It's a bright new year and I'm feeling inspired by the distinct color palette and subject matter created by New Zealand artist Saskia Leek. These are just two examples of her work, but we can see that through color and abstraction a discernible subject, like the home, can take on many different perspectives. Leek's contrasting pieces encourage me to experiment and change up some of my own work and outlooks this year.
Link - Saskia Leek
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Saskia Leek
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Laura Konttinen
The Memory Project by Laura Konttinen is "a collection of reconstructed memories, built from, and into, photographs." Konttinen's work instantly drew me in because I can fully relate to those emotions and blurry bits of nostalgia found within our memories. I'm fascinated by the way Konttinen took a complex concept and put it into beautiful, tangible forms.
The Memory Project has also inspired my new year. As I draw closer to midnight it's only natural to reflect on last year's memories and feel a sense of renewal mixed with fear. I would normally want to evaluate, calculate, make lists and think of ways to improve...but just thinking about that makes me want to hide under last year's covers. This new year I'll try something different and let things go, listen more to my gut and remember the memories that make me...well me. Thank you so much for being apart of those memories and I look forward to many more. Happy New Year!
Link - Laura Konttinen
Friday, November 5, 2010
Robert Bradford
Before you sell or trash your old plastics...think again. Contemporary artist Robert Bradford creates life-size animal sculptures from discarded items like colorful toys, clothes pins, buttons and other plastic pieces. His playful work is truly loved, enjoyed and appreciated by kids (and dogs!) of all ages.
Bradford's inspiring work is a reminder to have a little creative fun and bring new purpose to old items. Don't you feel like the possibilities are endless now? Here's to a great and fun weekend ahead...
Link - Robert Bradford found via The Cool Hunter
Monday, October 25, 2010
Lizzie Buckmaster Dove
Birds and insects like butterflies and dragonflies were a major trend at the High Point Market this year. Many believe these soaring animals and insects are popular right now because they represent good fortune and change during these turbulent economic times. One such example is paper artist Lizzie Buckmaster Dove, who brings a fresh perspective to bird inspired art with creative and artistic displays.
I also love her hand cut paper cubes & blown glass domes cleverly titled "Cluster of Ideas." I wish I could display my thoughts and ideas so beautifully!
Link - Lizzie Buckmaster Dove featured at NG Art Gallery
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Natural Curiosities
Fernando Boher CollectionThe High Point Furniture Market is in town, which means two things. One - I've had the pleasure of checking out the latest home trends and two - my feet are killing me! With so much great design to see it's easy to soldier through the pain, especially after viewing the unique art selection from Natural Curiosities by Christopher Wilcox. They have a team of over 15 artists and house a collection of over 60,000 images, textiles, textures, plants and other creative objects. Plus, their often large art pieces are "meticulously handmade in America and supported by the environmental vision that walks hand-in-hand with true art."
My favorite ideas ranged from over-sized sea patterns to small groups of sketches. I believe they exclusively sell to wholesalers, but one can still be inspired by their art and message!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Luke Miller Buchanan
Local Raleigh artist, Luke Miller Buchanan, creates paintings "focused on our man-made world." I love how he describes his work as,
"Stairways, telephone poles, railroad tracks, apartment buildings and factories are all prominent in my work. These are places and things that have been seen or used by thousands of people, each one of them an individual with unique experiences. These experiences, varied as they may be, share the same space. Therefore a street corner may be where one person met the love of their life, and also where someone lost theirs. A room in an apartment may be both where a child was conceived and where a young man died. These events are inseparable from the space, to the individual that experienced them."
The washed colors and disjointed perspectives add even more depth to the stories of these places. Doesn't he interpret and illustrate a place beautifully?
Link - Luke Miller Buchanan
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Karl Fritsch
Links - Images via Karl Fritsch & Gallery Funaki
Monday, October 4, 2010
Ali Cavanaugh
“above a transient illusion”
“fading into a luminous lucidity”
“a brilliant overlay”The self-conscious artist and awkward teenage girl inside me immediately respond to the work by Ali Cavanaugh. Even though I'm not a teenager, I feel like the contrast between colorful stripes and curious poses play on hidden emotions I faced as an adolescent and even now as an adult. Her site further explains that she "developed a process best described as neo fresco secco, where she applies watercolor to plaster panels; her figures often are accentuated by stark white negative spaces. Fascinated by the dichotomy of the seen and unseen in the human condition…body and soul…Cavanaugh’s art brings to light the complexity within contemplation. Her signature poetic titles are part of this engaging discourse."
