Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Farewell Blog World

It's with a heavy heart that I've decided to step down from this platform. I no longer feel like I'm getting anything out of it, contradictory to when I first started this journey eight years ago. I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way, as I grew from the scared, closeted college kid I once was and into the person I am today. Thank you to all the people I've had the pleasure of connecting with and the abundant guidance over the years. I hope this blog acts as a safe haven to anyone who needs it.

With that being said, you can still connect with me at https://www.jeremymannino.com 

Catch ya on the flip side.

Much love,

Jeremy.


Monday, June 4, 2018

Gym Crush

So as most of you probably know, after graduating college I worked as a Portrait Artist for three years. The ability to connect and collaborate with different people from around the world and share my gift with them was really rewarding. I would bring my supplies to Barnes and Noble and set up shop in the Starbucks cafe area for 5-6 hours at a time. Having the freedom to work wherever I wanted was so liberating, BUT I wasn't charging enough to make a living.

I began working at Trader Joe's and decided to take a break from art, to refocus where I wanted to navigate my creative endeavors next. Overtime, I decided to pursue painting again and created 18 pieces in total, 10 of which are on display at a local yoga studio near the beach...and the remainder are hung in the reception area of a law firm.

However; since the paintings aren't selling, I've decided to revert back to being a full-time Portrait Artist again. Woo! I'll have the ability to work in coffee shops/cafes like old times, people watch and chat with individuals who approach me. Plus the bookstore is right around the corner from my gym, making it very convenient to lift and than work.

Speaking of the gym, about six weeks ago I was walking to the water fountains in-between sets and one of my friends from college was gleaming at me. Neither of us had any idea the other also attended the same gym...and now we workout together 2-3x a week! It seriously makes going to the gym so much more fun! Furthermore; I have a massive crush on one of the managers who works there. Much to my delight, he generally works out during the same time we're there and is a beautiful specimen to look at.

As weird as this may sound, his presence alone has really motivated me to be in the gym 5x a week, to not only look at him...but to look more like him. haha He's about 6'3", golden tan, blonde, blue eyes, perfect smile, insane physique and super friendly. Basically he looks like a Greek god, which is what my best friend and I nicknamed him until I glanced at his name tag one day haha

This is a photo I took of him before he cut his hair

He winked at me (again) today while saying hi in passing, but I stuttered something incoherent and broke eye contact because he makes me so nervous and starstruck. My goal is to talk to him more frequently and get comfortable in his presence, simply to make a new friend at the very least.

Anyways, check out my newly revamped website and don't be shy to contact me if you're interested in a custom piece! I feel so hypocritical telling you not to be shy when I can't even talk to this random guy hahah Cheers to making this Summer the best one yet!

Much love guys!

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Gardens of the Mind

Gardens of the Mind. 30"x40" acrylic on canvas. 


This is a continuation of my last piece (The Dark Night of the Soul), hence the overgrown moss and garden lamps in the foreground, to represent the mysterious glow shining through the wooden door in the forest. Inspired by Mulan and Pan's Labyrinth, this painting symbolizes the beautiful nooks and crannies of our minds that we've yet to discover. Lets find out what lies beyond the rose bushes.



Etsy

Saturday, May 19, 2018

The Dark Night of the Soul

The Dark Night of the Soul. 30"x40" acrylic on canvas. 

Life isn’t always bright and colorful, but we tend to glamorize and showcase that side of ourselves, especially on social media. The truth is, we all come face to face with obstacles and challenges, which force us to look inward and discover the light amidst the darkness. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” ✨ 

This painting was inspired by The Wizard of Oz, The Matrix and Alice in Wonderland, particularly for the unique calling each of the protagonists are chosen to endure. Dorothy is whisked out of Dust Bowl Kansas and embarks on her enlightenment, paved by the spiritually symbolic yellow brick road. Alice is led down a rabbit hole and presented with a series of doors, unaware of the lessons that lie behind the one specifically chosen for her. Neo is set out on a course to free himself and humanity. 

