dreXeL's Blog
Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings, Etc...A Bombshell is…
Assignment #2 of The Bombshell Challenge (Created by Bombshell Betty)
“…take the list of attributes and use them to create a description of what a bombshell is to you….”
Here goes. To me, a bombshell is a woman who knows she is a woman 100% of the time. She makes sure she looks like a woman ALL the time. She dresses, does her hair and makeup to enhance the fact that she is a woman. When she gets dressed, and when she’s in public, when she’s BEING a bombshell, she isn’t thinking “I’m the receptionist” or “I’m an activist” or “I’m Mrs. so and so” Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with any of those identities. Each identity you have has its place and time. It’s just that when you’re being “bombshell” the identity of “woman” is the primary one.
A bombshell exudes complete self-confidence in herself and her appearance at all times.
A bombshell doesn’t wonder if anyone notices her or thinks she’s pretty. A bombshell just knows she’s beautiful. So of COURSE she’s noticed.
A bombshell is a beautiful, confident woman ALL. THE. TIME. And when she doesn’t feel that way, she just makes sure she LOOKS that way and fakes it until she DOES feel it again. Reality is created, and that’s the reality that gets created by the bombshell.
[tags]bombshell betty, marilyn monroe, the bombshell challenge[/tags]
The Bombshell Challenge
Every year I write out all my goals, plans, programs and projects….basically everything I intend to accomplish in the new year…on paper and in GREAT detail. I do this on New Years Eve day so that on January 1 I can just launch it all at a dead run.
This year I have a TON of new goals, personal, financial, business, art, health, etc. One of my personal goals has to do with just being less introverted. If you know me as a person with a million internet friends you might not THINK I’m introverted, but in some ways I definitely am. I get shy about my appearance, or feel like I look ugly or whatever…the usual things that happen to a women who’s spent way too many years living in Southern California.
One of the things I’m doing to just force myself to NOT be that way, and NOT think that way, is the “Bombshell Challenge”. It’s a one-year challenge, and I have no idea what’s going to happen since I’m just starting it, but I’m going to post the happenings along the way here on my blog. Just for fun, and for a record that I can go back to. I’ll have all Bombshell posts categorized in “bombshell challenge” category.
Assignment #1
“# Choose 3-5 Bombshells who embody some aspect of Bombshell-hood that you admire and would like to emulate. These can be women or men, dead or alive, actual people or fictional characters. It’s up to you!
# For each of your chosen Bombshells, list 3-5 characteristics or traits that you admire about them and would like to embody….”
Here are my answers:
1. Josephine Baker – Had an exotic look, had amazing fashion sense and combined her clothing with amazing accessories, seemed completely comfortable with her own sexuality.
josephine baker
2. Bettie Page – Seemed very free with her own sexuality, always looked like she was having fun and enjoying herself, whether or not she actually was, seemed like a real person and not just an unhuman icon.
bettie page
3. Marilyn Monroe – Always feminine. Always looked sweet yet sexy. Her skin always looked perfect, pale and smooth, and her hair and makeup were always perfectly glamourous.
marilyn
4. Audrey Hepburn – Had a dark, sultry look. She was glamourous like the others, but in a different…slicker and cooler…way. A bit more daring and adventurous in her approach than the classic bombshells like Marilyn. And a bit more concentration on the cool, hip factor and less on the traditional womanliness factor.
audrey hepburn
5. Amy Winehouse. Yes she’s a junkie. Yes she’s all OVER the tabloids, in and out of rehab, strung out. A mess. But she has a sense of style, swagger and self-confidence that really is on par with other historical bombshells. She KNOWS she’s cool. She KNOWS she has mad style. She KNOWS she’s talented. So I feel she qualifies.
amy winehouse
6. And my absolute bombshell IDOL: Masuimi Max. She is a model of today, she’s trendy and completely hot by right now standards, but still maintains all the classic 50’s burlesque and bombshell sensibilities. She’s sexy and confident, a complete superstar and I don’t think you’d EVER be able to find a bad photo of her. So my list is longer than required, but as far as I’m concerned no bombshell list would be complete without her. So too bad. 😉
masuimi max <3
[tags]bombshell challenge, audrey hepburn, marilyn monroe, bettie page, josephine baker, amy winehouse, bombshell betty, masuimi max[/tags]
I Kinda Wanna Win. You Kinda Wanna Help?
