Petecia Le Fawnhawk : Wild Creative

July 20, 2017

By: Molly Helfend

How did your transcending artwork begin?

Hmmm...it's taken many forms through my life time, but I grew up pretty poor and in a pretty unstable environment and I think transcendence through art was discovered at an early age as an ability to free myself from the confines of the circumstances I found myself in. I discovered I could make my imaginary dream worlds a reality through the creation of art.

Describe your vision. What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity is my vital life force. It is, because I am, and vice versa. I very much believe I am the creator of my perception of reality and create it to be as dull or as magnificent as I so choose. I tend to create the latter! I'm drawn to the mysterious...inspired by ancient knowledge, surrealism, philosophy, metaphysics, science...creativity is the unexplainable and undefinable wanting to express itself. It's expressing the ineffable and clarifying the relationship between the deepest spiritual yearnings and creation. Through creativity, we gain an understanding of the nature of reality and our place in the universe.

Your body of work is diverse. Where does your imaginative spark come from?

I guess we can call it intuition? What is intuition? The self guiding and innate wisdom that lives within us all...some call it the inner child. I rely heavily on my intuition (inner child), who really just wants to learn, love and play, and what child likes to play with just one toy? I play, I seek, I experiment. I’m infinitely curious and the forms in which we can express are limitless! I act on my creative impulse as much as I can. I feel I am a conduit for a message wanting to realize itself and I try not to stand in the way of that.

Please tell us about some of your past projects that you are inspired by

Curating the Élan Vital exhibit with Tasya van Ree this past year was amazing. Exploring the concept of the vital life force and its expression thereof. We built out a chapel like structure within a warehouse and created an immersive experience. It was so incredible to bring together fellow artists and musicians who we support and admire in our community to create such a special experience.

What and who inspires you?

I'm inspired by wisdom, philosophy, fine art, zen practices, architecture, music, design, and mostly nature…our greatest learning institution. And I'm inspired by those artists, poets and philosophers who were most sensitive to nature and it's teachings. Thoreau, O'Keefe, Brancusi, Pythagoras, Muir, Black Elk, Goldsworthy, Richard Long, Edward Weston, James Turrell, Edward Abbey, Joseph Campbell, etc.

How does nature and color play roles in your unique visions?

I'm exploring the micro/macro dimensions in nature. Trying to learn the language in its design. Everything man has designed was first designed by nature. The Fibonacci code and the golden ratio are the foundation of our perception of aesthetics. Energy (light and color) and it's effects on our thought and emotion. To experience the great mystery, to seek absolute truth and the connection to the intangible that transcend us from ordinary to otherworldly in the simplest of moments. My vision is narratives of this exploration and experience...my art is the expression of them thereof.

What is your energetic connection to the desert ecosystem in your work?

"The wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity to the human spirit.” The desert is one of the last few places that remain wild. Edgar Payne wrote, "she is free in her wildness.” I am complete and most in touch with my soul when I feel absolutely free. I was raised in the desert and have a strong connection to it. It has been such a profound teacher. She stings me with her sun, but soothes me in her shadows. The desert is fierce, but supremely beautiful. She demands respect, and when earned, offers you all the wealth of the world in spirit and infinite inspiration. It's the perfect backdrop to my surreal expressions. It’s a vast canvas of quiet power.

Does urban Los Angeles play a part in your artistic and abstract directions as well?

Yes, I moved here from a small town in Arizona the month I turned 18...with $40 and no idea. It's been a place of endless challenge and opportunity. I love Los Angeles for the fact that it's one of the most open minded and artistically collaborative cities I've known. I love to collaborate, it encourages me to look at things in new perspectives, to see things in new ways. It gives me the courage to continually push myself artistically and to never remain idyll and to be ever learning and evolving. It's also rich culturally and is home to so many spiritual, philosophical and religious institutions, which have enabled me the explore my spirituality through poly theosophy. I love to attend mediations and lectures at the Self Realization Fellowship, the Buddhist Temple, UCLA, and the University of Philosophical Research.

