My amazing editor and her new blog which focuses on becoming a runner.
Archives for the month of: March, 2013
In a lot of my projects lately, I have focused my creativity with different mediums, such as painting and drawing. My love of art, specifically, painting, I feel comes from a family influence from my Great Aunt June. I remember her most for her landscape paintings, but also for the Michelangelo necklace she painted for me. It is with her inspiration, plus my drive toward creativity that I constructed these pants.
These splatter pants come from not only my familial inspiration, but also from the style bloggers Unabashedly Prep and Thread and Salt. They created and wore pieces that showed the splattering effect that I also used for these.
The pants, in essence, are what I would deem my creative side. The pants involve several different colors in various strokes. This shows the copious amounts of ideas I have and use to craft things that resemble me. I also want to point out the column in this picture – this signifies how found I am in my beliefs and ideals, but I am able to think abstractly about the world.
The process in making these splatter pants was very similar to my paint bag, in which I used the same style. It’s fairly easy to create these. The hard part, you might say, is how you wear these pants. I use a fairly dominant color to mute the boldness of the piece, such as the red sweater. Good luck, if you so choose to create these pants, or any other garment you so desire.
Classically Yours,
ZRH
In searching for great music, there are times when a composition truly touches you. It is just the same when you see a great piece of art, such as Van Gogh’s work, Starry Night; it’s something that’s very special and timeless that cannot rival with any other feeling. This is how I felt when listening to Rhye’s album Woman.
In the late 1980’s, there was a Neo-Soul Movement – artists such as Sade, made music. I believe Rhye is attempting to recreate this sound. The voice of the lead singer, Michael Milosh, can be described as being similar to Sade, but also I feel he has a soft effects of The Beegee’s. The production, which is produced by Robin Hannibal, has been said to be similar to artists, such as Jessie Ware. Both musicians combined create a very simplistic emotional, smooth crooner-esque landscape.
The XX came out with their first self-titled album in 2009. Since then, there has been no debut, in my opinion, that has matched its eminence. This album by Rhye, a Canadian duo, fills the void the XX created for me. Unlike the XX, which was a work that studied the relationship between a man and a woman, Rhye reaches new ground, which two men compose music to their feelings in a non-alpha male way. Without overtly expressing dominance, Rhye shows feelings of a male who isn’t looking for just casual sex, but love.
Sometimes there is a voice that can match your feelings toward a given topic. I feel Rhye hits home for me, in regard to the emotions and the overall idea of sex. They have found a gentler and more sincere way of understanding what it is like for a man to struggle with the feelings that occur when he is in love and wants to express it not only verbally, but also physically.
Too often, as a man, in our society we are taught not to express our feelings, especially about love. Women are seen as subpar and objects, taught to lust over and conquer. Rhye’s music creates a feeling, which expresses men and women as equal in the ideas of both sex and love, in how each being is vulnerable and wants to desires to be the object of another’s affection.
I feel that a person that enjoys the sounds of the xx, inc., Jessie Ware, Kwes, and James Blake would really like this album.
Classically Yours,
ZRH
So, my playlist for the month of March, much like the weather here in Missouri, is very random and unexpected. The music I chose was all over the place, as I seemed to find myself listening to more than one genre this month – everything from Justin Timberlake to David Bowie and the soft piano of Nils Frahm. How better to fit a spontaneous of weather and my feels toward it with a playlist that represents it? I would also like to mention this month’s artwork is a pre-game for the future months. I, like Paddington, will be wearing my raincoat and wellingtons, with the expectation of rain, which will later produce beautiful flowers for shortly thereafter.
