Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Juliana’s studio…
Element Advocate and illustrator Juliana Neufeld moved into her new studio in Toronto!
Sharing some lovely photos of her new creative space… loving the mixed media works wall!!
Vanilla Boutique Ladies Trunk Show!
The LLG Trunk Show Series continues, this time heading to Vanilla Urban Threads in Bend, Oregon!!
Vanilla boutique is owned and operated by the lovely April, and you can truly see the soul she has put into the shop with every beautiful detail! There is no doubt she seeks this same soul and creative passion in the girls she hires to work at the shop, as each and every one of them had amazing and unique personalities!
We were grateful to get to hang with these amazing ladies for the evening, as we shared a sneak peek of the Holiday 2012 Collection, followed by a style competition for prizes and goody bags (with Foam Magazine!)… all while enjoying tasty treats of course!
Intern Diaries: Thank You Element
It has been an absolute wild ride here at Element Eden and I could not be more thankful for the experiences I have had and the incredible people I have met. True to the Eden brand my time here has allowed me to LIVE my dream in California, LEARN the industry and what it means to be a woman of Element Eden, and GROW as a student, an intern, and a person.
A special thanks to Al Swanson, my mentor and Element marketing coordinator for being a patient teacher and involving me in every aspect of this company. And of course a big thanks to all of you Element Eden Ladies out there, for reading my posts and being so supportive. I will miss all of you!
Until next time.
Ash
We did this little thing called Coachella…
For nearly a decade, Coachella Music Fest has been attracting folks for three days of multiple stage banging bands in the middle of Indo’s desert land! Now calling in around 80,000 folks to make the trek (for a pretty penny), you can bet we had to hit the road and find out what all the buzz was about… ok, ok, we admit, it wasn’t too hard what-so-ever to convince us… honestly we begged to go!
We had the wonderful honor of guest-editing and intagramming for our dear friends at Foam Magazine along the journey and above are just a few of our favorite shots throughout the lace & boot clad dusty three days!
Read our FULL recap on the weekend at Foam Magazine’s site HERE!
Have the courage to overcome what is uncomfortable….
Choosing the path as a freelance artist, I’m constantly juggling multiple projects and having to be really flexible in my schedule. Thank you for being so patient with me. I’m a little behind on finishing this painting that I want to auction in benefit of my friend Durek’s kidney transplant. I anticipated completing a painting within a week but have had some unexpected projects creep up. Instead of rushing to a finish, I’ve had to take a small break but I’m back to dedicating a couple more evenings to this piece until it’s complete.
As promised, I said I would share the process. So here’s a couple of abstract snapshots.
I’m pretty shy at sharing my work until the finish and I rarely invite people inside my studio if I have too many things flying around in a disorderly storm so here’s to being a little more candid and working on things that make me uncomfortable.
These three containers travel with me everywhere around the world and I use these colors in every painting.
my messy studio floor
If you didn’t read it before click here to read about the inspiration behind this painting, thank you I love you!
http://elementeden.com/blog/us/2012/03/27/can-my-art-help-heal/
Our Favorite Outdoor Adventure shots!!
Thanks to all our friends on Facebook who shared their Outdoor Adventure shots! We’ve loved getting a little inside look at the many ways you all seek adventure in this world!
We are still in the midst of choosing a winner… with almost 100 beautiful photos to scan through, Element Advocate Amy Purdy and the Element Eden design team are going to have a heck of a time choosing just one, but for now, here are just a few of our favorites!
Summertime Clothes by Brooke Reidt
Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes (Dam-Funk Remix) (you can dance around to this in your summertime clothes)
Still working on the painting for my friend Durek and too shy to share details yet, soon soon promise!
But here’s something you can lay your eyes on now, either here in this post or in real life, on your body all summer long!
Element Eden’s Summer collection is currently available and there’s four pieces I created in this line. I wanted to share the details on how these things travel from my imagination into your hands.
I also think it’s a little serendipitous that the designers traveled to India last year and said a lot of the inspiration for the summer collection came from the textiles, colors and prints they saw on their trip. Almost simultaneously, I was in Indonesia for a few months where I was inspired by the colors and textiles there. I drew all of these drawings during my stay and even painted one on the side of a friend’s cafe. Now they are available for you to wear on super soft oversized organic tees.
First I take my imagination to paper. I use tracing paper so I can redraw parts a million times over and over until it’s super perfect just like us virgo’s like it. I use colored pencils to keep track of updated sketches.
Finally I re draw everything one more time and then finish them in ink so the lines are clean and clear. Then I scan these drawings and either color them digitally or send them over for Esther (the graphics wizard) at Element Eden to color up and place on Tee’s.
Seriously did I say wizard? Esther Kim is my favorite graphic designer that I’ve ever worked with! This is my favorite part when she sends me back this magical stuff! She works closely with me doing revisions on color and layout to help my imagination + mixed with her awesome visions = come ALIVE. Aren’t these collaborations the best? I think so! XOXOXOXOXOXO I LOVE YOU ESTHER KIM YOU ARE SOoooooo SUPER AMAZING!!!!! XOXOXOXOXO Even just doing this post I get so excited at this point in the process, more than the actual tee’s.
And then elves in a workshop mix up some potions and VOILA! Super soft organic Tee’s for you to live and dance in all summer long!
Click here to go get some now!
Planted like angelic seeds in my life I love watching them grow by Brooke Reidt
Element Eden asked me who I surround myself with and what draws me to those people. I thought I would introduce you to some of my friends who inspire me. Somewhere along the way they were planted like angelic seeds in my life and I love watching them grow! So many of my close friends are artists, constantly creating their own art and living out their dreams. There’s too many people like this in my life that I simply adore and are hugely inspiring to name here, so consider this a sliver. (A big sliver since I didn’t post yesterday.)
