IGNITE ME

♡ F L U I D series

you are always
mental stimulation

starting with a special series of liquid oil paints

all on wood canvas

“I G N I T E M E,”
metallic fluid oil paint on wood panel, 8.5″x8.5″”
may 2018
Available as a series of 3.✨

CROSS-BREEZE

I’m so PROUD and HAPPY to introduce my very first tote bag! The ‘Cross-Breeze’ pattern is one of my most popular dotted mandalas, which has acted as my signature design for my ‘metallic ink’ collection of designs.

The ‘Cross-Breeze Tote,’ is a LIMITED EDITION tote bag. I’ve only created NINE bags available to the public!

ALL 9 bags:
• black with coloured mandala
• 100% cotton canvas
• 13″ wide x 14″ high x 6.5″ deep
• signed, titled, and numbered
• with a small charm and my signature on an ivory heart canvas fabric

This is a VERY special project, created with LOVE & PASSION, by myself and the experienced designers at Lasting Impressions in Scarborough(🙌), who laboured for two months helping me make this bag a reality!💜

Together we creatively problem-solved the difficulty of printing my detailed designs onto fabric, which resulted in this fabulous tote. I’m so grateful to them for respecting my design and vision and helping me produce a unique, high quality and sustainable bag. Im SO proud of this project. I hope you will enjoy the meaning and craftsmanship on it as much as I do!

❀ Contact Info:
If you’re interested or would like details on the ‘Cross-Breeze Tote,’ please send me a DM.✨
Or email: mssteffyt@gmail.com.

L O V E series

♡ be my valentine

slightly raised
rhythm, increased
form, irregular
audio, elevated
aesthetic, brimming
feel, hot to the touch
🔥

The L O V E Series
III.
“The Strongest Muscle,” .
rose gold mixed media on canvas, 16″x20″
Available for purchase.✨

#patterns by #mssteffyt
#strongest #muscle #mixedmedia #mixedmediaart #layers #texture #abstract #art #artist #zen #metallic #goldenlicious #artwork #create #design #hope #love #series #inspire #abstractpainting #artoftheday #artofinstagram #contemporaryart #modernart #originalwork #fineart #artforsale

The Mind & Time

Post-exhibition has given me new life! I’ve learned so much about myself, about what im trying to achieve with my designs.. And especially what people are connecting with. I’ve rediscovered my strengths and weaknesses, …and that there’s no point in success if you’re not healthy enough to enjoy it!😉 Continuing in this vein, an added mantra will be about The Mind, and Time.

Everything in good time.

Silverleaf on mirror, 12×12″

The Year Everything Changed

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything.. I’ve been grinding out my designs and giving them to the universe. Had my first solo exhibit for the month of December 2017, and have been collaborating with Dutch producer Rancido. It has been quite the year!

At the end of 2016, I sat myself down and focused my energy into creating something positive. During the early part of 2017 my designs became more intricate, vibrant and unique. People started noticing and I feel like with each piece I create, I’m slowly gaining experience of what works and what doesn’t. I’ve also learned that my designs aren’t for everyone.. And so with each person who appreciates, it’s a special and very unique connection.

If you’re on Facebook or Instagram you can see my work at MsSteffyT. 

I may share some designs on here.. But instead of writing about the piece itself, I will discuss the idea behind it.

My new favourite place… Panamá!

This May I had the pleasure of visiting Panamá.. and it was truly one of the best trips I’ve had since my mum and I started circumnavigating the Caribbean.

It has the climate and topography similar to Jamaica, with the addition of the lush rainforest and burgeoning citylife. It has a mixture of cultures and takes from a variety of other Latin American countries as well as Caribbean.

Small city next to a rainforest – next to a large city – next to the jungle – surrounded by a vast mountain range. Pockets of bliss! If you’re interested in an extremely diverse set of excursions – this is the place. 😀

The food was fantastic, the people were kind and genuinely happy.. But really -the only way to experience this beauty.. Is to go and see for yourself! 😍😍😍

 

Santa Maria, my 3rd home…

It is no secret that I have a beautiful extended love affair with Santa Maria. Every trip to this region has been a dream, woven in a fantasy, woven in a dream. I was able to visit Warwick resort, last November, a perfect ending to the year’s travel season.