Playlist:
1. Josh Rouse- Happiness Waltz
2. Rachel Zeffira-To Here Knows When
3. Little Green Cars- The John Wayne
4. Nils Frahm- You
5. Justin Timberlake- Tunnel Vision
6. Depeche Mode- Welcome to my World
7. Giraffage- All that Matters
8. 40 Winks- Outside the Box
9. Matt Costa- Loving You
10. Next Collective- Marvin’s Room
11. Alice Smith- Another Love
12.Boy- Little Numbers
13. Ghost Loft- Seconds
14. Rodriguez- Sugar Man
15. Kate Boy- Northern Lights
16. Wild Belle- Keep You
17. Fear of Men- Seer
18. Drake- 5am in Toronto
19. Blue Hawaii- Try to be
20. David Bowie- Where are we Now
21. Madeline Peyroux- Take these Chains from my Heart
22. Rhye- The Fall
23. Josh Ritter- Evil Eye
24. Shout Out Louds- Sugar
25. Phosphorescent- Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, an introduction)
26. Benoit Pioulard- Litiya
27. Gummybear- Sakura
28. The Men- Half Angel, Half Light
29. CHVRCHES- Recover
30. How to Destroy Angels- Iceage
31. Torres- November Baby
32. Golden Grrrls- Date It
33. J. Dilla- Time: The Doughnut of the Heart
34. Low- Plastic Cup
Classically Yours,
ZRH
Anchors are seen to many people as a symbol of the sea. I see the idea of anchor as not only about the ocean, but also as a symbol of stabilization and freedom. The anchor keeps a boat from drifting away, yet lets go of the vessel when it is ready to inhabit a new destination.
The making of this hoodie came from a thrift find and also a pattern, which was obtained from a tote bag. The actual construction of the piece was fairly simple by just cutting out the pattern from maroon suede, which accents the color inside the hood, and sewing it on. I chose to hand sew it because it takes time and effort with the anchors, which reminds me of how important the symbol is to me.
When I wear this hoodie, I am reminding myself of how I am anchored into who I am, but at the same time, ready to let go into the endless possibilities, which await me later in my life. Symbol mean different things to everyone, whether its made an impact on your life or its just something that makes you happy.
If you decide to take on such a project like mine, chose a symbol that you’re passionate about and go with it
Classically Yours,
ZRH
I always have the issue when having a watch for over consecutive amounts of years in needing a new watchband. My friend, Jason Hooge, runs his own service via his Etsy store, MadebyHND, which specializes in this type of work. He creates very handsome, yet manly watchbands that fit any man’s style.
I know one of my favorite parts of having a watch is seeing how well it ages as time passes, and more importantly the wear that a band takes. I love a good weathered-looking band because it makes a timepiece look as it has withstood the test of time. I feel MadebyHnd represents the looks of an independent gentleman.
I appreciate good quality craftsmanship. Jason, with his brand MadebyHND, creates this with his watchbands and continues to marvel me with his other projects, which I’m sure will be featured in his store some time in the future.
Classically Yours,
ZRH
The month of February had some great music and albums that I feel will be in my top list for the year, including My Bloody Valentine’s brilliant MBV. To me, though, the album of the month goes to Bryan Ferry’s Orchestra The Jazz Age. Ferry really took a risk with a concept most have never taken: using great songs created by his band Roxy Music and songs from his solo career, making them sound like a 1920’s jazz album with a big band.
I like when an artist is able to take risks and they pay off. Most people would see this album as blasphemy, but to me it really recreates and offers to the listener (especially one who has been a fan of Bryan Ferry,) a new way to appreciate the great songs he has created over the years. Personally, I like to hear new takes on tunes that I have heard many times over the years. This album is definitely one to enjoy and take in as not only a great jazz album but also one that reconstructs songs from a great catalog for new and old listeners alike. For those who are searching for an album that really reaches toward the soul and makes them happy, this is it.
Classically Yours,
ZRH
The month of February flew by so quickly that I forgot to post this playlist on time. It was filled with so many great tunes but was over before I knew it. My apologies and may you enjoy the soundtrack for the month.
Classically Yours,
ZRH
independentgentleman
independentgentleman.wordpress.com 