Sometimes it takes a big event to break through and begin the hero’s journey to self-discovery, like changing careers, moving, a tornado, etc. This piece symbolizes my own journey of authenticity and learning from my failures and setbacks, as I pursue my life purpose. So what’s behind the door? Well lets find out together, shall we…🚪🔮


ETSY SHOP




Saturday, April 21, 2018

Storytime: I met a Sugar Daddy

Hello my beautiful people. 

Thanks for stopping by. 


Life is a beautiful experience and I'm grateful for everything it's blessed me with. I really want more from it though. Is that selfish? My job at Trader Joe's became so mundane, which led to a level of frustration I've never encountered before. So what does any normal person do when they want to change something? They start looking for ways to remove themselves from that situation. What do I do? Join a sugar daddy site...

..and I KNOW I shouldn't have done it, because sugar makes me break out, but I'm trying to live a little!

Back in August I joined Seeking Arrangement with the intentions of affording Photography/Entrepreneurial classes, healthier foods, high quality art supplies, more natural products, invest, etc. After meticulously expressing my reasoning for being on the site, the waiting game began. Fast-forward to December and I flew 3,000 miles away to meet a guy. I know you want every drop of details from this juicy ass story, but my reasoning for sharing this isn't to focus on that, it's what this experience taught me. Ew I feel like an adult.

Longggg story short: I flew to Cali, met a well-traveled Physician, immediately realized the environment was not conducive to my growth and Ubered to the train station, before arriving back to the airport and eventually getting home.







The experience acted as a mirror and I had ample time to do serious soul-searching. How do you do that? I asked myself/the Universe the same question and than listened for a response. I learned that you have to follow your dreams and make conscious steps towards achieving them, everyday. It's that simple. Joy vibrates on a super high frequency, and in order to hit the bullseye of abundance, pinpoint your passion. 

Immediatedly after unpacking, I went to the storage unit and retrieved the two-dozen canvases from my college days. Painting makes me feel free and my tenacious spirit is dedicated to becoming a pro at it. Next, I began listening to motivational audios around the clock and painted a sea turtle, giving birth to my Tropical Series!! It still makes me laugh that meeting a sugar daddy literally manifested this body of work. Check out my Etsy shop Here.

The turtle is alone in an open sea, which is how I felt on that journey, but what the viewer doesn't know, is that the path leads to somewhere beautiful.


As I was working on my fourth painting (the pineapple), I received a text that my coworker Logan passed in a car accident. She was a 20-year-old FAU student with the funniest sense of humor with the kindest soul. She looked JUST like Scarlett Johansson,  which led to her nickname "SJ".


I allowed myself to cry for the entire day, but harnessed that raw emotion into the pineapple painting, which holds a special place in my heart. Going through that experience taught me how fragile and unpredictable life is. Consequently; I quit my job, went on a roadtrip and turned 27 on Easter. 




Life is unraveling magically. I stopped watching porn after 13 years, attend the gym 6 days a week, meal-prep weekly, solely listen to motivational/informative audios and have a giant crush on a guy who works at my gym. Time feels like it slows down when I look at him. My best friend and I were talking about the psychology behind attraction, which led me to researching the Law of Attraction. It's a powerful law. 


My newest painting made me have an epiphany. Back in 2014-15, I received a private, hour-long reading from a Medium. In the session, Savonn confidently told me that I would be creating spiritual paintings one day. At the time I doubted him, but he was right. This is my newest painting: 


I don't doubt the spiritual world at all anymore. This diptych painting is still in it's early stages, but it depicts a bookshelf under a night sky. On the bookshelf are some of my favorite thangs. A Himalayan lamp, numerology/synchronicity, tea (with a lotus flower floating on the steam), essential oils, diffuser/aromatherapy, seashell, candle, potted succulent, sage smudge stick and an amethyst crystal. The sky is going to display a starry constellation. 