Ok so I entered a competition on Brooklyn Art Project’s website late last night. It’s called “Best of 2008”. So I submitted my favorite painting from this past year. Or at least one that I liked a lot. Wasn’t sure which to pick, so I just picked the one I felt challenged me the most during the year. If I win, I get a bitchin Fuji camera that I NEED. And if I place but don’t win, I get a book made of my artwork, which would be AWESOME.
Anyway, if you’d like to vote for me for Best of 2008, just click below! It will take you straight to my submission. You might need to sign up, so just do that, takes like a minute. Then just click “Add to Favorites” below my painting. Thank you!
XO, dreXeL
[tags]brooklyn art project, brooklynartproject.com, best of 2008, submission, competition, art, painting, mixed media, nyc, chinatown[/tags]
Awesome People Wear My Clothes
THIS is what an awesome person (aka Kris Krug) looks like in a shirt I designed. You know, in case you were thinking “I wonder what an awesome person would look like in one of dreXeL’s tshirts.” The shirt is for the upcoming Dirty South Tour. I’d tell you more but it’s a secret. Soon, though. I PROMISE. Thanks to Tasty Tees for printing them up for me on such short notice. And thanks to Drew Odom and KK, without whose help and inspiration this tour would not happen. I love you guys.
XO, dreX
Oh…wanna see the back?
[tags]delta mace, dirty south tour, tshirt, illustration, tasty tees, tastytees.com, kris krug, kk, drexel, drew odom[/tags]
Tshirts Going Bye Byes
I’ve finally decided to not be selfish about the last few “Smack is a Vampire” tshirts I designed that I had here in my apartment. As long as I have one to wear, I don’t really NEED to have 7 more just in case of some imaginary situation where I’d need to have one for someone. So I’ve made them available on my online store.
Click the above link or the image below to go to the store and go get you one!
And for those of you who aren’t familiar with these tshirts, they’re limited edition prints, signed with print number and a secret quote from me under the neck line in the back. And they’re really soft!
XO, dreX
[tags]tshirt, smack is a vampire, etsy, limited edition, artist tee, harlem, nyc, illustration, billie holiday[/tags]
Freestyle the Mag
Freestyle the Mag started out as an online magazine about hiphop culture. Now it’s available in print. I’m very fortunate to have been asked to put my artwork on several of their covers. I just got my copies in the mail and they look awesome, the articles are really interested, the pages are pretty. I’m excited. Anyway, check out Freestyle the Mag issues here.
[tags]cover art, freestyle, freestyle the mag, online magazine, magazine, hip hop, hiphop, culture, hip hop culture, brooklyn, freestylethemag.com[/tags]
Someone at Etsy likes me!
Last night i got an email from Etsy saying that my “Smack is a Vampire” painting was included in an “Etsy Treasury”. This is basically a showcase of someone’s favorite art and/or artists and/or creations from sellers on Etsy. It’s only up for 24 hours, so go check it!
XO, dreXeL
[tags]etsy, etsy.com, art, painting, online shopping, urban art, collage, mixed media, smack is a vampire, billie holiday, harlem, christmas shopping[/tags]
RIP Bettie Page
Usually I just write about my own life, my art shows and occasionally my friends’ art, but today I feel compelled to write about someone who’s been so much a part of our culture from the 50s till now, that I’d be willing to assert she single-handedly is responsible for the pinup genre of modelling, photography, clothing, as well as alt modelling sites like SG and Gods Girls and a lot of other stuff I’ve probably not even thought of.
Not that there weren’t other women involved in this, but in the 50’s and 60s, posing for photographs with a whip in your hand was extremely…avant garde if not taboo. Remember back then men and women even slept in different beds on television. I call them “Ricky and Lucy beds”.
