Last weekend, while we were visiting Whitefish, MT with friends from Florida, we spotted the biggest, most orange moon I’ve ever seen. Its glowing intensity loomed over the distant mountains, seeming close enough to touch. Rana Rochat’s encaustic work reminds me of the seemingly random beauty and chaos that surrounds and surprises us.
Untitled A108, encaustic on panel, 54×48
The universe is constantly moving, people rushing about, planets migrating, everything in constant flux and evolution. It seems that the world is never still, it is always changing creating tension between the chaos of life and the natural order of the universe.
Untitled L750, encaustic on panel, 54×48
In her work, Rochat explores this dynamic balance between regularity and impulsiveness. Each work using similar marks and complementary palettes, yet surprising in their fluid movement and arrangement.
Untitled ( 96 ), encaustic on panel, 60×35
Shapes float across the canvas and lines seem to trace movement of forms unseen. Her work feels like a visual record of migratory journeys and chaotic progression.
Untitled ( 98 ), encaustic on panel, 42×42
Untitled ( L790 ), encaustic on panel, 48×70
To see more of Rana Rochat’s work, please visit her website. Her work can be seen in several galleries across the US and Canada ( see the Contact page on her website for a full list ).
*This giveaway ended at 5pm PST on Friday, June 15, 2012. Thanks to all who entered!
I like free stuff and I bet you do, too! Especially when it’s artsy stuff and what other kind would we be giving away on Artsy Forager? This month’s Facebook Featured Artist, Geoff Mitchell, has recently published Moon Rabbits: Pictures and Talesa book project which pairs twenty of Mitchell’s works with short stories inspired by his imagery.
Win this book!
Geoff has been generous enough to offer Artsy Forager readers a chance to win a copy of Moon Rabbits! To enter, simply comment on this post with your favorite Geoff Mitchell work ( find more of his work on his website here ) and you can get an extra entry by writing your own narrative in your comment below about the story you see unfolding in Geoff’s work.
Good luck! The contest will end this Friday, June 15, 2012 at 5pm PST. A winner will be drawn at random and announced on Monday, June 18th!
I first discovered the work of LA based artist Geoff Mitchell when he opened a solo show at Steve Williams’Florida Mining Gallery last year. Steve has impeccable taste in art, so of course, I was immediately intrigued and blown away by Geoff’s work. In case you missed it, you can read my initial feature on Geoff’s work here. Since that first feature, Geoff has been busy creating new work and collaborating on a book project– more about his book later today!
The Emperor’s Night Garden, mixed media on panel, 97×105
While the images with which Geoff works are representational in nature, his method of composition is free and intuitive. Images are chosen for their sheer beauty, interest or what they may bring to the composition texturally. Chosen found imagery doesn’t necessarily relate to the other images around it, or at least not intentionally.
Crossing the Needles, mixed media on panel, 97×105
Geoff works from the principal of the sensation of pareidolia, a “psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus, often an image or sound, being perceived as significant”. His works are telling stories, but not of the artist’s making, but of the viewers. He provides the stimuli, we fill in the story with our own memories and meaning.
Stage 3, mixed media on panel, 20×20
Ivory Lolly, mixed media on panel, 20×20
To see more of Geoff Mitchell’s work, please check out his ( newly designed! ) website and his cover image & album on the Artsy Forager Facebook page. If you happen to be near Biloxi, MS, don’t miss his solo exhibition, Chaos at the Confessional at the Ohr-O’Keeffe Museum, opening June 12, on display until November 24, 2012.
Featured image is a detail of The Emperor’s Night Garden. All images are via the artist.
I distinctly remember our section on collage in my Drawing 101 class. It was kind of painful for me. I wanted to create interesting beautiful work, but had a hard time getting past memories of third grade art class and Elmer’s glue. So it isn’t any wonder that some of my favorite work is of the cut and paste variety.. These artists have found the secret to what I was longing to do!
I admit it. I love a pretty fashion magazine as much as the next girl. Pages and pages of beautiful people contorting their bodies into strange positions to sell gorgeous clothes can sometimes enthrall me for hours. But then, I find myself needing a break from the beautiful. That may sound strange, but so often, the perfectly styled and photoshopped images create an unreal world, one that I can only take so much of. El Salvadoran artist Luis Cornejo takes these idealized images as his inspiration but infuses them with cartoonish humor.
Paff!, oil, acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 51×75
Isolating the figures gives each painting an almost classical composition, seeming to compare the fashion models of today to the artist’s muse of the past.
Untitled ( #5 ), oil and acrylic on canvas, 47×58
The models retain their “fierce”, pouty poses, while Cornejo’s added illustrative elements remind us to not take this artificially created world too seriously.
Untitled ( #6 ), oil and acrylic on linen, 31×39
Untitled ( #7 ), oil and acrylic on linen, 35×53
To see more of Luis Cornejo’s work, please visit his website.
I’ve been having so much fun with the Art to Inspiration project! The first month I participated, the inspiration work was by Pakayla Biehn, an artist whose work I’d already fallen in love with when I featured her on Artsy Forager a while back. The next month gave me an opportunity to fall head over heads for Jo Howe’s organically inspired work. So I was thrilled when my suggested artist, Jill Ricci was chosen as the inspiration for June!
Jill is one of those artists whose work I never tire of and I hope you don’t either, because I have a tendency to want to feature her work every chance I get! One of my favorite elements running through Jill’s work is the urban, graffiti-like graphics. So for this Art to Inspiration, I’ve put together a Ricci-inspired gallery of street art!