On a side note, thank you for your warm and generous thoughts regarding my Mom's birthday. The day was not easy, but I found comfort in knowing that she would have loved the post and your comments. Thank you again for all the support and kindness.
Link - Ali Cavanaugh
Friday, September 24, 2010
Just Think
Hello, hello...yes, I am still here! I know it's been awhile, but I needed a little blogosphere break. Easing into the fall schedule hasn't been as easy as I had anticipated (I think my brain is still in summer). Plus, it feels like my visual mind is in sleep mode because all I want to do is think. Just think. Normally I'm like a sponge soaking up the visual world, but for the last couple of weeks all I've wanted to do is just be with my thoughts. Call it a visual vacation...call it musing...call it doing nothing. Either way, I needed the break. I've always been big on contemplation, but I found that after my Mom passed away is was easier to turn on the TV or get lost in something else instead of facing my thoughts. I'm slowly realizing it's important to embrace and be with those thoughts (good or bad) than to set them aside. It's painful, terrifying and empowering at the same time. How do you face your thoughts?
Let's start back with more inspiring and thought provoking work by my new favorite artist, Ali Naschke-Messing. I gushed over her Threadworks and continue to be in awe over how powerful her work is through simple notions like shells, cloth and thread.
Link - Ali Naschke-Messing
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Ali Naschke-Messing: Threadworks
Thread. It's easy to forget how much thread, a basic and complex necessity, surrounds and assists our everyday life. I am continually fascinated by what thread does and how artists explore thread in their work. One such artist is Ali Naschke-Messing, who uses thread to create threadworks inspired by published text. She explains,
"These objects deal with the fragility and transience of language and interpretation. I collaborate with published authors, using fragments of their texts, sometimes in combination with my own, to create a new sculptured text that opens itself to the interpretation (and frustration) of each viewer. The fragments of Djuna Barnes, Ann Carson, Hafiz, Julia Kristeva, Lucy Lippard, and Jeannette Winterson (to name a few) have all entered and inspired work."
Ali Naschke-Messing combines literature and textiles to form a beautiful disarray of human emotion. I'm at a loss for words over how much I admire Ali Naschke-Messing's talent. Only to say that when I look at her work...my world and my heart stop a little...and that is truly something wonderful.
Link - Ali Naschke-Messing
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Paperwork Giveaway!
Swing Set by Bryan JerabekBeautiful and inspiring art doesn't have to break your budget or your eco-friendly morals. I'm excited to share with you Ugallery's Paperwork, a new site bringing sustainable and affordable art from the nation's most talented emerging artists to the people. They gather their finest works and print them in limited editions that you can take home for just $20. Yes, $20! Your lovely art comes with information about the piece as well as a certificate of authenticity that is numbered and signed by the artist. Plus, all of their archival pigment prints are produced on the world’s first eco-friendly fine art paper - a smooth textured, natural white bamboo paper. Be sure to check Paperwork often because every Tuesday they release two new Paperwork pieces. Amazing right? But, it gets better...
Explore Paperwork today and then comment below to win a $25 gift certificate to their site! A special winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday, September 7th and notified by e-mail (don't forget to leave your contact information). Paperwork is also offering a special Labor Day sale to readers - use the coupon code "laborpw" at checkout to receive free shipping now through September 6th. Discover, share and enjoy Paperwork...and then let me know what you think!
Link - Paperwork
Friday, August 20, 2010
Joe Kievitt
Joe Kievitt's graphic drawings have made their rounds on the blogosphere, but did you also see his amazing mosaic work? The geometric shapes, natural elements and playful colors within his mosaics transform and liven everyday spaces. Do you feel a little fireplace DIY coming on?
I also love how Kievitt's work has evolved throughout several years with more color and pattern. Even through his progression and different mediums, like mosaics and drawing, his work has successfully maintained a distinct look and perspective. This is something many artists and designers strive for each day, and somehow he makes it look easy and refreshing!
Link - Joe Kievitt
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lauren DiCioccio
Lauren DiCioccio's hand-embroidered, sculptural art is highly detailed, realistic and downright amazing. I'm speechless over her beautiful pieces and refer to DiCioccio's artist statement, which nicely sums up her current body of work:
My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand? The tedious handiwork and obsessive care I employ to create my work aims to remind the viewer of these simple but intimate pieces of everyday life and to provoke a pang of nostalgia for the familiar physicality of these objects.
I'm always impressed when an artist utilizes a medium like embroidery and turns it into a thought provoking message. These awe-inspiring pieces created with thread, fabric and determination make us question many of the uncommon and ordinary objects we encounter each day. What is the future for these objects and the impressions they leave behind?
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