I have always been a sucker for text-based work, but Miami based artist Jessy Nite is pushing me over a shadow-casting edge! Gorgeous, beautifully executed and, oh, so very clever. Happy Monday … STAY GOLD. Keep an eye on her inspiring Instagram feed for her latest creations and WIPs.

At first, I thought, ‘Cool, vintage sign paintings’, until I realized what I was actually looking at… vintage signs and pop culture movies had a bunch ‘o babies! This is the work of Canadian artist Rob Croxford. Rob has been a full-time artist for almost two decades, but in May 2018, a studio fire all but destroyed his Toronto studio … and his complete inventory of artworks. I can’t even imagine. This series, titled “Sign of the Times”, is his fresh start. Here are Rob’s words about why he does what he does:

“As a child of the 70’s, I was mostly raised by television and movies. Advertising and pop culture became my religion and the wisdom I gleaned shaped my sensibilities as an artist … My new series of paintings is the culmination of all my obsessions. By integrating iconic movie quotes into the landscape of well worn roadside signage I am merging pop culture, nostalgia and humour. This blend of elements creates something familiar and yet completely new.”

Good luck on this ‘completely new’ adventure, Rob!

This is the dreamy work of Chinese-Australian artist (based in Melbourne and Sydney) Thomas C. Chung. I wrote about him years ago when his portfolio was full of fiber… but now it’s filled with neon and rainbow-filled skies printed on mirrors! Here is part of his artist statement about this 2018 show at Galerie pompom in Sydney:

“In a world that is in search of Utopia – reaching for such great heights – there is an uncertainty to this pursuit. In being vulnerable we become susceptible, a process which reveals its own limits.

“…It Was Like Seeing A Fallen Rainbow”, is an exhibition connecting the loss of innocence with our reflected self. Continuing my earliest years of research into exploring the childlike psyche, this lifelong narrative is a conceptual fusion mediating my interests in psychology, philosophy and contemporary aesthetics.

Utilising aerial photography, “From Up Above…So It Is” is a vast series of cloudscapes printed upon mirrors. The compositions are in a state of free fall, drifting in the sky, passing through a prism of colour and peering into the sea. Occupying a space between disturbance and the aftermath, a rainbow is a temporary rift formed by the dispersion of light. A moment between moments.

Sitting on a bed of chiselled stone is a text-based installation created in neon. The twisted sentence spelling out the title of the show. Contrasting elements of dense, dark stone the fluorescence of electrified glass is a play on weight and tone, content and tension.”

Beautiful.

Oh, Vancouver based artist Ben Skinner. One of my favorite artists, ever. In fact, on February 22, 2009, I wrote my first post on The Jealous Curator and, yes, it was about Ben. Well, here we are TEN YEARS LATER (!?), so I thought it was only fitting to write about him again. He’s the king of materials, and his brain is filled with the most wonderful words… and the manipulation of those words. “ALL OF MY HEROES ARE WOMEN” is a stunning infinity mirror piece Ben created for a show I curated (in honor of Gord Downey, the lead singer / songwriter of The Tragically Hip) in the summer of 2017. For obvious reasons, I love this piece more than I can explain.

So, ten years. Thank you for coming on this decade-long ride with me! When I wrote that first post (while my two year old was napping), I never could’ve predicted what this site would grow into. Books, a podcast, workshops, etc – yes – but more importantly, all of you. All I ever wanted was a community of like-minded people who “got” what it was like to be an artist – the blocks, the golden zone, the thrill of walking into an art supply store, the frustration of rejection, the pure joy that comes from creating something that wouldn’t have existed without you. Because of this journey, I’ve made lifelong friends, and I’m making art again… and actually showing it to people! I’ve never been happier as an artist than I am at this moment, and that has so much to do with you. Thank you. Here’s to many more years of creative adventures! ~ Danielle xo

I’m in Hawaii! And of course, I wish you were here…

A post shared by Matthew Tapia (@matthewtapia) on Apr 4, 2016 at 9:32am PDT

Okay, I’m not even on the same island as this fantastic piece of artwork… which I’m guessing is probably the most Instagrammed pool in Hawaii! This is just one of many fantastic projects by Honolulu based lettering artist, Matthew Tapia. He applies his work to signs, clothing, walls and, in this case, the bottom of a pool at the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Honolulu.

