

Love and Art

"Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for. " - Banksy.

Picture taken in Paris, France 2010

Barcelona, Spain

I started my journey around europe in Barcelona, Spain. This has to be the most abundantly art filled city, at least in the list of places I went. There seems to be an amazing appreciation for street art in spain, it is said that even shop keepers hired street artists to paint the front of their stores. It is breathtaking to see how freely they express themselves. Almost every street corner and corridor one could stumble down you will find art, I even came across a graffiti portrait of a Salvador Dali painting. I feel it is wrong to call it graffiti, when the work itself tops some works that I have seen in galleries. I took the opportunity to wander outside the city walls and find an abandoned construction site, with a slight kick of a wood door I snuck in. In there I found some amazing works of street art, some things I haven't seen before in my years of searching.

This one really stood out, I like how they used the shadow of the letters.
Barcelona, Spain

The city itself I would have to say is a work of art, the food and the people. Antoni Gaudi designed a lot of great structures within the city, making everything a magnificent work of art and shows so much passion. The spanish are full of passion. If you have never been to Barcelona i suggest looking up the Sagrada Familia, this massive church was designed by Gaudi. During my visit in 2010 the church was still undergoing construction and restoration, there has not been an end date for this project. The history put into the church is breathtaking. They say Gaudi put the last of his money into the church leaving everything he had to the city that inspired him.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelon, Spain. 2010.

Paris, France

Street art in Paris I would say is elusive, I found very few pieces worth capturing. And I know there are more out there. Maybe the city itself isn't as open as other places, but that doesn't mean there isn't a passion for art. There are many galleries throughout the city, amazing architecture and street layouts. The two most famous are the Arc De Triumph and the Notre Dame, then there is the gallery of all galleries. . .the Louvre. We spent a great deal of time wandering the corridors and many rooms inside, and I feel there was still so much more to see. I am pleased with what i saw and I feel everyone, wether you like art or not, should take a trip there. My mission to see the Mona Lisa was fulfilled, it is amazing how small it is and how well protected, sitting behind a wall of glass and roped off from the publics touch. 

We will discuss the food encountered on this and many trips in a later post.

There is so much more art out there that I hope to someday see, from Prague to Berlin, Moscow to Japan. someday I hope to have a folder in my pictures of these places, my life in travel will never be over. Until then I will continue to make my own art and maybe one day assist in street art around the world.

Cheers.

Sweet, sweet Germany

In 2009 I was given the opportunity to move to Germany. This I would say has been the single greatest experience of my life, it opened up so many doors and friendships. I was able to see so many cultures in Germany and other countries. Through my travels around Europe i found many types of art that inspired me, foods that opened my palate and oh the delicious beer. Germany has all the right concepts about beer and the many ways to enjoy it, I have been a beer enthusiast ever since I moved to Portland, Oregon. There I learned a whole new respect for beer and the multiple varieties.

One of my favorite places to visit, the famous Hofbrauhaus in Munich Germany.

I spent a great period of time in Germany, during this time I was privy to many of the beer festivals. The first being Starkbierfest, stark meaning strong in German. As you might have gathered the beer here is higher in alcohol content than the beer in everyday life. Then in the summer time each town has there own little fest lasting around a week or two, a lot of good food, beer and music. Then the last fest i was able to attend was the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, I sadly didn't get to spend too much time at this one. I was traveling to Mykonos, Greece and then attended the fest upon my return, had a few hours and a few beers with some amazing friends. I have to say what makes Germany so different from other places is they seem to know how to treat beer, there are no open container laws, so we were allowed to walk the streets and get on trains with beer. Some one once told me that it was like a world designed for adults, and I can't help but agree. Beer has put me in some weird situations and has led me to some amazing places that I never would have imagined. so thank you beer, thank you.

Living in southern Germany has many great perks. You have beautiful mountains, fresh clean water and air, and an amazing countryside. And the people there are also amazing, the food was top notch and healthy, even when in big proportions. You could easily go out for a night and spend under 30 euro for a nice meal and a few beers, even the beer was in abundant sizes, anywhere from half liters to full liters. 

I will divulge more info about Germany as this blog is born, and matures, for now it is light and composed. Cheers.