FREE Painting Project

I always wanted to secretly install a piece of art and hang it up somewhere in the city. I knew that maybe my installation would not last, maybe the city would take it down or someone would steal it. Instead I saw on Instagram that artists were playing hide and seek with their art and I loved that idea.  Here is my FREE Painting Project.  I hope that the person who finds this piece will somehow let me know.  I plan to do it again so please follow me on Twitter or Instagram to see the project.

Hope you will share my
blog with friends.

PROJECTS

Mentioned last blog that I am on a painting break.  Been packing.  Been praying I get a loan to buy a new home/studio. The painting break has been awful.  All I want to do is create. I've been doing a little photography, please follow me on Instagram. 

My painting "Catch Me" was featured on Artist Drop.

Here is my latest project while I am on, said painting break.

A DRESS PROJECT
Had my painting image made into a couple dresses made by the wonderfully talented seamstress, Diana Maldonado. I hope to make more and sell them. The DRESS PROJECT is to be continued...

Coronet 36x36

Image on 2 yards cotton knit 

Dress 1

Dress 2

Instagram

I am on a short painting break while trying to find a new studio and move.  In the meantime I have been working on photography.  Please follow me on Instagram and see my photos (I'm practicing).  I have a little bit of tremors so right now I am working on trying to hold the camera (phone) without shaking.  Many, many of my first few shots are blurry. I'm also working on holding the phone with one hand and clicking the shutter release on the touch screen. By the way I loathe touch screen on cameras, phones, computers, etc.

Here a few photos I took this winter. If you follow me on Instagram with #OktoberStudioBlog. I'll follow you back.

Chicago River Icebergs

Row River Dye 2014

Clarence Greenwood - Citizen Cope

Star Lanterns At Christkindlmarket

ARTinerary© February 2014

This is the 14th month I have been posting ARTinerary© on Twitter- A Friday night plan with an art theme. Last Friday, February 7, 2014 was different.  I had two options to choose from for your night of fun:

OPTION 1
Part 1: 6pm @ LOVE IS LOVE Event $18 @ MCA @ 220 E Chicago

 Part 2: 9pm @ My Gold Mask Show @ Subterranean @ 2011 W North Ave

Or
                                                                          

OPTION 2
Part 1: 7pm @ Beauty Of The Beast Exhibit @ Galerie F @ 2328 N Milwaukee

 Part 2: 9pm @ Bastida Show @ Café Mustache @ 2313 N Milwaukee

I combined OPTION 1, PART 1 with OPTION 2 Part 2.

PART 1
The LOVE IS LOVE event was hosted by the Hideout at the MCA.  It was a fantastic night of music and art. The event was jam packed and each level of the museum had something interesting to do; listen to music, crafts, eat, or take photos, or have your tarot cards read.  My favorite part of the night was the Valentine making station.  I heard the bands Sanctified Grumblers, Jeffrey Thomas Orchestra, and Bobby Conn & Monica BouBou.  The food was provided by Soup & Bread a community meal project for hunger relief.  

Powder-coated steel, by William J.O'Brien

 As the MCA fills up the Jefferey Thomas Orchestra
projects music on wall during set. 

The Black Paintings

By William J O'Brien

Making Valentines.

 

PART 2

We walked into the tiny Café Mustache and scored seats on a comfy couch. It was perfect night cap to the night.  The opener was the singer from the band Close Hits. His strumming was groovy and I was disappointed when his set ended.  Then, next up, a wonderful guitarist from Spain, Raul Bastida.  I expected this set to be nice, but I was blown away; it was awesome. This one musician alone had such great power you would have thought the Gypsy Kings were rocking the house. The songs were belted out to romantic guitar playing.  Although most of the songs were in Spanish and me and my group didn’t understand the lyrics the music and the singer’s voice were moving.

Raul Bastida sings at Cafe Mustache
(What I learned is I have to practice at taking pictures!)

Here is ARTinerary© February 14, 2014

Part 1:
6pm @ Rodan @ 1530 N Milwaukee – MAKE RESERVATION 773.276.7036

Part 2:
7pm @ Gallery Cabaret @ 2020 N Oakley

Part 3:
10pm @ Movie – Annie Hall @ Logan Theatre @ 2646 N Milwaukee

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day Print Sale

A holiday all about LOVE, what could be better!  If you still need a gift, please check out my print sale.

Heart 1

Heart 2

$10.00/Print./ 8x10  

Log into PayPal
Send Money to oktoberstudio@hotmail.com
In the NOTES section, please note
the HEART number
and your mailing address.
Please add $5.00 for international shipping.

When I think about LOVE, I usually think about music. There is nothing like a song to get your toes tapping, your feelings in pain from the lyrics. Music can make you cry and love at the same time.
Here are a few of my favorite love songs.

Citizen Cope - Holdin' On
The Beatles - Oh Darling
David Gray - The One I Love
Genesis - Follow You Follow Me
Dean Martin - Sway
TrentemØller - Moan
The Avette Brothers - If It's The Beaches
Rachel Yamagata - I'll Find A Way
The Black Keys - All You Ever Wanted
Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness


Happy Valentine's Day

 

Oktober Studio 2

New Years Eve is my 2nd favorite holiday (Halloween being the 1st favorite). I love the idea of the year ending and new chapter is ahead. You get a second chance and the past is now past. It's like a blank canvas; anything is possible.

In my August blog I wrote about having to move. The next step is raising money to do so.  Please see and share my Fund Anything Campaign.

It is my next step to fund a new live, work & exhibit space.  I have to admit Fund Anything scared me. I sat on this for a few months.  Then I read my NEW YEARS horoscope and I found excitement for 2014. I only read my horoscope once or twice a year, but if I do I read one; it's Susan Miller's Astrology Zone; uplifting. It's nice to have a little pick me up.  

So here we go, into 2014 with a crusade for a new home, Oktober Studio 2...

TREES

  

My blog, this blog, about what turns the light on for me; from writing it since 2011 I have really learned about myself, my art, what I cannot live without.  What I need in my life that is the fuel, the soul of my paintings.  One image/thing that makes me stop and stare is a tree.  The lush color, the branches tangled, straight, crooked, and the shapes of the leaves, etc.  Here are some photos I have taken & some paintings that have emerged.

 

 

 

No matter what time of day you can
always see the branches

 

In winter the branches look
like lines, sketches

HAPPY HOLIDAYS