The resort was modern in style, fairly new and clean, however; it seems as though they lacked in trained staff. It also was designed poorly. Sometimes I wonder if the developers actually think about the hotels they’re building, the types of rooms offered and the location of rooms – and not just focus on genrating money. There were no elevators, all the updated high-end suites were at the far end of the resort, miles down the resort, and the suites on the top levels were inaccessible for anyone with a disability. Basically, we paid for bigger rooms, and didn’t get it.

Other than that major sh*t-show, it was lovely. The beach was absolutely fantastic, the food was great, the pool area was clean and up-to-date.

My mom and I took a tour around the island, did our shopping in the local plaza, scored some deals, and had our own little adventure. Due to a medical emergency, I had to be taken to Santa Clara hospital 1.5hrs away – very arduous and stressful trip.

It was something out of a horror movie. Like the aftermath of a doomsday apocalypse. The hospitals looked as though a bomb had gone off 60yrs ago, and nothing was cleaned or fixed since. Sad and scary. The doctors worked in this rubble and the patients were expected to heal in this insanity. I’m not sure how anyone is supposed to exist in this madness. At any rate, they did the best they could with what they had.

Despite the chaos, we made the best out of a horrific situation. It’s still gorgeous with some of the best beaches in the world.. always my first choice… but next stop… who knows!!

P.S. it has taken me since November to recover from the trauma of that trip! If you’re wondering why such a late post.

 

 

 

The Issue of Poverty(AGAIN) PT. I

Been sitting on this one for the past week, been digesting it. Debating whether or not to sound off on it. But there is a burning desire to.

Many of us in the community talking about global poverty, like it’s some issue to tackle on some high level. And while it costs big dollars to mobilize change, it’s really not rocket science. And while it does serve some governments to keep their people poor and uneducated, let’s abandon that notion and just deal with the bottom line… It’s not difficult to understand. The Poor exist and we need to fix it somehow.

Learned that over the past year, (and probably longer), there has been a homeless person living in my backyard in Jamaica. At first, I thought it was just someone “stealing” from me, but then learned that no, a person had been living there at night. Showering, using our water and taking refuge. Got a hefty bill of $30K JMD. Which is like $350CDN. Not much in the grand scheme of things. But enough to make me further comprehend how bad the situation has become in Jamaica. There are people who need a place to live. To shower. To eat. To sleep. To do bodily functions in private.

Those with millions and billions are trying to decide how best to spend their money on solving poverty on a global scale but honestly, in the time it takes to talk about it, there are people who need help right now on the local scale who are suffering and in need right now.

I understand that governments are corrupt, I understand that organizations are corrupt, I understand that some people are corrupt. I understand all of that. I am not attacking those trying to solve the issue, I suppose my anger is towards the Jamaican government AGAIN, for letting it get this bad.

I suppose it’s one more thing to add on my TO DO list…

I have more thoughts on this…
To Be Continued…

“DUSHI” / CURAÇAO

Just returned from another lovely trip to the Caribbean in beautiful Curaçao. Stayed at the Sunscape Curaçao Resort Spa & Casino. The accommodations were adequate, the food was great. The weather was gorgeous, the sea was amazing. And I was able to see a small portion of the island… and had a fantastic time!

However there were some dark moments, which unfortunately put a cloud over the entire trip. They say you never have a 2nd chance to have a 1st impression. It is sad that such a beautiful experience was marred by the action of a few.

What I experienced was very different and on a whole other level of ridiculous and unacceptable. And my story, along with other Black people, and other shades of Black, Indian – was unique to us. A group of us were systematically and repeatedly racially profiled on the resort, and consistently carded several times a day. In addition, my mother and I were attacked by a local in the casino – whereby the manager of the casino did absolutely nothing, denied any responsibility and took the side of the guy who accused us of stealing his slot machine card. On top of all this, we all felt an overwhelming nagging sense that the staff were too busy to attend to us. Like we did not belong there or something. It was a sad state all around.

