The nights here in the desert are full of stars! The work of Sarah Giannobile, featured in my Artist Watch on Escape Into Life today, reminds me of the constellations hovering above us. See my Artist Watch featuring Sarah here!
Category: Paintings
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Artful Wanderings: Catherine Beaudette
When you travel as much as Mr. Forager and I do, there is always a danger of confusing memories of where we’ve been and when! One of our favorite post-dinner-over-a-glass-of-wine past times is watching the screensaver slideshow of all our adventures. The Global Cities series of paintings by Toronto artist Catherine Beaudette seem to be an artful conglomeration of urban wanderings.
Funnel, oil, 36×27 In Beaudette’s paintings, buildings, interiors, and vistas overlap one another, so that we’re never quite sure exactly where we are. Its as if the artist is painting the most special memories of each place.. the way the light and shadows feel through a window, beautiful lines of architecture, the warmth of a spring day.
Strada, oil, 36×27 
Corridor, oil, 36×27 The farther we travel from some places, the more fuzzy our memories become. Like Beaudette’s work, we may remember the most beautiful parts of each place, taking with us only the good and happily leaving behind any darkness.
Balustrade, oil, 36×27 To see more of Catherine Beaudette’s work, please visit her website. Mr. F & I definitely have a few places we’ve been that we’ve grown fonder of over time, thanks to good memories overshadowing the bad. How do you keep track of your travels? Old fashioned photo albums, post card collections?
Artist found via Sopa Fine Arts.
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Artsy Lately: The Deep South and Other Stories by Gigi Mills
Having lived the first ahem, three decades, of my life in the South, I completely understand why people are drawn to it. There is a co-mingling of worlds in the South, some owing to its sordid history, others a product of the atmosphere and the people who find themselves there. New Mexico artist Gigi Mills, having grown up with her family in the circus on the West Coast of Florida, far from the “traditional South”, finds herself repeatedly drawn to its charms. In her latest series, The Deep South and Other Stories, which debuted at Gallery Orange in New Orleans two weeks ago, the artist explores her attachment to a life that could have been hers.
Some Days, oil on panel, 20×16 A childhood in the circus, while filled with color, charm and adventure, doesn’t offer much in the way of stability. For Gigi, it is that sense of permanence of place, of generations of history that leads her again and again to southern places.
Somewhere on Esplanade Interior, oil on paper, 21×24 
Laundry in a Dark Landscape, oil on panel, 24×20 
Interior with Baker and Cake, oil on paper, 22×25 In her work, as in many areas of the South itself, there is an enchanting sense of elegance and charisma that completely bewitches us. But it is the complexities of this world that we find most intriguing– the secrets kept, the stories told and untold.
Lagniappe of Pearls, Conversation with Carlos, oil, 12×16 If you’d like to see more from the Deep South and Other Stories series, please visit the Gallery Orange website. Gallery Orange also has beautiful Gigi Mills books available for purchase through their website– a lovely way to learn more about the artist and enjoy her work, even if a painting is out of reach.
All images via Gallery Orange.
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Artsy on Escape Into Life: Karen Darling
These abstracts by Canadian artist Karen Darling are so full of contradiction– love the contrasting dark black surfaces mixed with translucent brights! I’m featuring Karen’s work in my Artist Watch on Escape Into Life today, so head on over and check it out here!
Karen Darling on Escape Into Life
Image via artist’s website.
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Floral Flow: Alicia Tormey
I always remember my first visit to Seattle in the springtime. The cherry trees were blooming in the neighborhood where Mr. Forager was living ( this was before I became Mrs. F ) and then it rained, as it is always wont to do in Seattle. After the rain, the blossoms weren’t quite as fluffy and perfect as they’d been, but we were left with a magical blanket of pink petals dotting the sidewalks. The wind would eventually sweep each petal into its breeze and carry it away to some unknown place. As I look at the floral encaustics of Seattle artist Alicia Tormey, I’m reminded of the delicate strength it takes to withstand the storms.
Floral Study IV, encaustic with mixed media, 10×10 Tormey’s flowers have a wonderful, swirly diaphanous quality as translucent strands float from and around them. In some, we see look to be veins coming through, as if these are the angels of flowers loved and pressed between book pages as a remembrance.
Fly Away, encaustic, shellac and ink on panel, 36×36 
Floral Form V, encaustic, shellac and ink on panel, 24×24 Each flower almost takes on the personality of a dancer’s movements.. wild yet graceful.. controlled chaos, passionate yet maintaining an elegant line, always.
Floral Study III, encaustic with mixed media, 10×10 To see more of Alicia Tormey’s work, please visit her website.
Images via Gilman Contemporary and Chase Young Gallery.
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Guest Foraging for UGallery: Curated Persona: The Hippie Chick Next Door
Part of what originally drew us to take a work contract for Mr. Forager in Joshua Tree was the artsy, hippie-ish community here. We got a hint of it while looking at JT online and decided that if we’re gonna live in the desert for six months, living in a uniquely inspiring and art loving community was the way to go! So for this month’s Curated Persona series for UGallery, I’ve put together a collection of artwork inspired by Joshua Tree and The Hippie Chick Next Door. Check it out here!
