SEARCH COLLECTIONS

I'm a hoarder of ephemera, specifically the shit I scribble. The urgent need to store paper treasures and ripped-up sketches is stifling! Maybe 100 years from now, someone will find dusty chests packed with countless sheets of my nonsense. Most of the stuff I keep has "investigations of meaning." There are no mistakes in art, just happy accidents and mindful contributions. This collage is purely being made for my archival obsession. And it's just the start of my journey to learn more about myself. I doubt this will ever be finished but it's nice to have laying around the studio. The large canvas contains moments of idea discovery. Perhaps it's like a mood board? Who knows, point is, it's something that is helping me clear my head. "GET OFF YOU CELL PHONES, GET OFF WITH EXPERIENCE" First concept to note in the upper right corner (or if you are the canvas, it's left) is the phrase, "get off your cell phones, get off on experience!" iPhones are the demise of our humanity. Heavy?! I normally have to be on my phone or laptop, whether it be for work or pleasure, but damn when I take time away from social media specifically - WHAT A FUCKING DIFFERENCE. And when I invest in a technological rest-- now that's the winner winner chicken dinner. Living your time solely for you is what we miss out on. Next time you hit a coffee shop, just enjoy and observe. Scrolling and watching people's lives is dumb when you can just spy on people's lives in real time . Isn't that better? "WHERE DID THE VILLAGE GO?" Another note-worthing thing in this collage is the saying, "where did the village go?" When I moved to NYC, I had a version in my head that was crafted by Technicolor musicals and 1960's footage of live music. The big apple still is the the coolest place in America, but there is serious change. Mom and pop shops aren't as common and close at a high rate. How people interact and socialize is different. Times change, people change. When I had my shop, I felt as though I had a time capsule back in time, to days of just shopping, hanging, and having fun in the Village. Would have worked in 1973, but not 2020. Supporting local businesses and buying cool, unique shit isn't a logical anymore. Rent is high and money can be made, but people rather be on their computers and phones than hit a store. I made some of my dearest friends amongst long term residents of the village. You know, people that have lived here for 20 years+ and have seen it spiral into a mall of banks and chains. The true cool people of New York know the importance of it's diversity and of the little guy! Downtown NYC was cultivated by immigrants of all origins, but today the Village is starting to feel like a corporate jungle. I mean, look at the tenement buildings. The architecture varies street by street -- why? Because the Village was built on different cultures coming together as one. And today, Greenwich Village has a PLETHORA of reasons of what it's changed, all circling back to gentrification on large scale. I'm lucky to have the mindset to appreciate the small biz and try to continue thriving in the Village without losing my cool.

Started out painting a harp, a symbol of divine hope, but this double swan was born. Absurdism -- especially in theatre -- was one of my first Loves. That developed into a passion for surrealism, twisting my reality into a symbolic world of weird. As I painted this esoteric symbol in grand scale, I had Doctor Dolittle playing in the background. You know, the good one with Rex Harrison. The scene with the two-headed llama came on, which struck me as some straight up synchronicity! Duality is something I always play with in my work, from unconscious vs. conscious, to right hand vs, left hand, and evil vs. good. Two heads are better than one. And the loose canvas was hand cut and listed online, available for purchase . The Painted Patch In true painterly fashion, I repeated the image. Practice makes progress.This painted jacket has such a gorgeous touch of divinity for some reason. Cultivated as a palette with almost a punk ethereal aesthetic. Special is an understatement. Recording these little moments in creation help me to understand the story I am telling. It's annoying to come up with contrived concepts and intentions -- the real genius in unique or valuable artwork purely comes from spontaneity or curated moments rooted from a meaning. The best things come from the soul, and that certainly can not be controlled.

View the select scanned pages from Storm's 2019 sketchbook. The pages primarily feature collaged printed photographs of her paintings, fashion, and writings. The designs were the core foundation for the Storm Ritter Studio textiles made into garments. As a passionate archivist, this is solely one of 30+ sketchbooks.

