artsy forager

Category: Artsy Fodder

Quick snippets of interesting artsy-ness

  • Seeing. Living Coral.

    Seeing. Living Coral.

    Pantone announced its Color of the Year for 2019 as Living Coral. I’ll admit, at first I was a bit disappointed, as I felt like the representation of the color I was seeing wasn’t really one I could relate to. It felt over saturated and a bit brash, which, if I’m being completely frank, most of the Pantone COTY seem to me (sorry, Pantone!).

    image found here

    But then, I began to look around– at my Pinterest inspiration boards and in my own paintings. And I realized that shades of Living Coral were everywhere!

    my heart in tow, acrylic on canvas, 12×12, available at elliott fouts gallery 

    knockin’ on heaven’s door, acrylic on canvas, 40×30, available through seattle art source

    further xiii, watercolor and cold wax on cradled wood panel, 10×8, available at art and light gallery

    heart unfolding, acrylic on canvas, 6×6, unavailable

    I love this color most it is desaturated and paired with deep jewel tones and neutrals!

    images found here here here and here

    How do you feel about Living Coral? It’s always interesting to see how much influence Pantone’s COTY has on the art world, whether directly or subconsciously. I won’t be purposefully adding it to my work, but you never know how things sneak in!

    Image sources linked above.

     

  • Color Harvest: Saturated Spring

    Color Harvest: Saturated Spring

    Often when we think of spring, our thoughts turn to light, pale pastels but this season, I’ve noticed just how saturated everything around me seems.  Maybe it’s just a shock to my eyes following the white and grey winter or perhaps this has just been an unusually sunny and bright season.  In any case, I’m finding myself more drawn than usual to heavy doses of color and I’m blaming this saturated spring!

    CH_Saturated Spring

    Here are just a few of the full color palettes inspiring me on Pinterest lately–

    CH_SS_collage

     found here here here here here and here

    I’ve even started a new series of paintings on paper inspired by this glorious season!  How has spring been inspiring you, Artsies?

    Want to see more Color Harvesting?  Check out the archives!

    Top image by Artsy Forager.  All other image sources linked above.

  • Color Harvest: Pink Passion

    Color Harvest: Pink Passion

    I don’t wear much pink, I’ve never decorated with it much, but it seems to have some strange kind of power over me ( see blog logo & graphics! ).  I find the shade completely irresistible in artwork, and in, well, pretty much everything, about this time every year.  I’m going to blame it on succumbing to mass advertising!  Ha.  You must admit, it is a lovely shade, this shade of love.  The color of lips and roses and sunsets, it isn’t any wonder we find it so gosh darn romantic.

    IMG_2277-2

    image by artsy forager

    Here’s a little round up of a few rose-colored favorites from around my Pinterest boards lately..

    Pink collage

    found here here here here here and here

    And just because it’s so fun and one of my favorite movie scenes ever..

    What’s your pink passion?  Dusty rose?  Hot fuchsia?  Brilliant magenta?

    All image sources linked above.

  • Color Harvest: Artsy Winter Blues

    Color Harvest: Artsy Winter Blues

    I’ve heard of this phenomena called the January Blues.  A condition in which the post-holiday, short, usually cold and cloudy days get some folks down.  I’m thankful not to suffer that affliction!  If anything, I absolutely revel in the winter blues of January.

    IMG_1743-2

     image via artsy forager on instagram

    I love the fading light of late afternoon, the silhouette of bare tree limbs and the softness of the snow covered landscape.  The world slows down, cools down, literally and figuratively, and our minds are given the chance to rest and renew.  I’ve been pinning some of my favorite wintery images on my An Artsy Winter Pinterest board and thought I’d share some of them with you!

    artsy winter collage

    clockwise from top left | found here here  here here here and here 

    I hope that maybe this post and peeking around the board will help you find the beauty in your winter blues!  To see more selections, visit the An Artsy Winter board on Pinterest.  If it doesn’t do the trick, turn on a heat lamp, pour yourself a cup of cocoa and count the days until spring! 😉

    All image sources linked above.

  • Wishing You a Happy, Artsy Christmas!

    Wishing You a Happy, Artsy Christmas!

    Merry Christmas, Artsies!  I couldn’t let this day go by without taking a moment to wish you more peace and love than your heart can handle.  I am so thankful for the gifts of your time, attention and companionship as I wander down this journey.  Spend today knowing that you are dear to me, each and every one.

    Artsy Christmas 2014

    Happy Christmas!
    Artsy & Mr. Forager

  • Color Harvest: Radiant Orchid, 2014 Pantone Color of the Year

    Color Harvest: Radiant Orchid, 2014 Pantone Color of the Year

    Well, it’s that time of year again!  The folks at Pantone have made their pronouncement predicting the color that will be most on trend for the coming year.  The Color of the Year 2014 is.. drumroll.. Radiant Orchid!

