Face Painting Express for optidust@gmail.com

Angel

2012-01-17T00:43:00.003-05:00

Oh my goodness ~
Does this girl look like a dreamer or what?

to hire this artist:
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(516)579-4706

Nursery School

2012-01-17T00:24:00.006-05:00

It was a Special Day at the Nursery School.
The children were so cute ~ made to feel so special.
Starting with one of the girls who was watching the kids,
here's some of the interesting people I painted that day.
So young. Having so much life thrown at them. Until they understand and expect things the way we do.

It's good to see the world from a child's view:

Note: Sometimes a child needed me to simplify a Painting.
I'm dealing with real people, not pieces of paper.
So the Paintings were limited or expanded accordingly.
A goo time was had by all.

to hire this artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Christmas Party ~

2011-12-21T00:25:00.004-05:00

Oh Yes ~ For once I got some pictures posted here
On Time. Because one of my Agents asked for photos from a recent gig.

Okay. But but this is such a tame gig. I've worked at this Company's Holiday Party several years already, and it's always so tame. But okay. I took the photos of my Artwork.

And now that I've looked at them, they're not too tame at all. I did a lot of neat painting at this Christmas Party. It just Felt so easy because of the dignified way that the people handled themselves. I'm just so glad that I actually posted them before the end of the year.

to hire this Artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Jewel? Rope?

2011-12-07T11:30:00.000-05:00

I don't know what I was making here,
but I like it.

I am Beautiful

2011-12-07T11:06:00.001-05:00

It might seem silly, but it works. A Beautiful Face-Painting, and
even a grown-up can't take her eyes off herself ~ feeling oh so
beautiful. This way, that way.

Happens with scary, wild Face-Paintings too. We can't believe that
wow, we can really look like That. Face-Painting. Transformational.

to hire this artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

my first attempt at graffiti-ing a person

2011-12-03T21:17:00.002-05:00

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(516)579-4706
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Andy Warhol

2011-11-03T12:52:00.005-04:00

Everything is a haze. What's happening here?
I wish I took a picture of him. Andy Warhol ~
who took this photo of me 2 days ago ~ ~

Here's what happened. I was hired to twist Balloons at an upscale event at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. Just the Basic Balloon Dog to commemorate Jeff Koon's large sculptures of the Basic Balloon Dog. I really enjoyed that job. Bought jewel-toned balloons - gold, silver, sapphire, magenta, hot pink, and onyx black. No rush for how many can I produce per hour because Entertainment was more the key. So I really loved the Balloons. Put on quite a beautiful show ~ dancing with the pressure inside the balloons ~ feeling Great ~ seeking the Perfect Balloon Dogs ~ all bubbles being the Same Size including the tail and the right-sized tip ~ I was Really into the Art of Balloons. The beauty of the invisible pressure that expands the balloons. My body, my torso, as it twists. And bends. High and Low. Tip and base.

Interaction with the people who watched, the people who were given the perfectly twisted balloons.

Including one young man who was quite charming. He even said, several times, "You're awesome." Niiiice. I felt like I'm okay. Like it's okay to actually Be an artist. Instead of the way people usually make me feel by insisting that I complete x-number of Balloons per hour to give each person a Thing.

I wish I took a photo of that man.

He had ashy-blonde hair and intense black tattoos peeking out from his shirt. A larger, solid, built body than the body I had seen in the photos of 'the real Andy Warhol' ~ the Andy Warhol who was a fantastic and famous Artist.

Because later, as I was twisting for some other guests, that charming young man took my photo. Apparently that was his job. He was walking around, snapping photos, signing them, and handing the undeveloped black rectangle to each guest. He did that for me. Amazing that he could design and create such a good photo under such difficult lighting and shmoozing conditions.

He signed it "Andy Warhol". I automatically said, 'Wow ~ must be Andy Warhol's son? Grandson?' But I don't think that Andy Warhol had any children. So maybe his nephew? Or just somebody who played games when naming her child?

But there were all sorts of wild entertainers at this event. The man who was dressed as a table. The women who danced as chandeliers. The guests taking off their shirts to receive real (including blood) tattoos at the table next to me (later when I was drawing Caricatures)...

So was this young man an Andy Warhol 'impersonator'? Like hiring 'Dora' to come to a Child's Party? Or was he related to the Artist (he certainly had been talented)? Or was he someone whose parents had given him a 'useful' name?

I had a great time. I hope to book more Entertaining balloon events. Perhaps for Childrens' Parties. But definitely for Adult Parties.

to hire this artist:
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

All Dressed Up

2011-10-25T01:22:00.001-04:00

Getting Ready to Go Out:

This is Fun ~

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Whatever Gets You Through the Night

2011-10-13T20:54:00.003-04:00

Is this really how I spend my nights?
Couldn't be! But, well, at least this
is how I spend my nights
SOMETIMES.

to hire this artist
(516)579-4706
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Russian Immigrant

2011-10-11T10:53:00.003-04:00

I remember this little girl. She came around to me several times with her father. Such a happy little girl. I think they were Russian immigrants ~ never really had much money. But together in Central Park. Reminded me of those old movies in which a sweet waif would be Discovered by The Rich People ~ maybe like Annie or Matilda:

I love my life. So many interesting experiences:

to hire this Artist:
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(516)579-4706

Balloon Doll

2011-10-11T10:51:00.003-04:00

Here are some of the Balloons that I had created at Central Park:

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(516)579-4706

Central Park Face-Painting, Caricatures and Balloons

2011-10-11T10:15:00.005-04:00

It feels bitter-sweet to have come across these photos today.
It's work I had done in Central Park ~ back when I used to go there often. (Only when I work Retail can I offer Face-Painting, Caricatures, And Balloons at the same time ~ because I can spend more time with each person when I work Retail.) Haven't had time to go there for quite a while....

