Project Proposal

The title of this series is, Friends and Strangers: an intimate portrait

It will consist of a series of classically drawn and painted, detailed portraits of male genitalia, belonging to both friends and strangers of the artist.
this will require the anonymous submissions of close up photos, of the genitals, in whichever manner the sender wishes to present, can be flaccid or erect, held in their own hand or not.

Though this is potentially sexual subject matter, the portraits will not be presented in an overtly sexualized manner, the purpose is not specifically to arouse the viewer, but rather to represent the owner of the genitals as an ordinary portrait would. With the added element that these are people the artist may or may not know, in a non sexual capacity or possibly a sexual one; in addition to that, the artist may or may not know to whom these penises belong.

The idea is that submission be anonymous, unless the person submitting, wishes for their identity to be known to the artist.

ALL portraits will be presented anonymously however, regardless of whether, the artist knows the identity of the portrait.

Photos need to be good quality for the artist to work from, nothing blurry or grainy, compositions doesn't make a difference.

How to Submit photos of your genitalia:

1. submission email is: loanaea@gmail.com
and the subject needs to be: Friends and Strangers (otherwise the email submissions might be missed).

2. you may submit through anonymous email using
https://www.guerrillamail.com/compose (files can be sent through this anonymous mailer)

3. you may submit, non anonymously, if that is what you would like,

4. you may submit to my tumblr account as well (i will NOT post these submission to my tumblr feed)
http://loaloa.tumblr.com/submit
(these may also be anonymous or not depending on your preference.)

she misses you mr. D

She cries for you every night.
if i could fly, i would fly in through your window while you sleep
and whisper in your ear that she is sincere.
i would tell you that it is okay to be scared, but, it is better to be brave.
you don't have to be brave like her, but cast off the hermit shell.

she needs you, she's tired and doesn't want to cry anymore
but, just because she might stop saying it, doesn't mean she has stopped loving you.

she needs you

you think you are too damaged to be any good, but we are all damaged,
and sometimes she doesn't always want to be the strong one.
she doesn't want to do battle with what feels like the entire universe, just to prove to you that she is really real.

i am just a dog, i cannot fly, and i cannot whisper,
but, i am a dog, and i do not like to see my humans suffering when they could be happy instead.

she loves you, her love is forever, don't let it be in vain.

Tectonics and Stardust

We collided like tectonic plates, fiery and volatile and changed forever by one another.
We were dust until we met, and now we are a nebula, we will be a star, and there will be planets and we grow old and go supernova

I love you.

Why, as an artist I believe instagram is good for art.

I read somewhere, that instagram was ruining art because it makes everyone think they are artists...
If everyone believes themselves to be creators of art, they will seek out more art, perhaps try new genres, be more supportive of arts programs in schools.
Obviously this idea that EVERYONE can be an artist, means everyone will experience the joy of creating art, without the self doubt that it is beyond their grasp.
As it was, photography was already (stupidly) debated to not even really be art.
Instagram, though cookie cutter, is simply an extension of the idea of pop art, being art for all. Now everyone wants to make something beautiful to look at, something that gives themselves and others pleasure.
This can only lead to further artistic curiosity as they seek out more beautiful things.
The average person, via, instagram, is now looking at the "ugliness" around them and through a mediocre phone lens, they are transforming is into the "beautiful" it is changing the way they see their surroundings, and it is opening their eyes and creating a more artistic, and therefor, a more well rounded way of thinking.

Just my thought on this, I don't remember where I read the complaint about instagram otherwise I'd site it here.

You are my farmer and I am your garden

Plant me, I will be your garden,
Sow me with your love, sow me with your dreams, sow me with your friendship, and I will feed you for a lifetime. Sow me with your seeds and I will grow us a family, and when we die, our ashes will turn to stardust and we will float through the cosmos together forever.
I have loved you since the day I saw your face

What is the point?

