One of the things that really drew my hubby and I to the Pacific Northwest is the dynamic, breathtaking landscape. For a photographer to be able to truly capture not only the natural beauty here, but the atmospheric mystery found in this place is no small thing. Today’s artist, photographer Raquel Edwards‘ landscape imagery not only catches the physical elements of a place, but the magical feeling one might get being there.
Pacific PineChannel MarkersWaterfallSea Stack
Want to see more of Raquel Edwards’ work? Please visit her website— make sure you check out her encaustic photography, too and her still lifes– tons of gorgeousness! She’ll be showing in November at the Annie Meyer Artwork Gallery in Portland.
Featured image is Alders On Kachemak Bay. All images are via the artist’s website.
Said it before, I’ll say it again. Fall is my favorite season. The cool, crisp air, the golden light, the colors, the comfort food, I love it all! For the very first time, this Florida girl is experiencing a real Fall. With boot weather and incredible changing leaves, I’m so excited, I can barely stand it. While in this autumnal frame of mind, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite Fall-inspired art…
Trees and Light by Debbie Martin, 40×40Tree View #7 by Kristi Taylor, acrylic on canvas 18×24Penelope DullaghanNine Full Moon Maples by Mary Chomenko Hinckley, pigment print on archival german paper, 21×21
Please visit these artists’ websites to see more of their work– some Fall-ish, some not. I’m hoping George & I might see some real Fall color this weekend here in Southern Oregon. What about you? Any autumnal activities on tap?
I find it intriguing when artists let us into their imaginations, giving us a glimpse of the world as they see it, scenes of life as they interpret it. Portland photographer Grace Weston creates small, staged vignettes that take on big, universal themes and canonical artwork.
Winter Wish, Winter Dream
The images are simple in their composition, poetic in their imagery and completely relatable. Their dreamlike quality is, depending upon the image, entrancing, wryly humorous or slightly disturbing in an intentionally sweet yet creepy way.
LovebirdsBaby Makes Three
I especially love her take on iconic artwork such one of The Unicorn in Captivity tapestry from the Metropolitan Museum in New York and The Son of Man by Rene Magritte. What can I say, the art history major in me totally geeks out on these kinds of references and reinterpretations.
Petting ZooThe Overseer
Grace Weston is represented by G. Gibson Gallery in Portland, Oregon, so if you’re in that area, stop in to see her work in person or visit her website.
Featured image is Laundry Day. All images are courtesy of the artist’s website.
The fantastical work of Jamie Baldridge weaves for the viewer visually complex stories that engage the mind and entrance the spirit.
Phrases From A Broken Language
Baldridge, a professor of photography at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, creates his fantastical works by utilizing not only photography, but also digital manipulation and collage. The resulting images are full of depth, texture and an extraordinary sense of light.
The Socrates Safe Co.
His Vermeerish palette lends the eccentric images an old-worldly feel and their dark sensibilities recall the iconography and symbolism of the Victorians. Yet there is something inherently modern about them– perhaps it is the subtly infused humor or the fashiony bent to some of the work.
A Confluence of Extraordinary IdeasA Pair of Gnostics Burdened On A Platform
There are stories at work here, some obvious, others more subversive, but all entirely up to the viewer to complete. Baldridge has opened up the book to a random middle page and it is up to us to find the beginning and end.
To see more of Jamie Baldridge’s fascinating work, please visit his website. I first saw his work this weekend at the Thomas Lee Gallery in Ashland, OR, so if you’re anywhere near the area, you could do the same. ( Note to the Thomas Lee gallerist: Immediately going into the archival paper, framing and pricing of an intriguing work of art is NOT the way to sell it. Just sayin’. )
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!
Upon first seeing Lori Nix’s photographs, you might think she must have an unbelievable knack for scoping out interesting places in various states of destruction and decay. But look a little closer. These places aren’t real at all. They are tiny apocalyptic scenes of the artist’s own making.
Laundromat, 2008
This Brooklyn-based artist designs and creates a miniature diorama for each scene, always keeping in mind the angle from which the scene will eventually be shot. The tiny models can take up to seven months to complete and two weeks to shoot. The photos are reproduced at a large scale, so attention to even the minutest detail is crucial.
Library, 2007
Why the images of destruction? Nix spent her childhood in rural Kansas, where natural disasters are a way of life. As a child, she remembers the destruction as exciting, something new and unexpected breaking up the doldrums of every day life. She is also influenced by the Hudson River School for its characteristics of romanticism and The Sublime movement, which focused on an “evocation of profound emotion”.
Aquarium, 2007
There is something quite fascinating about these images of devastation, in the wonderment of what could have wreaked such chaos, whether natural disaster, human neglect or perhaps something more sinister and subversive.
Fountain, 2008
In the deconstruction of the scenes, there is created a greater depth than there would be in an intact space. We are caught in the midst of a story, like beginning a dream in the middle of the action.
Beauty Shop, 2010
I first saw Lori’s work in ClampArt gallery in NYC in 2009 and it stayed with me. If you like it as much as I do, be sure to check out the artist’s website and Facebook page. If you’re in the Portland, OR area, her work can be seen at G. Gibson Gallery or in New York at ClampArt.
Featured image is Natural History 2005 by Lori Nix. All images are courtesty of the artist’s website.
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.
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..
