You know that phrase, you get more flies with honey? Candy-coated truths always seem a bit more digestible. Whether its revealing political truths through comical satire or historical truths in frosted palettes as in the work of Australian artist Stefan Dunlop, difficult ideas can be approached more easily from a less threatening perspective.
Dunlop’s simple use of form and bright pastel palette immediately draw the eye, thinking we’re in for a fun ride. But his subject matter and old master-like composition lead us to want to investigate a bit further. There is a darkness lurking beneath that cotton candy surface.
Post WWII prosperity ushered in a turning point in the world of advertising and manufactured goods– packaging and design were no longer concerned mainly with function, even the most mundane of objects were created with an appealing aesthetic. This month’s Featured Artist Holly Farrell celebrates the beauty in these old objects, breathing new and fresh life into designs of the past.
With a bright and light modern palette, accentuated with touches of muted color. Pops of graphic, retro pattern along with sleek metals recall the dawn of the industrial age, with those colors and a few carefully placed wood tones keeping the view warm and fun. I can’t decide which of these looks I like best! Which is your fave?
To see more of Holly Farrell’s work, please visit her website. The above painting, Soap, is a 10×24 acrylic and oil on masonite, available through Holly’s studio.
One of the things that draws me again and again to abstract work is its ambiguity. We can never know for certain the source of the artist’s inspiration and every viewer carries to the work their own interpretation. The work of Irish Australian based artist Michael Cusack uses a consistent language of simple shapes and fields of white, each piece leaving us to determine exactly what it is we see.
For each viewer, the reality of what they see is unique. In viewing and living with abstract work like Cusack’s, we find ourselves on a quest to determine the truth of what we see. But we all look at each work through our own goggles of perception. Our experiences, memories and associations color our interpretation, giving these kinds of works a universal veracity unique to each viewer.
Just last night over a glass of wine and chocolate marscapone cheesecake, Mr. Forager and I were talking about where I saw my studio work going and I told him I didn’t really have a desire to become a figurative painter. And then this morning I came across the work of Jennifer Nerhbass. In her work, the New Mexico artist explores “The relationships of women to themselves and their environment”. Ok, maybe I’ve changed my mind.
As women, we get so caught up in society’s idea of what we should look like and who we should be. We find ourselves spending hours looking for that perfect little dress, even when we’d rather be outside. Since we’ve been traveling, I’ve been slowly stripping away those artifices I’d built up for so long. That closet filled with shoes, many of them rarely worn. Drawers filled with make-up and perfume. I’ve learned that Mr. F sees me at my most beautiful when we are hiking together– not in heels but hiking boots, no makeup, hair usually a mess. But what he’s seeing is the inspiration and peace that fills and recharges my spirit and soul. We so often forsake that for ourselves.
In her work, we see Nehrbass’s women often out of place in the wild, like they’ve suddenly been plucked out of their urban existence and somehow landed in the midst of wilderness. I see so many parallels with how we live as modern women and these paintings. We become so obsessed with creating beauty in ourselves that we lose touch with the life and beauty around us.
One of my favorite things about babies and children of family and friends is looking at them and seeing how their parents come through. Whether in their physical attributes or personalities, it always amazes me to see glimpses of parents or grandparents in a new unique little personality. In her Heritage series, French artist Marie Hudelot explores the cultural heritage between an East and West family legacy, specifically France and Algeria.
Just as we are each conglomerations of generations of hereditary history, in Hudelot’s conceptual portraits we see symbolic aggregations to create emblematic figures. Faces covered, the figures could be anonymous representations of previous generations. How much of who we become is influenced by those who came before? Whether genetic or cultural, we are all in some way the product of past generations.
When we think of an art collector, our minds may wander to Rockefeller-types plunking down millions for Warhols at Christie’s. We ordinary folk rarely think of ourselves as art collectors. But if you’ve ever purchased even one piece of artwork, even just a print, you dear Artsy, are a collector! Of course, it’s possible to build a collection filled with beautiful and historically significant work, but wouldn’t it be more fun to put together an art collection that is meaningful just to you and your partner? Mr. F and I hope to do just that, so while reminding ourselves of these guidelines, thought I would share some tips with you!
1 | get to know your favorite artists personally Most artists these days interact with fans and collectors on social media. Getting to know the artist whether online or by visiting their studio can often turn work you like into work you love! Knowing more about the artist’s process and inspiration can foster a connection to the work that may not have been present upon first glance. Plus, a positive relationship or connection with the artist will make you more inclined to support their career financially.
Sometimes, we simply like what we like and it doesn’t go deeper than that. But often, we are drawn to a particular piece of work because of the emotions it stirs within us. Maybe it reminds us of a particular moment or memory or transports us to a favorite place. Work that reflects an important time or occasion creates emotional significance that just isn’t there when we buy a painting to match the couch..
3 | make artwork your vacation souvenir Forget all those t-shirts and caps that will be worn a few times and then forgotten. Visit a few galleries or artists’ studios while you’re traveling and buy a small piece of work that will be a lasting reminder of your travels. Most galleries and artists will ship work home for you if you’re concerned about fitting your new art into your suitcase. And every time you see that sculpture or painting, you can visit that place all over again.
4 | proudly display a loved one’s artwork Maybe your mom or grandmother took some painting classes and discovered a love for still lifes? Or kids are the most prolific artists in the world, take advantage of their creativity and display their work with the importance it deserves! Not only will it remind you of them and make you smile, it will show the artist how significant they are to you.
