Abstract Art Daily Artsy Galleries

Forms in Flux: Victoria Johnson

Posted on May 9, 2013

Seattle, Seattle, Seattle ( Marcia Brady voice ).. we arrived on Saturday and are completely in love with the city but overwhelmed by apartment hunting.  So this week, I’m re-running posts featuring some favorite Seattle artists.  Sorry for the repeats, hope to be back to normal artsy blogging next week!

There are some artists whose work just sticks with me.  I first saw Seattle artist Victoria Johnson’s work during my art consulting days through art publisher Grand Image.  I loved using Grand Image for unique, stylish, colorful work and Victoria’s paintings definitely hit all those criteria.  So when I spotted a painting of hers leaning against the wall at Lisa Harris Gallery in Seattle– boom!  The love for her work came flooding back to me.

Nereides- Sea Nymphs, pigmented resin on panel, 20×20 ( via Lisa Harris Gallery )

Free-flowing, organic forms drift in and out of her canvases’ planes, creating enticing visual rhythm and movement.

Coast to Coast, pigmented resin on canvas over panel, 48×40 ( via Lisa Harris Gallery )

The placement of shapes lend the idea of landscapes to these abstracts, yet their enigmatic colors and forms keep the work abstract and modern.

Lady of the Lake, pigmented resin on panel, 80×20

A warm palette juxtaposed with muted, more neutral-hued highlights create even more depth and spatial play.

The Echo, pigmented resin on panel, 36×24

Simply Said, pigmented resin on panel, 40×50

To see more of Victoria Johnson’s work, please visit her website.  Thanks to the Lisa Harris Gallery for reminding me of Victoria’s work!

Featured image is Lady of the Lake, pigmented resin on panel, 80×20.  All images are via the artist’s representing Seattle gallery, Lisa Harris Gallery.

Daily Artsy F/Stop Artsy Photography

In the Nitty Gritty: Todd Jannausch

Posted on May 8, 2013

Seattle, Seattle, Seattle ( Marcia Brady voice ).. we arrived on Saturday and are completely in love with the city but overwhelmed by apartment hunting.  So this week, I’m re-running posts featuring some favorite Seattle artists.  Sorry for the repeats, hope to be back to normal artsy blogging next week!

I grew up in a family of motorheads.  My grandfather owned a neighborhood service station from 1961 to 1979, the kind where you didn’t pump your own gas and a fluid check and windshield wash was complimentary.  I was only seven when he retired but can still remember the sights and smells of the station.  Seattle photographer Todd Jannausch’s series Garage Evidence captures the decline and decay of these iconic landmarks.

Garage, 2009

Through Jannausch’s photos,  I can practically smell the familiar faint odor of oil mixed with orange cleaner ( my grandfather kept his place immaculate! ) and hear the ring of the station bell as a car drives over it, signaling Granddaddy to service.

Tune-Up, 2009

Little Boxes, 2009

I can remember playing on the lifts in the garage, drinking Coca-Cola in glass bottles and following my grandfather around like a puppy.

Old Pumps, 2009

Just like my grandfather’s station, these old relics have been replaced by more bigger, more efficient yet less friendly models.  Thank you, Todd, for capturing their last breaths and for taking me back to the time I spent in such a place. Be sure to check out Todd’s website for more from the Garage Evidence series, as well as his other work.

PS– Scroll down for a peek at my granddaddy, Lester ( aka L.V. ) Hamilton on the day of his retirement, April 14, 1979, the day before my 7th birthday.

Lester Hamilton, April 14, 1979

All Todd Jannausch images are via his website.

Daily Artsy Sculpture

These Bucks Are BUCK: Rachel Denny

Posted on May 7, 2013

Seattle, Seattle, Seattle ( Marcia Brady voice ).. we arrived on Saturday and are completely in love with the city but overwhelmed by apartment hunting.  So this week, I’m re-running posts featuring some favorite Seattle artists.  Sorry for the repeats, hope to be back to normal artsy blogging next week!

