Love is Everything

Ultimately love is everything. - M. Scott Peck

Heart Mind 001, 2010, Pen on mat board, 2.25" x 5.5"

I got some great news last weekend! Mind you, this is before I got the extra crazy boost of energy to get off my butt and get my stuff in gear (again).

It had been a trying, tiring week and I was in tears several times. The weekend was just filled with the usual stuff - just work. I then got an unexpected and e-mail, and my head went dizzy with excitement. Immediately I logged onto GTalk to talk to the person about the offer that was made.

Under usual circumstances I'm not one to accept these things but I was assured that no payment was necessary AND that we all have to help one another. Squee!

I'll not reveal it just yet but GREAT things are coming! I cannot wait to share it with you all. Hah sorry I am a tease.
It was a fantastic precursor to the release of the Outlish article and the facebook page launch.

I just wanted to say thank you again - sometimes you, each reader, each friend, each heart are all the energy I need, and indeed love is everything.

Facebook lovin'-you are amazin'!

My facebook progress in a couple weeks

So you all know I was never one to like Facebook all that much. I've got a lot of people on there (holdall for many contacts), I don't put my photos up except for on Flickr, and I'm generally wary of its insidious nature and addictive qualities.
However, because of all the marketing I have to do for my work I've been sucked into the void. I've put it off for a long time because I didn't feel ready. This is one of the reasons I have been so quiet. A couple weeks ago, on Feb 8 (I believe) I finally sucked it up and got going. It's an ongoing process, and believe me not easy to manage when you have a crapload of networks to sort out. But it's there, it's going well and I believe in committing to fans, clients and keeping them close. Yes love you too.

It's near impossible for me right now to individually message 768 people (had to check) to ask if they're interested in my artwork. I'm trying different methods, different networks etc, and I've seen some pretty positive results. 33% of my facebook friends are fans. Not bad, could be better, but everyone has their taste. I'm not going to whine about that at all. I'm quite appreciative actually. (I've messaged every one of you snookieheads!)

12.5% of  fans (289) aren't even friends (or maybe they are, and we're not on facebook together). It's not bad at all. These numbers are current (up to 11am). See I can crunch numbers too. Hehehe. I am not great at Math but I can still do the basic things! If you think I'm too obsessed about numbers,  it's not because I'm greedy for fans or anything, but it's a really good tracking device, so that I can do analysis reports (yeah holy smokes I can do that too) of my progress.

I'm also still little concerned this may or may not be the perfect place for this sort of thing but it's definitely a good starting point and s till semi trendy. People are inherently lazy and don't like to read and are always on there anyway. I've had to explain to several people how to "like" the page, especially since doing that will get you updates of  my work as I post.

So go be a fan if you lurve me (ahem my work), and if you already do, I lub you plenty. If you like it share it!
Plus, people, I do continue to promote everyone I know so if you have great stuff to share please link me and I'll share your link and like you back.

So yeah! There is more to come, and exciting stuff ahead. I'm working lots, both on client work and on marketing etc. I'm ready to do artwork again! Everyone's ready too I think. More on that later!

THANK YOU for the love! You are amazing.

Spotlight v2

I'm overwhelmed! Great big fat squishy awesome hugs to Karel Mc Intosh/Outlish Magazine for being wonderful and again to Mark Lyndersay for being such a terrific photographer!

Clippy from the site!

The article has been published and it's very impressive!
Meanwhile I have acquired myself an official facebook page. Woot! :) Please like me. (A wee surprise for every single one of my fans!)

MORE great news is coming! I can't wait to share it with you.

Sweater

It's been a really long day.

Grenada Arts Council Show 2010

Alrighty, it's about a year late, but I really didn't have the capacity to finish. These are the Arts Council show opening photos from last March.

As you can tell I probably I take a long time to do things because I am a perfectionist. I couldn't upload ONE photo today and ditched an entire album, but that's just me being funny.

Video Schmideo

DISTANT RELATIVES "Patience" from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

I really need to talk about this before I go crazy. I was so amused at the comments this video got and continues to get. It's definitely not the dopest video I have ever seen in the least. I might be out of my depth here, but I think it's ok to talk about it, because people are scared of offending other people. I'll keep it as positive as possible because, well, that's the prudent thing to do. I'm sometimes prudent... you know... because I should be, plus I'm trying to score good karma points with the universe and all.
Now please understand that I completely and utterly appreciate the very hard work, eye-ball killing, back-breaking, caffeine spiked hours that went into the making of this video. It's very cleverly edited, visually rich, and dramatically lit. Layers man. That's all I thought about while I was watching it. Lots of layers. I really hope they had a super computer for rendering. Poor them.
To a trained eye, there's so much you can get away with. There are more clever ways to get those things done (oh gosh the splashes of water!). Some parts truly looked really cheesy. I've worked with video, I've edited, and I know a few tricks here and there. By no means am I an expert, so again, it's just what I think. Good job and all video guys (I am almost certain they were), but meh. I'm not a haterrererererr. Just sayin' not the best thing evahhh. 