You have dabbled in many forms of art. What is something you have not tried, but you are interested in?

I would love to create highly conceptual architectural sacred spaces for meditation and reflection. I also hope to someday have the opportunity to create some monumental, environmental art.

A dream of mine is to find a geothermal hot spring and collaborate with James Turrell and Tadao Ando to design a chapel like structure to put over it, and then collaborate with Lee U Fan to design a mono-ha inspired contemporary Japanese zen garden surrounding it. Made to offer a serene experience to connect with ourselves and to our individual ideas of spirit through mediation and zen contemplation.

Magic is everywhere, in everything, all the time. It's the sparkle in our eye, a blade of grass, a breaking dawn, a math equation, a breath, the sound of rain, the humming of electricity, a emotion, a song floating in the air, a smile, a soft touch, eye contact with a stranger, a poem, a light breeze, a nostalgic scent, stillness, a vivid dream, a distant storm. Magic exists wherever you look for it.

Any new projects in the pipeline?

I just signed with a new gallery, Modern West Fine Art, and I have a show with them May 19th in Utah. I will be exhibiting my large scale graphic drawings of "Desert Elements" Series. I appreciate that they are encouraging me to create larger and larger scale pieces. It's a new challenge and the end results are stunning.

I'm also excited to be collaborating with London based artist, Tom Jean Webb, on an integrative exhibit, "These Mystic Plains", at the Platform in the Janessa Leone and Freda Salvador shop in Culver City on June 1st.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I heard James Turrell has 83 sky space structures in the world...I wouldn't mind doing a world tour to live in each of those spaces for a bit.

Visit lefawnhawk.com to see Petecia's work, and follow her on Instagram.

Molly Helfend is part of the HOC team and is an herbalist and environmental activist. She graduated from University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Holistic Health. She will be attending University of Kent in Canterbury, England to receive her Masters Degree in Ethnobotany in 2017. She has worked for Urban Moonshine, Greenpeace and received her training with Spoonful Herbals. Her goal is to receive her PHD and become a professor at University of California Santa Cruz. Molly resides in Monte Nido, California.

Women With Superpowers: Nitsa Citrine and Tasya van Ree

February 2, 2017

For months, we’ve been kept at arm’s length during artists Tasya van Ree and Nitsa Citrine’s creative process for what they’re calling Women With Superpowers. They have gathered familiar and unfamiliar faces in the community and captured their energies on camera for the world to meet. Today, we hear from the twosome about their vision for Women With Superpowers, their reverential friendship with each other, and their own superpowers we often forget we, too, hold inside. This collection of women with purpose— captured by the lenses of these two inventive beings—and the souls behind them have had us all wondering what will come of the passion project. They are manifesting empowerment, and the energy is echoing to women (and men!) everywhere. We are thrilled to walk with these strong forces and further encourage their commitment to celebrate the feminine as artist, activist and healer.

Article by: Karli Quinn

How did you two come into one another’s lives? Describe the energy you felt when you first met and what ultimately led you two to venture in business together.

Tasya: Cosmic intervention.

Nitsa embodies a lot of divine energy. When first meeting her, the interaction was subtle and familiar, radiant and powerful. We’ve floated through different levels of friendship throughout the years but always retained a deeper form of connection. It was inevitable that we would one day create magic together.

Nitsa: We met at her art show at the Lodge in Los Angeles in March, 2015. The show was packed and there was a lot of energy in the space, but Tasya took a moment to speak with me, which I appreciated. The kindness and sincerity in her presence struck me.

Describe your business model and the vision you each have for Women With Superpowers as well as the roles you are taking on to carry out its success.

Nitsa: Our business model and the intention behind the project is to honor, nourish and celebrate the feminine.

Tasya: Our role is to be extremely present in the process, and we are both open to the infinite possibilities.

Superpower is defined as having “excessive or superior power.” How do you two define superpower? And what is it about the women you choose to highlight that speaks to your own definition(s)?

