artsy forager

Category: Artsy Forager Featured Artist

Posts about each month’s Featured Artist

  • January Featured Artist: Christy Kinard

    January Featured Artist: Christy Kinard

    Happy 2014, Artsies!  I can hardly believe we have turned the calendar over to a new year so soon!  2013 was a year filled with changes and opportunities, some worked out, some didn’t, but I hope we all have come out stronger and wiser and read to take on the world in the year ’14!  I’ve lined up a slew of fabulous artists taking part in the monthly Featured Artist program ( going strong for nearly 2 years now! ) for this year and am excited to kick off the year with the lovely work of Memphis artist Christy Kinard, who’ll be gracing the blog and AF social media all this month!

    Love for Hydrangeas by Christy Kinard Mixed Bouquet with Blue Stripe by Christy Kinard XO Orchid by Christy Kinard Fiori by Christy Kinard Picasso Vase by Christy Kinard

    Like me, Christy is a Southern girl whose work lovingly reflects the bounty and color of life in the South.  Southerners in general are great lovers of beauty, and often lovingly tend gardens exploding with color.  In these mixed media paintings, Christy weaves a tale of Southern charm and tradition, taking inspiration not only from Southern gardens and flora, but also from quilt making and childhood memories.

    Her work has layers of texture and color, much like life anywhere, deeply rich and filled with meaning, memory and secrets.  The bouquets she chooses to paint aren’t necessarily prim and proper, they’re a bit messy and beautiful in their imperfections.

    To more work from Christy Kinard, please visit her website and Facebook page.  And while you’re doing the Facebook thing, head over to the Artsy Forager page to check out Christy’s cover art and an album of some of my personal favorites from her portfolio!

    All images via the artist’s website.

  • December Featured Artist: Casey Matthews

    December Featured Artist: Casey Matthews

    December is here!  Mr. F and I are back living in Idaho ( Moscow, ID to be exact ) for the next three months.  As we were driving up, we were treated to a spectacular display of snow juxtaposed against the evergreens, rocks and rushing waters.  These pieces by this month’s Featured Artist, Casey Matthews remind me of that wintery palette I love so much.

    CaseyMatthews_Bougie_30x40_$1525

    CaseyMatthews_Attic_30x40_$1525 CaseyMatthews_FashionGoat_30x40_$1525 CaseyMatthews_HatTrick_36x36_$1650 CaseyMatthews_InTheShadowOfVesuvius_20x24

    I’ve been in love with Casey’s work for a long time and she was one of the first artists I featured on Artsy Forager.  Her work is full of luscious texture and lots of delicious little details that don’t always come through in digital form.  Orbs and circles are a large part of her visual language and some of her latest work, she’s exploring a whirlpoolish composition in addition to her characteristic floating shapes and drips.  And I’m especially enamored of the way she is overlaying linear elements, adding yet another intriguing dimension.

    Casey lives in North Florida, so its pretty doubtful that her inspiration would have come from the snow and evergreens of Northern Idaho.  Yet these pieces have much of the atmospheric feel I was imagining as we drove through snow covered canyons and delighted in patches of white dotting the rocks along the river.  Isn’t it amazing how an artist’s work can resonate your own imagination?

    I hope you’ll mosey over to Casey Matthews’ website to take a look at more of her work, as well as heading to the Artsy Forager Facebook page to see the gorgeous piece gracing our cover for this month, plus an album of some of my latest favorites!

    If you’d like to see Casey’s work in person, you can do so at a number of representing galleries, a list can be found here.  If you’re in North Florida, Casey will be showing work at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club during the month of December, with a holiday reception on December 12th.  Or if you happen to be in the Atlanta area, her work will be a part of the annual Masterpiece & Its Minis show at Gregg Irby Fine Art, where you could snatch up a sweet smaller Casey Matthews original, what an amazing gift one would make!

    All images via Casey Matthews.

