Ever throw a party, then wake up the next morning to a completely disheveled house, yet revel in the knowledge that you know a good time was had? The work of California artist Kim Squaglia, with its effusive confetti-like dots and streamer-like lines against soft, solid backgrounds reminds me of the quiet morning after a rockin’ party.
Lolly, oil, acrylic and resin on panel, 24×24Lolly ( detail )
As you can see in Lolly ( detail ) above, Squaglia’s technique of layering acrylics, oil and resin results in incredible depth, almost cut-paper like in nature, adding to the confetti and streamer effect I can’t seem to get out of my head.
Scend, oil, acrylic and resin on panel
Then there are works like Scend ( above ) and Cirque I ( below ), which are a bit more reminiscent of cosmic configurations and tangled vines. There is also an interesting cell-like structure to many of her compositions, which may seem like a microscopic peek inside the human body or other organism.
Cirque I, oil, acrylic and resin on panel, 48×72
So many possibilities to be discovered! What do you see in Kim Squaglia’s work? To view more of the artist’s work, please visit her website.
We live a crazy, unique life. Mr. Forager’s work as a traveling medical professional means that we live in a new place every three to six months. In the last two years, we’ve lived in five different states! Since we never know from one work contract to the next exactly where we’ll end up, we like to take full advantage of where we are at the time. Which means a lot of time spent exploring, seeing everything in the area that seems artsy and/or interesting. The result equals few weekends at home just being. For the next several weekends, we are doing just that. Chillin’. Giving ourselves the gift of time and peace and quiet. Days to relax, freedom to do whatever we feel like or nothing at all.
[ feet up, body relaxed, mind at ease ]
[ slowing down means noticing the beauty we take for granted ]
[ it also means time for making homemade stock ]
[ and catching up on that pile of art magazines ]
[ and sketching with no real purpose in mind ]
[ and just opening your doors to possibilities ]
This weekend, I continued on my journey to Finding My Own Artsy.. some painting happened, but this little trip has only begun. More on that later, if I’m brave enough.. How do you spend your “chill” weekends?
I often envy Mr. Forager. When we’re camping or out hiking, he has no problem at all laying down wherever– absolutely no fear of bugs or other creepy crawliest like yours truly. He can really allow himself to be one with nature. The collages of Los Angeles artist Alexandra Bellissimo beautifully simulate what it might really be like for the human body to merge with the natural world.
Bellissimo photographs her models ( often she is her own model, giving even more emotional depth to her work ), in their own completely natural state.. No clothing, nothing between the skin and the world around it. The nude figure appears vulnerable, easily overtaken by the flora creeping over its form.
While there is some work done in Photoshop ( I.e., the removal of an arm to be replaced by a branch ), the added elements are done through traditional, meticulous cut and paste collage. In doing so, the artist maintains a very real feeling of physical transformation.
The Observer, photo collage, 12×16
To see more of Alexandra Bellissimo’s work, please visit her website. And if you’d like to read about and see some insight into her process, be sure to check out her blog!
Nothing against your grandma or her patchwork. Heck, I have a cherished and loved until it is falling apart patchwork quilt that belonged to my own grandmother. But patchwork has gotten an update. Bright colors, bold patterns and modern mixes are taking this old tradition from granny-style to boho chic. Not sure I could ever talk Mr. Forager into a sofa, but maybe a bowl or two? A little updated antiquarian boldness goes a long way.
I love the artsy boho feel of these pieces! So many artwork pairings I can think of.. Jill Ricci, Maribel Angel, Christy Kinard, just to name a few! Have a wonderful weekend, Artsies! Have you seen the City Mouse | Country Mouse exhibition yet? Well, what are you waiting for? Check it out here.
*If you love these modern takes on patchwork, Squint Limited will be heaven for you!
If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, hopefully you’ll recognize the work of these painters. Each painting is an original and available for purchase through the artists, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Nashville Zoo. Now I’m not sure they have any mice at the zoo, but I’m sure there are lots of other wonderful little furry foragers!
City Mouse | Country Mouse will be showing in the found gallery through March 28th, so you’ll have until then to snatch up one of these beautiful little paintings all for your very own! Throughout the month we’ll get to know the artists a little better, too!
So what are you waiting for?! Grab a handful of cheese and click here to see for yourself!
During our time here in Joshua Tree, Mr. Forager & I often find ourselves talking about what makes this place so different compared to everywhere else we’ve lived. Apart from the obvious, there is such an openness to the landscape here that creates incredible beauty, and yet, there is no place to hide abandoned buildings, rusted out cars and windblown trash. The paintings of Dallas artist Kim Cadmus Owens featured familiar lonely landscapes, infused with color and fractured lines inspired by technological irregularities.
Lounge, oil on canvas, 48×48Smoke and Mirrors: Coming and Going, acrylic and oil on canvas, 156×48
Just as the forsaken buildings once loved and cared may now be hazardous eye sores, our relationship with technology and electronic communication also shifts and evolves. We long for the immediate connection it allows, yet find ourselves frustrated and often unable to cope when the lines of communication go awry.
Pawn, carbon and acrylic on beveled wood panel, 24×30Grand, carbon and acrylic on beveled wood panel, 24×30Leader, carbon and acrylic on beveled wood panel, 24×30
We love how easy it is to connect and yet balk at how those systems of connection invade our privacy. We often find ourselves forsaking the people sitting right next to us for those on the tiny screen in our hands, just as we abandon old buildings full of character and history for shiny new strip malls. Owens use of fragmented lines and color in her work remind us that those connections have broken.
