a STYLE a day: Only for grown-ups

When you pick a doll, you pick an attitude. When you pick an attitude, you pick clothes to go with it. Your clothes eventually define your lifestyle. And your lifestyle will define your whole state of being. In this case it's being the total state of insanity.

Don't try this at home.

a QUOTE a day: Only things that revolve around love

If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.

Marc Chaghall

a PAINTING a day: Not your regulare Bible page

By Sarah Santarsiero


I like this painting for three reasons:

First, it's a trickster. Your first impression would be "oh I did this when I was at the kindergarten." But you wish. Just stare at it for a few minutes, and you will be mesmerized by the harmony of colors, space, and shapes.
Second, because of the title of it: "The progression of civil war." The power of making a piece of art political just by giving it a political name. Yet it doesn't say which civil war. So gives a lot to your imagination. That's brilliant.
Third, she is using a page from the Bible. This can explain its title considering that she sees religions as an identity issue that caused many conflicts within and between nations.

I hope she reads this and gets back to me on my comments.

a PHOTO a day: one photo, many stories

Photo by Natalia Fioroni

Ballet I may not know, but beauty I may know, and Ballet is beautiful. There is some kind of grace in every second of its movements that your eyes can't help but to trace, and your heart to tickle with an unknown joy. I haven't been to a live show, but I always admired it from distance. I remember when I was a kid, my mother signed me up for a Gymnastic class, that was in fact some kind of a basic ballet course. That's because I live in a coutry- Iran- that any kind of dance is considered to be a violation of the Islamic regulations, or as they say: it's HARAM. So they had to hide it under names and more names. I used to like it and princing around while showing it off to everyone I knew. I guess I was born an attention whore.
Anywho, I don't like this photo because of the Ballet or the photographer's great technique. I like the idea of the Ballet dancer as both a puppet and a puppeteer; A puppet who pulls her own strings while trying to keep her balance. It's a great metaphore of how the rules we apply in our life, will eventually rule our life if we let them. Every great technique is a tyranny in itself if one doesn't master it enough to be able to change, add, or apply her own rules to it. And till she gets there, she is just a pupil, if not a slave of her ignorance. No matter how picture-perfect she looks, she is just a puppet trying to maintain a balance.

An idea a day: kill the heat and save your life

It's crazy hot in almost everywhere in the world. When times get crazy people would do crazy stuff to get even. In this weather, from munching on a lot of ice cream to call in sick and sleep all day long. As long as we are on the subject of technology, I thought I shouldn't be so shortsighted and look at the good in it too. If you are lucky enough to have a decent air conditioner like I do, you are good. But if not you can make a half decent one at home. A fan, some tubing and a water pump, and a cooler is all you need. It's a rescue not a miracl. It's not my idea, but it's something I think one can elaborate based on personal experience and science grade at school.
What I like about quick fixes and DIY is that it demands your creativity more than it cost you anything. You suddenly feel like you are not defined with how much money you have, but your ability to actually use very little of it to really change things. Some people feel the need for change all their life, but they only wait till they have all the money so they can take matters in their hand. The sad truth is the day they die, they would say to themselves: "What did just happen?" Well maybe it was just a very hot day and their heart couldn't take the wave due to some technicality; Maybe too much coffee too. Anyhow, it cost them to die.

Aha Moment

When it comes to technology or the latest trends in Social media, I must admit, I'm a little behind most of the time. Maybe that's because I don't really know what to do with it. It's like you are given a piece of land in the middle of nowhere and now you have to use it just because it's yours. What's more is that like any other new technology, the application changes over time. Sadly enough, the tendency is always low or sometimes destructive as the case of science of war. There are perceptions. There are some ideas. There are some cultural tendencies around it.But there is no knowledge, no proper principle on how to use it. That's the thing with inventions. They consume more than they are capable of being consumed. Funny thing, you have to pay for that. Not just your time, potentials, energy, and other resources, but sometimes your whole human decency. But it's a reality of its own, out in the public, anonymous or not, for business or fun, that can't be ignored as a huge source of maneuvering around one's lack of power. It's a tool and tools are only good to be used for egoistic intentions. It's like a sex with no love: pleasurable, and darn empty. It can become an addiction like any other pleasurable vent. Teenagers for example must love this site. It's the place to be for them. And Facebook is really becoming a joke with all those pages that you can like. Like who the fuck cares what the fuck you like. Or what's going to happen if you join a group like this or other ones. It's a tragedy. Humanity is dying as rapidly as technology grows. Twitter is becoming the hot spot for comedians, entertainers, hoax strategist, and people bored enough to feed everyone on their own or other's absurdity. As if we need more media to feed us on entertainment. You ask me if I'm mad? No, you don't get mad at madness. You just pity it; and since I'm a part of this madness, I can't help but to feel sorry for myself. But what can we do, it's a new era. We just have to live to learn how to live it. Once it becomes the old era, we will have other issues to bitch about.

a VIDEO a day: Beauty and the beast

Tehran Zoo from Arash Khakpour on Vimeo.

