That window, even screened, allows lady beetles. Luck sprinkles the ceiling. Magazines and perm rollers litter your flat like so many sweets beaten from a donkey. But right now, little matters except butter. Butter, you hope, will armor you: against the city’s parasitic grit, against your bus mate’s accosting grin. The coarsest of sentiments slipping past manilla teeth. Morning breathes her last. Your metronome quickens as the wind hijacks Adhan, presses traces of worship against your hips, and trails you to the door. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share...

Always the muse, Xian stands out because of her expressiveness. Working with the artsy environment at Apache Cafe & Lounge, she creates moods with each pose that constantly inspired artists and photographers alike. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

Maurice Evans is a painter and photographer who marries both skill sets to create some astounding works. Humble ’til the end, he was genuinely surprised when I told him I wanted to feature his works on the blog because I considered him and his works to be influential and inspirational to the vision here. Within a few brief years, Maurice has established himself as one of the best in the field of Black Art and his works has delighted countless collectors of African-American art. No matter the subject or whether the works are executed on paper, wood or canvas – the texture, intense colors,...

In this sequel to Curves and Locs at the Apache Cafe & Lounge I experimented with the images a bit, working on different approaches for digital illustration that I’ve been contemplating for while. I liked the affect. This pictorial is part of a short series of retrospectives on my influences and inspirations. The model goes by the stage name DarknCurvy and you can find her on MySpace. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

Xian was the first. At Apache, she was the first model I created images of (first as sketches, later as photos). And while I loved the images I captured, there were so many quality concerns with the digital images that I was inspired to solve the problems and get it right. The solutions are technical, having to do with camera sensors and lighting techniques. But I was inspired to go the next level. Create better images and new ideas. Grow. I guess that is what a Muse does for you. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it...

As I’ve mentioned before… the vision for the images in Pangea’s Garden all started with my captures at the Apache Cafe & Lounge. This pictorial is part of a short series of retrospectives of how what I’ve seen has influenced and inspired me. The model goes by the stage name DarknCurvy and you can find her on MySpace. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post