Also, look what Matthew does when he’s at the beach, or waiting for the bill to arrive at a restaurant:

Okay, and also a few good vibes thrown in for good measure! Aloha!

ps. All of the pool images were taken from the Surfjack’s Instagram feed, and the video is by @vforvincent

Orange you glad I’m writing about GLASS PRODUCE!? This shit is, in fact, bananas. I had an artsy food theme accidentally weaving its way through my posts this week, so why not finish wrap things up with the hilarious, colorful, beautifully executed work of American glass artist Megan Stelljes. Here are a few of her words about why she does what she does:

“Art has always been present in my life.  Making art with my hands is where I find my passion.  I am extremely reactive to my surroundings, and my work is a direct reflection of this. Since moving to Washington from Kansas, my art has developed as a response to the cultural contrast between the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.  I use my art as a way of exploring my own values and emotions that are continuously influenced by a new climates and changing social scenes. I am responding to these changes through my sculpture and jewelry, with an aesthetic that is inspired by popular culture. My designs are often presented to me through daydreams.  I then start sketching and refining a form, and I begin creating each piece as an object to treasure. I began working with jewelry and glass together to exaggerate everything I love about glass: the way it captures and reflects light, its saturated colors, and its eye catching sparkle. I appreciate boldness and shine.”

Boldness, indeed. Happy Friday.

I will be in Aspen this THURSDAY night, December 13th from 6-9pm, for the artists’ reception party. If you’re in town, please join us for some big bold beautifulness, and if you aren’t in Aspen at the moment, you can also reach out to Skye Gallery to inquire about available work {each artist has included three BIG pieces}. Happy Monday.

ps. the show got a really great write-up in the Aspen Times over the weekend.

I am absolutely brokenhearted to be writing this post. I just found out that Australian / Croatian artist Sandra Eterovic has passed away suddenly. I don’t know how or why, what or when… but I do know that the world is now short one amazing person, and one incredibly talented artist. I didn’t know what else to do, so I immediately wrote this post. I wanted to share her work and her story. I am so happy that I had her on my podcast, not only because I got to know her better and could call her a friend, but because now this artist’s story is documented. Look and listen to episode no.66 to get to know this lovely person a little better. I’ve also included her words, from her Etsy shop, which beautifully describe her life and work. Until we meet again, Sandra. I am so sad that you are no longer with us.

“I was born in Melbourne and have always lived here, but I am lucky to have travelled to many places. As a child, I spent several summer months in my parents’ hometown of Pucisca, which is on a beautiful island off the coast of Croatia. I vividly recall widows in black dresses with tiny floral patterns, unfamiliar packaging in the supermarket and the quaint kitchen in my grandmother’s house; these things have informed my aesthetic immeasurably.

I studied art history at university but decided that I preferred to make art. After a couple of years at a TAFE college experimenting with ceramics and illustration, I landed a job in the fashion industry diligently redrawing Taz the Devil and Mickey Mouse in humorous poses for boxer shorts. This led to work as a surface designer for t-shirt prints, fabrics, bed linen, accessories and occasionally even toys. Late in 2010, I decided to leave my job at Seed Heritage to devote myself to making my own work. I also take on freelance illustration and other projects.

I am a homebody. I enjoy hanging pictures, arranging flowers, moving my tchotchkes around or replacing the colourful fabrics that I use as curtains and cushion covers. I also love to read about food, experiment with new recipes and then share them with friends. When it’s warm enough, I like to read in the back yard or a nearby park. I am trying to educate myself about gardening. 