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and the day goes on

2011-10-07T23:15:00.002-04:00

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at the Salon

2011-09-27T11:18:00.007-04:00

Here I am again. At a Salon. Face-Painting little girls. Little girls with dreams.

This group was super-interested in Peace-Signs and Hearts. Intriguing to me to watch the trends. Because I recently had two Caricature jobs which requested 'Beatles' type influence. One had asked for everyone at the Party to be drawn on one large paper - something like the cover to the Sargent Pepper album. And the other had asked for a Studio Caricature of a man on a motorcycle - mentioning that he really likes the Beatles so could it look something like 'the Beatles cartoons' (whatever that is - I figured just Peter-Maxx-influenced - perhaps something like the cover of the Magical Mystery album or like the simple/perfect Caricatures we recognize as 'Beatles'). Anyway, the trend seems to be 60's influenced these days. I even saw an ad in Cosmopolitan Magazine this morning for 'flare' pants (aka bell-bottoms from the 60's). I like this trend. I feel happy to paint this way.

and the arms:

and happily
because I wouldn't want my more advanced skills to get rusty,
glad that some of the guests wanted things like:

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Christie Brinkley

2011-08-19T23:15:00.006-04:00

I was so fortunate to meet the model Christie Brinkley today. Being a Party Artist has put me in situations to meet our society's Superstars. And yes - She Really is as Beautiful as you might imagine. Up close and personal. With no 'air-brushing'.

I had been hired to Face-Paint for the Ellen P Hermanson Foundation to benefit Breast-Cancer-Research because Ellen's Run will be held on Sunday. Christie Brinkley came to make a Donation. There was a lot going on with Danskin.

Here are some photos I took with my little iphone while the Presentation was going on:

And some of the {Faces} I painted:

A very tame crowd - wanted tame paintings. It was okay.
And when they thought of getting 'pink ribbons', my ideas stayed relatively tame for them. I like them. But now I wish I thought of 'elongating' some of the ribbon tails to swirl around:

Here's a picture of a guest named Rita. I particularly liked this lady. She told me she was 80 years old and that she wanted something very tame. Because she didn't want to draw attention to herself when she'd be at an event that evening with Alec Baldwin. I liked her care to 'take the lower seat'. Interesting that that makes her seem 'bigger' to me:

A quiet event, when Christie Brinkley walked by I was feeling very comfortable.
"Oh - Hi," I said. "How about a Face-Painting? I'd be glad for an opportunity to see how my Artwork is affected by a Top Model."

Christie was quite pleasant. I recommended to paint her like one of my Samples that was right there - because the little girl that I had painted previously kind-of looked a little like the SuperStar:

Awww, geee, I thought. This is going to be great fun. But Christie said something about choosing a different Sample if she had time to take a Painting just now - made us all laugh because she said something about having power when she goes home to her kids. Here's the Sample she was talking about. Funny:

And then I took one more photo of how the Super Model looks when she's just hanging around and chatting:

I felt inspired and happy. I went to the gym after the event :-)

to hire this artist:
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

and for those of you who want to know more about the event, here are some links:

http://www.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=515847&nbc1=1

Adult Face Painting

2011-08-03T22:45:00.004-04:00

I really enjoy an event like this. When the Adults are in to the Face-Painting so much that even the Children take the finer, more complicated designs. A good time was had by all.

A good time was had be all - even me. If only I hadn't broken my Face-Painting cart on the way. This event was in a College courtyard. Beautiful. With ramps AND STAIRS all over the place. Usually so careful as I wrangle my supplies through the myriad of obstacles; but this time I decided to be more carefree -

This time I decided to be more like the guys who carry stuff for me sometimes. They seem so ruff, so gruff. But after I broke my cart by just letting it clunk down the stairs, I realized that those guys were just real strong - quickly lifting and carrying - yet still careful.

Soooo, my cart a-broken. It involved so much to replace. Expensive to buy the basic cart, then sewing on all sorts of flaps and holders - my stuff has really gotten customized to my exact needs.

Good things. Bad things. I just keep keepin' on.

to hire this artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Not So Happy

2011-07-21T22:37:00.004-04:00

Upsetting times just now. Personal relationships in turmoil. But I gotta do something passing the time. Life doesn't just stop.

so I read the Bible. and I prayed. Still frightened, upset, and sad, but maybe a little excited too now? Well, I'm open for change? Movement? Time/situations to change? Acceptance?

Anyway, this was one of the things I'm doing with my 'static time'. Came to post a new Balloon design on my blog - Isn't is cute? A Fish?

And I was surprised to see that the most recent post was called "I'm So Happy". Made me smile just to write that just now. Reminds me that Emotions come and go. That emotions flow.

So for Now, I'm down.
And here's my fish:

After posting this, I will read my Happy Blog from when I was posting at Happy Times.
That will be interesting.