The inspiration-
Float by Jill Ricci, mixed media on canvas, 40×40
The gallery-
NeSpoon ( via Recyclart )
By Sainer from Etam Crew, on Urban Forms Foundation in Lodz, Poland ( via Street Art Utopia )
Artist unknown, ( via Street Art Utopia )
By Speto, Sao Paulo, Brazil ( via Wooster Collective )
Obey by Shepard Fairey ( via My Modern Metropolis )
Be sure to click the photos above for more of each artist’s work and to see more inspiring street art. You can also check out Artsy Forager’sArtsy On the StreetsPinterest board to keep up with all the street art I’m finding!
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!
Hi Artsies! I’m taking a tiny break for a few days, while we visit with some dear friends from Florida. Please welcome fellow art lover and blogger, Kaitlyn Patience, who blogs and creates gorgeous stationery over at isavirtue!
Hello! My name is Kaitlyn. I blog at isavirtue and I will be guest posting on Artsy Forager today!
Jovie, watercolor on paper, 8.5×11
Not to be confused with the comedic British movie character, artist Austin Power has made a name for himself as well. His unique portraits, which almost never depict an entire face, are at once eerie and intriguing.
Esther, watercolor on paper, 11×15
Emmanuel 2, watercolor on paper, 12×14
I would have guessed that the artist only paints those details that have made an impression on him. For example, I feel most connected to my husband’s eyes, and my best friend is known for her ski slope nose. So I assumed that the artist was simply recording the most intimate features on his friends and loved ones (As in his series “21 Portraits of People I Miss”). But the artist has a different train of thought than I.
Amy, watercolor on paper, 10×15
Jayme, watercolor on paper, 11×15
Power describes his reasoning for leaving out a nose, or a mouth, or a pair of eyes, “I am interested in showing the difficulty and discomfort in fully understanding a person. I leave my subjects incomplete to highlight their limitations, as well as my own inability to see the subject beyond the influence of myself.”
Featured image is Self-Portrait by Austin Power. All images via the artist’s website.
Hi Artsies! I’m taking a tiny break for a few days, while we visit with some dear friends from Florida. Please welcome fellow art lover and blogger, Kaitlyn Patience, who blogs and creates gorgeous stationery over at isavirtue!
Hello, my name is Kaitlyn! I am the author of art and snail mail blog “isavirtue.” I will be guest posting today on Artsy Forager.Last summer, Lesley wrote an excellent two-part blog post entitled “Yes, Virginia, You CAN Afford To Buy Artwork!” Aside from being the best title in the history of all blog posts, these two guides are an excellent resource to both online and offline art purchases. If you are looking for even more resources, I provide a similar post on my blog, listing a variety of art sale websites. Lesley’s belief that art collecting is not just for the wealthy and the learned connoisseurs is one that we both share. I believe art is, and should be, available to everyone.That being said, there is certainly an intimidation factor involved. This fear of art may stem from its perceived value, or a lack of knowledge. The first concern is an easy one to strike down. Art is affordable. You can take my word for it, or you can peruse the aforementioned guides. No matter what your budget is, you will be able to find art that you love.The second issue, a lack of knowledge about art is one shared by many. To be honest, I don’t believe you have to have any knowledge at all. If you like it, and can afford it, then buy it! That being said, if you want to know more, I’m happy to share with you a mini tutorial on the types of art available for home décor (Sorry, you generally can’t buy installation art, performance art or public art!).The following information is a simplified version of what is offered in my online e-course, “make art a part (of your life).” I encourage you to read more about the course here (LINK: http://blog.isavirtue.net/p/e-course-registration.html) – it’s great fun and you can enjoy it at your own pace!
“There’s a ninety-nine percent chance you already have some version of art in your home, whether it be a cool print you found, a little DIY, your children’s artwork, or one of those hip new canvas transfers. I’m hoping you feel so inspired by reading this that you are anxious to rush out get some more art to decorate your home! But what type of art will you buy? Is it important to you that it be “original”? What’s the cheapest way to go about this? What is the difference between a regular print and a limited edition? How do you know you aren’t over-paying?”
Goodness me, you have so many questions! First, let’s look at the different types of art available.
Original, Jessica Bell ( via Buy Some Damn Art )
Limited Editions | A limited edition work of art is the next notch down on the value scale. This is because while there are multiples of the art, the number is restricted. A limited run of art prints for example, may include anywhere from two hundred to one thousand pieces. However, any more than two hundred and the term “limited edition” is being stretched.
Limited Edition print, Jennifer Sanchez ( via 20×200 )
Canvas Transfers | A photograph, poster or print that is taken and laid on canvas through chemical or heat transfer. The canvas is then tightly wrapped around a wooden frame to look like a gallery style painting. It’s brilliant because it lets people purchase art for their home at really reasonable prices.
Canvas Transfer, Flapper Doodle ( via Society 6 )
Regular Prints | Any paper print made from a drawing, original painting, photograph etc. There is no inherent value, except to you because you love it!
Regular print, Emma Leonard ( via Etsy )
Posters | Printed on papers of varying thickness, posters can be memorabilia, advertisements or simple decorative images. People love to collect posters because they are the least expensive form of art and can be hung framed or unframed.
Poster, Stephane de Bourgies ( via AllPosters.com )
Import | While not always imported, the term is used to reference three dimensional art which includes foreign objects, replicas or mass produced goods. They often include wall art and freestanding sculptures.
Import, Stag Head ( via Indaba )
I hope you have enjoyed this little lesson and that it will help you in your search for beautiful art!
You may remember the fabulous work of Shaun Kardinal, featured a few months ago. I was completely smitten by his technique of combining found materials and embroidered elements in such an artistic way. Along with Shaun, there are other artists putting their own spin on this way of working. Here are a few of my faves!
British Vogue Cover, Deconstructed by Inge Jacobsen
.. up over on the Artsy Forager Facebook page! Head on over and check it out! Exciting things to come from this month’s artist.. stay tuned for details.
