artsy forager

Category: Paintings

  • Coming to found in February! City Mouse | Country Mouse

    Coming to found in February! City Mouse | Country Mouse

    I’m a little sneaky sometimes.  You know, like a mouse.  You may have noticed the found gallery page pop up in the top navigation last week.. or maybe you noticed the found logo in the sidebar.. or saw the Facebook & Twitter posts on Sunday.  If you haven’t picked up on my not-so-subtle hints, you can find more on found here.

    found is an online exhibition gallery featuring curated collections of small works, quarterly, for limited engagements.  It’s just another way for me to share artists’ work with you, but in a more focused, specific, special way and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity and promise lots of wonderful artsiness will come to found!

    The very first found exhibition will open on Thursday, February 21st!  The show, City Mouse | Country Mouse will showcase two Nashville area artists, Christina Baker and Deann Hebert, who, in their respective work, are drawn to very different perspectives of their Tennessee home.  The show will be sponsored by the artists’ representing gallery, Gregg Irby Fine Art and a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Nashville Zoo.

    Mark your calendars!  These two talented artists are creating some beautiful work to share with you!

     

  • 2G2B4G: Shawn Huckins

    2G2B4G: Shawn Huckins

    Just in case you don’t speak text short-hand, 2G2B4G = too good to be forgotten.  Which very aptly describes the work of today’s artist, Denver’s Shawn Huckins.  The artist’s current series, An American Revolution Revolution combines 18th Century American portraiture with 21st Century lexicons such as tweet and text acronyms, creating diverting and provocative images.

    Vanderlyn's Secret Obsession, Talk Dirty to Me by Shawn Huckins
    Vanderlyn’s Secret Obsession, Talk Dirty to Me, acrylic and pencil on canvas, 30×36
    Dorothy Quincy: Don't U Realize Dat I Only Txt U Wen Im Drunk by Shawn Huckins
    Dorothy Quincy: Don’t U Realize Dat I Only Txt U Wen Im Drunk, acrylic on canvas, 34×44

    Like the historical portraits he uses in his work, the text slang has become a part of our own period in history.  Will we still be using this jargon to communicate in a hundred years?  Or will future generations look back and see us as stodgy, stuffy, and hopelessly formal?  Hard to believe that we could denigrate any further than we have, but perhaps our ancestors thought they were just as hip and happening as we believe ourselves to be.

    The Transient State of Mr. Rice, acrylic and pencil on canvas, 22×28

    My first thought when looking at this series was similarities between traditional portraiture, often created as a remembrance of a certain person for a special occasion, and our modern obsession with texting and tweeting, and the impressions and memories of ourselves we are creating.

    Young Girl with Dog and Bird- Sorry to Tell You, But Your Girlfriend Looks Like a Farm Animal by Shawn Huckins
    Young Girl with Dog and Bird- Sorry to Tell You, But Your Girlfriend Looks Like a Farm Animal, acrylic on canvas, 32×40
    Verplank's Post on American Moralism: Like Duh, Obviously, It's a Complete Waste of Time by Shawn Huckins
    Verplank’s Post on American Moralism: Like Duh, Obviously, It’s a Complete Waste of Time, acrylic on canvas, 40×53

    I’m not sure I would want to be remembered for my texts.  Would you?  To see more of Shawn Huckins’ work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Finding the Pearl: Carlos Lopez

    Finding the Pearl: Carlos Lopez

    You know the old wives’ tale: oysters are an aphrodisiac.  How many single guys have taken a gal out for beer & oysters hoping to make a lil magic happen?  If it’s sensual magic you’re hunting, look no further than the work of New Orleans artist Carlos Lopez.  His elegant, nearly surreal still lifes of oysters will make your mouth water and pulse quicken before you ever bite into the real thing.

    Gluttony by Carlos Lopez
    Gluttony, oil on canvas, 10×10
    Champagne with Gigi by Carlos Lopez
    Champagne with Gigi, oil on canvas, 20×20

    For a New Orleans native, oysters, so abundant in the area seem a natural still life subject, yet there is nothing prosaic about Lopez’s treatment of the common bivalve.  These works carry the sensuality of Georgia O’Keeffe, the smooth surrealism of Dali, yet glow with the light and crispness of classical still lifes.

    Passionate Affair by Carlos Lopez
    Passionate Affair, oil on canvas, 50×40

    These mollusks seem to take on a life of their own, the work is so full of emotional charge, we can feel the sadness, the joy, the hope or shame the oyster seems to be feeling.  Or perhaps we are seeing our own reflection in the pearly surface of its shell.

    Make a Wish by Carlos Lopez
    Make a Wish, oil on canvas, 16×16
    Heavenly by Carlos Lopez
    Heavenly, oil on canvas, 20×20

    To see more of Carlos Lopez’s work, please visit the website of his representing gallery, Gallery Orange in New Orleans.