Tasya: The word “superpower” is a fantastical way to describe your truth, the definitive reality in which you exist in and are from, your essence, and your force of life.

The women are mirrors, and so are we.

Nitsa: To me, a superpower is a magical constellation of energy we recognize and cultivate within ourselves.

What enthused you about focusing on women?

Tasya: The feminine is profound by nature and I have a deep affection and intrigue for their presence.

Nitsa: I love women! I love shooting women!!

How do you choose the women with whom you meet?

Tasya: Every woman is perfect, and we hope to one day photograph each and every one of them!

Nitsa: Intuition, resonance, and fourth dimensional alignment.

Do you think you will ever include men in your idea for this work?

Tasya: Anything is possible.

Nitsa: I would love to see what a Men With Superpowers series would look like.

Do you believe you have superpowers? Tell us about each of your own superpowers and how they compare to your idea of possessing a superpower as a child.

Tasya: Everyone and everything has superpowers.

My superpower is the ability to translate the unknown through a poetic prism.

Whether you are a child or an adult, it is all based on your imagination.

Nitsa: Multi-dimensional love frequency.

We’ve all heard it’s not always wise to mix business with pleasure. Seeing as you two are very close friends, how does this work out for you? Can you share some advice for making this business partnership work in conjunction with sharing a close friendship?

Tasya: It’s a beautiful dynamic filled with respect, love, honesty, and loyalty. I feel that everything can flourish when these elements are in place and shared.

Nitsa: Well, we are only two months into the project so we have yet to see how it all unfolds but I will say it is an honor and delight to get to work with one of my favorite human beings. Tasya has a great eye and exceptional mind, constantly inspiring me to grow, and I trust her perspective very much. So, being able to collaborate with her is an absolute pleasure.

Some might argue that we are all capable of having superpowers and it might just be how we define them that makes that so. Some may even say that superpowers are our individual strengths as human beings. Do you agree with this? Do you think everyone has superpowers?

Tasya: Absolutely. Above and beyond.

Nitsa: I feel that anyone and everyone who acknowledges their power and presence as a means to create positivity and magic in the world holds the potential of a superpower – the trick is learning how to own and activate it!

What superpowers do you wish you had?

Tasya: The superpower to save all wildlife from extinction.

Nitsa: I have always wished to breathe underwater, become invisible, heal any wound, illness, or imbalance. And, fly!

And – today especially – would love to have the superpower of teleportation. I am ready to master that now!

You are both active on social media, and so followers have been able to see highlights of your interactions with the women you interview. There is an aspect we don’t see that pulls your work together. How does each meeting go? What information are you looking for the women to share, and what are you hoping to capture?

Tasya: We try to create a space that is open and genuine, infinite and wild. What conspires and develops, which we try to capture through an individual and collaborative effort, is an authentic unification of color and rhythm when women come together. Beauty and gold. Laughter and a full heart of blazing joy.

Nitsa: Well, the intention behind every shoot is to explore each woman’s inner world and superpower through a photographic lens. Beyond this, we are pretty much in a constant, open dialogue on ideas for the project. Whether it is a stream of inspiration, women we want to weave into the series, organizational aspects, post processing details, or the cosmic back and forth.

Earlier, we wanted to know what you thought your own superpowers were. Now, we wonder if you could each describe a superpower you see in one another.

Tasya: Nitsa is like a sacred dream painted in glowing wisdom traveling in all forms, across all time, through all space.

Nitsa: Tasya has infinite superpowers but, if I had to pick one, it would be her ability to express her heart and imagination through her hands –and with so much honesty and beauty!

What is the thing you want your interviewees to take away from in regard to their recognition from Women With Superpowers?

Tasya: To recognize their own superpower(s) and fall into its deep center with love and great influence.

Nitsa: Love! Unity!

What do you want the world or you community of followers to learn? In a broader sense, what are you hoping to achieve?

Tasya: Full-spectrum love for the feminine, self, and universe.

