I've had lots of different versions of my art tattooed onto fans and collectors alike, and it is always such a great honor to me.  For someone to want to permanently place a piece of my art on their body is the best compliment as an artist I can ever receive, nothing can top that!  So, when I found out that my daughter and a group of her friends all decided to tattoo my symbol "Embrace the Chaos" all at the same time I was completely blown away!  And to know that a celebrity of Marc Anthonys level of fame also received the tattoo at this "tattoo party"  was such a thrill!  Unknowingly hundreds of thousands of his fans have seen the tattoo, but I know, and am so amazed that he wanted to add this symbol to his collection of tattoos.  And incidentally his tattoo artist friend, Rafael Valdez, was there creating the tattoos, and got one as well :)

The "Embrace the Chaos" symbol is part of my enlightenment series where I have created a new set of symbols that empower us to find inspiration in everything around us.  MAD symbols are each designed with the intention to inspire and empower. Enso, the familiar circle of enlightenment, was the main source of inspiration for all of the circle symbols, and of course I added in my own special MAD touch.  The "Embrace the Chaos" symbol is about accepting what we cannot control, and instead controlling how we react.  Things are going to happen in all of our lives that create chaos and uncertainty, but we cannot let it control us, or let it bring us down.  We have to rise above and embrace it and know that it will be short lived; the chaos does not define us, we do.

Here are some other sources of inspiration and what they mean and how they are applied to my custom symbol designs below:

ZIBU | Means "listen within" from the zibu angelic language of symbols. Zibu angelic symbols were created by Debbie Zylstra Almstedt during a Reiki session in 2002. She claimed to have experienced a communication from a group of Angelic Guides. Each Zibu Angelic Symbol is an interpretation of a message from Angelic Guides.  A seemingly sub category of Celtic symbolism. 

​CELTIC | For centuries, Celtic symbols and signs held incredible power for the ancient Celts in every way of life.  The word "Celtic" refers to people who lived in Britain and Western Europe from 500 BC and 400 AD. Celts were of the Iron Age and lived in small villages which were led by warrior chiefs.
The written records remaining from the Celts of Europe are scant, therefore signs and symbols can be hard to determine and trace. Many facts come by way of the Romans, who conquered the Celtic lands during the rise of the Roman Empire.

REIKI | Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

If you would ever like to use any of these symbols as a tattoo please let me know and I would be happy to give permission, and would love to see the finished work!

It's that time of year!  We start looking for the perfect Christmas decorations and want to add something unique and fun to our tree to commemorate each year, and well 2020 is no exception, and even though I think many of us would like to erase it from our memory, haha, it will always be a stand out year for many reasons.  So, why not add something special like a handpainted original Christmas tree art ornament to remember 2020!  

Many of the ornaments that have been created so far can also be customized on one side such as the one above with the date.  I can also add a name or anything that would fit in a 3" wide space on the heart shape.  To see all of the fun, whimsical and colorful Christmas art ornaments from the Queen of Hearts...ME!  visit www.madartdesigns.com

I've been creating a lot of art the past few months; forced Covid 19 quarantine in Miami has given me lots of time to be creative!  I've started to upload the new art to my Pixels.com gallery where you can purchase all manner, and sizes, of prints from gallery wrapped canvases, framed and even metal and acrylic prints.  In addition to the prints there are also home decor products sch as pillows, bedding, etc.  The newest offering they have is of course cloth face masks, the new 2020 accessory.  I have close to 1,000 different designs to choose from for the masks, to avoid the ho hum boring medical grade masks.

The image shown here is "Whispers in the Night" and it was actually created on a small 6"x6" canvas board and then embellished with a couple little wooden hearts.  But, I love the look of this part of the painting so much I wanted to offer it by itself for prints and products.  Even though it was initially created so small it is available in prints sizes up to 48"x48"!  You can see all of my art on Pixels.com

I've finally gotten around to listing all the available MAD Doodles, there are over 60 to choose from.

​I started out creating these as just a means to get the creative juices flowing, but I received so much positive feedback and interest in people wanting to purchase them, I will now be offering them for sale :) 

They are created on loose 11"x14" Bristol Paper (unframed) and using Sharpie pens, listed at the amazingly low price of only $49 each, including shipping within the U.S.
 
If you want to keep up to date on all my newest art and creations, I share everything on my Instagram ​@MADArtStudios.

Stay safe, healthy and inspired!

Throwback Thursday has me thinking back on one of the absolute biggest highlights of my art career thus far, creating four massive paintings for a Christies charity auction during Miamis Art Basel Week 2018 benefiting The Global Wildlife Conservation.  It was a magical night celebrating the art world and working towards preserving natural lands for future generations.  Just having the opportunity to share my art at this event was a huge honor, but then I was completely blown away when Leonardo DiCaprio bid on my art, and the paintings were eventually purchased/auctioned to several billionaires...I never in a million years expected such a positive response to my art, it was a truly humbling experience.

My amazing daughter (Plastics Media) organized this opportunity for my art to be included and we had a fun evening out with friends in the magical city that is Miami, especially the vibrant, energetic vibe that takes over the city during Art Basel; it's my favorite week of the year and look forward to seeing the art, people, fashion and just the energy that lights up Miami Art Week.

Normally by this time of the year, July, is when artists start looking for venues, businesses and organizations to collaborate with during Art Basel Miami, and this continues right up until the first week of December when Miami Art Week happens.  But, due to Covid-19 there hasn't been any talk of Art Basel 2020, and understandably so.  I can't imagine at this point in time that such a huge week of endless parties and art events would be allowed due to the social distancing that is required in Miami at the current time.  Yes, we have months for things to get better, but, without the ability to plan and prepare, will Art Basel occur this year in Miami?  If so, will it be a "masks required" scenario?  I'm going to be keeping a close eye on chatter and rumors of what will be happening and crossing my fingers that my favorite week of the year is still a reality for 2020.  In the meantime I'm going to optimistically continue honing my craft and work on a new art collection to unveil during Miami Art Week, even if it's a virtual event.