Hairstyle loveliness. I like dat.

(via menino-levado)

"Don’t let your success and the fear of losing something great that you’ve built stop you from taking more risks.
To keep going, to keep innovating, to keep trying and risking – that is what we must do.
Innovation comes from the open mind. Excitement comes from risk. Fulfillment comes from doing it for more than just yourself."

Mastin Kipp, inspiring writer and creator of The Daily Love.

"Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again."

Vincent Van Gogh

From the Vault: “The Reach. Male Nude”… c1993, ink on paper (study)

"Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen… The most ordinary word, when put into place, suddenly acquires brilliance. That is the brilliance with which your images must shine."

Robert Bresson, French Filmmaker 

A few days ago, I had the privilege of meeting a phenomenal young Canadian Artist named Andrew Salgado. I attended the vernissage for his new collection of paintings at La Petite Mort Gallery in Ottawa. I am still buzzing with excitement. Seeing his work, up close (for the first time) left me breathless. But actually talking to him about his artistic process…and the importance of overcoming life’s challenges…that one felt like an unexpected, sweet gift.

Here’s a look at the man, from nevermindtherizzrazz:

NMTR Artist Spotlight has gone international.  Current destination: Ottawa, Canada.  London-based artist, Andrew Salgado, has his latest works on display at La Petit Mort Gallery. The show is called “The Smallest Heart’s Desire” and had completely sold out even before the Opening Reception five days ago.

Andrew Salgado is not just a painter. He’s a powerhouse packed into the frame of a 6’3” man.  In colloquial terms, Salgado’s work is very “here and now” and it’s not surprising that collectors and curators are sitting up and taking notice.

Just considering this series, Andrew’s portrait work demonstrates skill and artistic merit that resonate with a wide audience. He deliberates wisely over his angles and perspectives that draw you in with undeniable intimacy. His color palette, brush strokes and mixed media choices (spray paint paired with traditional oils in some of his pieces) sync-up effortlessly to indicate boldness in point-of-view and a constant hunger to redefine his comfort zone.  

There is gravitas in his work without being top-heavy with over-thought, hard-to-grasp, conceptualization.

Having done his masters in 2008, Salgado has always been driven about making his art. He has grown to become astute with the business of selling his art too.  He understood very early that putting himself out there was critical and has embraced opportunities to showcase his work in South Asia, North America and Europe alike. In our conversation, he mentioned that early on in his career having a profile up on a website like Saatchi Online may have helped get the ball rolling but it probably isn’t as conducive to his career trajectory at the moment.  Whether you agree with him or not, this man can back it up with results. This show has already been very well received. In March, he was commissioned  by the prominent fashion house, Harvey Nichols in the UK for exclusive artwork to be placed in their flagship store. He is locked-in for solo exhibitions with sought-after galleries on different continents all the way up to 2015. 

“My life has gotten compartmentalized into three-month chunks!” Salgado laughs.

Self-belief and discipline, this man has in spades. But it is balanced delicately with a sense of humility that he credits to not only the trials and tribulations of being a working artist but also to his “support system” of pragmatic and brutally honest loved-ones. 

lapetitemortshop: Andrew Salgado, “Weight”, Oil on Canvas, 165 x 105 cm, 2013. More on Andrew Salgado Here.

My knee-jerk response to this painting? …I feel as though I have lived this. It knocks the wind out of me.

You look lovely. Now get your ass over here.

(Source: 8birds, via mensroom)

Just because… kyle krieger by luke austin

(via about-all-things)

"

When we focus only on the problem – we get MORE of the problem. And it becomes not only the story of your life, but also your IDENTITY. And when you identify – as in - who you are is now the problem, the likelihood of thriving reduces significantly.

If we wish to thrive, if we wish to live an extraordinary life, if we wish for miracles and to be able to SEE solutions – we must go looking for them. This means that we become aware of the pathology, understand the pathology and then set our minds (i.e. our psychology) on to an outcome of thriving, rather than on the pain of the problem.

"

Mastin Kipp