And it wasn’t even “White” on “Black” racism, where one could identify it, and protest it. This was BLACK ON BLACK racism. My OWN PEOPLE were doing this to me and us. What for? They actually stopped us on the resort several times a day, asking our names and room numbers at a checkpoint. It was a degrading and tiring experience – as though we were intruding on their turf, or sneaking in without paying. When TRUTH be told, if you examined the bank accounts of the Black people on the resort you would see quite a different tale. Meaning, Blacks have MONEY. Get over it! We have money and we will spend it where ever we choose. But of course we’re not allowed to go anywhere nice.

Nevertheless, I spoke to the management about it and I wasn’t stopped again. And the other people who protested – they were also given a “pass.” But I know that’s just my situation, and our situation. Who knows when they’ll stop the next?

I have experienced the former type of racism in my childhood and youth, believe me, and was probably better equipped to deal with it, because I knew what it was. But even now, almost in my mid-30s, I’m still not equipped to deal with this sense that “I am not/should not be allowed to be somewhere or do something, because I am of colour.” It’s a notion I’ve never been exposed to in my life. I’ve always had opportunities afforded to me, and have never had any type of obstacle professionally or personally, in Canada. So, when I go to the Caribbean, where I feel like this should be my “second home,” and am treated like a 2nd class citizen, my heart breaks and that’s all there is to it.

Oddly I do not / cannot blame the people who did this, and the culture that surrounds them and how they treat people. How can I? They are a product of their environment, of their own history, and of their own slavery.  They are constantly reminded of it, and perhaps can’t escape it. They are a product of their own mental slavery.

Despite this tragic tarnish, I had a FANTASTIC time with my madre 😀 And enjoyed her hilarious antics when she threatened to beat the guy with her cane, and nearly did to the casino manager.  So at least I know I was well-protected! 😉

Onto the next trip!

😀

Punta Cana: Royal Suites Turquesa – NOT SO GOOD

Just returned from my birthday week in Punta Cana. Sadly, this resort was a BUST. I contracted a food poisoning bug on the 2nd day, but recovered somewhat thanks to some natural alcoholic remedies suggested by one of the locals. 😉 HaHaHa. What else can I say? Had a wicked SwimUp pool though?

As far as resorts go – I’ve never been sick in Cuba! And personally, I much prefer the Cuban vibe. The service is kinder, cleaner and the visitors (less, the Americans), are definitely friendlier, more open and warmer. It’s not surprising that Canadians love Cuba, it’s like an extension of the Canadian attitude. This DR resort definitely catered to the Americans, where everything had to be in US funds. I couldn’t even see the doctor without paying $175USD first. Of course I didn’t. But I can’t imagine what it’s like to live under that type of insanity. (So Happy to be Canadian!)

In spite of the food bug madness, I still managed to enjoy myself! Met some beautiful and kind people who helped me through it. A family from Kentucky, a couple from Detroit, New York and Berlin. It all comes down to the people surrounding you. Sadly the couple from New York and Berlin also suffered from the same food bug. What a shocker! We laughed and commiserated over the horror. The German man kept telling me stories about every aspect of his trip that were, “Not So Good,” and at that point I realized it wasn’t just me. Oh well…

By now, I realize that these resorts are a complete gamble… most times it will be a decent time, and you’ll meet amazing people, and other times, aspects will fail and you just have to make do somehow. I definitely made do.. I slept, and slept, and slept… on the beach of course… but I could totally do with another vacation right about now. 😀

But on this Thanksgiving weekend, just thankful for the ability and opportunity to travel, see the world, experience it with my madre, and be enlightened. That’s exactly what travel does, enlightens you to the realities, and makes you appreciate what you have in your life. Truly blessed!