Is the adjective buck actually used in the common vernacular?  Or do only So You Think You Can Dance geeks like myself know what it means, thanks to Lil’ C?  He uses it as slang for something that is crazy good and cool.  Which is exactly how I would describe the sculptures of Portland artist, Rachel Denny.

Red Buck, polyurethane foam, wool and wood

On my morning walk with George today, we came upon a deer munching on flowers in a neighbor’s yard ( one of the things we love about the Northwest ).  So when I came across Rachel’s work this morning, I connected with it instantly.  Her work explores that surprise of the unexpected wildness of nature in urban settings and every day life.

Young Buck, merino wool, polyurethane foam, thread and wood

Young Buck and Red Buck, both above, are part of her Domestic Trophies series, which while appearing at first to be whimsical and playful, actually seem to be making a commentary on how we try to justify our own violence or antipathy against nature.  The head of an animal that was once a living, breathing creature, killed for sport and mounted as a trophy gets “domesticated” and rendered impotent by blanketing it in a warm and colorful wrap of fuzzy wool.  It is now rendered to be merely a decorative object instead of a wild beast.

The Lion and The Lamb, polyurethane foam, wood and wool

Or perhaps the artist is comforting these poor creatures.  Covering their eyes and shielding them from a future of staring down at the same scene day after day.  Or maybe she’s just having a little fun by creating something beautiful out of something so symbolically grotesque.

Teal Doe, polyurethane foam, wood, wool, paint and thread

Whatever Rachel Denny is doing, I am on the bandwagon.  These pieces are fanciful and fun and if there is a deeper message behind them, so much the better.

Go to Rachel Denny’s website for more of her sculptural work– the ceramics are great, make sure you check them out!

All images via www.racheldenny.com.

Daily Artsy Mixed Media

Happy Trees: Liz Tran

Posted on May 6, 2013

Seattle, Seattle, Seattle ( Marcia Brady voice ).. we arrived on Saturday and are completely in love with the city but overwhelmed by apartment hunting.  So this week, I’m re-running posts featuring some favorite Seattle artists.  Sorry for the repeats, hope to be back to normal artsy blogging next week!

Yes, I just quoted Bob Ross.  But the whimsical trees of Seattle artist Liz Tran are miles beyond Ross’s prosaic “happy trees”.  Tran’s trees practically shout with joy.

Encircle, mixed media on panel, 36×36

With her use of bright colors and whimsical patterns, these trunks and limbs capture the fun spirit of yarn-bombing in paint!

Winter Drop, mixed media on panel, 48×48

August Bloom, mixed media on panel, 36×24

These transporting works take me back to the feeling of being a kid, lying on my back in the grass and looking up into a canopy of trees with sunlight bursting through.  There is no other feeling more peaceful and happy.

Summer Stripes, mixed media on panel, 36×36

In a lesser hand, these candied conifers could turn a bit too sweet, but Liz gives them just the right modernity to keep up the fresh and contemporary feel.  To see more of Liz Tran’s creations, please visit her website.

Featured image is Traveling Two, mixed media on panel, 36×24.  All images are courtesy of the artist’s website.

Design Design Foraging Jewelry

Design Foraging: Seattle, I <3 You

Posted on May 3, 2013

Mr. Forager and I are beyond excited to make Seattle our home!  The city holds such a special place in our hearts, after a long friendship, Seattle is where Mr. F & I finally fell in love.  We can’t wait to get back, settle in, and start getting to know the city again.  I’m afraid we’ll be walking around for a long time with huge grins on our faces!  To celebrate our arrival in The Emerald City, I’ve rounded up some design finds to show our Seattle spirit.  Enjoy!

Seattle Space Needle & Sailboat stamp set

Seattle Space Needle & Sailboat stamp set

find it here

Seattle Pillow Cover

Seattle Pillow Cover

find it here

Beacon Hill Mugs

Beacon Hill Mugs

find them here

I Heart Washington Necklace

I Heart Washington Necklace

find it here

Seattle, May the Road Rise With You letterpress print by Amy Rice

Seattle, May the Road Rise With You letterpress print by Amy Rice

find it here

I hope you don’t mind me gushing about my favorite city too much!  Mr. F & I have been waiting a long time for this.  We arrive on Saturday and that’s when the real fun begins– apartment shopping.  Gah!  But in the meantime, we’ll enjoy the cool air and grey skies.  I hope the mountains come out to greet us.