Technicolor dream coat, perhaps? An absolute explosion of molecular magic. This leather jacket is one of my highlight pieces of 2019. I spent a great deal of time developing my technique and skills with leather paints, and this garment was an organic canvas. The creation of this jacket relied solely on energy, mood, and experimentation. Honest, it was just damn fun to make because I didn't set a controlled set of rules. The way this piece photographed was beyond far out, and set the tone for a chapter of work in studio. The original jacket has been sold, but prompted a handful custom painted with various garments. This style has a kitschy, playful vibe. Childlike, fantasy, psychedelic -- all contribute to the feeling this gives off. The bird on the front came to fruition out of luck, and the color orbs appeared out of repetition. I love working on a piece in layers, letting the unconscious take the lead. The dubbed, Radical Radiation , jacket became a additional style to add to my body of work. The original Radical Radiation jacket has been sold, but prompted a handful custom painted pieces from jeans to maternity clothes! The whimsical look of this design makes people smile - definitely a successful experimentation. Before the jacket moved to it's new owner, it was used in multiple photoshoots, including pulled for a styling job. Radical Radiation jacket started as a plain vintage leather coat and and now has so many new experiences under it's belt. Wishing it the best on it's journey and hope it always stays in the hands of someone stellar.

Summer in the city is looney tunes, yet this warmer time is hands down one of the most evolutionary chapters. It's a pretty nerve-wracking time, so I've entered my own little world of isolation. Visually and creatively I've been emotionally drained up until the sun came a knockin. Essentially, I made a hell of a lot of food and photo collages, appearing as though I am actually doing something besides shipping out masks, answering emails, painting, and drinking wine. Oh, and hyper-organizing all my shit in studio. June , the sun and I have a passionate romance, so I've got to attribute most credit to my productivity to my time outdoors, running by the Hudson River. Usually I run 3-6 miles daily as it's really the only thing I can safely do without going nuts. Wearing a mask religiously and flowing with the sounds around me, I've been letting my internal stream of consciousness blare. Spending time by water and open sky, even in NYC, fuels my productivity levels, tenfold. Other than that, it's been purely face mask and care packaging shipping. Keeps me focused on my health, other's well-being, and overall positive thoughts all around despite this really shitty time. You can learn more about the entire face mask project, here . July , I've spent quite a bit of time creating special jackets and canvases. I tend to worked on multiple items at the same time, all different surfaces, to create a unified collection. You paint one, let it dry while you work on another. A give and take. As a longtime lover of grass, I love the benefits in my overall mood, anxiety levels, and ability to positively focus. I'm definitely not a couch potato, actually I'm most likely a classified workaholic, so a little of mother nature's herb goes a long way. It was a positive month - stayed pretty clear off social media and rebuilt my relationship with the surroundings of the new , new york. August, I continued running, working, cooking, cleaning, and thinking: this month has been 0% social media, 100% focus. Spent the majority this month rebuilding my website, organizing inventory, creating new products, painting custom orders, and planning for future business experiences. We also celebrated Velvet's 6th birthday and prepared for a transformation into the fall. Big changes are coming in September and I'm prepared to clean the slate and keep the change coming. And as summer has come to an end , I've been continuing to ship out masks, but quietly rebuilding my entire e-commerce and online studio to move into fall/winter of 2020. This pandemic does not have a clear end and life in NYC is so vastly different. Homesick as I have no plans of visiting my parents in Florida, but staying confident and smart moving forward with virtual creative endeavors.

