We are all creatures of our past and present. Influenced and affected by what has come before us, as well as our current experiences, our future selves a hybrid of what was and is. In her latest portraiture, Australian photographer Jacqui Stockdale weaves fantastical tales of identity inherited and identity discovered.
Her work has a vintage, tin-type feel, yet the figures we see are utterly contemporary. Modern masks mimic ancient ritualistic garb and figures pose rigidly as if sitting for a daguerrotype. But there seems to be a defiance in each face, a fight against a past, perhaps an assertion of the future.
Mr. F and I may not have any babies, but that doesn’t keep me from ooing and awing over fantastically artsy nursery designs. So when my friend and fellow art obsessive Kaitlyn, over at isavirtue shared pictures of the art filled nursery which will soon welcome her new little bundle of joy, I just had to share them with you!
I love the zap of color, texture and gosh-darn-happy this painting by Freyja Zazu hits you with. I’m willing to bet that baby Patience will love to stare at it when he gets a little older and plays that age old game of let-me-turn-the-light-switch-on-and-off.
In the rest of the light filled space, Kaitlyn and her hubby have chosen to hang work that is meaningful and playful, perfect for an artsy baby.
Over the crib hangs a series of original illustrations by the artist for whom Kaitlyn works, Ted Harrison. The works were created as illustrations for a children’s book about Harrison’s dog titled Maggie’s Magic Dream. Perfect for a peaceful sleeping baby, kind of a visual lullaby.
On the wall above the ( awesome ) rocker, is a vintage print salvaged by K’s hubby from his parents’ garage. Six sweet vignettes capture the bedtime routine of a daddy bear and baby bear. ( collective awwwww! )
Above the dresser/changing table, which by the way, is such a smart use of resources, is a lovely little art wall filled with a collection of quotes and woodland themed prints from affordable sources like Etsy and BigCartel. That little fox is grabbing my heart and so is the story of the inspiration behind the doe and fawn drawing.
I mean, if this isn’t the sweetest little nursery ever, then I’m a monkey’s uncle. See more images from Kaitlyn’s art filled nursery and find out more about the design on the isavirtue blog.
PS– Congrats to Kaitlyn & hubby Jon as they welcomed baby boy Jackson on March 22nd!
While I have a great love of work with lush, chaotic patterns and texture, there is always something so lovely and intriguing in work that embraces visual economy. Barcelona based, German born artist Sabine Finkenauer breaks down the world into simple lines and shapes, creating a signature visual language that is a little whimsical, a little retro and altogether lovely.
There is a childlike playfulness to her work, but her use of space and palette bring a sense of sophistication. Light-hearted enough to seem like Sunday afternoon doodles, looking closer and at her body of work as a whole, you can see the thought and calculation as she works her way through her use of space, line and color in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.
Want to see more of Sabine Finkenauer‘s work? Please visit her website. Wouldn’t it be lovely to see the world in such a simple way? I’m making that a goal this week– ignore the distractions and see what is simply before me.
It seems that spring in Eureka is a very windy season. The sun is shining and from our cozy apartment, it looks deceptively warm. But upon stepping outside we’re quickly reminded that we are in a transitional season– the air still has a chill and the warmth of stillness is welcome. The breezes blow and scatter fallen leaves, branches and petals, but at the same time, they are carrying away the grey and damp of winter, ushering in the peace and warmth of the coming summer. In her Room to Breathe series, artist Laura E. Pritchett explores the magical influence of a breath of air.
Pritchett has made a big splash in the Instagram world with her breathtakingly beautiful photography– studies of light, air, and seasons ( follow her IG feed here for regular doses of serene inspiration ). While perhaps more well known for her photography, these paintings translate the same quiet wistfulness found throughout her work. You can almost feel the soft breeze as it wafts up, up, and away, taking with it cares and troubles.
Some people are urbanites. And I used to think I might be one. But then we lived in Seattle for three months ( and not even in a super-urban neighborhood! ), and I quickly confirmed that while I love and occasionally need a visit to a concrete jungle, the city just isn’t me. Give me trees and an unobstructed view across the landscape and my heart is at peace. In her series, Marjory’s World, New York photographer Rebecca Reeve captures the experience of our loss of connection to the natural world.
Taking inspiration from the 1800s Dutch practice of covering mirrors, landscape paintings and portraits, Reeve chose to point her lens toward the disappearing landscape of the Florida Everglades. Using household drapery to frame each scene, the photographer reminds us of our continuing forsaking and consumption of the natural world.
