Artsiness isn’t just about the art we create or appreciate. It is the way we live, the way we treat others, how we carry ourselves. Over the course of the last year, I’ve read so much regarding how the way we chose to clothe ourselves says so much about who we are or who we are trying to be. I’m a firm believer in artsy self-expression in any form! In this new feature, Wear the Artsy, we’ll pair a piece of artwork with a piece of clothing or accessory that captures the spirit of the art.
If you’ve been reading Artsy Forager for a while, you’ve probably noticed that I have a bit of a weakness for saturated color mixed with bold graphics. I don’t know what it is about this combo, but I am completely unable to resist. The colorful abstract collages of Charleston, SC artist Sarah Boyts Yoder had me at hot pink.
Magenta Bun, collage on paper, 14×18
I am completely enchanged with those heavy black lines reminiscent of a child’s coloring book.. Often the lines are left partially “colored-in”, a playful nod to their childlike quality.
Bun With Yellow, collage on paper, 17×18Ear Collage 1, collage on paper, 13×16
And I love the way Boyts Yoder seems to take two disparate compositions and layers one over the other, creating a game of visual “peek-a-boo”. I want to peel back each layer to see what’s hiding underneath!
Striped Listen, collage on paper, 13×17
To see more of Sarah Boyts Yoder’s work, please visit her website. Her work can be seen in Charleston at the Michael Mitchell Gallery.
Hiya Artsies! Oh boy, so many exciting things happening ’round these parts! Feel like I’m all over the place in the best sort of way. This week, I have a guest post up over on the Image South blog. If you’re not familiar with Image South, they are a publisher of fine art prints offering beautiful work at affordable prices. For my guest post, I took one IS print, Essential Line #4 by Mitra Ghaffari, carefully chose versatile Larson Juhl framing and then showcased it in three very different spaces. Head over to the Image South blog to check it out!
I love the way some artists are visual archaeologists. California based artist Amadea Bailey takes a journey of exploration and excavation each time she works a canvas.
In the Pink, mixed media on canvas, 53×89Out of the box, mixed media on canvas, 60×80
Like other “excavation” artists whose work I love, such as M.A. Tateishi and Christina Foard, Bailey builds her work, layer upon layer, eventually unearthing treasures as they resurface.
La Dolce Vita, oil on canvas, 38×54
Her large canvases are worlds unto themselves, images appearing out of the chaos, like mirages in the desert.
Free Fall, mixed media on canvas, 54×62The Little Prince, acrylic and oil on canvas, 62×78
To see more of Amadea Bailey’s work, please visit her website.
Spending more than a week immersed in natural beauty, away for the most part, from the pull of technology, makes for a difficult re-entry into the realm of satellites and social media. We tend to forget, while living in either world that the other exists. The abstract work of Nick Lamia reminds us that though we often think of them separately, society must coexist with the natural world in order for either to thrive.
Untitled, oil on panel, 45×48
Lamia’s juxtaposition of street map-like grids over landscape-ish scenes give us glimpses into how we integrate ourselves into nature and vice versa.
Untitled, oil on panel, 30×32Untitled, oil on canvas, 66×72
As societies, we are responsible for the care of the natural world around us. In return, that world repays us providing food, resources, enjoyment and inspiration.
Untitled, oil on canvas, 36×42
To see more of Nick Lamia’s work, please visit his website.
We’re coming upon mid-August, some kids are already heading back to school, soon it will be Labor Day and autumn will be upon us. The abstract paintings of Sofia Lacin have such an indian summer feel to them, don’t they?
Hunched Over Shoulder, oil on canvas, 36×36
Bright colors peep out among warm hues, reminding us that summer is slowly fading into Fall.
Two Moments, oil on canvas, 36×48Smile, oil on canvas, 36×48
Lacin’s expressive lines and brushstrokes remind us that the slower pace of the warmer months will soon give way to the busyness of the school season and holidays.
Through the Surface, oil and chalk on canvas, 60×60
Please visit Sofia Lacin’s website for even abstracted gorgeousness!
Sometimes, there is just nothing I love better than staring at a painting thick with color, line and texture. The work of Brooklyn artist Elizabeth Schuppe‘s abstract work practically sings with spontaneous marks, expressive color and light.
Take Three, acrylic on canvas, 70×65
True to the Abstract Expressionist style, Schuppe works intuitively, without a forethought plan, allowing the placement of color and line to speak to her, directing the brush in her hand.