I feel so happy

2011-06-23T08:24:00.001-04:00

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Is it the child? Or is it the painting....

2011-06-23T08:19:00.003-04:00

Oh these kids are so cute. Time to have fun with them while they're
like that.

Look at this girl I painted. The girl is always cute, but
with the painting, we take a moment to Seeee:

to hire this artist:
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Samples

2011-06-16T01:47:00.004-04:00

Oh - I've been away from Face-Painting for a while. Recently I've been swamped with Caicature events. (I wonder if it had anything to do with the Kidsday Article that recently came out about me - I'll post a copy of it if I get a chance.) Anyway, I'm doubled up on events just now. Because the Face-Painting is really picking up again now.

I had remembered that the last time I was doing it a lot, I had gotten tired of doing the same thing over and over. So I discovered that I had more freedom to be repetitive or not
If I would Not Put Out Samples.

That worked great
back then.

But then last week I had an event. A Pre-School Graduation. Decided not to put out my Samples even though I brought them. Ick - I was confounded because one of my first kids requested a Cheetah. Ummm, I couldn't quite think of a Cheetah. Spots? Cat whiskers? And should the background be Purple? Or maybe Orange? Don't forget the nose.....

I did whatever I did, and the kids liked it. Whew. So several others asked for the same thing. And me, not really being ready, not really having studied Cheetahs, I felt insecure while I painted them.

This weekend, I'll be doing a Company Outing in a Park. I figure I'll be happier to put out A Lot of Samples as usual. But just looking at my old Samples, even though there are a hundred of them, they feel repetitive to me. I don't feel like doing that now
Again.

I have a lot of photos here of faces I had painted a while back. Putting some new together. I hope you'll notice when I'm at Your Party. Perhaps the painting isn't anything new for me, but since the Sample is, I'll probably have different inspirations.

Here are 2 of my new Samples. I like how my simple flowers matched the girl's clothes. And I did a double-take on the photo of the Shooting Stars. At first, it looked like I had put large dots on the end of the woman's eyelashes - like, How did I do that??? But, lol, it's regular dots along the bottom of the eyes. Intriguing photo.

And here's the Kidsday Article:

to hire this aritst
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

Face-Painting And Caricatures

2011-06-11T11:21:00.005-04:00

Did you know that I do Caricatures as well as Face-Painting?
Well, I do….

Last night I did Face-Painting for the cutest Pre-School Graduation.
I arrived early and had some time to play around with some ideas before the event.
I came up with a New Idea. Hark! A New Idea!

As of now, I’ve only done Either Face-Painting or Caricatures at any one time. Switching Setups back and forth feels crazy. But it could be Fun to try it this new way - the new idea I just came up with. (Stay tuned:-)

I can just Draw the ‘face-painting’ Onto the caricature. Like this:

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(516)579-4706

At the Spa

2011-05-30T10:38:00.003-04:00

I paint on faces, arms, legs, backs, bellies....
Here are some more photos of what I did at the recent
Spa Party ~ This batch includes a lot of Arm Paintings ~
also makes the girls feel very special.

to hire this artist:
(516)579-4706
otpidust@gmail.com

What to Do

2011-05-16T23:06:00.002-04:00

Just a Fun Day in the Park:

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2011-05-09T03:33:00.000-04:00

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Happiness

2011-05-09T03:19:00.002-04:00

Oh it looks so easy to be Happy.
I look at my people, how happy they are to get attention and artwork from me ~
and I wonder if it's really my ability with the artwork
or if it isn't more the open desire to enjoy the world that people bring along with their faces. I wonder if I could allow myself to be so very happy. To accept the wonderful people and things and experiences that come my way
instead of sadding about things that I've decided I must have.
I'm thinking that children, who don't think they already know what's out there in this world, I'm thinking that those children just respond with joy when I bring them my little contributions. And the adults who haven't been knocked down, the adults who hadn't had their hearts broken, they also come to me already ready to be happy. So all I have to do to do my job is get in place and dance along.

I'm wondering if there isn't a lesson here for me. To be happy.

to hire this artist
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

Adult Face Painting

2011-05-03T09:51:00.002-04:00

I've been showing you pictures of beautiful little girls lately. But adult's look and feel special when I face-paint them also. So I'm showing you some of those today. I wish more adults could let loose and feel free.

Most of my Face-Painting jobs have been for Children, but I've been getting more and more jobs lately for Adults. Apparently, once they experience it at one place, they're inspired to hire me again at their own Party. It makes them look beautiful too.

to hire this artist,
(516)579-4706
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Such Beauty

2011-04-23T11:29:00.002-04:00

Once again, what can I say but
Such Beautiful Girls.

It's amazing, the girls who are given
the sort of care that professionals like me
bring their way. Yes - partake of what life
offers:

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such beautiful girls

2011-04-01T12:02:00.002-04:00

I had had a really good day Face-Painting. The photos are just sitting here on my desktop. I want to show them, but just no time to upload them now - what else is new? Right now it's to unpack from my Texas trip, do the regular laundry and stuff, as well as a real exciting Studio Caricature and getting my papers ready for the accountant (tax season).

Ok - I can't do it all. But I can at least upload 2 little pictures. Such beautiful girls.

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(516)579-4706

2011-02-25T22:28:00.000-05:00

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A Child's View

2011-02-03T22:41:00.001-05:00

The world is full of people. So many people trying to make sense of it all, experiencing life, the wonder of childhood....