Nitsa: Reverence for the feminine in all her forms!

Photo credit: Brett Morrison

Keep in touch with the creative process of Women With Superpowers by following Women With Superpowers, Nitsa, and Tasya on Instagram.

Victoria Larnach: Sustainable Art

July 20, 2016

Victoria is an artist and environmentalist connecting culture, craft, and sustainability with indigo dyeing. She creates work that has vision yet spontaneity, bridging cultural gaps, and influenced by the rituals and techniques of artistic history. She speaks with us about her passion for the skilled craft of indigo dyeing and how it reflects the history, living art, and sustainability she cares deeply about.

1. How did you get inspired to use indigo dye?

I was introduced to Indigo while living in Australia. It was something I had briefly seen floating around my sphere, but I hadn’t actually tuned into it yet at a level of deep comprehension. Because I come from an artist and fashion design background, I had been exposed to a lot of unsustainable practices in the industry (mainly fashion), and as my love grew towards care-taking for our earth, understanding what we will be leaving behind for the generations to come, and what is important right now to protect, somehow Indigo Dyeing made it’s way into my life by a man named Aboubakar Fofana. He is a master dyer from West Africa and has traveled the world sharing his tradition of natural and Indigo dyeing, the latter in which he revived as it was nearly lost due to industrialization. He has an incredible amount of experience, strong technique, and even stronger cultural and traditional ties to this ancient dyeing process. I was inspired immediately and ever since I have learned skills from him, it continues to inspire me daily and urges me to go deeper. There is a lot of knowledge with this craft, and switching my designs and artistry towards sustainability has become the focal point in what I’m sharing.

2. What is indigo dye exactly?

Indigo dye is actually a plant pigment. It is extracted from the Indigo Plant leaf and requires certain chemical reactions with other agents to create the beautiful blue hues you see. There are hundreds of different species of Indigo plants, all unique to their respective region, and each region has a specific way of extracting the pigment. Firstly, you will have a blue pigment that won’t bind straight away to fabric until you introduce other agents to help it become useful for dyeing. Once these agents are introduced (there are many ways to create an Indigo vat) then you have a green solution that is created by these al-chemical reactions, and so one must wonder, “How do you go from a green solution to a finished blue fabric?" Oxygen. Once the fabric is removed from the dye vats, and oxygen is introduced, the solution on the fabric begins to turn from green to blue before your eyes, and once oxidized fully, the fabric then turns into a gorgeous hue of blue. This is why they say the ‘alchemy’ of Indigo because it truly is magic.

3. Why is it so rare?

Indigo dye was once rare many generations ago, and as it became more well known and traded around the world, it was readily available, even now in present day it is somewhat easy to obtain. There are hundreds of species of the Indigo plant. However, the color BLUE is rare in nature and one that is considered a precious color because not many plants produce a type of blue the way Indigo does. Woad was once used, but it swiftly became secondary to the ‘Queen Plant’ Indigo.

4. How is the indigo medicinal?

Indigo has natural anti-microbial properties in it, which makes it very useful for any natural fiber clothing close to the skin, to sensitive areas of the body, for babies, for workwear such as denim. It was also used as somewhat of a ‘tincture’ or a tea with certain cultures around the world. Because it has such a deep and rich history, there is quite a lot of information on the specifics of how it’s been used for other than it’s dye. I am endlessly interested to learn about its other various uses, and through my journey on this indigo road, I am beginning to find the knowledge of these traditions. I am always inspired and fascinated by humanity's relationship to the plant kingdom. Also, when we look at Indigo blue or dye with it, it is said to promote peace and intuition - for me, this is one of the most important medicinal properties it offers us.

