Maybe it’s the little girl inside me. Maybe it’s a way to relive the days when my imagination was unshackled and my days were carefree. Who knows. Whatever the reason, I am always drawn to whimsical, fanciful imagery of girls. The kind fairy tales are made of. These Friday Faves are everything nice.
Boundlessness in Bloom by Duy HuynhMigration by Shannon Richardson4 Keeps by Wyanne ThompsonWildflowers by Rene Lynch
Stay tuned for features soon on each of these artists! In the meantime, be sure to check out their websites!
1. Duy Huynh ( featured image is also by Duy Huynh )
The world(s) created by Hilary Williams, that is. But really her work is no more absurd than the world we see around us every day. A San Francisco printmaker, Hilary takes elements of urban life, the natural environment and their inhabitants and repositions them into surreal landscapes.
Song and Dance for a Laugh
Haunting images of leaning buildings and ghostly figures are juxtaposed with decorative motifs and child-like doodles. Echoes from the past haunt the present, creating a commentary on how far we’ve come, but perhaps, how little we have truly gained.
Herding Out Saturday Night
The dark, eeriness of the iconic architecture contrasts with the light and cheerful colors and patterns to create an absurd dichotomy. Not unlike many recent trends that look to the past while still trying to find a place in the future. Such irony is not lost on this artist and conveys the struggle of humanity to co-exist within the urban and natural landscape.
Adventures in Coasting
Hilary’s work is heavily layered which gives it a visual depth and complexity that draws the viewer in. There is so much to see and figure out. My husband George & I first saw Hilary’s work in The Pines Art Gallery in Hood River, OR. We fell in love with her work and George could not stop looking at it. A true testament to the power of the work!
The Front Porch by Hilary Williams
Check out more of Hilary’s work on her website, I think you’ll love it as much as George & I do.
Addendum: If you like Deb Haugen’s work, prints will be available via One King’s Lane beginning August 5, 2011.
Organic is a hot word these days. It’s everywhere in the grocery store, pharmacy, heck just googling “organic” yields 430,000,000 hits. When most of us hear the word today, we think of pesticide-free, naturally grown food. Just as the organic food we eat is allowed to develop naturally, so is the Organic Art of Deb Haugen.
Butterballs
Deb sees the world through the fundamentals of nature, those microcosmic worlds that are happening unseen right before our very eyes. She is using her paints intuitively, creating not a visual representation of the reality of the appearance of nature, but rather the emotionality of our response to the natural world around us.
La Lumiere de Vie
The artist’s response to those “atmospheric memories” is sketched out on paper and canvas in loose, biomorphic shapes that float within a watery universe. These are the painterly representations of the feeling of dipping your toes into a frigid, running river, the scent of the woods after a summer rainfall, the movement of a snail along the forest floor.
Organic Mama by Deb Haugen
As one who does a lot of looking down while hiking ( serious klutz, party of one ), many of Deb’s paintings remind me of the intricate story that is being told beneath our feet. There is so much to witness, if we would only take the time to stop and notice, truly experience the miracles taking place all around.
She’s So Complex
Don’t just make due with eating organic food. See with organic eyes. Really get to know the natural world around you, even in your own backyard. There are stories it would like to tell you and wonders to show you, if you would only stop, look and listen.
If you’d like to see more of Deb Haugen’s work, check out her website, The Organic Artist.
Do you remember the days when we didn’t carry our phones around with us, but had to actually seek out that communication tool known as a phone booth? That small, 37″x37″ box where you could look up a number, dial and have a conversation all for just a 25 cents? OK, a dime if you’re really old experienced.
Seattle photographer Todd Jannausch saw in an old phone booth, not a relic of the past, but the blank walls of a would-be gallery.
Gallery ( 206 ), Occidental Park, Seattle, WA
Gallery ( 206 ) in Seattle’s Occidental Park, contains artwork by over 206 Seattle area artists, 18 artists are represented on the “walls” of the booth by original works on plexiglass. This littlest gallery is part public art installation, part exposure vehicle for artists not represented in area galleries. ( 206 is the area code for the Greater Seattle area ). It provides not just an artwork display but an entire experience for anyone willing to step inside for a more private conversation.
Inside Gallery ( 206 )
Inside, lighting is provided by a solar-powered installation overhead and yes, there is still a telephone inside. If you pick up the receiver, you won’t be able to make a call, but you will be rewarded by the music of Dave Abramson.
When is the last time you actually used a phonebook?
Taking a peek inside the Gallery ( 206 ) “phonebook” and you’ll find more 206-area artists, showing examples of their work and contact information. Not since the days of Superman has entering & exiting a phone booth been so much fun.
Addendum to the original post! Thank you to artist Troy Gua for sending me a photo of his ceiling installation in Gallery ( 206 ). The overcast weather that day ( in Seattle, imagine that! ) didn’t allow me to get a decent shot myself. So here it be! Truly cool. Check out Troy’s website and Facebook page for more of his work.
Troy Gua installation
To find out more information, visit the Gallery ( 206 ) website. If you’re in the Seattle area, stop by Occidental Park and see it for yourself!
