Tag: Geoff Mitchell

  • Artsy Lately: Geoff Mitchell + A New Feature!

    Artsy Lately: Geoff Mitchell + A New Feature!

    One fact presents itself to me every day:  there is an overwhelming amount of amazing art to be discovered in this world!  And sometimes, I get so caught up in finding new artists for you that I neglect to share extraordinary new work by artists who have already been “foraged” by moi.  Never fear, because those days are over!  This is the first in a new monthly series, Artsy Lately, in which I will bring you new work by an artist previously featured on the blog.  But wait, that’s not all!  If you’re on Pinterest, you’ll also find a new Artsy Forager board titled Artsy Lately, where yours truly as well as the wonderful artists themselves will be pinning new work!  Exciting stuff, ya’ll!

    Now let’s get down to the business at hand.  I’ve been in love with the work of LA artist Geoff Mitchell since the first time I saw it and immediately featured him on the site.  Then I was able to see his work in person during my visit to Florida Mining back in November.  So when I saw Geoff post a new crop of work, not only did I respond with an elated gasp, I just knew I just had to share it with you.

    Sunspots by Geoff Mitchell
    Sunspots, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    As with all of Mitchell’s work, these are images put together with more thought toward the imagery and compositions themselves rather than the associations we may make– the artist leaves that completely up to us.  He hands us the puzzle, yet there is no rightor wrong completion or conclusion.  We see what we see.

    Magic Lantern by Geoff Mitchell
    Magic Lantern, mixed media on panel, 20×20
    Music Box by Geoff Mitchell
    Music Box, mixed media on panel, 20×20
    Thin Ice by Geoff Mitchell
    Thin ice, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    Mitchell’s work always has such a wonderful sense of mystery.. like pages torn from a book, we are only given a few chosen details, graphically executed from which to mold our own story.

    Rose Cara Cara by Geoff Mitchell
    Rose Cara Cara, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    To see more of Geoff Mitchell’s work, please visit his website.  I’m hoping before Mr. F & I leave Southern California that I’ll be able to get over to LA and give you a glimpse inside Geoff’s studio.  I think there are stories awaiting there.

    Be sure to also check out the new Artsy Lately board on Pinterest.  We already have 16 artists who’ve joined in and started pinning their latest work!  Are you an artist whose work has been featured on Artsy Forager?  Send me an email at artsyforager(at)att(dot)com and I’ll send you an invitation to pin!

     

  • Sneaky Peek at Moon Rabbits

    Thanks again to everyone who entered to win a copy of Geoff Mitchell’s book, Moon Rabbits.  Geoff thought you guys would enjoy a sneak peek at the story inspired by the contest winner’s favorite piece, Trinket.  Click on the link below to see a full-sized version of the book spread.  Enjoy!

    Trinket with story by Amy Hicks

    PS– If you’d like to order your very own copy of Moon Rabbits, contact Geoff via his website here.

    PPS– Once you click the link above, you may need to zoom in a bit, depending on how good your eyesight is. 😉

  • Win Artsy Stuff: Moon Rabbits WINNER!

    Big thanks to everyone who entered the Win Artsy Stuff: Geoff Mitchell book giveaway!  I’m happy to announce the winner of his very own autographed copy of Geoff’s book, Moon Rabbits is Daniel Tjoelker!  Congratulations, Daniel!  Please send me an email ( artsyforager{at}att.net ) with your mailing address so we can get your book on its way.

    Daniel’s favorite piece is Trinket ( pictured below ).  Daniel is an artist is his own right, make sure you check out his blog!

    Trinket, mixed media ( 6 panels ), 24×36
  • Win Artsy Stuff! Geoff Mitchell Book Giveaway

    *This giveaway ended at 5pm PST on Friday, June 15, 2012.  Thanks to all who entered!

    I like free stuff and I bet you do, too!  Especially when it’s artsy stuff and what other kind would we be giving away on Artsy Forager?  This month’s Facebook Featured Artist, Geoff Mitchell, has recently published Moon Rabbits: Pictures and Tales a book project which pairs twenty of Mitchell’s works with short stories inspired by his imagery.

    Win this book!

