As we were making the trek down south to move to Ashland last winter, I received an exciting email. Staci Dumoski the editor of Artful Blogging wrote to ask if I'd like to contribute to a future issue. It was such a unique opportunity to write about my blogging experience, and all of the doors that opened because of it. Last week an advance copy of the winter issue that Liquid Sky Arts is featured in arrived in my mailbox. I love the writing excerpt and photos they chose from previous posts (some of my all time favorite lanterns are now embedded in artful Blogging history, and my English cocker spaniel freckles gets a little dose of fame too).
My sister Christina, came out from Minnesota to visit my new digs in Southern Oregon for the weekend. We visited all of my favorite local haunts, and the nearby lake where we both spent the afternoon lounging around and drawing taking advantage of the lovely 78 degree weather on Sunday. (Today she's going home to snow flurries. We both cracked up with laughter as she informed me on the way to the airport this morning that in Minnesota there are two seasons, winter & road construction!)
Pikaland: The land of bright, lovely, happy things.
9.20.2008
I stumbled upon Pikaland's website this morning and was instantly smitten. Written by illustrator Amy Ng, it's a collection of all of her inspirations as well as a collaboration of various artists selling their work (very affordably) through the Pika Package Project. Be sure to check it out!
Julia Rothman: how to make repeat patterns
5.31.2008
I was click, click, clicking through the brilliant eyes of Lisa Congdon's photostream on flickr last night, and came across this photo she posted of one of her paintings hanging alongside Julia Rothman's whimsical wallpaper in someone's home. (See upper left corner of my photo collage). I fell in love with the open white shelving against the bright illustrations.
By coincidence I came across Julia's website this morning, and fate came knocking at my door for another artist inspired blog post.
Her wallpaper can be purchased through Wall Collection, which also is a customizable site where you can upload and purchase your own designs for your walls. (I'm really into pattern design these days, how exciting!)
Julia also keeps a very inspiring illustration blog that features a new art book everyday: Book by its cover.
Recently she also was a guest writer for Design Sponge, and posted a really great tutorial on how to make repeat patterns (no photoshop necessary!).
To learn more about Julia Rothman where you can also purchase her work & patterns, visit her site www.juliarothman.com.
keep in Mind: Illustrations by Irana Douer
5.27.2008
I first came across Irana Douer's artwork a few years ago through the live journal art community, and ever since then have been keeping her in mind.
I love how Irana's illustrations project so much emotion and feeling through her use of color, linework, and vivid smudges. She's constantly carving out new ways to express herself through experimenting in various mediums. Sharing creative projects like making clothing out of paper, and turning the characters of her illustrations into real photographs using models and colorful wigs.
I admire how she's a forward thinker, so original and intriguing!
You can see more of Irana's photography and illustrations on flickr, buy originals, and keep up with her latest projects on her website keep in mind. She also runs a monthly based online art magazine Ruby Mag
Last night I was visiting Creature comforts fabulous blog, and was really inspired by the way she's visually linked her favorite design and style blogs. I'm still over here flipping over it, it's fantastic!
Over time I've found so many wonderful artists through sites like flickr, myspace, blogger, typepad, etsy... etc. that I've been wanting to share here. So inspired by last nights clicking spree, I've decided to kick into a new category today: Blogging The Artist's way.
I'm fascinated with seeing other artist's processes, and inspirations so I'm really excited about having a visual archive of all of the new sites I'm finding.
I'm always drawn to dreamy imagery that simultaneously has adult and childlike qualities, and a combination of dark and light emotion. They are little digital wonders, and make me want to use terms here like... image apparitions, and happy phantoms.
Her work also reminds me of a cross between two other digital artists that I really admire, Maggie Taylor and Loretta Lux.
