Every single painting {oil on board} is a feast for the eyes… patterns, fantastic palettes, more patterns! This is the smallest glimpse of the lifelong work of Scottish painter Norman Gilbert. The first two paintings above are from the 70’s, the next two from the 80s, two from the 90’s and the final two are from 2000 until now. It’s a perfect window into watching Norman’s family growing up! I wrote about his gorgeous work two years ago, and have been following along ever since. Just the other day, however, I was so sad to learn that Norman passed away just before Christmas 2019. His son, Mark, continues to share Norman’s work with the world, and I will too. Here is a lovely quote from Norman that I just had to share:

“I try to make each colour and shape enhance every other colour and shape so it’s entirely satisfactory, so it’s at peace.”

Isn’t that poetic? So beautiful. May you now be at peace, Norman ♥

*photos 1 & 3 by Enzo Di Cosmo / Norman’s work is available via Tatha Gallery and Koppe Astner

Ahhh, an artist in her happy place. I am so excited about today’s interview. As you might notice this episode is going up a day late – then again, you probably have absolutely no idea what day it is anyway, so I’m just gonna pretend this is going up on time! I really wanted to talk to this painter and poet, but she’s been in and out of the hospital. So, earlier this week, when she said she could talk on Saturday morning, I seized the opportunity. Megan Krzmarzick is my guest today. You might know her as @messengerbird on Instagram… that’s how I’ve known her for years, but today I finally got to talk to her about her journey. I had so many questions for Megan, and her answers were a cocktail of inspiration and chills. Listen right up there under Megan in the desert, or subscribe here.

Okay. First up, Megan’s ‘lemons into lemonade’ is a little more dramatic than what most of us have had to face. So, when life gave her cancer {for the second time}, Megan made an art residency for herself. In the hospital:

How inspiring is that!? Yep, I may have posted most of her Instagram feed… but how could I not? Studies drying on the hospital window sill? Working on a large-scale abstract while in the middle of a chemo treatment?! I mean, seriously. I do not have an excuse not to be in my studio right this very second. Dang. She’s amazing.

Speaking of amazing, here is a little peek at her first self-published book of poetry, followed by her latest {which is an e-book}:

Running away. Sigh. I wish she could run away to Italy or Paris right now… and I’d also wish I was going with her!

Finally, Megan was not kidding about the way she tries to feel as normal as possible, which of course is part of her daily ritual for staying positive. Even in the hospital, she gets up, has a shower, puts on makeup and a spritz of perfume… and you’ll notice, there ain’t a hospital gown in sight:

Damn🔥 Take that, cancer. Megan, thank you so much for doing this with me. I wish you light and love and strength and healing… FIGHT! And to all of you, thank you for listening. Also, start a daily creative ritual… even if it’s only 15 minutes a day. There will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR next weekend. ~ Danielle xo

Other links:

1. Megan on Instagram, aka @messengerbird
2. Running Away From Home, Vol 2 {download}
3. Frida {2002 movie}
4. Great British Baking Show

 

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A post shared by Riikka Hyvönen (@riikka.hyvonen) on Mar 23, 2020 at 4:43am PDT

Ooof, those are some real doozies! Now, don’t be worried. These bruises aren’t from something bad, in fact, each purplish-blue peacock feather-like bruise is considered a badge of honor. They are “Roller Derby Kisses” . These larger than life, sparkly, candy-colored 3D paintings are the work of Finland born, London based artist Riikka Hyvönen. Here’s her story behind this ongoing series:

“… For me, roller derby is really all about the community, and the mesmerising subculture that has sprung from it. If a derby player gets hit in the game, she wants to show her bruised bum for her team members on the side of the track (and then reach some well-deserved admiration on the internet). These bruises are called derby kisses — kisses from derby. They are little love bites and badges of honour.

Each of my gigantic 3D artworks is based on a real photograph. ”I have a really beautiful bruise on my bum. Do you want to see a pic?” A friend once posted on my FB wall. ”It has 12 colors and is the size of my head.” I said yes, I definitely want to have a look. She sent it to my inbox. It turned out to be at least as impressive as she had threatened. In the end, this comment of hers also became the name of the work.

These days, derby girls from around the world send me photos of their trophies. I am deeply honoured to be able to turn some of them into art.

Recreating a derby kiss, I use wood, MDF, leather, glitter, and various tools from paintbrushes to jigsaw pieces. I need to break the surface of the leather, then paint it, then break it and paint it again — and repeat the process dozens of times in order to create a picture, as hypnotising on canvas as on the skin.

Through making artworks of large scale, with a remarkable amount of sparkle, glitter and colour, I objectify the girls completely, but in the same way as they objectify themselves. With the kitsch, tacky, thoroughly questionable elegance, my aim is to capture the unapologetic representation of beauty that roller derby is all about.” 

Unapologetic representation of beauty… LOVE! I included a few shots and that video so you could see how she does what she does. A few of Riikka’s bums are currently part of a FABULOUS group show, titled “Strange Delights” happening at Paradigm Gallery {Philadelphia} until May 16, 2020.

{discovered via Create Magazine}

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A post shared by Katie Green (@katiegreenart) on Apr 26, 2020 at 6:12pm PDT

Aaaaaah! They’re doing all of the things we’re not supposed to do! So. Much. Touching … and I love it. This is the beautifully bizarre work of Calgary based artist Katie Green. Washy weirdness and masks that I would happily wear to the grocery store. ps. Katie’s also a puppet-maker, which does not surprise me at all.