    CH_Radiant Orchid

    I’ll admit, at first I was underwhelmed.  I haven’t been a huge fan of purples since  Christmas 1985 in which every single gift I received was of a lavender hue.  It was the favorite color of my 13 year old self, but I eventually tired of it and moved on, pretty much abandoning it forever.  But once this news got out, I decided to do a little foraging for color amongst the art on my Pinterest boards and what ho, I spy a bunch of this very shade!

    So maybe my inner 13 year old is subconsciously seeping through into my pins.  Or, more likely, these artists know what Pantone folks have discovered– this particular shade, dubbed Radiant Orchid, is much more versatile than it may seem upon first glance.

    It can be soft and feminine, as its floral moniker implies.  These artists know that pairing this color with creamy neutrals and fellow floral shades creates a feeling of delicate suppleness.

    Radiant orchid_soft_collage

     clockwise from top left casey matthews | riley lester | ada wang | bahman farad | laurence amelie | christina baker

    When paired with darker shades and jewel tones, Radiant Orchid takes on a rich, earthy quality.  Pairing such a feminine color with more heavy, masculine tones makes these abstract pieces perfectly balanced.

    Orchid_Rich and earthycollage

     clockwise from top left elizabeth condon | eva lundsager | scott cumberland | charline von heyl

    And of course, artists know when to capitalize on a color’s inherent pop factor.  In the work below, these artists have used Radiant Orchids bright and bold sensibility to bring vibrant fearlessness to their work.

    Orchid_bold pop_collage

    clockwise from top left julie cockburn | eva eun sil-han | shannon rankin  | francois nielly | andy gilmore

    Are you a fan of this lavender shade?  If you’re an artist, are you using it in your current work or have plans to try to incorporate it in 2014?  Designers & consultants, think your clients will be itching for artwork to incorporate this color into their interiors?  Artsy minds want to know!

    All image sources are linked above.  Some images are cropped details of the original.

  • Color Harvest: The Blush of Faded Blooms

    Color Harvest: The Blush of Faded Blooms

    As summer passes into fall, those vibrant brights we’ve embraced in the heat slowly begin to fade into pale grey and warm, rosy light.  I’ve always loved this in-between season, when the afternoon light begins to glow with the promise of cool evenings and coming snows.

    CH_fadedblooms

    With the change brings a turn back to delicate, cool tones echoing the coziness of the months ahead.  I want to bathe myself in these gentle hues!  Below you can see just a few of the dustings of blush I’ve been foraging over on Pinterest..

    Blush collage

     clockwise, from top left: Rue de Emily | Stephen Edwards | Andrea Gulickx | Susan Hall | Amanda Clyne | hiperboles

    I’m ready to embrace this new season in all its guises.  How about you?  I’m collecting more autumnal inspiration over on my new Pinterest board, Artsy Welcomes Autumn.  Come over and check it out!

    All image sources linked above.

  • Color Harvest: The Deep Blue Sea

    Color Harvest: The Deep Blue Sea

    Maybe it’s finally living in a place surrounded by water after living in the desert last year, but I have been finding such inspiration in the various hues of blue to be found in the waters around Seattle!  So many gorgeous shades from the deepest, darkest blue to green aquas, I just want to plunge right in and see what mysteries await!

    IMG_1114It’s only natural that this blue obsession is trickling over into the artwork I’m foraging on my Pinterest boards.. here’s a little deep blue sea inspiration to get your own seas churning!

    Color Harvest_Deep Blue Sea

     

    [ clockwise, from top left: Elena Kalis |  John Armleder | Miranda Lake | Emily Ferretti studio | Michal Fargo | Jennifer JL Jones

    What colors are inspiring you this summer?

    All image credits linked above.

     

     

  • Artsy Coupling

    Artsy Coupling

    I adore a good love story.  Mr. Forager does not approve of love stories without a happy ending.  I, on the other hand, appreciate the twists and turns of tragic, complicated relationship stories.  Monumental artists often have epic love stories, whether they be blissful or heartbreaking, or often a combination of both.  In honor of this most loving of days, here are a few of my favorite artistic pairings!

    Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz

    Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

    Willem and Elaine De Kooning

    Pablo Picasso and Francoise Gilot

    via

    O’Keeffe and Stieglitz | Pollock and Krasner | Kahlo and Rivera | de Koonings | Gilot and Picasso

    Are you a part of an artsy couple?  Let me know and maybe we’ll feature a few current artsy couplings on the blog!

     

  • Artsy Fodder: Is That a Tiny Mountain On Your Finger or Are You Just Glad to See Me?

    Yep, mountains on the brain.  I’m completely in love with this ring by jewelry artist Terhi Tolvanen.

    Aurore Ring, opal, pear wood, paint, cement, 4cm high

    Check out this Helsinki artist’s website for more beautiful, nature-inspired wearable art.

    Image via the artist’s website.