Have You Seen My Latest POAST?

 

Buy this piece here  

You all should check out the art and design work of the Scandinavian-American artist Laurie Poast, from the Etsy shop, POAST.  

Here's what she says about the above freestanding art object, as she calls it: 

"Designed after the urban architecture of Paris developed under Baron Haussmann during the second half of the 19th century, this classic house façade represents the archetype of Paris’ contemporary cityscape. No other person had such an overwhelming influence on Paris’ appearance. Employed by Napoléon III, Baron Haussmann renovated the French capital and turned it from a medieval city into a modern metropolis between 1850 and 1870. As part of the renovations, the façades of the buildings melted into homogenous street blocks. This typical six-story building will bring back memories to everyone who’s ever had the luck to visit the City of Light. Form and texture arch and bend the shadows around this clay architectural object." 

Laurie's use of color in her pieces is super unique: 

"Pigment: Madder Root (red-orange), 16th century, Eurasian herb. This remarkable color is achieved with authentic and precious old world pigments ground by the big granite millstones of the "Verfmolen De Kat" Dutch windmill at Zaanse Schans, Holland. The windmill's 21-meter sails have powered the grinding of minerals into pigments for Dutch artists since 1781. Some, quarried from the farthest reaches of Europe and Asia, are the first ancient pigments known to primitive artists. At this historic windmill, the same methods are used today as were used in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries of extracting naturally-occurring minerals from bits of earth, volcanic rock, semi-precious stone, vegetables, and metals. Even in ancient times, they were known as the most beautiful colors imaginable." 

More of Laurie's work: 

 

Buy this piece here  

 

Buy this piece here 

An example of her white pieces: 

 

Buy this piece here 

Don't forget to like POAST on Facebook and follow her on Twitter! 

Leave a comment letting me and Laurie know what you think of her work!

Beirut - Nantes

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Art of the Day: "Eye Witness" Cuff by Megan Petersen

 

 Buy this cuff here

 Megan Petersen's Etsy shop, MegansBeadedDesigns, is full of her beautifully handmade beaded jewelry. As I perusing through, though, I found this piece that I would highly consider wearable art. You can decide where the line should be drawn between jewelry and wearable art, but I personally found this piece a prime example of wearable art (as well as super evocative). Megan sent me a few words about herself and this crazy cool piece that she wanted to share with everyone...  

About the Piece: 

"I created this piece for a beading challenge last June with the theme "Mystery." Being a lover of all things terrifying, I took the graphic approach with my piece. I wanted to capture the horror of seeing something that cannot be unseen. I surrounded the glass eye cabochon (which I designed in Photoshop) with red toho seed beads to represent blood being spilled from a crime no one was supposed to witness."  

 

About Megan:

 "I am a graphic designer by day, and creator of beaded jewelry and accessories by every other time in-between. I love creating and designing unique pieces that help the wearer make a statement about herself. All of my beadwork is done completely by hand, one tiny bead at a time. You can learn more about me and explore my work at MegansBeadedDesigns.com" 

 

Megan's Etsy shop: MegansBeadedDesigns  

MegansBeadedDesigns' Facebook page 

Follow Megan on Twitter 

Megan also has a few other shops on Etsy selling her other jewelry and graphic design work, make sure to check those out as well, you can find them via her Etsy about page.

P.S~ Yes, I just was imagining myself wearing this to a showing of The Hobbit

purely to freak people out. Smog is kindof cool after all, right? Who's with me?

 

 

Interview with Junko, Artist/Owner from Nicki Nicki

 

Buy a hand-signed print here

Hello everyone, sorry for not being able to post many artist interviews over the past few weeks. School has kept me super busy. Enough with that, though. I'd like to introduce to you all Junko, from Nicki Nicki! Junko sells some of the cutest artwork I've possibly ever seen. You can checkout her Etsy shop here, and make sure to like her Facebook page! Also, if you're more interested in her portfolio, you can click here.  And let the questions begin! 

• Is there any kind of story behind your business's name "Nicki Nicki"?  