  • November Featured Artist: M.A. Tateishi

    November Featured Artist: M.A. Tateishi

    It’s the end of the week, but the beginning of a brand new month!  Oh, October, did you have to go so soon?  I’ll forgive you, though, because November means a new Featured Artist and she is one of my long-time faves!  The work of Vancouver, BC artist M.A. Tateishi explodes with color and movement, so its fitting that the artist would find recent inspiration in the undersea realm.

    M.A. Tateishi M.A. Tateishi M.A. Tateishi M.A. Tateishi M.A. Tateishi

    Following a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium, the artist has been cranking out these jellyfish inspired works. ( if you’re up Vancouver-way, there’s a special jellyfish exhibit but it’s only on exhibit until November 14th! )  The graceful, flowing creatures are a perfect vehicle for Tateishi’s bold, fluid style.  The jellyfish are part of a new Pure series, in which the artist combines drawing and pure, transparent colored resin.  Stunning, right??

    All this month, I’ll be featuring M.A.’s work here on the blog and the Artsy Forager social media pages.  Be sure to head over to Facebook where her work will be gracing the cover of our page and I’ve put together an album of my personal Tateishi faves.

    Another note for you Vancouverites ( Vancouverians? ), M.A. Tateishi will be participating in the Eastside Culture Crawl with 400 fellow artists November 15-17th.  Don’t miss out on the chance to see these beauties in person!  Want to see more?  Make sure you visit M.A.’s website and Facebook page.

    All images via the artist.

  • October Featured Artist: Jennifer JL Jones

    October Featured Artist: Jennifer JL Jones

    Happy October!  No more of that foolin’ around, Indian summer stuff.  We are now well into Fall and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  I’m equally excited to share with you the work of our October Featured Artist, Jennifer JL Jones!  One of the things I love most about Fall is the cozy atmosphere that permeates each day and night and exploring Jennifer’s work, with its warm, ethereal light is the perfect way to kick off the season!

    She Hath Wings by Jennifer JL Jones Mala by Jennifer JL Jones Okika by Jennifer JL Jones

    Le Petit Jardin 11 by Jennifer JL Jones

    Le Petit Jardin 2 by Jennifer JL Jones

     Here in the Northwest, we can go for days, even weeks without seeing the sun, but the light still manages to pierce the veil, even through falling leaves and raindrops.  It is this same aura of light breaking through and of fluttering movement that draws me again and again to Jennifer’s work.  In her most recent series, Sojourn, the work increasingly free and joy filled.. the atmosphere is ablaze.

    If you’d like to see more of Jennifer JL Jones’ work, please visit her website and Facebook page.  A trip over to the Artsy Forager Facebook page will also give you a glimpse into an album of some of my own favorites of the artist’s work.  Florida Artsies can see Jennifer’s work, along with three other talented artists in Synergy, opening October 18th at Stellers Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach.  Don’t miss it!  Not in Florida?  Check out her website for a list of representing galleries around the country.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • September Featured Artist: Susan Hall

    September Featured Artist: Susan Hall

    I know today is a holiday for most folks here in the US, so you’ve probably out picnicking, enjoying your last bit of summer beach time or barbecuing with the fam.  But I just couldn’t wait to share with you our new Featured Artist for September!  I am an enormous fan of this artist’s work.  Seriously, I fall more in love with the work of Susan Hall every time I see it.

    Wing by Susan Hall
    Wing, oil on panel, 35×40

    Every painting transports me to such a calm and peaceful place– it’s like a visual dip into a cool spring on a hot day.  Each figure, whether human or animal, seems lit from within and the canvases radiate with serenity.

    Devotion by Susan Hall
    Devotion, oil on panel, 43×51
    Morning Light by Susan Hall
    Morning Light, oil on panel, 35×40

    And I’m sure you’ve noticed her use of texture– each piece has subtle textural patterns overlaying the composition, lending to the ethereal, gossamer-like quality.

