oh my goodness. it has been so long since i wrote on my blog. Please visit  once upon an eye
to find out more. This november there will also be an art installation inspired by the film.
meanwhile we await the word if we get picked for any festivals to show our film. 

 

Year of the Monkey

copyright alice muhlback

This is the year of the monkey. I researched what that means, and well, I decided to write my own version.
 Get a monkey amulet or totem. Smile, laugh and crack yourself up. It must happen alot, even though it's winter. Listen to organ grinding music, eat more bananas, organic ones. Get one of those little red caps for your head, with the strap that goes under your chin. Climb a tree and do some swinging. Take yourself less seriously than last year. Still ride that high horse, but laughing. Every nite before you go to sleep say you are healthy, wealthy and wise. Be more adorable, and channel godzilla when needed.
 I will be making monkey swag merch to boost your spirit....think about it, and happy new year.

EYE inspiring UPdates

It has been such a long while and much has happened since my last post.
I will add  images from my set design of The Wizard of Oz, as well as clips from an animation project in the works.
Here are two renderings from the film, just before the girl sees all that she will through this window...

This animation project is my heart right now because i am collaborating with many fine creatives to bring this charming and raw film to the screen.
Check this out- Our producer is Chris Holmes, animation and co-director is Pamela Tan, with music composed for us especially by Joshua Handal.

There will be a book and of course merchandise to
help fund the project.
To stay in touch please like our facebook 
page. There are a couple of short short sketch clips you can see. Of course we are holding on to the best parts till last.

L O V E Warrior

When I look out my window today, everything is white and icicles, no horizon, like a blank piece of paper.

I want to write about my Mom. I am remembering today how much she is a part of who I am, my art, and humor. She is in a world of her own, i now realize.
If I think back to my childhood days, i can see reflections of it there too. What I thought was normal...what beautiful gifts it bestowed upon me.

My dad called to tell me she was in the hospital. She wanted to know what the name of the hotel was. He said " this is not a hotel, this is a hospital." My mom still believes it is a hotel.

All of this brought me to tears, today. I have to find her, in this new place now, where hospitals can be a luxurious hotel and everything is timeless. Just like when I look out the window, all i see is white. A blank page to create something new, while I still can.

once upon an eye

 the greatest thing happened to me . i opened my email to find a letter from pamela tan, asking if i would like to make an animated short  film together. i had to read the email several times. i, as we say in the film - could not believe my eyes. we met weekly to discuss the look, feel, and type of animation. mostly we laughed.  we brainstormed the characters and story. it is because of pamela that the film became what it is. this is true collaboration, and a beautiful unfolding.
how fortunate that the title Once upon an eye was still available, no one else has yet thought of it...?
we are using an ipad mini and rigged up a top secret  private EYE animation clubhouse. 
there will also be a book, the website should be ready soon onceuponaneye.com and find us on facebook to get updates.

Monday Dragon

I went to our local historic reuse shop for some fierce inspiration. Just had to purchase this board that had so many random holes drilled into it that light peaked through some. The holes become the art. The wood is now layered with  mythic power. The moon came first, bearing wisdom, wit and learning. Dragon is fueled by imagination. I just made that up because i was surprised by what i created. Cryptic energy lead me here, i thought i was going to make a fox. A story reveals itself and this may be the start of one. The crow is arriving in a short animated film, this summer.

The Mural

Thank you to my friend http://www.jimgarmhausenart.com/ for stopping by and filming my mural progress.
I like to think i am  half way done, with my story. It's about the risk to bloom, courage, and i can not tell you everything. There are words, that can be read in either direction. Just remember it is not done yet, but how cool it is to be outside painting and see the changes with the season, it is no longer shadowed by leaves. I have been getting up in the wee hours to paint, right before the light breaks and with coffee.It is a gift to become a part of the neighborhood.

Love Poem

Why yes this is a love poem, and no you do not need words. Love gives rise to more love is the thought. I was given messages in a dream and this is the start of a new story. I open  like a book , one that has been read over and over and the cover is gone...


It is about connection, inspiration and surrender. This is where beauty is held. A huge wave.




  The second image below is called rush. It is raw with such open heart. I do not want to say more. 

Night and Reason, moved.

I had made a painting quite some time ago called " Night Moves Reason". It sold right away and i later made a few small ones and posters. This new piece entitled "Night and Reason, moved" is very different indeed. By changing the order of the words( that somehow take your breath away,) i have made a new story. Let's just say it is the moments of memory in a fairytale mind shifting.

When i made this painting i was open and vulnerable. I paint on the floor on my knees. It is like i am gardening (which i really do not do). If you could see this painting in person, there are layers and markings of energy.

alpha dog

I am not a dog owner but i like to carry dog biscuits in my glove compartment, just in case. For that matter how many of us keep gloves in the glove compartment? Well i do. This is a cross of all dogs, wolf, coyote, you name it. I wanted to capture loyalty and intent. Somehow it did that by over extending the snout and that made me smile. The season has changed i think and this is exactly how i feel lately , on hyper alert. Things are growing, lots of opportunities and our little city is over flowing with change. I think I am over flowing with change too. Just so you know, i am really a cat person, the dog biscuits confuse folk
.