What is the point of life, if everything we are told it should be turns out to be a lie?
Here [in the united states] we are told that any one of us can grow up to be a doctor, famous scientist, lawyer, movie star, or the president. Our parents tell us money doesn't buy happiness, but then we are conditioned to find pleasure in material wealth (which requires money). We work hard, because we were told that hard work will bring results, but then someone else is promoted to the position we deserve to have, because we've worked harder for it; or we are treated as though our hard work isn't worth much because they can always find someone else more desperate for fame and fortune, to do it for less. We realize that hard work often means missing out on pleasure, but we are conditioned to think that if we work harder, we can get to a point where we can enjoy the fruits of our labour. But this is a rare result for the average individual. Loved ones get sick, children need school supplies vacation time is disrupted by work demands on the other end of the ever present cell phone. We forget to take time for our self. We wonder about how our elders always talk about the good old days, but as it turns out, the truth is, there never was a 'good old days'. Look back at any point in human history and you will see it was fraught with human suffering and disaster. So how is it that we carry on? As it turns out the memory is designed to better retain the happy memories and let go of the sad ones (sorry I don't have a source for this at the moment). Perhaps this is because it makes growing old and dying easier. The more you remember the nice times, the easier it is to go peacefully when it's time, and before going, the more happy hopeful tales you'll be able to pass down to new generations. Even when remembering hard times, the funny joyous bits tend to stick out most.
Now, if we are clearly designed to feel pleasure, hope, joy and optimism, why is it so scarce? Perhaps, because we spend so much time being made to feel guilty for not fulfilling OTHER people's dreams/expectations for us. Most religions require us to almost seek out hardship, with this idea that self punishment will essentially be rewarded with a heavenly kingdom.
Now I personally do believe in some sort of higher energy, but I do not believe in suffering to earn heaven nonsense. If there is a god, it would make no sense for us to waste the gift of being able to feel pleasure, that is like saying, "fuck your gift god". In addition the idea that we are this god's main focus of attention, is also quite ridiculous. Um... Wouldn't he/she have an entire universe to worry about? Of course! And we are tiny in that universe.

Now, suppose there had never been any religion anywhere in the world, these ideas of duty and ideas of our grandiosity in the universe would also not exist. Our role in this universe is really quite minuscule. So, if we are just a blip in this giant universe, what is our purpose, what is the point for us being here? How can we find joy and satisfaction if we have no point? If we do not matter? Right?
Well, that's just it, it doesn't matter, and since it doesn't matter in the whole grand scheme of the universe, we can and SHOULD do whatever brings us joy and satisfaction in life (excluding anything cruel or harmful to others of course)
If all we have, is from the moment we are conceived, until the moment we expire, why shouldn't we make our pleasure our priority?

Unfortunately even if you are atheist, you have still been taught that you need to consider other peoples desires for your life. Jobs guilt us into thinking we need to remain loyal to a company that doesn't even appreciate us. We feel guilty for not fulfilling our parents' dreams and goals for us (likely hold overs from religious conditioning in society over centuries, regardless of the individuals beliefs or non beliefs).

The point to life, is to fill it with all the things that bring you pleasure and satisfaction.
There is no sense fretting or crying over what is out of one's control. Sad things happen, but if there's nothing you can do to change a sad thing, don't give it too much thought.
A perfect example of this, is a typical Haitian funeral. It lasts an entire day. In the morning you go to the funeral service, followed by the trip to the graveyard, everyone is crying and sad, people cling to the coffin, and you'd think they would die themselves, this is then followed by a gathering with food, and music, and happy tales and memories of the deceased, this pretty much turns into a big party with everyone joking and laughing and dancing to music and then when everyone's in a joyous mood, they pack the party up and go to their homes. Of course they are sad for their loss, but even the funeral is a celebration.

Every event should be approached that way. Sometimes things go badly, but it just means other things will go wonderfully.
More than anything in this world, aim to fill it with your joy.

Gluten Free, Grain Free Pizza from a Native New Yorker

Pizza Dough

3/4 cup warm water (105°-115°)

1 packet active dry yeast

1 cup tapioca flour

1 cup potato flour

1 teaspoon honey

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 tabe spoons olive oil

Pour 3/4 cup warm water into a small bowl, add yeast and let sit until it dissolves, (DO NOT STIR) approximately 5 minutes

in a large bowl, mix two cups flour, honey, and salt, (mix with hands or a processor - i used my hands)

add yeast mixture and 3tablespoons of olive oil

mix until you have a firm but sticky ball (adding more water or flour to get the right texture)

knead dough until smooth

transfer to a bowl lightly coated with olive oil, roll ball of dough around until lightly coated all over with olive oil, 

cover with a plastic wrap or a wet paper towel

let rise for one hour

punch dough down and separate into four balls (for individual pizzas and easier baking)

roll out dough, starting from the center and working your way out being sure not to flatten the edges

Pizza Sauce

chopped garlic
tomato juice
oregano (dry)
basil (dry)
salt
black pepper

Saute chopped garlic in olive oil, until slightly browned add tomato juice and spices.

Boil until thick adding more of any ingredients as you think they are needed.

when the consistency is to your liking, spread on rolled out dough and bake in a preheated oven (450° to heat up, reduced to 425° for actual baking)

when the dough is a bit brown add your cheese, you can use fresh mozzarella or the low moisture kind 

or any other cheese you might like.

bake until cheese and crust are nice and browned. :D yummy

remember to let it cool before you chow down, or you'll burn the top of your mouth like i did. lol