TOOFLY NYC

Made a quick stop this fall to work on a wall installation in Yonkers, NY for Soyo Nails. I got a chance to use the water based MTN Colors SprayPaint on a gig at last! I tried it out at the Grafiteras exhibit and now I had the opportunity to work more with it. I like it. It’s great spray paint for indoor use because of it’s low odor. It did spread into the air like other spray paint materials so we had to make sure to keep areas like the floor and tables covered with plastic. I liked that I was able to work with acrylic and blend into it. Covering large areas in half the time helps so much with aerosol especially with a watercolor theme direction. The soft palette allowed me to blend the soft color tones and tie in the nail salon brand colors. I am used to dark, black, hard graphic line work but as I move forward with my client work it gives me the opportunity to try new styles and effects. Shout out to my assistant on the gig Daniella Harris who helped out on the logo and many of the production set-up. Having assistance is the bomb! There are so many details involved that you just can’t do alone. Having a team is important and every year we get tighter and tighter. I am also able to mentor D, and motivate her as she pursues a career in the arts which helps me continue my Project Girlz work. Thank you Jenna for reaching out to me online to work on your salon walls. Walls look beautiful! Grand opening soon —>  Follow @soyonails on IG.

2017 has been a busy year, I like that! I enjoy working as much as anything else. I take pride in each project I do, and make sure whatever I take on is in line with my work and message. So a little bit about Timberland, I’m a boots girl. I love boots especially now that I am in a mountain terrain most of the time during the year. I rocked’ Timberland boots since  my teens, they are my choice in footwear and they go with my style. When the team and friends at Billionare Boys Club NYC reached out to me to customize a pair of the new #ghostwhite timbs I was down for it. They shipped the boots out to me during my trip in Oakland and I wipped out my markers and do what I do best. Hard and fluid flows, handstyles, and signature character. Check em’ out! Shout out to my cousin @Mistadrumin for attending the opening release party and taking flicks on my behalf. Thanks you Mimi, thank you Tada!

Oakland, California 2017! — I returned. I love Oakland mostly because folks there are like folks in NY. They show LOVE. Arrived at my 10 day residency ready to rock with homegirl Dime. Dime and I met back in 2009? I forget. I was invited to paint with Meme of Few & Far at their very first wall and Dime rolled by to meet us. I checked out her work and got her down on the wall along with Agana. Every time we had a Few & Far wall Dime and I tried to collaborate. We always felt our styles worked great together + we connected right away because of our latin roots. Dime has a sharp classic graffiti lettering style that goes really well with the Toofly flows and characters. Dime had an opportunity to curate a show at East Side Arts Alliance new gallery space and worked to get the grant. So grateful! it helped cover all our expenses and stipends. Thank you Dime! Thank you East Art Alliance! We rocked a beautiful exhibition, installation, workshop and pop-up event entitled “Grafiteras” Check it out!

((( CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ))) by Stevie Sanchez

In the studio one more month preparing new works…Follow the process on IG: @Toofly_NYC

What’s up world! I’ve been in a great mood lately. I have a ton of fresh new ideas for the year to come. Preparing as we speak for the fall and planting seeds for 2017. Living the artist dream and never going back to anything else. Moving from city life has given me the greatest gift ((( TIME )))  Time to create at my own peaceful pace, work on projects I enjoy, as well as travel and paint. I wake up every morning giving thanks for days like today. Full of optimism! — don’t get me wrong I have my bad days too. They suck super bad! it’s usually a funk that life throws at you when your not aligned. Getting off balance has many factors, but if you can curve it and get back on track your good. Some give up. Not me. My momma worked to hard in life, and I will never lose hope. If your doing what you love, the fruits of your labor will provide all you need in life. It helps to have love in your life folks. Love of self, love of others, love of love to love and love more. The secret to a life worth living…

The #LoveWarrior art print exhibition this summer was lovely!!! THANK YOU NEW YORK. I am very happy I teamed up with @MyPlasticHeart to introduce ::: ALL ::: of my new print works. I’ve been working on the series since 2012. It has been a long process. One that materialized from new found love, and timeless freedom to create. The dedicated work ethic is in all of us if we can take it seriously. Sometimes it’s years before your next “heart felt” experience…when it hit’s you, you have to ride that wave of  bliss all the way to the end. Folks…this is not pop art, or an urban art style almost anyone can replicate using technology, high contrast photo icons, and splattered paint with graffiti tags. Anyone bored of that yet? – This, and other reasons why the illustrations in this series spotlight something completely new to bring ya’ll back to what original works of art look, and feel like. Honestly, we need it. Freedom Dreamer, Mas Amor, Free Spirit and the rest of the series are meant to be “felt” by the human heart, and vibrate back. Screens divide many of us these days, it’s nice that we can re-connect live and direct. For those of you who can appreciate all of what I am talking about in this post ((( Thank You ))) I refuse to compromise to anything else. Your attendance at the opening meant a lot to me for all these reasons and more. I am not in New York as often, and in time it will be less and less. From now on each event, workshop, exhibit, wall, or pop-up will be organized with special care so that we can meet once again as a creative family. WE BUILT THIS CITY!!! — Shout out to the beautiful, and diverse group of individuals who took part in the #lovewarrior experience.

