Tag: Artists

  • Connecting Threads. Happy Red Fish.

    Connecting Threads. Happy Red Fish.

    Our current vagabondish lifestyle can make it difficult to create new connections.  Sometimes we are only in one spot for 13 weeks, which seems hardly long enough to foster lifetime relationships.  But occasionally, we come across those people with whom we instantly click.  Those that we feel like we’ve known all along.  That connective act, that fostering of the newfound with our own memories brings to mind the work of Happy Red Fish AKA Dutch artist Hagar Vardimon-van Heummen.
    Happy Red Fish | artsy forager #art #artists #mixedmedia #contemporaryart Happy Red Fish | artsy forager #art #artists #mixedmedia #contemporaryart Happy Red Fish | artsy forager #art #artists #mixedmedia #contemporaryart Happy Red Fish | artsy forager #art #artists #mixedmedia #contemporaryart Happy Red Fish | artsy forager #art #artists #mixedmedia #contemporaryart

     

    Our friend Veronica has a way of describing those people with whom we feel instantly at ease– she calls them “zero people”.  Now that may sound a bit insulting, but it means they are those rare friends who require zero energy.  We don’t have to put on a show.  They get our jokes and understand our hearts.  It’s funny that some of our shortest stays while traveling have yielded some of the best connections.  It’s something we’ve been learning along the way– when you happen across those kindred spirits, take every opportunity to foster the connection.  We need more zero people in our lives.

    To see more of Happy Red Fish‘s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Filtered Visions. Matt Crump.

    Filtered Visions. Matt Crump.

    Instagram has changed the way we see the world.  OK, maybe that’s giving the ubiquitous photo sharing app too much credit.  But perhaps it has unleashed in many of us the desire to capture not only what we see, but how we see.  The “candy colored minimalism” of photographer Matt Crump gives us a glimpse into one way of seeing the world around us.

    Matt Crump | artsy forager #art #artists #photography Matt Crump | artsy forager #art #artists #photography Matt Crump | artsy forager #art #artists #photography Matt Crump | artsy forager #art #artists #photography Matt Crump | artsy forager #art #artists #photography

     

    I’ve found myself thinking about the way we edit and filter our experiences through the photographs we post.  Often when Mr. F and I are out hiking or taking in a particularly moving scene, I reach for my camera or phone, but know as I snap the shutter that what I feel in that moment won’t be captured with the lens alone.

    On the other hand, are we being conditioned to appreciate and applaud the manipulated version of life more than the natural?  Or perhaps we are drawn to images like these for their transformative and transporting effect?  Maybe it isn’t a question of one or another.  And that’s OK.

    To see more of Matt Crump‘s work, please visit his website and follow him on Instagram.

    Artist found via I Need a Guide. All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Evidence of Life. Erin Raedeke.

    Evidence of Life. Erin Raedeke.

    I stil vividly remember spending days with my mom, sister-in-law, and grandfather going through my grandmother’s things after she was gone.  How very adamantly he wanted her things to go on in this life, even when she did not.  I’m not as attached to material things as I once was, yet when a person has lived with and used and touched objects I do believe they become sort of intertwined with that person’s spirit for a time.

    Raedeke_the party is over

    We each have different ways of interacting with the things around us– from the way we set the table to the way we hang ( or don’t hang ) up our towels.  My grandmother’s clothes, while jammed into every available closet space, where meticulously well cared for and carried her scent long after she no longer wore them.

    Raedeke_refuse Raedeke_outcast Raedeke_empty gift bag

    After a loved one is gone, we want to cling to every precious memory and momento.  Even the most insignificant little object can carry with it great meaning.  But as time goes by, the memories don’t fade, yet our need to grasp those objects close often does.  It’s as if our loved ones spirit hangs about as a comfort to us for a while and, when we are ready, it gently lets us go.