    All images via Gallery Orange.

     

  • Artsy on Escape Into Life: Andy Price

    Artsy on Escape Into Life: Andy Price

    The juxtapositions of uber-traditional garb and the ultra modern in these paintings by Andy Price really caught my eye.  See more from this artist in my Artist Watch over on Escape Into Life today!

    See No Evil by Andy Price
    See No Evil by Andy Price

    Andy Price on Escape Into Life

    Image via View Art Gallery.

  • Patterns of Domesticity: Jane Richlovsky

    Patterns of Domesticity: Jane Richlovsky

    Have you ever thought about how certain fabric patterns remind you of someone?  Crazy mod-retro prints make me think of my sister-in-law, who loves all things vintage, while subdued plaids in soft blues and greens make me think of nature-loving Mr. Forager.  Seattle artist Jane Richlovsky uses patterned textiles in her work, incorporating them in such a way that the personality of the era shines through.

    Cake Mix #7 by Jane Richlovsky
    Cake Mix #7, oil on found textile, 4.5×6

    The artist depicts domestic scenes from the mid-twentieth century, actually painting on found vintagey patterned textiles.  The result is a interesting visual style– one in which some details of the scene show depth of space, while others, usually the shapes on which the patterns come through, are flattened as the patterns appear more as cut-outs of the forms rather than strictly conforming to the shape it is covering.

    A Wonderful World of Your Own by Jane Richlovsky
    A Wonderful World of Your Own, oil on found textiles, 31.5×32
    Designed for Living as You Want It by Jane Richlovsky
    Designed for Living as You Want It, oil on found textile, 10x5x15

    Richlovsky’s work reminds us that not all was as it seemed in the “good ol’ days”.. the flatness of the patterns meet the Norman Rockwellish technicolor scenes of life we remember from movies, yet there is a cynical and almost sinister undercurrent to some of the paintings.

    Easy as Peeling a Banana by Jane Richlovsky
    Easy as Peeling a Banana, oil on found textile & canvas, 31×36

    To see more of the work of Jane Richlovsky, please visit her website.

  • Scratching the Surface: Amy Donaldson

    Scratching the Surface: Amy Donaldson

    In my college painting classes, my painting prof used to always say that knew I was in class because he could literally hear me painting.  You see, I have a tendency to dig my brushes into the surface of the canvas, a sensation and sound I quite enjoy ( though it’s pretty tough on expensive brushes! ).  The work of Florida artist Amy Donaldson has that same kind of textural energy, I can almost hear the scrape of her brush and palette knife against the canvas.

    You're Beautiful by Amy Donaldson
    You’re Beautiful, mixed media on canvas, 60×60

    Donaldson’s process is one of an additive and subtractive back and forth between the palette, paint, and canvas.  Inspired by her ( and my! ) native state of Florida, Donaldson creates abstracts that hint at the broadness of a landscape, yet have the surface of an aged, graffiti covered wall.

    Adore by Amy Donaldson
    Adore, mixed media on canvas, 72×60
    Untitled by Amy Donaldson
    mixed media on canvas

    In expressive abstract quality of her work, Amy’s paintings let us get lost in the play of color, light, and texture, each bouncing our eyes in excitement across the canvases.

    In His Presence by Amy Donaldson
    In His Presence, mixed media on canvas, 60×72

    Would you like to see more of Amy Donaldson’s work?  Please check out her website and Facebook page.

    All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via Stellers Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

  • Caught in the Act: Jim Gaylord

    Caught in the Act: Jim Gaylord

    OK, I’ll admit, I’m not a big action-movie fan.  In fact, the latest super-hero based film is usually the very last on my movie watching list ( although I end up watching them with Mr. Forager so that he’ll watch the latest costume drama/foreign film with me ).  But I might be rethinking my prejudice due to the work featured today.  The recent work of Brooklyn artist Jim Gaylord is based on action sequences in films– now there’s an action movie screening approach I could get into!

    High Muck-a-Muck by Jim Gaylord
    High Muck-a-Muck, oil on canvas, 24×20

    In Gaylord’s work, some paintings, some collage/mixed media, we are met with a cacophony of shapes, colliding upon one another.  The crashing of objects, the roar of engines.. it’s almost audible.  Can you hear it?

    Coat of Arms by Jim Gaylord
    Coat of Arms, gouache on cutout paper, 40×26
    Rat King by Jim Gaylord
    Rat King, oil on paper, 43.75×30
    Victory Lap by Jim Gaylord
    Victory Lap, gouache and soot on cutout paper, 26×36

    Pops of white amid the chaos resemble clouds of smoke, distorting the full scene from our view, while smaller forms are catapulted out from the midst like shrapnel.