Hard Hearted II, acrylic on canvas, 44x 46Hard Hearted IV, acrylic on canvas, 44×46
Each painting tells a story created from the artist’s emotional expression, yet in their abstract nature, we are still able to interpret their story in our own fashion.
Pearls on Five, acrylic on canvas, 70×65
To see more of Elizabeth Schuppe’s work, please visit her website.
It’s Day 4 of the Artist Takeover and today Artsy Forager is being taken over by two of my favorite artists from my hometown. First up is Jacksonville artist and friend, Christina Foard. Christina and I first met back in Jacksonville and she has become a dear friend and wonderfully supportive and encouraging ear. And hopefully, she’s always able to count on me for the same. True to her nature, her questions were thoughtful and insightful.
Urban Leak, acrylic and oil on canvas, 109×66
Christina Foard | My first question is possibly a bit broad, but something makes me think it’s a cornerstone for you, and may have application for all of us in any field. What are your beliefs about generosity – you know, giving without a foreseeable or tangible return on investment? What role does it play in your strategic plan for your future as an arts advocate/blogger?
Artsy Forager | I purposefully don’t talk much about my spiritual beliefs on the blog. I would never want anyone to be put off by spiritual talk. But your question brings it forward, so I’ll lay it out there. I am a Christian. I believe in God & the salvation of Christ. A cornerstone of my faith is a belief in service to others. My husband and I both try to practice giving freely of ourselves and our resources. We believe in the joy of giving.
Through Artsy Forager, I’m able to give of my time and resources to help people whose talent I believe in. Right now, I receive no financial benefit from Artsy Forager. What it is giving back to me is a sense of purpose and a knowledge that I am doing my part to help someone else. My strategic plan for the future is pretty fluid at the moment– I have ideas and short-term goals for broadening my audience and scope of services through the blog, but I also want to be open to whatever comes my way. I want to be able to help artists in a tangible way– I’ve found that is where I receive the greatest satisfaction! In the short term, that may be achieved through the blog and through doing the type of art consulting/project management I’m already familiar with. I’m not sure what will happen long term, but I would love to be able to incorporate charitable giving into my long term business plan, once I figure out what that is. 😉
Guggenheim
CF | Are there characteristics that you think many/most artists share? Are there commonalities in their approach, energy, psychological make-up that you’ve experienced?
AF| I’ve been so fortunate to be able to meet and befriend some spectacularly talented artists and incredible people. Every artist is different, but I’ve found that many of the artists with whom I’ve developed relationships do share some characteristics–
Many of the most talented artists I’ve come across are incredibly humble, they are often open to all types of inspiration and stimulation, whether it be through other visual artwork, music, literature or other creative talk. They see the world through a broader lens, often much more open than others may be to differing points of view. I love the way so many artists support and encourage each other. The arts are a business but one that I personally think is enhanced by cooperation, not competition.
Bouchon
CF | You’ve been roaming nomadically for a while, clearly devoted and adoring your husband all the while, what do you think are the most exciting art markets amongst the cities you’ve gotten to know? What makes them vibrant in your opinion?
AF| Oh what a fun question!! My husband George & I feel so fortunate to be living this unique nomadic lifestyle. It has opened our eyes to so many places we may not have discovered otherwise. Here are a few of my favorite artsy spots I’ve found so far–
Seattle, WA— I may be a bit biased toward Seattle, as it was where George & I truly fell in love, so I see the city through love-colored glasses! That being said, the artistic energy in Seattle is phenomenal and the quality of the work being done there is, in my opinion, among the best in the world. For a large city, the sense of community and camaraderie among the artists in Seattle is amazing. Every time George is up for a new assignment, I hope and cross my fingers for Seattle. I would love to be there for a while to really immerse myself in the art community and just soak it all in.
Portland, OR— Another obvious one. 😉 I’m not as familiar with Portland as I am with Seattle, having only visited on a few day trips last summer but the art scene there is comparable. The arts in Portland seem a bit more laid back than Seattle.. almost like Portland is Seattle’s younger sibling.. I think it is still coming into its own. It’s truly becoming a creative destination for all kinds of art, which I find really exciting. It’s another city I would love to live in for a while and get to know better.