    Listen by Susan Hall
    Listen, oil on panel, 43×48
    Harmony by Susan Hall
    Harmony, oil on panel, 43×51

    Owning one of Susan’s pieces would be like having your own personal serenity portal.  Just a few moments’ gazing and my stress levels plummet!

    Want to see more of Susan Hall‘s work?  Please visit her website and be sure to check out the Facebook album full of my favorite works by Susan.  For you Texas Artsies, Susan will be showing at the Houston Fine Art Fair this month and for my Seattle Artsies, you can see Susan’s work at the Affordable Art Fair in November!  A list of galleries who carry her work can be found on her website here.

    All images via the artist’s website.

     

  • August Featured Artist: Candace Fasano

    August Featured Artist: Candace Fasano

    I just love it when an artist seems to take a bit of a break for a while and then BOOM!, comes back strong!  Such seems to have been the case with Florida artist Candace Fasano, this month’s Featured Artist.

    Double Exposure by Candace Fasano
    Double Exposure, oil on wood, 24×24

    Long time Artsy Forager readers might remember Candace’s work from way back in July ’11 ( where have the past two years gone?? ).  Over the past few years, I would occasionally glimpse a post on her blog or Facebook page, but then just within the last few month, suddenly it seemed like this artist was back and she meant business!  When I clicked on a blog post back in January, I was thrilled to see a bunch of new, exciting work looking back at me.

    Alternating Phase by Candace Fasano
    Alternating Phase, oil on wood, 12×12
    EG3 by Candace Fasano
    EG3, mixed media on wood, 12×12

    Fasano is still playing with her imagination ( and ours ), delving even past narratives into the worlds of scientific mapping and microbiological patterns.  There is still the typography and wispy lines that are part of her artist’s signature, but these new paintings seem to be an artist who has discovered new caves to explore and is diving deeper beneath the surface.

    Double Etch Trenches by Candace Fasano
    Double Etch Trenches, oil on wood, 11×14

    I’m so excited to feature the work of Candace Fasano all August long here on Artsy Forager!  Be sure to check out her website, blog, and Facebook page.  You can see one of Candace’s paintings gracing the Artsy Forager Facebook page, too, as well as a whole album of my favorite Fasano works!

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • July Featured Artist: Ally Burguieres

    Please forgive the wonkiness of the site today.  Spent most of the morning fixing a bug and will be reinstalling all widgets, etc. this afternoon.  Sometimes being a blogger isn’t so artsy. 😉

    It is July, ya’ll and you know what that means??  Summer has officially arrived, there’s no doubt now.  In the spirit of the relaxed, fun loving feeling of summer, I’d like to introduce our July Featured Artist, New Orleans’ Ally Burguieres!

    Fox in the Strawberry Fields by Ally Burguieres
    Fox in the Strawberry Fields, oil on canvas, 20×24

    Being a NOLA gal, it will come as no surprise that Ally’s work is full of color, humor, and joie de vivre!  From work that puts in a little dash of this and that, like the best Creole cuisine, in bold, vibrant colors reminiscent of the stained glass windows of New Orleans’ cathedrals, to fun and sketchy homages to pop culture.

    Ugly Friends by Ally Burguieres
    Ugly Friends, oil on canvas, 36×48
    Sock Monkey on Notebook Paper by Ally Burguieres
    Sock Monkey on Notebook Paper, oil on canvas
    Grumpy Cat by Ally Burguieres
    Grumpy Cat, oil on canvas

    Ally is a young artist whose work celebrates life and the things she loves best.  Gay-ron-TEEED to make you smile!

    Vegan Smorgasboard by Ally Burguieres
    Vegan Smorgasboard, oil on canvas, 20×24

    Want to see more of Ally Burguieres’ work?  Take a gander at her website and if you find yourself in New Orleans, don’t miss the chance to stop by her gallery on Royal Street!  And of course, head over to the Artsy Forager Facebook page to see Ally’s July cover and more of my faves in her album!

