new ink + work in prog

 (seems like all I'm posting these days are works in progress and new tattoos)

I mentioned before that Morgan and I were going in for some tattoos, and here they are!
 
This was taken right after we finished, so they're still real dark and mine is pretty red (morgan on left, me on right). It was well after 4am by the time we finished. Ha. Thanks Derick Montez for the beautiful beautiful design & tattooing! (And thanks for putting up with my moment by moment pain evaluation.) He busted out a sketch for us in like 30 minutes while we went and got Jack in the Box curly fries (a weird tradition of ours). It was perrrrrfect. Took about 2+ hours each. Troopers!
all healed up now.


Morgan and I have been collecting skeleton keys for years, and I'm almost always wearing at least two around my neck. One year for my birthday Morgan gave me a bunch of hers, our 10th birthday maybe? I thought I had lost them in the move to San Francisco, but I found 'em hiding in an old jewlery box in my closet. I think I cried a little bit (oh I'm such a sap sometimes). Well, I don't want to lose them again, so I made one permanent.

Okay. Enough about that.
I've been putting the finishing details on this piece, it's nearly done.

I have another day or two left on the tattoos before it goes off to the New Brow group show over at The Alternative Cafe. Gonna be a fun show!

Also I'm super excited cause I'm getting a new studio space next month. It's super spacious and sunny and perrrrrfeccttt and I can't wait! yay.

okbye
xx

earrings & things

Started on a new painting last night. I seem to do a variation of my piece Headaches every year or so. It's fun for me to remake the original concept and watch as my style evolves. This time with more eyes, foxes & stormy skies.


(This piece and the other foxy girls are going to be in a group show over at Project One next month + a third piece that I'll be starting soon.)

(Staring contest. Yes, she won.)

Today I started on the background and such, while listening to The Cranberries, like, all day. 

Currently obsessing over this song.

On another note, I got two new ear piercings & a gold nose ring over at 454 Tattoo when I was in Encinitas. (And more freckles??)

I got my nose pierced at 454 on my 18th birthday several years ago, I was long overdue for some more!

And then tomorrow night Morgan and I are going for some late-night tattoos for her birthday. caaaaant help myself ;)
goodnight!
xx

encinitas // home

rainbows, ear piercings, too many rings

heart to hearts, grandma's ashes

coconut soup, old dreams, lying on the floor

new sisters, long skirts, tax forms

baby me, high school me, 
dad's eyes, mom's arms

hail, fabric paint, stockings

 coastline car rides, wind in my hair.
closed eyes, staring at the sun.


back to work.

work in progress and stupid things.

Yesterday I spent the day painting in my pjs & eating english muffins. And I have an annoying amount of hair (which needs to be trimmed). But I am having fun with this piece. I've been kind of making it up as I go along which feels different than normal, and have been using some different colors in the skintones, trying to make the colors more complex. It's neat not really knowing how the piece is going to turn out, it's like a little gift waiting for me at the end. I've also been fighting with my paintings a lot. It's like I'm developing tumultuous relationships with them, which I like.
I also spent plenty of time on the couch being a lazyass.
proof:
Though I did finally tackle my inbox whilst couch-dwelling. I've been really bad at emails lately. Seriously. Apologies if I haven't responded, I promise I'm not ignoring you, in-fact, quite the opposite, I've probably been stressing out because I haven't responded to you which oddly takes way more energy than actually writing an email. It's a ridiculous cycle.

Anyway, I'm currently I'm using San Francisco Airport's generous free 45 minutes of wifi to write this and to play on facebook, so really, it's like I'm at home. Also fighting the urge to watch Law & Order. ahahahah OBSESSED. This is basically one of those really pointless blog posts that shouldn't exist BUT IT DOES.

you are really really awesome and i love you.
(also, remind me to get a new nose ring when i'm home. thanks.)
xx,
Charmaine

tattoos, vegas & works in progress

Wow. okay, so, it's been a minute.

I've been working on a couple of new pieces that are halfway doneish, if you follow me on instagram/facebook/twitter you've probably seen little snippets of them.

a self portrait of sorts. Waiting on the tattoos and other little embelleshments. 

Here are a few progress pictures of it..

I've been all about painting on the floor lately. (I wonder if its bad for my knees to be sitting cross-legged all day?)

I decided to add freckles, which I think adds a lot more depth. Something I'll be doing from now on. I'm also really freckly.

Also been challenging myself with incorporating backgrounds in to the mix. It changes the piece for sure. still deciding if I like this route or not.

--

Then there are these girls

Still soooo much to go. But this girl, Fernanda, has the most fantastic eyebrows I've ever seen. Stoked she was able to model for me recently. I'll probably be doing another piece or two of her down the line.

Besides painting a ton, I went to vegas for a few days for my good friend Laura's birthday. What a strange place. I was totally burnt out after like, a day. Played too much roulette, drank too many gin and tonics, won some money, lost some money, got tattooed and ate at Coco's too many times (twice). If I was a better planner/think-ahead-er I wouldve gone to see the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor WHICH I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN. I've also been dying to see Zumanity. Next time. 

Added a little ditty under my anchor. It says "amour" in runes. Runes are pretty much how Lizzy and I survived high school. We'd write full-page notes to eachother in runes, teachers were always baffled when they intercepted them (which wasn't often. we were good at being sneaky. or so we like to think.)

I love how tattoos make me feel. Currently planning out my quarter sleevie. Beyond excited.

Also, we've been having a few freakishly warm days.

Definitely been patio-dwelling a lot. And playing with leaves.


--

I'm going home to Encinitas this weekend for my sister-in-law's baby shower. EEEEE YOU GUYS I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT! Looking forward to some family time.

Hopefully I wont wait a whole month before posting again, but who knows with me. 

loveyouguys. thanks for putting up with me and my erratic "blogging" ♥

C