Dreeeeeeaaaaaamy… bits of paper and forgotten scraps of fabric stitched together to create new, beautifully composed narratives. This is the work of American artist {currently based in Japan}, Linden Eller. Her color palette through her entire site has this quiet, muted, hazy feel. This is why:

“Choosing a distinctly pale colour palette together with the use of tracing paper, her pieces attempt to replicate the quiet hazy environment from which a memory is recalled.  Blending autobiographical narratives with larger collective subjects such as childhood, longing, and home, Linden thinks of her collages as field recordings from the mind.”   

Sigh. 

“Fragmenta” is, one of many, cut photography series by Rome based artist Micaela Lattanzio. Photographs shattered into perfect hexagons and wavy strips, then reassembled {sort of} using zillions of tiny pins. So. Beautiful. Sigh… she might have to put my heart back together this way too. 

{Thanks to Mariana Oppel for pointing me to Micaela’s work}

For months, I’ve had people asking me to invite this talented woman onto the podcast… and the only reason I hesitated? I knew she’d just had a baby and thought it best to leave her alone for a little while! Well, her baby is now eight months old, and I couldn’t wait any longer. Today I’m talking to California based artist Elise Morris. Her ethereal, abstract botanicals make me stop and breathe. Deeply. I’ve always imagined Elise lying in the grass, under a sun-dappled tree with the California breeze dancing through the leaves… I guess we’re going to find out if that’s how she works. Or not! You can listen right up there under those dreamy petals and leaves, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First, her work on paper, because… well, just look at it! Graphite and acrylic {that I totally thought was watercolor… right!?}:

Sigh. Stunning.

Equally as stunning, Elise’s gorgeous paintings on canvas:

I’d love to see those up close ‘n personal … that’s why I included the closeups, so we could all pretend that we’re right in front of them.

We talked a lot about her process – from photographs of leaves and magnolia petals, to blind contour drawings, to loose color blocking – beautiful! My favorite part? That there’s no overthinking… she “just goes”. Quite appropriate that such organic subject matter is created in such an organic way, don’t ya think? Here are a few of her studio/in-progress photos, found on her lovely Instagram feed:

I want to go to there. Those colors, the scale of her work, that big lovely space. Sigh… again.

Alright, so in the not-so-speedy speed round I asked about her favorite color. Any guesses?

Yep, it was a tie between pink and green. Clearly.

I can’t believe I almost forgot to bring this up!? I’ve just “hung” the second show at my new “Fancy Schmancy” online gallery. The show is titled “Au Naturel”, so obviously I asked Elise to create a brand new original piece specifically for this show, and thankfully she said yes! I love it so much… so much in fact, that I used it as the main image for the show:

I mean, come on! Look at those pencil lines, and my goodness, I had no idea acrylic paint could do that! It’s 22″h x 24″w on paper, and is titled “Calling Dawn I.” There is only one, so go buy it right now!

And finally, Elise is the mama of two boys – eight years old, and eight months old. Those lucky boys get to have their mom’s work in the nursery, living room, everywhere:

Aw! I had to include a shot of Elise in her studio with her bebe … those cheeks! Thank you so much to Elise for using an hour of her precious studio time to talk to me; Thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting this episode; and as always, thank you for listening! There will be more art for your ear next weekend.

Other links:

1. Bunnie Reiss episode
2. “The Studio Work” – Elise’s blog
3. “Color Play” – Upcoming show at Town of Danville Gallery
4. Upcoming show at Ann Connelly Fine Art, Baton Rouge
5. Sorry, no Peace Corps mural photos – you’ll just have to imagine!

ps. I’ll be in LA next week doing all sorts of book events. One of those events is an art show at Saatchi Art in Santa Monica, Thursday February 17th. I’ll be there from 5-6pm for a little meet & greet, and if you have any of my books, bring them and I’ll have a pen ready for signin’! {more info here}  I’ll also be at Skylight Books, with Martha Rich, doing a talk/signing on Saturday Feb 18th from 5-6pm.

Now that is some very fancy folding! This is the intricate work of Toronto based artist Andrew Ooi. I was already impressed with his precise compositions, and then I found out that there’s so much more than just fancy folding going on here:

“… Ooi’s artworks are made by hand with environmentally-conscious, specialty papers. Ooi cuts the papers into strips and units; creasing the structural components afterward. He then paints each individual piece of paper with a pattern of his devising. Ooi groups, gathers, and finally folds the painted papers along select sections, which he fits into one another by interpreting Japanese joinery and origami techniques.”

Whoa.

Artsy experiments literally jumping out of the sketchbook! This is the work of North Carolina based artist Eva Magill-Oliver. Her portfolio is full of gorgeous paintings {both abstract and landscape}, but these frame-worthy “sketchbook” pieces, from her inspiring Instagram feed, grabbed me and would not let go. Those pink leaves… ♥

{via Brown Paper Bag}

I wrote about London based artist Claire Brewster for the first time in early 2009. Yep, I have loved her delicate, intricate, paper-cutting work from the moment I saw it. Since then I’ve written about her several times, always keeping an eye out for what she might be up to next! It was so lovely to finally speak to her in person and to hear her story. From a little girl cutting kittens and saucepans out of magazines at the kitchen table, to a full-time artist using those same {although honed} cutting skills to cover gallery walls with lace-like birds. Listen right up there under that stunning bird and his shadow, or subscribe on iTunes.

Ok, a little taste of what I love about Claire’s work:

I mean, come on!? How beautiful are those? All of the old maps? The colors? THAT CUTTING SKILL!? And I’m just getting warmed up. How about these insane shadows, that were basically happy accidents:

Sigh. Stunning. Speaking of which, her metal pieces:

Right? Those birds are insane… they look like metal lace.