The Risk to BLOOM

It is about springing! The painting shown is a portion of a large painting. The risk to bloom is an image I am passionately exploring, in art and spirit. Really all my paintings are in code for something deeper at work.  If you would like to see the painting, there is a painting tab above. Also it will be hanging at my new show in the Fine Line Bistro at the end of April.
Other great news is that I will be painting a mural in the city of Ithaca, stay tuned. Please look for my cartoons in the next issue of Fresh Dirt Magazine. There is a new show hanging in Manndible Cafe at Cornell. How do we know for sure it is spring? The farmers Market opens the first Saturday in April-look for me there as well as in Ithacamade. Yes there is always the possibility of visiting at my studio of course. Lastly I plan to have a show of my illustrations for a book in process. It will be a launch of a dream I've had, so a big festive party is in order! I know I will close down Cliff Street for it. Oh sorry, I got carried away. Do not worry though, you are personally invited.

inspired

i have been inspired, but mostly in my head, avoiding my studio. just sketching and thinking of ideas, meeting the clouds of winter. this painting is a lid for a cabinet which the lines are burned in the wood. the image continues around the sides. it's what my soul needed, capturing. sometimes i feel like i am hibernating or what i might call introspective. i am in the midst of reinventing my creative energy. which way will it go? meanwhile i have many new coded images that are my journals and love being in my home. the other day i looked around and laughed because it is so obvious i am in my home, surrounded by my makings and paint paint paint.

soul wire

 i like this because it is DEEP visual poetry, the title  is "when soul called."what if every moment in the day you were listening to your soul , like sweet piano music. i heard my soul the other day when i made creamy vegan cauliflower coconut soup. next time, i will also put on some piano music. in these cloudful days of january it 's important to find light.

 i was moved to the point that i lost my breath and quickly closed the book upon reading these words by marianne williamson- Think of your work life, therefore, not as separate from your spiritual life but as central to your spiritual life. Whatever your business, it is your ministry.

tears broke

Today i went to a funeral. She planned it herself. She even had her sister give us her parting words of advice. There we all were, connected. Luckily before i went i tended to my garden and wore lots of jewelry, because i thought it would help. Tears broke today of the shear beauty. I wondered the difference of sorrow and joy. Today they were mixed into one.
I call this painting "spirit," it seems to be perfect for today. It's good to touch the earth and gaze up at the sky, and hold those you love.

Oh my it was such a beautiful day, below the surface.

Communication

My friend Werner said "art is a communication." I loved the simplicity of that. When i am working on a show and creating piece after piece and lining them up along the wall, a story unfolds. I can feel it,  the images and characters emerge. It's about healing who you are, not about what you know. I am at a place where i just paint. Someone said      "what are those paint blotches on the background of that?" I have no idea, maybe they are paint FIREFLIES. This piece is hanging at Manndible cafe in Mann library, Cornell.

the risk to bloom

            this is a sketch for a large fence i may be painting.
 i wanted  a hopeful  image all winter long.  but everything is really always growing and blooming. today i was absolutely stopped dead in my tracks speechless when i heard news my friend told me. she is now a fresh new seed that just burst through the dirt toward the unknown. i am learning how emotional,  flowers can grow us.

ithaca

this is a sketch painting for an idea. it's the main character, of a painting entitled "ithaca." i think the person might be in the middle of a cloud, so seeing the sun doesn't matter as much, (in my imagination).
what i like about this painting, is it would look good turned in any direction. aha which is a great way to look about life. i am in the midst of practicing unconditional happiness.  it's been about a month now since i started this quest. anytime i am having an unhappy time, i remember my "practice", and that thought alone cracks me up!

window

here is the new version of my painting entitled "door, recreated with a salvaged window. i decided to simplify it, and just having only the character peering out. the title of this piece is - "it began with a window".
the white background is the wall as she is painted on the pane of the glass. i really like this and i am going to start to do more and transform the windows in my nest.
yes folks, i live in a nest. that's how i see it, or should i say feel it?
to view this painting(window) it will be hanging  next saturday at the library, amongst many other artists pieces in a group show about homelessness.

door

this painting, which i call "door" is going to be re-created as a window. i know funny, huh. i am using a recycled window. i also think i am going to make a pair of shutters with the image. she has been looking through the doors, but now she is ready to step in. or she stepped through the doors and is just taking one final look back.
the door painting as shown is from my show currently at Warren Real Estate in Cayuga Heights. the new version with a window will be at the Tompkins county library show curated by Benn Nadelman.
as per request of Petra - i will update my blog more frequently. it was on my list of things to do, so now it is on the top!

heart to heart

my intent every morning,  with coffee of course,  is to have a heart to heart with myself.  each day i read a page from the book of awakening and treat myself by wearing my reading glasses.  my cat monkey almost always attends the ritual.  a marvel it is, to take that time.
so this is the time i need to make valentines for hearts, not minds, and this is the first one.  it is available on my website. sorry i have to make a sales pitch.  you see i still love it, so it is a very good catch.
today the song in my head is nothing could be finer than to be in carolina , do you know that one?  it is quite odd because usually the song in my head is- oh them golden slippers.  a friend of mine always sings- if i only had a brain, if i were her, i would come up with a new song.
i did feel a song rise when i took time to make tofu scramble this morning. i would have it at juna's cafe which is now manndible cafe.  oh dear i must make another sales pitch to see art,  i just changed the show up at manndible, it is a wonderful place to be in winter, really.
what a wonderful thing to just write to world, thank-you. yes, here in upstate ny, it makes it easier than going outside sometimes.  so i need to end this with more heart to heart than brain waves. i know !  i will end it with a quote by anais nin :

and then the day came
when the risk to remain
tight in a bud was
more painful than the
risk to bloom.