Petty Vices

Embroidered Toile

Embroidered, Decorative, Graphic and Fine Art work by Richard Saja of Historically Inaccurate -- what a great idea. Found via Absolutely Beautiful Things.

Altered photographs

Just discovered the great blog Pia Jane via Absolutely Beautiful Things and am in love with her altered photograph art. She adds little characters to them and to me, it is like another dimension being represented -- "imaginary" coming to life -- like what happens when Raggedy Anne & Andy are behind closed doors and go adventuring.

I love the idea of drawing right on photos and like the white simple lines she chose. This can obviously make great, frame-up style art, but I think it would be a great technique to use for the front of cards to friends with photos of a trip or of a group outing; I can imagine making great use of this in a photo album or scrapbook; I can see making a gift mini-album for friends or family with a set of photos so altered.

I really do dig the other-worldly feel this imparts -- like a movie with seemingly real interactions with cartoon characters or vice-versa (a la Who Framed Roger Rabbit).

Miniature canvas art from How About Orange

How About Orange purchased some mini canvases from Dick Blick and created mod and lovely miniature canvas magnets. Tiny works of art for the fridge. I think they're great. Jessica Jones, the artist behind the blog, is a very talented lady. Her portfolio site offers some "goodies" like wallpaper for your computer that I like, too -- my favorite is her orange pods.

Art from JMCDesigns

Artist Jaqueline Myers-Cho creates whimsical mixed media pieces, like this one titled Traveling Light in her Etsy shop. I would love to create art like this. Her portfolio is full of wonderful stuff, and she's recently written her first book on how to create some projects called Strands.

Vegetable and fruits papyrus

By way of The Food Section I came across these amazing papers, made in Germany from very thinly sliced fruits and vegetables and sold by Hiromi Paper. I think they're beautiful; they're out of stock on many right now but I would like to buy a few and frame them for art in my kitchen. Aren't they gorgeous?

Michael Jackson funny...

Matryoshka love from If It's Hip, It's Here

Maybe Sparrow video art work

I love this Neko Case video -- with art & animation done by Vancouver, B.C. artist Julie Morstad -- whose brother evidently went to art school with Neko (who is also from B.C.).

Morstad also illustrated the CD cover for Neko's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood album, and recently designed some modern & stylish wallpaper called Coral With Eye Flowers.

In case that's not impressive enough, she's recently published numerous children's books too.

 

More about art quilts

I recently posted about an amazing art quilt by Michael Aaron McAllister (post here), and noticed today that the VooDoo Cafe has interviewed him about his process. He specifically mentions his Dorothy Dandridge piece, so I found it and have pictured it here. Wow.

Assemblage art wall sculpture

I'm loving these earth friendly wall sculpture's from Nola Salvage (via Recraft), so cleverly named Fleur Debris!

Amazing art quilt

Came across this 9" art quilt called Truman Capote by artist Michael Aaron McAllister (by way of Notes from the Voodoo Cafe), and am amazed. Awesome. I love the following anecdote from his Bio:

“Is it craft or is it art? My answer is: absolutely.”

Fantastic.

Multidimensional poetry

Interesting juxtaposition of words and visuals at Born Magazine -- a non-profit mash-up of sorts that (like so many good things) started in Seattle in the 90s. Their tag line is "art and literature collide"...check it out. FYI: You'll need volume so plan your visit appropriately.

Latest art acquisition...

I recently purchased another little 8.5x11" limited edition pigment print from the glorious 20x200; this one sold out in hours. I think it will go nicely with the other two prints I purchased recently. Now I just have to figure out the best way to frame these little bits of magic and what wall to start decorating with my growing collection.
The one I've just purchased is called Birds of the Pacific Northwest, by artist Laura Levine, who is really quite something.

She's been commissioned to do illustrations for all sorts of amazing publications, including Rolling Stone and the New York Times Magazine.

   

"Accessible" original artwork

I read about a very cool project put together by NYC gallery owner Jane Bekman -- it's called 20x200 and the idea is to offer small (8.5x11) artwork prints in limited editions by up-and-coming artists for twenty dollars. So, an artwork of the small size is in a limited edition of 200, then they also have larger sizes in an edition of 20 for $200, and the largest in an edition of two for $2,000 (out of my range, but I've bought two $20 prints so far). You can sign up for emails showing the latest available (they add works every week). The two little ones I've purchased are copied here (both are sold out now for the little ones).

This one is called Polly, by  artist Christina Muraczewski , and is an archival pigment print

This one is called amnh #30, by artist Joseph O Holmes, and is also an archival pigment print. Oddly, Joseph O Holmes currently  has his work both in NYC in Jane Bekman's gallery, as well as in the WallSpace Gallery in Seattle (my home - small world). Also, just to give you an idea of the amazing bargain you're getting at 20x200 -- a 13x9 piece at wallspace is going for $1,200 (ouch). So not only is it fun to start buying some art, but there's the possibility that you're making an investment while you're at it...pretty slick.   

Imagination Cubed

GE (?) offers an online drawing tool called Imagination Cubed that lets you draw with friends over IM, save or email your work, etc. It's a pretty nifty little toy; you can see my drawing "come to life" here -- you can even add to the drawing...