    Raedeke_are you afraid of the ax

     

    These still life paintings by Erin Raedeke brought to life for me this concept of a memorial and spiritual attachment to things and the unique way we interact with not just the things we use each day, but how we use material things to remember the people we love.

    To see more of Erin Raedeke’s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Dynamic Quiet. Leslie Kenneth Price.

    Dynamic Quiet. Leslie Kenneth Price.

    As I type this post, I feel keenly aware of the quiet around me.  The hum of the refrigerator and the occasional noise from the street above are the only sounds meeting my ears.  How often do we allow this type of quiet in our days?  The elimination of modern noise is one thing that we love about hiking and backpacking.  While living in Seattle, it was especially noticeable when we got out of the cacophony of the city and up into the tranquility of the  mountains.  In his work, Northern California artist Leslie Kenneth Price takes his inspiration from the natural world and serves up work that draws us into the teeming life happening in the quiet that surrounds our noise.

    Leslie Kenneth Price | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Leslie Kenneth Price | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Leslie Kenneth Price | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Leslie Kenneth Price | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Leslie Kenneth Price | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart

    I happened upon the Price’s work when visiting Sewell Gallery back in April and loved it, keeping it in the back of my mind ever since.  A peek at his website recently found me falling deeply in love with this new series of paintings, Verano.  His use of color, movement, and texture alone are enough to draw me in, but in listening to the artist talk of the influence of nature on his work truly resonated with my own experience and spirit.

    I found myself nodding along and thinking, yes,that’s exactly how I feel! over and over again.  A true artistic soulmate.

    To see more of the work of Leslie Kenneth Price, please visit his website.

    All images & video are via the artist’s website.

  • Constructions. Ryan Sarah Murphy.

    Constructions. Ryan Sarah Murphy.

    Like any other couple, Mr. F and I talk a lot about our future.  One frequent topic of discussion these days is our future home.  To build or not to build.  What does our ideal home look like? Maybe I’ll just convince Mr. F to base our design on one of these collages by New York artist Ryan Sarah Murphy.

    Ryan Sarah Murphy | artsy forager #art #artists #collage #fineart Ryan Sarah Murphy | artsy forager #art #artists #collage #fineart Ryan Sarah Murphy | artsy forager #art #artists #collage #fineart Ryan Sarah Murphy | artsy forager #art #artists #collage #fineart Ryan Sarah Murphy | artsy forager #art #artists #collage #fineart

     

    Using found cardboard on book pages, Murphy fashions these abstract collage constructions that seem one part architectural rendering, one part abstract painting.  The torn edges lending a landscape quality, making them like grounded fantasies.  I’ll take the second from the top, please!

    Find more of Ryan Sarah Murphy‘s work on her website and get a peek inside her process by following her on Instagram.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Facing Forward. Alejandra Atares.

    Facing Forward. Alejandra Atares.

    I’m back, dear Artsies!  Ready to hit the ground running in this new year.  I’m not sure what 2015 will bring but what I do know is that I can no longer hang in limbo.  It’s time to put my face forward and get back to it.  As I reflected upon the prospect of beginning again, I was drawn to paintings by Barcelona artist Alejandra Atares.

    Alejandra Atares | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #fineart Alejandra Atares | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #fineart Alejandra Atares | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #fineart Alejandra Atares | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #fineart Alejandra Atares | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #fineart

    Moving ahead after lingering in the unknown can be scary and intimidating.  There is a fear of beginning something exciting only to have to abandon it mid-stream. But as I like to tell Mr. Forager, the ultimate dreamer/planner..

    Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

    He just loves it when I quote John Lennon to him!  In the end, we never know what tomorrow will bring, even when all of our loved ones are whole and well.  So we must embrace life as it is in this very moment while looking forward with hope and anticipation.

    Artist found via I Need A Guide.  All images are via the artist’s website.

  • December Featured Artist. Anna Kincaide.

    December Featured Artist. Anna Kincaide.

