Today I am sharing with you my New Digital Portrait!
James Graham is the singer of my favorite Scotland band The Twilight Sad their great and unique music and the beautiful photos of international Music Photographer Mauro Melis , inspired me on creating this new Digital Portrait in honor and to celebrate today James Birthday!
The Twilight Sad just ended two days ago in Miami their amazing and successful North American Tour as guest band opening for The Cure! I attended their amazing and unforgettable concert last May in Los Angeles and I was lucky to met James, if you haven’t you can read my Blog Post here.
This is a black and white with a hue of blue portrait in connection and symbiosis, reflecting James unique style and stage presence as mirror and shining light of The Twilight Sad music.
For this special portrait with the courtesy and kindness of Mauro Melis I was able to use some of his stunning photos from this Tour.
Today for my #NatureDoodlewash “hike” I enjoyed a walk on the beach 😉 it is very hot these days the beach seems to be the place to go. I am going to share my watercolor of some beautiful ocean treasures “Seashells”. I love everything that has to do with ocean you already know that by now! Seashells are fascinating to me , they are beautiful and great finds, I collect pieces of seashells and fossil seashells that I find in special places I go, or if they are interesting fragments. I use them for my one of a kind or limited edition jewelry that I create inspired by nature. I like to think that these seashells had a long life under water and that the ocean, wind and sand shaped them year after year. I enjoyed very much to paint these beauty.
Coming Soon Event! “The World Watercolor Month” you can learn all about it here!
Today post is about my thrilling experience attending the concert of one of the greatest band of all time UK iconic and legendary “The Cure”. Their music amazed millions of fans worldwide during last forty years and I am one of them. This concert is one of the most beautiful experience I had.
On Monday May 23, 2016 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles best known as a historical venue where great music names of all time has performed. I was lucky to be able to have a ticket on the second day of the three “Sold Out” shows. The Cure also performed on Sunday 22 and Tuesday 24 as part of their North America Tour 2016 the first US full-fledged tour in eight years with 33 Shows in US and in Autumn they will be touring in Europe with 26 Shows.
“The Cure Tour 2016” will present Robert Smith (voice/guitar), Simon Gallup (bass), Jason Cooper (drums), Roger O’Donnell (keys) and Reeves Gabrels (guitar).
This amazing tour also features another of my favorite band that I discovered quite a while back that I follow and love. Their music is unique and intense with great sounds and dark atmospheres, it is a magical combination with the beautiful voice of charismatic and intense singer James Graham, front man of Scottish post-punk band “The Twilight Sad”. They are the “Special Guests” supporting The Cure on almost all the dates of this 2016 Tour. The Cure couldn’t make a better choice on bringing The Twilight Sad out in the light for an exposure very well deserved, they are an awesome band rising up in our contemporary music.
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad band is based in Glasgow Scotland and was formed in 2003. Since then they released four studio albums, the latest is “Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave“. The band members are James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane (guitar), and Mark Devine (drums). Touring members include Johnny Docherty (bass guitar) and Brendan Smith (keyboards).
The Twilight Sad – James GrahamHeadline
The Twilight Sad will also be performing some headline shows during the tour, one was scheduled in Los Angeles at the “Teragram Ballroom” on Wednesday May 25. Sadly, I couldn’t attend this one. I really wanted to go to see them perform in their own element in the darkness of an intimate place where you can feel their music shock you deep inside your soul. I won’t miss them next time they come back to L.A. that for sure!
I couldn’t be more happy to attend this lifetime wish come true concert and to be able to see two of my loved bands live in one day! This is truly amazing!
When I discovered The Cure I was in Italy, my native country. A friend went to a summer vacation in London and came back with several vinyl albums from a band that at that time we didn’t know so well yet…The Cure! I have to say that after I listened their albums, I was hooked to their music. “Seventeen Seconds” was the one for me iconic and epic album that signed my love life for The Cure. The beautiful dark timeless sound that distinguish the uniqueness of this band is contained in all the songs of this album and in more to come. Included is “A Forest” one of my all time favorite songs that give me goosebumps each time I listen to it.
Finally time has arrived…
On May 23, after months of waiting, my day started pretty early getting ready to go to the Hollywood Bowl a 50 minutes drive from where I live. Exciting feelings were anticipating the concert that I have been waiting for all my life. This day was a very special day for me, it was filled with intense emotions and a “Surreal Surprise”. I am so happy that I was able to attend, I never wanted to miss this. The weather was sunny most of the day and later on turned a little gloomy with an appealing breeze.
When we arrived to the Hollywood Bowl was great to see the big sign saying “The Cure – The Twilight Sad – Tonight 7:pm – Sold Out” another great concert was about to be written in the history album of this venue. Things were getting real now!
