It seems that the art world is embracing fashion and its cultural influence. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s recent Alexander McQueen exhibit, Savage Beauty, broke attendance records for fashion exhibits at the institution. Designers, especially ones specializing in couture fashion, seem to have more freedom than ever to create uniquely artistic forms. We see designers such as the late McQueen taking inspiration from the art world and creating masterpieces in their own way.
Dress, VOSS, Alexander McQueen, razor clam shells stripped and varnished
Are these practical clothes? No. But then, art isn’t created for practicality’s sake. It is created to be an outlet and a source of inspiration. McQueen and other designers like him have taken inspiration from the forms and textures of ancient and modern sculpture to develop glorious garments that inspire.
Jean Paul GaultierMary KatrantzouStephane RollandManish Arora, Autumn/Winter 2011-2012
On a simple dressmaker’s form, these could be mistaken for museum-worthy sculptures, but when worn, they become a moving work of art.
The paintings of Wm. Coleman Mills have an undeniable texture– they make you want to touch them. And they are full of gorgeous, saturated color, which makes you want to wear them. So after hearing the pleas of fans of his artwork, the artist set about the task of recreating his artwork into textile designs, namely scarves.
Sunset At Grand Lagoon scarfSunset At Grand Lagoon by Wm. Coleman Mills, encaustic on canvas, 144×48
Those who know me well know that I have a weakness for scarves. It’s one of the reasons I was excited to move to the Pacific Northwest– scarf weather year-round!! So when I heard that one of my favorite painters was debuting a line of scarves based on details of his work, I got just a little OK, a LOT excited. These lovely textiles beautifully capture the essence of a coastal Southern summer, but are versatile enough to wear any season of the year.
Wind Swirling On Gulf Water scarf from WMCM Studio
The scarves are made by photographing each inspiration painting and converting the photo into a digital CAD file. It is then cropped and digitally screen printed onto a lightweight cotton voile and hand-finished in the artist’s hometown and current residence of Fairhope, Alabama. Each scarf is 24×72 inches and made-to-order. They can be backed with either silk or cotton and are signed and numbered by the artist.
Water's Edge scarf from WMCM Studio
This is your chance to own a beautiful piece of wearable artwork! More info on the scarves is available on the WMCM website and pre-orders are being taken now! I can’t wait to see what other textiles he comes up with next.. I’m thinking throw pillows, bedding, window treatments, etc!
PS– Be sure to take a gander at Coleman’s artwork while you’re on his website.. not to be missed!
Kicking off artsyF A S H I O NWeek here at Artsy Forager! Fashion and art have long been intertwined. For centuries, artists have, perhaps at times unwittingly, been the recorders of the history of fashion and style. It is in thanks to artwork that we can track what was worn by whom hundreds of years ago. Paintings weren’t just art, but were the fashion magazines and blogs of their day. For instance, thanks to Vermeer, we see a glimpse of the difference in the daily costume of the classes in a Mistress and Maid.
Mistress and Maid by Johannes Vermeer, c. 1666-1667
Today’s artists seem to have a bit more freedom to interpret instead of record. Fashion is such an integral part of our modern culture, it is no surprise that it still holds a fascination for contemporary artists. For some artists, the fashions themselves are worthy focal points. Denver artist Roxanne Rossi elevates a simple dress’s silhouette into an artistic statement, a sculptural fashion plate, clean but heavy in texture, it seems like it could come to life at any moment.
Afternoon Delight by Roxanne Rossi, acrylic, 36×60
Sometimes the fashion media becomes a literal component to a piece of fashion-influenced art, such as in the collage work of Melbourne, Florida artist Derek Gores. His imagery has the composition of a Vogue magazine spread and the collaged photos, magazine, labels, etc give each piece a painterly depth.
All Summer Long by Derek Gores, mixed media collage
Painter Kelly Reemtsen uses the constraints of mid-century era mindsets about fashion and juxtaposes them with garden tools and hardware, producing visual statements about the expectations placed on women, by themselves and the world at large.
Throwback by Kelly Reemtsen, oil on panel, 36×36
Celebrating the female form, both physically and spiritually, Leigh Pennebaker’s wire sculptures reveal designs that are sensuous and soft, despite their industrial materials.
Madeline by Leigh Pennebaker, wire sculpture
Like many fashion-forward artists, Megan Cosby began with an interest in fashion design, but decided she was more interested in the people themselves and what their style said about their personality, who they are, where they’ve been and where they are going.
