artsy forager

Author: Lesley

  • Mundane Beauty: Emil Robinson

    Mundane Beauty: Emil Robinson

    Many of us have a love/hate relationship with Instagram.  Maybe we love that voyeuristic glimpse into other people’s lives.  Perhaps we hate that their lives might seem more glamorous than our own.  What I personally love is the way it allows us to communicate the beauty in simple moments.  The work of Cincinnati artist Emil Robinson carries with it the same celebration of the magic to be found in every day.

    Catherine in Orange, oil on panel, 18x24
    Catherine in Orange, oil on panel, 18×24

    As I type this, I’m sitting at my desk and am struck by the loveliness of the orange candle sitting quietly on the deep white windowsill.  Robinson’s work reminds us of that we don’t always have to seek out what is interesting and delightful.  It is all around us, just waiting to be noticed.

    Ikea Lamp, oil on panel, 30x36
    Ikea Lamp, oil on panel, 30×36
    Storage, oil on panel, 12x15
    Storage, oil on panel, 12×15
    Pink Book, oil on panel, 24x24
    Pink Book, oil on panel, 24×24

    It might seem strange to want to document such routine aspects of our lives, but it is these common moments that truly make up our lives– that fill the space between the extraordinary.

    Man With Storage 2, oil on panel, 24x24
    Man With Storage 2, oil on panel, 24×24

    What ordinary moments did you see the beauty in today?  To see more of Emil Robinson’s work, please visit his website.

    Artist found via Erin McIntosh.  All images are via the artist’s website.

     

     

  • Design Foraging: Artsy Nesting

    Design Foraging: Artsy Nesting

    So if you read yesterday’s late afternoon post, you’ve heard the news– Mr. Forager and I have officially moved to Seattle!  That’s right, no more traveling around, no more putting up with someone else’s decor taste or grody furnishings.  We’ve rented a sweet little mid-century apartment in a beautiful Seattle neighborhood and I’ve been completely obsessed with furnishing it.  Since I’m not working yet ( Did I mention I now have to get a real J-O-B? ), we’ve been furnishing on a “for now” budget until we have two incomes coming in.  And then there’s all my lovely home goodies in storage back in Florida.  I can’t wait to see them again, but am having serious issues remembering what I kept!  So I’ve been doing a bit of day dreaming today.. looking at lovelies that would be perfect for our first real home together.  My favorite colors, a little artsy for me, a bit rustic for Mr. F.

    Large Jar in Summer Moss by Ben Fiess
    Large Jar in Summer Moss by Ben Fiess

    find it here

    Teak Measuring Spoons
    Teak Measuring Spoons

    find them here

    Hawaiian Salt Cellar
    Hawaiian Salt Cellar

    find it here

    Forest Found Hook
    Forest Found Hook

    find it here

    Rose Ombre Velvet Pillow
    Rose Ombre Velvet Pillow

    find it here

    Anyone else doing some artsy nesting in a new home?  Any Seattle  area artsies know of a job opportunity for a hard working Artsy? 😉

    All images linked above.

  • This Artsy Life: We’re Home

    This Artsy Life: We’re Home

    So I’ve hardly made a secret out of how very excited we were for Mr. F to take a work assignment here in Seattle. We seriously have to pinch ourselves even after being here for almost two weeks!

    20130516-171937.jpg

    Finally getting to be in this place that we love so much, where we fell in love, got us thinking. Why not stop here? We adore this city, the food, the mountains, the water, the music, the ART(!) so very much.

    20130516-172533.jpg

    It’s something we’ve been talking about off and on for a few months. Circumstances seemed to be leading us in this direction. We’ve loved traveling and have enjoyed ( almost ) every minute of the last two years of adventure together. But we couldn’t ignore the timing and the way in which it seemed a hand was guiding us here.

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    So we signed a twelve month lease on our apartment and have begun furnishing it. After being married for over two years, we’re finally truly making a home together. And it feels good.

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    As we’ll be staying put here in Seattle for a good long while, perhaps forever we hope, it’s time for me to re-enter the work force. I’ve done a few freelance projects since we started traveling but we’ve always agreed that once we stopped traveling I would go back to work full time. And you know something? I’m kind of excited about it.

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    So any Seattle area artsies– if you know of any job openings in the arts ( galleries, art consultants, museums, etc ), let me know! I have several prospects in the works already. We’re feeling really positive about the choice we’ve made. This is our city. This is our home.

