These lovely paintings, by American artist Amy Kligman, could easily be the covers for a series of children’s story books… well, somewhat terrifying, nightmare-inducing children’s story books. Ok, so maybe I wouldn’t read the one about a little girl and a bunch of bunnies sinking into a black bog right before bed, but I would definitely hang that painting on my wall in a heartbeat!

{FYI… Amy, and her husband Misha, are the authors of a fantastic art blog called ARTNICKS.}

Back in December of 2009, I promised to keep you updated on Mikael Kennedy’s solo show in New York… well, it’s finally here! Shoot the Moon is being presented by Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art at The Chelsea Hotel, opening this Wednesday April 14th, and running until May 2nd. There are 500 of Mikael’s amazing Polaroids in the show, but good luck picking a favourite! It’s a nearly impossible task… believe me, I’ve tried. A lot.

I have a new crush. His name is Scot, and I like, totally ♥ him. Denver based artist Scot Lefavor has everything I’m looking for in a ‘feel like I’ve been punched in the creative gut’ art crush… vintage subject matter, typography, a pop-esque style, found imagery, and just a little bit of cursing. Ah, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

{via crisaris, an art blog with gem after gem after gem after gem… well, you get the idea}

I don’t know much… but I know I love you. The only thing I do know about these collages, is that they’re from a series called Pictures on Pictures by an artist simply known as Donna K.  That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. Oh, and the title of the final piece above {which made me laugh out loud at my little desk}, Blind dating is exciting. HA! Love, love, love!

{All of these images are available for purchase at Swipple.com}

Q. What do you get when you cross a classic pop image with a sewing machine?

A. A bunch of amazing mixed media work featuring the sewing wizardry {and a little bit of paint} by San Francisco based artist Steve MacDonald {aka Ramblin Worker}, that would surely make Andy proud… and maybe even a little jealous.

Ah, yet another super-talented artist from Portland Oregon. Seriously, what do they put in the water over there? Well, whatever it is, Amanda Blake has obviously had her fair share. These lovely paintings on birch panel are so simple, so sweet, and so beautifully executed. I want all of them… and a shot of that Portland water too, please.

Well, clearly it’s time to redecorate because I’ve just found some furniture that I can’t live without. Perhaps I can give the room a ‘tea’ theme, what with the chair being upholstered in tea towels and the lamp being  made up of a zillion dangling souvenir tea spoons. Oh, I could host the best tea parties in town! Maybe Melbourne artist Suzie Stanford would even show up for a sip of Earl Grey? But hold on to your tea cups folks… she may very well sneak off with them to make a bunch of her lovely pendant lamps {I’m not kidding, she might. She’s got to get her supplies from somewhere right?}

{via Junk Culture}

This looks exactly like the work of Aris Moore, except for the loose, uncontrolled lines around the head of each elegant figure. That’s because these drawings are a collaboration between Aris and a very passionate artist named August… who just happens to be Aris’ four year old. Brilliant! And what I love even more than the final work, is the quiet message to all mothers everywhere: ‘You try to have everything just so, but there is a wildness to life that cannot be tamed. Pretend we may, but it is there.’ So there you have it, not only is Aris Moore an amazing artist, she’s also a fabulous mother who clearly has a budding artist on her hands… either that or a somewhat questionable hair stylist?!

I must learn to knit, if only to make my very own ‘flock rug’. What’s a ‘flock rug’ you ask… let’s see if I can explain this properly:

This project, by artist Christien Meindertsma, is titled Idaho. She has taken wool {which is then felted, creating big, fat, beautiful yarn} from an organic flock of Panama sheep who roam the grassy hills of Lava Lake Ranch, Idaho. Each hexagon-shaped piece in the rug is made from the wool of one sheep in the flock. She uses a different knitting stitch for each piece/sheep,  so that when the whole rug is sewn together, every sheep in the flock is visually represented… did that make any sense at all? Well, if not, this interview with Christien might help clear things up, plus you’ll get to see all of those sweet sheep {pre-haircut} wandering the peaceful landscape of Lava Lake Ranch. Ahh, so lovely.

Some artists are just all about the money. {Insert snobby eye roll here}

With just over 500 of these paintings under her belt, Hanna von Goeler is clearly in it for the cash… and I’m totally on board. I love the feeling of a paintbrush on found materials, like old books / magazines / wood, and I’ll bet good money* that this surface would be even more satisfying. Adding your own meaning, and dash of colour to those plain old green bills would be amazing… but hey, that’s just my two cents*.

*{Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I tried, but I seriously could not stop myself.}