The Roving Tree Book Tour

Click here to be directed to Elsie Augustave's website to view more pictures.

Moonlight and Mangos on Communication Corner Part Deux

On this second episode of Communication Corner, the Moonlight and Mangos artist chatted with Gail Lewis on what inspires her to paint and on her work as an art teacher in the 5 Start Sports and Entertainment Academy. Viewers had a chance to see the artist in action as she dedicated the rest of the episode to painting alongside Lewis.

Moonlight And Mangos on Communication Corner

The artist behind Moonlight and Mangos, Jessica Mitchell, stopped by Communication Corner to chat with Gail Lewis about her artwork and the role of emotions in her pieces. The different pieces varying from canvas painting, bottles to 3D art lit the Queens Public TV studio with their vibrant and sparkling colors. Lewis and Mitchell went around the room discussing the different pieces that were present and represented only a small sample of the more than 250 pieces Mitchell has in her catalog.
They talked about the recurring theme of moving forward in life seen in her art, the message of positivity she is promoting, the different things she incorporates in her work and the story behind each work. They also talked about her moonlight collection and her similarity to Jean Michel Basquiat.
Please view the video!

Busy... Busy...

Snapshot by Sabine Cherenfant

Dear readers,

Those past few weeks may have kept us away from the blog, but NattyTan and I had the chance to attend Luca Guardabascio's documentary screening in New York on November 21st. We had the chance to view this captivating documentary, and we definitely recommend others to find a way to view it as well. Although it is primarily a religious documentary (precisely catholic), others will still find it exquisite to say the least because of it's modern message and the provocative story of Angela Volpini.
The screening was followed by a heated discussion because the subjects covered in the documentary are indeed prone to generating debates.

Stay tuned for more info on how to view the documentary.

Luca Guardabascio: Dove Posarono i Suoi Piedi Trailer

Here's the link to the trailer of Luca Guardabascio's new documentary: 

http://www.youtube.com/v/HNJc6jkgu0w?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=anwL5RxUJOR032NN2j37-g&showinfo=1&autoplay=1

Luca Guardabascio on Facciomo Pace

Photo provided by Luca Guardabascio

Click here to get a chance to see Luca Guardabascio guest starring in the first episode of Facciomo Pace! His segment roughly begins at 35 minutes.

Jerry Laraque: Every Rap Song Is A Page of A Diary

Photo provided by Jerry Laraque

Tall, calm with a keen knowledge of Hip Hop, Jerry Laraque (Jey) is a rapper with a mission. Through his raps that he deems "more like a hobby," he relates his life and the social life in Haiti.
"I rap about everything that strikes me," said Jey. He embarked in this journey in 2002 when his friend, The Maestro, also known as T-Ansyto Mercier, established his record studio. Soon after, Jey had turned the studio into his second home. Everyday after school and work, he would come in to work on new records. By 2013, Laraque had recorded more than 20 songs.
He released about six songs, including the hit song Konpran mwen, found in the Envazyon mixtape by The Maestro and Aton.
He later joined Trafik, a rap band founded by The Maestro and comprised of Kadafi, Sila and Mad-C. With them, he released another successful song, titled Ke Solid.
Nonetheless, because of personal issues, he had to stop rapping for a while.
"[Going to the studio after work] was a sacrifice,"explained Jey.
Moreover, his band, Trafik, dissolved after the 2012 Haiti earthquake. Many of them left the country.
Eventually, Jey returned to the music scene. He is now working on a project, titled JeyDay, with Freday, another rapper. They are working on an album together and already have five songs ready.
"Before, I only recorded with T-Ansyto," said Jey. "[T-Ansyto] is now working on multiple projects; therefore I now work with multiple producers, which is good for my style. My style is more of a party thing."
He has also been featured in five commercials in Haiti.
"I've done commercials for Access Haiti, Toro (an energy drink) and King Cola," said Jey.
"I want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my mom and brothers," he added.
As an advice for all aspiring rappers, he concluded they "must strive and rap with love."

