I’m not entirely sure what it is we’re looking at here… but I’m 100% sure that I love it! What I do know is that it’s the work of San Francisco based artist/designer Tom Bonauro, and from what I can tell these are a few select pages from one of his artist edition books called The Third Stage of Matter. I think. Oh well, why get hung up on details like ‘the facts’? The images, colour choices, and composition are amazing so maybe I’ll just leave it at that… ok, who am I kidding, I love facts. Tom, if I’ve completely messed this up, please let me know!

Do you love the young man? Yep, me too. I would love to draw with this kind of beautiful, simple ease… but I can’t. However, Chicago based artist Lauren Nassef certainly can.

What day is it? Honestly, I cannot tell you how long I’ve been on Artists Who Blog. Somewhere around the tenth amazing interview, the hours sort of started blurring together. I am currently writing this post in a haze of inspiration and jealousy, not only of the very talented artists featured there, but also of the creator of this fantastic online mecca for artist interviews, Stephanie Levy. I was thrilled to find a bunch of artists that I’ve written about, and then learn even more about their work, process, and of course their blogs. If you have several hours to spare you should stop by for a visit. You might want to have a snack first… you could be there for awhile!

{The images shown above can all be found on Artists Who Blog. They are by 1) Dolan Geiman 2) Camilla Engman 3) Leah Giberson 4) Victoria Smith 5) Ashley Goldberg}

Seriously, why have I not signed up for some sort of embroidery class by now?! I am totally in awe of this medium, especially when the final pieces end up looking like the work of Jazmin Berakha… hm, I may have to put together Sew Jealous Part II.

{I discovered Jazmin’s work on a blog called Color Collective. If you’ve got a thing for inspiring colour palettes, you have no choice but to check it out. Go on. You’ll love it.}

Lonely, mundane subject matter, and flat fields of understated colour… ah, a perfect combination. Whether you’re looking at one of his paintings on paper, or are in a room surrounded by his installation work, there is something very comforting about these images by American artist Chris Ballantyne. Perhaps it’s their stylized familiarity that makes them so appealing. Stylized familiarity? Hm, I just made that up… not bad hey?

Julie Moon is a Toronto born artist, currently working on her MFA at The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. I would love to do my MFA {eventually}, so that alone makes me jealous of her… the army of very cool lamps and that flowery goose are really just the icing on the cake.

I am woman, hear me saw! These paintings are from a series titled, Striving for Perfection by American artist Kelly Reemtsen. What I loved about these as soon as I saw {no pun intended} them, was the combination of strength and softness all beautifully rolled into one. And really, isn’t that what every good woman is striving for… to handle a power tool with ease, while still looking sassy in a pink dress!

Brace yourself. You are about to be insanely jealous {but you’ll feel weird about it} and also totally inspired. Listen to this:

After a somewhat troubled childhood, and a pretty bad car accident in France, Skylar Fein was accepted into pre-med at the University of New Orleans, and moved there to get started on his future. Six weeks later, Hurricane Katrina hit destroying everything he owned. That should be the end of the story right? Wrong. In the aftermath he began collecting the wood that filled the streets and did what any pre-med student {with absolutely no art training} would do. He turned this wreckage into politically charged pop art {please refer to the founding fathers of America shown above}, had his first solo show in 2008 at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans, and then dropped out of school to pursue art full time. Since then his work has been featured in Artforum, Art in America, New York Times, Style Magazine, The New Yorker, etc…

See what I mean? Insanely jealous… but you feel weird about it. I know, me too.

‘Force fed on violence, abused by a controlling superpower and blackmailed through patriotism, the public are ultimately as disposable as the toys they once played with.’ ~ Ben Turnbull

The most I ever whittled into a desk were my initials… and maybe a heart. British artist Ben Turnbull didn’t feel quite so optimistic I guess. These weapons, beautifully and skillfully carved into old wooden school desks, are from his series I Hate Mondays. Now, if you were clever, you got to see some of his work at The Volta Show in New York before it closed down yesterday. I however was not very clever at all, and completely missed it… so now I hate Mondays too. Hm, suddenly sounding a little less optimistic myself.

If I saw anyone, and I mean anyone, at the airport with this luggage, I cannot even begin to tell you how jealous I’d be! These hand-crafted suitcases truly bring new meaning to the phrase ‘traveling in style’. They are from a series called Crafted Fashion by Sarah Williams. They are her contribution to the MA Show at the London College of Fashion. Here’s the thinking behind the project:

‘Historically exceptional craftsmanship was the norm now it is the exception. The collection is designed to challenge this statement by utilizing regional historical craftsmanship and metamorphosising the traditional in order to produce a collection of original fashion artefacts.’

Well, I think it does exactly that… not to mention making you the coolest, most stylish person at the departure gate!

{I found Sarah’s work on the always eclectic blog, Junkculture.}