artsy forager

Posted on August 6, 2013

As Mr. Forager & I go through our belongings, deciding what goes with us and what stays behind, one of the hardest things to part with have been books. Even as my family was packing up our Florida storage, it was so difficult to say “don’t ship it” to my books. But it feels like we have less and less time for reading these days. In fact, when I came upon these crystallized book sculptures by San Francisco artist Alexis Arnold, they reminded me of what my own mind feels like sometimes, having grown frozen from under-utilization!

Post Mortem, book, Borax crystals, 7x9x5

Cookbook, book, Borax crystals, 9x6x6.5

Reading stimulates the brain in ways other activities just don’t provide. If you’re like me, you actually feel differently when reading a book than you do when reading online or even a magazine. I feel like my mind is more engaged, more completely consumed than I do with any other type of reading.

San Francisco Magazine, magazine, Borax crystals, 11x6x5.5

The Catcher in the Rye, book, Borax crystals, 7x5x3

But for some reason, I just haven’t been compelled to pick up a book lately. I’ve been known to devour books within a few days time. Lately, though, in the evenings, normally prime reading time, I find myself reaching for my iPad instead, using the time to catch up on blogs or social media. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a super comfy reading spot in this apartment. Or maybe it’s because we only have overhead lighting ( which I hate! ), so there isn’t a cozy, makes-me-want-to-curl-up-and-read atmosphere.

Allure, magazine, Borax crystals, 11x12x3.5

These are all just excuses. I am now adding an item to my to-do list: READ. Not blogs, not social media. A real live, smells like musty paper book. I will do it! Soon.

Want to see more of Alexi Arnold’s work? Check out her website. Anyone else suffering from book withdrawal?

This Artsy Life

Posted on August 5, 2013

Weekends, in and of themselves, are always a good thing. But weekends like this one just past, ones in which you feel like all you did were chores with maybe a pleasant little walk in between, are hardly my ideal. Although Mr. F and I struck a good bit off our To-Do list: Found a rental for our next location ( we’re headed just a short drive south to Olympia, WA! So happy to be staying in the Northwest! ), unloaded all of our belongings that were in storage in Florida, then immediately packed it all back into storage here in Seattle, along with a bunch more stuff we’ve been traveling with. Had to deal with paperwork, grocery shopping & other thrilling errands, along with continuing to pack up more things from our apartment for storage plus a nice, big Goodwill pile.

So much to do, so little time. And I’d much rather be spending this time the way I did last summer.. I thought you could maybe use a little daydream escape today too, so here are 5 places I visited last summer and would much rather be right about now..

[ glacier national park ]

[ hayden lake, idaho ]

[ yellowstone national park ]

[ trail of the coeur d’alenes, coeur d’Alene, idaho ]

[ polebridge, montana, just outside glacier national park ]

Someone get me a time machine, stat! Happy Monday, Artsies! Check out more beautiful places from This Artsy Life in the Artsy Forager Instagram feed.

All images by Artsy Forager.

Daily Artsy Figurative Photography

Posted on August 5, 2013

Remember in the old days when you would accidentally double expose a photo and you’d be a little bummed when it didn’t turn out perfectly, but secretly pleased because the double exposure was super cool? ~~Me too~~ I mean, I’m not nearly old enough to remember that, but perhaps you are. 😉 Anyhoo.. these photographs by Mississippi born NYC artist Timothy Pakron have me longing for the days of happy photographical accidents.

Wash Away, archival inkjet print, edition of 5, 40×40

Lazy Blue Eyes, archival inket print, edition of 5, 40×40

His blurred figures take on a bit of a ghostly quality and we can’t be quite sure whether or not we can trust our own eyes.

Distance, archival inkjet print, edition of 5, 40×40

Fade, archival inkjet print, 40×40

These could almost take on a slightly sinister quality, but I prefer to see them as a bit day dreamy. Like that hazy fog between sleep and wakefulness, there is a pleasant light-headedness to them that I completely dig.

This Side of the Blue, archival inkjet print, edition of 5, 40×40

Want to see more of Timothy Pakron’s work? Check out his website.

All images via the artist’s website. Artist found via Michael Mitchell Gallery.