The hubby and I love food. Eating food. Buying food. Cooking food. Talking about eating, buying and cooking food. We plan trips around where we will eat. For us, food is more than just a way to provide energy to our bodies. ( Although, we take that pretty seriously ). Food doesn’t just nourish our bodies, it is a feast for the eyes and the soul. The best times are those spent lingering over wine after a delicious meal with friends.
For centuries, artists have seen the beauty and sensuality in food. Gastronomical still lifes have long been the fare first of students, then of masters like Cezanne. For this Friday’s round-up, I’m featuring some selections from an artsy menu. Here are some of my favorite artistic comestibles!
Falling Seeds #8 by Gustavo CastilloOpaque Cookies by Kim FrohsinTower by Justin RichelHot Sauce Spill by Carlos LopezStrawberry PB&J by Duane Keiser
After you wipe the drool off your keyboard, be sure to check out the websites of all these grocery-lovin’ artists. Hmm.. I think maybe it’s time for lunch.
I am extremely blessed to be living in one of the most dramatically beautiful areas of the country. Around every mountain pass is another scene, ripe for immortalizing in paint. As I’ve sketched here in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve realized how difficult it would be to truly capture the sheer, magnificent beauty that is all around us. To portray not just what the eye sees, but what the heart and spirit see.
Fables and Fantasies by Marla Baggetta, oil on canvas, 48×48
It is this, seeing the landscape through heart-colored glasses, that draws me again and again to Marla Baggetta’s work. She may be an Oregon artist, but I was a fan of Marla’s work long before making my home in the Northwest. When I worked as a Project Manager/Art Consultant in Florida, posters of Marla’s work were always project favorites due to their prismatic serenity.
Prelude to Spring by Marla Baggetta, oil on canvas, 36×36
Her work takes the viewer on a journey, drawing them into a world that is at once familiar and extraordinary. The landscape of daydreams, illuminated with brilliant light and color. It is what the world looks like through eyes full of hope and love.
The Sounds of Color by Marla Baggetta, oil on canvas, 48×48
Marla’s work gives color and light to our emotions, bathing a foggy landscape in a warm, yellow glow. Reminding us of the joy of a blue sky after a long winter.
Serenity Found in Blue by Marla Baggetta, oil on canvas, 36×36
I hope to always see the world around me as this artist does. Full of beauty, loveliness and wonder. Even in the midst of a rainy Northwest winter.
To see more of Marla Baggetta’s work, please go to her website. If you’re lucky enough to be in the Northwest, you can see her work up close & personal at Riversea Gallery in Astoria, OR.
A bad night’s sleep does not sit well with me. Ask George. And last night, I did not sleep well. Tossing and turning, waking up every hour to toss and turn some more. A restless night = crabby blogger this morning. But do you know what will turn my frown upside down? Wonderfully fun and happy artwork. While crabbing around this morning, after bearing too many Facebook statuses, links, etc re: um, odorous exports from bodily orifices, accidentally smearing blackberry jam on every article of clothing I’m wearing and falling up the stairs, one image kept coming to mind. This one, by Olympia, WA artist Mimi Williams…
What A Dandy Day by Mimi Williams
Was it my mind being cyncial & sarcastic? Maybe. Or was my subconcious trying to remind me that no matter how the day is going, that my lifeis, indeed, dandy? Or maybe it was the universe reminding me of Mimi Williams’ work and nudging me forward to feature her on the blog. I’m thinking it was a combo of those last two.
Kitchen Confidential by Mimi Williams
Whatever the case, it gives me great pleasure to present Mimi’s wonderful linoleum prints to you. Seriously, these make me smile, so it is doing much for my mood just to peruse her website. Unlike a painting, which can evolve over time, a linoleum print must know what it will be from the beginning. The artist must decide the composition, the positive and negative spaces and such beforehand, because once you start carving into the linoleum, there’s no going back.
Flying Free by Mimi Williams
So it is no wonder that I am marvelling at how free and fluid these pieces seem to be. They flow with narrative detail, unlike most linoleum block prints I’ve seen, that are more, well, block-y.
Cup of Joe to Go by Mimi Williams
There is something about the nature of her visual storytelling that seems both nostalgic and modern. Kind of in the way that Mid-Century design fits in so smoothly with contemporary design. Perhaps it is the way the design and colors remind me of groovy 1950s barkcloth.
Anything is Possible With the Right Partner by Mimi Williams
The compositions suggest the capturing of a moment in time, almost photo journalistic in style. Almost like they could be screen-shots from an old movie or those wonderful old photographs found in your grandmother’s closet. Back before laptops and internet and smart phones, a slower, simpler time. A time when riding in the back of a truck was okay. Feeling the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, an open road before you.
Wishing I’d Brought a Hat by Mimi Williams
If you’d like to see more of Mimi Williams’ work ( and I heartily suggest you do! ), check out her website. Now that I’m smiling, maybe I’ll indulge in some more happiness inducing activities.
