when finding balance gets shaky but always necessary...
A poetic journal recap on my latest art adventures + finding a new balance.
16 June 2025.
“I don’t have major time for minor people.”
Big sis came over and blessed me with a word. Who have I been giving my time to? Oh I know - everyone but me. Neglecting myself is criminal.
pulled from the bookshelf…
Current reads and highly recommended.
Morning vibes.
20 June 2025.
I pulled out the tools and painted since I’m unable to write. The words, drive, vision…everything just packed up + checked out on me.
I sifted through scraps of expression scattered across the floor, each sheet holding my stories + secrets from another time. Another me.
5 July 2025.
One of my greatest struggles was denying myself space + grace between visual + literary practices. When do I pick up the pen? Is it time to pick up the brush again? Short answer - when I feel like it. When I painted my collaged portrait, I was in the middle of writing murk(ed). I didn’t have writer’s block but allowed the scales to tilt from side to side when necessary.
While working with both portrait and poem, I waded in the good, the bad + ugly, reflecting on what it would cost me when it was time to change. What mentally held me captive? Who do I walk away from? Where do I stop visiting? What do I quit consuming?
Let go of what’s expired and no longer brings purpose. It’s ok. Everything isn’t meant to last forever.
20 July 2025.
Three weekends in a row of quenching my creative thirst.
I was limiting my exposure to the creative world. Supplementing from the worldwideweb wasn’t enough and I knew better. I met Bri (aka A Dope Black Girl with Anxiety) a few days after the Wu Tang concert. She’s the third writer I met from the Substack-verse, and we yapped like old friends at a cafe.
From rapping along with Wu Tang fans, attending art shows and catching up with artists, I feel renewed.
One of my favorite cover ups. The eyes are one of the most important details in the portraits. My interpretation for the white streaks is filtering what we don’t want seen. If someone looks into your eyes, what would they see?
Please feel free to share how this portrait speaks to you.
A lil somethin somethin I listened to while I painted in no specific order.
19 July 2025.
First lesson in skating is to stand and find your balance. Shift your weight from side to side, bend your knees, gradually roll and push.
HUGE shoutout to my new collectors who’s purchased and received FREE art!
M.P. Fitzgerald! THANK YOU for blessing me with an author’s package.
recommended reads…
what’s coming up next?…
More typography art that’ll be for sale in small + larger sizes. Abstract portraits are the vibe right now so you’ll see me making more of them. If you’re interested in purchasing, send me a DM or email.
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Thanks for reading my shit. I love you.
peace.
alex b.
We have to talk about this piece soon!!!
The eyes immediately pulled me in.
It's something about the bright white eyes that made me think of channeling - introspection - and finally seeing the world in 8K.
Something about July felt like... it cracked me open...
And if someone was to look into my eyes long enough to peer into my soul - lol well, I think they would see a mess, but a beautiful one.
And may be that glimpse alone would lead to more conversations that lead to more unraveling of pieces and learning to be comfortable in the vessel I'm in.
That poem at the beginning! 👏🏽
"Somewhere between lost and found..."