psychedelic siren: February 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Kraft Paper Brown

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Hello friends,

I'm back with another color theory post, but this time it's with a color that you may not expect to be celebrated. Kraft paper brown. There's something about this shade of brown that gets my imagination going like nothing else! A blank white piece of paper can be soooo intimidating but a nice piece of soft kraft paper brown in just enough color to inspire some of the funkiest drawings out of me. There were a few years after college when I came home and scoured the surrounding areas for every piece of scrapped cardboard to draw on. My dad would bring me huge boxes that we would cut down for drawing pieces, and I was just obsessed. Like, legit obsessed. Have you ever heard of some one having an artist love affair with cardboard? No, me either. I'm a weirdo, but there's something so special about that shade of brown. The photos I've gathered for you today are ones that have been inspiring me lately. I really want to make that race track for my nephew and niece. I think they'd have a blast with it.....or rip it shreds. Yea, Calvin would totally wreck it, but it'd be fun as hell to watch him do it. I really love the contrast of colors between the brown envelope and bright yellow stickers. That color combination really caught my eye this week, and is making me want to go to Walmart are hunt down those stickers!!

Which project above is inspiring you?

xo. Holly Erinn

Monday, February 22, 2016

Weekly Update no.8

Hello friends,

This week has been filling with colorful doodles, fun hair, and delicious food with amazing friends! My little framily group has started a new weekly tradition that we're calling "Tasty Thursdays" where we all gather at Panda's house for food, drinks, games and fun. It's been so nice to get together with everyone on a regular basis, and to know there is something to look forward to the next week. Speaking of food, I've been trying to cook more to stay in line with my goal of eating better and taking care of myself better. Bry and I make it a point to do a big grocery store trip every other week and to eat more at home (expect for the occasional trip to Burgatory for a spiked milkshake or two). We're big fans of eating out and over the years, I've noticed it really puts a dent in our wallets. I don't want to live like that anymore. This week also brought a new place that Bry and I are kind of obsessed with. A new place down at the Waterfront called Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop just opened up this month. They're stocked to the brim with all kinds of crazy flavored sodas and wall to wall vintage and out of the ordinary candies.

I also wanted to share a pair of absolutely lovely earrings made by my insanely talented friend, Scarecrow, also know as Christopher Hykes. He makes all the props for our cosplaying needs and all the huge monsters you see floating around Kennywood's Phantom Fright Nights. This man is the glue in our group. He's always there when we need him, and is probably one of the kindest souls I've ever know. There aren't enough ways to say thank you in the English language that would be suitable enough to show the gratitude we all have for him. Now, he's expanding his talents out to others in the form of prop making. Please check out his work on Instagram, and get in contact with the mad scientist for all your prop making needs....you so won't be disappointed.

What have you guys been up to this week??

xo. Holly Erinn

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Sunday Shop Update

Hello friends,

This gorgeous wooden piece has been hand painted with texture flowers and leaves that you can really feel! Hang this inspiration quote in your home for an extra little pick-me-up for when life gets a little stressful.

"Bloom where you are planted" is one of my favorite quotes when I'm feeling like life is being extra rough on me. It's a little reminder that home is where we can grown and blossom!

Currently, this piece does not have the ability to be hanged. If you would like to have the hardware attached so your piece can hang- please make a note of that in the "note to seller" at checkout.

Like every Happinessbrand piece, your purchase comes with a hand written thank you note and a surprise gift!

xo. Holly Erinn

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Art Appreciation no.5

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Hello friends,

It's been a hot minute since our last art appreciation post, and I wanted to pop in with a few sweet pieces. My sketchbook is quickly filling up with highly detailed pieces that are just dripping with color. This week's art appreciation reflects this sentiment. All the pieces in today's post are high in detail with gorgeous color. I love high detail art, I really appreciate (lol!) pieces that you can stare at for a while and notice all kinds of different things the longer you look! Also, notice all the different line variations in this post. Incredible variations in your line work is what makes a piece really stand out for me. I remember being in college and one of my instructors taught me about line variation and how that can completely change the look of your art. If all of your lines are the same width, and there's no spectrum of heaviness; there's no depth. I've never forgotten that. So today, notice all the little things in each piece. Pay attention to the variations in the lines, and how that plays to the scene. Also, keep in mind the color pallets in each piece and how that tells it's story.

Which is your favorite??

xo. Holly Erinn

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Friday, February 19, 2016

Friday Favorites no.17

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Hello friends,

All week I've been obsessed with the idea of color. My sketchbook is quickly filling up with crudely drawn psychedelic pin ups that are basically drowning in rainbows. The color pink has kind of taken over my brain this week. My nails are pink, I've used up most of my pink markers, and I've been scouring the internet all week for all the adorable pink shoes with giant bows on them. I'm slowly turning into an anime character. I'm really wishing my hair was longer right now. I want to put my dreads back in, but I don't, but I do....ahhhhh decisions. There will at least be a super rad hair wrap or two going in underneath.

This week has also brought a new subscription to Ipsy, which I will talk more about come Monday and the weekly Monday Update post. That subscription is also lending its hand to my pink obsession. Their theme for February is literally 'pretty in pink'. Like, what?! This week, well my dad kind of surprised me with a hand made loom...and I say 'kind of' because I just asked him for the materials to make it myself. I was going to assemble the whole thing, but instead he go carried away and made it himself. My dad is like that. Always taking care of me in the strangest ways. Thanks dad, love you!

The post this week is reflective of all this. I wanted to bring you a collection of colorful, fun, and happy internet things. Bringing you weird and happy internet shit on a weekly basis! How was your week???

xo. Holly Erinn