You know those pieces that you have a hard time getting rid of? Yeah, me too. My wardrobe is filled with eccentric and colorful garments. It's 99.9% items that I either made or is a specific vintage piece I altered or value. And 9/10 times I usually end up selling garments I made for myself. I feel the most cool when I wear things I emotionally connect to. When you add statement pieces into your day-to-day-look, it's a huge mood pick-me-up. If you have to wear a uniform or follow a dress code, that's a fabulous opportunity to ignite innovation! Your statement pieces can be found in other objects from through jewelry and bags, to hats and shoes. Even undershirts or undies - there are no excuses to not add something to make you feel your cool. Energy and mojo are real factors that affect your day; contribute to elevating your soul vibrancy by putting thought into your chosen physical possessions. You know I have a thing for nostalgia. Never a hoarder, always a collector. And, I've always been good at being a fan. When I find something I believe in or passionate about, I must have a token of it's essence to add to the treasure chest. Ergo, I have a large personal collection of passed down and found pins, buttons, patches, fabric swatches, and t-shirts from eras past. I love combining these memories, embedding superpower into one garment. My dad has annually purchased one new pair of Levi 501's . It's a character staple in his life. Last year, I purchased just one for myself with an inspired intent. These jeans now felt special because of the way I looked at their meaning. They quickly became my go-to-wear-on-a-regular-basis garment. I transformed these jeans for myself, constantly adding new painted patches. These jeans fucking rock and unexplainably go with everything. They're probably a second-cousin to the magical jeans from The Sister Hood Of The Traveling Pants. Bottom line , i f I was going to go run away in a boxcar to go join a band of gypsies, I would pack these pants in my suitcase. When I am buying a new item, I see it as a canvas. The quality of your canvas and material elevates any artwork. Usually when I design or come up with a new aesthetic, I make something for myself as a test run. Here, I can find out if it translates as cool . Does it feel organic? If you're trying too hard, it can become contrived . If you are copying a design, it can become contrived . If you are mimicking someone else, it can become contrived . POINT IS, I really hate the term, contrived . It technically means " deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously." No doubt you have to put thought into design, but there is a dire need for spontaneity and a sense of laissez-faire when painting. I've gone through many style obsessions, from wearing only 1940's dresses and all monochrome darks, to painted overalls and rockstar bougie layers, but now I am interested to how to re-invent again. Ideally, I could now throw on a basic tee and bottoms, with classic lines, and pair it with select statement pieces. Wearing a New York uniform, aka all black, and spicing it up with painted statement details and one or two wild pieces is my current my street style aura. As someone who runs her own business, but is also an artist and rockstar-in-my-own-head, I try to find a professional, yet curated, happy medium.

The beast of vengeance is near! The title, Internal Inferno , was first a name for a 2015 canvas painting, But the name developed into an ongoing concept. When I am in a state of internal inferno , I 'm boiling over with rage inside over something or someone that was in the wrong. Its a feeling we all find when our world is attacked, and we want to focus in right on the cause of destruction. Powerful, the phrase gives inner strength to dispel the flames inside. No one really can do it but you. To calm the internal inferno, you must find that the best vengeance is calming, not unleashing a storm. Definitely not saying you should be silent or not fight back when necessary, but moreover speculating that you can't control people. You can only control yourself. Ergo, use the intensity of internal inferno to fuel your vengeance with intelligence, not negative negligence. Internal Inferno developed into an entire repertoire of items, all contributing to the same story. The battle between good and evil within yourself is constant. Does a mischievous devil and philanthropic angel simultaneously dwell on your shoulders? I know I have internal battles on the regular. Why not continue to explore the explosion of contradictions in human nature. How do we use our anger with couth ? The original painting makes me think about these notions. The artwork has a depth of power that translates with a confident intensity when worn. This jacket embodies the vibe of Internal Inferno and showcases an except from the inspired esoteric poem. Below are further garments with the original Internal Inferno design featured. Motivation can be fueled by anger and outrage. Encouragement to better yourself and your world comes from the fact that there is something wrong that needs to be made right. How you channel your Internal Inferno is how you will justify a solution to a problem. It's how you handle yourself during hardship. The psychedelic chaos inside you can be mellowed out, and you can choose to route your emotions to empower yourself find a way to make peace (whether that peace is with yourself or something else.) Regardless, its again, up to you to use your Internal Inferno wisely.

In 2018, Storm opened the Storm Ritter Experience exhibition at the Ideal Glass Pop-Up  at 9 West 8th Street, NYC. The show was across the street from Storm Ritter Studio  at 14 West 8th Street. Running Friday through Sunday in April, the gallery show  featured fine art, painted apparel, painted furniture from the store, and sketchbook installations. The showcase included live painting on canvas and a life-sized horse statue, music by Strange Majik , and an open storefront across the street for retail sales.

Showcase Event

During her college education years at NYU, Storm stressed didactic learning, so self-education was a priority. At her West Village home studio, she spent her time honing her techniques, learning about herself, and developing thematic styles. All art and fashion for the opening of her first business took place in these early days.