I know Arash for a while now. He is such a beautiful person inside out. I remember the last conversation we had was about love, poetry, Rumi, intellectualism, and other beautiful things. Until he sent me a link to this experimental video he made. I haven't got the chance to talk to him about it yet, but I'm surprised. What the hell were you thinking Arash? Living in Tehran is a wildlife you didn't have to go to the zoo to capture it. Is it really? Iran is an endless open source with plenty of subjects as of the world in itself for making a piece of decent video art or two.
Oh, what the hell. I'm sure he knew what he is doing. He is devoting his life to his art. But I will ask him and then I'll get back to you with his ideas. It's always the best if you don't know the artist personally when you're doing a critic. Seriously, why?

an IDEA a day: Ugly is new beautiful

It's no secret that people love to gossip. Gossiping is making; Making something out of nothing or something very little. It's a creation of something desirable- entertainment- by the means of deduction or magnification, and the tools of communication. It even doesn't need a medium. It's a media in itself. It's a mastery in a very short time. And just because many people enjoy it, it doesn't make it cheap, or lowbrow. It opens you eyes and that's what real art should do. There is an idea in every and each piece of work of shame or hatred. It's called trash; a very desirable one. It's Pop art and no less. I find it very inspirational. Not just celebrity gossip but also every bit of exaggeration that aims to entertain with always some hidden massages that is yours to encrypt. What comes next is to not just take it for granted and use it as an outlet for your own work of art, like every other inspiring thing in this world.

Now where is Andy Warhol? Andy am I right? oh, right, you are dead. But I'm sure you would agree if you weren't. And no I don't watch enough TV. I really should. I'll try. With high respect.



Paris Hilton is always a muse. Take this as a piece of ART:

"Seems like Paris Hilton, who is famous for being fucking Paris Hilton, went to South Africa to score a few hunky latina footballers (She was banging Man United’s Cristiana Ronaldo for a while!) Unfortunately, while watching the Holland V Brazil match, she got busted for having ten kilos of cannabis in her purse… OK, it was just a joint, but it was fucking cannabis… Shame, degradation, OMG… Hours after the game she tweeted, "Had so much fun at the game today. What a match! I love South Africa. It's so beautiful here. I can't wait to go on the safari this week and see all the amazing animals." Yeah, but listen richtardesse, do not try and put a fucking Lion in that Louis Vuiton purse, if it shits, it'll stink forever, then you'll have to get down to Canal street and buy another."

a QUOTE a day: All she needed was her wild imagination

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?
Frida Kahlo

She was born on this day.

a PAINTING a day: It's an animation

Give yourself a year of working 10-12 hours a day and you may be able to make something like this too. It's right in front of you, so it's possible. Good luck.

a PHOTO a day: Satire

Evey year, Supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei- as seen on this billboard- names the Iranian New year. This year he called it "Year of Greater effort and greater Enthusiasm," as written also on the billboard.

Kamyar Abdi the photographer jokes about his photo:
"I think this picture truly illustrates today’s effort and Enthusiasm in Iran."

Aha moment

Asking, seeking, and searching a desired experience in life is to deny its existence. The world is full and everything a human can imagine is within its reach. We just have to acknowledge its existence and stay aware of it. Even if it's something that can never be seen, like God.
For example, if you think you're physically imperfect, that only makes you more imperfect. Believe that everybody is perfect in one way or another and it'll happen for you the same moment.
When I was a teenager, I knew that the shape of body is desirable, so I started working out and doing sports to maintain my body. The routine is still with me after more than a decade, and I love my body so much that sometimes I get turn on just by watching my own body in the mirror. Now that's perfection.

When you chose an experience, invite it to your life with great intentions. Make a declaration and read it out loud to yourself. Believe it's there and manifest it. See if you can recognize your limitations when you are aware of the experience. Are there any fears or expectations that block your full awareness of the existence of such experience, e.g. love? Alway stay open to it and feel your gratitude. When you invite something in your life, you don't want to kick its butt out at the same time because of your shortsightedness.