    Geoff has been generous enough to offer Artsy Forager readers a chance to win a copy of Moon Rabbits!  To enter, simply comment on this post with your favorite Geoff Mitchell work ( find more of his work on his website here ) and you can get an extra entry by writing your own narrative in your comment below about the story you see unfolding in Geoff’s work.

    Good luck!  The contest will end this Friday, June 15, 2012 at 5pm PST.  A winner will be drawn at random and announced on Monday, June 18th!

  • June Facebook Featured Artist: Geoff Mitchell

    June Facebook Featured Artist: Geoff Mitchell

    I first discovered the work of LA based artist Geoff Mitchell when he opened a solo show at Steve Williams’ Florida Mining Gallery last year.  Steve has impeccable taste in art, so of course, I was immediately intrigued and blown away by Geoff’s work.  In case you missed it, you can read my initial feature on Geoff’s work here.  Since that first feature, Geoff has been busy creating new work and collaborating on a book project– more about his book later today!

    The Emperor’s Night Garden, mixed media on panel, 97×105

    While the images with which Geoff works are representational in nature, his method of composition is free and intuitive.  Images are chosen for their sheer beauty, interest or what they may bring to the composition texturally.  Chosen found imagery doesn’t necessarily relate to the other images around it, or at least not intentionally.

    Crossing the Needles, mixed media on panel, 97×105

    Geoff works from the principal of the sensation of pareidolia, a “psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus, often an image or sound, being perceived as significant”.  His works are telling stories, but not of the artist’s making, but of the viewers.  He provides the stimuli, we fill in the story with our own memories and meaning.

    Stage 3, mixed media on panel, 20×20
    Ivory Lolly, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    To see more of Geoff Mitchell’s work, please check out his ( newly designed! ) website and his cover image & album on the Artsy Forager Facebook page.  If you happen to be near Biloxi, MS, don’t miss his solo exhibition, Chaos at the Confessional at the Ohr-O’Keeffe Museum, opening June 12, on display until November 24, 2012.

    Featured image is a detail of The Emperor’s Night Garden.  All images are via the artist.

  • Artsy on Escape Into Life: Geoff Mitchell

    I absolutely adore work that is marries striking visual elements and imagination stirring imagery.  Come and take a magical ride through Geoff Mitchell’s work with me over on Escape Into Life today!

    Zipper, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    Geoff Mitchell on Escape Into Life

  • Curious Amalgamations of the Unrelated: Geoff Mitchell

    Curious Amalgamations of the Unrelated: Geoff Mitchell

    It seems to be human nature to look for meaning in everything.  We agonize over the meaning of baby names before choosing monikers for our offspring, we overanalyze  other people’s words to find out what they really meant, we take silly quizzes that tell us what our favorite color says about who we are.  And of course, we look for meaning and subtext in artwork.  Guilty, as charged, officer.  What is the artist trying to say?  What message is being conveyed?  In the case of Geoff Mitchell, it is a case of what the artist is striving not to communicate.

    Mayonaisse by Geoff Mitchell
    Mayonaisse, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    The artist, whose show, Entries of a Diary Thief, opens at Florida Mining in Jacksonville, FL next Friday, creates work driven by the sense of “pareidolia, a psychological misperception involving a vague or obscure stimulus being perceived as something distinct and significant”. ( quote via Florida Mining )

    Trinket by Geoff Mitchell
    Trinket, mixed media on six panels, 24×36 overall

    In other words, our tendency to create meaning where there is none.  The artist describes his use of representational imagery as being done  “in a free associative and purely intuitive manner. I mix and layer images together in a way that is reminiscent of an abstract painter layering color.” ( via Florida Mining ) So any “meaning” inferred by the viewer is not intended by the artist himself, but instead by the viewers personal association with the imagery therein.

    Zipper by Geoff Mitchell
    Zipper, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    So, with that being said, I leave you to draw your own conclusions about Mitchell’s work.  His sense of color, composition and design are undeniable, which is what makes the unrelated imagery so compelling and visually arresting.

    Derby by Geoff Mitchell
    Derby, mixed media on panel, 12×18
    Drop by Geoff Mitchell
    Drop, mixed media on panel, 20×20

    Please visit Geoff Mitchell’s website to see more of his work online.  If you’re in North Florida, don’t miss his show opening December 9, 2011 at Florida Mining.

    Featured image is Topaz, mixed media on panel, 60×20.  All images are via the artist’s website.