artsy forager

Category: Daily Artsy

Artists featured in a solo spot on Artsy Forager

  • Artsy on Escape Into Life: Kevin Miyazaki

    Artsy on Escape Into Life: Kevin Miyazaki

    Note: There seems to be an issue with EIL, as this Artist Watch has not been published as scheduled.  Working to get it fixed! 

    There is so much to be proud of in our history, yet there is much darkness as well.  In his Camp Home series, Japanese American photographer Kevin J. Miyazaki documents what has become of the barracks once used to house Japanese prisoners of WWII in internment camps here in the US.  Many of these buildings were redistributed and became homes, barns, and outbuildings.  See more from this series, as well as Miyaki’s Fast Food and As Seen series in my Artist Watch on Escape Into Life here.

    Camp Home series by Kevin Miyazaki
    Camp Home series by Kevin Miyazaki

    Kevin Miyazaki on Escape Into Life

    Image via the artist’s website.

  • Sheer Expression: Mary Ann Wakeley

    Sheer Expression: Mary Ann Wakeley

    Something that draws me again and again to abstract work is how it, more than any other style, tends to be about outward expression of an inner life.  Artists using their canvases and paints to work out what is going on inside.  The work of Pennsylvania artist Mary Ann Wakeley, which she describes as a form of meditation, seems to be the manifestation of her own inner dialogues.

    Wonderland by Mary Ann Wakeley
    Wonderland, mixed media on paper, 19×24
    Le Fruit de l'Amour by Mary Ann Wakeley
    Le Fruit de L’Amour, mixed media on paper, 17×22

    As I look at Wakeley’s work, watching the movement of color and line, I can almost “see” the conversation taking place with herself in paint.  The forms and shapes dialogue on the canvas, some speaking louder than others.

    L'Envers by Mary Ann Wakeley
    L’Envers, mixed media on paper, 24×19
    Reclamation by Mary Ann Wakeley
    Reclamation, mixed media on wood, 30×30

    Looking through Wakeley’s body of work on her website, you can almost see the evolution of what she was expressing as a visual diary of sorts.. periods of work where the paint is dark and dense or times of fluid joy.

    To see more of Mary Ann Wakeley’s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

     

  • Fanciful Fascinations: Delphine Lebourgeois

    Fanciful Fascinations: Delphine Lebourgeois

    As a young girl, my favorite books where those filled with delicately drawn illustrations portraying the fantastical world of dancing princes, ogres and pretty maidens.  Those drawings would become so ingrained in my mind that if I dreamed of those stories, the illustrations came to life.  The work of French born artist Delphine Lebourgeois brings to mind those fanciful visionary worlds in which nothing is ordinary.

    Deesse I by Delphine Lebourgeois
    Deesse I

    Upon first glance, Lebourgeois’ work may appear purely decorative, but the artist takes decorative elements and patterns incorporating them into the work in such a way as to stir our imagination.  We enter into her surreal fairy tale, taking in the wonderful strangeness and reveling in the magic to be found.

    Butterflies by Delphine Lebourgeois
    Butterflies
    Deesse VIII, Photo de Classe by Delphine Lebourgeois
    Deesse VIII, Photo de Classe
    Sky of Chandeliers by Lebourgeois
    Sky of Chandeliers

    As with most fairy tales, these works are not merely pretty pictures.  There is a message in each fable, and it is left to the viewer to discern what that may be.

    Deesse III by Delphine Lebourgeois
    Deesse III

    To see more of Delphine Lebourgeois’ work please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

     

  • Live the Artsy: Her Name Was Anna

    As fellow Artsies, I know that you are familiar with that sensation that comes over you when gazing upon a favorite work of art.. you want to jump right in and live inside the canvas.  Well, dear Artsies, I say you can!  In this new series, Live the Artsy, I’ll show you how a work of art can come alive as a living space.

    Living in Her Name was Anna by this month’s featured artist Diana Lemieux means dark, cozy walls that envelop you like a forest, classically traditional shapes, and a few punches of color for attitude.  I’m picturing a little Notting Hill apartment that smells of heather and tea.

    art | Her Name was Anna by Diana Lemieux

    space | via Decor8

    Any work of art you’ve fantasized about living in?  Let me know in the comments and I might just show you how to Live the Artsy!

  • Drama Immersed: Gay Ribisi

    Drama Immersed: Gay Ribisi

    I apologize in advance for the number of posts coming your way featuring artists whose work I discovered at the LA Art Show.  I can’t help it.  There was so much amazingness there and some of the work I just can’t get out of my head!  I kept going back both physically and in my mind to the photographs of LA artist Gay Ribisi.

    Head Above Water 2 by Gay Ribisi
    Head Above Water 2, photograph

    No doubt, we’ve all seen underwater fine art photography.  But Ribisi’s method of blacking out the background and her storyteller’s style of setting each scene creates images that burn into our memories.

    The Space Cleaner by Gay Ribisi
    The Space Cleaner, photograph
    The Space Traveler 1 by Gay Ribisi
    The Space Traveler 1, photograph

    Her floating women, stark against their black backdrop are isolated in their moment and movement.  We know there is a tale to be told with each one, perhaps epic or ordinary.  It’s as if we’ve walked into a darkened theater in the midst of the 3rd act, who is this on stage?  What is her story?

