Just so you know

I'll be away from my blog for a bit. I just need some time to focus on other things in my life for the moment. From looking for an apartment, a better paying day-job, an art workshop, a studio... timing is crucial. It also doesn't help that my computer broke down so I have to try to do all my personal matters at work. So you can imagine. I won't be gone for too long, but you'll be seeing less postings by me until I settle in my new place, get a new computer, and hopefully a different day-job. In the meantime, you can catch me on twitter dropping a few lines or so...

Remain inspired

inspired

I saw this picture over at afro-art-chick and was automatically drawn to it. It inspired me to do a drawing like this...

Quote

To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform.
 
- Theodore H. White

Picture of the Day

via: afro-art-chick

I've learned the same...

I’ve Learned

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I’ve learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back. I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it. I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your live, but who you have in your life that counts. I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes, after that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do. I’ve learned that it’s not what happens to people, it’s what they do about it. I’ve learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides. I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you’ll see them. I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I’ve learned that there are people, who love you dearly, but just don’t know how to show it. I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel. I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance same goes for true love.

I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgive by others, sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief. I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions. I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I’ve learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get farther in life. I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned that writing, As well as talking, Can ease emotional pains. I’ve learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon. I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe. I’ve learned to love and be loved. I’ve learned.

-Omer Washington

Attention

So my blog is currently in the process of a face lift... Please bear with me. Will return in a moment

Beautiful

Inspiration

12 months aka 1 year locs

Guess what?

You know what today is?

It's my 1 year loc-versary!!! *Throws confetti and blows on bday horn*

This year long journey been amazing and I don't plan on cutting or picking out my locs. It was amazing watching my locs get chubby and healthy. I experimented a lot with products, gave up my product junkie crown and settled with the aux naturelles substances (aloe vera, vitamin E oil, fish oil supplement, tea tree shampoo, coconut conditioner, and water).

We've been through a lot, my locs and I. From my mom calling me a hippie, to aunts saying I'll take them out when I get a man, from 2520 co-workers staring at them at birth and asking me "what's going on back there. Are you missing hair?", from 2520 dude in Chicago assuming I was homeless when I was seeking directions, from people asking me if I smoke weed and burn incense, and last but not less, people (esp. guys) insinuating that I'm now a lesbian. (Note: when people ask me directly, I say "no I'm not a lesbian" these people say "You will be soon") Yup Yup. All this because of my hair.


Alas!

But on the other hand, you have those who are actually taking the time to say "I love your locs, they're beautiful". Some (future locers) are having 2 hours phone conversation with me about how to start and maintain locs. Funny cuz I never thought I'd be in a position talking about what works and what doesn't in regards to hair. Not only that, people are asking me how to manage natural hair, since I was afro-ed for years before locing n popping. My little sister who obsessed over her long carmel hair, is on the path of doing the Big Chop and embracing her natural bella bella. She said she doesn't want to feel like a prisoner to perm anymore.



Interesting....

So like I said in my previous loc post, this will be my last loc blog post. I decided to make this blog strictly about the arts and random thoughts. I'm moving my loc journey over to youtube, because if it wasn't for the locers who were kind enough to share their pictures and experimentation on youtube, I would have never invested in locs. Thus, I thought it'd be nice to share my journey and inspire! My youtube channel is lilt4real103. Be advised though, that I won't have any videos yet, since my laptop decided to R.I.P, so I'm saving up for a new one. It'll be a while because I'm also saving for an apartment and you know how that goes... Well hope you guys enjoyed my journey and rambling. Join my silly-ness over at youtube coming soon...

IT'S A YEAR IT'S A FRACKIN YEAR!!!

*throws confetti again*

P.S. I have to add this

Results?

Negative.

My hair is still not blue...