    Soft Endorsement by Jim Gaylord
    Soft Endorsement, oil on canvas, 22×17

    I think I’ll be looking at action sequences a bit differently from now on, won’t you?  To see more of Jim Gaylord’s work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via Gregory Lind Gallery.

  • Divided Unity: Sherri Belassen

    Divided Unity: Sherri Belassen

    You know that old saying “Good fences make good neighbors”?  There is much truth to be gleaned from that quote.  Freedom and space is important, but boundaries and divided spaces can help create a sense of protection and privacy.  In a painting, divided spaces can create a sense of balance and compositional interest, as in the work of Arizona artist Sherri Belassen.

    Hammock by Sherri Belassen
    Hammock, oil on canvas, 66×40

    In her paintings, Belassen utilizes line and color blocking to create shadow, shape, and texture within the layout of each canvas.  Figures are connected to each other and their surroundings, creating a sense of visual depth and the suggestion of surrounding spaces.

    What If by Sherri Belassen
    What If, oil on canvas, 36×48
    Love is in the Air by Sherri Belassen
    Love is in the Air, oil on canvas, 48×48

    Her figures take on almost a monumental, landscape-ish quality, as if these are giant canvases we are glimpsing from high above.

    Divine by Sherri Belassen
    Divine, oil on canvas, 30×40

    To see more of Sherri Belassen’s work, please visit her website.  Her work may be seen in person at a number of galleries around the US– see the list here!

    Hammock and Divine are via the artist’s website.  What If is via representing gallery Jules Place and Love is in the Air is via representing gallery Elizabeth Gordon Gallery.

  • January Featured Artist Christina Baker

    January Featured Artist Christina Baker

    This month’s featured artist, Christina Baker, is a painter whose work I’ve followed since we were both living in Florida.  Christina now resides in Tennessee, while at the moment you can find me in California..  While we are geographically distant, I’ve enjoyed watching her artistic career flourish from afar.  It has been such an amazing journey to watch as Christina grow into her own style as her work has blossomed into sophisticated expressions of her own visual language.

    Manhattan Memories by Christina Baker
    Manhattan Memories, acrylic on canvas
    Runaway Deer by Christina Baker
    Runaway Deer, acrylic on canvas, 40×40

    Christina’s work harnesses the power of color and emotion as she translates the feelings of a moment onto canvas.  Her palette goes through phases and cycles, just as our psyches do.  In many cases, you can truly see the joy she was feeling as warmth and light bounces around the canvases.

    Mint Chocolate by Christina Baker
    Mint Chocolate, acrylic on canvas, 20×20
    White Chocolate by Christina Baker
    White Chocolate, acrylic on canvas, 20×20

    Often in her work, there is a sense of fluidity and movement, possibly a byproduct of so much time spent near the ocean in Florida.  Shapes float among the light like drops of ocean spray or falling leaves.  Whatever the moment, wherever the place, it is a happy one.

    Love Letters by Christina Baker
    Love Letters, acrylic on canvas, 40×30

    To see more of Christina Baker’s work, please visit her website.  You can see her work in person at her representing galleries, Gregg Irby Fine Art in Atlanta and Imagine Gallery of Fine Art in Franklin, Tennessee.  Be sure to follow Artsy Forager all month long for more Christina Baker goodies!

    All images are via the artist’s website.

    PS– this post was published by mistake last Wednesday, my apologies to Christina and anyone who saw it and then went back to find it gone!  Blog operator error. 😉

  • Hinted Silhouettes: Caroline Zucchero Hurley

    Hinted Silhouettes: Caroline Zucchero Hurley

    The first time I saw high-definition tv, I thought to myself, “I can’t believe people are paying more money for this imagery.”  The resolution was so ultra-high, it was too crisp, too clear, lacking the depth to be found in blur and shadow.  The work of Brooklyn based artist Caroline Zucchero Hurley uses loosely arranged shapes that, like our old analog screens, give us hints at what is there, allowing our minds and eyes the freedom to connect the dots.

    Trees of Eden by Caroline Z. Hurley
    Trees of Eden, oil on linen, 48×48

    Much of what I love most about Hurley’s work has to do with the sense of balance and control in what may seem at first to be unfettered patterns and brushstrokes.

    Dirt Stains by Caroline Z. Hurley
    Dirt Stains, oil on canvas, 60×60
    Thank You, Virgin America by Caroline Z. Hurley
    Thank You, Virgin America

    For all their seeming randomness, there is a deliberate quality to their placement, letting us know that each composition is by no means accidental.  Yet, the artist arranges these shapes and colors with a deft hand, revealing just enough to suggest at what might be there.

    Brights by Caroline Z. Hurley
    Brights, oil on canvas, 60×60

    To see more of the work of Caroline Zucchero Hurley, please visit her website.  In addition to works on canvas, the artist also translates her love of shapes and forms to jewelry and linen throws— be sure to check those out, as well!

    All images are via the artist’s website.