Better by Megan Cosby, mixed media on canvas, 14×12
And then there’s the smart and cheeky work of Sarah Ashley Longshore, at once playing homage and poking fun to our culture’s obsession with fashion. I’ve featured her Audrey Hepburn paintings several times on the blog, but she also has this fabulous series focused on fashion and pop culture.
Trophy Wife Junk Drawer by Sarah Ashley Longshore, acrylic and high gloss reisn on canvas, 48×72
More fashiony-artsy goodness to come this week! Stay tuned.
Featured image is Major Poontang by Sarah Ashley Longshore.
Remember cutting out paper snowflakes in elementary school? These Friday Faves have elevated paper cut-outs to the ultimate artistic level. You know, school supplies are on sale right now.. let these artists inspire you to create your own stationary masterpieces!
Feather Mountain by Lena Wolff and Jaime Knight, paper collage with iridescent oil stick, varnish, mica and hole punchIcosahedron II by Richard Sweeney, paper and adhesiveNight Mare by Annawili Highfield, Ink, archival cotton paper, cotton thread, copper pipe, timber blockDissociations by Karen Margolis, abaca paper
Be sure to check out each artist’s website for more amazing paper creations! Have a great weekend, Artsies!
Sometimes a princess has to do what a princess has to do. Like kiss a frog, get a horrible night’s sleep with a pea stuffed under the mattress or maybe just open her eyes and wake up. Seattle artist Deborah Scott has created an intriguing new series, Waiting For Prince Charming, which explores how traditional fairy tale themes would be translated in our modern world.
Snow White, oil and mixed media on canvas
For instance, how would Snow White’s modis operandi of relying on her beauty and reputation as “the fairest in the land” work to secure her prince in today’s world? Mass media advertising, of course. Scott depicts her, perhaps this most vapid of the fairy tale princesses, as a purely passive participant in her own fairy tale. Her happy ending isn’t a result of anything she does or who she is, but merely because of her famous looks. Sound familiar?
The Girl Would Believe Anything, oil and mixed media on canvas
And then there’s the chick from The Princess & The Frog. How many women have been deceived into thinking that warty, nasty toad would one day magically turn into a prince? He may seem debonair and sophisticated, but he is a frog all the same. And once we realize how duped we were.. we are horrified at our own stupidity.
A Social Climber's Romance, oil and mixed media on canvas
In A Social Climber’s Romance, we see a well rested young woman and a pea peeking out from under the mattresses– she obviously hasn’t passed the real princess test, but is oblivious to the meaning of her sweet slumber. In this series, Deborah continues to hone her classical, figure-focused narrative style, which works tremendously well to carry out the themes in each work.
Waiting For Prince Charming opens at All City Coffee in Seattle September 10th and will be on exhibit there until November 5th. If you’re in the Seattle area, please check it out! Better still, there will be an artist’s reception on October 21st, Deborah is a delight in person and meeting her will give you such deeper appreciation for her work.
In the meantime, stop by Deborah’s website to see more of her work and check out her introduction on Artsy Forager here.
Featured image is Princess And The Pea. All images are courtesy of Deborah Scott.
Special thanks to Deborah for giving me a studio tour and a sneak peek at this new work when George & I were in Seattle last week! Look for features on some of her talented studio mates on the blog soon!
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
There is nothing I love better than a day spent walking in the woods or paddling down a slow moving river. Nature’s beauty has a way of inspiring me to want to paint, write, cook, just create. In celebration of Earth Day, this Friday’s Forager Faves round up includes a few artists who obviously feel the same way. These are works insprired by the wonder of the earth in which we live. Enjoy and get outside!
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
The affordable artfest continues today! In case you missed it, you can catch Part 1 here. Here are a few more suggestions for purchasing affordable artwork:
Art festivals– Just about every community at one point of another puts on some kind of arts festival or at the very least, there are a few within easy driving distance of where you live. Festivals are a great place to check out ( usually ) a wide variety of artwork. And with individual artists manning their own booths, it’s also a great opportunity to chat with them about their work. Plus, you can usually score some funnel cake. Win-win!!
ArtWalks— Many communities are also getting on the ArtWalk bandwagon, which I am all for! ArtWalks customarily take place once a month, usually the same evening every month such as the First Friday or Second Saturday. While the ArtWalks usually involve visiting local galleries, which we’ll touch base on below, many of them set up tents in a local park or closed-off street where local artists can display their wares.
Arts Markets– A growing trend is a local “arts market”, which is a weekly market, combination farmer’s market, street fair and arts market. A wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning, grab some fresh ingredients for dinner, listen to local music and discover new artists.
