Sound in Color: Baroness – Blue Record

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Sound in Color

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Art Deco, Baroness - Blue Record, blue, color, fine art, fish, flowers, illustration, john dyer baizley, music, nature, nude, ocean, palette, sea, women

You will be seeing a lot from Baroness in the sound of color palettes. I can’t get enough of Baizley’s work, and with each album it seems to get better and better. The Blue Record is full of what else but tons of blue hues, all in various tones and shades. The organic line work flows throughout the piece giving the characters life. And the colors blend so well, yet stand out boldly. This is one of my favorite pieces for sure.

Color in Sound: Baroness - Blue Record

Inspiration Photo Friday: Mother’s Day

10 Friday May 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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confident woman, family, grandma, grandmother, gratitude, love, mom, mothers day, peas in a pod, women

Mother’s Day, to me, is a day to say thanks to the women in your lives who have made a difference and truly inspire. Yes, your mother is on top of that list, but its also your grandmother, aunts, and any women you know who is a fantastic mom. My mom, Nancy, is a unique individual. She has been through a lot and continues to stay strong as best she can. Being a single mother was hard enough but she raised me well and taught me a lot of great things, especially how to be an independent and confident woman. I thank her for that the most.

When I was a teenager, our lives were like a roller coaster. It was rough. And even though we were separated for a while as the years went by, and our relationship had its ups and downs, we still respect and love each other. As much as my mom has seen me grow, I have seen her grow into the mom and woman she is today. Of course, there are always lessons to be learned and at times life will make it truly hard to move forward, but she does move forward despite what’s in her way.

Today, she lives with an injury that has basically left her disabled, as she can’t work anymore. Her nerve problems don’t allow her to live a normal life and she needs help more than often to do everyday things. Living on medication for her pain and having to walk with a cane, are just two of the things she has had to get used to, and believe me, she hates it. She can’t even drive anymore, unless its a very short trip and she is feeling up for it. The whole situation sucks. This was the main reason for her moving here to NY to be close to me and family.

Despite our differences and issues we’ve had years ago, I love my mom very much. I am proud of her for tackling the obstacles that have been in her way and for staying true to who she is. I like to think of when I was a kid and all the fun times we had. We were two peas in a pod. When I look back at pictures we both look so happy. That is why I chose this photo for Inspiration Photo Friday. It’s one of my favorites because it captures just that, happiness. That is all I ever wanted for my mom and I hope that one day she can be truly happy again.

mom059-3

Inked Brides Rule

01 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in The Bride & Groom

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bride, ink, inked brides, tattooed bride, tattoos, wedding, women

When a lot of people think of a beautiful bride they picture a pretty girl in a gorgeous dress looking her best. Pristine as can be. And then there are some who imagine a super rad chick pretty as ever in a unique ensemble they will never forget. This my friends is the inked bride.

I am so happy tattoos are more accepted in todays world, especially for women. Being an inked girl myself, I know how it feels to get stared at, both good and bad looks, as well as questioned and complimented almost everywhere I go. I never really liked the attention but I will admit its nice when others appreciate the work I have on my skin.

When it came to my wedding day, I was told to try to cover up my tattoos as much as I could by some and to show them all off by others. I imagine this is something all inked brides go through. I made sure my skirt was shortened to show some of my leg and even though I wore a long sleeve sweater, it was see through. I would never hide who I am despite what people tell me.

First of all, I don’t get ink to cover it up. That is retarded. So why would I want to cover them up on one of the most important days of my life when I am sharing vows with the one I love, who is also covered in tattoos. I saw an episode of My Fair Wedding last year that really bothered me. This girl looked so cute in her bridal gown, especially with her arms all tatted up. To my surprise, she allowed them to be covered up with makeup which looked ridiculous. Why would she do that! It kind of pissed me off because as soon as she did, she was right back to the girl she was years ago. Not the woman she was now.

Well, here’s to the women who show their skin proudly. I love you all because you are yourselves and that is exactly who you should be on your wedding day. Plain and pristine all go out the window here. Inked brides rule!

Photo Credit: Allebach Photography

Image via: The Tales of Missi Mouse

Photo Credit: Jaime Photography

Image via: The Rock n’ Roll Bride | Photo Credit: McKinley-Rodgers Photography

Image via:The Guilty Girls Guide to Weddings

Image via: Semper Fidelis

Image via: Rock n’ Roll Bride

Image via: The Offbeat Bride | Photo Credit: One Oak Photography

Photo Credit: April & Paul Photography

Art Inspired Palette: John Dyer Baizley

17 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art Inspired Palette, Color Inspiration

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a perfect monster, Alphonse Mucha, animals, Art Deco, baroness, earth, eyes, flowers, john dyer baizley, music, nature, owl, romantic, trees, women, woodland

I had to showcase John Dyer Baizley eventually, considering he is such an amazing artist and his band, Baroness, is one of my favorites as well. Since their new album, Yellow and Green, just came out I figured this would be the perfect time. If you don’t know who Baizley is then I am happy to introduce you to his work.

The artist resides in Savannah, Georgia but grew up in a small town in Virginia. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design he moved to Georgia and formed the band Baroness with friends from back home. They have been creating amazing music ever since then. All their albums are designed by Baizley which really gives them a signature look. He also designs cover art for other bands like Pig Destroyer, Flight of the Concords and Blask Tusk.

His work is reminiscent of the art deco style with remnants of gritty texture and clean lines. There is always beautiful movement in his work which keeps it fresh and spontaneous. The fantasy element is a major part as well. With a mixture of nature, animals, women, skulls and other elements, his work is a story of imagination and grace. Clearly influenced by Alphonse Mucha, the softness to this style is uniquely showcased through bold lines and color as well as intricate details.

I chose the cover Baizely did for the band Kvelertak for this first palette because of its earthly colors and romantic feel. There is a sense of power and love that shows through this piece that I connect with. The details and shading are flawless and the colors are soft, feminine and woodland inspired. Then to top it off, the eyes of the owl are intense and captivating as they lure you into the fantastical world of John Dyer Baizley’s mind. That’s what I call a work of art.

{You can listen to Baroness’ new album on NPR and purchase it from iTunes. I highly recommend you check it out as well as all their other albums. Every single one is filled with amazing music that will not only inspire you but get you amped. You can also see more of Baizley’s art at his official blog, A Perfect Monster.}