So, this painting is the first thing you’ll see on the site of Beijing born, New York based artist Yuanyuan Yang. Awesome, yes?! But if you click a little deeper into her portfolio {which of course you will, once you’ve seen that fantastic first image!}, you’ll find these lovely/weird little gems:

Ok, I’m just going to say it… that little nudie karate kick is my favorite. HI-YA!

{ps. Yuanyuan has a show opening in New York, at Fuse Gallery, this Wednesday, October 24th at 7pm. The work is this show is from the same series as the painting at the top of this post… you should go!}

I’m not even sure where to begin. I had a girl crush on Shauna Alterio before I got to Philly last Thursday night… but then I met her {and her wonderful husband Stephen!}, and well, I am in complete awe of both of them. They literally are creative geniuses, and their home… my word, it’s like waking up in an artsy heaven! Have a look:

Yeah, I know! We spent Friday setting up for Saturday {and we may have found some time to go out for brunch, and then a delicious dinner in downtown Philly!}. I fell asleep in this gorgeous loft, and woke up bright and early – ready for another GIRL CRUSH to get underway! An amazing group of women arrived {along with a whole bunch of much-needed coffee and plates full of yummy pastries}, and then, the even more amazing conversation got started:

This is GIRL CRUSH No.5, and I am always still so moved by the conversation that springs up during our morning of creative block bashing exercises. There are definite themes that have come up at each event, but the most consistent thing is the open, honest, heart-felt words that each person openly shares. Without getting too mushy on you, it truly does warm my heart.

Ok, so after about five pots of coffee {thank you Stephen!}, it was time for a delicious catered lunch… and then, of course, onto the art!!! Oh. So. Many. Supplies!

Collages on found book covers! Love, love, love! What else do I love while making art? Yes… whoopie pies!

Sugar. An essential part of the art-making process. They were graciously donated by Coco Love {thank you!}… oh, and speaking of graciously donated things, the gift bags were so heavy, I could barely pick them up!!!

Thank you soooo much to our lovely sponsors:

decor : bhldn // gift bag : green market / girls can tell / made by hank / giant dwarf / seed house

Yes. It was an amazing event! My crush on Shauna has definitely grown, but she might have a little competition, living right under her very own roof:

{photo credit: all photos were taken by women at the event. The last two in the post were from Lisa, anything with a little ‘L’ in the bottom right corner was taken by Leslie, and everything else was shot by Shauna & Stephen. Thank you all!}

Wow. That’s all I have to say about these paintings by Buenos Aries artist Diego Gravinese. Wow.

{via Artsy Forager on Pinterest}

Ok, who else wants to start worshipping at the church of The New York Times? American artist Donna Ruff finds beauty & inspiration in “sacred texts such as the Torah and the Qur’an, but also in the New York Times and the Manhattan phone book; in cathedrals, mosques and synagogues.” Guess where I find beauty & inspiration. Yep… you’re lookin’ at it.

{via Poppytalk on Pinterest}

American photographer Neil Krug has me swooning… again. I wrote about PULP ART BOOK in 2010, but now there’s a volume 2 – and it’s filled with even more sassy, vintagey, vixen-ish images that I absolutely love! These shots look like stills from a 1970s B-movie, and they kinda make me want to light a fire and commune with nature! However, there are also these ones {no nature in sight, but I was totally incapable of leaving them out of this post!}

Love.

Gah! Siobhan McBride’s work is dark & moody, gouache on paper. Ok, now I’m feeling a little dark & moody that I don’t know how to make gouache look like this on paper! Here is her description of this work:

They are descriptions of awkward experiences, passages from books and film fragments, things caught in the corner of my eye, and an attempt to conjure slippery memories … I hope the work is strange and suspenseful like the excitement of exploring a new place, and the thrill of knowing you are drifting back into a frightening dream.

Yep!

I am waking up in Philadelphia this morning, getting ready for tomorrow’s GIRL CRUSH with the lovely Shauna Alterio {where amazing things will happen!}, and I thought it was appropriate to feature a Philly-born* artist for the weekend post! Enter the hand-lettering work of  Mary Kate McDevitt… so fun, so charming, and her color choices are fantastic! Can I get a HIGH 5? Nice!

* Mary Kate is now based in Portland, but then this post wouldn’t have been quite as timely!

…snap snap snap tappity tap… yep, I want to take pretty pictures, and then write a short novel to accompany them! Luckily, American artist Jessica Brilli has me covered! Lovely, very sweet, nostalgic paintings. Sigh.

Oh my! Jellyfish, mushrooms, flowers & fish in all their saturated, neon glory! Ok, I’m not sure I’d want them on my head, but that’s exactly where Chinese artist Zhou Fan wants them to be, and here’s why:

… my paintings are based on dreams that I had as a child of many, many jellyfish floating in the sky, some of which fell to the ground on parachutes and became mushrooms. These dreams had a strong impact on me, and I remember them vividly.

Vivid, indeed ♥

Sigh. The photographic installations of Rune Guneriussen. I wrote about him just a little over two years ago {my how time flies when you’re jealous!}, and he’s been very busy since then. Lamps, and books, and tables all finding new, temporary homes in the wilderness… just long enough for Rune to photograph them – and then just as magically as they appeared, they’re gone again. I wish he’d leave them there for a little while! I’d love to be out for a hike and come upon, well, any of these amazing groupings! Oh, and did I mention scale:

Yep… BIG and beautiful! This work is currently being shown at Rhein Galerie Bonn {exhibition shown above}, until November 10th 2012.