I have Pop Art on almost every wall of my house. I liked my first Pop Art piece so much (a photo I had sent into My Pop Art) that over the years, I’ve ordered one for practically every room (including the laundry room, where there is a Pop Art representation of clothes spinning around in a dryer!)

I have so much Pop Art around me, that now, I see Pop Art all around me, in my every day life. That’s how much art can affect you my friends! I went to the bakery this morning and the display just screamed Pop Art - the beautifully decorated pastries and pies and cakes, the icing-laced cookies, the clean glass reflections of the people staring lovingly into it.

There was an old man sitting at the corner in a broken down bench. I could see his greys and blues become violent greens and screaming yellows. I could see his heavy face brought to life with all of these colors swirling around him. These colors could lift him off that old bench and usher him down the street, to the local pub (since I see him there quite often as well!)

Even a thought can have a Pop Art quality. I thought about how much I missed a dear, old friend this morning. I thought of the kind feelings in terms of vivid colors and threw them from my head and heart in her direction, wishing her well and a bright Pop Art day.

Shocking blue, acids yellows, vibrant pinks - there are tons to choose from and which ones you decide on are up to you, when you order from My Pop Art.

When I decided the paint my room blue, I knew I wanted a work of Pop Art that “upset the balance” a little. I wasn’t the person who always wanted things to match. I liked wearing clothes, for instance, that were a little incongruent.

My bedroom is blue because I like the calming effect, so I wanted something vibrant but still chilled out. I took a photograph of the ocean and sent it to My Pop Art.com and told them I wanted green and yellow shades. When I got it back, boy - it popped out! It was so bright and wild, I knew it would fit nicely on my wall.

And sure enough it did. Even though the colors really jumped out, the overall effect in my room was still calming. And trust me, I need it. My kids are like little wild monsters and my job makes nightmares seem fun. At the end of the day, I need to retreat and genuinely recuperate! My new artwork and it’s wild colors take me away somewhere, help relax me as well as inspire me…both of which I need on any average day.
Thanks to My Pop Art, I have something a little offbeat on my walls but still calming and peaceful. Colors can affect you, this I know. And of course, art has that ability as well!

Sally had nothing to lose. She hadn’t heard from Sam in many weeks. Sam had recently lost his parents and seemed pretty shut off from the world. Sally liked him a lot though never said anything to Sam. She knew Sam liked her too but he never said anything to her. Here we had two people who liked one another but just couldn’t speak up! Sally thought some Pop Art might send the message and brighten up Sam’s sad world.

A friend had taken a picture of them at a cafe not so long ago. She never showed Sam the picture because it was obvious that the two were more than just friends in this photo. They were both sitting very close to one another, almost face to face. From all accounts and purposes, they looked in love. Sally sent the photo to My Pop Art and had it done in the most brilliant hues of pinks and reds and had it sent to Sam, with a note saying, “I’m there for you. Now and forever.” She wasn’t proclaiming her love and she knew it…but she was getting closer!

Sam finally called her and they talked for hours on the phone. He expressed how down he’s been, how withdrawn. Sally listened. They met at that same cafe later that day. And the following week. And several years from now. The Pop Artwork of the two of them now resides on a wall in a home that they share. Ah, love. Sometimes you just have to speak your mind. And if you can’t, you try. That’s the best you can do.

As an act of good will, I decided today that I would send some of my cool Pop Art cards to a few of my closest friends. I had the cards made a few months ago but realized I wasn’t using them so much. Like everybody else, I get busy and used to sending dumb, old emails to everyone. I also opened my mailbox yesterday and it just seemed jam-packed with bills and fliers and stuff. It always seems like that. Where is my pretty little letter in an envelope?

Well, maybe I can do my part to save the crappy mail by sending some great art! My cards look amazing. I sent a photo of a sunrise over the ocean and a bird swooping down into the water. I loved the photo and liked it that much more when I saw what MyPopArt.com did with it.

It took so little time to write a few cards to some close friends, just telling them about my life and a few words about my feelings for them. I sent them off and somehow, just doing that made me feel like I received something nice in the mail - not something requesting money or trying to sell me something!

Sure enough, several days later, I received a letter from a guy I used to date, expressing his interest in seeing me when he visits my city. I was shocked! I swear, it’s mail magic. Or male magic, as the case may be!

Sam started a wildlife refuge back in the 70’s with barely any money. At first, it was a very small establishment - pretty much a small cabin in the woods. Since then, it has grown and flourished into a property that encompasses almost a full acre in the woods.

Recently, he received some federal funding, which really helped improve the establishment that much more. Since there was no artwork on the walls, he enlisted the help of My Pop Art to “brighten the space.”

He could have picked photos of a myriad of animals, ranging from squirrels to raccoons to cows to lambs to hawks to beavers. Instead he chose a photograph of his favorite dog, Gunther, who had passed away years ago.

Sam felt Gunther was the reason he started the refuge in the first place. Gunther loved the woods and would “encourage” Sam to take him for long walks whenever possible. The more time Sam spent in the woods with Gunther, the more he realized how much he genuinely felt at peace there.

One day, Sam and Gunther stopped to help a bird who had fallen from a tree. Sam felt a light go on in his head and the idea of the wildlife refuge came to be. He took what remaining money he had in his savings and began building a home for any ailing animal in need.
The beautiful, bright Pop Artwork of Gunther hangs proudly on the walls now, reminding Sam why he truly is on the right path.

When I got my new apartment, I couldn’t have been more happy. Unfortunately, my parents felt differently. I moved to NYC to attend art school and the only place I could afford on my tight budget was in a “transitional” neighborhood, as the realtor put it.

