Summer and Sambas

What would summer be without the bold big sunflower?  And how could it be summer without the samba played by Brazilian Eliane Elias?

Eliane Elias (eh-lee-AH-neh eh-LEE-ahs) (born March 19, 1960 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian jazz pianist, arranger, vocalist and songwriter.  She is one of my favorite jazz pianists.  Her mother was a classical pianist who had a huge collection of jazz records.  When Eliane was a little girl she grew up listening to jazz music being played in her home.

Just Tango On

I love the scene from “Scent of a Woman” where U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino), dances the Tango with the beautiful Donna. Slade and his young companion Charlie, find themselves at a restaurant, observing a beautiful young woman (Gabrielle Anwar), waiting for her date. The blind Colonel takes her for a tango on the restaurant's dance floor.

This abstract print from my original painting seeks to capture the depth of passion in the Tango and the powerful feelings of the blind Frank Slade. I have used army colors and black for Pacino along with yellows, pinks and reds for his dancing partner. The paint is put down with bold strokes to express passion and the movement of the dance.

Sassy Crow

Crows are sassy and cocky and also mesmerizing. This giclee print evolved from my original acrylic painting. It has abstract twist to it now. That crow tinkered with all the filters in Photoshop and came out looking so pleased with himself. You can find him on: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoxyFoxDesigns

Jazzy Blue Fruit

A bowl of winter fruit all in blue -- it didn't start out that way. My photo was a straight forward picture in yellow and reds. But with some digital magic, it is now rather jazzy looking and certainly more interesting. You can see it in its full presentation here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoxyFoxDesigns

This is Oscar Peterson's jazz version of "Girl Talk" ... just the right tune for the calmness of blue. Peterson was one of my dad's favorite jazz pianists. I grew up knowing his music very well.

Arctic Drifting

Some intense digital filtering brought a new piece of artwork. Amazing how you can take a still life and turn it into an underwater romance. Philippe Saisse's rendition of "If I Ever Loose Heaven" is one of my favorite tunes. I like it with this print called "Arctic Drifting".

This is a fine art giclée print with intense color and powerful imagery. You can see it on: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoxyFoxDesigns?section_id=5511113

Thoughts in Blue

Sometimes when we get away our minds find new paths, new thoughts. This jazz melody played by George Shearing is called, "It Never Entered My Mind". It is from this tune that the painting takes its name -- Thoughts in Blue.

Sexy, Sassy Tangerine

Taken from my original acrylic painting, this giclée print — pronounced “ghee-KLAY” — fits an 11 x 14 inch frame when matted. The inspiration for this portrait came from the jazz classic entitled "Tangerine". The music was written by Victor Schertzinger, the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was published in 1941.

Is the Best Yet to Come?

This is a photo I took of the wine bottles stored in our kitchen rack. I tweaked it a bit in Photoshop. Click the image to see it in a bigger scale.

As a jazz fan, the song "The Best is Yet to Come" has a reference to wine. It's a cool song, old, but cool.

Out of the tree of life, I just picked me a plum, You came along and everything started to hum, Still its a real good bet, the best is yet to come.

The best is yet to come, and baby wont it be fine, You think you've seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine

Wait till the warm-up's underway, Wait till our lips have met, Wait till you see that sunshine day, You aint seen nothin yet.

The best is yet to come, and baby wont it be fine? The best is yet to come, come the day your mine.

The best is yet to come, Come the day your mine, Oh come the day your mine, I'm gonna teach you to fly, We've only tasted the wine, We're gonna drain that cup dry.

Wait till your charms are right, for the arms to surround. You think you've flown before, but you ain't left the ground.

Wait till you're locked in my embrace, Wait till I hold you near, Wait till you see that sunshine place, There ain't nothin' like it here.

The best is yet to come, and baby wont it be fine? The best is yet to come, come the day your mine. Come the day your mine, I've got plans for you baby, And baby you're gonna fly!

The Geisha's Rabbit

Part of my life was spent in Japan. I developed a fondness for all things Japanese. This is an ACEO called "Geisha's Menagerie". ACEOs are always 2.5 x 3.5 inches and have been created, traded and collected for centuries.