Today I was stuck on what or who to feature on the blog. Nothing was jumping out at me. Desperate, I asked my husband. His first ( joke ) repsonse was “Thomas Kinkade”. Hardee har har. His next suggestion was “Guy Art”. I was like art featuring guys? Art by guys? No, art guys like. Oh! I asked if the blog was becoming too girly.. he said no, but I have my doubts. There’s been a plethora of pink around here lately. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But my taste in art isn’t always so feminine. I like a bit of edge and irony, too. So in honor of my hubby, whose own appreciation for art is growing every day, here are some examples of art that any guy would be happy to hang in his swingin’ bachelor pad.
Martyr by Alwin Jackson
Alwin Jackson is a painter. He doesn’t put up a front of pretentious, artsy bullsh**. Maybe that comes from having been in the corporate advertising world for twenty years. His images are clean and bold and I think most guys would appreciate their no-nonsense attitude. This girl certainly does.
Untitled ( History Painting ) 2011 by Tony Rodrigues
Tony Rodrigues’ work takes an introspective look back at icons from childhood and pop culture. What grown man doesn’t have memories of playing “cowboys and indians” when he was young? His sentimental take on figures and themes take us back to the “good ol’ days”, but leave us wondering, how good were they, really?
Beats in Paint by Robert Leedy
It is a truth universally acknowledged that most guys wish they were musicians. ( My hubby will attest to this fact, though I think he’s a better guitar player than he gives himself credit for ). How many rockstars started out by picking up an instrument as a way to meet girls? I bet Robert Leedy’sBeats in Paint make you want to wail on a drumset like you’re Keith Moon.
Building Faces- Crown Fountain Juxaposition, Chicago, IL by Doug Eng
Boys love to build stuff. It’s why Erector Sets and Legos have been around for so long. Many men have contributed to the architecture of great cities like New York and Chicago. Doug Eng captures a glimpse of humanity among the concrete and steel, reminding us that these buildings are built for, built by and filled with, people.
Freedom by Steve Williams
Teddy Roosevelt was a man’s man president. A boxer, a soldier, a hunter and outdoorsman, embodying his ideology to “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. Artist Steve Williams pays his due to this former president in his Currency series.
Stoic by Brian McGuffey
For those guys who want to show off their bagged game, but not actually, you know, kill a beautiful wild creature just for the bragging rights, Brian McGuffey’sStoic is just the thing. I don’t know, this deer looks seriously ticked off for having been decapitated. I wouldn’t cross him if I were you. Just nod gently and let him be.
Remember that thing about guys wanting to be rockstars? Is there a rockstar cooler than the gravelly-voiced Tom Waits? Seriously. John Duckworth renders his steely glaze perfectly. And yes, there’s some pink in there. Duckworth and Waits aren’t afraid to rock the pink.
We are headed to Seattle this weekend, one of my favorite cities in the world, the city where George and I fell in love. And while I was falling in love with G ( I was probably a little in love with him when we were friends in FL, but that’s a story for another time ), I was also falling in love with Seattle. I adore visiting cool cities– the urban landscape and architecture fascinates me. So it carries over that I would adore the art of the cityscape.
For this Friday Fave round-up, I’d like to share some of urbanist artists whose work I’m crushing on lately:
Hill Houses 2 by Brin LevinsonPassing 1 by Jason WebbSolitary I by John DuckworthLoew’s Hotel, 33rd Floor, Philadelphia by Sara YeomanMiyami by Darra CrosbyGreat Tortoise Hostel, Seattle by Robin WeissBoulevard Windows by Sharon Dowell
Looking forward to bringing you more from these artists soon! In the meantime, take a gander at their websites..
Pablo Picasso once asked ( rhetorically, of course ), “Why do two colors, one put next to the other, sing?” Good ol’ Pablo had no answer, nor do I. But they do. Color calls out to us, reaches out to something in our spirit and psyche, evoking emotion. Not every artist gets color, how different hues complement and interact with each other. Michelle Armas gets it. She gets it and puts it on canvas for all the world to see and enjoy.
Sophia
Michelle began professional life, not as an artist, but in graphic design and corporate branding in New York. Talk about baptism by fire! To help cope with the stress of working in NYC, Michelle began painting. After about a year, she decided to trade the corporate world for the art world and began painting full-time.
Rosalia
Her canvases explode with color, joyous, juicy and fluid. It’s as if she’s captured the hues of the warmth of a sunny day, of being a kid again, running and jumping with full abandon.
Arelis
Lovely, sketchy scribbles and seemingly-spontaneous pops of color remind us what it was like before we were “taught” to draw and color– that magical time when we, as young children, were only concerned with the feel of the crayon on paper, fascinated by the variety in our Crayola 64. We weren’t trying to create anything.. we were just completely submerged in the process of creating.
Spooky
Filled with the colors of poppies and popsicles, sundaes and springtime, her work does sing. Sappy, happy love songs, you know, the ones that we all know the words to. Because we recognize this artist’s vocabulary– these are stories of pure color, that speak to the very basic of creative instincts that began deep within all of us. They sing us a sparkling lullaby as we bask in their sunshine, dreaming of coloring in the clouds.
To see more of Michelle Armas’ work, check out her website and be sure to stop by her blog. Her writing style is as cheeky and colorful as her paintings.