My inspiration comes from vintage books, toys, and games. The island that my parents are from. My 1970s childhood. Strange and funny old people on the tram. A day of exploration at the library. The huge number of wonderful artists local to Melbourne but also the thousands I have discovered online. What a world! Everyone and everything around me is potential inspiration. Who knows what will be next? It’s that surprising element that makes creating so exciting.

I love handmade. Handmade things carry life itself in their consideration, imperfection and uniqueness. They deserve to be cherished forever and are the exact opposite to the piles of discarded televisions that seem to be proliferating in our streets right now.

I come from a family which rarely puts its feet up. My mother always sewed and knitted our clothes, and to this day bakes bread and cooks the most incredible meals. My father trained as a fine stonemason and is a great gardener and winemaker. My brother is a brilliant designer, craftsman and motorbike restorer. To be constantly making or fixing something is as normal as breathing for us.

I feel much more comfortable with the term “maker” than the term “artist,” which I suspect has to do with both of the B.S.-intolerant cultures that I am from. I have always loved making things, from clothing for my dolls, writing and illustrating pretend magazines, to playing cooking show host while helping Mum chop vegetables. Designing at a computer screen eight hours a day for 15 years was never going to feel right for me, and now I can’t believe I persisted for that long.

For years, I have been keeping notebooks in which I sketch or paste images that I admire or which might trigger an idea. Strange phrases pop up in my head, and I note those too. My ideas are often like a jigsaw puzzle that is waiting for the missing piece. I rarely get ideas by spontaneously playing with materials because unfortunately I rarely allow myself time for that.

I find every studio I visit interesting, but if I had the opportunity to go back in time I cannot think of anything more exciting than to watch Michelangelo run his atelier, Leonardo come up with his brilliant inventions or Rubens paint an enormous canvas alongside his apprentices. Not only would it be enormous fun, it might call into question the modern concept of what an ‘artist’ actually is.

I own my paternal grandmother’s wooden tatting tools, which are carved with decorations and worn with use. I have no idea how tatting is done, so for me they are magical because they hold the secret of a dying art and the culture of a very different time and place. I also own a traditional bright blue stonemason’s outfit that my maternal grandfather never wore and kept especially for me, as he understood my interest in workwear.

To get out of a creative rut, I might bury my head in a new book or magazine at the library, go to an exhibition or walk down a street that I have rarely visited. I have vowed that on my next spare day I will go to the main railway station, board the next train, get off at whichever suburb has the least familiar name and explore it.

In ten years time I would like to be living in a peaceful and beautiful home by the sea, with a wonderful family knowing that there is a bunch of things out there in the world that are loved and that I am proud to have designed and/or made. And to be able to afford a holiday almost every year to explore a country that I have never been to would be wonderful.” ~ Sandra Eterovic, 2012 

♥

Bio photo by David Patston

Vote. For the love of all that is good, VOTE. This is the work of Portland based artist Lisa Congdon. Lisa does all sorts of things {I’m not actually sure when she sleeps}, but one thing she does particularly well is THIS: she uses her artwork to share her views, spread love, and motivate action. I am Canadian, so while I’d love to vote in the US midterms today, alas, I just have to sit up here biting my nails. Please, please, please exercise your right to make change… the world is counting on you.

“I think this installation is going to be one of my weirdest.” ~ Martha Rich

Ha! And that’s just one of the reasons to love her. Yep, Philadelphia based artist Martha Rich has hung whole bunch {220 to be exact} of her hilarious, powerful, random, kinda weird speech bubbles for her latest show. “Nude Neighbor” opens tomorrow night, October 13th from 6-9 pm, at Showboat Gallery in Los Angeles. These hand-cut / hand-painted beauties – from “foxy” and “fly”, to “i can’t watch another mopey white guy movie” – are priced $25 and up! Cash and carry, first come, first serve… ie., get down there at 6pm SHARP! Oh, and one more reason to love Martha … a portion of sales will go to the Downtown Women’s Shelter. Happy Friday.