looking back through the pictures taken my first days in LA before starting school, i can definitely tell that they are photos one would take during their first experience. the things i chose to capture and was fascinated by, are things that after living there, even for a month, i know i didn’t think twice about. but at the time it was so important to capture every detail.
i’ve been trying to come up with a daily/weekly project that I can try to do during my time back on the left coast.. i want to try to devote at least 10-30 minutes to something creative (leave it to me to try and create some kind of control over a situation that i’m supposed to be just going with the flow of) outside of the regular creative things i’ll be doing.. like perhaps i’ll leave out my paints and mix a new set of colors everyday or make mini collages or make a list of things to take a snapshot of, idk. i get bored easily so it needs to be interesting but simple.. or i’ll have to come up with a new ritual every 2-3 mos. (or weeks realistically) ha kinda defeats the whole point right?
circa october 2008
letthemeatcake.
This past friday was the release party for our final volume of FOUR. It was certainly a bittersweet evening but incredibly special nonetheless. I was overwhelmed and deeply humbled (and have been throughout the entire experience) by how much support and praise we’ve received from the city, across the country and throughout the world. I mean we don’t know what we’re doing; we’ve just been pulling together things we like and whatever phase we’d been going through at the time (hence “can i live?”), and hoping that people like it and aren’t offended. But just seeing how excited and grateful everyone (and this is a very diverse “everyone”) was to be involved was really affirming and somewhat emotional but (sigh) just something I can’t put into words.
I’ve always said the magazine was created to showcase the amazing creatives that live in and around Charlotte. We just wanted to create opportunities for people (like us) who needed an outlet to work on something beautiful that will be kept on a coffee table or bookshelf, not flipped through and thrown out after a couple days. and that’s happened! Everything I wanted and more happened and was successful. FOUR could have easily been a drop in the ocean of new publications started every year, but we were blessed and highly favored to have gained a supportive loyal diverse following that is saddened to see us take a hiatus.
One of the guys I talked to understood my reasoning for leaving and he brought up the fact that people get complacent in Charlotte because it isn’t that huge of a city so it’s easy to settle when you’re at the top because once you find your niche there’s no competition. So the work starts to slack and become less remarkable. I never want that to happen. I will never settle with being “amazing” by Charlotte standards because I know better. Take it to a big city and then tell me what you think. I need time to get re-inspired to the point where its just pouring out of my hands, not just going through the motions. I want to crave life and experiences again. So don’t worry… I have B I G secret plans in the works for when I return to charlotte; I’m coming back on my worst behavior. and I'm hoping that there will be some friendly competition by then...
Sidebar: I was especially happy about the fact my beau was there and able to really see what I do, because he (who does not work anywhere near the design field), like my parents don’t really get it. All they see is me neurotic, always working, always stressing, always on the computer, super critical and freaking out about things that would seem ridiculous to anyone other than a designer. So the fact he got to witness the final outcome and actually hear what people were saying and how touched they were by our work was truly amazing.
PARTY MIX Reasonable Doubt — Jay-Z Saint Heron — Solange Knowles and Friends G I R L – Pharrell Williams Cupid Deluxe — Blood Orange
Photography captured by my lovely sister, Les Artise.
proust.
Ahh the infamous Proust Questionnaire. This is one of my favorite interviews to read from others, it is far more interesting to me for some reason than a Q&A based on actual information about the person. I use it often in FOUR, but I've never answered it myself, so...
What is your name as you would like it to appear in the magazine? Ciara Bird.
Where are you from and where are you now? Los Angeles by way of Augusta, Georgia.. currently in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Your age. 24.
What is your current state of mind? pensive.
Who are you and what would you like to be? more artist, less designer.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? b—with warm sun, cool breeze and trails for hiking followed by an uninterrupted afternoon of painting, reading and leisure. essentially no feeling of “what am i supposed to be working on.”
What is your greatest fear? “i want to be cured of a craving for something i cannot find and the shame of never finding it.”
Which living person do you most admire? is it bad to say Beyonce? without going into depth i just feel like she sums up my ideal of imperfect womanhood perfectly in her own way; love, happiness, career, sexuality, classiness, motherhood, etc. yet she still comes off as humble.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? social anxiety. the glorification of busy.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? don’t tell me who you are, show me. less talk more do.
What is your greatest extravagance? publications. the easiest way to collect the art i cannot afford.
What music are you listening to right now? im not.
Name a special day for you. may 5.
What is your favorite movie without naming it? two women, one man. paint, spain and woody allen.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? i cannot.
What natural gift would you most like to possess? gab.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? b. but also freedom, I’m learning that one doesn’t balance out the other.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? my faith.
Where and when did your parents first meet? high school. toledo, ohio.
What would you do if you weren’t scared? longterm travel.
What is your most treasured possession? b. i can part with everything else.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? 9-5 corporate design for an artist with no outlets.
Open a nearby book and copy the first line you like. “Not just a plan of action, vagabonding is an outlook on life that emphasizes creativity, discovery, and the growth of the spirit.”
Where would you like to live? west coast.
What is your most marked characteristic? my smile.
What is the quality you most like in a man? charm, conversation, and curiosity.
What is the quality you most like in a woman? happiness, conversation and charisma.
What advice would you tell your 15 year old self? don’t worry— your skin will clear up and your hair will look good.
What do you most value in your friends? conversation, honesty and support.
Who is your favorite artist, writer, musician? kelly wearstler, audrey niffenegger, j.k. rowling, maxwell, jhene aiko
What would be the title of your memoir? bird & bee.
What is your motto? it takes the same amount of energy to wish as it does to plan.
mind.
i think too much. i think ahead. i think behind. i think sideways. i think it all. if it exists, i’ve fucking thought of it.
-winona ryder
timing.
i've been so productive lately and as a result i've had an overflow of ideas that i needed to get out somehow— so i started making collages again. there's something theraputic about moving around images and writing down thoughts with my hands verses a mouse and keyboard.
return.
inspired.
i was so inspired by the work of spencer studio (who i posted about yesterday) that i started a few water-color projects of my own, here is a sneak peek.
blümagazine.
At long last! Blü Magazine is finally live! I was super lucky to have the opportunity to art direct Blü's biggest issue yet! Take a look here and feel free to order the full version here at the Blü Magazine Shop. Check out some of my favorites from issue 13.
signmeup.
love sketchbooking as much as i do?? then join me and sign up to participate in the sketchbook project, a traveling exhibition of sketchbooks created by artists like you && me!! the deadline to sign up is october 2011 and then you have an ENTIRE YEAR to fill up the sketchbook they mail to you. it is $25 to participate, and you don't get to keep your book, buuuut your artwork will be traveling all over the world, displayed permanently in the Brooklyn Art Library and available digitally online! totally cool right?? find out more here.
almamater.
i dont know why i waited to long to post this! a few months ago, Mani O'Brien, a fellow fidm alumna, contacted me about featuring my work on the school digital arts blog. Mani was super patient with me as I got all of my stuff together :) and the article turned out great! You even get a sneak peak into the June issue of Blü Magazine. Check it out here.
The only change is that I am spending the summer working with MODE Visual, and no longer work with Se-va.
tumblr.
one of the things i love about pinterest and tumblr, is how the grid of images line up. i often get distracted going through my own tumblr archive just looking at the pictures.
blümagazine.
the next issue of blü magazine is coming out soon and i am super excited to have had the opportunity to work on issue no. 13! I will keep you posted for it's release, in the mean time check out their website and look at all the past issues.
tumblr.
check out my new tumblr! i finally got around to updating the theme.
updated website!
i finally got around to revamping my website with a bit of inspiration from one of my coworkers :) you can check it out here and let me know what you think. it isn't 100% finished i still have some images resizing & editing but otherwise enjoy! i admit most of the projects are the same i will be updating it with my new projects in the next week or two. bon voyage.
happyhappy.
the world is your oyster.
collage prints of mine ♥
www.ciarabird.com
kandinsky.
More things from my portfolio. I plan on putting the prints in my etsy shop once I get control of my life and open shop :) The designs are based on one of my paintings inspired by Kandinsky.
swank.
swank. conceptual magazine covers from my portfolio. I will post the spreads later. i pretty much live for publication design.
www.ciarabird.com
where the lost + lovelies are.
2 spreads from my coffee table book. the prints on the 2nd page are from highschool! it is insane how fast time flies by.
prints.
two prints from my sketchbook. Im thinking of creating limited edition prints and notecard sets etc. to sell on etsy. coming soon :)