We decided to pass the Hollywood Bowl to find an alternative parking area since the Bowl parking is known to be very crowded. So we drove down the main street at a decent walking distance from the Bowl.
There is a church with parking that I knew would let people park for events at the Bowl. We drove in looking for someone to ask if was possible to park early since the time was around 3.30pm and the gates of the Hollywood Bowl didn’t open til 5pm. Right at that exact moment when I turned my face toward the street I was stunned! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! Walking passed us in the street I see The Twilight Sad singer “James Graham” and the band manager John-Paul Mason, just at that precise moment! They appeared to me out of the blue! Oh Wow!!! That moment was so surreal! How could this be possible??? Instinctively I said, “That’s James!!!” He heard his name because he turned his face looking around trying to figure out who was calling him lol…I couldn’t believe what was happening, everything happened so fast like magic! That was one in a million chances. I kept calling James name and quickly got out to the car so that he could see me. They stopped, turned around and approached me by the fence. James came close smiling and surprised. I told him that I am a fan. Then they kindly came around the fence into the parking lot where I was. We started to talk and laugh, we hugged surprised from this amazing moment, it was fantastic like meeting old friends that you haven’t seen in a long time. James was super cool and very friendly, and so was John Paul. While talking we took some photos that I will cherish forever. Here is James! The impressive and intense soul of The Twilight Sad! I love this photo!
It was definitely one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever had! I couldn’t believe what just happened, this “encounter” alone made my day before it even started. I felt so great and happy!
One of The Twilight Sad beautiful songs that I love is “There’s a Girl in the Corner,” track from 2014 latest album “Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave” awesome album! This song is also offered as Exclusive Free Tour Download you can get it here.
I guess today “I was the girl in the corner” 😉 I can only say that it was a fantastic experience to meet James and John Paul, the best things happen when you don’t expect them. Thank you for stopping your walk and taking your time with me. Going to the concert, of course, I was hoping to be able to catch James and the band after the gig at the merchandise booth, but I knew that in L.A. wouldn’t be any easy in a sold out venue like this concert.
So my wish got fully granted with an amazing unexpected surprise that I will never forget. Thank You for your kindness James!
After of all this we had a little time before the Bowl opened the gates. There were so many people everything was well-organized and went smooth. While waiting I could hear The Twilight Sad doing their sound check and James voice resonate in between the Hollywood hills very beautiful. It was getting really exciting!
Outside The Hollywood Bowl
Around 5.30pm we were able to get inside the arena of the Bowl and had some time to kill after we got our seats. We went around the venue and to the merchandise booths to buy my The Cure Tour T-Shirt lots of people and I haven’t seen The Twilight Sad T-shirt that I wanted too!
Around 7pm was still natural sunlight, the arena wasn’t full yet but people were coming in. The concert started with The Twilight Sad opening with the beautiful notes of “There’s a Girl in the Corner” another great surprise for me! This song did bring together The Cure with The Twilight Sad for their collaboration. Robert Smith, recently recorded a beautiful cover for this song.
The Twilight Sad delivered a great performance with 7 songs on their Setlist, James Graham always deliver exceptional intensity and passion while singing becoming one with the music and dominating the stage with a distinctive, impressive presence. The 7 songs performed were: 1) There is a Girl in the Corner – 2) Last January – 3) That Summer at Home I Had Become the Invisible Boy – 4) It Never Was The Same – 5) Seven Years of Letters – 6) Reflection of The Television – 7) And She Would Darken the Memory.
The Cure Concert Begin
The sun was almost down by 8pm. The arena of the Hollywood Bowl was full and exciting. Clouds were invading the sky creating the perfect shade of darkness and gray atmosphere for The Cure to take the stage. The show opened with the beautiful and distinct sound of the guitars and Robert voice singing “Open” the first song of a long beautiful and insane Setlist featuring 33 amazing songs, 4 encores and two new songs performed “Step into the Light“ and “It can never be the same“ . The Cure gifted us with 3 hours of an amazing and spectacular show.
After playing 19 uninterrupted songs, the band left the stage for the first time. Watching The Cure live is stunning!
They are better than ever. Robert Smith has amazing stamina, he can sing and play his guitar forever. In between songs Robert gave us few kind and cheerful words. Roberts voice is as fresh and powerful like time hasn’t passed, the same for his unique look, the only difference is that he is letting his hair color natural. Besides that, his black eye-lined eyes, lipstick, black dressed and heavy boots all still there. He is “The Cure” the founder and heart of this amazing band and it’s so great to see that unity as band that make them amazing like their music.