Design Foraging Interiors

Posted on August 2, 2013

I just love it when artists translate their work into functional design! So I was super excited to see New Orleans artist Amanda Stone Talley roll out a line of fabric based on her patterned paintings.

Tigerlily

Prize

Mohican

Falling Petals

Red Dust

Aren’t they delicious? I just want to eat one up. Or more practically, reupholster a chair. 😉 Tell me some of your favorite art-turned-design finds!

All fabrics are linen/cotton/canvas blend. All images via the artist’s website.

Artsy Forager Featured Artist Daily Artsy Mixed Media Paintings

Posted on August 1, 2013

I just love it when an artist seems to take a bit of a break for a while and then BOOM!, comes back strong! Such seems to have been the case with Florida artist Candace Fasano, this month’s Featured Artist.

Double Exposure, oil on wood, 24×24

Long time Artsy Forager readers might remember Candace’s work from way back in July ’11 ( where have the past two years gone?? ). Over the past few years, I would occasionally glimpse a post on her blog or Facebook page, but then just within the last few month, suddenly it seemed like this artist was back and she meant business! When I clicked on a blog post back in January, I was thrilled to see a bunch of new, exciting work looking back at me.

Alternating Phase, oil on wood, 12×12

EG3, mixed media on wood, 12×12

Fasano is still playing with her imagination ( and ours ), delving even past narratives into the worlds of scientific mapping and microbiological patterns. There is still the typography and wispy lines that are part of her artist’s signature, but these new paintings seem to be an artist who has discovered new caves to explore and is diving deeper beneath the surface.

Double Etch Trenches, oil on wood, 11×14

I’m so excited to feature the work of Candace Fasano all August long here on Artsy Forager! Be sure to check out her website, blog, and Facebook page. You can see one of Candace’s paintings gracing the Artsy Forager Facebook page, too, as well as a whole album of my favorite Fasano works!

All images are via the artist’s website.

Daily Artsy Paintings

Posted on July 31, 2013

One of the most fun things about traveling the way we do is being able to try on different types of places. It’s always interesting to me how each place has its own personality, reflected in the town’s homes and buildings. The look of Seattle and Joshua Tree couldn’t be more different! Interior obsessive that I am, I couldn’t help but share these lovely paintings by artist Chelsea James.

Studio b, oil on canvas, 36×36

Utility Sink, oil on panel, 36×36

I first spotted James’ work on the New American Paintings blog a while back and was immediately drawn to her style of painting. Her use of angles and perspective really draws you into the space of each painting, reminding me greatly of another favorite interior artist, Peri Schwartz.

Sink, oil on panel, 12×12

And of course, I always love any artist who sees the beauty in the ordinary. Thanks to Chelsea James, I will never again take for granted the loveliness to be found in a sink!

Sylvia, oil on panel, 12×12

Piso 7, oil on panel, 12×12

If you’d like to see more of Chelsea James’ work, please click on over to her website. Don’t you want to do a Risky Business style slide across that floor in Piso 7? Just me?

All images via the artist’s website.

Artsy Spots museums

Posted on July 30, 2013

Last week, an interior designer friend from Florida was visiting Seattle, so we seized the opportunity to catch up over lunch. I racked my brain trying to come up with a lunch spot I thought would be inspiring to her design senses and then it hit me– the cafe at the Chihuly Garden & Glass museum! I’d been meaning to visit the museum since arriving in Seattle, but it just hadn’t happened yet, so here was the perfect excuse.

The museum centers around the work of renown Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly. Chihuly is a bit of a polarizing figure in Seattle– his work, having saturated the Seattle glass market for quite sometime, he’s like the Starbucks of art in Seattle. He’s everywhere, as are copy cats and artists who’ve worked for him so it can be understandably tiresome to see yet more Chihuly. But with that said, the museum is a feast for the eyes and definitely worth a visit!

From an art lover’s standpoint, the mere spectacle of color and texture is unforgettable. The museum is relatively small, only about 1/2 dozen “rooms”, Chihuly’s work really shines in the atriums and outdoor garden spaces. The design of each space is done thoughtfully and with much regard to the characteristics of the works themselves, how the light behaves in and around them, color, etc.