New videos

Audio Documentary- Gay rights vs Religious rights

In this audio documentary, religious leaders and gay rights activists share their point of view on the conflict between gay rights and religious rights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-iSG4CzCE0

Inspiring Lives With Dr. Shellie on Youtube

The first episode of Inspiring Lives with Dr. Shellie is now available on youtube. Stay tuned for more videos.
Moreover, Shellie Hipksy is sending out a CALL FOR INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING WOMEN for her next book. If you know a woman whose work has inspired you or if you are an empowered woman please contact Dr. Hipsky at contact@shelliehipsky.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JigEE8OxPJc

Luca Guardabascio: Upcoming Events and Projects

This Friday, Luca Guardabascio will be presenting his book, "La Percezione della Morte" (Feeling Death), at noon in a high school in Castellammare Di Stabia, a commune near Napoli. Then, at 7 p.m., Guardabascio will be presenting the second edition of "Another Summer,"in Eboli.
His book, "Johnny Carnage," a historical thriller set in Australia between 1899 and 1922 he co-wrote with Stefano Stanzione, will be published by Historica Edizioni/Il Violino this April 12, 13 and 14 at the Romagna Book Festival.
"[It is] a big event in Cesena... organized by Francesco Giubilei, the youngest editor in Italy," said Guardabascio. "My next step will be to present the Movie 'Angela Volpini: Dove posarono i suoi piedi,' a documentary about the Virgin Mary apparition in Italy at Casanova Staffora (Pavia) from 1947 to 1956 written in cooperation with the author Manuela Orrù."
"But, my masterpiece is Joshua Nathan," He concluded. "My little son is the most important gift I had in my life."
http://fanfantwins.blogspot.com/2012/09/guardabascio-gets-awarded-for-his-book.html

Naomie Labaty: Nan Yon Ti Kay Pay

New uploaded video in Naomie Labaty's youtube channel

Official Video: Wild Soul

There it is! Enjoy David Wade's new video featuring Jasmine Tate.

New Video by David Wade ft. Jasmine Tate (Teaser)

This is a teaser of David Wade's new video featuring Jasmine Tate. The actual video is supposed to come out on the day after Christmas. Enjoy!

A compilation of Aton's works

Here is a compilation of some of Aton's works. In this video you'll get to know more about his style. You may notice that some of these drawings are in their early stages.

Poem: Yon ti Kannot

This is probably my favorite poem of Naomie Labaty. Enjoy!

Aton, A Work in the Making

Anthony Louis-Jeune, known artistically as Aton, is a 26-year-old artist who has the ability to put his hands on many different projects.

A native of Haiti, Aton has been drawing since primary school.

“When I started, my mother did not want me to draw,” he explained. “She would even tear up my drawings.”
This did not stop Aton from living his dream, neither did being colorblind.
"I feel normal because I never saw colors. I was born this way," he said.
Aton still manages to create colorful, dazzling paintings.
"I have a concept of the colors," he explained. "I concentrate more on the intensity of the colors. I know that yellow is brighter than orange and green is paler sometimes."
He buys tubes of paint and pencils that have the names of the colors written on them to help him. 

"I always knew I wanted to draw," said Aton. 
He was inspired by those artists or those minds per say who created the comic books he owned.
"I wanted to be like them when I get older," he explained.
Aton explored the idea of pursuing drawing as a profession when he sold one of his drawings to a band in Haiti as a logo for 300 USD at just 15 or 16 years of age.
"I was like 'man, I can make money out of it'," he said.
As a result, he began working for a marketing company named Graphcity to create logos. He then created his own company, Aton Concept, and freelanced. 
When asked about what his company offers, Aton listed graphic designs, illustrations and logos.
"[For graphic design, I make] business cards, billboards, shirt designs, [and] anything related to designing...[something]," he added. "I can conceive it and people can do it."
Aton also worked for other Marketing Agencies, such as Image & Marketing and Publi Gestion, and illustrated for big companies, such as Comme Il Faut.
In addition, he illustrated for the famous Haitian writer's, Gary Victor, popular series, Djamina, shown below.

