Perhaps it began with too many pre-teen viewings of Funny Face or Gigi. Or maybe it was even earlier with The Aristocats. For whatever reason, France in general and Paris in particular, have always been a source of fascination and inspiration to me, as it has to countless artists through the ages. Recently, it seems as if Paris is just in the air. So, today, mon chere Artsies, I bring to you a few of my recent Frenchy favorites. Vive la France!
April In Paris by Liz Lind, limited edition, 16×16, 24×24 or 32×32Green Chairs by Lisa Abelson/Dasken DesignsParis by George ButlerPretty Maps ( Paris ) by Aaron Straup Cope
Be sure to check out the websites of my fellow Francophiles below. Have a beautiful weekend, Artsies!
None other a luminary than my husband’s man crush, Eddie Vedder said, “It’s an art to live with pain.. mix the light into the grey.” Although I don’t necessarily subscribe to the notion that all artists must suffer in order to create great work, artists have long had a way of funneling hardships endured into their work. The result is often something extraordinary. When diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer, Cleveland artist Arabella Proffer channelled the painful endurances of modern medical procedures into research of the remedies of the past. The result is a new series, The National Portrait Gallery of Kessa, a collection of paintings exploring the medical procedures and superstitions of the past.
Skin of the Fox Cures the Pox, oil on linen, 16×20 ( via Lee Joseph Publicity )
Being in the midst of a Frida Kahlobiography, Arabella’s work immediately struck a chord with me. But these aren’t remade Kahlos. There may be a similarity in style and subject, but while Kahlo’s work dealt directly with her own experiences and emotions, Arabella instead chose to portray imaginary female subjects, creating not only a visual representation but a history and backstory for each.
Violets for Heart Veins, oil on linen, 16×20 ( via Lee Joseph Publicity )
From the artist: “After having a section of my leg removed, I began researching medicine from the Middle Ages through the 18th century; this series was a good way for me to work out my anger and be even more thankful that what I’m going through is nothing compared to old remedies and techniques. My art and interests were in the way society lived in the past, but with emphasis on the defiant, glamorous, and eccentric — not daily strife. You could have been rich, important, or beautiful, but if sick, you would still receive brutal or worthless treatment.”
Sawed, oil on linen, 16×20Black Madonna, oil on linen, 5×7
This series, along with selected works from the Black Madonna series, are now on display in a solo exhibition, Ephemeral Antidotes at Articulated Gallery in San Francisco through February 3rd. If you’re not in the San Fran area, be sure to check out Arabella Proffer’s website for more of her work.
Featured image is a detail from Violets For Heart Veins, oil on linen, 16×20. All images are via that artist unless otherwise stated.
The work of Canadian artist Takashi Iwasaki creates a bright and candy colored world, full of shapes that may seem incongruous, but are creating tableaus representing, for the artist, either completely imaginary worlds or the world he sees every day, as he sees it in shape and color.
Midoriyaamehatzga, embroidery floss and fabric (hand embroidered), 51cm x 51cm
Though the composition may have meaning to the artist, he purposefully keeps the titles vague ( they are a combination of fragments several languages and sounds based on themes or elements in each work ), so that the viewer may drawn his own conclusion as to what is being seen.
Kamidaredentou, embroidery floss and fabric (hand embroidered,) 41cm x 41cm
Although the bright tones are decidedly cheery and the shapes often whimsical, it could be easy to interpret these with a dark sensibility. They are at times alien-like and the Sputnik-ish motifs along with the clean aesthetic lead me to often see a kind of mid-century extraterrestrial sort of world. One that I would happily be abducted to.
Taretentokaku, embroidery floss and fabric (hand embroidered), 30.5cm x 30.5cmMinotogetenti, embroidery floss and fabric (hand embroidered), 35.5cm x 35.5cm
In addition to the embroidered ( ! ) works above, Iwasaki you can also see wonderful paintings and drawings on his website. They will take you to another world!
Featured image is Nijiawapaip, embroidery floss and fabric (hand embroidered), 41cm x 41cm. All images are via the artist’s website.
My hubby and I have the best conversation over drinks. Not necessarily alcoholic beverages, coffee will do. It’s something about being out and having nothing to do but sit and sip and talk. A recent conversation led us to the topic of art. Now, my husband is kind of new to this whole art world thing but he is a voracious student and always eager to learn something new. His great love is music, so naturally he made the connection between the evolution of art and the evolution of music. Artist Amy Mass, like many artists, listens to music while she paints. What sets Amy’s work apart is that she paints to the music. So each piece is a direct result of the music being played during the painting process.
West Side Story, acrylic on canvas, 36×48
Like the musical scores which inspire them, Amy’s paintings are filled with rhythm and expression. You can almost see the staccato of the notes, the resounding beat of the drum.
Cocktails With Cole Porter, acrylic on canvas, 40×40
Layers of color and texture mimic the overlapping cacophony of sounds inherent in a symphonic composition.
A Single Man, acrylic on canvas, 48×60UnNamed, acrylic on canvas
To see more of Amy Maas’ melodious work, please visit her website. Have some fun and put the inspiration tunes on while you peruse her work!
Featured image is Celtic Woman, acrylic on canvas, 48×36. All images are via the artist’s website.
Confession: I love fashion magazines. The beautiful imagery of gorgeous people wearing couture, sporting watches and handbags that cost as much as a car, is like crack to me. Maybe in the intellectual artsy realm I am not supposed to taken with such trivial and superficial fluff, but I just can’t help it. Nor can NYC artist Hooper Turner.