Now fast forward 50-60 years and there’s not ONE of us who hasn’t been touched in some way by the life of Bettie Page, by emulating it in some small way or at least admiring it. While the women have been sporting the short bangs, polka dotted dresses, leopard cat suits, tight pencil skirts with pumps, and dressing up for fetish clubs, dancing in cages, the men have been right by our sides enjoying every moment of this aesthetic, coming to these same clubs, buying pinup calendars, signed bettie page prints, and helping to keep her influence on our culture alive all these years.
Bettie Page is everywhere we look in popular culture. Currently Masuimi Max is, in my opinion, THE superstar of the classic pinup genre. And understandably so. She’s gorgeous, She’s also the spokesperson and a primary model for Pinupgirlclothing.com. If you want to know where to go to keep the memory of Bettie Page alive in your own fashion, THAT is the site to go to.
Her life was tragic, and its end no less so. We’ll miss you. XOXO, dreXeL
[tags]bettie page, pinup, sg, suicide girls, gods girls, pinupgirlclothing.com, masuimi max[/tags]
Long Awaited Younity Photos
Ok, so I’ve finally gotten it together. A bit. Last night’s Closing Party for the Younity “Heart & Soul” book launch and exhibition was fantastic, as expected. Lots of amazing people, amazing talent, good music, breakdancing and good times. And the venue itself is amazing too. Thanks to Alphabeta for hosting Younity’s show and helping make it the success that it was.
Since I was so lame and didn’t upload pics from opening night when it happened, I’m doing it all now in one giant fun-filled post. Happy memories for those of us who were there, and appropriate jealousy from those who weren’t. You definitely missed something special.
So here’s the story in picture form:
My contribution to the exhibition and book:
Opening Night: A little bit of the crazy crowd that just got larger and crazier as the night progressed:
Opening Night: The amazing, talented, wonderful founders of the Younity Collective, and my good friends, Alice Mizrachi and Toofly:
Opening NIght: Papparazzi photos. Or possibly MTV. There were so many we didn’t even know which way to look. That’s why in some shots we’re all looking in different directions!
Closing Party…friends with fingers:
Some breakdancing entertainment for the last night of the exhibition. I could have watched them all night. I don’t know how they don’t break and dislocate…things.
So that’s what happened, that’s what I was fortunate to be part of…and that’s what you missed if you weren’t there. I <3 my collective. I’ve got some Younity-related whispers of upcoming things, but I can’t say until it’s DEFINITE. But trust me when I say more is coming! XO, dreXeL
[tags]younity, younity collective, woman artists, street art, urban art, avant garde art, heart & soul, book launch, exhibition, group show, toofly, alice mizrachi, alphabeta, nyc, brooklyn, greenpoint, avone, 2esae[/tags]
Younity Closing Party
I know I haven’t even posted pics of the opening yet, because I suck. But I have them here and I WILL be posting them shortly. A LOT has been going on and the opening was a GIANT success. All the books sold out in like 20 minutes, thousands of people in and out, MTV taking photos of us. It was dizzying. The artwork was amazing, the music was perfect, the crowd rocked my socks.
And if you didn’t get to the opening, you now have ONE MORE CHANCE. The closing party is Friday, Nov. 14th, 7-10pm same venue:
Alphabeta
70 Greenpoint Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
(G train to Greenpoint Ave.)
Younity "Heart and Soul" closing party invite
[tags]younity, artist collective, heart and soul, toofly, alice mizrachi, street art, urban art, woman artists, younity collective, closing party, nyc, brooklyn, greenpoint, alphabeta[/tags]
Remember Next Friday! Younity Book Launch and Exhibition
This is the launch party for Younity’s first book. Younity is a collective of 60 urban/avant-garde/street artists. All women. I am fortunate to be part of this collective. The original pieces which are in the book will be on display this night, as well as the books which will be for sale. DJ Laylo and DJ Elle will be taking care of the music. It’s going to be a big night, so if you’re anywhere near Brooklyn/NYC area, come through. Address is on the invitation below. See you Friday!