  • Painting Confidences: Dorothy Goode

    Painting Confidences: Dorothy Goode

    I’ve been told I’m a good listener.  So people tend to tell me things.  Secret stuff that maybe no one else knows.  We all have that friend, the one everyone confides in and is completely confident their secrets will be taken to the grave.  In her Other People’s Secrets series, Portland artist Dorothy Goode has found a way to get those piled up secrets out, without ever truly spilling a single one.

    No. 3, Egg tempera and sumi ink on panel, 32x48
    No. 3, Egg tempera and sumi ink on panel, 32×48
    No. 16, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32 x48
    No. 16, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32 x48

    The artist began each panel by dipping her fingers into sumi ink, then sprawling secrets over the surface of each panel, first her own and then the confidences of others came leaking out.  The letters and forms are mostly illegible, making sure that each secret is still safely hidden.

    No. 1, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32x48
    No. 1, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32×48

    Once the secrets are spilled, the artist then covers them with colorful, scrawling abstract gestures in paint.  In that final step, I see an analogy to the way we live with our own well kept mysteries– we hide them in plain sight, often burying them just beneath the brightly colored surface.

    No. 8, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32x48
    No. 8, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32×48
    No. 13, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32x48
    No. 13, egg tempura and sumi ink on panel, 32×48

    To see more of Dorothy Goode’s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

     

     

     

     

  • Win Artsy Stuff! May’s Art Association Contest

    May just seems to be slippin’ right through my fingers!  I can’t believe it’s time again for another  Art Association Pinterest contest! Each month, Erin of artsocial and I team up with an artist to inspire you AND give you a chance to win an awesome piece of artwork!

    If you’re new to Art Association, here’s the way it works– You create a Pinterest board around one work of art ( which we provide ), filled with anything and everything that pops into your mind while gazing at the catalyst piece.

    Our catalyst piece for this month is Lily by Kuzana Ogg ( below )!  Gorgeous, right?!

    Lily by Kuzana Ogg
    Lily by Kuzana Ogg

    AA_May_Lily

     Here’s how Art Association works–

    Step 1|  We give you a piece of artwork, this month’s work is Lily by Kuzana Ogg ( above ).

    Step 2 | You create a Pinterest board titled Art Association, like mine here, where you pin any and all images you associate with the featured artwork ( like word associations, only visual

    Step 3 | Leave a link to your Art Association pinboard in the Comments section of this post

    Step 4 | Follow both art social and Artsy Forager on Pinterest ( if you already are, you’re ahead of the game! )

    Here’s what you can win–

    kuzana prize

    Isn’t that a sweet little piece of artwork?!

    The winning pinner  ( *NEW– we are now choosing a winner at random instead of judging the boards ) will be chosen on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5pm (mountain standard time).  Hope your fingers are set to pin!

    **So sorry but the contest is open to US residents only.  Stupid laws.

    Would you like your artwork to be featured as an Art Association subject?  Shoot me an email atartsyforager@att.net or Erin an email at artsocialonline@gmail.com for more info.

    Art images via Kuzana Ogg.

  • Artsy on Escape Into Life: Nicolas Kuligowski

    Artsy on Escape Into Life: Nicolas Kuligowski

    It feels like things are sort of finally getting back to normal.. almost.  After being gone for what seemed like an eternity, I’m back on Escape Into Life today sharing the work of Nicolas Kuligowski in my Artist Watch.  Head on over to EIL to see more!

    Untitled by Nicolas Kuligowski
    Untitled by Nicolas Kuligowski

    Nicolas Kuligowski on Escape Into Life

    Image 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.

     

     

     

     

     

  • This Artsy Life: Weekends 17-19 [ SoCal to Seattle! ]

    This Artsy Life: Weekends 17-19 [ SoCal to Seattle! ]

    Greetings from Seattle!  I’m finally here, way tired, a bit frazzled and overwhelmed with settling in, but officially back among the blogging.  The last few weeks in the Forager universe have been a crazy mix of traveling, seeing new places, saying goodbye to old friends and hello to the new.  We clocked in well over 1300 miles, 5 nights in hotels, 6 nights with friends & family, drove through 3 states and tried over 10 Seattle apartments on for size in two days.  We’re still making our home here ( our bed, a sofa & a dresser is all we have so far in the way of furniture ), but we’re already finding some favorite neighborhood spots and our love affair with Seattle is still going strong.

    While I scour Craigslist for furniture deals today, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few snapshots from our journey!