    If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you may recognize the work of our December Featured Artist.  Not only have I featured the work of Anna Kincaide on the blog several times, but she’s also one of the artists I selected for my Artsy Forager print collection for Mantle Art.

    Anna Kincaide | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Anna Kincaide | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Anna Kincaide | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Anna Kincaide | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Anna Kincaide | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart

     

    I have always had a fascination with the glamorous era of Cary Grant and his contemporaries, where Anna draws much of the inspiration for her fashion forward paintings. The way she isolates her figures against color-blocked or patterned backgrounds kind of make them feel like they have been lifted from the silver screen or fashion magazine and found themselves in the midst of a painting.  Which, if you think about it, is not such a bad place to be!

    To see more of Anna Kincaide‘s work, please visit her website.  Her prints in my Mantle Art collection are perfect for gift giving, too– you can even choose a custom frame right on their site!  Easy peasy.  Follow along on Artsy Forager social media to see more of Anna’s work all December long!

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • November Featured Artist. Marsha Boston.

    November Featured Artist. Marsha Boston.

    November might just be my favorite month.. shhh, don’t tell October!  So it’s only fitting to give you one of my favorite artists as the Featured Artist for the month of November!  California artist Marsha Boston is a painter after my own heart, exploring the wonders of plant life and how we might live in harmony with our botanical neighbors.

    Marsha Boston | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Marsha Boston | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Marsha Boston | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Marsha Boston | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Marsha Boston | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart

     

    A while back, Mr. F and I listened to a fascinating BBC story on the concept of “rewilding“.  Listening to these experts talk about the positive changes that occur when once developed land is allowed to return to its wild state definitely led to some interesting conversation and thoughts about how we impact our environment now and how we might in the future.  Mr. F observed what an incredible amount of hubris it takes on the part of man to think he can do better than nature. Marsha’s work is often focused on how we define our relationship to nature.  Are we here to serve or be served?

    To see more of Marsha Boston‘s work, please visit her website.  Her beautiful paintings will grace the Artsy Forager Facebook cover and I’ll be sharing more of Marsha’s work on other Artsy Forager social media all month long.  Make sure you’re following along!

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • October Featured Artist. Raquel Edwards.

    October Featured Artist. Raquel Edwards.

    I’m sure you didn’t think I’d be back so soon and this is just a momentary pop-in.  But I couldn’t let a new month dawn without bringing you a new Featured Artist!  When first we met October Featured Artist, Raquel Edwards, it was almost exactly three years ago and she was exploring beauty through the lens of a camera rather than a canvas.

    Raquel Edwards | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Raquel Edwards | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Raquel Edwards | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Raquel Edwards | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryartRaquel Edwards | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart

    Artists are driven by the need to explore and express and Raquel is no exception.  Switching from photography to painting, she’s now discovering new techniques and means of visualization digging into the nature of cognition.  The shapes she presents are somewhat familiar, yet just foreign enough that we can draw our own conclusions as to the meaning of their presence.

    To see more of Raquel Edwards’ work, please visit her website.  One of her gorgeous encaustic paintings is gracing the Artsy Forager Facebook page all month long and I’ll be sharing favorites of Raquel’s work as often as I can on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Overwhelming Landscapes. Paco Pomet.

    Overwhelming Landscapes. Paco Pomet.

    Being out in the woods or hiking in the mountains can be an intimidating experience.  It is when we are in the enormity of the wilderness that we realize how very small and insignificant we are.   These paintings by Spanish artist Paco Pomet seem to have that same feeling of being in the midst of an overwhelming landscape.

    Paco Pomet | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Paco Pomet | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Paco Pomet | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Paco Pomet | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart Paco Pomet | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #contemporaryart

     

    Mountains take over offices and pink clouds engulf a riverscape as Pomet uses carefully placed color to emphasize the distinction between man and panorama.  Each painting has an incredible sense of scope and depth, so that the feeling of the immensity of the earth is readily apparent.

    To see more of Paco Pomet‘s work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via The Artful Desperado.