After 23 songs and at the end of the encore 2 my favorite song “A Forest” blown away the Hollywood Bowl! There are not enough words to describe how this song effected me and everyone else there. This song has been with me almost all my life. No matter what has changed growing up, or going through life experiences and I think when this happens that’s what great music is all about, you become one with it, and will never leave you. Was an incredible experience to hear it live!
After this great moment, we had encore 3 and encore 4 more beautiful songs were played. The Cure wanted to give us everything they could in 3 hours time and still a lot more of amazing music from their discography were left un played. Robert & Co. enjoyed play their music with us very much it was like they never wanted to stop until the grand final with the song “Boys Don’t Cry”. This concert was outstanding and fantastic for so many reasons. I have seen two amazing loved bands and I would love to see them again and again and again…
A special thanks to The Cure and to The Twilight Sad for this unforgettable concert and for their timeless great music!
Late in October 2016 I have created a watercolor ink painting dedicated to The Twilight Sad
1st Release Collectors Limited Edition Fine Art Print are available on pre-order Here
Lack of time today I am going to share this older post about my jewelry designs. I wrote this post last November when I was lucky to meet in person some amazing Bloggers friends! ❤
– Point Dume –
Point Dume is a promontory on the coast of Malibu, California that juts out into the Pacific Ocean. The point, a long bluff, forms the northern end of the Santa Monica Bay. Wikipedia
Fossil Seashell Fragment found at Point Dume
I designed this necklace for my friend blogger and published author Erika Kind as token of our friendship. If you followed our recent posts you know that we met (read my post) in person last November here in California it was a great experience. Each piece of Jewelry I design has a story behind it. This one symbolize the beginning of our friendship relate to one of our first conversations that we had when we met, and it was about how much Erika love California, the Ocean and the Beach she said that she love “Point Dume” which happen to be a wonderful place in Malibu where I go often and I love to take beautiful photos like this one of the beach where Point Dume promontory is. This is one of the places where I find precious natural elements like fragments of fossil seashells, stones, driftwood all elements gifted from nature that I treasure and collect for my unique jewelry designs.
Fossil seashells Fragments, Driftwood
The necklace created for Erika has all the elements to symbolize what she love, it represent the Ocean with the natural beauty of a fragment of a Fossil Seashell, a Pearl and her favorite Turquoise stone, the blue color of the stone symbolize the sky and the ocean water, all the elements are wired together creating a keepsake memories pendant with an adjustable leather cord. This is an example of the concept I work with, to create one of a kind Jewelry. I am very happy that Erika love the necklace very much at the point that when I gave to her she got emotional, that was my greatest gift to see the reaction she had it means I made it through her heart giving her happiness and joy…this is one of the reason why I love my work!
It is very nice to see Erika wearing this necklace knowing that she will treasure it!
I also created for this meet up occasion some new stackable bracelets, the kind that more you have the better!
I created one for Marissa, one for Corinne and a new one for Me!
This one was created for Corinne made with natural Blue Quartz and Yellow Citrine Crystal.
Corinne has already a necklace that I previously made for her and this bracelet is a matching!
The Pink Quartz bracelet was created for Marissa made with natural Rose Quartz and smoky Crystals.
Rose Quartz is also known as the “Love Stone” and emit positive and protective energy.
I didn’t know Marissa too well, I wasn’t sure about her taste but she loved it!
This Bracelet was created for Me with a shaped Turquoise stone, Pearls and smoky crystals.
I hope that you enjoyed to read all the details behind the scene about what inspired me
to create this special Jewelry honoring our Friendship.
*¨¨*✿*¨¨*
Details if you are interested in my work….
My work is made as Custom Order can be purchased and ordered here on this Blog or on my Etsy Shop.
If you are interested in my designs don’t hesitate to Contact me ✿⊱
Unique one of a kind Keepsake Jewelry
“Memories From the Ocean”
This ethnic necklace is part of a unique collection of designs created with elements from the ocean. The necklace has a double pendant wrapped in silver plated copper wire, it can be made also in Sterling silver or oxidized copper. The wire and leather cord are wrapped together around the bigger fossil seashell, holding a second smaller piece. The leather cord made the necklace adjustable in length through sliding knots and has two antiques wooden beads. The unique pieces of Fossil Seashells were found by me on a beautiful Malibu beach in California. These pieces are one of a kind having different shapes and colors and no one is equal. During my journeys here I found other beautiful stones and more fossil seashell pieces in different shape, size and thickness. All the precious pieces are part of my personal collection to use for my limited edition or one of a kind jewelry designs.