While we're on the topic of over-hype, there's also a matter of Kanye. Oh dear. That 34:32 mins of garbage that I forced myself to watch, because I needed to be hip and whathaveyou. (Please do not watch it if you favour your sanity) Seriously over-hyped. A handful of well organized shots. Great editing and pretty colour. Visually appealing/good cinematography. Great ballerinas, cute animals. Hot half naked chick. Really blech music. An interesting cultural study no doubt.

My picks for great videos? I don't know. My mind immediately goes to Gorillaz, but that's me being an animation junkie.



I had to look up the best music videos and I found this list. Thriller. Of course! The classic movie/music video thing that no one can top. Hah. Then I found this 2010 list, which is actually not bad.

My fave? Romain Gavras: M.I.A. : Born Free. I have to thank Jase for sending this to me and shocking the shit out of me, but it's awesome. Thanks for having balls Maya. By the way if you haven't seen this, if you are disturbed easily by violent scenes, please don't watch.

OhmygawdamIabiasedsnootyartistorwhat?

International Women's Day

My work has been featured on the International Women's Day Arts Initiative 100 Women, 100 Artworks
How awesome! :)

I joined this initiative especially because of WOMA. This is an awesome opportunity for your work to be displayed ladies!

GAC Show 2011

We had an awesome turnout last Friday night, with lots of artwork (141 submitted works) and quite a lot of people. Stace and I arrived fashionable late so we'd missed some of the things. I had to take some event photos, so I had to do very little schmoozing. I honestly had no idea who some people are - well, next year for sure. At least I knew a few more people than last year.

Here are some photos of opening night.

Last year was a slightly miserable newbie experience, but I showed what I could in a short period of time.

These pieces are still available for sale and are one-print only editions! If you're interested let me know!
I also got to meet one amazing lady - a previous buyer who told me a story about the person she was gifting one of my pieces to. That made my night actually. I have written the person a note! It would be lovely one day to hear from the people who receive my work. I would also love some fan pics!

Independent? Really?

Flying High, 2010, from Hope Perhaps: Perspectives of a Newcomer, Digital Photograph, 10"x8"

It's Grenada's 37th Year of Independence today. The celebrations and significance always bore me to tears actually, in any country, so I don't ever take part. Call me what you will, but I really don't have time to read or hear people go on about the same shit every single year.

So we're supposedly independent, but in essence we're trapped by the man-made systems made by, you got it, us. We're actually  fully responsible for the shitholes we're in. If you don't believe that, well have some cake and enjoy the banter. Happy pseudo independence Grenada!

Grenada Flag coloured cake. Nom.

ARC Launch

I am so proud of these amazing women who built and successfully launched ARC Magazine : Holly Bynoe and Nadia Huggins you are wonderful.

The magazine (see sample) was launched, the website was launched.
Oh my goodness. LOTS of hard work, sleepless nights and all the stress that went into this. The mag continues to be filled with love and support.
I must mention that if it were not for all of my amazing Twitter connections I probably would never have met them. Will : Heart.

Here's Stace flipping through her copy, and saying at how great everything looks :) I still have to get mine too  (please buy my art! donate! something!). It's so purdy.
Brilliant work! I look forward to the next issue, which am sure they've started working on already.

Stacey Byer and her copy of ARC Magazine

Eddie Bowen: Artist

Interview with T&T artist Eddie Bowen from globewriter on Vimeo.

I meant to post this since last year - like 3 months ago, but in true Tracey style, I never got around to perfecting the article to go with it. I trashed it. Just look at the damn video and chill. Have a wonderful weekend!

Reverse

Reverse, Digital Illustration. 2011, 8.5" x 11"

I'm actually trying to get an old series going again using some digital work as a bit of a bridge. Originally the series started off in paint and explores chakras and energy. It might be a little off-topic but I've accepted that, and I am satisfied that I did something! It's just really getting into the habit of making work consistently. It will get better. I assure you.
I.f. is a definite reminder! Earlier tonight I had to ask my friend if it was Friday. Yikes! Yes yes old lady problems, arthritic hands and all.

So here I am, finally facing myself and my work, and all that needs to be done. All the habits I am slowly working up to, and all the Illustration Fridays I am going to challenge myself with. It's the complete opposite of last year, when I was totally confused and not settling properly.