Oh and here are 2 sisters ~
Aren't they so Cute !

to hire this Artist:
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

to hire this artist,
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

I Now Offer Glitter Tattoos

2011-01-28T02:10:00.003-05:00

Glitter Tattoos ~ I feel disappointed that the photos just don't show the luxuriousness of them ~ They looks so special in person ~ sort of Solid? Is that the word for it? Maybe more like..... Substantial.

I can't even decide which photo views to post. Of what I did get.
Here's what I mean:

Close-Up of the Tattoo? Or Whole Body-Part?

And even ~ With Dramatic Lighting (which I was just fortunate to get)? Or Neutral Lighting so the light isn't distracting:

Lol - and now I don't even like the Word - Substantial. Because it could feel like - less than. Sub. Below. But it's really based on the Word Substance. Stuff. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll just call Glitter Tattoos - Beautiful.

Oh - how to show......
I just realized that a blog is a blog,
and a party is a party.
One is cyber, the other is tangible.
As different as reading about exercising, or actually going to the gym.
As different as dreaming about love, or actually having intimate relationships.

to hire this Artist:
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The People I Meet

2011-01-28T02:04:00.000-05:00

I so appreciate the slice of life that I see,
that I share, with people. Look at the honest
heart that comes out of them.

When she's all grown up, this moment will have passed.
She won't remember it the same way I will. I'm so grateful
for the experience. It's a gift to me. The sharing of herself.
Being involved with people. Life. Moment by moment.

to hire this Artist,
(516)579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

Family Fun Day

2010-10-08T00:23:00.001-04:00

These are some paintings that I did at an event called 'Family Fun Day'.
It was a big Community event at a park. Looked so wholesome, like a scene in Pleasant Town USA or something. I'm amazed when I see things like this. Like, all's well with the world and everyone is doing the right thing. Everybody pleasant, happy, healthy.... Wow. And there I was - happily painting away:

And here were some of the boys:

This boy wanted me to copy what was on his shirt:

And here is a simpler painting. I was able to keep the charm while simplifying the presentation. Very pleased. I really appreciate when the atmosphere is conducive to artistic freedom:

And an arm painting. A good time was had by all:

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Red-Faced

2010-09-23T23:50:00.000-04:00

This was an interesting night.
Is this really how I spent my time???

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Glitter Tattoos !

2010-09-10T23:58:00.000-04:00

I'm glad I tried it out before using it at an event.
Glitter Tattoos that is.

Everything looks easy to me - but there's usually a glitch when I try to do it - something to Leeeaaarrrnnnnnnn. I want to be able to offer Glitter Tattoos as well as Face-Painting, Balloons, and Caricatures.

As a Face-Painter, of course, I had Some professional glitter here. And a friend told me to outline with an eye-liner pencil, to hold the glitter in place. Here are the results. It looks just as good (or even better) without the eye-liner pencil. And a couple of days later, when the glitter-tattoo started to wear off, well.....

That eye-liner pencil looked Awful! I'm so glad I tried it before using it. I sure won't use the eye-liner pencil at Your party.

Here's a picture of an arrow which I created without an outline.
And a yin-yang on which did use the ugly outline:

And here's a picture of it wearing off several days later:

And just a few more designs which I created while I was practicing.
I won't be using those outlines, but I do like designing my own tattoos:

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Balloons are for Fun

2010-08-24T23:03:00.000-04:00

Here it is - basic Poodle. Yeah.
A goldfish. And a Creature!

otherwise known as..
BALLOONS!

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(516)579-4706

Face Painting

2010-08-24T23:01:00.000-04:00

and justa takin me tom ~

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The Office

2010-08-24T22:54:00.000-04:00

My Office. My Studio. I like it in here.
But I'm going to clean it up tonight.
Yeow - how does this happen???

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(516)579-4706

Versatility

2010-08-20T22:51:00.000-04:00

By bringing a lot of different activities to the park, I was able to make many people happy. Face Painting, Caricatures, and Balloons. Here are some happy people:

And while my high-quality Caricatures also brought people delight, even my simple Balloons worked their magic.

I'm so lucky to be able to be part of the pleasant day.

to hire this artist,
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Dress Up

2010-08-15T09:10:00.000-04:00

These kids were fun. Very into decorating themselves:

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Studying Face Painting

2010-08-06T21:19:00.000-04:00

On mannequins. On people. It's all good:

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A Great Day at the Park

2010-08-06T20:21:00.000-04:00

Look at what I made. The tiger-ish man was the Most surprised:

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Green

2010-07-24T02:35:00.000-04:00

Thinking green. What can I face-paint with green.
Well, I'm always making green monsters, t-rex, and the hulk.
But, something different - I made these just for fun:

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More and More

2010-07-19T21:15:00.000-04:00

Life. More. and more. There's always another 5-year-old with a doting parent. Always another Communion. Always another Bat Mitzvah. Same painting, different people. The people who pass through my life. I'm glad to have this talent to bring to their lives -
a skill that helps them passage through, experience their lives.

to ire this artist:
(516)579-4706
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Glitter Tattoos

2010-07-17T23:50:00.000-04:00

I tried glitter tattoos (I drew them freehand - didn't have any stencils here.) Interesting, nice.