5. Why aren’t more people using indigo dye?

Many people do use indigo dye, but because the process requires a lot of time, work, and patience, many have moved towards synthetic dyeing which is a lot quicker, producing results that are not as natural as an organic indigo dye vat. Patience is key and is so rewarding with the natural indigo dyeing process, and because we do live in a world that encourages a fast-paced way of living, our global fashion industry reflects that with synthetic or processed clothing. Many indigo traditions have been lost because of the synthetic indigo industry. Not only is the process of synthetic dyeing harsh for the environment (there are numerous chemicals used), but the results of the dye on fabric are not as lustrous as an organic dye vat, and the indigo tends to bleed or fade. That is one way of telling it is synthetic, it will not be colorfast. Indigo dyed through a natural process, done correctly, is completely colorfast and actually will ‘outlast’ the fabric - meaning the fabric can disintegrate first and the color will have actually stayed! I hope through sharing this artisan skill I can inspire and encourage people to consider switching towards sustainable textiles - it is just simply better for our planet, keeps cultures and traditions alive and intact, and empowers people to create their own pathway on how they want to leave their footprint while walking on this earth.

6. What is your creative process?

An idea comes to mind, the first in situ of inspiration. Then it’s intention setting for guidance on creating what wants to come through. Then music. LOTS of great music. A clear space to move around in, generally a private space, outdoors, with access to sunshine and water. And then I let it FLOW. Create as I go, maintain the vision of what I would like it to look like, and many times I completely just allow it to be whatever it wants to be. That’s the beauty of design - it is not always planned and what emerges will always be a work of art. Art in motion. Everyday. Every moment.

7. Do you have a mantra or meditation process while you’re dyeing?

BREATHE. Go slow. Patience…. always. I am always reminding myself of this.

8. Who are you inspired by?

Definitely by Aboubakar, first and foremost. Culture keepers. Frida Kahlo, and mostly any strong woman. Several of my fellow artist & musician friends. Also environmental heroes/heroines and activists - anyone that stands for the protection of our planet. The list is too long to name them all, I just deeply appreciate what people do to keep this planet alive and thriving, and I feel very passionate about this subject. I think I will always be an environmental activist in my heart, but more importantly, a CARETAKER for the Earth, in whatever form that comes out. Artwork and words are my expression for now.

9. What are some of your rituals when you’re in your groove while dyeing?

Being with nature, breathing, listening, staying present. That’s the indigo groove for me! The whole act of Indigo dyeing is a ritual, every part matters, every part is a sacred piece for the story.

10. Is it difficult to source the indigo?

Indigo can be found through various sources from anywhere in the world. There are so many options, one easy way is to source the pigment. The leaves may be a bit more challenging to source as I know certain places can take a while to receive the leaves, but preferably you would be growing your own plants!

11. Whats next for you Victoria?

It’s been a big year. I feel like I have been flowing in this blue river quite serendipitously and very blessed along the way. The community keeps expanding and as I grow, I begin to connect with so many other wonderful people around the world. I will be traveling through the West Coast, north to Canada, over to the East Coast, and Hawaii to share this wonderful Indigo immersion. I also have an artist residency coming up in Oaxaca Mexico in August, and I am very excited to be learning from the master dyers there!

12. Tell us more about your artist residency in Oaxaca.

Yes - such a gift! I will be in Oaxaca for a month learning hands-on instruction from master dyers about their traditional Mesoamerican way of indigo dyeing, cochineal dyeing, and pericon dyeing (Mexican Marigold) as well as other natural dyes. I also feel so blessed to be learning from a family of traditional Zapotec weavers on their dye practices and woven art. It will be a colorful, immersive, comprehensive and incredible journey. It’s been a dream of mine to travel to Oaxaca for awhile now, and arriving in this way feels quite incredible and important for this time. We are at an interesting turning point in our history, and I truly believe that learning ancestral knowledge and sharing it with communities is a strong way to bring positive change by expanding social awareness, bringing sustainability through the arts, and bridging cultural gaps for a better understanding to shape our future.

Attend one of Victoria's Indigo Dyeing and Shibori techniques workshops.

