Do you ever wish you could just escape? From your cares, stresses, work, technology, you name it. Take a moment to run away with me into Minnesota artist Melissa Loop‘s landscapes of fantastical refuge. They are part wonderland, part social commentary, but fully contemporary and brilliant.
Walmart, acrylic and enamel on panel, 36×24
Slide down a huge pink curvy slide as tall as a skyscraper leading down to a river coming out of a mountain shaped like a bear’s head? Don’t mind if I do!
City Park 3, acrylic and enamel on panel, 48×36
Her use of flat shapes, vivid colors and perspectives make these a bit reminiscent of vintage travel posters, but then the added contemporary pops of patterns such as swoopy stripes and repeating textile-like shapes add more dimensions of interest. These truly are works that I could escape into– just to try to figure out all that is going on! They are like a crazy dream gone wild. And I love them.
U.A.E. Arc Intervention, acrylic and enamel on panel, 24×36St. Thomas All Inclusive, acrylic and enamel on panel, 36×24
To see more of Melissa Loop’s world, please visit her website. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to close my eyes and dream of curvy pink slides.
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
There is nothing I love better than a day spent walking in the woods or paddling down a slow moving river. Nature’s beauty has a way of inspiring me to want to paint, write, cook, just create. In celebration of Earth Day, this Friday’s Forager Faves round up includes a few artists who obviously feel the same way. These are works insprired by the wonder of the earth in which we live. Enjoy and get outside!
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
It is a huge misnomer that only the rich can afford to be art collectors or even to purchase original work. When most of us think of an “art collector”, we tend to think of the stereotype of the wealthy patron, attending auctions at Christie’s, buying artwork for more than many of us make in a year, heck, in a lifetime. Or maybe you’ve gone into a higher end gallery and seen a price and thought to yourself, “Self, no way you’ll ever be able to afford that.”
Well, I’m here to tell you, the times they are a changin’. It has never been easier or more affordable to purchase original artwork and/or high quality limited editions. No, I’m not talking about the kind of “original art” you buy at the fleamarket or from a sale in a hotel ballroom. I’m referring to original, gallery worthy fine art. The kind you can be proud to hang on your wall.
Here are some suggestions for finding the artwork of your dreams and getting your collection started:
Online galleries/exhibition websites– These are popping up all over the place and many of them represent some very talented artists and you can usually find wonderful work in every price point.
Etsy— Possibly the largest online art & handmade marketplace, complete with a powerful search engine, you’ll find a wide range of artwork available. Many artists are using Etsy to reach a wider audience and as a way to sell their work independantly. ( Note that many of the artists with shops on the “exhibition sites” will have their links on those sites connecting back to their Etsy shops. )
Into the Mystic, photgraphic print, 8″x8″ $30
20×200— this New York City based website works with artists to offer limited editions of original work. Starting at just $20 for the smallest size, 20×200 offers affordable, quality work for newbie collectors.
Well-Being I, limited edition on archival paper, 8″x10″, edition of $200, $20
Papernstitch— I must admit, I’m a little biased toward this one, as it is run by my friend ( and fabulous artist in her own right ), Brittni Wood. Started as a blog, Papernstitch is a growing online exhibition site, curated monthly by Brittni and features handpicked, talented artists, designers and craftspeople. The Papernstitch blog is still going full force and features daily posts from Brittni and a handful of other talented contributors. Papernstitch is definitely worth a look when you are searching for something special.
Open Space by Rachel Austin, original mixed media on canvas, 8″ x 8″, $85
Artwelove— Founded in 2008, ArtWeLove “offers exclusive, museum-quality art editions by today’s inspiring artists”. A big difference with this site is it focuses on offerings from artists whose work is found in top galleries, museums and exhibitions throughout the world. The work is curated and commissioned directly from the artist to ArtWeLove exclusively– you won’t see these prints anywhere else. The site has a “learning engine” similar to Amazon.com, which tracks your artwork preferences over time and makes recommendations for you.