Cheap, acrylic and oil on canvas, 48×48
To see more of the work of Kim Cadmus Owens, please visit her website. How have you seen your relationships and landscape change with the changes in technology? What do you do to combat against a reliance on electronic communication & gadgets galore?
We had such a fabulous response to last month’sArt Association that Erin of artsocial, my AA partner and I immediately started choosing artists and planning for the next few rounds. I know everyone loved Christina Baker’s work and pinned like nobody’s business to win that lovely little painting! ( PS– Christina’s work will be available in our first exhibition & sale, which begins tomorrow! ) I think you’re going to love this month’s catalyst & prize just as much! My own pinboard was incredibly fun & inspiring to put together– I didn’t want to stop pinning, but somebody has to write this here blog.
If you’re new to Art Association, here’s the lowdown– You create a Pinterest board around one work of art ( which we provide ), filled with anything and everything that pops into your mind while gazing at the catalyst piece.
So without further ado, I present to you, dear Artsies, your catalyst artwork for this month’s AA, Yellow Rose No. 2 by Emily Jeffords!
Step 2 | You create a Pinterest board titled Art Association, like mine here, where you pin any and all images you associate with the featured artwork ( like word associations, only visual )– here’s a sneak peek at some of my associations
Step 3 | Leave a link to your Art Association pinboard in the Comments section of this post
The pinner who is deemed the winner ( hee ) will be the proud new owner of this beautiful Emily Jeffords original lithograph! Stem + Orchid is an original lithograph and comes matted for an overall size of 12″ x 13″. Wouldn’t this be a lovely addition to a gallery wall or propped prettily on a bookcase?! **
Stem + Orchid by Emily Jeffords
The pinner with the best Art Association board ( as judged by me and Erin ) will be chosen on Wednesday, February 27th at 5pm (mountain standard time). I’m looking forward to seeing all the creative associations you come up with! Ooooh, I just thought of another one!
Ready, set.. PIN!!
**So sorry but the contest is open to US residents only. I know. Pooh.
It is a special gift bestowed upon artists to take what is ugly and make it beautiful. In his Recycle series, photographer Cristobal Valecillos uses every day materials to craft the fashions and sets he then photographs, so that what is often never looked twice upon becomes elevated to extraordinary.
Tea Time, archival digital print on metallic paper on plexiglass, 26×36
Every single thing but the models in each set is carefully crafted from pizza boxes, Starbucks sleeves, newspapers, etc., giving each design incredible texture and depth. The fashions seem to fit the models as well as any couture, and the drama of what seems to be unfolding in the expanded scenes lends those pieces in particular a wonderfully theatrical quality.
Doubt, archival digital print on metallic paper on plexiglass, 53×35Olga, archival digital print on metallic paper on plexiglass, 60×36Untitled, archival digital print on metallic paper on plexiglass, 60×36
I spotted Valecillos’ work several times at the LA Art Show and the photographs, mounted on plexiglass are sleek and beautiful in person. However, it was the artist’s cardboard sculptures and set installation that really stayed with me. A reminder that every thing around us is temporary and fleeting, every chair we covet and save for, every piece of art hanging on our walls, every item of clothing carefully chosen.
Organic A, archival digital print on metallic paper on plexiglass, 24×36
In his artist statement, Valecillos alludes to the creation of beauty from waste, using recycling to inspire art. For me, I see in his work more of a statement upon the artificiality and ephemeral nature of the world we find ourselves in. What do you see?
To see more of Cristobal Valecillos’ work, please visit his website.
All images are via the website of the artist’s representing gallery, The McLoughlin Gallery.
Collage seems to be the “it” medium these days. And why not? It takes a gifted eye for composition, color, and visual texture to make a collage that stands out amid the throng. French artist Pascaline Dargant’s collages are beautifully simple yet remarkably memorable. My new collage crush! I’m sharing her work today in my Artist Watch over on Escape Into Life. Check out the post here!
21st century humans are over thinkers. In this age of almost unlimited information access, we Google it, Wikipedia it, overanalyzing most anything and everything that comes our way. The moments in which we just lose ourselves to what is happening right that very secondare increasingly rare. Los Angeles artist Jan Zoya intentionally strives to keep the intellect out of her work, resulting in abstract paintings that are free from constraint.
Castle in the Sky, oil on canvas, 23×23Ramshackle Harbor, oil on canvas, 30×30
Her journeys in paint become a conversation on canvas, a talk between color, texture and what emerges. Between the path the artist decides to pursue and the road not taken.
City at Night, mixed media on canvas, 36×48Garden of Earthly Delights, mixed media on canvas, 17×23Daisychains Around the Maypole, mixed media on canvas, 36×36
As I mentioned in a post last week, I’m learning how to have these conversations in paint. To let your brain take a vacation while you paint is very difficult to do! We’re always wanting to know, what will the outcome be? Where is this going? When will we get there? But as in Zoya’s work, I found that it was when I stopped thinking that the magical combination of instinct and intuition took over. And the journey became much more interesting!
Passage, mixed media on canvas, 36×36
To see more of Jan Zoya’s work, please visit her website and give her Facebook page a like, too!
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