Victoria's art and indigo dyeing reflect the cultural and natural landscape of the places she lives and travels. After studying Fashion Design at the Art Institute of California, she was introduced to the ancient Indigo Plant and its natural dyeing technique. Each piece echoes our connection to Mother Earth and the importance of sustainability. Follow Victoria on Instagram, Facebook, and find her writings at The SeaChange Collective. Email her at vmlarnach@gmail.com.

Talia Migliaccio - Consciousness Through Creation

March 8, 2016

Talia Migliaccio is a rebel, fueled by a passion for pushing boundaries in pursuit of a new world, where creation is king...or, better yet, queen. Though her roots lie in Denver, Colorado, she seeks nature in her travels, working to facilitate harmony between the earth and humanity. Versed in many artistic mediums, her unique practice of tattoo poking speaks for itself as she uses ink to draw together body and spirit. At 21, this old soul knows herself, and it shows.

1. What inspires your art and creations?

The heart of my inspiration was birthed from a place of mystery - an exploration of the void - a deep love for all taboo. I am continually inspired by the world surrounding us, both seen and unseen - the macrocosm and microcosm - the as above and so below. I am constantly taking note of patterns throughout my daily experiences - listening to everything around me as though it is my direct dialogue with universal forces - from license plates to lyrics. I am fascinated with the interconnectivity of every motion - every step - the layout and design of our home planet. My fuel is truly rooted in a place of shifting consciousness through creation - in a playful manner - to show that it is possible to live differently - to think differently - that the dream is so real and so alive. But then this all breaks down into smaller patterns, for example, what inspires my tattoo practice vs. what inspires my video work, my sculptures, my photos, etc. I do believe that no matter the medium or lineage of inspiration it all continues to inform itself in a neural network-like fashion.

2. At what age did you begin doing tattoo work?

I began tattooing in March of 2013, which would have made me 18.

3. In what ways do you connect your art with your consciousness?

My creative output is a direct reflection of my consciousness, and perhaps I can even say that in some ways it is a direct reflection of the collective consciousness.

4. Would you like to expand more on your "Flood Book" and what that is and means to you?

Ah... that term came from a post of writing about my sketchbook practice. I chose to call it a flood book because I felt it better encompassed the energy these books symbolize for me. Since 2007 or so I have very consistently kept a sketchbook, or flood book, rather - I do my best to make daily entries, but sometimes within the flux of life that gets thrown off. They are a place that I truly feel able to flood my mind onto paper - nothing to hold me back or to guide me in any one direction. They hold drawings - paintings - writing - a true release and exploration of imagination.

5. I saw on your website that you use many different mediums of art for expression. What are all of the forms you use?

I have gotten my hands into just about any and every medium that has been available to me. Drawing, painting, ceramic, beading, metalwork, video, photo, and tattoo are all ones I have pretty thoroughly explored. Tattoo and drawing are what I am most fluent in recently. I have a longing to dive back into exploring form and the creation of spaces through multidisciplinary processes, though.

6. How long have you been doing pottery work?

Ceramic has been coming in and out of my life since 2006 or so. I began by taking wheel throwing classes at a studio in Denver, which was shortly followed by my 6-year attendance at Denver School of the Arts. In those 6 years, I worked with it on and off - it has always felt like one of the most instinctually and natural mediums of use to me. Last year I reentered my relationship with it in an entirely new way and am very eager to continue that facet of work.

7. What do you do to stay grounded?

Hmm, staying grounded… that term can have so many translations and meanings. I listen to a lot of hip-hop and dance to a lot of hip-hop, and I had a realization recently that it is hugely grounding for me - I also find it very motivating, and it ignites a lot of movement in my heart, mind, and body. Spending time alone and in silence is also deeply important for me - it allows me to listen and access my dialogue with the realms of imagination.

