There is such power in water, to calm, to cleanse, to inspire. At the end of a stressful day, a long soak in a warm bubble bath can make me a new person. These amazing oil paintings by Swedish artist Linnea Strid capture those ordinary moments in which water meets body and unleashes its blessing.
We plunge ourselves into its cool depths to escape the oppressive heat of summer, we gently pour its warmth over newborn skin. We sit and stare into its glassy surface or watch waves lap at our feet and our spirits become refreshed and renewed. It within our bodies, keeping us nourished and well.
As first world citizens, we are so beyond lucky. We throw away more food than the majority of the world’s population ever sees. And yet we still continually fuel our desire for more and more. The work of photographer Danielle Mourning struck me in its quiet melancholy and its lavishness of pattern and lifestyle.
In her photographs, we usually find women surrounded by life or luxury, but often looking out, perhaps longing for freedom from the trappings of an abundant life. Since Mr. Forager and I have been traveling, it has definitely been a slow letting go of material things. We can only travel with so much, even less now that we’re fitting everything into the back of our car, leaving little room for impulsive hoarding. This life forces us to seriously evaluate every purchase and for me, anything new has to either replace an existing item or be super-functional or too beautiful to live without. But I’ve also learned that less can be more. There is a freedom to be found in a minimal life. And we are still blessed beyond measure.
Now that Spring is here and we are eager to explore our new spot, Mr. Forager & I have been getting back into a regular hiking routine, weather permitting, we are out on the trails every Saturday. One of my absolute favorite things about hiking is the chance to marvel at the natural world just outside our back door. Every hike is filled with wonder and discovery. Perhaps that’s what has drawn me to the work of today’s artist. The ceramic sculptures of Susan Beiner are bursting with organic whimsy, making me want to peer closer to take it all in.
Clusters and orbs remind me of the mussels and anemones that we delighted in among the tide pools along the beaches in Trinidad this weekend. Each piece seems teeming with life, ready to explode with movement at any second. All the nooks and crannies, where there may be hiding a new shape, a new creature to be discovered. These pieces are like the best of hikes– there is always something new to see and each glance leaves us looking forward to the next discovery.
We are all creatures of our past and present. Influenced and affected by what has come before us, as well as our current experiences, our future selves a hybrid of what was and is. In her latest portraiture, Australian photographer Jacqui Stockdale weaves fantastical tales of identity inherited and identity discovered.
Her work has a vintage, tin-type feel, yet the figures we see are utterly contemporary. Modern masks mimic ancient ritualistic garb and figures pose rigidly as if sitting for a daguerrotype. But there seems to be a defiance in each face, a fight against a past, perhaps an assertion of the future.
While I have a great love of work with lush, chaotic patterns and texture, there is always something so lovely and intriguing in work that embraces visual economy. Barcelona based, German born artist Sabine Finkenauer breaks down the world into simple lines and shapes, creating a signature visual language that is a little whimsical, a little retro and altogether lovely.
There is a childlike playfulness to her work, but her use of space and palette bring a sense of sophistication. Light-hearted enough to seem like Sunday afternoon doodles, looking closer and at her body of work as a whole, you can see the thought and calculation as she works her way through her use of space, line and color in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.
Want to see more of Sabine Finkenauer‘s work? Please visit her website. Wouldn’t it be lovely to see the world in such a simple way? I’m making that a goal this week– ignore the distractions and see what is simply before me.
It seems that spring in Eureka is a very windy season. The sun is shining and from our cozy apartment, it looks deceptively warm. But upon stepping outside we’re quickly reminded that we are in a transitional season– the air still has a chill and the warmth of stillness is welcome. The breezes blow and scatter fallen leaves, branches and petals, but at the same time, they are carrying away the grey and damp of winter, ushering in the peace and warmth of the coming summer. In her Room to Breathe series, artist Laura E. Pritchett explores the magical influence of a breath of air.
