April! That means it’s time for #creativeUNblock project no.4! {If you missed the first three projects, or have no idea what I’m talking about, you can catch up right here.} The next unblocking project from Creative Block is by American mixed media artist Cassandra Smith, and instead of being paper based like the first three projects, this one is all about altering objects:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

#creativeunblock // April // by Cassandra Smith p.31

“Make a little sculpture using a found object. Find something around your house, at a thrift store, a wacky junk store, anywhere! An object that is about as big as your hand or smaller is probably the best size to start with, so it’s not overwhelming. And make sure it’s something you don’t mind ruining. This is just suppose to be fun after all! And then transform the heck out of it! Paint on it, glue things to it, cut it in half and glue it back to itself, or glue it to something else. Use the objects color and shape to inspire you.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Ok, I’m going to the thrift shop immediately {any excuse}. I’m excited/nervous for this one, as I’ve never really worked in “sculpture” before. Should be interesting! If you want to share your weird little sculpture(s), just upload them to instagram or twitter and hashtag it #creativeUNblock. Relax, like Cassandra said, do NOT worry about “ruining” anything. Forget “perfection” and just have fun … I’m thinking glitter and macaroni, who’s with me?!

Love! This series of collages, titled “Natural Act” is the work of Istanbul artist Merve Özaslan. What a fun, gorgeous reminder that all of us, even the big city dwellers, are in fact part of nature! Happy weekend, everyone.

{via Honestly WTF}

{ps. the next issue of “Art for Your Inbox”  goes out tomorrow so if you’d like to subscribe just use the field in the top left corner of the site… oh, and #creativeUNblock no.4 will be posted here tomorrow morning!}

Well now I can’t decide if I’m in the mood to read a good book, or just to stack a whole bunch of them into beautiful piles! This is the work of American painter Jordan Buschur. Here is a little snippet about her process:

“I begin the paintings by creating an installation of books, photographing it, and then painting from the photographs individually or collaged together. The books are often piled, jumbled, and stacked. Through the act of painting, the arrangements become precarious, or the books larger than life- in each scenario the books are located just outside of reality.”

Love.

Oh, so elegant. I absolutely love work that is half “finished”… there is a true confidence in it, as it’s quite a skill to know “when to stop”. These perfectly half drawn ladies are the work of UK based artist Mark Demsteader. Sigh. Lovely. ps. quite sure the woman with short hair is Emma Watson. Anyone?

{Thanks to Richard Slade, @sladedesign, for sending me a link to Mark’s work.}

I want to see these amazing little things up close, and hold them in my hands… very carefully. Perfect, delicate, tiny sculptures made with Japanese paper by Toronto based artist Cybèle Young…

“Cybèle spends her days creating miniature worlds from fine Japanese papers. Engaging with abstract and familiar motifs, she juxtaposes sculptures to create a sense of dialogue or play between them. Her intricate sculptural artworks are inspired by seemingly insignificant day-to-day experiences, where objects imply human interactions and small observations become fantastic.”

Fantastic, indeed.

Ah! So cool… see, it pays to stalk, I mean follow, artists that you love on social media! These paintings are from the latest, vintage inspired, series by Massachusetts based painter Jessica Brilli – and because I follow her on Facebook and Instagram I have slowly watched this car, and its driveway, go from an under-painted sketch to the final piece. I love getting a glimpse into an artist’s process… it’s like a little peek behind the magic curtain!

Project No.3, given to us by American artist Kate Pugsley {p.175 in Creative Block}, is easily one of my favorite ways to get unstuck: Paint sheets of paper with a color palette that inspires you, chop that paper into abstract or representational shapes, and then move them around until you arrive at a composition that gets your creative fires burning! The day after I posted this project, I woke up and thought, “black!” … so I painted a bunch of watercolor paper black and started snipping. I loved every single second, and apparently so did lots of you! Here are just a few of my faves so far:

Oh. So many fabulous bits ‘n pieces… I hope you’re feeling as inspired and recharged by this as I am! There’s still a week to go until I put up the April project {Sat Apr 4th}, so grab your paints & scissors and start chopping!

Whoa. How’s this for a way to end the week!? These insanely colorful, dynamic, large-scale abstract paintings {synthetic polymer paint on canvas} by Canadian born, Melbourne based artist Noël Skrzypczak make my heart race! Love.

ps. It’s the last week for the March #creativeUNblock project… the April project will go up on Saturday April 4th.

Rich, seductive oil paintings reminiscent of Baroque and Rococo masters, beautifully modernized with flat pastel backgrounds and a perfect layer of organic ‘n abstract 23kt gold leaf. This gorgeous, large-scale work by New York based artist Angela Fraleigh makes me want to dust off all of my art history text books… and then cover them in gold!

{Thanks to Therese Tucker for sending me a link to Angela’s work}

Waves, mountains, horizons… simple, quiet, elegant work with an artist statement that is just as poetic:

“I believe all things are born of water, air, and dust. My works are meditations of the elements, faded with time and distance. Each piece tries to uncover an image that exists somewhere between reality and memory. Revealed are distant landscapes, a mountain on water, or the deep sky at night.”

These are the lovely words and works of New York based artist Katte Geneta. Sigh… so dreamy.

{Oil on birch. Originals available on Buy Some Damn Art}