So yeah, that leads me to where I am now: with a new perspective on life, a disciplined mind and an understanding that I can achieve greatness on my own.


Much love guys. 

Saturday, April 7, 2018

TROPICAL ART SALE

Hi guys! I'm having a huge art sale on my tropical series!! Spread the word and help me grow :)






My Etsy Shop


Your support means everything. Much love guys. 

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Discipline

The more you understand how precious (your) time is, the more conscious you become in how you spend it and who you spend it with. The greatest and most successful people on this planet utilize their time wisely and that's exactly what I'm discovering and implementing.

May 2017 ---> March 2018

I enjoy comparing before-and-after photos of myself, as a reminder of how far I've come and to continue pressing forward to greatness. Thanks to consistency and determination, I planted seeds in multiple areas of my life and the growth is now visible. 

Life is beginning to blossom and I look forward to sharing it with you soon...

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Ayurveda Hair Journey


Ayurveda is magical. Although many of the powders (derived from plants, flowers and herbs) can be taken internally, I primarily apply them topically. I've honed my hair regimen thanks to the wonderful YouTuber by the name of CurlyProverbz


POPPIN


Her transformation inspired me to give Ayurveda a shot. Why not, right? My hair was limp, oily, lifeless and falling out, so I began my hair journey in June 2017 with oils. After months of doing over-night oil treatments, I no longer wanted to shampoo my hair everyday (to get the oil out). So I began applying insane amounts of conditioner to my hair and leaving it in several hours, before washing it out in the shower. For more info on the products I'm using, check out this post

My hair DRANK that shit up and I was co-washing (conditioner only washing) nightly. I did that for like two or three months, until I could feel my hair becoming over-hydrated. Foreign to this, CurlyProvs mentioned a metaphor in one of her vids explaining it. Overly hydrated hair is like overcooked pasta, which becomes mushy. 

Now I'm craving pasta. ha

When cooked right, it's bendable, doesn't snap and has buoyancy. Uncooked pasta (dry hair) is prone to breakage, literally snapping off due to a lack of moisture. That's what SO many people struggle with who bleach, dye and apply heat. For amazing product knowledge, peep Youtubers Bianca Renee and mah gurl Curly Penny

Anyways, once my hair started feeling mushy, I ceased the deep conditioner treatments and began applying hair masks, using Ayurvedic powders. There are so many...and that might just be a post in itself. Comment down below if you'd like to see pictures of all the powders I use to create my masks. To name just a few: Neem, Aloe Vera, Amla and Cassia. 

So what does my hair look like now?

BAM! 


I buzzed my head the end of November, so this is 3.5 months of growth. I still have a long way to go, but cheers to this little victory!! Life is all about making yourself more confident, which naturally emulates a more loving aura. Seeing a guy with nice hair made me feel so envious, not knowing all along that its 100% obtainable. As far as hair is concerned, Ayurveda cures psoriasis, eczema, male pattern baldness, dandruff, itchy scalp, split ends, etc. The powders contain vital nutrients that our hair needs to grow strong and luxuriously, even stimulating new hair growth where follicles were once dormant. 

Current Routine:

I apply hair masks almost every night of the week, combining secret powders with cooled tea or water. Once blended into the right consistency, the paste is applied to the roots of your hair. I section my hair starting from the center, than work my way to one side, followed by the other. 

The mask generally chills on my head anywhere from 2-4 hours. Once I'm in the shower, I let the water rinse it all out, before applying conditioner, which sits in for a few minutes. 

After about five days my hair starts to look oily, so I'll create my typical mask, but add in a whole bunch of different oils as well. Olive, avocado, coconut, blackseed oil, etc. 

Once the shampoo is rinsed out, the process starts all over again. The longer my hair is able to go between shampooing, the better. 

This is the next hair style I want to achieve by late Summer/beginning of Fall...


He also has wavy hair like myself. I'm 2A, he's 2B (and lookin like a snaaack)...but close enough. 