P.S.  Let me tell you guys that I conquered my dandruff. Yup Yup. I saw a dermatologist and she told me it was seborrhoeic dermatitis. I was required to wash my hair with T-Gel shampoo everyday for 2 weeks and apply steroid drops called fluocinonide. Viola! After 2 weeks, no more of that. Phew!. I thought of taking down my locs because of it, thank goodness I persevered and decided to beat it with some prescribed steroids.God I love America!

Artist Jason O'Brien

I'm speechless


see more here

Love Rain

Read

Love Rain Lyrics

here.

"Love Rain"

Love rain down on me,on me,down on me [4x]

Met him on a Thursday, sunny afternoon
Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees
He was brown,deep
Said he wanted to talk about my mission
Listen to my past lives (Word?)
Took me on long walks to places where butterflies rest easy
Talked about Moses and Mumia
Reparations,blue colors,memories of shell topped adidas
He was fresh,like summer peaches
Sweet on my mind like block parties and penny candy
Us was nice and warm,no jacket,no umbrella,just warm
At night we would watch the stars
And he would physically give me each and every one
I felt like cayenne pepper,red,hot,spicy
I felt Dizzy, Sonya, heaven, and Miles between my thighs
Better than love,we made delicious
He me had,had me he
He made me tongue tied
I could hear his rhythm in my thoughts
I was his sharp, his horn section
His boom and his bip
And he was my love

Love rain down on me,on me,down on me

The rain was fallin and,and slowly and sweetly and stinging my eyes
And I could not see that he became my voodoo priest
And I was his faithful concubine
Wide open,wide,loose like bowels after collard greens
The mistake was made
Love slipped from my lips
Dripped down my chin and landed in his lap
And us became new
Now me non-clairvoyant and in love
Made the coochie easy and the obvious invisible
The rain was falling
And I couldn't see the season changing
And the vibe slipping off it's axis
Our beautiful melody became wildly staccato
The rain was falling and I could not see
That I was to be plowed and sowed and fertilized
And left to drown in his sunny afternoon
Cumulus clouds,84 degrees,melody

Love rain down on me,on me,down on me [2x]

[Mos Def]
In stretched my arms towards the sky like blades of tall grass
The sun beat in between my shoulders like carnival drums
I sat still in hopes that it would help my wings grow
So then I would really be fly
And then she arrived
Like day break inside a railway tunnel
Like the new moon,like a diamond in the mines
Like high noon to a drunkard,sudden
She made my heart beat in a now-now time signature
Her skinny canvas for ultarviolet brushstrokes
She was the sun's painting
She was a deep cognac color
Her eyes sparkled like lights along the new city
She lips pursed as if her breath was too sweet
And full for her mouth to hold
I said,"You are beautiful,distress of mathematics."
I said,"For you, I would peel open the clouds like new fruit."
And give you lightning and thunder as dowry
I would make the sky shed all of its stars like rain
I would clasp the constellations around your waist
And I would make the heavens your cape
And they would be please to cover you
They would be pleased to cover you
May I please,cover you,please.

-Jill Scott

photo via queencatt

mmmm mmm

via r3d R3-Invented

Beauties

via afro-art-chick

Liu Wen

Liu Wen in Vogue China June 2009

dope

the truth

Artist Alsature

I stumbled across this artist's work and once again, my eyes were blessed...




Guaguanco



Muskrat Ramble




Mambo Kings

Boogie Blues

Crazy Rhythm

Semengue

Mis Dos Pequenas


Visit his gallery: Alsature

photography by Sidney Etienne

kewl

Solange Knowles

dreams, dreams, dreams

Master Teacher lyrics found at elyricsworld.com

(dreams, dreams, dreams)
I am known to stay awake
(a beautiful world im
trying to find)
A beautiful world im
trying to find
(a beautiful world, im
trying to find)
I've been in search of myself
(a beautiful world) a
beautiful world
It's just too hard for me to find
(dreams, dreams)
Said it's just too hard
for me to find
(dreams, dreams)
I am in the search of
something new
(a beautiful world im
trying to find)
Searchin' me,
Searching inside of you
And that's fo' real