To see more of Rebecca Reeve‘s work, please visit her website. Happy weekend, Artsies! Mr. F and I are planning to immerse ourselves in the magnificence of the Redwoods a bit this weekend. Hope you can get out and enjoy the beauty around you.
Another week, another painting in my Feminine Wiles series to share with you! Feminine Wiles is a series of small abstract color studies based on iconic female film characters. My introduction to many of these films and characters came through my mom, with whom I share a love of sappy love stories, witty characters, and gorgeous design. One of her favorite character turns ( and mine!! ) is Barbara Streisand as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.
I’ve always loved the palette of this film– filled with warm earthy browns and oranges, highlighted with delicate pinks and passionate reds– but when thinking about this project, I was struck by the reoccurring use of lavender hues on and around Fanny. Of course, this could have something to do with how the cool hues so beautifully compliment Streisand’s creamy complexion! But I like to think that costume designer Irene Sharaff and the production team were delicately clueing the audience in to the fact that the character of this young girl from Henry Street was destined for greatness.
Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl by Lesley Frenz
acrylic on canvas panel, 6×6
Purples hues are often associated with royalty, riches and power. So it isn’t surprising that Fanny would often assume a lavender glow. She was a star, but unlike Jo Stockton, one of her own making. She was confident in her talent and passionate in her pursuit of fame and stardom, even at personal loss.
In the end, despite setbacks and heartache, Fanny perseveres and shows that the strong will always survive. I’ve always thought there were great lessons to be learnt from Funny Girl— of tenacity, talent, love, humility and perseverance. Oh and let’s not forget that unbelievably beautiful voice!
To see more from the Feminine Wiles series, check out the archives here. Next week, a polarizing character and one of the most iconic! Hint: drapery.
Film image sources linked above, art images by Lesley Frenz.
As many artists know, much of the time, art making is a matter of knowing when enough is enough. Or even when enough is just a bit too much. In her work, New York artist Miya Ando is creating pure moments of simply just enough.
By working in a process in which she hand-dyes metallic surfaces, Ando creates pieces with an incredible sense of stillness and light. Translucent layers of color reflect not just the light without but the light within. By keeping the compositions simple, the work is free from distraction, allowing the viewer to fall into its spell, to meditate on the purity of color and transformative power of light.
I follow every artist ever featured on Artsy Forager on various social media platforms, which helps me keep an eye on what’s new & wonderful coming out of their studios. Recently, Atlanta artist Ryan Coleman has been cranking out some staggeringly stunning stuff!! I first featured Ryan’s work in the Fall of 2011 and over the past few years, it has been such a pleasure to watch his work evolve. His work consistently has the most amazing light and energy, but these days, there is a more graphic element coming into play that adds incredible depth to the compositions. He is also playing with the push and pull of negative and positive spaces and I just can’t get enough of it all! To see more of Ryan Coleman’s work, please visit his website, where you can purchase originals as well as prints of Ryan’s work. And be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, etc! All images via the artist’s website.
Do you ever think about what kind of legacy you will leave behind? I’m not thinking of material wealth or possessions, but the impact that your life will have had on the people who’ve known you? It’s a sobering thought, to be sure, to contemplate what your impact will have been. Brooklyn artist Zaria Forman ‘s series Chasing the Light is the culmination of the impact of a mother’s dream on her daughter.
The artist’s mother originally conceived the idea to lead an art expedition up the Northwest Coast of Greenland, the only other expedition here of this kind not done since 1869. Illness overtook her mother and the daughter kept her promise to carry on with the expedition.
The hyperreal pastel drawings of the disappearing glacial landscape remind us that we are continually impacting the world around us, whether we are aware of it or not. These monumental mountains of ice are slowly melting away, perhaps forever. We are losing a loved one, gradually, reluctantly.
I have a great love for wind chimes. My paternal grandfather used to fashion his own from aluminum pipes and every time I hear breezy chimes, I’m transported back to summer days in the cool grass of my grandparents’ backyard. So when I spotted these Aura Chimes by Seattle based design house Ladies & Gentlemen Studio ( in collaboration with artist Nicholas Nyland ) on The Jealous Curator, I just had to share them with you!
Handmade in small edition, each chime is unique, made of metal, wood, and leather components complimenting Nicholas Nyland ceramic pieces. Such a lovely modern take on an ancient ornament!
