artsy forager

Posted on September 9, 2013

I’m a bit of a homebody, I admit. But am finding I’m a little more stir crazy than normal lately. I blame working from home. And the home health job which necessitates Mr. F to always have the car during the week. So when asked what I wanted to do this weekend, I replied, “Anything, as long as it gets me out of the house!”.

While we were in Coeur d’Alene last summer, we loved exploring all the Rails to Trails bike trails. So we were excited to find there were a few decently long trails within an easy driving distance. Despite the clouds, we set off on Saturday and did a quick little 17 mile ride. Not nearly as pretty as the trails around CdA, but the fresh air did my heart and mind lots of good. Still not wanting to be at home, we finally tried what looks like it might be the best place to eat in the tiny town of Shelton. A little barbecue and some fried green tomatoes are always a good idea for these Southern transplants! Oh and the awesome beer & drink selection didn’t hurt either. Shelton has redeemed itself.

On Sunday we decided to go over to Olympia to grab coffee and try to hunt down some duck for a recipe Mr. F was dying to try out. I love Olympia’s funky, grungy feel. It has a fantastic downtown filled with shops, galleries and eateries. Hope to go back for a day soon and give you a little artsy tour!

[ it was beginning to look like fall on the trail ]

[ wetting our whistles post ride ]

[ downtown Olympia ]

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All images by Artsy Forager.

Posted on September 9, 2013

Back in my gallery days, the gallery owner I worked for had a way of describing work that I’ve held onto ever since– it either has soul or it doesn’t. Work either grips you by the heart and spirit or leaves you cold. These figurative paintings by Seattle artist Olivia Pendergrast are filled with raw, honest emotion.

The artist has traveled through Africa and Haiti, immersing herself in the people and culture of each place. Indeed, each portrait captures the mingled innocence and heartache of the people she encountered.

The muted palettes and sketchy lines bring to mind the sadness that permeates each country, and elongated limbs and fingers bely the fragility of life.

Want to see more of Olivia Pendergast‘s work? Please visit her website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

ceramics Design Design Foraging

Posted on September 6, 2013

The advent of the Fall season always makes my nesting instincts come out! While we’re living our vagabond life, I’ll have to settle for baking, buying autumnal flowers and trying out new seasonal recipes instead of what I’d really like to do– paint, hang artwork, rearrange furniture and seasonalize ( new word! ) my home. So dear Artsies, today I’m vicariously living through any Aussie readers who may have the opportunity to buy the lovely porcelain work of Shannon Garson. Her palette and texture reminds me of bare tree branches and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot.

You can check out more work by Shannon Garson on her website. I’ll be over here, drooling and wishing I could somehow make a few of these mine. Happy weekend!

All images are via the artist’s website.

Artsy Dwelling Design Interiors

Posted on September 5, 2013

Look beyond the nail and picture hanger. There are so many unique ways to hang artwork, whether you’re hanging just one piece or grouping lots of work together. Here are a few of my favorite methods!

1 | String it up

found here here here here and here

Create a bit of interest and drama by hanging your artwork by a ~~thread~~, ‘er string. It’s a great way to add a bit more height to a piece that isn’t quite tall enough for your wall or to add just the right boho vibe.

2 | Clip it!

found here here here and here

Clip art takes on a whole new meaning! Use specialty art clips, gator clips, vintage pant hangers or even just an old fashioned clipboard to display work that isn’t terribly precious. ( Stay away from clips that might crimp for artwork you don’t want to damage ).

3 | Create a hanging structure

found here here and here

Artwork stands out– literally– when you hang it from a three dimensional grid. The grids add just the right amount of visual texture, creating an interesting juxtaposition and the added bonus of easily switched out work.

4 | Use the structure you have!

found here here and here

Maybe you’re lucky enough to have some fabulous architectural details already built into your home! Consider using those structures as a hanging surface for art– that’s what those vintage picture rails were for to begin with! I’m personally in love with the industrial vibe of the barn-door hanging above!

5 | Frame within a frame

found here

Another way to add a some healthy dimension to your space? Find a giant frame and group smaller works of art inside.

6 | Art mobile!

found here

Perhaps the most fun of all the options– create an art mobile! These tiny clips are perfect for displaying artful photos, sketches, postcards, etc. You know when you’ve bought a little notecard of an artist’s work, knowing there’s no way on earth you could ever afford an original? Here’s the perfect way to display those treasures!

7 | Go old school. Use thumbtacks.

found here

The ol’ thumbtack method was probably the very first way anyone hung your artwork. Or maybe your mom used refrigerator magnets instead. Raw, unstretched canvas pinned up in the corners with brass tacks looks absolutely divine in this nursery, doesn’t it?

Have a unique art hanging method you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

All image sources linked above.

Daily Artsy Figurative Paintings

Posted on September 5, 2013

Do you ever have days when it feels like you wake up one minute and it’s time to go back to bed the next? Days when the time just passes, too busily or hastily, and all too quickly it’s gone. And we hardly remember it. The paintings of Zurich artist Andy Denzler draw us into a world where time seems to stand still.

Couple Sharing Bed, oil on canvas, 140×120 cm

Bedroom Portrait Face Down, oil on canvas, 120×140 cm

Denzler’s work is based in classical representation of the figure but the artist incorporates gestural twists through each canvas, leaving us with the impression of a paused moment.