Petal, Pixel and Stain by Nina Tichava, limited edition on archival paper, starting at $50
PoppyTalk Handmade–Founded in 2008 by a Canadian husband and wife team, PoppyTalk Handmade is a monthly curated and “themed” marketplace showcasing artwork, handmade and vintage goods from around the world. Sort of an online street fair/festival, PoppyTalk provides an online marketplace to emerging and indie artists and craftspeople.
Pillow Land, sewn print by Clare Elsaesser of Tastes Orangey, 4.75″ x 4.75″, $20
Stay tuned over the next few days for more suggestions on ways to buy original art on any budget!
Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!
I can’t believe it is the end of another week already. The time is quickly flying by as George and I prepare to make our way to the West Coast. I plan to take LOTS of photos both on our trip and once we have arrived. But alas, I am merely the point & shoot type. Oh, I try to compose a nice shot or get all artsy with the angles and such, but I have a long way to go.
I took a few photography classes in high school and college and well, let’s just say I never did quite get the hang of it. I am mechanically challenged to say the least. I have such respect for fine art photographers, because I know how difficult getting that perfect shot can be. So today’s faves feature some of my favorite photogs!
The world as seen from high above is such a simple, orderly place. I still remember the first time I looked out an airplane window and saw the neatly composed patterns of farmland down below. And the rows of surburban homes lined up like so many monopoly houses on cul-de-sacs. The snaking lines of rivers and mountain ranges.
This Friday’s round-up is full of images from artists who also find inspiration in the what can be seen from the sky. Hope you enjoy the view!
The Cummer Museum by Christina FoardFarmland Aerial by Wm. Coleman MillsAerial View by Sally King BenedictPortage Bay by Suzanne DeCuir
1. Christina Foard ( featured image is CSX Storage by Christina Foard )
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.
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..
I love art. I love design. Why not put the two together on the blog? There was a time in my life when I thought my career path lay ( Thank you, Suzanne Decuir for the grammatical help ) in Interior Design. I took courses, devoured design and shelter magazines. As often happens in life, circumstances got in the way and the path detoured. But that’s a story for another time. Let’s focus on the fun stuff today!
One of my absolute favorite things while designing ( OK, it was THE absolute favorite thing ), was creating moodboards. To begin with an inspiration and build a room or facility around it was thrilling to my color, texture and pattern lovin’ soul. And for me, it always began with the artwork. While doing project management/art consulting, I worked with a lot of designers and many ( but by no means all! ) viewed the artwork for a design as an after-thought. Like adding sprinkles to a cake. Still a cake without the sprinkles, but oh, if we add them, won’t that be pretty! But if we don’t have sprinkles, it’s OK. It’s still a nice cake. Instead, I think of the artwork as the frosting– not just smoothed across the top, but spread between the layers and all over. It is what holds the cake together and gives it the extra texture and sweetness that keeps us going back for more.
( Wow, anyone else craving cake now? )
So you’ve purchased this beautiful painting by Christina Foard. You love it, it speaks to your heart and reflects your style and everything you love about life. But maybe you live at the beach and are unsure how to design a room around it. Aren’t all beach houses supposed to be full of palm trees & seashells?
Seaside Reflections by Christina Foard, oil on canvas, 60×48
This piece to speak more to the feeling of being on the beach just after a storm, while the skies are still a bit gray but the sun is beginning to peek through, warming up the sand to both the eye and the touch. So let’s take our cue from that and begin with soft, grayish tones, layering on the warmth of the sun in our accent chair, rug and window coverings. An important component in Christina’s work is texture, so we’ll make sure there are plenty of interesting surfaces to draw our eyes in, just as Christina’s painterly build up does in her work.
