Sales On The Big Site

Hallo, hallo, hallloooooo! So it's the change of seasons and I am creating deals on some of my summer wear on the Open Clothes Originals site... www.openclothesoriginals.com  Please swing by and check it out, so many of these are beautiful pieces, and I'd really like to make room for another season's new stuff! I've got ideas for new scarves which I will probably hit the drawing boards for some time this week!

 
Fall and spring are the seasons when I feel I'm most filled with ideas...the summer has so many distractions (my garden gave us hundreds of tomatoes this year!) that I always feel I can get down to business during the less extreme weather. I'm already feeling the creativity coming on, please visit the site and say hello anytime!!!

I'm also going to be at the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market in October (Sat Oct 21), and at the Chiller Theater Expo from October 27-29, with my handmade pieces, paintings, prints and some very cute curated items that I've chosen for you!

So these have already come out of me, thanks for looking! Protective thoughts to those in Florida, Texas, Mexico and the fiery Northwest... Yours in ROCK!  xo Diane

Write What You Want

For years (25 to be exact) I was a tattoo artist. It was my mode of artistic expression, and every single piece of art I did walked away. It's a funny place to be in, especially when you're young, to watch a creation you sweated about just prance out the door! But all artists learn that the lesson IS that you want someone to walk away, loving what you just did for them! Now I work in cloth, and on paper in a different capacity, and the idea IS from the start, to have people walk away with the work! The distinction I am making about the two, is this: CONNECTION. People get tattoos that they want, and tattoo artists put the client's vision into reality. A "regular" artist, or a layman artist, creates what they want and hopes someone connects with it. The experience of getting a tattoo is personal and sometimes cathartic, and there is always communication and connection present.

You can see my art at my site here: www.openclothesoriginals.com . I enjoy what I do, yet I'm faced with thinking how to create connection with people who like or purchase what I make. Since I was not shy about lettering on skin for decades without a single mistake, I have started making lyric / poem paintings. It started when David Bowie passed away, I felt there was so much that he said that I could connect to, and since he was gone, I wanted to pay homage... I'm now making lyric paintings on a full blown scale. Most of these are in a 5 x 7 frame that is 8 x 10 on the outside of the mat.

Say something, paint something all together? Maybe this is how we can connect! Here are a couple that I've enjoyed creating!

A CLASH Favorite

From The Thin White Duke

Homage to Bowie, of course!

The Damned

And lastly, another Bowie selection!

Wear My Art!

I've completed the first run of my one of a kind clothing line! It's been an exhilarating process and a delight! Inquiries please contact me at Hey@openclothesoriginals.com  Each of these is hand printed, and many are hand dyed and painted as well. Each is unique, once it's gone it's gone! I take custom requests, just contact me! And if you haven't followed me on Instagram @dianekamikaze, please do!

 

 

 

 

 

Collage!

Here is the latest, and I've invaded collage territory  - hard! I love the flexibility of mixed media, and enjoy a little joke or two as well! This one is called HINDENBURG!

And I'm being a little more aggressive with my work, so if anyone knows a collective, gallery or wants to purchase any of my work, please get in touch! I accept PayPal and can be reached at hey@openclothesoriginals.com . THANKS ALL!

Martians!

Happy Holidays! In light of how some human beings have been acting lately, I've decided to move my work to focus on another race entirely! Yes, it's a reaction, and at least it is having me create!

As a kid I always imagined what Martians would be like. I didn't ever imagine aliens, in terms of the theories of them moving in and taking over the world, my concept was more about some interesting beings from another planet, who were happy to be there.

These are primarily pencil. You may find human qualities within them, and I assure you they are DEFINITELY MARTIANS. This is just YOU relating to them in some way. We are all Martians!

I originally put these up on INSTAGRAM, and my handle there is dianekamikaze, if you wish to follow. I find it a better outlet for art, however, these photographs were shot with my phone, which I wouldn't do to start with if I intended this post for my blog site! EITHER WAY, ENJOY!!!

Fabric, Fabric, Fabric

Mechanical, yes, but I like it too! Lately I've been painting less and working more with fabric. As some of you may know I'm a retired tattoo artist, and I have always enjoyed the actual process of art. In tattooing I loved the machines, the needles, the grips; everything mechanical about the application of the tattoo. So someone gave me a sewing machine and I've been poking holes in fabric instead of skin! I made myself a couple of gaiters for winter, only because I lost my favorite one, and then started looking at what I could make and produce to sell at some of the shows that I do, along with my painted art. I made a few cloth wallets, which were satisfying in the whole idea of following a pattern, and rather complex, but they were not items that garnered any attention. Next I moved on to oven mitts. Of course I am limited to the fabrics I find, but I did discover some pretty neat fabrics in my travels and dove in headfirst. I researched the heat insulation, and decided I would make oven mitts that not only looked great, but that you would NEVER burn yourself in a million years with. I use a metal strip insulated batting (you can hear it crinkle), that is natural fiber and not bleached along with another natural fiber that is super soft. I enjoy making these pieces and am getting pretty good at making them! In that same span of time I also started wood block printing and silkscreening scarves that I hand dyed myself. These are creative for me in a different way. I get to splash things all over the place, get messy and go back to my printmaking roots. Here are some photos of what I've been up to!

Work up in Glen Ridge Starbucks AND Etsy!

For the remainder of June I will have these 14 paintings up at the Starbucks in Glen Ridge, NJ. They've got a nice art wall there, and the staff was super. Check it out if you're in the area: 710 Bloomfield Ave., Glen Ridge NJ..

Besides that, I've launched my ETSY store! Here is the link as well as a couple of items that are there. https://www.etsy.com/shop/OpenClothesOriginals   At the moment it features my hand printed scarves and handmade oven mitts. Paintings are available by inquiry here or on my full site:  http://openclothesoriginals.com

The Mark Of Zorro, or zipping into spring!

Some thoughts on Spring. First of all, is it really here?? This winter was so brutal, I'm tired of complaining about it. Lovely colors coming out, nice weather becoming the usual, not the exception. Here's a springy piece for you all!

The Mark Of Zorro - Watercolor

Ah, water and color! This is titled The Mark Of Zorro, and it's a little spring, a little pizazz, and it sure feels like it's what I need right now! Fire away, bring on spring and get zippy outside!