Aton actually comes from an artistic family. 
"We all have some sort of love for doing stuff," he said.
They each embrace a different type of art. For instance, his grandmother is a dressmaker.  "She draws also,"  Aton added.
His mother is also artistic.
"My Mother... is really manual," Aton explained. She sewed the curtains for her house.
None of the members of his family, however, use his/her artistic skills as a profession. 
"I am the only professional artist," Aton explained. 
He does admit that one of his cousin is considering using her skills professionally.
"She's working on it," he said.

 Among Aton's art projects is a poster that he recently designed for a juice company in Haiti.

“[The poster is designed] for them to post anywhere they are selling,”he explained.

Aton is currently attending Altos de Chavon in the Dominican Republic, where he is getting a degree in Fine Arts/Illustration. Here are a few more of Aton's works:

Right-handed Aton drew the self-portrait, shown above, with his left hand. This was his first time using his left hand.
"In school, they teach us how to draw with our left hand and ...our feet," he explained.

 

 

Aton also enjoys to rap, which is a hobby for him. He did a remake of Gregory Isaacs' Night Nurse.

He also recorded his own song called "Get Foktop," which gained him fame on campus. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXy6quhpWgI

Aton would actually like to release an album with 15 songs ranging from Hip Hop to House.

Alyssa Delatore

Here is a brief video of Alyssa Delatore, a Robert Morris University student. There should be more videos of her soon.

Marlie Decopain, The Accomplished Artist

Marlie Decopain is a motion graphic designer and digital fine artist with an impressive list of clients like Stardust.

She developed an interest for art at a very young age.

"Every night I'd draw and give the drawings to my mom," she recounted. It's for this reason that her parents decided to enroll her in a Summer art school at age seven.

At age 12, she joined Graffi Colori, an art school ran by her neighbor at her house, where she learned drawing techniques.

“She gave me a good foundation, which then allowed me to keep growing as an artist and expand my views and perception of art even after she was no longer my teacher.”

On her website, nicheeny.com, you can find one of her Graffi Colori drawings.

“I was 14 when I made it,” she said.

The neighbor, who was actually an architect, taught the class every Saturday, and Decopain was her student for three years.

Then Decopain moved at age 16 to the United States from Haiti and finished her last two years of high school there. She took a regular art class her junior year and an Advance Placement art class her senior year.

“In the AP art class in high school, we did a lot of figure drawing but the teacher also allowed us to work on other projects of our choice in order for us to develop a portfolio,” said Decopain.

After reading the story of a digital artist in a magazine, Decopain developed an interest in digital art and enrolled in the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan where she graduated with a bachelors degree in computer art.

Decopain is also good with animation, but she stopped working on animation three years ago. She worked on animation on a number of promos for HGTV, NatGeo and HBO to name a few.

As a hobby, Decopain paints.

“I loved painting,” she gushed. “I still do.” But the lack of space caused her to set this hobby aside.

“I'm hoping that in the future I'll be able to have a studio space so that I can start painting again.”

Nowadays, Decopain works mostly on her computer as a freelance artist.

“I bounce from company to company,” she revealed. She works on specific projects for several companies in Manhattan.

Some of the companies Decopain has worked for are Stardust, Nice Shoes, and Click 3X. Her first gig was with Comedy Central where she designed a promo.

She is currently working though with a program called, Art Quake, in which 10 artists will sell their original prints in a portfolio. Cybil Charlier who previously worked with Decopain for an exhibition invited Decopain to be part of Art Quake.

All proceeds from this project will go to artisans who lost their works or art supplies in the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Marlie contributed to the design of the video of Ricky Martin's song "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tu"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9_Tudgl8KE

Oxymorrons Freestyle in August 2010