    The Red Dress by Gay Ribisi
    The Red Dress, photograph

    To see more of Gay Ribisi’s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

     

  • Art to Inspiration: Charlen Willliamson

    Art to Inspiration: Charlen Willliamson

    Wow, it seems like a long time has passed since I participated in Art to Inspiration, a monthly collaborative blog project, how I’ve missed it! Mr. Forager and I are still in the land of sand and sun, but our time here is finally growing short. This month’s inspiration, In the Mist by Charlen Williamson, has me longing to return to the cool grey of the Pacific Northwest. So it’s only fitting that Williamson’s image inspired me to put together a gallery of black & white photographs Mr. Forager & I have taken from our favorite places in the Northwest. 50 Shades of the Pac NW, if you will.. 😉

    The inspiration– 

    In the Mist by Charlen Williamson
    In the Mist by Charlen Williamson

    The gallery–

    20130205-153252.jpg
    Cape Disappointment, WA
    20130205-153346.jpg
    Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA
    20130205-153452.jpg
    Astoria, OR
    20130205-153643.jpg
    Olympic National Park, WA
    20130205-153723.jpg
    Ruby Beach, WA
    20130205-153757.jpg
    Olympic National Park, WA

    Oh, the Northwest!  We can’t wait to get back to you.  See more work by Charlen Williamson in her Etsy shop here.  You can see more photos from the travels of Artsy & Mr. Forager on the blog’s Instagram feed.

    You can find more information on Art to Inspiration here and if you would like to participate in the next Art to Inspiration, just fill out this form! Follow me and all the other Art to Inspiration bloggers on Twitter by subscribing here.  Let the inspiring begin! 

    In the Mist by Charlen Williamson via her Etsy shop.  All other images by Artsy Forager.

  • Artsy on Escape Into Life: Michelle Morin

    Artsy on Escape Into Life: Michelle Morin

    I am loving the illustrative quality to these watercolors by Massachusetts artist Michelle Morin!  I’m sharing more of Michelle’s work in my Artist Watch on Escape Into Life today.. head over to EIL to check it out here.

    Bird Sanctuary by Michelle Morin
    Bird Sanctuary by Michelle Morin

    Michelle Morin on Escape Into Life

  • The Synthesis of Complements: Natalia Wrobel

    The Synthesis of Complements: Natalia Wrobel

    In every life and any artist can tell you, in every work of art is filled with highs and lows.  We struggle through the valleys and rejoice on the mountaintops.  The work of New England artist Natalia Wrobel expresses those polarities in paint.

    The World is a Waterfall by Natalia Wrobel
    The World is a Waterfall, oil on canvas, 77×77
    Marked Surrender by Natalia Wrobel
    Marked Surrender, oil on canvas, 24×24

    Wrobel’s work intuitively explores the push and pull of creating something from nothing.  The layering of color, line, and shape create swirls of movement and texture while leaving areas of glowing and restful light.

    Angels at the Ready by Natalia Wrobel
    Angels at the Ready, oil on canvas, 36×60
    Abundance by Natalia Wrobel
    Abundance, oil on canvas, 96×48

    In each piece, we can almost see the search, the struggle between letting go and holding on, knowing when to keep moving forward and when to stop in your tracks.

    Echo by Natalia Wrobel
    Echo, oil on canvas, 42×42

    To see more of Natalia Wrobel’s work, please visit her website.  And don’t forget to follow her on Facebook and Twitter, too!

  • February Featured Artist: Diana Lemieux

    February Featured Artist: Diana Lemieux

    Sometimes I wonder if fine art photographers read art blogs and think “Painting, painting, painting!” ( cue Jan Brady voice ).  But painting doesn’t just happen with oils and acrylics.  An artist paints their composition with whatever medium they choose and this month’s Featured Artist, Diana Lemeiux paints with a camera.

    Lemieux creates and captures scenes from our dreams, mysterious and fleeting.. we see just a glimpse of a moment, not knowing what happened just before or what could arise in the next breath.

    Her limited palettes help foster the emotion she is bringing forth in each image– moody, somber neutrals or bright, warm saturated hues give us a sense of each scene and the story it has to tell.

    To see more of Diana Lemieux’s work, please visit her website and Facebook page.  Diana’s work will be in the starring role on the Artsy Forager Facebook page all this month and be sure to check out the FB album full of my favorite Diana Lemieux photographs!

  • Kickin’ Off the Weekend & a New Month With a New Featured Artist!

    Kickin’ Off the Weekend & a New Month With a New Featured Artist!

    Happy weekend and happy February, Artsies!  Mr. F and I are excited because  1) it’s the weekend.. duh, 2) we are heading to San Diego tonight to spend the weekend with dear friends, always a good time! and 3) a new month means we are that much closer to leaving the desert and heading back toward our beloved Northwest!  But before I leave you to start packing for our weekend away, please allow me to introduce you to February’s Featured Artist, Diana Lemieux!

    Balancing Act by Diana Lemieux
    Balancing Act

    Head on over to the Artsy Forager Facebook page to see more of Diana’s breathtaking photography!  Then come on back to this spot on Monday for more!  You’ll be seeing lots of Diana this month here on the blog, as well as the Artsy Forager Facebook & Twitter feeds.  Looking forward to a February full of photography!