Now, we talked about commissions and installations, both of which Claire loves doing. Here’s a peek at a few of my favorites – from a hotel lobby, to a gallery, to a corporate office:

Magical! If you’d like to work with Claire either in a commercial space, or in your home… call her!

And finally, at the end of our conversation we got a little political. She’s working on a new top secret series, but what she could tell me is the premise, and why she’s feeling compelled to move in a new direction. It is simply, and beautifully, this thought:

Yes. Yes we do. Thank you so much to Claire for doing this with me; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting yet another episode; and of course, thank you so much for listening! There will be more art for your ear next weekend.

Other links:

1. Carmen Herrera at the Whitney, NYC
2. OLFA knives
3. Ian Wallace (Canadian artist I mentioned)
4. Zadok Ben David (black/colored metal flower installation)
5. “Cut Up / Cut Out” Show at The Bedford Gallery

Paper. Paper!? Sigh. They’re almost like Zen gardens, but instead of rocks, French graphic designer/artist Agnès Cappadoro has used beautifully cut and folded pieces of colorful paper to create these quiet paper sculptures. Exhale. Breathe. Love.

Paper. PAPER! I wrote about LA based artist Huntz Liu almost exactly one year ago to the day. Well, he’s been busy since then! Oh so many stunning, beautifully cut, colorful layers. Sigh. He’s part of a gorgeous two-person show with Michelle Benoit, titled “Dive In”, at the Muriel Guepin Gallery in New York. It opens this Friday, January 6th and runs until February 11th… so if you’re in New York, go look at those lovely layers in person! ps. Huntz will be at the opening, all the way from LA.

Maps, cut into perfect little leaf shapes and attached to the wall with tiny red pins. What?! Yeah. Today I’m talking to American artist Shannon Rankin all about maps, vellum, more maps, constantly pushing yourself, and pizza… in that order. Shannon’s currently at a residency in Roswell, New Mexico, so that’s where I called. You can listen right up there, under that gorgeous installation,  or you can subscribe on iTunes.

As always, let’s start with a few of my favorite pieces from Shannon’s beautiful portfolio:

Now THAT is some insane precision. So gorgeous.

Next, we were talking about Justin Richel… Shannon’s long time partner, and amazing artist. I’ve written about Justin before, and both he and Shannon are in my first book, “Creative Block”. Justin’s with Shannon in Roswell at the moment, experimenting with sculpture! Cannot wait to see that:

Couples that make art together, stay together! ♥

Alright, and now the craziness that is Shannon’s installation work. This first piece is “Germinate (5000 seeds)”. Yep, thousands of tiny pins and map dots make up this 12′ beauty:

And of course, I had to include a close up of “Matrix” from the first image in the post. I also had to include that shot in the gallery for scale. Cra. Zy.

Up next, her latest work! These are the pieces she’s been working on in New Mexico:

Embroidery, and paper, and maps, oh my!

Ok, who knows “Selflesh” on Etsy? Yep, that’s Shannon’s alias. I loooove these simpler, smaller works too. And yes, more maps:

Sigh. Right?!

The reason this episode is titled “not enough hours in the day” is because of the diverse, insane amount of work Shannon does. This leads me to her vellum work. If you couldn’t tell on the podcast, I LOVE THESE:

That’s mine! And there it is hanging in the GoCA (Guest-room of Contemporary Art)… ps. there’s an original by Justin just to the upper right of Shannon’s work. Both very coveted pieces in my GoCA collection. But wait, there are new ones that are black and white!

Swoooooon  ♥  You can buy her vellum pieces in this lovely shop.

Now, if you’re wondering where Shannon was during this chat, wonder no more! This is a peek into the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program:

And there’s Shannon in her Roswell studio. Enjoy every moment of the next four months, Shannon! There is one more “Art For Your Ear” left in 2016, and it will go up next weekend. See you then!

Other links:

Saatchi Art Sweepstakes Info:  Ready to #stART2017right with new art? Saatchi Art is gifting one original artwork from this collection to a lucky winner every day for five days, Monday December 19th through Friday December 23rd. Follow @saatchiart on Instagram and share your favorite artwork from this featured collection with hashtags #stART2017right #sweeps for a chance to win. Good luck!

1. “Selflesh” (Shannon’s Etsy shop)
2. Maine College of Art
3. Shannon’s Instagram feed
4. Roswell Artist in Residence ps. Feb 15, 2017 deadline to apply!
5. Ali Cavanaugh – Episode No.63

PRETTY / PECULIAR.  Oh my goodness, I could not be more excited about this show! I was invited by the Alison Milne Gallery in Toronto to co-curate an exhibition, which was ridiculously fun because, as you can see, we have a very similar taste in art. Enter “PRETTY / PECULIAR”… yep, two of my favorite things, especially when combined! Here is the curatorial statement, along with a list of the fabulous female artists who are participating:

“Beautiful and odd. Colorful and bizarre. From cashmere-covered deer to plush handguns, from enchanted landscapes to painted gloves and undergarments – the female artists featured in this exhibition create very different work, but with a very similar result. Their work is an invitation to escape into a world of the wonderfully weird. Come on in! Exhibiting artists include (order of images above: Seonna Hong, Natalie Baxter, Martha Rich, Rachel Denny, Tania Love, Tonya Corkey, Tina Berning, and Bunnie Reiss“

That’s right, the work of eight of my favorite artists all hanging in one gorgeous space at the same time. Ah-mazing! Ok, so here’s what you need to know: Dec 1 ~ Jan 7th  //  Opening Thursday Dec 1 , 7~9pm RSVP: gallery@alisonmilne.com  //  134 Osler St, Suite 3, Toronto  //  Enjoy!