Ocean whispers…
I love to think that each seashell spent hundred years of life travelling under the beautiful deep blue waters of the ocean until the waves left them on the shore for me to find and infuse them with my own Art. When I create my jewelry I feel very fortunate that, I can bring these seashells back to shine in a new beautiful life, this time it is outside the blue water for us to admire and treasure them like a unique and precious gifts from Nature.
Pieces of fossil seashells, coral, drift wood, beach pebbles stones, they all are very beautiful natural elements that I love to use for my jewelry designs. You can see more on my Jewelry Portfolio
This is one of the beautiful Beaches where I love to walk take beautiful photos and find my treasures from the ocean.
Details…
All my Jewelry Designs are single pieces created to have a life standing on their own beautifully in their unique and unexpected combinations of natural elements. My work is made as Custom Order made on order can be purchased and Ordered here on YesterdayAfter Blog or on my Etsy Shop.
I also accept custom orders creating “Keepsake Memories Jewelry” a design piece with your own special memories or found objects in nature or not. If you are interested don’t hesitate to Contact me ✿⊱
I hope that you enjoyed reading this post and to know more about how my jewelry is created and inspired.
Point Dume is a promontory on the coast of Malibu, California that juts out into the Pacific Ocean. The point, a long bluff, forms the northern end of the Santa Monica Bay. Wikipedia
Fossil Seashell Fragment found at Point Dume
I designed this necklace for Erika Kind as token of our friendship. If you followed our recent posts you know that we met (read my post) in person last Friday here in California it was a great experience. Each piece of Jewelry I design has a story behind it. This one symbolize the beginning of our friendship relate to one of our first conversations that we had when we met, and it was about how much Erika love California, the Ocean and the Beach she said that she love “Point Dume” which happen to be a wonderful place in Malibu where I go often and I love to take beautiful photos like this one of the beach where Point Dume promontory is. This is one of the places where I find precious natural elements like fragments of fossil seashells, stones, driftwood all elements gifted from nature that I treasure and collect for my unique jewelry designs.
Fossil seashells Fragments, Driftwood
The necklace created for Erika has all the elements to symbolize what she love, it represent the Ocean with the natural beauty of a fragment of a Fossil Seashell, a Pearl and her favorite Turquoise stone, the blue color of the stone symbolize the sky and the ocean water, all the elements are wired together creating a keepsake memories pendant with an adjustable leather cord. This is an example of the concept I work with, to create one of a kind Jewelry. I am very happy that Erika love the necklace very much at the point that when I gave to her she got emotional, that was my greatest gift to see the reaction she had it means I made it through her heart giving her happiness and joy…this is one of the reason why I love my work!
It is very nice to see Erika wearing this necklace knowing that she will treasure it!
I also created for this meet up occasion some new stackable bracelets, the kind that more you have the better is!
I created one for Marissa, one for Corinne and a new one for Me!
This one was created for Corinne made with natural Blue Quartz and Yellow Citrine Crystal.
Corinne has already a necklace that I previously made for her and this bracelet is a matching!
The Pink Quartz bracelet was created for Marissa made with natural Rose Quartz and smocky Crystals.
Rose Quartz is also known as the “Love Stone” and emit positive and protective energy.
I didn’t know Marissa too well, I wasn’t sure about her taste but she loved it!
This Bracelet was created for Me with a shaped Turquoise stone, Pearls and smocky crystals.
I hope that you enjoyed to read all the details behind the scene about what inspired me
to create this special Jewelry honoring our Friendship.
*¨¨*✿*¨¨*
Details if you are interested in my work….
My work is made as Custom Order can be purchased and ordered here on this Blog or on my Etsy Shop.
If you are interested in my designs don’t hesitate to Contact me ✿⊱
All my Jewelry Designs are single pieces created to have a life and standing on their own beautifully in their unique and unexpected combination of natural elements. My work is made as Custom Order can be purchased and Ordered here on this Blog or on my Etsy Shop.
I also accept unique custom orders creating “Keepsake Memories Jewelry” a design piece with your own special memories or found objects in nature or not. If you are interested don’t hesitate to Contact me.
Always thank you for sharing my Art!
Have a wonderful day or night
re great music names of all time has performed. I was lucky to be able to have a ticket on the second day of the three “Sold Out” shows. The Cure also performed on Sunday 22 and Tuesday 24 as part of their North America Tour 2016 the first US full-fledged tour in eight years with 33 Shows in US and in Autumn they will be touring in Europe with 26 Shows.
One of The Twilight Sad beautiful songs that I love is “There’s a Girl in the Corner,” track from 2014 latest album “
This one was created for
David Robert Jones—Fly Free—You are Creative Spirit!
Carolina Russo Art 
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