Astoria, OR— When we moved to our first Northwest assignment in Aberdeen, WA last summer, I was desperate for some cultural stimulation ( not currently to be had in Aberdeen, but we have hope for that little town ). We took a day trip to Astoria one Saturday and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the galleries there. Many small Northwest towns have thriving art scenes, but the focus is usually on Western/Native American art– which is great, but not my cup of tea. Astoria has a fantastic photography gallery, Lightbox Gallery , a large multi-discipline contemporary gallery, RiverSea Contemporary as well as a fun, more cutting edge space, Lunar Boy Gallery and others. An artwalk, shops, bookstores, etc., make Astoria a great little artsy town. If only it didn’t get almost 200 days of rain a year..
Jacksonville, FL— Of course, I had to include my hometown! The resilience of the artists and art community in Jacksonville continues to amaze me. The economic downturn hit the art market hard in Jacksonville, resulting in a lot of gallery closings, but it is so encouraging to watch artists and arts supporters finding new ways to rebuild. I’m afraid they are often running up against bureaucratic opposition and conservative political silliness but yet they keep fighting. And I’m cheering them on from afar. I’m looking forward to being back for a visit later in the year and seeing first hand exciting new ventures like Florida Mining and CoRK Studios.
Ashland, OR— This small town in Southern Oregon has a really booming and exciting art scene. Being a tourist destination known for its outdoor Shakespeare Festival, Ashland was a favorite spot while we were living in Southern Oregon. We have a good friend moving to the area and are looking forward to visiting again. I’ve discovered some really fabulous artists through Ashland galleries. It’s a liberal town in the midst of a very conservative area, which makes it kind of a mecca for culture in the southern part of the state.
Port Townsend, WA— Another small town that completely charmed me. It’s proximity to Seattle ( a ferry-ride away ) and touristy appeal gives this little town great potential for its art market. I don’t think it is quite where it could be yet, but I see it moving forward toward becoming an arts destination. Port Townsend is one of those towns where I immediately wanted to open a gallery. 😉
There are a few places we haven’t made it to yet, but I am anxious to see what their art communities have to offer– San Francisco, Los Angeles ( I’m seeing some really incredible art coming out of LA ), Santa Fe, New Orleans, Chicago, just to name a few. And perhaps it’s my proximity to Canada these days, but we have some really talented neighbors to the north.. it almost tempts me to talk George into changing our citizenship!
Summer Rain, oil on canvas, 48×60
CF | How can artists help your business grow?
AF | Right now, the biggest way artists can help is to share the Artsy Forager page with friends, help me get the word out with social media, etc. When you share a quote, status, post, etc., you’re helping AF reach a wider audience. There are web tools that estimate your potential social media reach and it really is incredible to think about. It reminds me of that old shampoo commercial, “then she tells 2 friends and they tell 2 friends and so on..“.. wow, I just really dated myself! In sharing, you’re not just helping AF but every artist that is featured.
Keep me updated with new work, shows, etc. It would be very time consuming for me to periodically check for new work on each artist’s site. I love it when an artist emails me to let me know of an upcoming show or new work just posted to their site. It helps keep you & your work on my mind, which in turn, usually prompts me to post about it on the blog or social media. Win-win for both of us!
I am always open to new ideas and dialogues, too. This interview process idea came from artist Christina Baker and I was thrilled with all the artists’ enthusiasm! I would really love to have artists even more involved with the website.
Flow
To see more of Christina’s work, please visit her website. Stay tuned this afternoon for Steve Williams’ takeover!
I have a weakness for the pairing of feminine and masculine elements. Like pairing a flimsy, flowing sundress with a motorcycle jacket. The mixed media work of Line Juhl Hansen shows off characteristically male and feminine abstract elements in a way that results in work that marries the graphic and expressive beautifully.
Graphic typography, scribbles and liberal touches of black temper the happy, candy colored swaths of painterly texture. These evocative details lend weight and gravity to each canvas, inviting us in for a closer look.
Like the strength of a woman, these touches are lingering just below the surface, peeking in and out. We catch a glimpse of the resilience behind the sweetness and beauty.
To see more of Line Juhl Hansen’s work, please visit her website.
Bright vibrant color? Check. Painterly drips and texture? Check. Expressionistic composition? Check. The work of Diana Delgado encompasses all my favorite abstract art elements. Check out my Artist Watch feature on her work over on Escape Into Life today!
She Could Drape it in Color, oil, enamel, tape and acrylic on canvas, 72×48