Denzler_Across the Shallow Stream_oil on canvas_140x120cm

Across the Shallow Stream, oil on canvas, 120×140 cm

Something Waits For You to Breathe Again by Andy Denzler

Something Waits For You to Breathe Again, oil on canvas, 120×140 cm

Captured forever is the loveliness of each instant, the simple moments of the mundane, the stillness of a stretch of quiet and calm.

Touch, oil on canvas, 140×120 cm

If you’d like to see more of Andy Denzler‘s work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

Abstract Art Daily Artsy Paintings

Posted on September 4, 2013

Mr. Forager tends to roll his eyes and snicker when I settle in to watch an old Doris Day or Cary Grant flick. Yes, I’ll admit, sometimes the story lines are implausible and the acting a bit affected, but something about entering those make-believe worlds touches the part of me that longs for beauty and elegance and grace. The paintings of artist Jay Zerbe seem cloaked in the palette of those longed for days.

Shadows and Signs, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 36×48

There is something in his chalky palettes that remind me of the energy of the mid-twentieth century. The colors seem to be telling the story of young love, white gloves and big Cadillac tail fins.

Celery Soup, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 36×36

Ascension, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 36×36

But there is something underlying the nostalgic palettes. A subtle darkness and shadow, reminding us not everything bright and shiny is without its demons.

57 Bonneville, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 24×24

Paper Lantern, acrylic and crayon on canvas, 30×48

If you would like to check out more of Jay Zerbe‘s work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

This Artsy Life

Posted on September 3, 2013

Normally, when graced with a 3-day weekend, Mr. F and I might take the opportunity to get out of town, maybe do a little camping. But after a week of not feeling super great, we both decided that another low-key weekend was what we needed. We did manage to squeeze in a nice little hike at Mt. Rainier in between all our chillin’ out.

I know I said back to adventuring next weekend.. but this time I really mean it! Fall is my favorite time of year and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest. Hope you had a wonderful restful weekend, Artsies and are ready to conquer the world this week!

Images by Artsy Forager. See more of This Artsy Life on Instagram.

Abstract Art Daily Artsy Landscapes Paintings

Posted on September 3, 2013

Water is one of those resources we tend to take for granted until we find ourselves without it. During the six months we spent in the California desert, Mr. F and I discovered just how essential its presence was to our psyches and overall happiness. Not only does it nourish us physically, but something about this liquid nurtures our souls. Boston artist Anne Neely explores the importance of waters seen and unseen in her Mopang series.

Turlach-Turlough, oil on linen, 72×60

Pond Park, oil on linen, 36×44

The series is named after the Mopang Aquifer in Maine which was saved after an attempt to establish an ash dump near it. The artist plunges depths, showing off water’s sparkles and light in her use of color, shape and line.

Riverside, oil on linen, 32×24

We are lucky enough to have a beautiful little man-made stream and waterfall running through the backyard of our current rental. Just a few minutes gazing into the clear waters and listening to the splashing instantly calms me. The mere presence of water reminds us of our most basic needs and we relax in its cool calming being.

Off Island, oil on linen, 32×24

Waterlines, oil on linen, 14×11

If you would like to see more of Anne Neely‘s work, please visit her website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

Artsy Forager Featured Artist Daily Artsy Figurative Paintings

Posted on September 2, 2013

I know today is a holiday for most folks here in the US, so you’ve probably out picnicking, enjoying your last bit of summer beach time or barbecuing with the fam. But I just couldn’t wait to share with you our new Featured Artist for September! I am an enormous fan of this artist’s work. Seriously, I fall more in love with the work of Susan Hall every time I see it.

Wing, oil on panel, 35×40

Every painting transports me to such a calm and peaceful place– it’s like a visual dip into a cool spring on a hot day. Each figure, whether human or animal, seems lit from within and the canvases radiate with serenity.

Devotion, oil on panel, 43×51

Morning Light, oil on panel, 35×40

And I’m sure you’ve noticed her use of texture– each piece has subtle textural patterns overlaying the composition, lending to the ethereal, gossamer-like quality.

Listen, oil on panel, 43×48

Harmony, oil on panel, 43×51

Owning one of Susan’s pieces would be like having your own personal serenity portal. Just a few moments’ gazing and my stress levels plummet!

Want to see more of Susan Hall‘s work? Please visit her website and be sure to check out the Facebook album full of my favorite works by Susan. For you Texas Artsies, Susan will be showing at the Houston Fine Art Fair this month and for my Seattle Artsies, you can see Susan’s work at the Affordable Art Fair in November! A list of galleries who carry her work can be found on her website here.

All images via the artist’s website.

Design Foraging

Posted on August 30, 2013

Let’s face it. We’re a tech obsessed society! Most of us get a little antsy when we aren’t tethered to our tablet, smartphone or laptop. These gadgets have become ubiquitous parts of our lives, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t give them our own artsy spin! I found a few favorite artsy iPhone cases over on Society6..

find it here

Now I just need an iPhone! Haha.. long story. Happy weekend, Artsies!

All images linked above.

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All posts are written by Lesley Frenz, unless otherwise stated. If you would like to repost something you see on Artsy Forager on your own blog, please provide a link back to the original post. All artwork images are the property of the individual artists, please link to this site or theirs when reposting and credit the artist appropriately. Artsy Forager contains some contextual affiliate links. An affiliate link means that I receive commission on sales of the products that are linked to in noted posts. So if you click on a link and make a purchase from an affiliate site, such as Mantle Art or Great.ly, then I may make a commission from that purchase. Those affiliate links may also be found on my Pinterest page. Artsy Forager reserves the right to delete any comments deemed as inappropriate. Play nicely, please.

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