jon contino

When I grow up I want to be an artist like Jon. Check out his passion and craftsmanship so beautifully captured in this video. Then, browse through his portfolio here. Cheers, Mandy


Jon Contino from Kevin Steen on Vimeo.

a bit of whimsy at red cheeks factory

chewing gummmm

We could all use a little whimsy in our lives, right? Well, you'll certainly get your fix when you visit Red Cheeks Factory!

I recently came across the brilliant works of artist Nelleke Verhoeff and instantly fell in love with all the whimsy. I believe you'll agree. Go ahead, take a peek! Enjoy!

cooperation

vivienne's gifts

A sweet friend and fellow artist, Vivienne Strauss, recently sent me photos of a mural inside her local post office in Peterborough, NH. Knowing that my heart beats fast for art of this nature, Vivienne wanted to share her experience with me. Incredibly generous, right? Yes! Thank you Vivienne for these gifts!

 

The mural was completed in 1927 by Marguerite Zorach, an American fauvist painter, textile artist, and graphic designer who won the 1920 Logan Medal of the Arts. I encourage you to read more about her here. and here.  

Isn't the mural gorgeous?!

Speaking of gorgeous, if you aren't familiar with Vivienne's work, I highly recommend browsing her amazing body of work here, here and here. Additionally, the folks over at House of Fifty recently featured Vivienne's story on page 108. Check it out!

I'll leave you with one of my all-time favorite paintings of Vivienne's:

Candy Woods and the girls of the Peppermint Lounge, 1962 - Vivienne Strauss

studio time

Today I'm taking a short break from all social media to work (and play) in my tiny painting studio. It will be hard to resist checking in with friends and cohorts on Etsy, facebook and Twitter, but it's entirely necessary. Will you miss me? I'll miss you.

I'll leave you with an image that will provide some inspiration for today's work.

Curtain Call by Andrew Wyeth - circa 1979 - watercolor/paper via here

you sentimental idiot by Rikkianne Van Kirk

Have you seen these incredible sketches + prints yet from the artist extraordinaire Rikkianne Van Kirk? You may know her from her highly successful eco-artisan shop of soft furnishings and accessories Chakra Pennywhistle that she now runs with her best friend Ursula Arnold.

Well, Rikkianne has hit yet another one out of the ballpark, this time with a new shop, You Sentimental Idiot, and 8x10 prints of her stunning sketches on antique diary pages. I've been following her sketchbook journal project for the past few months and I want a print of everything in her collection -- they are phenomenal!



"you sentimental idiot" in Rikkianne's own words:

You Sentimental Idiot is a project inspired by found materials that have a past. Antique diaries are the main medium. I hope to make the aged pages and forgotten words current with my illustrations. Some drawings are inspired by direct quotes from the diaries while others are what I imagine the writer would have seen. I create the works by drawing directly on top of the diary page with a Sharpie.

Do yourself a favor and head over to Rikkianne's print shop today. I'm confident you'll find something to gift to a friend, loved one, or even yourself. Cheers!

the incomparable andrew wyeth [repost]

South Cushing, 1955 - tempera on panel

Art has always been a part of me, especially painting. I credit this gift to my mother who in her own right is an exceptional painter. She is the one who introduced us kids to Andrew Wyeth's body of work. My attraction was immediate and resolute.

So imagine my delight when I came across Andrew Wyeth Autobiography - Introduction by Thomas Hoving, a compilation of 133 tempera, drybrush, and watercolor paintings and pencil sketches spanning Mr. Wyeth's 60 years of paintings. Included on the pages are stories about each painting by the artist himself...simply awe-inspiring!

Here are just a few of Mr. Wyeth's paintings (one with narrative) that resonate with me:

Weatherside, 1965 - tempera on panel

"I wanted Weatherside to be a true portrait of the house--not a picturesque portrait, but one I'd be satisfied to carry around in my wallet to look at because I knew this house couldn't last. I did it purely for myself. I had this feeling that it wouldn't be long before this fragile, crackling-dry, bony house disappeared. I'm very conscious of the ephemeral nature of the world. There are cycles. Things pass. They do not hold still..."

Curtain Call, 1979 - watercolor/paper

The Pantry - watercolor/paper

Pantry Window -- watercolor/paperThe Milk Room - watercolor/paper

All images sourced here.

the sketchbook project

A dear friend and fellow eco-artist Rikkianne and her business partner Ursula of Chakra Pennywhistle recently turned me on to Art House Co-op's The Sketchbook Project. I'm thrilled to announce that my mom and I will both be participating. Won't you?

"A sketchbook is a place to put your heart and soul. Let it out into the wild; we'll keep you connected." - Art House Co-op

This project invites people from across the globe to share personal artwork in a sketchbook based on any one of a variety of themes. Completed sketchbooks will then go on tour (be shipped around the country to various art galleries) for public viewing. I'm super excited to learn that my hometown of Seattle has just been added to the official tour!

When the tour ends next summer, all sketchbooks will be permanently housed in the Brooklyn Art Library. Since each sketchbook contains a barcode with a unique number, artists will be able to track real-time statistics about his or her sketchbook during the tour and for years to come (e.g., number of times the sketchbook is viewed).

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I sure am eager to get started. My sketchbook is officially in the mail and I've chosen the theme "If you lived here..." From time to time I'll be posting photos from my sketchbook here on my blog. I'm curious about what I'll end up with come January and I'm confident I'll enjoy the journey even more. Knowing my sketchbook will go on a tour alongside tens of thousands of others across the US is just icing on the cake.

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A little more about Chakra Pennywhistle

I couldn't leave without including a few images of these beautiful handcrafted organic pillows and recycled moneybag wallet from Rikkianne and Ursula. I had the pleasure of getting to know Rikkianne last year in a previous business life (I'm lucky to own one of her Little Modern Birds tea towels).

Folks who are familiar with the handmade movement and online sites such as Etsy, Poppytalk, and Cosaverde need no introduction to these pioneering ladies. I'm proud to say that I share their values for organic farming and choice of natural materials. I hope you consider choosing eco-friendly artisan goods like these the next time you are presented with a gift-giving occasion or simply want to spruce up your own place.




Next artist highlight: Liane of enhabiten.