My current mission is to regrow my edges and the overall thickness. Until than, cheers!


MUCH LOVE GUYS

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Yellow Hibiscus Painting

Hawaii-inspired Tropical Series

Painting #5!



Check out my Etsy shop here and the YouTube time lapse video here

Monday, February 5, 2018

Hawaii Series #3 and #4

Bringing you a two-for-one today! I completely forgot to post my third painting and before I knew it, the fourth one was complete. So, here you go:

Painting #3: Hibiscus Painting 



Painting #4: Pineapple Painting



Tuesday, January 23, 2018

How to naturally reverse hair loss

My hair journey officially began in June 2017 when my scalp psoriasis and dandruff got out of control. I had crusty/flaky patches around my head that were completely inflamed, which burned when I tried to wash my hair. Not only did this lead to uncontrollable itching and excessive dandruff, but also heavy amounts of breakage, hair loss and limp, lifeless hair. To make matters worse, my hair was extremely oily and I had no sort of hair routine at the time, resorting solely to Selsun Blue. If you'd like to see before pictures of my hair and skin, check out this post.

Out of serious desperation, I jumped online and started reading/watching as many articles and testimonial videos on natural hair growth and a healthy scalp. For an abundant amount of natural haircare tips, check out this YouTube video from holistichabit (skip to 3:40).

This research led to my understanding of what shampoo and conditioner are meant for. My entire life I was just blindly shampooing every night...that was the extent of my haircare. Due to the severity of my condition at the time, I began doing (overnight) hot oil treatments everyday for a month straight. My DIY oil masks consisted of coconut, olive, grapeseed, sweet almond, shea, castor, avocado, jojoba, argan, hemp, neem, rosehip, blackseed, rosemary, lavender, tea tree and vitamin E oil. Rather than applying them one by one, I poured some of each into an empty applicator bottle and shook it up each night. Side note: place a towel over your pillowcase before going to bed, to soak up the excess concoction. 

If you're just getting started and feel overwhelmed by the amount of oils I use, here are the ones I recommend getting first: castor, rosemary, vitamin E and coconut oil...however, the more the merrier in my opinion. 

Each morning I washed the oil out with this art naturals shampoo and followed up with the conditioner. I believe this is the third box I've purchased. Prior to the first, my hair had never come in contact with conditioner. I know that might sound crazy, but I always assumed conditioner was for females...even though hair is hair. Thank God I came to my senses. 

Amazon: $18-26 (Depending on Lightning/Daily Deals...or lack thereof)

After a month of this routine, my scalp had completely healed and I noticed the daily shampooing was now doing more harm, than good. Shampoo strips the natural oil from your hair, but because mine was so damaged, it was craving extra moisture and TLC. That's when I learned about daily cowashing, short for "conditioner-only washing", which leads me to where I am now...almost eight months later. 

I now do overnight hot oil treatments every Monday and Friday night. Occasionally I mix it up from the extensive list above and simplify the mask, like this one for example. 


Heat up the coconut oil (double-boiler method), add the other ingredients, massage into scalp and go to bed. Due to this schedule, I always shampoo my hair on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

With that said, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights, I apply a GENEROUS amount of conditioner into my hair and let it drink up...I'm talking 2-4 hours. Here are the different conditioners I've played with so far:

Marshalls: $6

Marshalls: $10

Marshalls: $7

Marshalls: $3

Marshalls: $5

Marshalls: $5.50

Marshalls: $8

The Marshalls clearance shelf has become my best friend on this journey, along with the convenience of Amazon to buy the different oils. My hair still has a long way to go, due to years of neglect, mistreatment and lack of knowledge, but it's soooooo nice to have a healthy scalp and fluffy hair. Now that I'm onto the second phase, my goal is to really strengthen and thicken my hair to its maximum potential. 


I hope this can be of use to anyone struggling with something similar or simply looking for a more structured hair routine of their own. Guys, conditioner is NOT only for chicks!!


Much Love!