All image sources linked above.

Daily Artsy Landscapes Paintings

Guest Forager: Sarah Brooks of Artsyo

Posted on May 2, 2013

While Mr. Forager & I wind our way up the Pacific Coast Highway to Seattle, I’ve asked a few of my fellow art bloggers to step in and share some of their own artsy finds.

Mr. F and I are exploring San Francisco today ( so excited! ) but once we’ve made our way to Seattle, you can bet that I’ll be using the website of today’s Guest Forager to find lots of amazing Seattle artists for you!  Please welcome Sarah Brooks of Artsyo!

This is Sarah coming to you from Artsyo, a local-art-finder for Seattleites. As your Guest Forager today, I’m excited to introduce you to Seattle artist Susanna Bluhm!

Susanna’s lush abstracted landscapes caught my eye at an art auction last fall, and I’ve been taken with them ever since. She works from photographs of places she’s been, sometimes combining two dissimilar landscapes into one – Croatian islands with traffic islands, for example.

They Call It Way Too Rowdy, We Call It Finally Free, oil and acrylic on canvas, 95x72

They Call It Way Too Rowdy, We Call It Finally Free, oil and acrylic on canvas, 95×72

Even though the paintings are based on photographs, you can’t always tell what you’re looking at. Abstract marks play off of recognizable shapes to create the story. “I love what you can’t articulate,” says Susanna.

tell me, you whom my soul loves

Tell Me, You Whom My Soul Loves, Where You Pasture Your Flock, Where You Make It Lie Down at Noon, oil and acrylic on canvas, 71×119

Susanna’s most recent series of paintings is inspired by the Bible’s controversial book Song of Songs, reimagined in the form of a love song to her wife and son.

 

Who Is This That Looks Forth Like the Dawn, oil and acrylic on canvas, 63x102

Who Is This That Looks Forth Like the Dawn, oil and acrylic on canvas, 63×102

Susanna says that Song of Songs can be read as a relationship narrative: it begins with a frenzied crush and giddy romance, later giving way to more difficult periods of anxiety and loss.

 

Your Name is Perfume Poured Out, oil and acrylic on canvas, 40x40

Your Name is Perfume Poured Out, oil and acrylic on canvas, 40×40

Not everyone considers Song of Songs to be a story of two people in love: “Some Biblical scholars believe it is about God’s relationship to the Holy Land,” says Susanna. “In that case, God and the Holy Land should probably get a room.”

 

Your Cheeks Are Like Halves of a Pomegranate, Hidden Behind Your Veil, oil and acrylic on canvas, 83x77

Your Cheeks Are Like Halves of a Pomegranate, Hidden Behind Your Veil, oil and acrylic on canvas, 83×77

I hope you enjoyed Susanna’s work, Artsy readers!

Yours truly,

Sarah & the Artsyo team

See more paintings from Susanna Bluhm on Artsyo.

All images via Artsyo.

 

Artsy Forager Featured Artist Photography

May-days Are Here! And a New Featured Artist!

Posted on May 1, 2013

May always feels like the month when we truly transition out of winter and into the glory of the warmer months!  Mr. Forager and I are now in Seattle, though, so I’m not sure how warm we’ll be this May. 😉  But we have the work of this month’s Featured Artist, Pamela Viola to keep us glowing!

Whizz 2 by Pamela Viola

Whizz 2 by Pamela Viola

Be sure to head over to the Artsy Forager Facebook page, where Pamela’s work will be gracing our cover AND check out the Facebook album full of my favorite Violas!  Want to see even more?  Peruse Pamela’s website and blog.

Image via the artist’s website.