High Noon, oil on canvas, 18×24 ( via Skidmore Contemporary )
Turner, whose latest exhibition, Glamorama, opens at Skidmore Contemporary in Santa Montica, CA this Saturday, chooses to focus his fascination and truly study these portraits of consumerism, painting them and in turn, seeing them with new eyes.
The Crusaders, oil on canvas, 30×40
Turner doesn’t take the imagery out of context, like many might, instead the images are unabashedly commercial, some complete with the text juxtaposed over the image, just as it would be in a magazine. It is in this honest confrontation of our voluntary manipulation by advertisers, creative directors, etc., that his work finds its most poignant power.
Solstice 2005, oil on canvas, 30×36 ( via Skidmore Contemporary )Spiced Egg Nog Cardigan, oil on canvas, 20×24 ( via Skidmore Contemporary )
Be sure to check out Hooper Turner’s website to see more images of his work. If you’re in Southern California, make plans to see his show in up close & personal at Skidmore Contemporary Art.
Featured image is Calvin Klein Underwear, oil on canvas, 51×36. All images are via Skidmore Contemporary’s website.
‘Tis a new year and with that comes all sorts of lists documenting the good, the bad and the ugly from the past 12 months. While there’s certainly no bad or ugly here at Artsy Forager, I thought it would be a kick to award our featured art some high schoolish superlatives. Put your mittens on your kittens and away we go!
We are a world that loves stuff. One look at the tv show Hoarders will confirm that, as human beings, we develop emotional and psychological attachments to objects. Certain things may represent for us the physical manifestation of the memory of a time, a place, a relationship. Canadian artist Christopher Stott celebrates this connection by elevating every day objects to the subject of portraiture.
Good Times, oil on canvas, 30×30
Stott takes simple objects, isolating them against a neutral, traditionally lit backdrop, he treats them his subjects tenderly, as another portrait artist might portray the innocence of a child or quiet strength of a grandmother.
GE Vintage Electric Fan, oil on canvas, 22×28
Compositions containing multiple objects take on an interesting dynamic– they seem to communicate, to regard and relate to each other in an almost human-like way.
Candlestick Phone and Electric Fan, oil on canvas, 24×24Remington, Overwhelmed, oil on canvas, 36×24
By choosing subjects with an already inherent history, the artist celebrates the lives of these every day objects– the people they have served, the differences they may have made to a human life, the treasured memories that may be associated with their torn pages and chipped paint.
Baggage, oil on canvas, 30×30
To see more of Christopher Stott’s work, please visit his website. Maybe these portraits will inspire you to look at your “stuff” a bit differently!
Featured image is Quartet, oil on canvas, 48×24. All images are via the artist’s website.
I am a firm believer in buying art at whatever level you can afford and I’m not talking about the framed art aisle at Target. While there are certain levels of art collecting which some of us may never reach ( I’ve reconciled myself to the fact that I’ll never own an original Georgia O’Keeffe, just keepin’ it real ), there is fabulous art available for every budget! Just because your budget is limited, that’s no excuse for blank walls! For this installment of [ Insert Art Here ], we’ll take a look at 3 art options for the same space– all fab, each fitting a particular budget level. Here we go!
Let’s begin with our blank( ish ) canvas–
From www.nestdallasdesign.com, home of Bradley Agather, designed by Beth Dotolo, photo by Kevin Dotolo ( artwork removed, to see the original design, click on this photo )
For the Beginning Collector:
Artwork by Ann Tarantino via 20×200
Prints are the easiest and most budget friendly way to begin an art collection and these days there is no shortage of sources for quality limited editions. These Ann Tarantino prints ( Far and Wide [ left ] and Flying Colors [ right ] ) are archival pigment prints, $200 each ( not including framing ) and are available through 20×200. Pretty sweet, right?
For the Mid-Range Artsy:
Artwork by Michelle Armas
So you’re ready to put your money where your mouth is and begin a serious art collection? Original work by emerging artists is a great place to start. Atlanta artist Michelle Armas has become something of an art & design blog darling and with that comes a certain ( well deserved! ) notoriety which makes her work highly collectible. Her abstract paintings are riotous and painterly, filled with joyous color. The piece above,Eggplantis an acrylic work on canvas, 30×40 inches. It is available through Gregg Irby Fine Art at $1000. An awesome price for a piece of that size and quality! Forego your daily $4 chai-mocha-frappawhatever from Starbucks and you will be able to purchase a piece like this, too. It’s all about priorities, ya’ll. 🙂
For the Serious Artophile:
Artwork by Christina Foard
Christina Foard is a painter’s painter. She paints intuitively and revels in the materials, not afraid to get her hands dirty. There is an emotionality to her work that, along with its glorious physical texture, provides a depth that you don’t always find in abstract compositions. The piece above, Floating Invasion( acrylic on canvas, 40×30 ) provides this space with a certain amount of gravitas, while still giving just the right amount of color and movement. But Foard’s works are pieces you buy because you can’t stop thinking about them.. you have to have them.. If they happen to match your throw pillows, well, that’s just a bonus. ( FYI– Floating Invasion is no longer available, but Foard pieces in a similar size are usually in the $3000 range )
My final word.. as Dan Fear said “Buy art because you like it and because it moves you, and because it enhances your life.” This has been a little exercise that I hope will inspire you to purchase a piece of art that you love this year. Now that’s a new years’ resolution I can get behind!
Hey ya’ll! It’s Tuesday, so don’t forget to mosey on over to Escape Into Life to check out my post featuring the work of Hilary Williams. You might remember Hilary from my Artsy Forager post on her work here.
Good Neighbors, acrylic & screen print on fabric & wood panel, 24x24x2
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