In case you missed it —-> here’s a few photos by Alexandra Henry and TF. Video by Nancy Burneo coming soon!!! Once we get that the post will be complete.

My Plastic Heart <3

Shout out to the #lovewarrior team! @CraftyCocktales ladies for the michelada dinks, Yvey & Ana for holding down the pop-up shop corner, and Alexandra Henry and Nancy Burneo for documenting the event. Big ups to My Plastic Heart too! for a smooth and fun experience at the gallery/shop. To all my friends, and family, as well as the supporters of my work love and huggggggz! See ya in the fall for the year+holiday wrap up <3

“Native Soul” One of my first sketch/ink drawings that set off the “Love Warrior” series…

The original ink drawing was damaged by my ice tray ( bad habit ) but I scanned and cleaned it up in photoshop to save the digital image.

I made a 16″X 16″ black & white giclee print that many loved and went on to become a limited line of totes at the pop-up shops held in summer and Holiday. The print is available on the shop ( limited QTY ) —> www.tooflynyc.com/shop $100.00US – ships worldwide.

Because April is a super rainy month in Ecuador, I decided it was the perfect time to start painting! I can’t go outside my patio much to soak up some sunshine and care for my garden. I’m indoors with music, paint, and an array of illustrations that are ready to bloom. Construction of my art studio is on hold for now so I set up a little corner in my office to rock. I can’t wait to have a whole floor dedicated to my paintings! I get excited when I think about it. When it’s ready I will go BIG YEO! Until then Native Soul, and the entire LOVE WARRIOR series will take form day by day. Will this become a print by June’s “Love Warrior Art Print Exhibit ” at my Plastic Heart ??? not sure…follow IG! and save the date JUNE 24th NYC!!!

Follow the process on IG: @TOOFLY_NYC

I’ve been having a lot of fun lately with the items on my shop. It’s finally taking shape and in the direction I want it to go. Every year I release a new item, and a new color way for the up coming summer or holiday pop-up shop. The “New York City” T’ is a favorite and this season we have it all in 3 colors! — Black, White, and Heather Grey. Good times with my cousin Eliana who modeled them as we cranked up some 90’s Hip Hop.  I will always love New York and this is my way of showing my city some luv with an original handstyle!

New York City T’ by Toofly $25 —> www.tooflynyc.com/shop

Model: Eliana Gutierrez, Quito Ecuador

The Toofly “Free Spirit” Sweatshirt released this past Holiday season was a hit! Unfortunately they SOLD OUT at the Toofly Holiday Pop-up Shop this past December. We are preparing a whole new batch for the Spring. Don’t miss it! If your in Brooklyn you can cop the last few that are left at FRESTHETIC. $47.00

“Free Spirit” is a very special illustration. I started it in during the construction of my first home. Everything I had built up to that point came together. The “Love Warrior” journey was complete. I decided at this point that all my illustrations from the past 4 years would become full color large paintings and so I began the process.

Once it was finished I began with the ink version as a black & white print. “Free Spirit” 16″X16″ giclee print coming soon! www.tooflynyc.com/shop

Once the ink version was complete I moved on to canvas. Studio sessions are a lovely way to reconnect with spirit. Your alone, and your breathing takes on a different pace. Your mind escapes and time no longer exists.

“Free Spirit” and many new paintings are at work for a solo exhibition. Follow the process on my instagram page ( @TOOFLY_NYC)  and facebook page ( /TOOFLY )  for the latest news.

Earlier this year during my Mexico vacation I got a gig to design some graphics for the Free State Aeropostale line. It was a nice opportunity because I had been inking tons of lettering works, and the t-shirt design gig was a perfect fit. The artist series release would promote my style of work + my street work via video. Our good friend ED from our Sound of Art Days got in touch and made it happen as smoothly as it can go these days with corporate companies. Shout out o Jay Maldonado who teamed up with us to showcase his Toofly video.