But a friend had told me to use an eyeliner-pencil to outline the forms. Luckily we tried it at home first. Because that eyeliner-pencil made the tattoos look too heavy. And worst of all was the horrible way it wore off over the next few days. I wouldn't want to do That to a client.

Anyway, here are the first few trials I did at home. As you can see by the pink arrow that I did without the eyeliner-pencil, it looks just fine without an outline:

to hire this artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Colossians3:8-10

2010-06-29T09:06:00.000-04:00

And continuing my post of May 1, 2010 -
Since I came across that post last night, it was right in my mind when I was reading the Bible this morning.

I had come across my post of May 1, 2010 when I was here at the blog last night.
So I was surprised when I was reading the Bible this morning (what else is new?).
Because, without looking for anything in particular, just reading next, next, next,
I read Colosssians3. That includes "EXALTED OVER PHILOSOPHY":

Colossians3:8-10
8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power

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A Slice of Life

2010-06-29T00:03:00.000-04:00

And here are some pictures that I took while I enjoyed my day.
I had arrived early for the Little People's Event that was described in the previous post. So I enjoyed walking over the Brooklyn Bridge - just like a tourist. Without having to fly on a plane.

If there's not enough time, we can vacation right in our backyards. On the way to work. Lol.

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(516)579-4706

4th of July Party

2010-05-14T19:46:00.000-04:00

Oh! Looking through more of the photos near the recent post about painting at the Little People's Convention - Ahah! That was the 4th of July! I remember now - most of the paintings were adapted for the holiday. All different people, some suffering from their conditions and some just enjoying life - it was interesting for me to be with this group:

And, as is wont to happen - "I want one just like his:

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(516)579-4706

Little People

2010-05-11T23:08:00.001-04:00

I painted at a Convention of Little People several times over the past few years. Of course, I've had experiences with little people in my life - they do the same things that I do, but this is a different experience. It's a time when the Majority of the people are little. And it's an eye-opener for me as to how many of them are in wheel-chairs, how many of them, even the very young ones, undergo many surgeries and pains. I'm so fortunate that my jobs bring me to meet so many wonderful people:

To give you an idea of the day, here is a picture of a girl that's about 4 or 5 years old. Can you see how big the regular chair is for her?

And here are some more people that I painted. Even if I paint the same design, the experience is different for each person who gets it:

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Changed - I had a New Best Day of My Life

2010-05-01T05:34:00.000-04:00

Good Morning -
I just came to my website, and had a shock. I just came to my website this morning because I was sending a link to a new client -
I wanted to see what it was that she would be seeing. But I was the one who was so Surprised. to see my most recent post about the best day of my life. Things have changed so much in such a short time!

On April 16, 2010, I knew for sure that I had G-d in my life. That
I would no longer have to do everything for myself. Such a turn-around, such a dramatic change. To find this very post, a post that I was so happy with such a short time ago....

It was February 22 that I wrote that post. So that means my priorities changed completely in less than 2 months..... Actually, it changes in an instant = in the instant that you Know you have to believe and you start doing that. I can see Soooo clearly how much I've changed! I'm soooo grateful

The Best Day of My Life !

2010-02-22T09:11:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness ~ WWW ~ The WorldWide Web is a wonderful thing (as though you didn't know that already).

I was just surfing around
and I found a quote that really describes just what I've been doing, touching on, trying to do most of the time when I catch myself falling into old habits:

"THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE IS THE ONE ON WHICH YOU DECIDE YOUR LIFE IS YOUR OWN. NO APOLOGIES OR EXCUSES. NO ONE TO LEAN ON, RELY ON, OR BLAME. THE GIFT IS YOURS - IT IS AN AMAZING JOURNEY - AND YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF IT. THIS IS THE DAY YOUR LIFE REALLY BEGINS." Bob Moawad

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Oh my goodness. Super-impressed, I just googled Bob Moawad. Apparently, he sells whole books about things like this. Most inspiring.

And I found another excellent quote. But I couldn't figure out if it was also by the same person:

"BE WHO YOU ARE AND SAY WHAT YOU FEEL BECAUSE THOSE WHO MIND DON'T MATTER AND THOSE WHO MATTER DON'T MIND."

Could it be the same person? I'd say, How Many Home Runs Can a Person Hit? But then again, once you know, you see everything that way.

Monsters and the Princess

2010-02-02T22:48:00.001-05:00

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Hand Art

2010-02-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

The Cheek Art from the client's clip-art wasn't so bad
when I adapted them to small hands. Here I put a web behind
the requested pumpkin, circles around the requested black-cat,
a necklace added to the requested ghost, the ugliest bat I ever painted
but it looks just like the requested clipart...

And when some of the guests wanted Yankees, my client said it would be okay,
but I should keep it like the cheek-art I had been doing:

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Just for Fun

2010-02-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

Not that I'm complaining, but here's one of the people I painted
who chose his Things from the clip-art that the client provided.
Just a thing here and a thing there - ick. But I did what my client wanted.
And the boy was Sooo happy with it. (Could you just imagine how amazed
he would have been if I was allowed to Transform him with my usual stuff???)

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Here it is -

2010-02-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

I just came across these photos -
including the previous post's mannequin-face
in use. Voila - Success!

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Halloween

2010-01-11T23:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I can't be posting photographs while I'm painting.
Especially around Halloween time - I was so busy with
so many events.