    All images are via the artist’s website.

     

  • June Featured Artist: Deann Hebert

    June Featured Artist: Deann Hebert

    Holy cow, where did May go?!  I know we still have several hours before June begins, but we’ll be out hiking tomorrow, so thought I’d give you a little artsy Saturday treat.  For Mr. Forager & I, May was a whirlwind of traveling to Seattle, frantically searching for an apartment, moving in, buying furniture, job searching for moi and just generally getting settled into our new life here.  What’s been keeping me sane this past month?  Spying new work from artists I love around the interwebs.  This month’s Featured Artist Deann Hebert has been on a roll lately, spicing things up with bolder color and looser compositions.  And I’m lovin’ it all!

    Hebert_Get Your color On I_mixed media on canvas_36x36
    Get Your Color On I, mixed media on canvas, 36×36

    You might remember Deann’s work from the City Mouse | Country Mouse show in the found gallery recently.. D was the Country Mouse.  Being a country gal, Deann paints the rusticity and warmth she is surrounded by each day.  Yet these aren’t your grandma’s chicken paintings.  This artist is giving country the modern treatment.  She’s totally Faith Hill-ing it.

    Seagrove, mixed media on canvas, 30x30
    Seagrove, mixed media on canvas, 30×30
    Hebert_Rustic Restored_mixed media on canvas_36x48
    Rustic Restored, mixed media on canvas, 36×48

    The latest work coming out of Deann’s studio is just a bit bolder, a bit more free.  She’s getting comfortable and coming into her own as an artist and it is truly a joy to watch!

    Get Your Color On 2, mixed media on canvas, 36x36
    Get Your Color On 2, mixed media on canvas, 36×36

    Want to see more of Deann Hebert’s work?  Check out her website and Facebook page!  And don’t forget to stop by the Artsy Forager page while you’re on Facebook to see some of my personal faves from Ms D.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

     

  • May Featured Artist: Pamela Viola

    May Featured Artist: Pamela Viola

    This Featured Artist post is coming a bit late due to the craziness of adjusting to our new digs.  Being born a flat-lander ( Sunshine State, represent! ), I continue to be amazed by the change in perspective that comes from living among the mountains.  Whether you’re in a valley looking up or gazing down from the top of a hill, your way of seeing changes.  The work of this month’s Featured Artist, photographer Pamela Viola moves our eye in much the same way into new perspectives.  Her way of seeing gives us a new manner of looking.

    Viola_BrellyI
    Brelly I

    Viola focuses her lens, not only straight ahead, but up above, down below, over, under and every which way in between.  What we’re left with as the viewer is a capture of an angle we might have otherwise never noticed.

    Gallery Place with Red Dots
    Gallery Place with Red Dots
    Gray Light
    Gray Light

     

    Supreme Court Behind Bars
    Supreme Court Behind Bars

    And it isn’t only those unique angles that draw us in.  But also the way in which the light and shadow plays differently from those unexpected perspectives.

    Pyramids
    Pyramids

    To see more of Pamela Viola’s work, please visit her website and be sure to check out her work on the Artsy Forager Facebook page!

    All images via the artist’s blog.

     

     

     

     

     

  • May-days Are Here! And a New Featured Artist!

    May-days Are Here! And a New Featured Artist!

    May always feels like the month when we truly transition out of winter and into the glory of the warmer months!  Mr. Forager and I are now in Seattle, though, so I’m not sure how warm we’ll be this May. 😉  But we have the work of this month’s Featured Artist, Pamela Viola to keep us glowing!

    Whizz 2 by Pamela Viola
    Whizz 2 by Pamela Viola

    Be sure to head over to the Artsy Forager Facebook page, where Pamela’s work will be gracing our cover AND check out the Facebook album full of my favorite Violas!  Want to see even more?  Peruse Pamela’s website and blog.

    Image via the artist’s website.