What if it were no niccas
Only master teachers?
I stay woke (dreams dreams)
What if there was no niccas
Only master teachers?
I stay woke (dreams dreams)
What if it was no
niccas only master
teachers now?
I stay woke (dreams dreams)
(what if there was no
niccas only master
teachers now?)
I stay woke (dreams dreams)

Even if yo baby
ain't got no money
To support ya baby, you
(I stay woke)
Even when the preacher
tell you some lies
And cheatin on ya
mama, you stay woke
(I stay woke)
Even though you go
through struggle and strife
To keep a healthy
life, I stay woke
(I stay woke)
Everybody knows a black
or white, there's
Creatures in every
shape and size
(I stay woke)

Everybody
(I stay woke)
Everybody, stay
(I stay woke)
Get everybody
(I stay woke)
Everybody body baby
(a beautiful world, a
beautiful world)
(dreams, dreams)
(a beautiful world, a
beautiful world)
(dreams, dreams)
(a beautiful world, a
beautiful world) im
trying to find
(a beautiful world, a
beautiful world) im
trying to find
(a beautiful world, a
beautiful world) im
trying to find

I have lone to stay awake
A beautiful world im
trying to find
(a beautiful world im
trying to find)
See, I am in search of myself
(a beautiful world, im
trying to find)
Ooh it's just too hard
for me to find
(a beautiful world, a
beautiful world)

Said it just too hard
for me to find
(dreams, dreams, dreams)
Cuz i'm in the search
of something new
(a beautiful world im
trying to find)
Search inside me
Searching inside you
And that's the trill
.....

-Erykah Badu




This is exactly how I been feeling...

Art from lost in dreams

Update

I know I know I've been missing for a minute. Life took me on a ride. I'm still on this ride but I think I'm close to finding whatever I'm looking for. I mentioned in earlier posts that I'm moving. Well I'm not moving to Chicago nor NYC nor D.C anymore Shit Happens At least not now.

I've been trying to escape Massachusetts because of it's lack of aesthetic but moving wasn't working out for me. I tried. Trust me I tried to leave. Cried a lot. Lost a few pounds. Fought depression or Melancholia as my friends like to put it. Lost my mind a bit... Obviously it was time to check in with my mother, God, and my Self. I decided to stay and instead of moving away from the State, I'll move out of the suburbs and into the city of Boston. Why? Because what I need for the moment is space. I realized that what I'm truly looking for is space. My own peaceful spot of refuge. I don't live in a peaceful environment for the moment, and I'm suffocating creatively. I have a lot of ideas and sketches stored somewhere in my brain and they need to come out but I have no space for them to do so. I also believe that maybe as an artist, it's my duty as well as others, to artistically change Boston. I don't know. It's what the voices are telling me and no I'm not insane. 

I thought that moving to major artsy cities would help me be closer to other artists, but I can do that with technology Right? The internet is a world in itself.  I can always take trips to nearby cities such as NYC and Philly to keep the inspiration flowing. Also, when I went to Erykah Badu/Janelle Monae concert Here! Live! in Boston! I saw all type of artistic bad ass looking people. I was kind of shocked. I feel like they're all hiding somewhere and haven't shown themselves to the world yet.

So I think this is what I should do. Moving into my own apartment and work aggressively towards becoming a professional artist so that my truth could reveal itself...

my recent feelings

Pix

Daria

God I miss that show

Black Women's Art Festival-2010

7th Annual Black Women's Arts Festival-Philadelphia July 29th-Aug 1st 2010

I'm gonna try to make it there this year...

Renee Cox

"American Family"

"Yo Mama"
















"Yo Mama's Last Supper"









“I understand it doesn't feel good. I understand the concerns of the message we are sending, but if sterile needles aren't available, people will be forced to use contaminated needles they find on the streets.”~Renee Cox