Green Wings by Mia Henry Image via UGallery.
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Love Letters: Kenna Moser
Do you remember how exciting it was to receive a letter when you were young? An envelope would arrive, addressed just to Miss So and So or Master Such and Such, so grown up! Then we become adults and most every piece of mail is either a bill or junk mail. Wouldn’t it be lovely to receive a heartfelt letter instead of an email? Seattle artist Kenna Moser’s work in the current exhibition at Grover/Thurston Gallery, with its vintage postmarks and whimsical imagery makes me want to sit down an write a beautifully illustrated letter to everyone I love!
Whisper, beeswax, vintage letter and oil paint on wood, 6×6 
Poem, beeswax, vintage letter and oil paint on wood, 6×6 Being a writer of sorts, I’m no stranger to the written word, but these days, like most, my correspondence consists mainly of Facebook messages, texts, and emails. Mr. Forager and I wrote digital love letters at length during the month or so when we first began dating and he was living in Seattle and I was in Florida. It makes me a bit sad that they are floating in cyber space somewhere instead of neatly tied together with a ribbon placed in a special box in the closet.
Traverse, beeswax, vintage letter and oil paint on wood, 5×5 
Route, beeswax, vintage letter and oil paint on wood, 5×5 Moser’s mixed media works have such a whimsical quality to them.. it’s as if we’ve found that pile of secret letters hidden in a box, trying to decipher the enchanting language of images and symbols.
Address, beeswax, vintage letter and oil paint on wood, 6×6 To see more of Kenna Moser’s work, please visit her website. Her work can be seen in the current exhibition at Grover/Thurston, along with the work of Deborah Bell until March 30th.
All images are via the Grover/Thurston website.
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Spiritual Experiences: Marisa Purcell
What do you think of when you hear the phrase “spiritual experience”? Does a mountaintop epiphany come to mind? Or beachside meditation? Spiritual experiences come to us in all sorts of guises, for example, Mr. Forager & I had one last year as we drove up the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, both awed by the beauty and shedding tears of thankfulness that we were able to share it with one another. Australian artist Marisa Purcell pursues spiritual experiences in her abstract work– encounters with paint so mystical they embody spiritual sensation.
Buzz, acrylic and oil on linen, 183×172 cm Floating, ghostly orbs of color appear and recede before our eyes. We squint to try to get a closer look, but even as we narrow our gaze, the forms do not become clear.
Caress, acrylic and oil on linen, 153×137 cm 
The Halos of San Marco, acrylic and oil on linen, 183×172 cm 
Hum, oil on linen, 153×137 cm Suggestions of shape, illusions of form, are all the hints we are given. Light permeates and glows from each piece, enveloping the canvas and the viewer. We are left with the feeling that something has just happened, yet we aren’t sure quite what.
Elastic II, acrylic and oil on linen, 75×59 cm To see more of Marisa Purcell’s work, please visit her website.
Artist found via Liz Tran. Thanks, Liz!
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Petit Boutiques: Johnny Bull
I used to be a lover of big department stores, you know, the ones full of racks upon racks of things to choose from– a little something for everyone. But that was the Suburban Florida girl in me. Since our move to the Northwest, I find myself more and more drawn to the small shops that make up most of the little towns we find ourselves living in and exploring. The shops themselves are often architectural gems, with brick walls, old hardwood floors and coffered ceilings, every time I see an empty storefront, I dream of the what a pretty little gallery or shop it might make. So I couldn’t help but be enchanted by this series by UK artist Johnny Bull, as he turns his brush to the lovely little shops to be found in the land of Degas and Monet.
Of course it goes without saying that French buildings and boutiques would be full of charm and joie de vivre, but the style of Bull’s work makes them even more delightful. In isolating the buildings against a muted pastel background, we are allowed to gaze upon them one by one, each with a personality and charm of its own.
Bull’s palette reminds me of what it might be like to see each shop in different lights of day– the blue grey of early morning, the warm glow of sunset. So lovely I can’t stand it. I immediately want to go into each shop and smell the cafe au lait and meet the quirky artists and writers sure to live above stairs.
To see more of Johnny Bull’s work, please visit his blog. Now I must go and plan a trip to France. Oh, it’s gonna happen.
Artist found via The Jealous Curator. All images are via the artist’s blog.
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Artsy Diggs: In the Studio With Christina Baker
You are some lucky Artsies this week! Not only were you treated to a peek inside the studio of this month’s Featured Artist, Peri Schwartz, today you get to see inside the studio of one of our City Mouse|Country Mouse artists, Christina Baker! Christina was kind enough to give us a little glimpse inside her home studio, which just happens to be conveniently located in the kitchen– where the coffee is!– and takes the time to chat a bit about her work.
Give a warm Artsy welcome to Christina Baker!
Artsy | Hi, C! Thanks so much for opening up your studio to us and taking a few minutes to chat. I’ll dive right in.. Every artist has such a different way of working. Can you tell us about your painting process?
