Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Korean Skincare Routine

여러분 안녕하세요 (Hello everyone!)

After hearing quite a bit about the infamous 'Ten Step Korean Skincare Routine', I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give it a try. After all, my skin desperately needs some help after eight years of problematic skin. So what exactly do these steps entail, you ask? Here's how it goes down...(keep in mind, I slightly tweaked them). 


Nighttime Routine:


Step 1: Oil Cleanser 

Step 2: Pore Cleanser
Koreans believe cleansing twice removes all the dirt

Step 3: Exfoliator 

Step 4: Toner

Step 5: Derma Roller (0.5mm)

Step 6: Sheet Mask

Step 7: Essence

Step 8: Serums
I alternate between them each night

Step 9: Moisturize 
Combining all in my hand and applying


Daytime Routine:

Step 1: Rinse

Step 2: Spray

Step 3: SPF


So what sparked my interest in diving down this rabbit hole? Two things to be exact. A viral YouTube video and a photo. 


Now onto the photo, which depicts three Korean women. A mother and her two daughters. 

41, 63 and 36 years old

Hard to believe, right!? They look like college girls. So how does this elaborate skincare routine reverse aging? Koreans believe the secret to obtaining perfect skin is through proper cleansing, prevention and HYDRATION. If you're intrigued by this as much as myself, I highly recommend you peep this YouTuber named Liah Yoo who breaks it all down. 


Thanks to Liah, I also incorporated licorice root, bearberry and mulberry extracts. I hope bits and pieces of this post can be helpful to you and your skin journey!!

Much love, guys! 

Friday, September 15, 2017

Irma Gerd

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I've sat down and focused my thoughts long enough to formulate another blog post. Hurricane Irma rolled through a few days ago which was not fun at all. However; sitting in front of the window left me starstruck by mother nature's power as the winds gusted by...and than it would abruptly stop for a few moments. Followed by another band. At one point my parents, sister and I were all sitting in the hallway once a tornado alert popped up on all of our phones. In efforts to relax myself, I drowned out the hissing winds from beyond the walls and popped in my earbuds. Through my meditation music and deep breathing, I heard my sister hysterically laughing. I open my eyes and looking back at me, are my mom and dad sitting across the hall, wearing their bike helmets. hahaha


Thankfully the storm rolled through without taking our power. The worst damage we received was a leak in the ceiling above our tv room, but it could have been much worse. 

...

In other news, I'm growing my hair out!

Three month difference 


Some of the oils/products I've been playing with

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Endangered

The Consciousness Series #22: Endangered, created 2017, graphite, watercolors and Prismacolor colored pencils.



“If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.” -Albert Einstein


Check out the Time Lapse video for this drawing on my YouTube Channel here!

Prints are available on my website :)

Much Love. 

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Small Victories!

Hey guys.

How is it already August? This year has flown by (thank goodness). I'd be lying if I said this year was exciting and action-packed...but 2017 has been incredibly healing. I'm making moves to continue turning those pages, which will lead to the next chapter of my life. Some chapters aren't meant to be read aloud and that's completely okay.

So guess what? I have exciting news!!

Last week I shipped out six Garden of Weeden prints to different Dispensaries around the country.


Two to Cali, two to Colorado and two to Vegas. On Saturday, one of the employees at the Denver Dispensary reached out, to inform me that they framed and hung the drawing in their lobby area! They also hung the handwritten note and a business card next to the drawing! AHHH


I live for these moments. :) Moments that manifest from working hard, reaching out to the unknown and receiving praise and positivity. Creating something yourself, from the ground up and seeing little achievements, is so gratifying. 2017 has also taught me to not give up, even when you want to throw the flag in and call it quits. There's no other option, but to silently win.


Michelle has already been in contact with new Au Pair jobs from Hawaii, Colorado, Australia, Canada, etc. The goal is to photograph all the shoots needed for 2018 when she returns from New Zealand and before she leaves again on her new adventure. I'm determined to pump out 25 new pieces for 2018, allotting me two weeks for each one. 

I'm learning that success takes ample amount of work and the more pieces I have in the Series, the more likely it will reach the masses and take off. If everything goes to plan, this series will grow to 55 pieces by the end of next year!! Than it's off to Hawaii to start my next chapter, titled Aloha


Much Love.

