“Wall and Floor”. She’s not kidding, and that work in progress studio shot above is cold hard proof! Yep, Rhode Island based artist Kirstin Lamb has been painting the bits and pieces that serve as inspiration around her studio… both on her wall, and on her floor. From pages ripped out of old books to found cross-stitch works {gah – gorgeous!}, Kirstin considers each one – even the blue tape anchoring them in place – as visual treasures. Here are a couple of snippets from Kirstin’s artist statement about this latest work:

“In my studio I hang a range of objects on the wall and arrange things on the floor. Documenting the changing arrangement of objects and ephemera in my studio is a portrait of a moment in time for my creativity. The pictures function as images of a studio, but also a kind of curation of my wall of inspiration, love, compulsion, collections  … I feel a need to lionize the project of all artists, especially at a moment of great precarity and conflict. My love of studio as a refuge, bunker, or some might say dubious ivory tower, is equally tempered by what I feel is an interest in the concrete way studios suggest individual and collective wishes and dreams. Why make now? It is a quiet stubborn optimism that keeps a maker making, and I wish to depict that, to share and spur my peers on as much as image my own creative endeavor.”

Beautiful. “Wall and Floor” can be seen at Periphery Space @ Paper Nautilus, both in person {Wayland Square, Providence, RI} or online, from now until January 3rd, 2021. Happy Friday!

Looooooove! South African artist & designer Porky Hefer creates everything from public sculpture to furniture design… LIKE THESE AMAZING CHAIRS! His work often makes a statement about environmental issues (just ask Leonardo DiCaprio), and that giant Buttpuss – yes, you read that correctly – is no different. This piece is part of his major new collection, “Plastocene: Marine Mutants From a Disposable World”. This work will be making its debut at the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) Triennial 2020 in Melbourne, opening on December 19th, 2020. Here are his words about this latest work:

“Our plastics are filling the oceans and heavy pollutants are changing the pH of our seas. While thousands of species die off, unable to adapt to the rapid changes in their environments, others begin to transmutate. Here, we see the earliest indications of the PLASTOCENE, a new era defined by organismal adaptation to the endless abundance of plastics and pollutants accumulating in our environment. The collection of 5 large-scale handmade environments, including Buttpuss, a 14 metre-wide octopus clad with giant hand-felted cigarette butts, are an example of the types of creatures that shall inherit the earth. Transitional forms that exemplify the fruits of the fossil-fuel consuming and the never-ending hunger for convenience and hyper-efficiency of the ANTHROPOCENE.”

Bravo! Now, how do I get myself to Australia in time to sit inside the majestic Buttpuss?

Bio: 1957 Born, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 1981 She moved to Italy. This is the most to-the-point artist bio I’ve ever seen, and I love it! Yep, that is exactly what Silvia Levenson did and, as far as I can tell, she’s been creating artwork since forever. Silvia has made so many breathtaking works over the years – from colorful glass clothing to thorn-covered teapots – but her “Strange Little Girls” series grabbed me immediately. How could it not… I can totally relate! Here’s a description about this work from her Instagram feed:

“As a child you have to be good and smile so as not ruin the family photo album irreparably. Living up to these expectations is difficult : I refuse thinking to the childhood as the “Golden Age”to be looked back with nostalgia … Here, my Strange Little Girls, living in an era where the edge between dreams and reality is very evanescent. It doesn’t matter if we are rabbit, crow, fox, wolf or sheep, it is an age that will mark us forever.”

Love. ps. I also love that image from this past summer of Silvia, in her studio, working on a head for yet another ‘strange little girl’.

Ahhhh, as soon as we can travel again, I’m booking a flight into all of these wondrous paintings! Fragrant flowers, cool waterfalls, and magical underwater worlds… yes please! This is the work {gouache on paper} of London based, American artist Ashley Amery. Here are her words about these dreamy, detailed worlds:

“My art practice is based upon drawing and pattern making as a way to investigate form, depth and spatial representation. The process of revisiting a painting many times over the course of weeks, months, or even years, is essential to the way these paintings develop. The resulting images are as much a tracing out of time and visual thinking as they are pictures that reference the outside world. Beginning from the smallest marks, and using the simple materials of water-based paints and inks on paper, these works grow into complexity gradually, reflecting the very processes of nature they depict, often changing directions throughout the course of their evolution. Imagined shapes from memories and impressions of nature form an all-over landscape that speaks to this process of slow growth, wandering pathways, and multiple layers.