You know how I love collages, all things 80s, and amazing painters, right? Yeah. These acrylic & aerosol paintings {that look like collages filled with things from the 80s} are the work of a Melbourne based artist who is “easily distracted by birds, animals and bright bits of pop culture”. His name is Michael Cain aka gnashingteeth, and now I love him. Happy Monday.

Oh, you guys. This is such a lovely episode. If you don’t already know about New York based artist Elisa Valenti, I’m so excited to introduce you! If you do know her work, I’m still excited because I bet you don’t know that she’s a pharmacist, bakes ridiculous kick-ass cakes, and is irrationally afraid of sharks. Yep, we cover all of that AND we talk about her journey as an artist too. Wait till you hear her laugh, and the way she says COFFEE and TUSH. Pure gold. You can listen right up there under “Every Last Drop”, or you can subscribe here.

First up, the painting you might know her for… it’s definitely the first one I saw:

Hell, yes! “Confidence on the Rocks”… and the source photo from her phone. Gorgeous, both of them.

Next, here she is at Superfine 2019. Can you believe she pulled this booth together in two weeks? :

And that, my friends, was the beginning of the whirlwind that has been her past year and half!

Next, these two paintings are the reason I asked her about “baths or showers” in the Not-So-Speedy-Speed-Round. I really just wanted an excuse to show you “Pizza Girl” and “Solitude”:

Beautiful.

Oooh, and these are the line and contour pieces she mentioned:

Yep. People love tush… and you can see why!

We just talked about this quickly in passing, re: the transition from painting herself clothed, to blocked, to nude. This is step one. The nightie:

Isn’t that gorgeous? That piece above is one of my favorites. I absolutely love the sheerness of  the fabric, the embroidered flowers, the sunlight, all of it.

Elisa and I also talked a little bit about her color palette, and how she likes to include all sorts of skin tones. Here are a few inspiration shots she’s posted to her Instagram feed:

COFFEE! I could listen to her say ‘coffee’ forever and ever. Also, I want those donuts. Speaking of sweet treats, Elisa’s cakes.

Brace yourself:

WHAT THE ACTUAL Whaaaaa? “Oh yeah, I used to make cakes for my family.” LOOK AT THAT THING!? Okay, I have to move on, even though that cake deserves an episode all to itself.

Finally, here are a bunch of shots of Elisa in action:

Awww, little Elisa with colored pencils firmly in her tiny hands. Ah-mazing. Thank you so much to Elisa for doing this with me, given the week she’s been having. She just told me she’s going to name her inner critic, “Pluto”. Good plan! And, of course, thank YOU for listening. I hope your week has been okay. Stay inside, stay well. There will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR next weekend.

ps. Esther Pearl Watson and I will be doing some LIVE painting/collaging on Instagram next week. Tuesday, April 28th at 6pm PST is the plan! 

Other links:

1. Elisa on Instagram
2. SuperFine Art Fair
3. The Other Art Fair
4. ‘The Shallows’ – Blake Lively shark movie
5. ‘Open Water’ – another shark movie
6. ‘Splash’ – NOT a shark movie
7. Elisa’s cakes on Instagram

Triangles, and embroidery, and toile, oh my! I’ve written about the powerful work of Philadelphia based artist Sarah Detweiler before, but I just had to give you a look at her latest ongoing series, titled “Hidden Mother”. The work is absolutely gorgeous, and as always, Sarah has put a lot of personal thought and reflection into each piece. Here are a few excerpts from an interview she did with Create Magazine:

“My recent work is a reflection of my personal experiences of motherhood, pregnancy loss, and resilience … Conceptually, I have been exploring the rainbow as an archetype and the identity of a mother through the Victorian “Hidden Mother” photography trend, where mothers would drape themselves in cloth to conceal themselves while holding their children still for long exposure photographs.”

Okay, that’s super weird! I want to know more, don’t you? Apparently she’s been posting the behind-the-scenes info to her Instagram stories, so follow along right here.

Okay, these watercolor weirdos are making whatever day this is a little more fun! This is the work of LA based artist Jon Huck. Not only do I love Jon’s work, but I like his ‘about’ page description too:

“HI THERE … I AM AN ARTIST FROM LOS ANGELES WORKING MAINLY IN WATERCOLOR & INK ON PAPER BUT I LIKE TO EXPERIMENT WITH LOTS OF OTHER THINGS (PUPPETS, MASKS, ANIMATION, COLLAGE, ETC.).

I ENJOY SWIMMING, CATS, THE LIBRARY AND GOING OUT TO BREAKFAST.

I AM NEITHER A POET NOR WRITER; THAT IS TO SAY, I’M NO WORD ARTIST.  YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO LOOK AT MY PAINTINGS NOW. THANK YOU!

… and then he finishes things off with this bit of hilarity:

Oh. My. Word… seriously, my fingers could not type this post fast enough! Cut wood, glitter resin, latex paint, and the occasional yellow lightning bolt? Loooooove. This is the work of Georgia based artist Angela Chrusciaki Blehm, and yes, it was the amazing black & white ribbon that grabbed me, and then that corner o’ goodness finished the job. Happy Monday.

*Some of Angela’s pieces are available through Miller Gallery in Charleston, SC.