Thursday, May 31, 2012

Checking In

In the rat race of the digital age, there is no irony involved with my last Monica Hoover blog posting, July 2011, ha. Kinda funny. I suppose Facebook keeps the most current updates., but thats no excuse - I should be using this purposeful blog outlet more often to share all the latest happenins...

So lets catch up.. What a year.  What I am most proud of is that my husband Justin & I had a baby December 26 2011. Ovidia Rose. She is our angel. We are blessed.

Everyone really likes her 4 1/2 month "bubbles!" photo, so here is another from that bath sequence:


Before Ovidia was born, actually right about the time we found out we would be having a baby, I started a greeting card company called Rescued Cards (surprise!).  I partnered with long time friend and amazing graphic designer Justin Clark of Clark Studios. Its been a very successful year starting our brand. Petco Foundation chose Rescued Cards to provide their promo holiday cards for their Petco in-store holiday fundraiser. In December 2011, Rescued Cards was in every Petco across the country, including Hawaii. Petco has over 1100 stores so we were very excited.  Now fast forwarding 5 months,  we have been working on our business development which includes expanding our card designs, website and the really important availability of cards to sell!! I promise they will be for sale sooner than later. If you are a fan - THANK YOU and please hang tight,, if you haven't heard of us please check out our WEBSITE and LIKE us on Facebook (click here) and spread the word & love.    Rescued Cards intention is to help rescues get additional exposure, hopefully money and hopefully ADOPTIONS!  All the people I meet and the animals I get to photograph through Rescued Cards is inspiring on many levels and heart wrenching at the same time. Now if only I could get more people to volunteer at rescues. Everyone is busy, I KNOW,,,,, but theres nothing like it - truly, its worth the small sacrifice of your time ;)

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I teach part time at the Art Institute San Diego, various photography courses and most recently a Photoshop course. I really enjoy it,  the students are great.. Its awesome to teach, inspire and influence other creative minds,  and for them to challenge and inspire me as well. Its refreshing to be immersed around the latest trends, technology and the ability to continue education in a creative field. You can never learn to much and you can never know to much.

AI shoot for Fashion Dept


My freelance life still consists of portraits, editorials, interiors, music (shows), fashion, food and product photography. The past year looked busy like this: Redfearn and Associates,  Bay Bird Inc, Petco Foundation, Barney & Barney, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, Valley View Casino, Simpson Strong Tie, JPR, San Diego Private Bank, UCSD, Flank Marketing, Foundation for the Children of the Californias, Westfield, Mixture, Promises to Kids, MAGIC, 2-1-1 San Diego, Sheraton, Starwood Hotels, Seal Fit, Savvy Steals;  So Cal Dining: Cavallion, Red Door, Brooklyn Girl, Stingaree, The SE, Crush, Sprinkles, Tailgate Beer, SIP (Del Mar), Maria Maria, Flavor Del Mar, Sublime Ale House,  etc etc.. I think the highlights for me were getting to photo the Doobie Brothers (ROCKERS!) Dana Carvey (HILARIOUS!) & Betty White (MY FAVORITE)...




On the fine art scene I've stayed pretty busy making photo panels. Justin was the biggest help this past year as pregnancy proved challenging when creating, but we persevered!  I had an art show May 2011 at a salon in North Park called The Lab A Salon. The art work is still up there if you haven't seen it.. We had previously talked about doing another shoot, another show, perhaps this will come together in 2012..  To all see more finished photo panels, art for panes and even animal panels click here to visit my online gallery.. 

Artwork at LAB Salon - North Park SD
I've had my artwork at Mixture in Little Italy, San Diego (high end furniture and art showroom / store) for about 1 1/2 years now.  The 4x6 CALIFORNIA piece has a huge fan base :)   Mixtures finest: Misty, Brumby, Brian, Rebecca & Michelle - you all are awesome ~ Thanks for everything!  Below is from a recent article in Riviera Magazine, written by Anna Maria Stevens..  She quoted me in the article.  You can see the online version of the article here pg 50 RIVIERA San Diego March 2012  (Below the California & HEALTH Pieces are mine).



Save the date for 07.21.2012 for the All Day Art event at Mixture. It is a one day event that will showcase the works of local San Diego artists,  and only select artists have been chosen to participate. Mixture will be offering 20% off of all art in Mixture.  For commissions where deposits are made that day, they will offer 15% off. Food and Drinks will be served! Hope to see you there ~


 All in all a GREAT past year. Heres to 2012 and all the irons in the fire! cheers.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Salton Sea & Salvation Mountain


Early this year I took a group of students to the Salton Sea & Salvation Mountain (Southeast of Palm Springs) for a photo day trip. Just going through some photos - and picked these to share. So nice get a way - and just be one with photography.







Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Lab Salon - Photography Show 2011


May 14th 2011 - marked the opening of my photography show at The Lab Salon in North Park, CA, called "Larger thank Life". Recently I was over at the salon and took photos of the exhibition which is still up for a few more months if you haven't had a chance to check it out.




The pieces exhibited are a part of a new series of fine art photo panels. The pieces merge fashion photography and fine art application. These over-sized fine art photo panels vary in size from 4 feet-by-8 feet to 4 feet-by-4 feet. Also on exhibit, the favorite 4 foot-by-6 foot “California” photo panel, and two 2 foot-by-3 foot panels entitled “High Voltage” and “Health”.




The fashion panels were inspired by 2011 collaboration photo shoot with The Lab Salon stylists: Adrianne Lehrer, Andrea Duggan, Andrea Miller, Nikki Randolph & Shannon Ruffer; Make-up artists: Marisa Ramirez, Megan McDaniel & Wesley Dors; Nouveau Modeling and fashion boutique, Mimi & Red, and fashion designer Carla Manuel from Kites Design.







Go check it out if you can. The Lab is open Tues - Sat (11am - 6pm)
3034 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104


All pieces are for sale and 20 percent of all art sales will be donated to The Barking Lot http://www.thebarkinglot.n​et/ and The Friends of the Humane Society of Tijuana http://www.friendsofhstj.o​rg/

For more information about Monica Hoover, please visit http://www.monicahoover.co​m/ For more information about The Lab Salon, please visit http://www.thelabasalon.co​m/ For more information about Ray at Night, please visit http://www.rayatnightartwa​lk.com/


Media inquiries:
Peyton Robertson
Bay Bird Inc PR
peyton@baybirdinc.com
858.382.4922


Sunday, March 20, 2011

BUJU Tattoo



Last month I did a photo shoot for Brianna Sargent owner of Buju Tattoo. This is a brand new tattoo shop in San Diego located at 914 W. Washington Street San Diego, CA 92103. I've been in many a tattoo shop in my day, and I must say this one is setting a new curve. The shop is tranquil and serene. I am so impressed by the layout, design and organic feel of the shop. Additionally, another extremely cool aspect of the shop is that it is named after Brianna's dog, BUJU, a lil blue pit who is such a lover! And the talent,,, Buju Tattoo has 3 female tattoo artists and one male. All of their portfolios are outstanding - beautiful work, so much talent under one roof. If your looking to get that next tattoo, I definitely would give Buju Tattoo a stop by - meet the artists and check it out.. it is truly unique to SD.

Some photos from the shoot.


















Brianna & her boyfriend Adam - purchased some artwork from me which they now have on display at the shop: BUJU 2'x2' dog panel and a 4'x4' Shepard Fairey documentary piece that I call "Queen Theater". **Go check them out!