Meet Ixchel, such a small girl filled with so much magic! Ixchel is named after a Mayan goddess and she seems like she’s from another universe or perhaps a whole universe exists within her. She creates photographic images that you want to climb inside of and make a new life for yourself without boundaries. Just looking at her photographs takes you on a trip to places you can’t find on any atlas. All shot with film and no photoshopping! Look!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ixchelara/
This is Niki. I met her on a porch of a house called “The Legion of Doom” in Ohio when I was hitchhiking across the country at 17. She very much seems a part of me. Living on opposite coasts I still feel like I grew up right beside her. She’s a genius the way she moves color around on canvas, wood or paper. You know that story about the boy who turned everything he touched to chocolate? Well this is the girl who turns everything she touches to beguiling beauties. Niki and her art are a spellbinding sea yours eyes need to swim around in. http://planticandwingishscenery.blogspot.com/
Mariqueen is a mermaid. No seriously, you’ve heard the lore of singing sirens that make ships wreck? This is her! Her voice gives you shivers and it does kind of kill you in a way. She’s a mother, lover and singer of the supernatural descent. Currently hypnotising, mesmerising and making waves in her band How to Destroy Angels drown your ears. http://howtodestroyangels.com/
Steve is cosmic. If Picasso came back to life as a hunter of life his name would be Steve. Steve is a magician of the arts, he dances to the beat of his dreams. From sculpture, mosaics & installations, to abstract paintings erupting in color he manifests a world of love you can live inside of. His art is not only a life of dedication but a life celebration. http://stevefawley.com/
This is Chris. I think you can see just from this picture that the energy of this being is extraterrestrial. Yep this picture was taken from one of his performances somewhere on a moon orbiting in the outerest parts of outer space. I know I wish was there too! The energy this alien invests into the music he makes can take you there! Listen to his project Free the Robots it will take you on that universal voyage you’ve been dreaming of. Chris is also one of the owners of a really impressive restaurant here on earth who is celebrating their 4th anniversary this weekend, The Crosby go! http://www.myspace.com/freetherobots
June June she’s sucha swoon you just want to spoon her forever! Aside from being sweet like a pile of puppies, she’s made of crystal prisms that cast rainbows of light on everything in her path. You know that Rolling Stone’s song “She’s a Rainbow”, that’s June. June is an artist, designer, blogger, film maker and snowboarder. She’s kind of a mystic sometimes she disappears and then resurfaces with some new zesty project or film that captivates your heart. http://blog.boatpeopleboutique.com/ http://www.peepshowfilms.com/
Finally there’s Paul who is one of my oldest friends. He divides his time between New York and traveling to the edge of earth. Right when he’s teetering so close to the edge you wonder if he’s fallen off and disappeared forever, he propels himself back to the present dimension sharing stories of people through photographic artifacts. His photographs transport you into intimate introductions with people and places that are so alternative to the nature you know, you wonder if it’s a dream. Paul has dedicated his life to exposing these hidden treasures through portraits you can see here.
http://www.paulnemirahcollins.com/
Get a Glimpse by Brooke Reidt
While I’m beginning the painting to auction for my friend Durek, let me share a glimpse of some other things going on in my studio right now….
I wish I was sharing travel photos of amazing adventures but this week looks more like uncombed hair, coffee stains on my desk, dishes in the sink and stacks of stuff around the studio.
MORE ON DUREK’S STORY HERE AND HOW TO HELP
http://www.indiegogo.com/Operation-Get-Shaman-Durek-A-Kidney
Can My Art Help Heal? by Brooke Reidt
WOW it has been nearly a decade as an eden advocate, life really moves at light speed sometimes.
Posting here is a good way to stop and reflect. Being an eden advocate has really allowed me so many opportunities to grow and share my art with people globally I’m so blessed and feel so grateful, it’s difficult to move forward without meditating on that for a minute.
Let’s face it I love painting, drawing and creating and feel so blessed that I am able to wake up and mostly do just that everyday! I want to share the process of creating with you! When asked to guest blog I got really excited and decided I wanted to spread out sharing the process of creating from start to finish (amongst other things.) I intend to start and finish one painting while I guest blog!
The first step in my process of creating is the initial inspiration. I’m inspired by so many things, people, places I visit, stories I hear, music, experiences, pretty much everything that impacts my life. Some inspirations really pervade me day after day until I create something or paint it out. Right now this inspiration is invested in a friend who has dedicated his life to heal, only to really need some healing himself. His story has been haunting me. My friend Durek Verrett who is a Shaman needs another operation stemming from many in the last few years. Durek really needs a kidney transplant to continue his battle to live. There’s a lot of details, some are very positive and others I can’t wrap my head or heart around but the fact is, he’s been fighting just to live for almost as long as I’ve been an advocate!
I’m going to paint this painting for Durek. Next week I’ll open an auction and see if this painting can make any small contribution towards helping heal this beautiful being.
Meanwhile he has an online campaign closing this week. Sooooooo so close to meeting his goal!
Have you ever met someone who you felt was so stunningly beautiful inside and out? Who just being in their presence feels healing and so spiritually refreshing? This is Durek. Being in his presence surrounds you with love and light that words cannot define.
I could go on and on about Durek, his story and what a beautiful spirit he is but here’s a link to a video and extensive details of his condition, please share this!
Please read his full story and help him move down this path of healing.
http://www.indiegogo.com/Operation-Get-Shaman-Durek-A-Kidney
“Remember you are beautiful in creation as creation is beautiful in you and being that you are one and the same may all your beauty be shared” – Shaman Durek