Monday, July 31, 2017

Guardian


The Consciousness Series #21: Guardian, created 2017, graphite, watercolors and Prismacolor colored pencils.


We live on a beautiful planet, that we’re destroying…one soul at a time. Our animals have become nothing more than objects, who are raped, caged, beaten, immobilized, force-fed, mutilated, hung, gutted, electrocuted, ground and packaged for human consumption. The FDA doesn't care about your health, quite the contrary. These animals contract illness and diseases, running rampant in factory farms, which than enter our system when consuming their body parts. The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, which depends on the food and dairy industry, to profit off the sick. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average Pharmacist salary is $106,410 annually.

Speaking of numbers, roughly 56 billion animals are factory farmed every year. A number so insanely large, that my mind is unable to grasp it. That’s over 153,000 animals slaughtered everyday. That’s equivalent to killing almost every resident in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a daily basis. Their blood and waste seep into nearby lakes and than enter our water system. Remains are used as pet food (ironic, huh?) and gelatin. Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling their skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water and it’s used as a thickener in candy.

Unfortunately, six corporations own more than 90% of the media in America. Television, radio, magazines, etc. This control ensures GE, Viacom, Disney, Time Warner, News-Corp and CBS that you see and don’t see exactly what they want you to. Enter the fear-mongering, lies, brainwashing, distractions and political nonsense.

But there’s a simple solution to reverse the carbon footprint that we’ve already imprinted onto Mother Earth…by incorporating more organic, plant-based foods into our lives! Mass animal suffering will cease to exist once we stop supporting it with our dollar. Plants are medicine, not pills. Heal yourself, heal this planet and be a guardian for the voiceless.

Michelle was shot up into space, received new keys to reach enlightenment and now it’s time for her to travel back down to Earth and take a closer look. To be continued...


Time Lapse Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xh4pNKAsL4

Next Drawing: https://www.jeremymannino.com/form

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Gravity

The Consciousness Series: Gravity, created 2017, graphite, watercolors and Prismacolor colored pencils.


Drawing #20! Wow. I’m smiling from ear to ear as I sit writing this in my little studio, because I’m blown away that something as simple as a conversation below the stars with my best friend, could manifest into something so meaningful. Each piece is a visual reminder of how much this journey has transformed me. I am no longer the same person or artist that I was when Michelle and I created this series back in 2013. Over the course of this time, life has knocked me down and made me feel the lowest of lows. However, this series has always given me hope through escapism, creating some of the highest highs. 
All the still life paintings, landscapes, nudes, art critiques, all-nighters, commissioned portraits and hundreds of hours I’ve dedicated to this craft, led me here. To this exact moment where I’m overjoyed and proud of what I create.
I am truly blessed to call Michelle my muse and best friend. We first met in high school Biology and Jewelry class. Unbeknownst to us, the Universe had every intention of reuniting us once again, by placing us in the same college. While living in the same dorm Sophomore year, we began hanging out regularly and doing art, while listening to her Grooveshark playlist. I realized she wasn’t like most other girls. Her free-spirited personality, beautiful mind, hilarious sense of humor, loyalty and unshaken confidence was one in a million. It’s no surprise that she would become my biggest supporter and creative outlet. 
This piece reminds me of all the hysterical 4-hour road trips we took together, to and from Jacksonville. One day I hope this series catapults us into a position where we’re given the opportunity to travel the world together and spread our message to everyone. This series is an intertwined story of myself, Michelle, hope, growth, love, sweat, tears, passion, spirituality, injustices, dreams, beauty, darkness and the unknown.
Michelle was levitated up into an alien spaceship in Hoodwinked and now she’s soaring through space and discovering the next key to enlightenment. Now it’s time for her to meet someone with an important message. To be Continued...

Much Love!

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Pain is a Teacher


All things that instill pain are temporary. The more you focus on actively creating an enriched life for yourself, the faster the negative energy subsides.

I'm obtaining a successful art career, a move to Hawaii with Michelle, vitality, financial independence, a loving boyfriend and real happiness. 


Around this time seven years ago, I created this blog with zero understanding of how much it would help me. Writing your thoughts down creates momentum. I don't even recognize or care to remember the person I once was. I was a lost soul.