XO, dreXeL
Friday, October 17th, 2008 8pm
70 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11222
[tags]younity, younity collective, alice mizrachi, toofly, drexel, brooklyn, greenpoint, nyc, art show, book launch, art exhibition, launch party, alphabeta, dj laylo, dj elle[/tags]
Tasty Tees dreXeL Tshirt Launch Party
Thank you so much to everyone who showed up to show their support on Thursday night for the launch of my first tshirt. I definitely want to thank Toby Crabtree from Tasty Tees and Mike Yansen, my good friend and event promoter. It was definitely a successful party and a really good time. Sadly my photos came out horribly due to the low light conditions. I did set the ISO to 800, trying to remember what I learned back in junior high in photography class. And that helped a tiny bit. But not much. If I run across any better photos I’ll post them. Meanwhile, here’s what I got. In the photo are my friends, Drew Odom and Jason Pascall, the original “Smack is a Vampire” painting, and a Smack tee.
If you ordered tshirts, you’ll be getting them SOON. I know some people have already received theirs today. Aight, more soon…
XO, dreXeL
[tags]smack is a vampire, tshirt launch, launch party, drew odom, andrew odom, jason pascall, retreat nyc, mike yansen, manhattan, nyc, tasty tees, tastytshirt.com[/tags]
Save the date!
By now you all know all about the Tasty Tees “Smack is a Vampire” tshirt. And of COURSE you’ve all bought at least one to support young artists. So here’s the next bit of news:
What: Tasty Tees dreXeL tshirt LAUNCH PARTY!!
When: next Thursday, October 2nd at 8pm.
Where: Retreat NYC, 37 West 17th St., betw. 5th and 6th aves., NY, NY 10011
You’re invited and you’re invited to bring people. And if you haven’t gotten one of the tshirts from Tasty Tees, go get one! Only 6 days left!
[tags]tasty tees, tastytshirt.com, dreXeL, launch party, retreat nyc, manhattan, tshirt party, nyc, smack is a vampire, wearable art, artist tshirt[/tags]
Clock is tickin’
Just a reminder to all my peoples that this is the last week you’ll be able to get my new tshirt from Tasty Tees. After September 30th, orders will be closed forever. Proceeds for the shirts go to help support young artists, and a teeny bit goes to support me. The quota is 1000 shirts by September 30th!
So go get one of your own, and get a friend to get one too. If all my friends get one, and they get one other person to get one, we might be able to pull this off!
Thanks in advance for all your support.
XO, dreXeL
[tags]tasty tees, tastytshirt.com, drexel, artist tshirt, art activism, smack is a vampire[/tags]
OMG My First Limited Edition Tshirt!
I feel like I’ve been waiting a YEAR for this! That’s because I’m an impatient girl. But the point is that my official “Smack is a Vampire” limited edition tshirt is officially available as of TONIGHT from Tasty Tees. For two weeks ONLY. If you want one, or more than one, click HERE.
Here’s what the men’s tshirt looks like:
And the women’s tshirt options are below:
To see a closeup of the design on each shirt, go to the Tasty Tees homepage.
The shirt has my artwork on the front, as well as a limited edition print number on the back, the dreXeL logo and a quote from me on the back. The shirts are REALLY soft and comfy, and the ink is IN the shirt not ON the shirt.
This is my first edition, and if it goes well and people buy them etc. there will be others. Sales for the shirt will continue from tonight through the end of this month, September 30th and THAT’S IT. That’s 2 weeks that you will be able to order these. At that point the shirt will no longer be available. (So buy them all, give them to your friends, send them as gifts, keep a few for yourself, wallpaper your walls with them, whatever!)
Just so you have all the details, I was offered this opportunity to create a special limited edition artist tee by Toby Crabtree of Tasty Tees. He gave me complete creative control even down to what style of shirt, what fabric, what color. Everything that goes on the front, everything that goes on the back. I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I hope you are too.
Feel free to give me any feedback, comment, request things, say hi. And of course, get your @$$ over to Tasty Tees to get you some tshirts! Only 2 weeks to go!
Stay tuned for details about the “Smack is a Vampire” tshirt LAUNCH PARTY on October 2nd!!!