So my photos just hang around here - til I get a chance
to look at them. I remember these - it was when I was preparing
for a Corporate Halloween Event. The striped eyes were designed
for a private-party. But the pumpkin was designed in desperation
because my Corporate client actually thought they were helping me -
by providing me with Halloween clip-art and telling me to let the
people choose from the clip-art. I figured that I'd better figure
out ways to 'make the clip art into face-paintings'. This photo
shows something that I could do if they chose the little picture
of the pumpkin. (All that was in the clip-art was the round pumpkin
with the stem and the black-features - like I'd need that to know how
to draw a pumpkin??? Yeow)

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It's so cold in January

2010-01-03T00:02:00.000-05:00

My friend up in Canada emailed me about a heated plastic bubble in which he does Caricatures on the street. Now that I'm always working indoors because it is so cold in NY, I'm wishing I had a plastic bubble like his. I like meeting the people right on the street - people who would just be passing me by if I wasn't offering them anything.

I had a chance just now to look through pictures of some of the people I spent time with last summer - people I had painted. Here's a few of those beautiful people. These are the times of our lives:

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Time Warner Center

2009-12-21T00:31:00.000-05:00

There is such amazing Art all around us.
I was Face-Painting at a party in the Time Warner Center recently.
On my way in, I decided to photograph a sculpture that was outside
the building. In the photograph, the figures look kinda flat,
but in person, the technique is real intriguing - It's made
from flat slates piled on top of each other - the way old
stone fences used to be made:

Because of the different types of Artwork that I do,
I have worked in some of the most amazing places -
including The Time Warner Center,
The Friars Club,
The Water Club,
Sardi's,
Main Maid Inn,
Carnegie Hall,
Beekman Plaza,
penthouse apartments and mansions where the winners live.......
and more!
And I don't even have to pay to be there like the people who actually live there - They pay Me - Or I wouldn't be willing to go. I'm Soooo fortunate.

Here are a few more people that I painted this week:

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It is Snowing

2009-12-19T15:40:00.001-05:00

Oh boy. It is snowing. They're talking about a blizzard.
I have to get out to shovel and leave to draw Caricatures
at tonight's 40th Birthday Party. But first - my Agent
asked me to send her a few photos from a Corporate event
we worked this week. So here I am - actually posting something
in a timely manner:

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What time is it?

2009-12-06T14:19:00.002-05:00

What day is this? What year? Where am I?
If this is Sunday, it must be NY.

Lol - I have thousands of photos that I meant to post here -
But when I'm busy making new pictures, I can't be posting
previous pictures. It's the way of life. Now is all there is.

But I'm trying. Just came across some pictures from an event
that I did last July 4. I could figure out the date when I looked
at the photos:

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2009-12-06T14:19:00.001-05:00

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Art is Fun ~

2009-11-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

This guy was so happy with the way his painting turned out.
I guess it really surprised him.

Art is Fun ~

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New Idea

2009-11-27T23:55:00.000-05:00

And just where do new ideas come from?
How do we become 'creative'?

Well here's something that sparked a new idea for me.
Something happened to this photo - It's actually the same tiger that I posted yesterday. Maybe over-exposed or something? Anyway, I'm thinking that there's something To this black/white tiger.
Sp oo kieeeee.......

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Roses and Flowers All Over

2009-11-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

Here are some more photos from that pile I came across yesterday:

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A Fairy Tale

2009-11-27T01:46:00.000-05:00

I really didn't plan it this way.
But I came across these pictures - all of which were done
at the same party - I pulled the first few off the top of
the pile, and I was so surprised. Looks so easily like
a simple Fairy Tale - as though it was all coordinated
for a skit instead of just the random requests that it was.

I'm wondering if it isn't somehow the way I paint that made the 'story' appear. But is sure looks coordinated.

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Caricature Balloons

2009-11-17T00:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a Caricature I drew on a Balloon:

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2009-11-16T01:52:00.000-05:00

This was a real cool day. These litl kids wanted some tuff images.
But, lol - Kids are still so real. Don't 'have their 'Act' together.
I really like how my litl 'monster' wanted a Pink sword:

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Be Here Now

2009-11-16T01:47:00.000-05:00

Ah - a problem that can come up when we create our Art in the moment -
instead of cranking out the same craft that we've 'learned'.

I really like this balloon that I made.
But I can't remember how I made it:

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The Last Outdoor Event of the Year?

2009-11-10T01:29:00.000-05:00

Here it is - well into November in NY, and I guess I'm finished with Outdoor events for this year. Goodbye Summer.

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Kids are So Cute

2009-11-01T08:58:00.000-05:00

BTW, I guess you've noticed that
I've learned how to make those balloon spirals. Yeah.

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I Just Like Balloons

2009-10-31T00:37:00.000-04:00

How Fancy can you Twist?
That's all much fun,
but even before I get up to that stuff,
I just like those balloons.
Like a kid. They're just wonderful things. Beautiful.

I took photos of some real simple balloons I twisted recently.
I see though, that I was interested in taking real care in drawing on them.

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The Butterfly !

2009-10-17T02:03:00.000-04:00

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It's So Pink!

2009-10-12T23:06:00.001-04:00

This woman was funny. She asked for a pink butterfly. This is what I painted.

You should have seen her surprise when she looked in the mirror and said....
"It's so
PinK."