Beginning with sturdy poster board, Franz Kline’s “Accent Grave” was the backing. I added a piece of book binding from a 1925 book, a strand of black wool from a Oriental rug dating back to the 20s, and ephemera —the beautiful geisha, a gentle black and brown bunny and a cocky crow. I then gave the ACEO several coatings of varnish. SOLD.

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Loving the Latino Girl

After I had seen "All the Pretty Horses", I was eager to paint a Latino girl.

Here is the trailer for you to enjoy.

Piano Reflections

The shiny surface of my baby grand piano reflects the aspen trees outside the window. Now the leaves are just unfurling and will soon start to "quake".

Summer Breezes with Jazz

“Sweet days of summer, the jasmine's in bloom (Summer) is dressed up and playing her tune When I come home from a hard day's work And you're waiting there, not a care in the world Summer breeze makes me feel fine, blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind…”

Is summer ever complete without a day at the beach? It is especially cool if you are with the one who has your heart! Come see it here:http://www.zibbet.com/MoxyFoxDesigns

George Benson and Al Jarreau's rendition of "Summer Breeze" is so smooth. Hope you enjoy it.

The Jazzy "In Crowd"

Jazz festivals are happening all over the world — yeah, right now! Musicians form groups and fill the air with cool sounds. Everyone loosens up and lets the music get deep inside. This is an abstract print from an original painting of mine. It’s all jazzed up for summer!

Here is the famed jazz pianist, Ramsey Lewis, on the keyboard playing “In Crowd”

Ramsey Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ramsey Lewis, Sr. and Pauline Lewis.[2] Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. At 15 he joined his first jazz band, The Cleffs. The seven-piece group provided Lewis his first involvement with jazz; he would later join Cleffs drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young to form the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

By 1966, Lewis was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with "The In Crowd", "Hang On Sloopy", and "Wade in the Water". All three singles each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs. Many of his recordings attracted a large non-jazz audience. In the 1970s, Lewis often played electric piano, although by later in the decade he was sticking to acoustic and using an additional keyboardist in his groups.

Lewis still lives in Chicago, Illinois, the city of his musical roots. He has seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
—Source: Wikipedia

Shaken not Stirred

I love working with collages. It's fun to see how shapes and colors work together differently just by moving them around. Then add some graphics and you've got art. This one reminded me of a martini glass and I remembered James Bond's favorite line ... "Shaken not stirred". Here is a video you might enjoy.

Six Pen and Ink Bottles -- Friends Forever!

When I was just a little girl, I was fascinated by a lovely blue "pinch" bottle that my grandmother had collected.  By the time I was painting, she had given me that bottle.  I added a few glass bottles of my own and drew this still life.  I used a pen with ink and then laid in the values with an ink wash.

SIZZLING Goddess

When a painting doesn't turn out the way I want it to, I shelve it until I learn something new -- some way to improve it.  This was one of those cases.  I took my original portrait into Photoshop and turned it into a fiery goddess.  Jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis enhances her power.   

Those Lusty Canterbury Tales

Oh, how the heart stirs to hear the bawdy tales of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.  Enjoy this animated video:

NEVER a Damsel in Distress

These earrings are designed for “blue stockings”— women, who in the original meaning, “support each other in intellectual endeavors such as reading, artwork, and writing.”   You can buy them at: http://www.zibbet.com/MoxyFoxDesigns/section/scrabble-tile-jewelry

Charlotte's Jane Eyre, and Emily's Wuthering Heights were released in 1847 after their long search to secure publishers. The novels attracted great critical attention and steadily became best-sellers.  They caused a sensation when they were first published and were subsequently accepted into the canon of great English literature.

These bits of ephemera whirled me back into the 19th century.  I could almost hear the sound of horses’ hooves and carriage wheels as we sped toward the manor.

SEDUCTIVE Blue Samba

 Abstract art has a magic of its own.  Like all other forms of painting, it needs lights and darks, movement to draw the eye around the work, and depth is important, too.  Unless you are painting flat geometric shapes, there should be a foreground, a middle ground and a background.  You can purchase this original painting at http://MoxyFoxDesigns.etsy.com

Enjoy Brazilian musician, Eliane Elias—a favorite of mine—adds the dimension of sound to my “Blue Samba”.

It's That Look of Love

Her eyes say everything.  They are filled with love for you.  Remember when eyes looked at you like that?  I doubt if we ever forget that expression.  If you'd like this Fine Art print, you can buy it from me at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoxyFoxDesigns .