Art At Its Best- By Marla Singa

The tattoo phenomenon

Marla Singa — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:54:12 +0000

Artist: Luke Ford, Incision Tattoo

Who can disagree, while older generations are slightly less inclined to decorate their bodies with permanent ink, tattoos have become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon? It seems that everyone has at least one tattoo. I know that isn’t quite the case but it seems that way. Tattoos are a great way to express one’s self. Not everyone who gets a tattoo is doing it to express themselves. Some people use tattoos as a memorial for loved ones or pets that have passed on. Some like the rush they get from tattoos and will pick a piece from popular flash with no thought at all. Some think it makes them “hardcore” while others have tattoos that are hidden and mean something personal to them. Whatever the reason, tattoo shops may be some of the few places the recession hasn’t shut down. How many of you have tattoos? What do you have and why? How many tattoos do you have? I am officially taking a poll!! Please post your responses. I would love to see what you’ve got. For a chance to be featured in AZ Weekly magazine or the Puma Press, send your tattoo photos to KVidulich@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you all!!!

Cheap Frills at the Phoenix Art Museum

Marla Singa — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:58:08 +0000

The economy has been effecting people’s ability to have a good time while doing something unique and cultured for too long. But there is inexpensive fun to be had right in the heart of our beautiful city at The Phoenix Art Museum, located at 1625 North Central Avenue in Phoenix Arizona.

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I was recently down there for an event the museum was hosting, so I took a tour through the place. I was amazed at all of the inspiring exhibits and permanent installations there were to see. There is such a variety to see and I’m not sure you can get through it all in one day. There are some really odd exhibits as well as some amazing installations.

My personal favorite is the light installation. You walk into a darkened room where all the walls are mirrors and the only lights are the tiny color-changing lights that dangle from the ceiling. But then, there is this amazing installation of hanging pieces of charcoal. And also this… well maybe you should just check it out yourself. I’m sure my brief depictions do the pieces no justice.

General admission to the museum is only $10 for adults and $4 for kids.
It’s the perfect way to spend a warm Arizona day, indoors experiencing culture!

The art of 8 limbs!

Marla Singa — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:19:17 +0000

The art of 8 limbs, commonly known as Muay Thai, is a well-known form of fighting here in America and all over the world. The Thai boxing style is well-practiced in UFC and MMA fights. Many mixed martial artists and UFC fighters have a background in Western Muay Thai, a more practical variation of the traditional Muay Thai style. It is referred to as the art of 8 limbs because of the style’s excessive use of two feet, two knees, two elbows and two hands.

Muah Thai is a very deadly style of fighting, as it uses the most solid points on the body to execute deadly blows if directed in the proper ares.
One of the well-known traditional Muay Thai fighters is Tony Jaa, star of Ong Bak. He is a very skilled Muay Thai fighter and all of his stunts are done without the use of safety gear or special effects.
Take a peak at his amazing skill!

Traditional Muay Thai is one of my favorite styles of martial arts for many reasons. If you don’t know much about the sport, check out some fights. You won’t believe what you are missing. Your best bet is to rent Ong Bak and Ong Bak 2 for a real taste of the style and all of its deadly beauty.

Accessorize those nails, Ladies!

Marla Singa — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:47:53 +0000

I have been blogging a bit lately about accessorizing what you have with a little paint or color of some sort. I have covered so many accessories, including eyelids, yet I left out a very obvious one: painted nails!
What female doesn’t paint her nails? Weather she just paints her toenails or goes all out with a full mani/pedi, there are so many creative ways to express one’s self thru fingernail painting.
Recently a friend pointed out that fingernail polish is a very high-grade paint. I had never thought about it like that but it’s true. So why not take this high-grade paint and do it some justice by getting a little creative next time you are doing your nails.

Mario Brothers themed nails!

Think of all the things you can do with your nails if you put your mind to it. I prefer to spend more time on my toenails since the polish tends to last longer. However, if you have acrylic nails, you know that paint will last on them forever, might as well take advantage.

Special occasions are the perfect opportunity to go all out with your nails.

It’s time to put those creative juices to work. Everyone notices fingernails, they are right there on your hands. What a way to promote your creativity!

Four fun ways to spice up your paint life!

Marla Singa — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:07:08 +0000

Painting is relaxing, expressive, and entertaining. I love to paint for all of these reasons plus a few I’m sure I left out. There are times when I have the urge to paint and express myself only I have no idea what to paint or how to make it stand out from all the other creations that have become of my crafty painting shenanigans. Here are some fun new ideas I found on how to express yourself with those same old bottles of paint.

Modeling paste - You can add texture to whatever you are painting by first putting down a layer of this modeling paste. You can use brushes or other materials to create different textures with the paste. You simply wait for it to dry and paint over it with your acrylic paints.

Watercolor Pencils - With a pad of watercolor paper, some watercolor pencils, a cup of water, and a brush or two, you can create an awesome piece of art that is just as fun to sketch as it is to alter with the brush and water. You can draw it out and shade it first, then add the water and see how you can play with the effects. The only downside is that the pencils are very fragile and if you purchase a cheap brand they are most likely going to break on you over and over.

Add paint embellishments to shoes, hats, purses, etc. Get creative with your old accessories and make them new again. This is almost even more fun than painting on a canvas because you get to wear your art afterward.

Dye your stained shirts with acrylic paint. When I have an old white shirt that is a cute fit but it has stains or whatnot on it, I put a little paint in a cup and fill it with water. Then I soak my shirt in the cup until it soaks it all up and then I hang it outside to dry. Once it’s dry, I throw it in the dryer just to set the paint and its ready to go.

Have fun on your painting adventures and feel free to add to this post with any fun ideas you have. Let me know how it goes!!!

A Canvas for Eyeshadow.

Marla Singa — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:36:52 +0000

Getting ready to go out for the night is one of my favorite parts about going out. I love to pick out a cute outfit and shoes, but most importantly I love to do my make up. I love when makeup is applied in an artistic and wild fashion. Eyeshadow can be done so many different ways and with so many different colors. Eye makeup can be an art form in itself. Sure, it is not always practical to have your eyes painted up to look like feathered cat eyes or blossoming flowers, but for those few times when it is acceptable, it sure is fabulous! There is so much that can be done. I used to love the photo shoots they would have on America’s Next Top Model for the eye makeup alone.

If you need help with eyeshadow application, it never hurts to check out tips from the internet or magazines. You can get the basics down and then embellish from there.

Personally, I wish more people got a little more creative with their eye makeup. What better canvas for artistic expression than one’s self.

An Outlet for Emotion.

Marla Singa — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:50:59 +0000

     Emotions are the root of humanity. Varying degrees of happiness, pain, anger, broken heartedness, etc, all try to control our lives. We battle with these emotions for control of the day. Will I let all that I feel inside of me control my attitude for the day or can I overcome this and shine like a light for all to see?
     What about those days where I just feel like letting loose all the emotions I feel every other day but choose to keep tucked away. I can find release from these emotions through artful expression if I choose such an outlet. Be it music, painting, singing, martial arts, dance, writing, etc.
For instance, if I could paint my emotion of the day today, it would have reds and blacks and blues all fighting for dominance in a vortex of deeply rooted darkness. Instead I am choosing to write about my emotion. It’s a rare occasion for me to feel this way.
     Perhaps if I were in front of a canvas right this moment I could transfer all this emotion onto it and free myself. Then again there is something to embracing the darkness for a brief moment. It seems so real in a world full of fabrication. But to express feeling through creative means opens your heart and mind to the world. It allows for others to attempt to see into one’s heart and soul deeper than any conversation about these emotions.
     I can only pray that tomorrow I wake up ready to paint a canvas full of powerful fuchsias, ocean blues, and beautiful greens. I would rather shine brightly than be a cold shadow.

A Love for Graffiti!

Marla Singa — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:29:49 +0000

     In correlation with my recent article in the Puma Press magazine, Lynx, I would like to address the prevalence of graffiti art in our city. In my article, biased opinions are frowned upon so I would also like to take a moment and express my love for the art!
     I have been very invested in the hip-hop scene for many years and as you may or may not know, graffiti is one of the elements that comprise the lifestyle of a hip-hop head. It is a fantastic style of art and expression.
     There are many places all over the valley where this style of art can be found, legal and illegal. In my article I listed a few places to find some fabulous works of art. There is much to be found all over the city and Downtown has some of my favorite walls. There are some amazingly talented local artists, some of whom have wonderful murals Downtown.
     I highly recommend that you read the article and visit the locations mentioned. Perhaps you will stumble upon something that will gain you an appreciation for the art if you do not yet possess one. I can only hope that enough people realize the value of graffiti art and stop complaining about the pieces in which some artist poured his or her soul into.

The Art of Love

Marla Singa — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:18:52 +0000

     One universal concept behind art and what defines it as such is the fact that it evokes emotion from deep within. It is different for everyone. Some see a picture and don’t look twice, while that same picture can draw another person in so deeply that they cannot leave without buying it to have in their own home, to look at every day. Is love any different?
     To you, a person may be merely another person wandering the planet, but to someone, that person is everything, their whole world, which, without this person, their world would cease to exist.
     In a painting, you find beauty by understanding the complexities that went into developing such a completed work.  By understanding the details and intricacies that are, perhaps, unrecognizable to some but you can see them and find them truly divine. When you look at a person, they may be attractive and they may not be. It is not until you find the uniqueness and intricate details that make them who they are, that you find true beauty. Once you find that beauty, you want to see it and be enveloped in its presence every day, whenever you can.
     Trying to gain this person’s attention, time, love, and equal understanding of who you are can be a roller coaster of emotion. Some days, everything is beautiful and wonderful as you dream of a possible future together. Some days you feel defeated as if you may never be loved, and it can tear your heart apart.
     It is bittersweet that sometimes, we may love deeply, purely, truly, wholly, and may never be loved back by that same person. It is the rare miracle when you find one to love that loves you back with their whole heart. Few are as blessed as those who have found this love, who have this permanent piece of art in their lives that even if it ends, the beauty of the memories last forever in their hearts and minds.
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New Defintion for “Fine Art”

Marla Singa — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:22:59 +0000

Tattoos are so very common among generation X-ers and becoming increasingly accepted among employers as well. I have seen amazing tattoos from amazing artists as well as not so amazing tattoos from prison, or perhaps, a drunken evening with a friend and a tattoo gun. (Even I have one of those.)
Tattoo artists are usually skilled in other forms of artistic expression as well. Obviously they know how to wield a pen, and they often paint or create art using other mediums. With that being said, how many of you would consider tattooing a “fine art”?
I understand there are specific categories of art that compose the definition of fine art, however, it is my personal belief that perhaps that definition should encompass more than it currently does. It is not just tattoos that should be added to the list but also all forms of dancing. As the Fine Arts editor of Paradise Valley Community College newspaper, The Puma Press, I have been putting a Fine Arts twist on forms of expression which are not currently considered “Fine Art”.
For instance, I wrote an article about a local breakdancing crew, Foot Klan. Currently the only form of dancing considered to be fine art is “interpretive dance”. Why should it be so limited? All dancing is a form of expression. Just ask the dancers themselves.
Now days artistic emotion is expressed through unlimited forms. Art, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps fine art’s definition should be changed to encompass all forms of self-expression. We evolve with time, why should our definitions not evolve with us?