Second Saturday 4/14

During the Second saturday of every month The Paint Yard encourages artists to challenge themselves creatively in the courtyard outside.l love these events because every month is unique so you know you are in for a surprise ! From friends hanging out and teaching our youth about the discipline behind being a successful artist to visitors coming by and blessing us with their style. This month TPY decided to switch things up and have their resident artists paint on canvas. I personally  felt like it was a challenge I needed to take in order really test my can control. We headed outside and I was immediately reminded of "Pedicab" , for those of you who do not know, this is where Hip Hop 101 originated and this is also the first place I ever painted side by side with Soup. l Knew I was in for a treat! Vicious came out and brought one of his homies from San Marcos (who has been buying paint recently for a turn table project, can you say full circle?) They kept us jamming all day... they even brought the party inside when we switched it up! Which had some creativity of its own.Our shop manager Mike is always coming up with creative ways to improve our store. This time he found an amazing way to display back packs. You definitely have to step into the shop to get the full effect but, I can share a photo or two to give you lovelies a taste. As for outside, I may have started off pushing myself to be better than I ever have in a semi unfamiliar world because I'm painting next to someone who literally makes a living painting on canvas with aerosol! However somewhere along the way I realized I can only become "better" than I was before if I'm having fun because well, having fun is better than stressing!!  For those few hours I felt free again. Painting a large canvas gave me the challenges I conquer on walls yet the peace I get from brushes. There were plenty of moments were I felt like one with the canvas and forgot I was not alone. Maybe it was the creative conversations filled with tips and pointers, maybe it was the reminiscing of my beginning of live art in San Antonio, maybe it's Maybelline. .. whatever it is, painting at TPY Urban during Second Saturday reminded me of how creative we are as artists when we challenge ourselves. I am so grateful for the boundaries this event breaks and the growth I've acquired from this experience. Remember,  you will never know if your wings work until you try to fly.

Thank you TPY Urban..

Rabbit Rye

Art a Gogh Gogh

This event was pretty fun last night. I enjoyed just hanging out with my boyfriend and talking to people about the creations I had with me. Tempe showed us so much love! From the artists to the audience, I met a bunch of really cool people operating on a higher vibration! Ladies were trying on bracelets with me and fellas were browsing through Blue's prints to the right of me. There was a lot of good energy shared as well as smiles. It always feels good to see people enjoying themselves and last night was filled with that! Thanks to Evan from Media Tempe out with us last night!

Fair Trade

My Monday night. After a beautiful long talk with my aunt Patty, I lost myself in the heart of the art district at the Fair Trade Cafe. I was invited to paint/sell my artwork during their weekly poetry jam. After listening to poets, musicians, and an amazing DJ while painting, I decided to step up and share something I wrote many moons ago. Ironically enough it is titled, "where is my home?" I was overwhelmed with the emotions it brought to surface once I was behind the Mic. I broke through tears and delivered for my first time ever, a poem I wrote and felt. 

"Where is my home?"

"I felt the real thing, 

seen images only dreams seen"

I laugh at voices that agree when my subconsious wants to scream these things

walk around town

looking like some fancy clown. 

not knowing how to get up

cus you spent all weekend getting down

laugh at the truth cus you know its what you need

now that youre eyes are open you know its too late to go back to sleep

but its all about perspective

and you just might get elected

if your thoughts stay positive 

and negativity stays outta it

tryna find a balance, call it self control

and when trouble comes a knocking 

I say "no ones home"

Its the need to be alone because solitude is grand

its not personal and I know it takes a while to understand

take a drive

far far away

debate whether or not this is the place to forever stay.

yet I always come back 

but ofcourse im sure..

you predicted that.

---------

Afterwards we all hung out and had deep conversations introducing me to the culture here in Phoenix.Ironically enough they made me feel like I found my home. 

Put your best foot Forward

 

Put your best foot Forward, Ironically enough, that was the name of the event! Lately I have been thinking about going outside of what I know, "Breaking Boundaries" as my boyfriend has been calling it. It is so easy to stay in our comfort zone and do what we normally would do, retreat to our same way of thinking that has strayed us down many familiar path, I have realized however, when in fact you are ready to walk a new road, there usually is not a path laid out. Finding your direction is guided by your own choices. Most of these paths are unfamiliar. Some have a lingering of those who have passed down these roads and you meet people along the way who may join you for a bit as you both walk towards the light at the horizon. That light for me has been the women of Few and Far. For those of you who are unfamiliar, take a peek at this site and this video...

fewandfarwomen.com

I recently found out they were attending a big graffiti event back home and unfortunately I was unable to make it out. I am excited for June 1st tho. Few and Far is having their 2nd annual Skate Jam and has asked me to participate by teaching and doing a live demo. As excited as I am to do this I am also thinking about finding new ways to pay for this trip. Sponsorship? jewelry Sale? Art Shows? Some familiar and some unfamiliar I am indeed extending my horizons and along the way I met this cool girl named Chauntae. She was out there gettin down at the skate park among many guys. As intimidating as it felt for me, It reminded me of the first time I went out to paint a wall. Not too many people I knew were doing what I am and if they were, chances are they were men. In this moment I had a deeper understanding of Few and Far Women. For someone like me who has struggled with acceptance from women in her own family, I feel ever so grateful for the advice, inspiration, and opportunities these women have given us. 

Peace, Love, Sisterhood... 
Rabbit

Speakin' Easy at The Speakeasy!

So, I got out there and FINALLY painted Live which is something I haven't done in almost 2 months and I'm in a whole new city! I honestly did not know what to expect I just brought everything I worked on these last couple of weeks. I noticed how much I miss shows. They were encouraging! I always wanted to finish a project or work of art by the day of the show and I had fairly similar feelings getting ready for this show. Aran Kelly  was the host who knows whats up! This place had just the right music, a good mix of jazz and hip hop instrumentals! Live poetry went on through the night as dollar tacos and dominoes filled the tables. I painted the night away realizing I was in a hidden gem. Not too many showed up however many people missed out!

Why? That's why.

So recently I was asked "Why". More specifically why do I paint? This question has brought upon conversations from one extreme to the next. Rather then go into that and say what other people believe is the reason why one should paint, I would rather tell you why I do what I do. 

"Keep in mind I'm an artist, and I'm sensitive about my shit!" - Erykah Badu

Painting has always been My favorite past time. It has always been my favorite way to pass time. I appreciate the challenges painting provides. Whether its mastering a new technique or breaking comfort zones, painting as always helped me grow as a person. There was a time in my life when I was afraid of what people thought of my drawings, now I live to paint in front of complete strangers to share my imagination leaked on to canvas. After realizing I was breaking new skin, I began to find not only my voice, but the fact that I have a way to share ideas and creativity with people of all cultures. I can post a picture of a painting I just created and it can bring a smile to someone a thousand miles away from me. Which leads me to where I am going. I am going to travel the world growing through art by sharing my voice through paint on canvas, jewelry, and walls! My journey has already begun, leaving home in the deep heart of Texas, giving up familiar faces and lifestyles to pursue a serious career in painting by breaking my comfort zones. I am already teaching, painting, and working on diverse art shows in surrounding states which is not only difficult for artists but even more difficult for FEMALE artists. I am a rare breed however, I believe imagination is meant to be shared so everyone can know that the word "impossible" really means I'm possible! I want to create possibilities for those who may not believe that they can overcome their challenges, find their voice, or make their dreams a reality.

Stay positive and motivated,

Rabs

Dreamy Draw Dam

This has quickly become my favorite place to hike! We later found out it was built to cover up a U.F.O crash! whoa, who would've guessed? For this post, I think the pictures say it all!