Have you ever had a moment so special, so perfect that you want to freeze yourself there, so that you can go back and revisit it again and again? London based artist Dan McDermott‘s paintings ( yes, paintings! ) freeze in time moments from our collective past, preserving not just the actuality of that occasion but the feeling of being in that moment.
Beauty Queens, oil on canvas, 130×100 cmGood Times I, oil on canvas, 80×60 cm
Working from an extensive archive of vintage imagery, McDermott captures what seems like frozen film frames in paint. It’s like watching those old home movies on projector ( showing my age! ). Everything is a bit distorted, but we recognize the familiar.
Yellow Dress II, oil on canvas, 80×50 cmRoller Skates, oil on canvas, 80×50 cm
The corralling of these “frozen” moments doesn’t just happen in the frenetic, blurry application of paint. It is found in the palettes, as well, we can sense the warmth of the sun, along with the faded cloth of memory.
Cocktail, oil on linen, 127×67 cm
What moment would you like to freeze in time? I can think of several! Want to see more of Dan McDermott’s work? Please visit his website.
In my not so distant past, I worked as a Project Manager/Art Consultant for a gallery & art consulting firm. What does that mean exactly? It means I looked for artwork for clients. A LOT. Matching up the right art to fit the client’s space, budget, design, and taste was what I did and something I plan to start doing again ( keep your eye on this page! ). When I see a blank wall, instinct takes over and I immediately start thinking of what artist’s work would be perfect in that space!
When I saw the empty wall above this bed, the wheels immediately started turning.. Clean, modern bedframe, fabulous funky black Bertoia chair, graphic striped rug and bright green coverlet. So we want something with some texture and color but not too much.. enter this pair of abstract paintings by Casey Matthews!
Casey’s work feels fresh and young, but still sophisticated enough to add a grown up vibe to what could otherwise feel like a “starter” room. And I love putting a pair or series of work where a single large piece is the more expected choice. What do you think? What artwork might you place in this space?
I find myself continually fascinated by the work of artists who very literally paint outside the lines. Artists like Margie Livingston and Laura Moriarty use paint as a medium for sculpture, who see beyond paint applied to canvas to what else these aqueous pigments can be. German artist Katharina Grosse paints across spatial planes, creating psychedelic landscapes which push and ignore our perceptions of boundaries.
Untitled ( 2013 ) by Katharina Grosse, Nasher Sculpture CenterPigmentos Para Plantos y Globos, acrylic on balloons, soil, wall, floor
Our realities are really all about perceptions– each person’s reality is different depending on their perceptions. When we were in Friday Harbor last weekend, we received wildly different answers to the question “What is it like to live on the island?” Because of their own unique experiences, each person we asked had a completely different answer. Their perceptions had shaped their reality.
Untitled, 2008, New Orleans, acrylic on wall and floor
Grosse’s work takes the process of “painting” off the canvas and onto any surface, often ignoring spatial boundaries. Her installations cause us to change how we perceive reality through her eyes and perhaps changes our perceptions permanently.
One Floor Up More Highly, 2010, styrofoam, acrylic on wall, floor, soil and reinforced plasticPicture Park, 2007, acrylic on wall, ceiling, soil, latex balloons and canvases
If you’d like to see more of Katharina Grosse’s work, please visit her website. Have you seen any interesting installations lately? Perhaps ones that pushed boundaries?
Sometimes I have a love /hate relationship with certain blogs. While I love the pretty pictures and aspirational lifestyle, I hate how unrealistic it can seem. None of our lives are perfect and I don’t think that anyone is trying to say they are, but who wants to show the boring stuff? The embarrassing stuff? Admit your vices? These hyperrealistic, somewhat goofy paintings by Korean artist Kang Kang Hoon reinforce that when we are in our truth, not denying how silly or mundane we really are, there is magic to be found.
So in that spirit, I’ll let you in on a few of my own little secrets I might prefer to keep under that rug over there..
I bastardize my coffee. I embarrass Mr. Forager every time I order coffee at any Seattle coffeehouse and ask for “lots of room for cream”. He’s just lucky I don’t order what I really want, a Salted Caramel Mocha Frappacino.
I always wear at least a little makeup when we’re hiking. I know, totally against the outdoorsy girl code. But I look half dead without at least a little flavored Chapstick ( Cherry ) and a bit of mascara. A girl needs to look her best, even in the woods!
I frequently fall asleep during movies. These days, when we snuggle in to watch a movie, it has to be either really good and interesting or I guarantee I will doze off about mid-way. If there are a lot of dark scenes and mumbled dialogue, I don’t stand a chance.
I don’t paint much, but not for the reasons you might think. It’s not because I’m too busy ( see reality tv addiction above ), don’t have the time, space or resources. It’s that I get terrified of disappointing myself. Since no one else really sees what I work on, I’m the only one judging and I am my own harshest critic. It’s something I need to work on. After I finish this season of MasterChef.
