Here we are, the first Saturday in October… project 10 of 12. {If you missed the other projects, no problem, you can catch up right here.} This project is from American artist Jesse Draxler. I’ve wanted to try this one for ages… ps. I added my own extra little twist at the end:

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#creativeunblock // october // by jesse draxler, pg.155

“Find some objects you have around your apartment, home, studio, etc. (the more unique the better) and organize them in different ways. Stack them, rest them upon each other, arrange them in a pattern, etc. I find this to be a great exercise in composition – something that is integral in all art forms.

Secondly, photograph the compositions- several shots from several angles to capture things that normally would not be taken note of; the make up of the arrangement, the structure, the physics of why the arrangement is working.”

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Love this… and here’s what I want to add. So, once you’ve photographed your compositions, you can stop right there, OR,  you can use those photographs as the inspiration for a painting, drawing, collage, short story… or all of the above! If you’d like to share what you make, just put it up on Instagram or Twitter and hashtag it #creativeUNblock. Have fun!

Horses on couches, bears swinging from chandeliers, and drawings that might not be exactly appropriate for children’s books … I’m in! Today on the podcast I’m talking to LA based artist Kelly Puissegur {apparently pronounced “Persegue”}. Anyway, we talked all about the process behind her crazy narrative paintings while we enjoyed an evening, nerve-debunking cocktail. Listen right up there, or subscribe on iTunes. As you’re listening, take a look at the things we talked about in the order that we talked about them. First up, a few pieces from the first post I ever wrote about Kelly. These paintings are from her etsy shop:

Oh. Those pugs. So good! Next, we took some time to talk about three pieces specifically. They are titled: no 1. The After Party / no 2. This Will Make You Smile / no 3. Almost Happy. Oh, and one little tidbit she threw out was that she actually plans all of her crazy paintings with collages first! Clearly, I had to see those and she was kind enough to let us peek behind the curtain! There are a few below:

Aren’t those planning collages cool!? I’m so glad she let me show them! I love that she gets inspired by found vintage photos, like this horse on the couch. Yes, she found a photo of a horse on a couch?! Next, she mentioned her friend who had a big “APPLAUSE” sign in his house. That very cool sign inspired these very cool pieces:

Love! Now, I think Kelly should illustrate a book, don’t you? She said she’d love to… but we agreed that there are a few pieces that might not be quite right for kids’ books. Here’s a little inappropriate sampling:

Yeah. Maybe not exactly right for a sweet bedtime story. So, during the speed round I found out that her favorite animals to paint are horses. I agree… her horses are so good:

Ha! So so good. Now, we didn’t talk about this, but I think it’s a great way to sign off…

Sigh… don’t you wish that you could hang out inside one of her paintings? Me too… and I can guarantee there wouldn’t be any parking on the dance floor! Thanks so much to Kelly for working up the nerve to do this with me {and I promise to live up to our deal at the very end}, thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting the episode, and to you for looking ‘n listening! There’ll be more art for you ear next weekend.

Other links:

~ We talked about Jennifer Davis’ work

~ Kelly’s originals on Saatchi Art, and prints in her Etsy shop

If you’re in Toronto you should absolutely check out Art With Heart. It’s an art auction, now in its 22nd year, put on by Toronto’s Casey House, an organization that cares for people suffering from HIV. This fundraising auction is filled with absolutely gorgeous work {a few of my favorites shown here}, that “will benefit a number of Casey House’s initiatives including sending skilled teams of registered nurses and workers into clients’ homes, providing rehabilitative care and recreation therapy at the hospice, and bringing specialized HIV nursing care via partner clinics to marginalized people who lack access to treatment. Donor generosity enables additional services at Casey House to address the complex health needs and isolation that many clients experience.”

THE AUCTION

The Carlu / Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Reception 5:30 pm / Live Auction 7:00 pm

TICKETS … $175 {buy now}

{Artists shown above: Sarah Letovsky / Janet Morton / Megan Ellen MacDonald / Kim Dorland / Kris Knight / Keita Morimoto}

I wrote about American collage artist Adrienne Slane way back in 2012 {she’s also one of the artists in my book, “Collage”}. Anywho, I just found some of her latest work and thought to myself, “Oh, I guess she’s working digitally now.” Nope. These are hand cut collages. Hand. Cut. Insane.