8. What are some of your favorite products, and why?

So glad you asked this! I’m very passionate about conscious consumerism and holistic products. My rule of thumb in terms of what goes in and on my body is that I first and foremost read the ingredients, which is one of the most informative practices that I have picked up. In terms of self-care and beauty products, if they contain something that I wouldn’t feel comfortable eating, something synthetic, or something chemical-related, consider me uninterested. I also lean towards only using products that are handmade in small batches or by small companies, and even better if they are made by someone I know! This is from the standpoint of living out morals - if my mission is to work on shifting how we live on this planet to a more harmonious negotiation, then I feel it is simply ethical to live out this mission through every single choice I make. The toothpaste I use has been one of my greatest everyday life improvements - I swear by it as though it is a daily religious experience - it’s made by a small company based in Washington called "Uncle Harry’s", and is clay based - it’s very affordable and has amazing simple ingredients. Everything I have used from Uncle Harry’s company has been amazing - I definitely highly recommend them! In terms of body moisturizing, I am all for oils - a few that I have been using most recently and absolutely love are La Tierra Sagrada’s jojoba oil, rose body balm by Il Curator, Living Libation’s breast massage oil, and Medicine Mama’s Bee Magic. I have also been working a lot with rosemary, rose, and vetiver essential oils.

9. What are your favorite food choices and why?

My morals with food are very similar to my product morals - read the ingredients - look into where it is coming from - who my money is supporting - was the growing and harvesting of it humane or ethical in regards to a harmonious life on this planet. I aim to get my food from farmers markets, small locally-owned natural food stores, and co-ops, as opposed to large corporate operations. I am working on growing more of my own food, also, now that I have space and availability too! I would love to reach a point where I am eating food primarily grown by myself or my surrounding community. In terms of foods I love - I am always a sucker for strawberries, especially since a good ethical organic strawberry is so hard to come by these days - or at least, it was until I moved to the LA area. Avocados, spinach, sunflower seed butter, homemade ferments, arugula, sourdough, root vegetables, and local raw honey are all some of my deep loves in the food world, and although black pepper is more in the spice realm I cannot deny my love for it.

10. What’s next for Talia in 2016? Any new projects we should be looking for?

Well Talia just moved to Topanga in February - so that in itself feels like a massive project. Somehow in the heavenly alignments, my partner, Harrison, and I were able to move onto our friends property - we have a sweet little piece of land, a one bedroom house, and a studio, including a well-lit loft. Between coming off of 6 months of travel, setting up home, working with the land, and tattooing I have had my work cut out for me. So I’m sure as the dust begins to settle new projects will arise - for now I have a handful of small collaborations that are in process, one of which being teaming up with my dear friend Baelyn, who holds beautiful and deep tea ceremonies - we have very recently started to offer individualized tea & tattoo ceremonies for transformation and are planning to expand and extend that in some directions that I’m very excited about. Having a studio is also a huge opening for me, as I have not really had a studio for the last 3 years - I am going to dive back in to exploring imagination through ways in which I used to work, and through many different mediums.

Learn more about Talia by visiting her website TaliaMigliaccio.com, and connect with her on her Instagram and Facebook page.

Be What You Dream

June 16, 2015

Diana Garcia is an artist and actress based in Venice, CA. Her imagined amalgam creatures grace walls all over the world. When she's not busy giving a Ted talk, installing new murals, or acting in critically acclaimed feature films -- you can find her amidst her Venice abode, conjuring up new visions.

This woman is a sincere testament to her motto "Be What You Dream", which is subtly inked under all her work.

What do you dream to be?

Always free and inspired to do what makes me happy in the now.

Why create?

Because it's the best to express what's inside. It's a need. It's the place where I loose track of time and space, it takes me to another dimension that's very pleasant.

What motivates you?

Love, magic, nature, connection, friends, family, art, stories, traveling, adventures, the impossible.

What is your definition of art?

Art for me is the form of expression that liberates the essence of an individual.

What does a perfect day look like to you?

A day where there's no rush! Do yoga, eat healthy delicious food, make love, draw, hang on the beach with friends or family...

Who do you admire?

I admire strong people, with great personality. People that are relieved from stereotypes, that are free. And people that are to leave a positive imprint in the world.