White Out in Vermont!!!

Diggin' ourselves out of Haley's

driveway, it took almost 2 hours!!

Vermonts crazy, snow covered

road leading to Smugglers Notch!!

Haley's Snow covered Barn,

with a tiny, somewhat shoveled path...

Farewell GS poles...
You will be missed!!! ;)

Best way to Start off the New Year!!!
Went to Vermont the first weekend of the year and woke up to 2 feet of snow!!! And incase you didnt know, the ONLY other thing I love more than making art and traveling... IS SKIING/ SKI RACING!! ^.^

Chris, Haley, Liam & I skied all day/weekend... in fresh, deep powder... BEST SKIING IVE EVER DONE! I ended up breaking one my Giant Slalom poles though which I was really heart broken about. But I guess it was def. time for a new pair of poles anyway!

I started coaching ski racing to the little guys (6-8yr olds) at Mt Creek this past weekend. I love coaching, but It takes so much time away from my art making. Winters are tough for me to balance everything in, so If I dont post any recent artwork or blogs, SOMEONE PLEASE KICK MY ASS into gear... I cant live without my art OR my ski seasons lol!

Audrey Kawasaki: Hajimari, A Prelude

Audrey Kawasaki & C.Dogg

at Audrey's opening in NYC at

the Jonathan Levine Galley

C.Dogg's aka my
favorite painting at the opening!!!

Happy New Year to you all...
Catching you all up on my most recent adventures since I havent blogged since Decemeber... SO SO SO SORRY! I went out to support Audrey at her Solo Exhibition on Dec 12, 2009. The show was packed and she 'as usual' had a line of fans waiting to talk to her. She is a talented person and one of my most favorite inspirational artists! As usual, my most favorite painting at the show opening was the one and only DARKEST painting shown. It was beautifully crafted and even better to see in person!
I can only hope to meet and talk with Audrey one day when she isnt so busy and just talk art. She is truely a remarkable artist, and an even better person.

CONGRATS AGAIN AUDREY!!! ^.^

Growing Up with my Art

C.Dogg; Ocean City, NJ

Start with the Familiar
I'm finding that as I mature as an artist, my work naturally matures with me. Its important to work with the things you are 'familiar' with or things that you love and know inside and out. That's why last night I made a list of my favorite things and the people who inspire me on a day to day basis. It helps remind me of my starting point as well as where I need to take my art work. I also believe that when I am working with subject matters that are important to me, my work will eventually sore to knew heights. The things that I love give me a wide range, which in the end make my possibilities endless. The time to explore my creative boundries has already begun.

I have finally stopped doing what everyone expects out of me. It was a really hard habit to break. Almost everyone does it. But Im taking my chances... I think that only those who take their chances will aspire.

I am a successful artist...

Love what you do

I took this picture on the Appilation Trail in

North Jersey/Warwick, NY area.

I did not carve my initails in the heart...

They were already there.

It was Perfect!

My Favorite Things:
happiness, making art, seeing art, traveling, culture, traditions, deer, reading, birds, nature, winter, natural colors (blk, wht, & green too), fishbones, ladybugs, wood patterns, overworked lines, black ink, fabric, skecthing, weather, clouds, storms, raindrops, freckles, snowflakes, snowmen, pirates, witches, ice, ski racing, mushrooms, pumpkins, money, anything irish, books, antlers, snowy mountain tops, owl eyes, deck of cards, mother eARTh, grandmother willow (willowtrees), eyelashes, running mascara, stitches, chandeliers, aurora borealis (nothern lights), blk/wht stripes, blind folds, x-mas lights, crowns, music playlists, the clutter cave & the sleeping station, halloween, st. patricks day, nightmare before christmas, alice in wonderland, fresh moss, feathers, paint, lino cutting, polaroids, ocean waves, umbrellas, ireland, spain, itlay, new zeland, croatia, cambodia/thailand, working out, sushi, ring-tailed lemurs, melting, the moon & stars.

Those Who Inspire Me:
My Family & Friends, Chris Rowen, Cody, Tim Burton, Audrey Kawasaki, Eric Abel, Camielle Rose Garcia, Greg 'craola' Simkins, Stella Im Hultberg, Brandi Milne, Sylvia Ji, Tiffany Bozic, Andy Kehoe, Steph Harvey & Marcus.

Pushing the Limits

Movement(s) in the Making
Once abstraction was at its peak, art teachers, art students, and artists feared that there was "no where else to go with art" and that "everything was already done before". But Id really like THEM to define EVERYTHING... They thought that all major art movements were over and that there wouldnt be much to expand from.

However, now is the best and PERFECT time to challange artists around the world. Emerging artists can finally step through the open door and take art to the newest and highest levels which have ever been seen or produced, both visually and conceptually!

My techniques are still a work in progress, but I have found that I have come a long, long way since I have graduated from college. Im so excited to be a part of this new art scene and working towards something thats bigger than what everyone expected.

Its truly an exciting time to be an artist!

Putting it all Together

This is of my initial sketch on the canvas/board.

I really love watching my illustrations come to life!

"Her Mountain Top Kingdom"
This is the finished product of the first picture during my show!

It is the most detailed of all the paintings at my show.

"A Lofty Tree with all her Life's Burdens"

This was a favorite by the viewers

My origami crane sculpture.

This peice had over 175 black & white origami cranes which were suspended

and floating from a huge moon and star shaped candle holder.

Me kissing my creation!

My guest book with more origami.

I couldnt have asked for a better turn out to my

first solo art show outside of school!!

It was excellent! ^.^

My Show Card Picture.

Better Posted Late than Never...
Since I was way too busy and wasnt able to post anything right before or after my show, I figured I would do it now. Those are only a few of my pictures from both before and during the show. I was really greatful to have such a huge turn out from family and friends! I even sold 2 of my smaller paintings! I plan on getting a show or two for the new year.

Bye Bye Honda Civic

Minor Set Back...
So last Thursday, in fact a week ago today, I was in a pretty terrible car accident. It’s so hard toget over. I wish some people would understand what a scary experience it was forfor the airbags to deploy on me and that horrible screech sound with the finally ofcrunching metal. Ugh, well, at least I’m still alive, with minor scraps and a concussion.
(The top picture is what's left of my car, which I miss immensely.)


On the Brightside…
I’m only two weeks away from my first solo art show outside of Rowan University! AND although it is being hosted in the local café in my town, I’m still very grateful to be having a show and am hoping that I can only progress to gallery level! I just made my show cards tonight. I personally think they look sweet, ha ha. I’ll send them out to a bunch of college/university galleries in the tri-state area too just to get my name out there and hopefully someone will be interested.
(The second picture is of my working space, aka The Clutter Cave.)

Birds of a Feather…
My new painting series is of the lowbrow scene. It will illustrate my rendition of Mother Nature’s pure Happiness. Aside from 3 large paintings and 6 smaller paintings, I will have an instillation of black and white origami birds. I hope those who can make it will enjoy my show and I hope I can grow from it as well.
(The last picture is a small detail of one of my larger paintings which will be in the November show!)