To protect myself from destructive behavior, I went soul searching, which led me on a beautiful journey. For the first time since I graduated in four years, I hung up my diploma. Proudly. That piece of paper taught me SO much more than how to draw. College sharpened my intuition, woke me up spiritually, brought Michelle and I together, gave me a glimpse of what independence feels like, allowed me to experiment, make mistakes, be reckless, decipher between good and bad people, allowed me to come out of the closet, meet some amazing people and Professors and guided me in the most magnificent ways. UNF was magical and now I have a new magical adventure that awaits around the corner.

Michelle returns from New Zealand in five months (the middle of December). To kick off 2018, we're attending a 10 day meditation retreat. I have no idea what we're going to gain from the experience, but I know it's going to be life changing. Prior to her return, I am going to create ten more pieces for the series. What's crazy is how before she left for her trip, the series consisted of 12 drawings, but once she returns, there will be 30.

I have two weeks to create each piece. This will be a test to see how capable I am to achieve what I set my mind to. I'll be working my other job three days a week, working out four days a week, eating super clean and allowing the Universe to help me create the future I want and dream of.

It's all possible, you just have to believe (in yourself) that it is!


-Jeremy

Friday, June 23, 2017

Hoodwinked Drawing


The Consciousness Series #19: Hoodwinked, created 2017, graphite, watercolors and Prismacolor colored pencils.
Real Eyes, Realize, Real Lies.
Make sure to set the quality to HD before watching...and subscribe :)
Cropping myself into Hawaii until I no longer have to haha
Much Love

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Be Free my Little Birdie

I'm learning to appreciate the journey to success. I feared it for so long. I feared moving away to college. I feared coming out. I feared becoming an artist. I feared that my acne would never clear up. I feared never finding a job. I feared and feared and feared.

You wanna know what happens when you stop fearing? You become a catalyst for growth and the roots begin to nourish your soul. 


I'm growing rapidly right now, by simply loving myself...and you know what? That's the least selfish thing you can do for yourself. This growth requires a substantial amount of solitude. When else would I have time to reflect on my thoughts and formulate new ideas with enriched substance?

Learning to appreciate time is a beautiful thing and having another job has blessed me with this understanding. 


In two weeks, I'm taking a week-long paid vacation and mapping out the game plan. I haven't had this many days off from work in a row, since I got the job 16 months ago. I deserve it. I've worked my ass off and now I get to play, while in a hyper-focused state of mind. 

Photoshoots. 
Gym.
The Consciousness Series. 
YouTube. 
Stretching. 
Health. 
Sunshine.
Rest.
Opportunity. 

My time to leave the nest (again lol) is approaching and I'm ready to fly off. For good this time. 

Much Love Guys.


Saturday, May 27, 2017

Finding the Sweet Spot

I keep seeing the same times on the clock. Someone said to me "that's like saying you look at the sun at the same time everyday." Maybe it is just a coincidence and nothing else. Or maybe not...


111 really resonates with me and I like to think an angel really is whispering into my ear. Every night growing up, we would pray as a family, over the food. My grandmother came over every Sunday and she would always end the prayer with "and may your guardian angel watch over you." She believed in angels. Maybe she could see them. I don't know. She's definitely the most spiritual being I have met to this day. She passed away ten years ago, when I was 16. Mediation is teaching me to sit, breath, calm my mind and focus on the things that matter. For me, this is all flowing. 

Be proud of yourself with each achievement, because every brick laid, is another negative emotion being squashed. 


Life is about focusing your mind on positivity. This is what I want out of life:

To make it as an artist. Independence through financial freedom. To live with my best friend. Flexibility. Spread veganism. The opportunity to attend different retreats and workshops. Vitality. Mental stimulation. To experiment with psychedelics. Wisdom. Get muscular. To travel with my loved ones and meet new people. To fall in love with a man who loves me. Have fun. 

Happiness. 



Here's a sneak peek of my next drawing. 

Saturday, May 20, 2017

The Consciousness Series: Fluidity


I've fallen a little behind on my art schedule and I know I've been MIA, but life is busy. I found a Wizard of Oz puzzle on Amazon, as a lightning deal and I couldn't pass it up. It sat on my desk in the box for about a week, until I popped it open. It's a 1,000 piece puzzle, but I figured it wouldn't take me more than two days to complete. I was WRONG. 