Modern Reflections, a beachside home for a contemporary art lover
Have you ever designed a room around a piece of artwork? Or bought a piece of artwork not knowing where exactly to hang it in your home but you couldn’t live without it? Have a beloved piece of art sitting in a closet somewhere because you don’t think it “goes” or can’t figure out how to incorporate it with your current furnishings? Um, yeah, me too. 🙂
Candace Fasano is a painter and a poet. Where the paintings end and the poetry begins is not always distinctive. According to Wikipedia, “poetry primarily is governed by idiosyncratic forms and conventions to suggest differential interpretation to words, or to evoke emotive responses.” Substitute words for images and you’ve hit just the beginning of what makes Fasano’s work so interesting.
Topographical Remembering, mixed media on canvas, 48×48
Like poetry, Fasano’s paintings abound with symbolism and rhythm, their ambiguous nature often leaving them open to interpretation. Though they may have been created with a certain narrative in mind, the visual elements expressed are more suggestive than overt.
OMGGMO, oil on canvas, 96×72 diptych
Just as Candace the poet plays with words, Candace the painter plays with paint. Building up texture, leaving whispy washes of color and sketchy lines contrast with typographical verbiage.
Balancing Act, oil on canvas, 30×36
Layers of imagery create layers of meaning. Objects within the works are often rendered realistically, but are not necessarily resting in their reality. They may become transparent, weaving in and out of the composition like the ghostly marks left behind after an pencil eraser has done its work.
Warmth, oil on canvas, 66×56
imaginary landscapes attract
pictures from our collective mythologies.
text or fragments take hold like scaffolding
constructing and deconstructing
realities into temporary truths
revealing fragile limitations
of growth and decay –
viewed through a cardboard kaleidoscope
–c.fasano
To see more of Candace Fasano’s work and to read more of her poetry, visit her website and blog. If you like her work as much as I do, please fan her Facebook page to keep up with all her latest news. If you’re in the North Florida area, be sure to visit the Cummer Museum‘s “The Neighborhood As Art” show, which features one of Candance’s pieces.
“Rich colors draw me in, patterns guide me through, and flat, poetic shapes allow me to rest.” — Susan Melrath
It is just these rich colors and flat, poetic shapes that drew me in to Susan Melrath’s work. Susan takes complex forms like flowers, architecture and figures and condenses them to their most basic shapes.
Crimson Kiss, acrylic on canvas, 36×36
By doing so, the viewer becomes more drawn in by the emotionality brought to the surface through her use of vibrant color applied to the forms, rather than by the subjects themselves.
Cafe, acrylic on paper, 11×19 framed
Though I love ALL of Susan’s work, it is her Garden series that speaks something to my soul. Perhaps it is how I am amazed by the flora to be found here in the Northwest. ( Wildflowers!! )
Out of the Blue, acrylic on paper, 22×22 framed
She takes what could be a mundane subject and with the use of pattern and color creates something extraordinary. It’s a little bit Pop-Art, a little bit Fauvist, kind of Cubist without the hard edges ( Cone-ist? ).The flowers seem to be underwater, floating in a happy haze of pattern. Or maybe it’s drizzly rain? We ARE in the Northwest..Sometimes it seems that we are seeing the flower’s shadow, rather than the plant itself, looking through the shadow to the play of patterns and light beyond. Which makes the work groovily mysterious.
Moonflower, acrylic on canvas, 24×24
Susan created a floral series called “Bloom” for a recent Art & Sustainability show at the Sightline Institute in Seattle, integrating technology and traditional painting, posting a mobile tag by each painting providing more insight and information about each work of art. You can see the progress of one of these works and hear Susan speaking about the work here. And because I always personally find these things to be so much darn fun, here’s a time-lapse video of Susan completing a painting. What’s up next for Susan after her technology driven show? Unplugged, artwork created during a one-week period in which artists went without TV, internet, social media and texting. Because great art is always about finding balance.
Be sure to check out Susan Melrath’s website to see more of her work and learn more about the artist.