It was from an event that I did several weeks ago - Grandparents' Day at a Senior Center. So I don't remember All the details as I look through the Thousands of pictures that I end up with here. But here's a picture of a little girl who wanted to be painted as a Princess at the same event. I have no idea if the two people in this blog entry are related - but I just look at the faces, and I think that they just Have to be related. If there wasn't the big age-difference, I would even think they were Twins. You think so?

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Just because you ate chocolate cake, doesn't mean that I don't want the a piece for me too

2009-10-12T22:56:00.000-04:00

That's what I think of when people want a face-painting 'just like 'his''.
To have it on Your Self is a different type of fun than being glad that
your friend has one.

At this event for instance, several boys 'bonded', became a 'group'
by asking for a painting 'just like his'.

Still, I play with the design. Not going to paint the Exact same thing over and over. Hey, I'm spending my life here with these kids too. so we all had a good time.

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Balloon Festival

2009-10-12T07:57:00.000-04:00

Oh My Goodness! I just found out about a Balloon Festival in New Mexico. October 3 thru October 11, 2009. It looks so Wonderful. What a great thing to do. Balloons. Floating, flying. That's what dreams are made of ~

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

I hope I can go there sometime.
Apparently, it's a yearly event.

Black and White Face-Painting

2009-10-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

I love Colors. That's one of the biggest reasons why I'm an Artist.
And that includes Black and White. What I like about Colors is the
feeling that I get from each one. Black/White usually seems so crisp,
so clean. Here are two Face-Paintings that I made is Black/White:

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Suitable for both Children and Adults

2009-10-10T23:52:00.000-04:00

Here's the T-Rex. I painted it on both an Man and a Boy
at the same event. Slight changes for both of them, but
it wasn't really necessary. A good job looks good on
People of all ages:

to hire this Artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Pot o' Gold

2009-10-03T01:49:00.001-04:00

It just looks lucky to have this.
I'm glad I painted it on the Inside of her arm:

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Fame ?

2009-10-02T09:09:00.001-04:00

109,745 views! And that's just for completely
unadvertised, never mentioned Photobucket.

There's a new kind of fame in the world - now that
we have the internet. Even though I'm relatively
quiet out there (practically all I do is post on
my blogs and email friends and clients), so many
people are Looking! I just got my statistics for
Photobucket, the place where I upload the images
that I post here - just a worksite for me.
So that's a very small count of who looks
at my pictures. And they say that I have
had 109,745 views that I didn't even know
about. I can just imagine how many of you
check out - No, I cannot imagine how many
people check out this blog about Face-Painting.
Or my bigger blog at caricatureexpress.com

It's amazing. It's a wonderful world.

Let me tell you about yesterday. A day like this
makes me sooo glad that I'm fortunately booked
for 2 - 5 Parties practically every week. Yesterday
was cold in NY. A weekday. I was the Only Face-Painter
who went to Central Park. Selling Caricatures,
Face-Painting And Balloons. Very few people
stopped and bought. So I spent my time practicing.
Put an Amazing Face Painting onto my own face.
Got real good at the 260 balloon-hearts. Taught
myself balloon weaving.... I had a great set-up
with excellent samples - Attracted lots of people -
just about everybody smiled and commented to me as they
walked by. But they weren't buying. I was feeling sad.

I was cold. And carrying the heavy set-up through the
subways was soooo hard.

Yet Three Times - Three Times! - Strangers offered to help
me with my heavy cart on those long subway stairs. That
meant that they noticed my struggle, stopped their own
busy lives, bent down and lifted the bottom of the heavy
cart, and walked up long flights of stairs with me.
Another thing that happened was that one young lady
approached me on the stairs - "Where did you buy those"
she asked about my leftover balloon sculptures. I told
her that I didn't buy them - that I sell them. And she
was so happy when I let her take one for her daughter
(just give me anything for it already....).

So many people in the world. And it's so good to have them
all here. Aren't we lucky? Just doing our thing, and we
connect with all these Wonderful people. Hundreds of thousands!
More!

to hire this Artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

Photography

2009-09-30T21:28:00.000-04:00

So often, my customers take better photographs than I do.
That's because they have time to watch and relate to each other -
I frequently have people waiting, work to be done.
I just point and click and hope the picture will be clear. Next!

I was so happy to get an email from one of my wonderful customers.
This is a photograph that she took (Photograph courtesy of Lily Springs):

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Bearded Men

2009-09-26T00:29:00.000-04:00

Even with a beard - look at how good the face-painting can come out:

Actually, the very first person I ever painted, the very first face I had ever approached with a paint-brush - It was a clown from Brooklyn names Eddie. He had a big dark beard. So I immediately got the sensitivity, the technique for painting over a beard. Because I didn't know that that was any more difficult than any other face.

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Hello

2009-09-26T00:28:00.000-04:00

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Mermaid Eyes

2009-09-26T00:25:00.000-04:00

Seems like Everybody wants to look like this:

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Deja Vu

2009-09-26T00:20:00.000-04:00

I painted this girl before. I just know it.

Walking around in a fog, I was very tired the day she stopped for this butterfly. I didn't even realize that I've seen her before. But now that I see the beautiful photo, I just know it. People are starting to look familiar. I like when they stop with me again and again. I remember if they remind me once or twice, and perhaps we'd get to talking....

