art diva studios visuals and verbiage by Rachelle Díaz
life
Lost in thought
Depression, or, Why Do Hot Dog Buns Come In Packages of 8 But Hot Dog Buns Come In Packages of 10? A friend suggested the second title. It’s such a serious subject, so it’s nice to have a funny twist. Plus, I’m a huge Animaniacs fan! 2004 Acryilc on peg board, 24″ x 36″ Collection [...]
Would You…
This is a painting of an old friend I haven’t spoken with in years. The wood is an appropriate surface because my memories are frozen like wood, like rings on a tree. Wood can also look alive when it’s beautifully polished, so much that we forget it’s just dead material. The life is in the [...]
Brother B
A portrait of my brother, Rick. We sometimes call each other Brother Bear and Sister Bear because we liked the Berenstain Bears when we were little. Acrylic on wood 2005 Collection of Richard and Ruth Rouse
Notes: know yourself, fool
My writer husband and I got into a literary conversation a few weeks ago. His position as an educational program coordinator/editor for a small publisher gives him access to several erudite literary journals. A co-worker of his recommended he take home n+1, a hipster-y semi-annual publication of essays. We both read “The Intellectual Situation Against [...]
Throwing Bones
In a city that prides itself on being a supportive place where creative people can do their thang, the cost of living here is slowly killing that climate. Despite what citizens with Keep Austin Weird and No War in Iraq bumper stickers neatly emblazoned on the back of their SUVs/VWs/recumbent bikes seem to take for [...]
Everything you know and love
Artdivastudios.com, my new website, is under construction. You’ll be hooked up to all things Rachelle: art, graphic design, fashion, blogging… and whatever else I get into. Realizing this type of comprehensive work has made me take notice how, as I’ve matured, my approach to art is becoming more and more like that of my good [...]
Veni, Vidi, Artsy, Fartsy: Continued
A year later, I have mixed feelings about the changes I’ve seen in this part of the city over a short amount of time. First, my rent has doubled. I’m now living in a new-construction townhouse 1/2 mile away from my former digs on Poquito—yes, it’s one of those hideous mini-McMansions. It’s not without some [...]
Veni, Vidi, Artsy, Fartsy: Part 1
Following is a rough essay I started writing for Cantanker magazine a few months ago, but I wasn’t satisfied with the way it was going. While I feel I can express myself well with the written word at rare moments, most of the time I get pen-tied, too many things spewing forth at once. My [...]
I’m back
These people TOTALLY stole my idea. I’ve had the vision of starting a double dutch team on the brain for several months, but I don’t know how to do it, and I don’t know enough ladies who’d be interested. So…. buttons. The Austin Style Watch chick is one of the double dutchers, and has a [...]
Drawn to Art
The artist belongs to his work, not the work to the artist. – Novalis If you’re going to be an artist, be prepared to be slightly unhappy for the rest of your life. – Something I read or heard recently My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been. – Diane Arbus I watched [...]
Conversation Between Two Sunset Valley Wal-Mart Managers at 11 O’Clock on a Wednesday Night
Manager 1: “…they expect to make 80 million in sales next year at the Wal-Mart in Buda.” Manager 2: Sighs. “Our sales are gonna go way down with that one opening up on [IH] 35. But we still get people who drive up here from that Slaughter-Manchaca area.” Manager 1: “Yeah, the more stores there [...]
Signs of Design Life
As the sole graphic designer for a small corporation, the art department incarnate, I have to put up with a lot: 4000 sheets of 100# Utopia gloss cover too wet to print on, 10 type A marketing reps, 2 underachieving, apathetic bosses, 1 constantly malfunctioning color laser copier-printer, 1 web programmer with no artistic sense [...]