Local Galleries– You may think this one is obvious, but in many communities, brick & mortar art galleries are rapidly disappearing, thanks in no small part to the recession. If you are lucky enough to have some local galleries in your area, do what you can to support them. Don’t just go to the free events– actually buy something, even if it small. Many galleries today offer payment plans for larger purchases, don’t be afraid to ask. Galleries are in the business of supporting artists and selling their work. While it’s nice to browse, browsers don’t pay the rent. Most art galleries are run by average folks who love art or are artists themselves and are an important feature of any thriving community. Please patronize local galleries– your community will thank you.
Art by Students– Chances are, you have a community college or university of some kind in or near where you live. These institutions are often filled with budding artists. Check the colleges’ websites to find out more about their art programs, exhibitions, etc. Purchasing student work is a wonderful, economical way to start a collection AND help give emerging young artists a boost of confidence. Even if they don’t make a career out of being an artist, that student will always know someone loved their work enough to buy it and they will cherish that knowledge. ( I speak from personal experience! )
Artists Themselves– OK, so this suggestion may call for a huge, UMM..DUH, LESLEY!!, but it’s definitely an option, especially today when many artists are foregoing traditional gallery representation, choosing instead to market their work on their own. There are certain advantages to dealing directly with an artist, such as they may have more room to negotiate on price or payment terms without a middle man, as a direct “patron”, the artist may notify you first of new works you may be interested in and best of all, you can get to know the artist personally, which often makes the work you love that much more significant. In addition, many artists are now offering “budget” limited editions of their work, which make it all the more affordable. ( Check out Town Editions, a limited edition collection offered by Pick of the Crop artist, Thomas Hager ). A word of caution though, on a somewhat touchy aspect of buying directly from artists which goes back to my point of supporting local galleries– if you see a piece in a gallery that you love PLEASE do not try to circumvent the gallery and purchase from the artist directly. It’s dishonest and well, just a crappy thing to do. Most artists value their relationships with galleries or have a contract with the gallery and would not sell such a work to you in any case, but I’ve seen it happen.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful. It can be intimidating to buy artwork, but buy what you love and you’ll never be sorry.
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
It is a huge misnomer that only the rich can afford to be art collectors or even to purchase original work. When most of us think of an “art collector”, we tend to think of the stereotype of the wealthy patron, attending auctions at Christie’s, buying artwork for more than many of us make in a year, heck, in a lifetime. Or maybe you’ve gone into a higher end gallery and seen a price and thought to yourself, “Self, no way you’ll ever be able to afford that.”
Well, I’m here to tell you, the times they are a changin’. It has never been easier or more affordable to purchase original artwork and/or high quality limited editions. No, I’m not talking about the kind of “original art” you buy at the fleamarket or from a sale in a hotel ballroom. I’m referring to original, gallery worthy fine art. The kind you can be proud to hang on your wall.
Here are some suggestions for finding the artwork of your dreams and getting your collection started:
Online galleries/exhibition websites– These are popping up all over the place and many of them represent some very talented artists and you can usually find wonderful work in every price point.
Etsy— Possibly the largest online art & handmade marketplace, complete with a powerful search engine, you’ll find a wide range of artwork available. Many artists are using Etsy to reach a wider audience and as a way to sell their work independantly. ( Note that many of the artists with shops on the “exhibition sites” will have their links on those sites connecting back to their Etsy shops. )
Into the Mystic, photgraphic print, 8″x8″ $30
20×200— this New York City based website works with artists to offer limited editions of original work. Starting at just $20 for the smallest size, 20×200 offers affordable, quality work for newbie collectors.
Well-Being I, limited edition on archival paper, 8″x10″, edition of $200, $20
Papernstitch— I must admit, I’m a little biased toward this one, as it is run by my friend ( and fabulous artist in her own right ), Brittni Wood. Started as a blog, Papernstitch is a growing online exhibition site, curated monthly by Brittni and features handpicked, talented artists, designers and craftspeople. The Papernstitch blog is still going full force and features daily posts from Brittni and a handful of other talented contributors. Papernstitch is definitely worth a look when you are searching for something special.
Open Space by Rachel Austin, original mixed media on canvas, 8″ x 8″, $85
Artwelove— Founded in 2008, ArtWeLove “offers exclusive, museum-quality art editions by today’s inspiring artists”. A big difference with this site is it focuses on offerings from artists whose work is found in top galleries, museums and exhibitions throughout the world. The work is curated and commissioned directly from the artist to ArtWeLove exclusively– you won’t see these prints anywhere else. The site has a “learning engine” similar to Amazon.com, which tracks your artwork preferences over time and makes recommendations for you.