Pritchett has made a big splash in the Instagram world with her breathtakingly beautiful photography– studies of light, air, and seasons ( follow her IG feed here for regular doses of serene inspiration ). While perhaps more well known for her photography, these paintings translate the same quiet wistfulness found throughout her work. You can almost feel the soft breeze as it wafts up, up, and away, taking with it cares and troubles.
Some people are urbanites. And I used to think I might be one. But then we lived in Seattle for three months ( and not even in a super-urban neighborhood! ), and I quickly confirmed that while I love and occasionally need a visit to a concrete jungle, the city just isn’t me. Give me trees and an unobstructed view across the landscape and my heart is at peace. In her series, Marjory’s World, New York photographer Rebecca Reeve captures the experience of our loss of connection to the natural world.
Taking inspiration from the 1800s Dutch practice of covering mirrors, landscape paintings and portraits, Reeve chose to point her lens toward the disappearing landscape of the Florida Everglades. Using household drapery to frame each scene, the photographer reminds us of our continuing forsaking and consumption of the natural world.
To see more of Rebecca Reeve‘s work, please visit her website. Happy weekend, Artsies! Mr. F and I are planning to immerse ourselves in the magnificence of the Redwoods a bit this weekend. Hope you can get out and enjoy the beauty around you.
Another week, another painting in my Feminine Wiles series to share with you! Feminine Wiles is a series of small abstract color studies based on iconic female film characters. My introduction to many of these films and characters came through my mom, with whom I share a love of sappy love stories, witty characters, and gorgeous design. One of her favorite character turns ( and mine!! ) is Barbara Streisand as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.
I’ve always loved the palette of this film– filled with warm earthy browns and oranges, highlighted with delicate pinks and passionate reds– but when thinking about this project, I was struck by the reoccurring use of lavender hues on and around Fanny. Of course, this could have something to do with how the cool hues so beautifully compliment Streisand’s creamy complexion! But I like to think that costume designer Irene Sharaff and the production team were delicately clueing the audience in to the fact that the character of this young girl from Henry Street was destined for greatness.
Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl by Lesley Frenz
acrylic on canvas panel, 6×6
Purples hues are often associated with royalty, riches and power. So it isn’t surprising that Fanny would often assume a lavender glow. She was a star, but unlike Jo Stockton, one of her own making. She was confident in her talent and passionate in her pursuit of fame and stardom, even at personal loss.
In the end, despite setbacks and heartache, Fanny perseveres and shows that the strong will always survive. I’ve always thought there were great lessons to be learnt from Funny Girl— of tenacity, talent, love, humility and perseverance. Oh and let’s not forget that unbelievably beautiful voice!
To see more from the Feminine Wiles series, check out the archives here. Next week, a polarizing character and one of the most iconic! Hint: drapery.
Film image sources linked above, art images by Lesley Frenz.
As many artists know, much of the time, art making is a matter of knowing when enough is enough. Or even when enough is just a bit too much. In her work, New York artist Miya Ando is creating pure moments of simply just enough.
By working in a process in which she hand-dyes metallic surfaces, Ando creates pieces with an incredible sense of stillness and light. Translucent layers of color reflect not just the light without but the light within. By keeping the compositions simple, the work is free from distraction, allowing the viewer to fall into its spell, to meditate on the purity of color and transformative power of light.
I follow every artist ever featured on Artsy Forager on various social media platforms, which helps me keep an eye on what’s new & wonderful coming out of their studios. Recently, Atlanta artist Ryan Coleman has been cranking out some staggeringly stunning stuff!! I first featured Ryan’s work in the Fall of 2011 and over the past few years, it has been such a pleasure to watch his work evolve. His work consistently has the most amazing light and energy, but these days, there is a more graphic element coming into play that adds incredible depth to the compositions. He is also playing with the push and pull of negative and positive spaces and I just can’t get enough of it all! To see more of Ryan Coleman’s work, please visit his website, where you can purchase originals as well as prints of Ryan’s work. And be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, etc! All images via the artist’s website.