Pray and thank God for what you desire, instead of begging for it. Real desire is what lies in our heart- spiritual- rather than what's going on in our mind aka our ego- emotional.

a MOVIE a day: "Gramercy Park Hotel"

I saw "Gramercy Park Hotel" movie last night, about a well-know hotel in NYC and its history. From the family of its first generation owner, to people who reside in the hotel for more than thirty year and who refuse to leave it even during renovations, and the builder of studio 54 -new designer of the hotel- and his social concerns on raising his two daughter, to Paris Hilton and Karl Legerfeld, it's all there.
The movie, like most films that document the course of a time and a place, is about "change." how some people resist it, how some leave with no choice but to accept it, and those who make it happen with their unique vision, despite those resistance.

a STYLE a day: Wear white and glow

Bar Refaeli for Allure


There is something about an all-white outfit that's always promising; in summer or not, with a nice tan or without. And keeping a man ready in front of you, under you, or between your legs are the least it can do. It's a must for every wardrobe.
I gave away most of my clothes including my white dresses and now I have to find the perfect one just so I can keep my man close and closer. Because commodity is one of those things that can be used perfectly to buy and sell love, or that's how I've heard. I don't know. How should I know I'm only 12... where is my mommy? Mommy mommy, tell me you love me even if I don't wear nice whitish clothes? No, not just say it, mean it. No, no... I want to see how you mean it. Neverminds. I'm not talking to you to the rest of my life. You are a lier and I hate liers. Mean mommy.

a PAINTING a day: Not on canvas

I have absolutely no idea who's the artist but I take her as a genius. I wonder what she had in mind when she came to the idea. I'm thinking coloring the dead nature and bringing it back to life. That's the mastery right there.

a VIDEO a day: Dance of music

I just love this theatre of sound and light. Watch it on full screen for a better watch.

a QUOTE a day: he threw away his tools

I wanted to translate from one flat surface to another. In fact, my learning disabilities controlled a lot of things. I don't recognize faces, so I'm sure it's what drove me to portraits in the first place.

Chuck Close

Happy birthday to him!

an IDEA a day: Buying friends and enemies

Around October last year, the gazillionaire mayor of NYC, Michael Bloomberg, had this advertised online. Still not many followers but I'm sure he will use his influence somehow to get higher ratings in branding himself. He most definitely need that.

a PHOTO a day: There is a story behind every wall

Photo by Annette Pehrsson. Sweden.

She has a refined body of work which is authentic in its own way. She is a storyteller, a loner, and a daydreamer as her photos suggest.

Aha moment

Live through deeds of love, and let others live with tolerance for their unique intentions.
"Rudolf Steiner"

Good morning,

I woke up today wondering: how real is someone's desire towards you if they don't accept you as you are and constantly asking you to change your ways? I'm thinking far from real. That's why I never compromised even though sometimes I feel like I should. When you love who you are and haven't let no one change your perception of yourself, that makes your uniqueness your trademark. Who doesn't want to stand out? not me. Maybe I'm being dogmatic but I always trust my intuitions.
So love with no condition or not love at all. Instead live and let live. Always think win/win or you lose.

a PAINTING a day: Neon Colors

I first came to see the application of such vibrant and playful colors on canvas about a year ago while gallery hopping around Toronto. I must admit I found them irresistible and I even tried to use it in my paintings but no satisfaction due to the quality of my materials and my lack of color knowledge. It seems that this kind of coloring is becoming a new trend- maybe some kind of a movement.
Here are two new paintings from artist Francoise Nielly that I almost immediately loved. Under artist's bio you read:

Francoise Nielly lives in a world of images. She has explored the different facets of "image" all her life , through painting, photography, roughs, illustrations and virtual, computer generated animated graphics. It is clear now that painting is her direction and her passion. She gets her sense of space and construction from her father, who was an architect.

a MOVIE a day: "The Jack Bull"

I'm not really a fan of "made for TV" films but I don't mind watching them from time to time. They are mostly story-based and there is always a lesson to be learned from these stories and understanding that comes next if not last.
Tonight I watched the movie "The Jack Bull," and I liked it. The movie is incredibly emotional and yet revolves mostly around some very basic facts:
That there is no miracles in life.
Justice usually comes when it's too late.
The truth is never simple.
and adversity may not make a man wise but it may change his whole life.

I praise the idea of the whole movie being around just two horses. Their value equalled the life of two persons and no less. And horses are supposed to be the symbol of freedom.

Here are some of the few quotes I picked from the movie:
" In one way or other, justice will happen. Sure as sunshine..."
"I'm a free man like you. You can say NO, I will say Yes."
"Never give up son. Just be smarter than I was."

Where do I begin...

Imagine a world where you can make art out of potatoes and then not being able to eat them.
I've seen that up close and more unthinkable stuff that I may not remember for now.
Well, those moment of "gosh" may have long gone but never they die within me, as they sure changed my point of view and my idea of things in this never-ending process we'd like to call life.
As a daydreamer with a wild and peculiar imagination, I need to explore and discover the trill of discovering to feed my imagination even more and get inspired for my years ahead as an artist/to be. I've learned to never stop learning, thinking, and creating. Even if it seems to take me absolutely nowhere, it makes me happy, thus a better person; and I can live with that for the rest of my life.
The world is genius and so am I.

And yes: I had to search some of the words in the dictionary. I guess that makes me a nerd, but I had no other choice. That's only if I like to make a clear point or nothing at all.

And I would like to say thank you to that special person in my life who encourages me to be the best I can be.