I'm now scheduling myself as much as possible, and well, hermitising a lot more. I do need balance though, but soon, soon. Playing catch-up meanwhile, while trying to remain current. Elves! Someone please send me elves!

Peace

James Braithwaite - I Met the Walrus from POCKO on Vimeo.

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview. Fastforward to present day and using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon’s every word. Raskin marries traditional pen sketches by James Braithwaite.

James Braithwaite is an illustrator, animator, and director based out of Montreal Canada. James’s first animation, “I Met the Walrus” won best short animation from the American Film Institute, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2008. The film has since been nominated for an Emmy, and has won two awards at the Banff Television Awards.

(Link acquired @seb098 )

I've been looking for a way to deal with everything that's happening right now. A sense of peace, of stability is needed. It's not the easiest thing to accomplish when surrounded by toxicity, but being alone helps. The quiet, the sound of nothing. I feel like I'm spinning and I need to stop and surrender into it for a while.

Happy Bunny Year!

Alright, so for a Monkey apparently a Metal Rabbit year is going to be meh great (Thanks bestie). Not that I care, I've already surrendered myself to whatever and I'm just working hard at... this, whatever this is, art...thing. It's ass sometimes but keeping on trucking! It's what I love right? Right.
I intended to post a new bunneh illustration but simply failed, so this is a repost. My wrist is aching, even with the Wacom/mouse - whathave you. Everything aches. That's probably because I've been overdoing it and don't know when to stop working.

Why Grenada?

It's usually the second question people ask when speaking to me. I'm frankly quite tired of answering it with the same repetitive response and trying to get people to even begin to understand.
"I needed headspace, peace and I was sick and tired of toxic living in shitty Trinidad, and wanted to do what I went to art school for... art"

The typical response is: *eyebrow raise* "I see" "Wow ok" "Uh huh"

BORING. Eyeroll.

So now I've launched a new project on Tumblr (yes I've joined the masses baa baa). I'll be using it primarily for this project for now. So until my mood changes or I move somewhere else, Please visit! Please subscribe! Thank you my darlings! I'm sorry it's something else to keep track of, but it's one way of journaling this Grenadian life, art style yo! (I'm watching way too much Breaking Bad).

Cyber-begging

"Cyber-begging ... it's rattling a tin cup at the entire world" (Breaking Bad)

I am officially living off my art.
Holy moly.
I am totally out of my depth. My head is spinning and I don't know where I am going, but I'm going.
I'm even about to launch a new project. Today. As if I wasn't already swamped right?
Yesterday I was a complete and utter disastrous pool of tears, and today it's getting better. Business people don't tell you about the rough times when they find themselves sitting in front their computer sobbing their eyes out. It  happens. I am 100% certain everyone has done this but don't have the balls/ovaries to say so.

I'd love to have a lovely website and rebrand myself and whatever, but I do need some help. I realised I cannot do this alone. There is so much cheapass stuff I can do - seriously, free services can only go so far. I'm not bartering and I'm not asking kids to whore themselves as "interns". Over it.

I'd be blown away (and utterly grateful) if I got sponsorship for some of these things. Pay Pal nabs a small percentage because they need to make money too, so I'll be getting just a little less than what you contribute. This art fund will go towards the following : 

Web Subscriptions

• Website domains (I have 2 to maintain)
• Web hosting (really need a proper website)
• Pro Drop Box (gotta back those files up!)
• Pro Flickr (pics and stuffs - hopefully they won't delete my account accidentally!)
• Pro Freshbooks (for spiffy accounting)

Online Store/s Setup

• Listing fees (e.g. Etsy charges a small amount for listing each item)
• Advertising (there is always that)

Solo Show

• Supplies (Paper, paint, pens...)
• Framing (seriously, a proper show)
• Event expenses (opening night, printing, wine, hosts, t.p.)

Of course if you buy my art, you'll have something for your wall AND know that you're contributing to my life. If you don't like my art you can still support my development. I am quite sure people will suggest loads of "things you can do instead", but seriously, no, I need the money to actually get some of these things going (and manage to pay rent and buy food).

If you're not capable of a monetary contribution, just pass it on for me, say a prayer, or have me in your thoughts. I'm grateful for anything that you do. Positive action is amazing. Do not hesitate nor feel pity. Thanks for the emotional support most of all. My family and friends have made this journey not only possible, but bring joy to my life. I got an awesome call from Sue this morning that made me feel so spesh.

Also if you have any other ideas on how to raise $1000 USD (course + ticket home) in less than a week please let me know. I wanted to do this Cultural Tourism Master class on Feb 8-9th! It's what started this post anyway. Just thought it would be a good thing to do. Education and all.