Back in my gallery days, the gallery owner I worked for had a way of describing work that I’ve held onto ever since– it either has soul or it doesn’t. Work either grips you by the heart and spirit or leaves you cold. These figurative paintings by Seattle artist Olivia Pendergrast are filled with raw, honest emotion.
The artist has traveled through Africa and Haiti, immersing herself in the people and culture of each place. Indeed, each portrait captures the mingled innocence and heartache of the people she encountered.
The muted palettes and sketchy lines bring to mind the sadness that permeates each country, and elongated limbs and fingers bely the fragility of life.
The advent of the Fall season always makes my nesting instincts come out! While we’re living our vagabond life, I’ll have to settle for baking, buying autumnal flowers and trying out new seasonal recipes instead of what I’d really like to do– paint, hang artwork, rearrange furniture and seasonalize ( new word! ) my home. So dear Artsies, today I’m vicariously living through any Aussie readers who may have the opportunity to buy the lovely porcelain work of Shannon Garson. Her palette and texture reminds me of bare tree branches and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot.
You can check out more work by Shannon Garson on her website. I’ll be over here, drooling and wishing I could somehow make a few of these mine. Happy weekend!
Look beyond the nail and picture hanger. There are so many unique ways to hang artwork, whether you’re hanging just one piece or grouping lots of work together. Here are a few of my favorite methods!
Create a bit of interest and drama by hanging your artwork by a thread, ‘er string. It’s a great way to add a bit more height to a piece that isn’t quite tall enough for your wall or to add just the right boho vibe.
Clip art takes on a whole new meaning! Use specialty art clips, gator clips, vintage pant hangers or even just an old fashioned clipboard to display work that isn’t terribly precious. ( Stay away from clips that might crimp for artwork you don’t want to damage ).
Artwork stands out– literally– when you hang it from a three dimensional grid. The grids add just the right amount of visual texture, creating an interesting juxtaposition and the added bonus of easily switched out work.
Maybe you’re lucky enough to have some fabulous architectural details already built into your home! Consider using those structures as a hanging surface for art– that’s what those vintage picture rails were for to begin with! I’m personally in love with the industrial vibe of the barn-door hanging above!
Perhaps the most fun of all the options– create an art mobile! These tiny clips are perfect for displaying artful photos, sketches, postcards, etc. You know when you’ve bought a little notecard of an artist’s work, knowing there’s no way on earth you could ever afford an original? Here’s the perfect way to display those treasures!
The ol’ thumbtack method was probably the very first way anyone hung your artwork. Or maybe your mom used refrigerator magnets instead. Raw, unstretched canvas pinned up in the corners with brass tacks looks absolutely divine in this nursery, doesn’t it?
Have a unique art hanging method you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!
Do you ever have days when it feels like you wake up one minute and it’s time to go back to bed the next? Days when the time just passes, too busily or hastily, and all too quickly it’s gone. And we hardly remember it. The paintings of Zurich artist Andy Denzler draw us into a world where time seems to stand still.
Couple Sharing Bed, oil on canvas, 140×120 cmBedroom Portrait Face Down, oil on canvas, 120×140 cm
Denzler’s work is based in classical representation of the figure but the artist incorporates gestural twists through each canvas, leaving us with the impression of a paused moment.
Across the Shallow Stream, oil on canvas, 120×140 cmSomething Waits For You to Breathe Again, oil on canvas, 120×140 cm
Captured forever is the loveliness of each instant, the simple moments of the mundane, the stillness of a stretch of quiet and calm.
Mr. Forager tends to roll his eyes and snicker when I settle in to watch an old Doris Day or Cary Grant flick. Yes, I’ll admit, sometimes the story lines are implausible and the acting a bit affected, but something about entering those make-believe worlds touches the part of me that longs for beauty and elegance and grace. The paintings of artist Jay Zerbe seem cloaked in the palette of those longed for days.
Shadows and Signs, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 36×48
There is something in his chalky palettes that remind me of the energy of the mid-twentieth century. The colors seem to be telling the story of young love, white gloves and big Cadillac tail fins.
Celery Soup, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 36×36Ascension, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 36×36
But there is something underlying the nostalgic palettes. A subtle darkness and shadow, reminding us not everything bright and shiny is without its demons.
57 Bonneville, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 24×24Paper Lantern, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 30×48
If you would like to check out more of Jay Zerbe‘s work, please visit his website.
Normally, when graced with a 3-day weekend, Mr. F and I might take the opportunity to get out of town, maybe do a little camping. But after a week of not feeling super great, we both decided that another low-key weekend was what we needed. We did manage to squeeze in a nice little hike at Mt. Rainier in between all our chillin’ out.
I know I said back to adventuring next weekend.. but this time I really mean it! Fall is my favorite time of year and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest. Hope you had a wonderful restful weekend, Artsies and are ready to conquer the world this week!
Images by Artsy Forager. See more of This Artsy Life on Instagram.
Water is one of those resources we tend to take for granted until we find ourselves without it. During the six months we spent in the California desert, Mr. F and I discovered just how essential its presence was to our psyches and overall happiness. Not only does it nourish us physically, but something about this liquid nurtures our souls. Boston artist Anne Neely explores the importance of waters seen and unseen in her Mopang series.
Turlach-Turlough, oil on linen, 72×60Pond Park, oil on linen, 36×44
The series is named after the Mopang Aquifer in Maine which was saved after an attempt to establish an ash dump near it. The artist plunges depths, showing off water’s sparkles and light in her use of color, shape and line.
Riverside, oil on linen, 32×24
We are lucky enough to have a beautiful little man-made stream and waterfall running through the backyard of our current rental. Just a few minutes gazing into the clear waters and listening to the splashing instantly calms me. The mere presence of water reminds us of our most basic needs and we relax in its cool calming being.
Off Island, oil on linen, 32×24Waterlines, oil on linen, 14×11
If you would like to see more of Anne Neely‘s work, please visit her website.
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, 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, oil on panel, 43×51Morning 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, oil on panel, 43×48Harmony, 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!
Let’s face it. We’re a tech obsessed society! Most of us get a little antsy when we aren’t tethered to our tablet, smartphone or laptop. These gadgets have become ubiquitous parts of our lives, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t give them our own artsy spin! I found a few favorite artsy iPhone cases over on Society6..
Gallery walls have been all the rage for a couple of years now. They are a fantastic way to showcase your art collection and so easy to change up! But sometimes, you want your art wall to make a bolder statement– why not make the wall itself the artsy focal point? Whether you paint your masterpiece directly on the wall’s surface, apply an artsy wallpaper, or a mural sized decal, there will be no shortage of artsiness on those walls! Here are just a few of my own faves from around the web–
Think I love the simplicity of the pink geometric design and the blue watercolor best. What do you think? Have you ever treated your walls as a truly blank canvas?
PS– Need help finding art for your walls? Check out the new services I’m offering! Click on Forager For Hire in the tool bar for more info!
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