I’ve told you my secrets. Now you tell me yours! Let’s really revel in our collective goofiness. Want to see more of these fabulous paintings by Kang Kang Hoon? Check out his website.
Maybe it’s finally living in a place surrounded by water after living in the desert last year, but I have been finding such inspiration in the various hues of blue to be found in the waters around Seattle! So many gorgeous shades from the deepest, darkest blue to green aquas, I just want to plunge right in and see what mysteries await!
It’s only natural that this blue obsession is trickling over into the artwork I’m foraging on my Pinterest boards.. here’s a little deep blue sea inspiration to get your own seas churning!
When you think of a breeding ground for creativity, Tulsa, OK is probably not the first place that comes to mind.. but let me tell you there are some artsy folks in OK! Mr. F lived in Tulsa for a few years, so we definitely know some cool and creative folks there ( and a few that have moved Northwesterly! ). Tulsa is home to an awesome contemporary gallery, Exhibit by Aberson, which is showing an impressive round up of young Oklahoman artists, including Tulsa painter ( and musician, Tulsa is a hotbed for the musically inclined ), Jason Lockhart.
Bita-PitaAlite
I fell instantly in love with this Lockhart’s work as soon as I saw it in Exhibit’s newsletter. The architectural elements juxtaposed with typography and painterly abstractions, then add in that color palette and BAM! This is an artist to watch, folks.
E4ET
It’s not just the elements being used, but the way in which he is fitting them together. That slightly hidden “A” in Bita-Pita, the suggestive aviation shapes in E4.. It all just works. Sometimes I get tongue tied, ok, keyboard tied when I try to describe why I love an artist’s work. It’s just good. Trust me.
Ding-On
Want to see more of Jason Lockhart’s work? If you’re anywhere near Tulsa, don’t miss the show at Exhibit by Aberson, opening Thursday, July 18th. You can also check out Lockhart’s blog.
Summer always feels like the perfect time to bring out the graphic ethnic prints, comfy sandals, and color, color, color! Living an artsy life means showing your artsy spirit in everything you do– including how you present yourself to the world through the clothes you wear. Wanna channel your inner kokopelli? This ensemble, inspired by this month’s Featured Artist Ally Burguires‘ Kokopelli painting is perfectly comfy and colorful– perfect for an afternoon of gallery hopping in Santa Fe!
Doesn’t a skirt like that just make you want to sashay when you walk?! Or maybe do a wee little kokopelli dance. 😉 This pairing just makes my little artsy heart sing!
For Mr. Forager and I, the natural world plays a big role in who we are, what strengthens and calms us. Getting out among the trees and streams renews our energy and every time we go, we are reminded how precious it is. The work of Berkeley artist Myong Stebbins captures that transportive feeling of our cherished natural world.
Yeonkkoch II, mixed media on paper, 29.5×24.5New Morning, mixed media on paper, 22.75×17
Stebbins’ soft, translucent layers mimic the filtered light to be found deep in the forest. The isolated flora could be seen as a reinterpretation of scientific specimen drawings. Like dried and pressed petals, the flowers have a sense of papery fragility.
Morning Calm II, mixed media on paper, 14×18
Whenever we are out in the woods or beside the water, I try to capture the magic with my camera, but somehow, the lens never seems to do justice to the mystical beauty of the landscape. In paint, Myong Stebbins has captured that essence that is so fleeting.
Kibun II, oil on canvas, 24×32Echo, acrylic on paper, 31×38.5
Want to see more of Myong Stebbins’ gorgeous work? Please visit the artist’s website and the websites of her representing galleries, Pryor Fine Art and Bryant Street Gallery.
One of my favorite things about Seattle, or any big city for that matter, is the people watching. Anywhere we go, there is always such an intriguing array of humanity to be observed! New York artist Scott Duce must agree, because his latest series, In Public, focuses on observations of urban individuals.
Pink Stripes, oil on panel, 12×12Woman With Flowers, oil on panel, 12×12
Walking in a big city, you definitely get a sense of being on display, but then there is also a strange contradictory feeling of the ability to melt into the crowd. Duce’s choice to isolate each figure against a monochromatic background serves to call attention to the specialness of each individual and the uniqueness of each moment.
Skinny Man, oil on panel, 12×12Summer Stop, oil on panel, 12×12
As we each move through life, we do not do so in a bubble. We are one of many, each individual an important part of the the entire sum.
Fashion Runner 4, oil on panel, 12×12
Want to see more of Scott Duce’s work? Please check out his website.
Happy Independence Day to all the US Artsies! It’s always been the artist’s job to be the visual voice of each generation. Whether that means celebrating what we love most about our country or being a creative outlet for independent critical thought, each artist sees the world with their own unique vision.
As we celebrate freedom today, let’s each have our own Artsy Independence Day by throwing off the shackles of whatever is holding us back. Have a great one, Artsies! Mr. Forager & I are headed to the Seattle Art Museum today for a little Artsy Independence of our own. More on our visit soon!