Abstract Art Daily Artsy Mixed Media

Guest Forager: Erin of artsocial

Posted on April 29, 2013

While Mr. Forager & I wind our way up the Pacific Coast Highway to Seattle, I’ve asked a few of my fellow art bloggers to step in and share some of their own artsy finds.  

You’re already familiar with Erin of artsocial as my partner in artsy pinning for the Art Association contest we hold every month.  But did you also know she has her own fabulous art blog?  It’s like a party every day.  With art!  Without further ado, take it away, Erin!

Abstract is IN this season in a big awesome way. Everywhere I turn, I’m seeing amazing paintings, rugs, pants – you name it – all decorated with incredible abstract designs… and I love it.

Mini Interior 9

Mini Interior 9, mixed media collage on paper, 6×4

A newfound favorite of mine is abstract artist, Pamela Staker.  Her intense color combinations, bold patterns, and expressive brushstrokes infuse her work with an undeniable and irresistible energy.

Mini Interior 10

Mini Interior 10, mixed media collage on paper, 6×4

Starting with simple shapes and vibrant colors, Pamela builds up her playful abstractions with mixed media and unconventional materials like duct tape, rope, and vinyl wall covering. Isn’t contemporary art the best?

Mini Interior 11

Mini Interior 11, mixed media collage on paper, 6×4

Her work beautifully expresses a balance between energetic spontaneity and carefully structured compositions. Which one is your favorite?

Mini Interior 12

Mini Interior 12, mixed media collage on paper, 6×4

This is only a small sampling of Pamela’s amazing work. Her shop is FULL of incredible pieces.

P.S. there’s a whole section of abstract cats! Not to sound too much like a cat lady, but it’s pretty awesome. You can also find larger works on Cureeo.

See more from Pamela Staker on Etsy and her website.

 

Design Foraging Fashion Interiors

Design Foraging: Erie Drive

Posted on April 26, 2013

For today’s edition of Design Foraging, I’m excited to introduce you to online retailer, Erie Drive!  Erie Drive offers hand-picked unique gift and home items and I was happy to be asked to curate for them a few of my favorite ED pieces.  Now that spring is in full swing, it is time to get out and enjoy all the art and music festivals coming our way.  Check out a few of my favorite pieces perfect for an outdoor and artsy day below, plus more soon on the Erie Drive blog, The Niche!

Baby Alpaca Throw

Baby Alpaca Throw

find it here

DF_ED_Magno Portable Radio

Magno Portable Radio

find it here

Critical Cycle Fixed Gear Bicycle

Critical Cycle Fixed Gear Bicycle

find it here

Stelton Classic Vacuum Jug

Stelton Classic Vacuum Jug

find it here

Thomas Paul Elephants Bandana

Thomas Paul Elephants Bandana

find it here

Don’t these make you want to spend a day picnicking?!  Have a wonderful weekend, Artsies!  Mr. Forager & I are leaving Joshua Tree tomorrow, will spend a few days with friends in San Diego and then make our way up the Coast to SEATTLE!!  We are so excited we can’t stand it.  PLUS, I’ve got some fantastic Guest Foragers coming in next week.  I’ll be in and out around these parts for the next few weeks, but can’t wait to start sharing Artsy finds directly from my favorite city!

Peace & Artsiness,

Lesley

All image sources linked above.

Art Association Artsy Happenings

Our April Art Association Winner!

Posted on April 25, 2013

I am in the midst of packing and researching Seattle apartments and am going kind of insane, so I’ll keep this short & sweet.. HUGE congrats to our April Art Association winner, Niki Bradly!

Niki's winning Pinterest board

Niki’s winning Pinterest board

We loved the cheekiness of Niki’s associations!  I mean how awesome is that Hard Livin’ Barbie??  The reward for Niki’s hard work is this fun Voss print by Jessica Brilli.

Voss, limited edition print on paper, 8x10 ( edition size 200 )

Voss, limited edition print on paper, 8×10 ( edition size 200 )

Thank you to everyone who pinned their hearts out for the contest!  Erin and I will have another edition ready for you next month.  Get your pinnin’ fingers ready!