I am interested in the way memory informs image making. I draw from a personal stock of impressions to make sense of them through painting. My early years as a child spent in South America and Southern California feed into my use of bold colour, as well as subjects that centre around water and the ocean.”

Beautiful! Ashley’s work is available through Rebecca Hossack Gallery {ps. She has a solo show opening at their London gallery – and online – in the new year: January 30th – February 27th 2021} 

I always love checking in on Pakistan born, Vancouver based artist Sara Khan because, clearly, she never disappoints! Almost as good as her modern day mythical creatures, are the comments she writes along with them. Read this one she posted with the two-headed bull:

Bullheaded. Everyday there’s a new question in my head about my work.. Is this painting, is this an illustration, is this too design oriented, are the colours too bright, are the colours too specific, am I making any sense, am I making too much sense, am I not being serious enough, is this ridiculous, will this survive me, is this a cartoon, is this repetitive, is this too preemptive, is it too contained, and the answer is always it doesn’t matter. It used to be harder to arrive at that answer, but somehow it keeps getting easier. I hope I’m not becoming bullheaded.
This reminded me to re-read Sol Lewitts letters to Eva Hesse:
“You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to
DO”
♥️
She died at 34. How lucky to be alive and be able to do.

Amen. Let’s all DO. Ready? Go! ps. As an added bonus on this Monday morning, here’s Benedict Cumberbatch reading that letter from Sol to Eva.

Gasp! Sculptures for your wall… and your ceiling!? Okay, I almost posted the entire portfolio of Berlin based artist Brittany Gould, but managed to control myself. I found her “Illuminated” series first, so it only seemed fair to obsess over that. However, I would highly recommend that you go see everything else, too! Happy Friday.

Sigh. These gorgeous mixed media pieces by London based artist/illustrator Rose Blake make me want to cry. I miss galleries, and everything in her “Now I Am An Artist” series makes me miss them even more… art, people, actual clothes, leaving my house in actual clothes to see art and people. You get it. Speaking of galleries, Rose’s fine art pieces are available through Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London.

ps. She is represented for commercial illustration worldwide by B&A Reps, and for children’s books by Bell Lomax Moreton.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rachel Burke (@imakestagram) on Mar 1, 2020 at 6:10pm PST

Yessssssss. Seriously, how can you look at all of this and NOT want to be BFF’s with Australian artist Rachel Burke!? She makes everything from sparkly wearable art, to art you can sit on. Her glittery portfolio is filled with both personal work {like that FAB CUTE RITZY pop-up tinsel cafe}, and collaborations with clients {like Mindy Kahling, Miley Cyrus, Sephora, Visa… and check out that floral headband she did with LEGO!}. Okay, I gotta go brainstorm a BFF plan. Happy Wednesday!

Gasp! All of my childhood passions in one place? Yes! These oil pastel / acrylic beauties feel like a storybook dream, with just a touch of nightmare thanks to those deep, dark shadows. This is the latest work, a series titled “New World Horses”, by Denver based artist Jillian FitzMaurice. And, just like my obsession with ‘My Little Pony” back in the day, I wanna collect all of them! Thankfully, that’s totally possible… Jillian’s work is available through Visions West Contemporary {Montana}.

Okay, I think I just found a new thrift shopping friend! This is the work of Australian artist Edward Waring. Vintage Crystal and Glass. Epoxy Adhesive. Acrylic Paint. Hard Acrylic Extender. Yep, that sounds like my kind ‘o materials list! These are all from his series titled “Memory Sticks”, each one named with a woman’s name … from Betty to Mabel! Here’s part of his artist statement that focuses on these candy-colored towers of repurposed crystal goodness:

Currently, Waring is utilising vintage crystal and cut glass, repurposing and altering the once cherished tableware to create pieces that require the audience to re-explore what could be considered old fashioned or ‘passé’. Waring’s work reclaims old traditions and old fashioned ways of life and creates a space for them in the contemporary. His use of tableware once saved for ‘best’ in households gives new life to forgotten pieces, and asks the viewer to reflect on feelings of childhood, memory and family.

Absolutely! I’m quite sure my grandmother, Blanche, had most of these vessels, and all of them were filled with colorful Liquorice Allsorts or fruity Jujubes. Ah, good times. Edward’s work can be found via Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert, Sydney.