Ready to drop my next set of limited edition giclee prints this Spring! The first set dropped in the fall and sold out. I made a few for the Designer Con and Toofly Holiday Pop-Up Shop event and they were a hit. Unfortunately there were just a few to go around. Now that Spring 2015 has arrived I’m ready to release the rest of the set on the #tooflyshop 

“PODEROSA” 2014 Giclee Print 8′X8″ ( Edition of 50 )  Signed & numbered by Artist. –
$50.00 + Shipping & Handling
Poderosa was a cute little 8X8 painting I did for fun because I love painting roses. I had a few folks interested in the original so I made a few custom orders. I then got asked to do more but because I don’t like painting the same thing over and over again I decide to do a high quality giclee limited edition print <3

“LA REYNA” 2014. 11″14″  Giclee Print Edition of ( 25 ) Signed and numbered by Artist. –
$75.00 + Shipping & Handling
La Reyna was a fun piece to work on because I was messing around with color pencils one day ( something I rarely do ) on a wood panel I bought. I got so into it and the illustration just came to life. I plan to do more of these as soon as I get more wood panels in the studio.

“FREEDOM DREAMER” 2014. 12″X16″  Giclee Print Edition of ( 25 ) Signed and numbered by Artist. –
$100.00 + Shipping & Handling

Freedom Dreamer is a very special painting I created in 2013 which unfortunately was lost in a cab on one of my NY travel missions. The painting is lost forever, but fortunately I had it photographed before I lost it and I was able to make a beautiful high quality giclee print.

“NATIVE SOUL”  2014. Giclee Print 16″X16″ Edition of (50) – Signed and numbered by Artist.
$100.00 + Shipping & Handling

Native Soul is one of those illustrations I was completely zoned out on. I truly enjoyed working on it. Unfortunately I spilled water on it at the very end from my ice cravings! The original was ruined, but thankfully in good enough shape to scan and clean up digitally. Once I saved it in digital format I was able to make this lovely limited edition giclee print to set off a whole new Black and White series I am patiently working on. More about it soon….

The customized Brooklyn Tower Kit –  by some really dope illustrators, graffiti artists, and toy designers will be on display on November 1st 2014 in the heart of the Lower East Side! The Boundless Brooklyn exhibit ” The Art of the Tag ” at My Plastic Heart is going to be a pretty cool show. I don’t do many custom works anymore, but sometimes some are too cool to pass up. Love my tower! Be sure to check it out TOOFLY, MARKA27, KANO, ROYCE BANNON, MATT SIREN, and more!

The Toofly “Love Warrior” Lookbook is finally up! I had a great time working with my homegirls on this photoshoot. It’s been a long time since I focused some of my energy back into my love for fashion and style. I have a ton of new pieces I never got a chance to shoot when I left New York, so I pulled it all together in a week and met my girlz in Dumbo Brooklyn for some make-up, hair, styling, and photo fun. Thanks for the collabo love ladies! Samantha Morales, Alexandra Casula, Isabella Dunham, and Lady fancy Nails <3  – Behind the scenes flicks coming soon!

As if this year’s trip to New York couldn’t get any better, and way more busy it was time to switch gears. I got an opportunity to work with Clairol Professional for the launch of their new hair coloring product “Flare” The mission to create a beautiful Toofly character piece inspired by the vibrant color of graffiti art. The piece was painted outdoors on a sunny day in Corona, Queens on a large 2-panel canvas. It was later installed in the new and improved Wella World Studio downtown Manhattan. The launch date was awesome! I prepared a slide presentation alongside celebrity color stylist Kiyah Wright who’s worked with artists like Mary J Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Tyra Banks, Kerri Washington and more. In my presentation I got a chance to talk about how graffiti inspired me to make street art and empower women through my work, as well as how our colorful graffiti culture as a whole in influencing trends in fashion, music, and art. The media that attended the event got a chance to tag up on the piece, take photos, and instagram the event #cpflarelaunch. It was a lovely afternoon, especially in between chats with event photographer Jon Simon about life in New York, life in Ecuador, and how our lives as working artists in this big city make it all worthwhile. I want to send a big thank you to Valentino for locking in me in for the gig, and Laura and Emily for working through the details in a timely matter to meet all deadlines, as well as my official art “Toofly Assistance Team” Richie Carrasco and Miguel. Working professionally is a big plus in order to take my work to the next level. I love it! Check out the process of this piece, and the colorful virbrant event flicks:)

Thank you www.modernsalon.com feature interview video post:)

Thank you Clairol Professional NYC team! and thank you Jon Simon Photography for the event photos!

I have some medium sized sketchbooks ready to drop at the Ladies Love Project Pop-UP Shop event on May 31st! More info coming soon…