These are paintings.

This is the latest work from Toronto based artist Holly Farrell. Holly’s work always takes my breath away, but when I saw that Cat in the Hat stack, well, I just shook my head. Damn, she’s good. She’s packing these beauties up and shipping them out for a show titled, you guessed it, “Books”. It runs October 6th through November 2 at Clark Gallery in Lincoln, MA. Seeing her work in person is such a treat, so go if you can!

These are paintings.

Portraits, prickles, and post-its! Oh, the cactus people of Los Angeles based artist Ashley Mistriel. I love her gouache & xerox pieces oh so very much. And yes, a few of these pieces are quite tiny and bright because from time to time she uses post-it notes as her canvas! Love. So much love.

{I’ve seen her work in person, and it’s fantastic. Find her available work, online, via Good Eye Gallery}

Ok. I think I may need an intervention. I am obviously obsessed with bizarre portraits… painted or ceramic {that dog. omg, that dog.} This is the work of Montreal based artist Isabella Di Sclafani. Her portfolio is FULL of weird little faces that I could look at all day. Help.

{Isabella’s work is available in her shop}

Usually when you hear the name Jaime Derringer it’s associated with the very stylish, very popular blog, Design Milk. Since 2006, Jaime has spent her days writing about / discovering incredibly talented designers … furniture, jewelry, architecture, and of course artists. But when the sun goes down, or whenever she has a bit of free time {which isn’t often} she is also an artist herself. Drawing, painting, and a fine combination of both. I didn’t know much about how she started, her process, when the heck she fits this into her very busy life… so I asked her. Listen right up there, or subscribe on iTunes. As you’re listening, take a look at the things we talked about in the order that we talked about them.

Now, before we talk about art, we have to watch this little tidbit that came up fairly early in our conversation: Ross Geller from “Friends” on keyboard… Jaime, is this what it looks like when you rock out on your new synthesizer? Ha! So, so awesome. Alright, time for art. Here are some of Jaime’s abstract paintings, and her gorgeous “string” drawings:

I would hang a little cluster of these together on a wall. I love the combination of precision and her “go with the flow” / “happy accident” approach. It’s kinda crazy that these pieces were made by the same person! And, a little peek into her drawing sketchbook that she works in at night… once her day at Design Milk is over, and her little girl has gone to bed:

She has been keeping a great record of her sketchbook pages through the years… you can see them all right here. And finally, her love of jewelry design has made its way from her body {every time I see her she’s wearing some kind of stunning piece}, to her newest venture, ADORN\milk:

Gah! Gorgeous… art that you wear! Boy oh boy, she has amazing taste and is such a wonderful supporter of independent artists. These are a few of my favorite pieces – you can find them here: bracelet by pico design \ earrings by maple + mauve \ ring by maison 203 \ necklace by vulantri – and of course the whole collection can be found here.

And with that I will say thanks so much to Jaime, to Saatchi Art for supporting the episode, and to you for listening… there will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR next weekend!

Oh. Even her “mistakes” are stunning… those Polaroids?! Love! Ok, so I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve written about LA based photographer Stephanie Vovas, but her work literally screams “California Girls”, so there was no way I could do a show in LA without including her golden, 1970s, wish-I-was-a-vixen photographs. So gorgeous… and you should see them blown up to nearly five feet wide. Stunning. If you missed last night’s packed-house opening, there’s another one on Saturday night thanks to Malibu Magazine… RSVP to rsvp@malibumag.com  {6-9pm, 8745 W Washington Blvd, Culver City}

{Some of Stephanie’s work is available on Saatchi Art}

ps. The sixth and final artist in the show is botanical painter Jill Sykes. I just wrote about her a few weeks ago. Take a peek at her gorgeous work right here.

This is the vintage, pin-up-esque mixed media {paint, collage, printmaking} work of LA based artist Laurie Raskin. Beachy bombshells, bright colors, and clearly, the perfect amount of bras. Obviously, I had to include Laurie’s work in “California Girls”… which by the way opens tonight… [biting nails]… “don’t worry. everything’s under control”. I’m nervous, but so excited to finally meet all six of the talented women featured in this show. Hope to see you there!

{Her work is available on Saatchi Art}