Petal, Pixel and Stain by Nina Tichava, limited edition on archival paper, starting at $50
PoppyTalk Handmade–Founded in 2008 by a Canadian husband and wife team, PoppyTalk Handmade is a monthly curated and “themed” marketplace showcasing artwork, handmade and vintage goods from around the world. Sort of an online street fair/festival, PoppyTalk provides an online marketplace to emerging and indie artists and craftspeople.
Pillow Land, sewn print by Clare Elsaesser of Tastes Orangey, 4.75″ x 4.75″, $20
Stay tuned over the next few days for more suggestions on ways to buy original art on any budget!
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
There are people and by people, I mean artists, whose life and art are so intertwined that almost everything in their life looks like their artwork. Maribel Angel is one of those people and I mean that in the best possible sense. The minute I drove up to her home & studio in St. Augustine, Florida, I knew I was in for a treat.
Maribel’s home & studio, which she shares with her husband, Cash, dog Miss Hannah and three cats, is on a quiet street removed from the bustle of tourists in downtown St. Augustine. Entering through a green gate with a little bell, I am greeted with a hug from the artist and meow from possibly the friendliest cat ever, Lulu.
Trimmed in bright colors reminiscent of her paintings, the house, studio and workshop are like sweet little dollhouses. Maribel and Cash purchased the property, which faces a lovely canal where Lulu loves to beg for attention from joggers, as a fixer upper and have done most of the work themselves over the years. It is apparent that this is a place created with love.
Let’s go into the studio.
Sunlight streams through the windows, filling the diminutive studio with light and warmth.
Every artist’s studio needs a comfy chair. A place where an artist can curl up with a cup of coffee and read or dream about where inspiration will take them next. Finished artwork or works in progress are all around the studio– like these sweet little horse paintings ( below ), which were big sellers during the MOCA Studio Tour a few weeks ago.
The studio floors are reclaimed hardwood, which came from a local horse barn. Maribel theorizes that perhaps the floors are subconsciously leading her to paint horses! Whatever the cause, these equestrian inspired pieces are hard to resist. However, I am even more in love with a new series Maribel is working on– inspired by the Anthropologie catalog!
I told Maribel how much I loved these and when she told me her inspiration source, I was downright gleeful! There is just something about Anthropologie that we artsy girls love. Ask anyone who has ever been in one with me. I get this joyous, glazed over look in my eye, which I’m sure is very similar to the look I had upon leaving Maribel’s.
On the opposite side of the room, are the quintessential elements of any artist’s studio– easel, work table and of course, stacks of works in progress. See the horses? I think the floors are working their magic.
Ever wonder how Maribel creates those wonderful, collaged layers in her work? First, she makes a color copy of the inspiration source, whether it be a textile pattern, page from a book or other ephemera, then soaks the copy in a medium solution which allows her to peel the transparent image from the paper. The transparency allows for background paint and other elements to show through and using this instead of the paper itself will be more permanent and chemically stable.
I can’t wait to try this out on my own.. I already have a few ideas! If only I was as prolific as Maribel.. there is artwork and inspiration everywhere you turn in her studio.
Don’t you love the rustic window paned doors? Maribel has definitely created a space that warms the heart and nurtures the soul. I was there for less than an hour and came home incredibly inspired and ready to create! I hope our visit to Maribel’s studio has done the same for you.
Please enjoy this oldie but goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
Swimmingly [ swim-ing-lee ]
–adverb- Definition: without difficulty; with great success; effortlessly.
‘Tis the season for swimming. If you’re in Florida at least, maybe if you’re elsewhere ’tis the season to dream of swimming. I recently came across the paintings of New York ( by way of Minnesota ) artist, Samantha French, bathed in sunlight and clear blue water.
Reminiscent of summers spent on Minnesota lakes, French’s work seeks to recapture those fleeting, carefree days of summer. Days spent in the water, underwater, by the water.. nothing compares to the lovely worn-out feeling of a day spent swimming and relaxing in the sun.
The swimmers and sunbathers in French’s work are reminiscent of days gone by.. of colorful convertibles, hotdog picnics, the days of Hepburn and Tracy.
French has a show titled “Open Swim” opening at the Left Bank Gallery in Essex, CT this Thursday. To learn more about the artist, visit her website and be sure to fan Samantha French Art on Facebook! Prints of her work can be purchased through her Etsy store.