XO dreXeL
[tags]tasty tees, tastytshirt.com, artist tee, art tshirt, limited edition tshirt, nyc, tobias crabtree, smack is a vampire, billie holiday, harlem, urban art[/tags]
Gnomedex Lurrve
So here’s a story about why I love the internets like WHOA.
A few weeks ago my friend, KK, put a link on his facebook about my art show in Seattle at Bherd Studios. One of his friends, Alex Williams, director of product marketing at Iterasi, and I somehow started talking about him maybe going to check out my artwork while he’s in Seattle for a conference called Gnomedex, that he and KK were both going to.
Out of this the idea was born (by Alex) to create a whole bus tour of Gnomedex goers. So Alex and KK planned that whole thing, while I made sure that everything was set up for these rockstars’ arrival at the gallery. The result was that last Saturday evening about 15 people piled into the magic Gnomedex bus during what I guess was a conference break or something, and went to the place where my artwork was on display. At least that’s how I thought the story went. And in Kurasawa’s “Seven Samurai” format, here is the story as seen through Alex’s eyes…
There’s a lot more awesome beyond that that you may not know about too…like about Gnomedex, what it is, about Chris Pirillo, who hosts Gnomedex every year, about Chris Pirillo’s website which is badass and highly addictive, about Kris Krug’s photography, which is pure genius….about a lot of things. It’s really too much information for one blog post. But if you have a few minutes and want to find out a few things, do it.
Do I have awesome friends or what? <333
The burning question…did they have time for
[tags]bherd studios, kk, kris krug, alex williams, iterasi, gnomedex, chris pirillo, seattle, art show, urban art[/tags]
Younity “Heart And Soul” Book Launch and Exhibition
I’m very excited about this. I’m a member of a collective called Younity. It’s made up of amazing female artists, graf writers, urban and avant garde painters, all different types of artists. All women. And the founders, Toofly and Alice Mizrachi, have published a book with art from all of us inside it. The art opening and book launch are the same day same time, with the book being released in an exhibition which is showing the actual original works that are featured in the book. That’s on October 17th. So there will be proper invitations for that etc. Meanwhile, I just wanted to tell you about it and also give props to Lafamiliazine and Jeff at Studiolightroom.com for posting about this show and book launch on their own websites. You all are the best!
XO dreX
Here’s the actual press release with all the deets on it:
YOUNITY PRESENTS:
HEART & SOUL, AN ART EXHIBITION & BOOK LAUNCH
– Second Annual Exhibit Features 60 Avant-Garde Urban
Contemporary Female Artists –
Queens, NY (August 2008)— We are excited to announce the second annual YOUNITY art exhibition entitled Heart & Soul opening on October 17th, 2008 at Alphabeta in Greenpoint Brooklyn. As a celebratory theme between 60 international artists on what they identify as “heart and soul,” the exhibit promises an urban landscape installation piece that unifies and pushes the boundaries of graffiti, photography, urban arts and fine arts. In addition, YOUNITY will launch Heart and Soul; a book featuring works from all exhibitors including: Lady Pink, Martha Cooper and Swoon. With so very few art books that explicitly showcase women’s urban contemporary art, Heart and Soul will debut as authentic niche material needed in the ever-expanding art industry. Artists Alice Mizrachi and TOOFLY, founders of YOUNITY, look to harnesses the empowerment of established and aspiring young artists through expressive art.
YOUNITY is the first ever international women’s urban contemporary art collective that brings female artists into a global networking system as a means to create art exhibitions, installations, books and a much needed archive of women’s urban contemporary art. With the success of their premiere exhibit, The C R O S S O V E R, YOUNITY has become a sought after collective devoted to women with an inherent need to perfect their craft through self-expression, surpass male dominance and pass the torch on to younger female artists. For this project, only 60 out of 300 female urban artists were selected to participate with styles that range from hand-styles, graphics and collage to abstract riffs on the female identity, the urban habitat, life and love.
The Heart and Soul book is comprised of 60 artworks formatted onto a 5×8 inch postcard-style flipbook. It is the first publication in the YOUNITY collector’s book series that will showcase the works of varying members of the collective.