That shit took me almost a week, but it was well worth it!


I hung it right above my computer, so I can glance up at it and be reminded that life is a lot like a puzzle, in the sense that you have to find the perfect piece to become one step closer to happiness. The funny thing is how frustrating that might feel, even when you're trying really hard to succeed. The pieces are literally hiding in plain sight, but the more you connect, the farther you'll ascend down your yellow brick road :) You have to be aware that everything will fall into place if you're making moves. 

So because this took me about a week to do, I fell off track with my art schedule. I'm expected to complete my newest piece (psychedelic, alien vibes) by June 3rd, but I've only outlined it. 

You know what's been keeping me really entertained while drawing? Podcasts! My coworker Janine finally persuaded me to listen to S Town and I was hooked. Rabbits was the second podcast that I caught up on and I'm about to start listening to Tanis. 

Rabbits is by far my favorite of the two. It's about a girl who begins searching for her best friend, who mysteriously disappears. The quest to find her missing friend leads the protagonist down a twisting rabbit hole. IT'S SO FUCKING GOOD! 

You can listen to it for free on iTunes under the podcast tab, or on their website. The story is only six episodes deep (each one being an hour long), so you can easily catch up. They post a new episode once every two weeks. 

Without further ado, here is Fluidity coming to life:


This photo (which happened to be the background on my phone for months), played a significant role in the inspiration behind the piece...

She's a Pisces and I'm an Aries, which I thought was ironic. 

Lastly, here's a cute little candid shot from the Fluidity photoshoot:


Much Love!

Saturday, April 29, 2017

The Consciousness Series: Highbiscus


Transitioning from my last piece to this one, felt so natural and effortless. DMT depicts Michelle within a dream, while this drawing takes a step back, embodying the two, while delineating how I conceive a tangible dream cloud might look. 

Prior to having the concept mapped out, I began brainstorming ideas, to capture my muse in a pose that would convey peacefulness and vulnerability. Furthermore; an elaboration on the tropical, psychedelic style was a huge driving force in the inspiration behind this piece. 

The butterfly represents the fusion of the two worlds, as it's flying out of the dream, through the hibiscus and onto her shoulder. It's a representation of myself. I'm learning to evolve 🐛, by chasing my dreams and creating the reality I want. After all, a dream is a wish your heart makes.



Prints available! (click here)



Next drawing up: Psychedelic, ocean themed!! 

Much Love

Friday, April 21, 2017

Essence

Life has been crazy lately. I haven't even had time to watch PLL yet! haha It's gotta be Aria and/or Wren...and I want to binge watch The Walking Dead too and catch up on the latest season. I stopped watching when Carol left that Medieval looking place and moved into the cabin on the outskirts of the village.

Tv has not been on my mind lately, as much as I would love to stop and watch my favorite shows. I can barely juggle what's on my plate right now, so frivolous activities were the first to go. Occasionally, I'll allow myself to watch a movie off this free website I use though. I love movies. The latest one being Beauty and the Beast. I thought it was aight. Has anyone seen the new Power Rangers movie? I want to watch that one next. If you're a movie fan, check out this guy's YouTube channel ---> Chris Stuckmann

Anyways, I've been trying to do so many things in my day-to-day life and it's been absolutely amazing. I'm awakening to the realization that you have to HUSTLE as an Entrepreneur. I now make a lengthy and organized to-do list every night, before I go to bed.

One of the most recent changes, is an adjustment to my work schedule, which will take affect in a few weeks. Instead of working three 8-hour shifts, I'm going to work five 6-hour shifts and come in later in the afternoon/early evening. As a section leader with an order to write, this will make my life so much easier and I'll be there more days to work back stock and all that exciting shit. I'm going to tryyyyyy and manage this new schedule of working 30 hours, in an attempt to hold onto my health insurance, but if I get burned out, I'll bump down to five 5-hour shifts instead. Realistically, there's about a 99% chance that's what I'm going to end up doing.

Here's a preview of the current drawing I'm working on:


Sorry for the awful photo quality. My phone case sucks and blurs my photos, which is why I have a new case on the way. I'm finally getting a wooden case! I've always wanted one :)

I'm scheduled to complete this piece on the 24th. I have so much more to do, as well as import the photos into iMovie and create another YouTube video! 