I really, really liked the place but my parents were scared to death. I tried to assure them that the neighborhood was actually pretty safe, but the truth is, I didn’t know that. I just felt excited to be there and didn’t want anything to get in my way.

When I invited my parents for dinner, I decided I’d make the apartment look as good as possible. I figured somehow this would allay their fears. They’d see a more grown-up version of my surroundings and in turn, me! They’d see that I could take care of myself and worry less.

So I contacted My Pop Art (because my mom was a big fan of their work) and ordered a Limited Edition piece so I could hang it over my tiny dining room table. When my parents visited, they were pleasantly surprised. And I could tell they felt a little more relaxed. We even walked around the neighborhood and grabbed a coffee. By the time we got back to my place, my parents expressed their relief and told me they’d sleep a little better. They also checked the locks on my doors before they left.
Thanks, My Pop Art. You got my parents off my back…a little!

My mother-in-law drives me crazy. She’s domineering and intrusive. She even tried to come on our honeymoon and I kid you not. She had visited Costa Rica several times (our honeymoon destination) and thought that we’d be silly to not bring her along, since she knew the place much better than us!

Ugh. And it’s only gotten worse since we’ve been married. She pops in at any old time. She walks around the house make comments about this and that. “Did you get this at Crate and Barrel. Those things never last.” “These kind of candles are bad for your health. Haven’t you read?”

It’s our first year of marriage, so trust me, I won’t put up with this long. Since I’m a painter, I painted a grotesque painting of my mother-in-law in Pop Art manner, with acid greens and yellows, hideous oranges. I gave my mother-in-law fangs and daggers coming out of her eyes. I hung it up in our studio, put a corkboard behind it and (you can guess), I pulled out some darts and started flinging away.

The nice part is I play this Pop Art dart game when she’s here. After an annoying meal (”This steak is a little undercooked, don’t you think?”), I excuse myself with a sweet “Pardon me” and head up to my studio. I can still hear her gabbing downstairs like a frantic chicken, as I toss the darts with fervor and focus.

Andy Warhol would be proud I think. Every dart makes my art that much more…interactive. Art therapy, I suppose.

My friend Andrew is one of the most creative people I know. He lives far away and I wish he didn’t. He’s a kindred spirit and when we talk on the phone or simply email, I feel rejuvenated and content. I decided to send him an “out of the blue” present from My Pop Art to show him just how much I appreciate this presence in my life.

I only have one photograph of him. He’s sitting on my back porch, on a swing, sipping lemonade and looking content. I love the photograph because even though he’s such a joy to me, he’s often anxious and depressed. He’s a busy artist under a lot of daily pressure. Coming to visit me, he seemed genuinely relaxed for the first time in a while. I had the Art Strokes version of his photography created because I wanted to memorialize the moment, remind him in an artistic way of his own inner relaxed self.

When he received it, he was deeply touched. He never even knew I took a photograph of him! As a matter of fact, after some time hanging on the wall, it started making some changes in his life. He cut down his work hours, got out of an unhealthy relationship and started relaxing a lot more, making it more of a priority. He’s planning to visit me today. I’m really excited. Kindred spirits are hard to come by. You have to hold on tight when one comes along. I’m sure we’ll sit on my front porch and sip lemonade. And much more, I hope.

The more I shoot, the more I love to shoot. Photography has become more than just a hobby. Well, I’m not getting paid for it or anything but when I started, I was just like anyone else, snapping a shot of this or that and then putting my camera in a drawer for safekeeping. Once I started sending shots to get the Pop Art treatment, I realized I needed to up the ante, do some work and take better shots.

Now, I have several magazines I receive monthly that give me professional advice and I’ve joined an online forum for serious hobbyists like me. Taking care of my camera has become even more important since I rely on it so heavily. It’s not the world’s fanciest camera but it was an investment for me, that’s for sure.

First off, a case is mandatory. You don’t want you camera being tossed around cars and in bags without some protection. Cases keep them from being jostled about. I also clean my camera before I use it, with lens cloths and dusters, etc. Small pieces of debris can wreak havoc on the insides of a camera so keeping them clean is a good precaution.

I don’t tend to take my camera to the beach much - not this camera. I have an older camera that I prefer to use for beachy occasions. One grain of sand, that’s all it takes - and you can have major, major problems. I don’t risk it.

I keep my camera upright as well. It’s a delicate, balanced piece of technology so it just doesn’t feel safe to have it upside down or sideways.

These are just a few tips on camera maintenance. There are plenty more that abound on the web. Your camera is your investment so it’s smart to treat it wisely!

I started my business over a year ago though it wasn’t official until recently. I think I stumbled across my business accidentally. I started helping one author with publicity work, which was totally new to me. But she was a brand new writer and didn’t have a lot to spend. Apparently, I was a brand new publicist so she could afford me! Pretty soon, I had other authors contacting me, along with several musicians whom I knew quite well. Suddenly, it seemed, I had an official business! When I finally got a small office a few blocks away, I ordered a Limited Edition from My Pop Art because it looked awesome and it was affordable.

I really wanted to office to convey a sense of wealth, even if I wasn’t totally there yet! It felt so good, the first day I worked from the office instead of my home (in the bedroom to boot!) But the walls were so bare. I was almost tempted to put up a poster! Egad. Someone beam me out of college, will you?

My mother suggested the Limited Edition prints because they look so bright and elegant and was definitely within my budget. Now, every time I walk in the office, I have this lovely artwork welcoming me and my clients. I find it rather meditative too. This first year has been stressful - lots of financial ups and downs - but something about the artwork grounds me and makes me feel like a real professional on my way up!