At the exhibition, all of original images featured in Heart & Soul will be framed and displayed as part of an indoor/outdoor site specific installation that pays homage to the urban landscape. The collective also includes world-renowned artists MAD C (Germany), Aiko Nakagawa (Japan), Faith47 (South Africa), Krista Franklin (Chicago) and Diana McClure (NYC), among others. Books and artwork will be on view and for sale at the Heart & Soul Exhibition and Book Launch and online at www.theyounity.com.
YOUNITY’s Heart & Soul Exhibition and Book Launch
PRESS HOUR: 7pm-8pm Opening Reception: 8pm – 10pm
October 17, 2008 ALPHABETA 70 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
PRESS & SPONSOR INQUIRIES:
Shana Louallen: shanalovespr@gmail.com
Official Younity Website
[tags]toofly, alice mizrachi, younity, heart and soul, brooklyn, williamsburg, greenpoint, art show, opening, press release, artist reception, book launch, urban art, urban artists, avant-garde art, street art, graffiti, collective[/tags]
Back from Seattle!
As some or most of you already know, I was just in Seattle for an amazing group show featuring Jef Aerosol, Massrad, Soule, Asher, Littlegirllost, Cash, Joab, and me.
*note: i stupidly changed the res on the above pic to 72 ppi without looking to see how small it would make the photo. so here’s a postage stamp sized image of the show.
Here’s my contribution to the show:
If you’ve never been to Seattle, it’s really a beautiful city.
The show was fantastic. I got to meet some artists I’ve been wanting to meet for a long time, as well as see some friends I’ve missed.
And of course there was the requisite tourist stuff I HAD to do or ELSE.
For those of you in and around Seattle, the “Spray it Don’t Say it” show will be up through the first week of September. So it’s not too late to check it out if you missed the opening. If you need details, let me know and I’ll hook you up.
More soon…
XO dreXeL
[tags]seattle, group show, artist reception, bherd, bherd studios, spray it don’t say it, jef aerosol, soule, massrad, asher, cash, littlegirllost, joab, graffiti, hiphop culture, urban artists[/tags]
Onto the South
I’ve finished my last piece for the Seattle show on the 9th. My next series is already on my mind though. It’s been on my mind for weeks now. So no matter what I did I kept coming back to it. And this painting is a combination of the end of the Bherd studios series and the beginning of a big adventure that’s coming up in November. It will feature my favorite photographer on earth…and me collaborating. AND two of my dearest friends who are coming along for this adventure. I’ll have more details as it all comes together. But for now, here’s a girl with a gun. Who doesn’t like girls with guns? Nobody, that’s who.
[tags]bherd, bherd studios, seattle, art show, stencil, aerosol, spray paint, mixed media painting, girls and guns, dirty south, kk, kris krug[/tags]
Spray It Don’t Say It – Update
- Here are 4 new pieces that are going to be on display at the “Spray it don’t Say it” group show in Seattle. In case you didn’t catch the flyer it’s the post below this one. The opening is August 9th. And I feel quite honored to be part of it. The other artists in the show are Jef Aerosol, Littlegirllost, Cash, Soule, Mass Rad, Asher and Joab. So it’s gonna be a realllllly good time. Come down if you’re in the area! XO, dreXeL
[tags]mixed media, spray paint, stencils, bherd studios, spray it don’t say it, bherd, seattle, art show, jef aerosol, littlegirllost, cash, soule, mass rad, asher, joab, drexel, group show, street art, graffiti, urban art[/tags]
Spray It Don’t Say It
This is the flyer for my upcoming group show in Seattle. I’m pretty excited about it because there are some great artists participating who I’ve wanted to meet for a while now, and also Soule, who’s curating AND participating, who I haven’t seen in a long time. Plus I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Seattle, and now I finally have a reason to go. If you’re able to come, please do. It’s going to be a really good time, art, music, live painting, all dat.
[tags]art show, artist reception, group show, painting, art, seattle, bherd studios, jef aerosol, littlegirllost, cash, drexel, soule, massrad, asher, joab, street art, stencils, stencil art, urban street art[/tags]