Hello!

It has been 7 months since I uploaded anything. That's embarrassing.

Here is a summary of that time period, in pictures and words. 

June 2012:

In June I went to Brooklyn, NYC for the opening of Alex Pardee's solo show at the Cotton Candy Machine.

I got to meet Tara McPherson, (incredible illustrator and owner of the gallery.)

I waited in line for 4 entertaining hours and I got to meet Alex Pardee himself! I brought him a painting of my own and thanked him for being such an inspiration to me (below). He is my original #1 favorite artist of all time. I worshiped him in high school.   

In high school, I would copy artists that I loved, and it helped me learn how to draw. I did this piece in 2004, based on Pardee's work from The Used' album In Love and Death. 

Check out Alex Pardee's website if you want to drool over his amazing art.

July 2012:

Omaha, Nebraska:

I went to the 2012 US Swimming Olympic Trials! 

My little sister competed, and kicked ass, check out her impressive wingspan compared to Michael Phelps! 

I made a design for Trials, along with a sneaky family slogan:

Getting Our Dixon the Games

Sketchbook 1:

 Growth means an expansion of awareness of what we truly are: Magnificent beings of light, love, passion, freedom and beauty.

 

 

My 25th birthday Self Portrait:

Sometimes one must assess where one is at in life. A quarter century is a good time to do that. 

And, once the realization has been made that you are moving forward in life, rather than backward, and you want to remember always that you survived, you can get it tattooed on yourself:

September:

Princeton, NJ.

A portrait of my friend Tori and her cat Texas. 

Sketchbook 2:

I moved home to New Mexico, to take a new job. 

Sketchbook 3:

I feel like a planet in space. 

Sketchbook 4:

 I wasn't lacking the strength, I was lacking the weakness.

ART SHOW, THANKSGIVING 2012

WEST END ART DEPOT:

I sold $1 prints and it was a fabulous night. Lots of smiles. The West End Art Depot is a hoppin new place to check out in Las Cruces. They have a great space and great people too!

Personal Art:

All art is personal. Some is meant only for me. 

Most of the time I give it to my loved ones. 

 

My Studio Now:

 

My studio now is private, cozy, and inspirational. 

I have old family heirlooms on my walls. 

I have photos of my friends.

I have love notes. 

I have iTunes. 

I have new canvasses and new paints and a basic need to express myself. 

Life is good.

 

Sketchbook 5:

 

This moment right now is the best moment to be alive. 

Don't ever forget that.

Never look back or ahead.

All there is is the endless, scintillating Now, rippling into the Nothing beyond comprehension. 

<3 nbsp="" p="">

Mama Cass

I'm Sick (by Mama Cass, your ILLustrator)

Last year, when I was thinking about illustration, the word ill just wouldn't get out of my head. 

The word ill has a few different meanings, most generally it is used when one is feeling "sick" or "under the weather," "flu-like," or when you find yourself on the toilet for most of the day. 

Ill (as well as Sick), also means that something is awesome, cool, sweet, badass, etc. (please refer to Urban Dictionary) 

So, I, Mama Cass, being the sickest ILLustrator comin out of the Southwest, am happy to present to you my latest painting, "I'm Sick"

And as Dre puts it, "Baby girl, you only as funky as your last cut." 

Enjoy the funk: 

Some metallic silver and gold, yeah this is my sort of bling.

I had done this original drawing in 2011, experimenting with some spray paint and collage to make this first version which hung at Trenton's Art All Night show last summer. 

Process: 

It wasn't until my dear friend Paul came to visit from Germany and requested this piece specifically for his bathroom that I painted the original drawing. Hope this makes your toilet time the illest! 

Love, Mama Cass