     "I started my own business called "nicki nicki" to sell prints of my original oil paintings at local galleries and gift shops in 2010. The name "nicki nicki" comes from my four-legged best friend, "Nicki".  Nicki is a rescued dog and has become such an important part of my life over the past four years.  Similarly, a few years back when I left my corporate job to pursue my art, it was almost like rescuing a part of me that had been hidden in a dark locked up room for so many years. That is why I named my business "nicki nicki".  I wanted to rescue my art and cherish it for the rest of my life.  Nicki is also my business model.  He is such a happy and funny dog that he can bring a smile to anyone's face.  And that is what I wish to do through my art - bring warmth to your heart!" 
  

 

Buy a hand-signed print here

• The animals you paint almost seem to have human and childlike characteristics, which is very impressive and may be hard for other artists to do. Did you have any art training before you started painting that helped with painting these images and if not, how did you develop this talent?   

     "I am a self-taught artist. I have taken some art history classes, but I have no formal training in either drawing or painting.  I have always loved doodling and creating ever since I was young, but until I took a paint brush up for the first time a few years ago, I didn't even know what linseed oil and turpentine were for.  All I  knew was that I loved art and I wanted to paint as good as academically trained artists, so I made a ferocious commitment to learn how to paint on my own.  I am a very passionate person especially when it comes to something I love. For the first two years, I practiced, practiced and practiced. There are many nights (or mornings) that I went to bed when the sun was rising.  I also watched other artists paint, often visited museums and galleries, and looked for any helpful resources that I could find in books, magazines and on the internet."    
   

  

Buy a hand-signed print here

• Are there any artists in particular or other people (could be anyone) that play a big part in inspiring you and your art?  

     "I like the kind of art that instigates my imagination and takes me to a different world.  I love looking at the romantic paintings of Maxfield Parrish, Waterhouse, Alma-Tadema, Bouguereau, Klimt, etc.  I don't think I have any particular artist who greatly influenced me, but their paintings are definitely inspiring. I was strongly drawn into fantasy art when I started painting. I think you can see some influence from them in my earlier work, which can be viewed on my portfolio site. I truly wish I could paint like them!" 

 

Buy a hand-signed print here 

One of Junko's favorite songs at the moment: 

Madeleine Peyroux - Smile

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P.S.~ Don't forget to checkout the art giveaway going on one post below this one! Also, if you're an artist that wants to be interviewed please leave a comment below with the link to your Etsy shop or your Facebook page. If you want to be on my blog but don't want to be interviewed, you can get a free ad space by clicking on the "Sponsor" tab above.

ACEO Giveaway!

And the winner is Stephanie T. H. ! Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and don't forgot to stop in again soon to read some interviews and enter another giveaway (once I get another one up, it should be about 2-3 weeks).  

With the ending of the Clouds of Colour giveaway and its success, I've decided to do another one, but this time with one of the art pieces from my shop! This giveaway is open to everyone. Here is the ACEO embroidered watercolor that someone will win (it was hand-stitched and painted):  

             

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Important::: Please do not take entry points for buying from my shop in order to get more entries if you have not actually bought something. You will not be chosen as a winner if you do this.

Also, if you are interested in getting a FREE ad spot on my blog, click the "Sponsors" tab and it's the first option. I especially encourage other artists to apply.

Spring Art Finds

        

Bleeding Hearts-CorrissaNelsonArt       Untitled-wheatleypaperworks 

  

 

   Boxing Hares-Rachaelizaart                 Spring Butterfly-MurrayBolesta 

          

   

Chin Up Buttercup-ramblewild                    Feather Moon-ProxPrints

  

 

     Bunny and the Hummingbird            Pink Elephants-TheUnrulyEyebrow

                   -HamjArt

~❀❀❀I handpicked these works of art because Spring is finally here in CT (!) and that means everything is going to start getting a little brighter (even though we might still have those rainy days). Make sure to stop in and check out their other works of art as well❀❀❀~   

~P.S.~Only a few more hours to enter the Clouds of Colour giveaway! Just scroll down to the post, it's super easy to enter. Someone will win a couple of Bec's art greeting cards!

Give Art on Mother's Day

If you've been looking for something to get a mother for Mother's Day, you should consider getting them some art!  

The Etsy shop workingwomen sells these beautiful rose petal  watercolour prints, 3 at a time, for only $35. Check out the other ones here.   

  

YevgeniaWatts sells beautiful watercolour paintings and prints in her Etsy shop as well. Here is the link for the image above.

I couldn't help myself with this one, haha! It's so cute. The Etsy shop ohchalet sells miniature canvas paintings. How could you not love these?! Here is the link for the painting above.