Green Crossing

“‎Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see.”  ~ Thomas Jefferson


I support the legalization of Cannabis Sativa.  It's a naturally occurring herb that offers many benefits for mind, body and soul.  One benefit that interests me the most as an artist, is the planet's psychoactive properties that opens gateways to creativity.  As an individual, I should be allowed without restriction to experiment as just another tool for my creative process in the same way I take in the world for inspiration.

 Green Crossing, ink & markers on vellum

"It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than whiskey - it's an assistant - a friend." ~  Louis Armstrong

Exploring New Skills and Social Awareness Messages

I've been in a graphic design program over the past 7 months.  It's coming along and I've been getting good grades on my projects.  It has been a challenge which helps to stretch my creativity as well as help me grow professionally.  It's not easy coming up with creative ideas but lately, I'm drawn (no pun intended) to concerns that mean a great deal to me.

I'm very active in things related to social awareness and humanitarian concerns.  It takes up a great deal of my energy in my thoughts so it's only a natural progression for it to impact my artistic work.  I want to create artworks that are meaningful - to me and what I think matters in the world.  I see myself as wanting to take my art and adding messages to it but not in a contrived manner.  For me, it really needs to come from my heart.  I find that sometimes, I'm just waiting to be inspired as if I'm holding my breathe waiting for the spark.  It helps when I write my ideas down or doddle or both.

My newest work is all in graphic design.  I didn't pick up the pencil on these but rather jumped into illustrator for these social awareness message pieces.  I've often found it's easier for me to create via my keyboard instead of thumbnails to the larger project.  The approach helps me collect my thoughts and make modifications with relative ease.

“Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart.”   ~M. Gandhi

The first one is Global Citizen:

In the next design, I modified the artwork with a similar yet different message.  Both hold the meaning I was aiming for while creating the work:

These ideas are meaningful to me and in my mind, holds a great deal of importance.  I actually apply these principles as I see myself as part of the larger picture on this planet.  And, although I'm not a capitalist in the sense of the word, I do need to make some sort of living in the confines of the monetary system in which we all live.   With that being said, I've made these designs available in my Zazzle store on cool products.

Think Globally, Shop Locally Earth Peace Dove Tshirts by sunfluer

 

Global Citizen Peace Dove Electronic Case by sunfluer

 

Global Citizen Onesie by sunfluer

Thanks for stopping by.  Namaste.

"A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.”  ~ M. Gandhi

Fruit Salad

One holiday observation I find to be very interesting is Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead.  This day of remembrance honoring ancestors, dearly departed and friends is celebrated throughout Mexico.  It is also celebrated in various ways around the world often known as All Saints Day or All Souls Day.


The artwork depicting Dia de los Muertos often uses skulls designed in many colorful expressions.  I've been working on a graphical representation as a way to practice new acquired skills through the Graphic Design course I'm currently pursuing.  I wanted something very colorful with images of flowers surrounding the skull.

Hey there!  You can call me "Fruit Salad".


Fruit Salad as I've decidedly refer to it, was created using Illustrator and InDesign.  Working with a variety of shapes, colors and layering techniques, I was able to generate this festive skull.  Instead of coins on the eyes for the ferryman, I used flowers.  Hopefully, Charon will accept it as payment for safe crossing to the other side.  ;))