Daily Artsy Photography

Isolated Moments: Elisa Noguera Lopez

I used to have two cats ( who now live with Mr. Forager’s mom ).  One of said cats, Simon, used to occasionally turn his back on me and just sit very still, and at those times, there was a sense of sadness that always seemed permeate the scene.  But then he would suddenly start chasing the sunlight or stretch out for a long nap.  London photographer Elisa Noguera Lopez creates a similar sense of isolated moments in her series, Perhaps Finally Alone.

In this series, the artist places domesticated animals against a simple decorative background atop a plinth-like stool.  Capturing her subjects in ambiguous, seemingly-headless poses creates a sense of lonely disquiet to each scene.  Their backs to us, the subjects are disengaged, leaving us longing for acknowledgement.

While the scenes may feel lonely at first, the longer I study them, the more of an anticipatory feeling I get.. the cat is watching a lizard on the floor below, ready to pounce at any second.. the woman has just flipped her head upside down and will whip it back up Rita Hayworth-style.

What do you think, Artsies?  Do you find these headless bodies charming or disturbing?  Let me know in the comments!  To see more of Elisa Noguera Lopez’s work, please visit her website.

All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via It’s Nice That.

Daily Artsy Drawing Figurative

No Place to Hide: Gillian Lambert

At times, there is much disparity in the art world between skill and talent level vs. level of fame and success achieved.  There are some mediums in which it seems easier to get by on mediocrity than in others.  Drawing skills, however, are very hard to fake.  And artist Gillian Lambert has the skill in spades.

Shirt by Gillian Lambert

Shirt, graphite on paper, 22×30

In her Self-Deception series, Lambert finds beauty in the vulnerable and grotesque.  Female faces ( hers ) are partially hidden or disfigured in some way, yet not completely concealed.

Paint by Gillian Lambert

Paint, graphite on paper, 22×30

Hands by Gillian Lambert

Hands, graphite on paper, 22×30

In the same way, we try to deceive ourselves, don’t we?  We put on this costume or that mask, hoping the world doesn’t see through.  Not knowing how much more accepted we might be if we just threw back the veil.

Foil by Gillian Lambert

Foil, graphite on paper, 22×30

To see more of Gillian Lambert’s work, please visit her website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

Exhibitions This Artsy Life

This Artsy Life: Weekend 4 [ Artsy & Mr. Forager Go to LA ]

Following a rough, partially sleepless Friday night ( hey landlord, just because your rental is in the desert, doesn’t mean it never rains.. puddles in the bed are no fun ), Mr. Forager & I arose early Saturday morning, fueled up on coffee and pancakes in Joshua Tree and hit the road to escape to LA for the day. On the agenda: The LA Art Show, The Pie Hole, and the Arts District.

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[ away we go! ]

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[ unsophisticated ]

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[ found: Damien Hirst ]

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[ these were fun, magnifying glasses required ]

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[ desire, obtain, cherish ]

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[ speaking of desire ]

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[ The Sweater contemplates.. is it art? ]

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[ so long, Sheperd Fairey ]

Want to see more photos from our LA adventure?  Oh, I’ve got ’em!  Check out my Instagram feed for lots more artsiness form the City of Angels!

Abstract Art Daily Artsy Mixed Media

Beneath the Surface: Charles Clary

Sometimes, work just catches my eye because it’s interesting and well executed.  Then the more I look at it, the more I’m amazed by it.  And then, I read the artist’s statement about his work and I’m left speechless at the way the creative mind weaves and works.  Tennessee paper artist Charles Clary uses layer upon layer upon layer of hand cut paper to render intricate worlds that “mimic viral colonies and concentric sound waves“. ( !?! )

Microbial Diddlation Movement #18 by Charles Clary

Microbial Diddlation Movement #18, acrylic and hand cut paper on panel

Recognizing the similarities in pattern between microbial outbreaks and sound waves, Clary’s work shows us, in a way, what could be lurking under any surface.  We are lulled into a sense of ease and complacency by the smooth, unblemished surface of the canvas, yet what is revealed is a complex system of layered, interconnected shapes.

Radmiafungle Gestation Movement 6 by Charles Clary

Radmiafungle Gestation Movement 6, acrylic and hand cut paper on panel

Radmiafungle Gestation Movement 6 ( detail ) by Charles Clary

Radmiafungle Gestation Movement 6 ( detail )

Despite their slightly menacing associations, for me, the work is reassurring rather than disturbing.  I find it comforting to think that despite appearances, there is always more than meets the eye.  What is taken for granted as simple, may very well be extremely complex.  Like peeling back an onion, it’s only when we look beyond the surface that we see the layers.

Microbial Diddlet Movement #4 by Charles Clary

Microbial Diddlet Movement #4, acrylic and handcut paper on panel

To see more of Charles Clary’s work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

Art Association Win Artsy Stuff

Art Association: We Have a Winner!!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, to everyone who pinned their artsy hearts out for our January Art Association contest!  With 22 entries and hundreds, maybe nearly a thousand ( ! ) pins, you guys gave it your all and then some.  But our chosen winner, Karen Schnepf, pinned like mad, pinning over 300 images!  But there was a beautiful method to her madness as each pin was associated not just by subject to what she saw in the painting, but by color palette as well, which created an amazingly lovely selection of images.  I’ve repinned a few on my own boards!  Here’s just a sample of the gorgeousness on Karen’s board– you can see the entire board here.

Karen Schnepf’s Winning Pinboard!