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    [ old town, san diego ]

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    [ bay bridge, san francisco ]

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    [ from the vaillancourt fountain, san francisco ]

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    [ fog simulation, san francisco ]

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    [ golden gate bridge, san francisco ]

    20130513-154350.jpg
    [ lunch with a view of mt shasta while on the road ]

    20130513-154422.jpg

    [ mountain greeting upon our arrival in seattle ]

    Sorry for the lack of Seattle photos this go ’round.  We ( I )’ve been so distracted with finding a home and settling in that the camera hasn’t come out much.  Not to worry.  They are coming.  Just try and stop me!  Back tomorrow with brand new artsy discoveries!

    Want to see more from our SoCal to Seattle trip?  Follow Artsy on Instagram, I’ll be posting pics from our road trip over the next few days.

     All images by Artsy Forager.

  • Carved Into Memory: Diem Chau

    Carved Into Memory: Diem Chau

    Seattle, Seattle, Seattle ( Marcia Brady voice ).. we arrived on Saturday and are completely in love with the city but overwhelmed by apartment hunting.  So this week, I’m re-running posts featuring some favorite Seattle artists.  Sorry for the repeats, hope to be back to normal artsy blogging next week!

    For most of us, Crayola crayons were our very first artistic tools.  Whether it was those thick, fat ones perfect for uncoordinated, chubby little hands to grip or the de-luxe 64 pack with the built-in sharpener, those colorful little sticks were our first glimpse into the world of artistic expression.  Seattle based artist Diem Chau takes those original tools, carving them into tiny figures reminding us of how they shaped our own young imaginations.

    Storytelling Crayons, installation view, carved crayons and wood base

    That distinctive scent, the waxy texture, peeling the paper down so that more of the brilliant color could sweep across the paper.

    Yellow Girl, carved crayon and wood base, 3×3.5×3
    Girl and Dog, carved crayon and wood base, 3×3.5×2

    My most distinct memory of Crayolas happened on a summer road trip with my grandparents.  A long trip in the car, of course, meant bringing along plenty to keep us busy.  For me, that meant books, crayons and paper.  My crayons ended up strewn all over the back deck of my grandparents’ green Impala and were promptly forgotten about when we stopped for a bit.  We came back to a colorful mess!  I don’t think my Mimi & Papa were ever able to completely clean the wax out of the upholstery.  Oopsie!

    Boy and Girl, carved crayon and wood base, 3×3.5×3

    What memories do Chau’s crayons bring back for you?  Please visit her website to see more of her work.  She’ll be showing at the Elvistravaganza during Bumbershoot in Seattle or if you’re on the other coast, you can see her carving crayons LIVE at Saks 5th Ave on Sept. 6th from 6pm-10pm.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Forms in Flux: Victoria Johnson

    Forms in Flux: Victoria Johnson

    Seattle, Seattle, Seattle ( Marcia Brady voice ).. we arrived on Saturday and are completely in love with the city but overwhelmed by apartment hunting.  So this week, I’m re-running posts featuring some favorite Seattle artists.  Sorry for the repeats, hope to be back to normal artsy blogging next week!

    There are some artists whose work just sticks with me.  I first saw Seattle artist Victoria Johnson’s work during my art consulting days through art publisher Grand Image.  I loved using Grand Image for unique, stylish, colorful work and Victoria’s paintings definitely hit all those criteria.  So when I spotted a painting of hers leaning against the wall at Lisa Harris Gallery in Seattle– boom!  The love for her work came flooding back to me.

    Nereides- Sea Nymphs, pigmented resin on panel, 20×20 ( via Lisa Harris Gallery )

    Free-flowing, organic forms drift in and out of her canvases’ planes, creating enticing visual rhythm and movement.

    Coast to Coast, pigmented resin on canvas over panel, 48×40 ( via Lisa Harris Gallery )

    The placement of shapes lend the idea of landscapes to these abstracts, yet their enigmatic colors and forms keep the work abstract and modern.

    Lady of the Lake, pigmented resin on panel, 80×20

    A warm palette juxtaposed with muted, more neutral-hued highlights create even more depth and spatial play.

    The Echo, pigmented resin on panel, 36×24
    Simply Said, pigmented resin on panel, 40×50

    To see more of Victoria Johnson’s work, please visit her website.  Thanks to the Lisa Harris Gallery for reminding me of Victoria’s work!

    Featured image is Lady of the Lake, pigmented resin on panel, 80×20.  All images are via the artist’s representing Seattle gallery, Lisa Harris Gallery.