Tracing paper and wheat paste… delicate, organic, beautiful, light-filled tracing paper and wheat paste. That’s it. Seriously. Sigh. I love this sculptural work by San Francisco based artist Mary Button Durell… and don’t even get me started on her workspace!* I want my studio filled with lovely cells and cones made solely from tracing paper and wheat paste!!!

*The last three images are shots from her studio.

{via folk-art-life}

Ok, so do you remember when I wrote about the work of Felice Varini? If you do, then these installations might look somewhat familiar. They were done by Joseph Egan and Hunter Thomson, students at the Chelsea College of Art & Design. They wanted to create a body of work that explored a “possible relationship between graphic design and architecture”, and while doing so they “discovered the process of anamorphosis as used by the fine artist Felice Varini.” Well, I think it’s safe to say that they did, in fact, nail this assignment… A+!

I wrote about San Francisco based artist Lisa Solomon and her domestic scenes series in 2009. That series was all about beds and chairs… and I happen to love both as subject matter! Well, it turns out that I also have a thing for “toxins”, “viruses” and internal organs of the “body”… created, of course, with delicate, embroidered doilies. The body series is meant to “represent the 4 things you need to make art: your lungs, heart, brain, and guts.” Love, love, love that! And, her intention with the toxin and virus work is “to turn something ugly and horrible into something beautiful.” Umm… Check! 

ps. Here’s what she used to create these pieces… and yes, I’m jealous of this list: acrylic, ink, colored pencil, graphite, felt, glasshead pins, embroidery on duralar.

Brightly hued colored pencils as far as the eye can see arranged in stunning, graphic patterns. Yep, I would go back-to-school shopping with American artist David Poppie any day!

Ok, I was already jealous of New York based artist Emily Barletta when I wrote about her fibre art sculptures almost two years ago… and then, yesterday, I saw her most recent work. Sigh. Yep, it’s safe to say that these gorgeous embroidery on paper pieces have officially pushed me over the edge. So. Much. Love!

{via a tweet by Dana of Yellowtrace}

Ok, now this is a bedtime story just waiting to happen! You know, it’s the one about the bike-riding owl, the chilly sloth, the mean fox, and the nurturing um, mouse… gerbil… baby rat? Ok, so maybe I shouldn’t be the one writing the story, but UK based artist Ashley Percival should definitely do the illustrations!

{I found Ashley’s work on the always inspiring Society6}

Wearable art… and I want to be the one wearing it! Rachel Wightman, previously an interiors stylist in the magazine world, now describes herself as “a maker of things”, and has a design line called Not Tuesday. These gorgeous polymer clay beads are all totally unique because each one is handmade, and colour mixed, by Rachel. Yes, without a doubt, they are officially on my Christmas list… it’s not too early to start that, right? Right!

{Oh, and how fantastic are these product shots?!}

“…balance, color, composition, contrast, push-pull effect, shape, texture, variety of mark makings, visual weight…” These are the elements that go into the colorful, beautifully bizarre {embroidered!} wonderlands that are the work of Winnipeg based artist Takashi Iwasaki. Now, where did I put my sewing kit… I’m suddenly feeling very inspired!

Ok, I know that diamonds are supposed to be a girl’s best friend, but who needs diamonds when you could have one of these! A lovely chunk of rock painted, yes I said painted, by Toronto based artist Carly Waito. Oh my word… amethyst, a little fool’s gold, and a bit of smokey quartz… seriously, I want them all!!! Stunning!

{via Booooooom}

Oh, Gary Taxali… sigh, if only I still lived in Toronto. Well, for those of you who do, I’m jealous of you! Why? Tomorrow night, Wednesday September 21st, the very talented, Toronto based artist, Gary Taxali will be signing two of his new books, I Love You, OK? {shown above} and Mono Taxali, at The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Be there from 6 – 9pm… oh, and while you’re in my old neighborhood, pop over to The Grange and have a spring roll for me! Mmm.