Lucky gal, that Karen, as she will soon be the new owner of Christina Baker’s Bridge Over Roses and I think I can safely say we are  all GREEN with envy!  Congratulations, Karen!  PS– Karen is a pretty wonderful artist– be sure to check out her website!

I wish we could have given you all a piece of artwork.. but there is always next month’s Art Association!  If you’re an artist who would like to be considered for AA, please contact me at artsyforager@att.net or Erin from artsocial at artsocialonline@gmail.com. Thanks everyone for joining in the fun!

 

 

Design Design Foraging Fashion Interiors

Friday Design Finds: Let’s Go For a Dip!

It’s like fries and ketchup.. chips and salsa.. hot wings and ranch.. the design trend of dipping objects in any array of colors makes something good even more tasty!  Here are a few examples I dug up this week..

Purple White Gradient Long Sleeved Blouse

Purple White Gradient Long Sleeved Blouse

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Diagonal Dipped Trays via LEIF Shop

Diagonal Dipped Trays

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Dipped Toile Dessert Plates by Anthropologie

Dipped Toile Dessert Plates

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Trift by Judith Seng

Trift by Judith Seng

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 Just imagine wearing that blouse.. wouldn’t you feel like a brush dipped in paint?!  Love it.  Happy weekend, Artsies!  Mr. Forager and I are taking a little road trip over to La La Land for the LA Art Show.  So excited and can’t wait to share the adventure with you on Monday!

City Mouse | Country Mouse Exhibitions found gallery Paintings

Coming to found in February! City Mouse | Country Mouse

I’m a little sneaky sometimes.  You know, like a mouse.  You may have noticed the found gallery page pop up in the top navigation last week.. or maybe you noticed the found logo in the sidebar.. or saw the Facebook & Twitter posts on Sunday.  If you haven’t picked up on my not-so-subtle hints, you can find more on found here.

found is an online exhibition gallery featuring curated collections of small works, quarterly, for limited engagements.  It’s just another way for me to share artists’ work with you, but in a more focused, specific, special way and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity and promise lots of wonderful artsiness will come to found!

The very first found exhibition will open on Thursday, February 21st!  The show, City Mouse | Country Mouse will showcase two Nashville area artists, Christina Baker and Deann Hebert, who, in their respective work, are drawn to very different perspectives of their Tennessee home.  The show will be sponsored by the artists’ representing gallery, Gregg Irby Fine Art and a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Nashville Zoo.

Mark your calendars!  These two talented artists are creating some beautiful work to share with you!

 

Daily Artsy Figurative Paintings

2G2B4G: Shawn Huckins

Just in case you don’t speak text short-hand, 2G2B4G = too good to be forgotten.  Which very aptly describes the work of today’s artist, Denver’s Shawn Huckins.  The artist’s current series, An American Revolution Revolution combines 18th Century American portraiture with 21st Century lexicons such as tweet and text acronyms, creating diverting and provocative images.

Vanderlyn's Secret Obsession, Talk Dirty to Me by Shawn Huckins

Vanderlyn’s Secret Obsession, Talk Dirty to Me, acrylic and pencil on canvas, 30×36

Dorothy Quincy: Don't U Realize Dat I Only Txt U Wen Im Drunk by Shawn Huckins

Dorothy Quincy: Don’t U Realize Dat I Only Txt U Wen Im Drunk, acrylic on canvas, 34×44

Like the historical portraits he uses in his work, the text slang has become a part of our own period in history.  Will we still be using this jargon to communicate in a hundred years?  Or will future generations look back and see us as stodgy, stuffy, and hopelessly formal?  Hard to believe that we could denigrate any further than we have, but perhaps our ancestors thought they were just as hip and happening as we believe ourselves to be.

The Transient State of Mr. Rice, acrylic and pencil on canvas, 22×28

My first thought when looking at this series was similarities between traditional portraiture, often created as a remembrance of a certain person for a special occasion, and our modern obsession with texting and tweeting, and the impressions and memories of ourselves we are creating.

Young Girl with Dog and Bird- Sorry to Tell You, But Your Girlfriend Looks Like a Farm Animal by Shawn Huckins

Young Girl with Dog and Bird- Sorry to Tell You, But Your Girlfriend Looks Like a Farm Animal, acrylic on canvas, 32×40

Verplank's Post on American Moralism: Like Duh, Obviously, It's a Complete Waste of Time by Shawn Huckins

Verplank’s Post on American Moralism: Like Duh, Obviously, It’s a Complete Waste of Time, acrylic on canvas, 40×53

I’m not sure I would want to be remembered for my texts.  Would you?  To see more of Shawn Huckins’ work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

Fashion Wear the Artsy

Wear the Artsy: Christina’s World

Sometimes, OK if you’re me, often, we fall so in love with a piece of artwork, we want to live in it, breathe it, and yes, WEAR it.  The Wear the Artsy series imagines doing just that.. what if I could become my favorite work of art?  Today, I’m longing to put on the garb of Featured Artist Christina Baker’s Dinner Mints.  Classic, sophisticated, yet laid back yummy.. just like Christina’s painting!

art | Dinner Mints by Christina Baker, acrylic on canvas, 6×6*

necklace | Supernatural Necklace by Lina Lundberg

cuff | Braided Turquoise Leather Cuff by Justlena

sweater | Striped Merino Crewneck Sweater by The Limited

shirt | Faded Chambray Popover by JCrew

skirt | No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Sequins by JCrew

bag | Bag MH 130 by Margarete Hausler

heels | Nalo Heels by Anthropologie

 *Dinner Mints is just one of the pieces Christina will be showing in our very first found exhibition!  I’ll be giving you the lowdown on the show later this week!