Though the price of admission seemed a bit steep at $19 for an adult ticket, the museum staff was friendly & helpful, which goes a long way in my book! Overall, the Chihuly Garden & Glass is the perfect cultural diversion amongst the touristy offerings at Seattle Center. Oh and lunch at the Collections Cafe was delicious! For more information on visiting the Chihuly Garden & Glass, please visit their website.

If you’d like to see more photos from my visit, check out the Artsy Instagram feed!

Abstract Art Daily Artsy Paintings

Posted on July 30, 2013

Sometimes, as I’m looking through my artists queue and planning which artists to feature, I have to go back and search the Artsy archives because I come across an artist whose work is so fantastic, so just up my alley, that I’m shocked I let this artist’s work sit in queue for so long. I can’t believe I waited so long to share these gorgeous abstract paintings by artist Deborah Dancy.

As the World Turns, oil on canvas, 60×48

Dancing in the Dark, oil on canvas, 60×60

Dancy spins a web of layered painterly texture, light, shadow and intricately concocted yet wonderfully spontaneous cages of line. My eye gets caught up in each tangled maze of paint, getting utterly lost and never wanting to come back.

The Object of My Affection by Deborah Dancy

The Object of My Affection, oil on canvas, 46×46

Stormy Weather, oil on canvas, 30×30

And have I mentioned the palette? Warm rusty desert tones contrast with pale cotton candy pastels, keeping things fresh and light.

Gates of Paradise, oil on canvas, 60×48

Want to see more of Deborah Dancy’s work? Of course you do. Check out her website.

All images via the artist’s website. Artist found via Sears Peyton Gallery.

This Artsy Life

Posted on July 29, 2013

Here’s the thing. Mr. F & I love people. We really do. But we’re both introverts, he being a bit more on the outgoing side than I. So as much as we love to socialize, people can be exhausting for two introverted folk! When it’s just us, we can just BE. And usually, when we’re traveling, unless we happen to be in a place where there are friends to hang with ( Seattle ) or a place where his work crew is awesome and super social ( Idaho ), we are each other’s sole company. And we’re totally OK with that. More than that, it’s the way we like it.

So as happy as we would have been to be joined by a gang of friends on our hike this weekend, as it was shaping up by the end of last week, we were secretly pleased when it turned out to be just us two. We arose super early Saturday morning to make the 2 1/2 hour pilgrimage to Mt. Baker.

[ skyline trail ]

[ we were as giddy as this guy ]

[ even on our hike, we each got a little alone time ]

[ snow in august! ]

[ glorious day ]

We felt guilty that our underestimating the drive time meant that we missed out on a friend’s birthday celebration. But having more him & me time was like a surprise gift, and a much needed one as we’re in the midst of the stressful few weeks before packing up and traveling on. Speaking of, on Sunday we concentrated on dwindling down our belongings even lighter– no more renting a trailer each time. Everything must now fit in the back of the SUV. My closet is now 1/3 its normal size.

[ the clothes that made the cut ]

I am determined to take a few essential art supplies with me, too. Will be working on sorting that out next weekend. What did you do over the weekend? Anything fun? Did you party like it’s 1999 or just enjoy some down time alone?

If you’d like to see more of This Artsy Life, you can follow me over on Instagram!

Daily Artsy Figurative Paintings

Posted on July 29, 2013

Have you ever had a moment so special, so perfect that you want to freeze yourself there, so that you can go back and revisit it again and again? London based artist Dan McDermott‘s paintings ( yes, paintings! ) freeze in time moments from our collective past, preserving not just the actuality of that occasion but the feeling of being in that moment.

Beauty Queens, oil on canvas, 130×100 cm

Good Times I, oil on canvas, 80×60 cm

Working from an extensive archive of vintage imagery, McDermott captures what seems like frozen film frames in paint. It’s like watching those old home movies on projector ( showing my age! ). Everything is a bit distorted, but we recognize the familiar.

Yellow Dress II, oil on canvas, 80×50 cm

Roller Skates, oil on canvas, 80×50 cm

The corralling of these “frozen” moments doesn’t just happen in the frenetic, blurry application of paint. It is found in the palettes, as well, we can sense the warmth of the sun, along with the faded cloth of memory.

Cocktail, oil on linen, 127×67 cm

What moment would you like to freeze in time? I can think of several! Want to see more of Dan McDermott’s work? Please visit his website.

All images via the artist’s website.

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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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