Christina | Well, for starters I am used to working in an open studio outside of my house. I’ve been working in that environment for almost 10 years now. Last fall I began working at home. Our kitchen is my favorite room in the house. I love to cook and I love to paint so we decided to turn the kitchen into a working studio from 8am till about 4pm each day. It’s actually really worked for me. There is plenty of light and the best part about it is that I am accessible to my family at any time. I’m also self taught and though I feel it has helped me maintain some originality, it has definitely kept me back a lot. I’ve always had a natural eye for color and composition but what I am still to this day learning is technique– trying to get the paint to do what I want it to do! This has by far been my biggest challenge. I paint in acrylics, although at times use both an oil as well as a watercolor format. My grandmother was a watercolor artist, so watercolor was the first medium, aside from Crayola, that I ever tried. I also like to keep my brushes and paint wet. It not only helps me with movement, but slowly builds a transition for additional, thicker paint with less use of water. I tend to use my fingernails in most every painting I do. It is an impulse as well as habit. Some people have called it a signature of sorts.. I’ll scratch free flowing lines or shapes through some of the thicker painted area. It sort of loosens up the area as well as adds depth and texture. The bad side of this is, it doesn’t always work.
[ pup Java likes to “help” ]
AF | You paint some landscapes in addition to your very successful abstract series. How is your process different when painting abstracts versus landscapes?
CB | Oh boy….This question opens a big can of worms! Just ask my husband. Landscapes, florals, as well as most anything with a subject matter, is so much easier for me to paint. I can usually do a landscape in a day or two. Though my heart is mostly in abstract painting, it carries with it a great deal of discipline and focus. The best way I can describe it is like writing a song. The first few sections are actually rather easy, but the more elements added, the harder it is to glue it all together. Sometimes you start off with one idea, you add your next idea, shape color, composition or contrast and it changes the entire dynamic of the piece. The next thing you know, you have something completely different than what you even remotely thought you would end up with! Another way to describe it is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Well, maybe putting together a puzzle is a lot easier. Anyway, the reason I love doing abstracts so much is that when I am in the groove I truly do get lost in the painting. It’s that certain “zone” where you’re not really thinking anymore, you’re just painting, where all the magic happens. If I am singing out loud ( aka annoying the family ), I am in the zone. This is when I do my very best work.
AF | Where do you find your inspiration?
CB | It’s absolutely everywhere! Aside from friends and family, which are always such an inspiration, I would say that color in general is something that has always sparked that feeling of “I can not wait to try this!” sort of thing. I remember back in the 90’s when films were using this sort of orange and green tint and I just loved it. The basic simple composition of every day visuals is also very inspiring to me. It could be something as simple as a bottle cap laying on the sidewalk but just shy of the grass line, a photograph, the way the street lights sort of trickle down our beveled window at night. Sometimes it is a current event which could be personal or universal. Other obvious forms of inspiration for me come from the work of other artists which include, photographers, writers as well as painters.
AF | Do you have a finished composition in mind when you begin or do you just feel your way through?
CB | I wish I were able to plan out my work but I can’t. Usually the only thing I can control is the colors I have chosen to use for a specific piece. Even that can and will change as I go! There are countless times when I am “seeing” the outcome in advance but usually the finished piece never matches that vision.
AF | How has your work changed since moving from Florida to Tennessee?
CB | I haven’t seen much change inspired from my move to another state but what I have seen and felt is change inspired by my life here in Tennessee. I have finally met my soul mate, another long but very beautiful story! He has brought so much joy and happiness to my family and my life that it has definitely shown up in my work.
My husband collects comic books, bear with me as I’m going somewhere with this, and though it may seem unrelated to painting I feel it is relevant to the direction my art has taken. Learning more about the culture behind comics, and it goes so much deeper than Spider-Man, I have learned how wonderful it is to become open minded to so many areas in life some may have never thought to explore. Simon Pegg could not have said it better with this quote:
Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.
How does this fit into me being an artist? It’s becuase I am living my life and expressing myself via my work with the most liberating mindset that I have ever had. I am trying so many new things and have so much yet to discover that there is just not enough time in the day to do it all!
AF | I asked Deann this question, so I just have to ask you, too. If you weren’t an artist, what would your dream job be?
CB | An interior designer! I love interior design and Pinterest has totally been heaven for me in this department. Though my taste leans more contemporary, I have always had great appreciation for antiques. My mom owned an antique shop when I was a child, so for obvious reasons my love for antiques will always stay with me. As I grew older, I realized my eye was more drawn to simple clean lines, the less is more sort of thing, but over all, I honestly just appreciate all interior design. Especially when the two words, old and new are combined. In other words, eclectic.
AF | Thanks so much for chatting, Christina and a special thanks to your hubby, Jeremy Baker for taking such lovely photographs!
CB | Thank you for this really fun interview, Lesley!
If you’d like to see results of Christina’s studio work, please check out her work in the City Mouse | Country Mouse show and sale currently up in Found Gallery, as well as on her website.
All images by Jeremy Baker.