I've found it's super important to eat insanely clean when you're working nonstop, to keep your brain alert and focused. Well, actually all the time, but especially when you're working 60-80 hours a week. So what exactly do I do?

As an Entrepreneur, everything depicts the outcome of my life right now. So essentially, I consider everything productive (that contributes to my art career, health, mind) as work. As soon as I wake up, I jump on my trampoline for five minutes and get the blood and oxygen flowing. Than I make a smoothie and a green shot mixed with matcha green tea, before laying out in the sun. Than I juice, oil pull, do dishes, work out (I've been slacking and only going to the gym like 2-3x a week), draw/film, do photoshoots for social media, meal prep, chores and run errands (mainly to FedEx and the Post Office these days), shop on Amazon, make a protein shake, blog and I've been getting in a groove of stretching for an hour every night. I met a really cool (and fellow vegan) guy on Instagram who introduced me to Terrence McKenna, so I've been listening to his speeches while I stretch. His mind is fascinating. Plus he helps me zone out, as I'm falling deeper and deeper into the pain of each stretch, making it more bearable. 


I want to get to a point where this all just becomes effortless and natural. That's why I can't wait for the day when I no longer need another job to support myself financially, so I have 25-30 more hours a week to dedicate to myself. That'll be a chapter in my life I greatly look forward to. I just need to stay focused and give it time, because that day is on the horizon. Future Lifestyle/Travel Blogger and Artist here I mothafucking come!! 

Stay focused y'all...and if you're not focused enough, GET FOCUSED! Time is of the essence :)

Friday, April 14, 2017

I'M ON YOUTUBE

Learn. Grow. Repeat. 


I have two subscribers, which kindaaaaa makes me a YouTube Celebrity. 

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Creating my Reality

THANK YOU for all the birthday wishes! 

26 is going to be the most vibrant year of my life...until I turn 27 hehe. My bday was so productive. I drew from midnight (made a wish), through the night and put my pencils down around 7AM. I slept till noon and than made a smoothie, laid out in the sun, drew some more and than met up with coworkers to celebrate at The Cheesecake Factory. 

Among the generous presents I received, I was gifted a crocheted succulent, handmade by my super talented friend Arielle.



For an entire week leading up to my bday, she worked on this art piece, which makes it that much more special. She gave me a piece of her heart and I'm so grateful. Not to mention this plant drinks essential oils, rather than water, making my room smell so good! 



This mat literally just came in the mail a few hours ago. I purchased it in an attempt to heal and release the tension I have in my shoulders, neck and lower back. So excited to use this acupressure mat everyday! :))

So what have I been up to lately? I've been clocking 60-80 hours of work a week, for the past month or so. Doing photoshoots, edits, drawing, building my social media, retail job, etc. My next big venture is YouTube--which will consist of time-lapse videos of myself drawing. 

I finished my most recent piece yesterday, which will be the focus of my first vid! 


The mind is an extraordinarily powerful tool and one of the many facets it's equipped with, is our ability to dream. Dimethyltryptamine aka DMT, is the source of this, which is released in the pineal gland and allows us to dream at night. Sleeping has always fascinated me, because that's where my mind becomes psychedelic. 
Often times, dreams would frighten me as a child, due to the sheer obscurity and utter bizarreness of them. They got so intense, that I began wetting the bed as a kid and I had to sleep in my sibling's room, on the floor. However; over the years, I've learned to embrace them, rather than forcing myself to wake up. Night terrors and nightmares are not my fondest memories as an adolescent, but they taught me how pure and unpredictable the mind can be. Free of second-guessing, ego and shattering societal norms. 
I titled this drawing 'DMT' because I wanted it feel as if you're watching my muse within a dream. Almost like a Kodak moment. Michelle is teleporting out of a magical conch shell and onto a tropical island, where she'll find the key to her happiness. (Hawaii, obviously) haha 

On a random note, Michelle referred me to a practicing Shaman, who was giving free readings. So I hit him up and this is some of the information he sent me:


I think it's interesting and fun, plus I really connect to the Nine of Water description. I didn't get a whole lot out of it, but I had nothing to lose! 

Pave your own path in life and stop at nothing until you're truly happy...


Much Love Guys.