While of course, I’ll always advocate buying art whenever you can, realistically, we don’t always have the budget for the type of work we love. So perhaps while you’re saving up, stretch your own creative muscles a bit by playing artist for yourself! There are any number of DIY art projects all over Pinterest. Who knows, you may discover hidden artistic genius!
I am loving these little Puffball Bonsai sculptures by Alexandra Gjurasic. They make me happy with their colorful stripes and cotton candy poufs. I could just leave it at that. But I like to take things a little deeper. They’re fun and completely awesome, but what are they saying to me, besides let’s play?
The high level of artificiality mixed with the traditional china pot speaks to me of the pet-like nature of Bonsai’s. They are high maintenance mini-trees cultivated mainly as a form of meditation and expression of creativity on the part of the caregiver. They seem, to me, to be like pet trees. Gjurasic is taking that idea even further by “dressing them up” in colorful stripes and glittery flowers. It’s interesting to think about flowers and houseplants in this way– these living things, which thrive in their own natural environment, cut down or cultivated in order to give us pleasure.
Oh and Gjurasic’s trees also spun off paintings, which are almost as enchanting! To see more of Alexandra Gjurasic‘s work, please visit her website.
Something about the warmer months make me long for the exotic. Maybe it’s childhood conditioning bringing on dreams of summer vacations to faraway places! I’ve always loved the work of Jill Ricci for her brilliant way of combining exotic motifs with pop art and urban graphics and her mixed media piece, Roam, perfectly inspires an urban globetrotter ensemble! This Mintzita Maxi Dress from Anthropologie embodies a free spirited, exotic traveler type.
How to make it just a tad more Ricci? Edge up the dress’s sweetness with a moto jacket and Chuck Taylors and suddenly it’s like you are living it up Ricci-style. Roam, if you want to. 😉
See more of the Wear the Artsy series in the archives!
When I was a little girl, like every other kid, I loved going to places like the zoo, Disney World & Busch Gardens. I reveled in the feeling of being in exotic places without losing familiar comforts and conveniences. Then as I grew older and especially since Mr. F & I have been traveling, I’ve realized that there are far more amazing places existing in their natural states than man could ever conceive of. In his mixed media work, Brooklyn based artist Shane McAdams addresses the duality of nature versus man-imitating-nature.
In these brilliantly detailed landscapes, McAdams uses familiar mediums like ballpoint pen and Elmer’s glue in unusual applications against traditionally rendered landscapes. The result is what appears to be a pushing in or pulling apart of the scene, symbolic of artificial forces rendering their effect on the natural world. I love the way bright colors seem to melt from the landscape, giving to me, the effect of revealing the artificiality of a constructed scene. What we see isn’t always what it seems, especially when touched by the hand of man.
To see more of Shane McAdams‘ work, please visit his website. Interested in another artist working in ballpoint? Check out Joan Salo.
It’s been awhile since I checked in and caught you up on what’s happening with the business side of Artsy Forager, and I’m also long overdue for taking a look at how I’d like to see Artsy Forager evolve over the coming months and years and for that I need your help! If you wouldn’t mind taking the survey at the end of this post, I hope to be able to truly take your input into account according to how you use the blog and why you read Artsy Forager.
But onto what’s happening these days with Forager Services— oh so very much! I’m continuing to do curation and art research for my main healthcare art consultant. Lots of photography being placed in facilities in Florida and Tennessee! It’s really interesting to see how art programs in healthcare facilities are evolving. With advances in technology, we’re able to print affordably on so many different substrates at affordable price points, the old days of simple matted & framed open editions adorning patient rooms and halls are quickly coming to an end.
I’ve had the privilege of working with several artists over the past few months on various aspects of their branding and marketing. For Nashville area artist Deann Hebert, I not only helped her tell the story of her work and life verbally, but also created a beautiful press kit she can send to her dream retailers and collaborators!
In addition to working with Deann, I’ve helped a very busy and in demand artist write statements for two upcoming solo exhibitions as well as reworking her artist statement and bio. And I’ve been working one on one giving art direction/critique to an artist whose work I greatly admire but who was feeling like she needed a second set of eyes and a little push to keep the work moving along! Will begin working soon to start expanding her gallery representation. Exciting stuff!! If you’re interested in working with me, please check out the Forager Services page to see the type of services I offer and feel free to shoot me an email with any questions.
Then there’s another little project I’ve been working on.. Since the end of last year, I’ve been working with Mantle Art, an awesome framing app based in Seattle, to bring together a collection of small scale limited edition prints to be offered through their site. The collection is looking amazing and will be launching very soon!! You can see a sneak peek of a few of the prints below. The quality is superb!!
And of course, there is my own fledgling studio practice. And a newly released feature in Professional Artist Magazine on the Thriving Artist Summit! Oh and I’m also trying to put together my first curatorial proposal. And maybe apply for a grant if I can get my app together in time. So to say I’m feeling pulled in a million different directions and perhaps a bit scattered is the understatement of the year! Which is why I need your help, dear Artsies. I want this blog to be not just a source of delight and inspiration, but of actual use to you. I would like to be able to refresh and renew the site with a clear and present focus! I hope you’ll take a few moments to complete the survey below, so that I can get a handle on what really matters to the artsy folks who visit here day after day!
