new work: 'isn't it romantic?'
it's been awhile, hasn't it? a new piece & a quick studio update
Sometime in my 20s I remember thinking: “no one ever buys me flowers” — only to catch myself and realize, I could buy my own damn flowers.
And so I started, every week, picking up bouquets from the grocery, from the Farmer’s Market, from the side of the road — switching between sweet smelling stems of eucalyptus and white lilies (my favorite), bright pink gerberas with black centers or flouncy tulips with frayed edges, depending on the season. Coming to finally love sunflowers after they were gifted to me by a lover (finally), discovering the texture of straw flowers and the bold scent of fresh lavender, graduating to potted plants and small trees and now, finally with my own home, my own garden.
The native sage I planted in the fall took and are thriving; this week, one by one, each has blessed me with a tiny flower — white, purple, almost blue. My first cactus opened up a loud bloom today: bright yellow, like a child’s drawing, almost too fantastical to be real. My jasmine (my other favorite) is teasing me, too, peeking out with the beginning of tiny buds, ready for the dry heat of summer to carry its scent through my front door.
isn’t it romantic? 💐
To buy flowers and to receive them, to grow them and to gift them, to witness them in all their audacity after what feels like a never-ending winter. To step forward and touch spring, after all.
‘isn’t it romantic?’ is a painting inspired by flowers, spring, and romance for one’s self. All of that — in general and specifically; the paintings palette inspired by a bouquet handmade for me at a new local flower shop located here in Joshua Tree, pictured on the left-side of the table in the photo.
It is a large painting, perfectly sized for over a full or queen sized bed or a dining table, as pictured, or a bench in a hallway. The painting ships unframed but the composition wraps around the frame’s thick (1.5”) edges so is best hung, in my opinion, unframed. More detailed photos here. To purchase or for more information, reach out to studio@alexmaceda.studio.
A Never-Ending Winter…
It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. On the surface it appears I have spent the past few months escaping a particularly harsh Joshua Tree winter, when in reality, it’s more than I’ve been on deliberate trips to collect that which I need for the next phase of my journey.
In February, I completed my yoga teacher training in Costa Rica and recently took on teaching a weekly class here in Joshua Tree. In March, I went to see my family in the Philippines and began to open up professional relationships there to bring my work abroad. In April, I took a long awaited trip to Peru to dive deeper into my plant medicine studies and completed a traditional dieta with the beautiful plant, bobinsana. I’ve been accepted into a competitive writing program for June and a residency in Greece, also for writing, for July and write you here, on the verge of May.
Which is all to say, things have been moving more quickly than ever — and my words and paintings have as such been all blocked up — water in a dam! — waiting to careen forward and spill into your awareness. I have so many stories that I cannot wait to tell you and so much new work that I cannot wait to share! Soon, very soon.
One ask: I am seeking a gallery or space to show a new collection of paintings in LA, SF, NYC or the desert. If you or someone you know is interested in showing my work, please don’t hesitate to reach out by replying to this e-mail.
Be well and much, much more soon 💖
Amac