Where's my tiger's eye?! If you haven't seen the flick, Practical Magic , then you don't know what I'm referencing, but all the same, it still translates. The concept of a blood moon simply means that our moon is in a total lunar eclipse, There's a plethora of superstitions and beliefs that it can signify a massive change in times--for better or worse. It could be warning or a sign of re-routing your path or it could just be an astrological change in color. Either way, it meant something to the witches in Practical Magic and it stirs something in me visually and emotionally. The red/brownish circle triggers so many references to me, especially red halos behind religious or powerful figures. Moody, yes? Also makes me feel like having Bono serenade Sunday Bloody Sunday to me, but that's just soundtracking this post. What what does this all have to do with fashion specifically? Well, if your not living a physical journey, why don't you represent one? This jacket featured is entitled "Blood On The Moon" for many reasons. I am on a creative journey to open my mind to realities not my own and find the authenticity in my world. Politically right now, it's beyond not good. We have to fight the powers that be! As Bono says, "a nd it's true we are immune, when fact is fiction and TV, reality!" That's it! There's some damn blood on the moon these days. Time for a intellectual journey towards changing our own minds. Before I was inspired to create the Blood On The Moon inspired design , I was commissioned to do a custom jean jacket with an interpretation of the 1958 Salvador Dali painting, “ Meditative Rose. ” There is a hovering flower in the whitish-blue sky with a few people below, gazing at it with intrigue. We are all searching for divine beauty and answers; it comes from how you choose to take your journey. After finishing this garment, I continued to reference a similar color palette and composition to extend that story for my audience. It feels classic and relatable. Also the red struck me as a political statement. Right now we have a strong red presence dominating in a sea of blue. Maybe the blood on the moon is more relevant right now than ever. And, in true investigative fashion, the more you repeat and change up a design, the more meaning it will exude. The journey towards the red moon has become a consistent design in my garment, canvas, and sketchbook work. It's worth noting in this post because I am sure I'll look back on it in a years time and maybe learn a little about myself or this topic I'm digging into. Learning is the only way to open our mind's eye to bigger truths that don't come from our own realities! The garments with these concepts highlight something humanly familiar and I think wearing art that means something is fucking cool. The Blood On The Moon design translated gorgeously on the body and in photographs. Here's a few more shots of the OG Blood On the Moon jacket shot on my roof in the Village. You can shop this jacket and other products like it, here , and as always, a special order is just a message away.

The power of 3. Synchronicity, mercury, and femininity -- three things that all embody a circle. And 3 points define a circle. And a circle, is power. Synchronicity to me showcases how life is interconnected and cyclical. Mercury and female symbols include circles and are reminiscent of each other in shape. Mercury does represent individuality and essentially, it's technically a female symbol with a half circle above it-- offering freedom to explore. When it comes to painting and creating visuals embodying these concepts, I almost always use warm/hot colors of oranges, reds, pinks, and yellows, mainly because 3 and anything divisible by that appears in those hues in my mind's eye. I believe that way of seeing is called synthesia, but that's for another conversation. So google Carl Jung or even The Police, and you'll dig up some info on Synchronicity. It's groovy. This jacket is called Mercury Woman and you can shop it here , along with other like products. Of course, if you're digging this vibe, a special order is just a message away. Now onward with the associations! Next up is the actual painting, entitled Synchronicity, which was the original inspiration for this ongoing series/motif. The painting inspired a textile design and apparel collection. I also still have a few select pieces in shop, but not a lot! The design is so rich and fun that it was pretty popular. Just to continue the visual thread, here are some additional garments that are interconnected with this entire theme. This jacket is also up for grabs in shop and is a killer vintage coat for fall and winter. I've held on to it for quite some time now, but you know, you got to share the wealth. Especially since this jacket is so groovy and empowering. And below is a small gallery of samples of work embodying what we are chatting about. here today. More to come, but I have a million photos and only 24 hours in a day.

Get's your mind's eye ready, because here's a little trip. Cohesive artwork seems to be created in domino effect. You make one thing and learn something new; the next thing you know, you started a vibrant train of work! About five years ago, I started reading esoteric literature like Consolidation of Philosophy and Dante's Inferno , which completely through me into a Bosch-like world of surreal comparisons and absurd visuals. The concept of eye of the beholder turned into a hot phrase for me and was used countless time to theme paintings and writings. Most recently, I've been painting a specific eye with greenish blue hues that holds symbolism for me. The jackets and artwork below are pieces that all embody the vibe. This jacket in particular completely rocks, as it's entitled Ascension of Eye of the Beholder. You can shop the jacket and other products like it, here , and special orders for art or apparel in this style is just a message away. Like I said, once I dig something, nothing is holding me back from repeating it on other things, making it come full circle! Note the jeans, kicks, and similar jackets showcasing the same eye. But before this signifying eye, there was development from the canvas painting of Eye of the Beholder which was also a textile/apparel line at Storm Ritter Studio. Still have a few pieces left from the collection available to purchase, but otherwise, its a wonderful stepping stone in my portfolio work. The original painting featured a sullen face with an eye appearing as though it was a peephole into the far distance. A place? A person? That's what you must behold. Molder you perception; it's not your fault you have brilliant intentions. Beauty is said to be found in the eye of the beholder. So, the definition of beauty is incongruent and ever-changing! Perhaps you assume beauty as one thing, and see it as such because of a presumptuous nature. Yet, beauty is undefinable on a large scale, only definable by your own perspective. The original painting on canvas spiraled into a series of t-shirts and hand painted garments. Also spent a solid amount of time investigating the meaning of the phrase future and connecting it to tarot cards and esoteric interpretations. Eye of the beholder, molder your perception. Its not your fault you have brilliant intensions. Ascension is on the rise; hope is about to harmonize. Mortals who search for happiness, won't find their portals in church. Unless their obsession for validation is solaced by the earth. Wish for rebirth or the peacock's immortal mirth. Dream in royal purple, because now, life is not a dress rehearsal.

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. "I've Never Seen Anything Like It" from "Doctor Dolittle"

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.

Why can’t our world wise & rise up?! The writing has been on the wall for a while, and it's terrifying that women's rights are still not ensured. This morning I listed and sold this painted tee from my personal collection for $100. All the money was directly donated to ACLU Texas fighting the abortion ban. It's a little action, but proactive to get others educated and involved.

Fashion show, interview, etc.

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

Garments at Storm Ritter Studio, dropped 2017 the storefront. Select pieces below are samples of each textile collection, including a few painted t-shirts of The Cool People and screen printed logo shirts. Due to the nature of the fabric patterns, each garment is one of a kind.

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.