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Balloons in Central Park

2009-09-25T23:24:00.000-04:00

Oh lalala - There I was in Central Park - having fun with the people who pass by my life - and hahaha - Look at what came out.

So big:

and still able to have fun:

And this is what I made when the people weren't talking to me:

to hire this artist:
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2009-09-23T09:54:00.000-04:00

So many different ideas. It never ceases to amaze me that each person has his/her own dreams. That the 'character' that will delight one person can be completely different than the character that will delight another person. And, before we accept a 'label' like - 'Oh, she's so sweet', or 'Yeah, I'm tuff', that character can change moment by moment (surely year by year):

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Attitude

2009-09-23T09:47:00.000-04:00

I just had to laugh. Because I pulled together several
pictures which show 'attitude'. From such little kids!
All ages, from the very start of birth, have all the
emotions/attitudes.

to hire this artist:
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

2009-09-23T00:05:00.000-04:00

to hire this artist:
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It's a Life

2009-09-21T22:53:00.000-04:00

This is my life. This is their lives. Here we are - all together in this life. Gotta be amused:

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Retail

2009-09-21T22:49:00.000-04:00

I love to work at Parties. No haggling - just get there and get INvolved. But there's also something nice about working Retail. Since nobody is paying me by the hour, nobody cares how much time I spend with each customer. A lot of time? A little time? It can evolve naturally - depending on what I want to do and what the customer wants to do. Look at these unique balloons that I created recently:

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The boy who got everything

2009-09-21T22:37:00.000-04:00

I think this is a quote from the end of "Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory": "And you know what happened to the boy who got everything he wanted, don't you?" "Yes - He lived happily every after." "Of course".

Sometime's it's just fun to play with the kids. To give them whatever they can think of in the moment. Look at how cute this boy is. Can you imagine how satisfied he must have felt? He really wanted that half-skull, so I painted this:

But, just like those other boys, he still wanted that Spiderman. I didn't think it would look good to break the face up into two halves - One half skeleton and one half Spiderman. So I made a balloon. I love boys:

And while I'm at it, look at what I created for this little girl. Pearls and pretty, girls are pretty wonderful too:

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Spiderman

2009-09-21T22:23:00.000-04:00

Three different boys. They all wanted it, but they each have their own minds. Their own personalities. Their own sense of self. Three different boys - all thinking they're asking for the same thing. "Paint me like Spiderman." But I had to approach them all differently. Here's the basic:

And this boy wasn't sitting still enough for me to paint too closely to his eyes, so I did this:

And this boy didn't want it on his face, so I did this:

Three different boys, all thinking they're asking for the same thing, all playing Spiderman. And they were all happy with their face-painting.

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Niiice

2009-09-20T23:19:00.000-04:00

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Expanding my Horizons

2009-09-20T23:09:00.000-04:00

Looks like a standard heart-balloon-wand. I make lots of them. Can you tell that this one is so very special? I was Sooo Excited when I made it!!! Wow! I did it! Magnificent!

Lol - what it was that I did - doesn't look all That much better than the usual beautiful balloon-wands. But can you see that there is a balloon Inside a balloon?? There is a pink heart Inside a clear heart. That was Sooo hard to do! There I was, standing alone in the very middle of New York City - just me grappling with these here balloons - and Voila! Victory! If I can get a better handle (hahaha)- I mean, the handle was easy for me - If I can get better at doing a balloon Inside a balloon, there's no telling where this will lead.

Oh - and here is a picture of David. A juggler who was not too far away while I was making the balloons that day. Here he is holding a dog-balloon that I made - a little more complicated than the ones made from just one balloon.

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Each Person - Unique

2009-09-20T23:02:00.000-04:00

Look at this litl girl - Oh my goodness - what she brings to the beautiful face-painting that I did:

Oh - I remember. She came by, adorable herself - said she wanted a butterfly. "I'll make one just for you", I told her and her mother. This one was made to match the flowers on her dress.

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Face Painting in NYC

2009-09-20T22:56:00.000-04:00

Just a fun day - full of wonderful people
all with their own dreams:

I particularly liked the Mario one - because I know a young adult
who liked video games so much as a child - that his teachers thought
his name was Nester - - Anybody else here know where that comes from?

to hire this artist
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(516)579-4706

2009-09-18T00:13:00.000-04:00

Here are a few people from a recent Corporate event.
Big differences in complexity of design - based on
what the guests wanted. The Vampire, btw, was thrilled
with her transformation. She was there with a younger
brother and a few friends - she was so animated with it.

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(516)579-4706

Wild Animal

2009-09-17T01:11:00.000-04:00

Isn't this adorable? Just a few strokes of paint, and
Voila ~

A Wild Animal. Just a little paint. This woman didn't want Full-Face.

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Individuality

2009-09-17T01:03:00.000-04:00

Each person is unique.
Each relationship is unique.
So each painting that I put on different people
is unique.

I might paint 10 butterflies
on 10 different people
and each on is a new experience for me
as well as for my 'Mona Lisas'.

We will live to paint again tomorrow.

We will live to eat that same breakfast again tomorrow.
Yet we will be hungry for it, and we will eat it again.
Enjoy it again. We do basically the same things over
and over, yet each time it satisfies a need, a desire.

to hire this artist
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706

2009-09-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

to hire this artist
optidust@gmail.com
(516)579-4706