I first came across Kate MccGwire's work on My Love For You and was completely floored. I was reminded recently of her work when Santa dropped a copy of Hi Fructose in my stocking. Again, floored. I had to share.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Those are sculptures made from feathers. Yes. Are you feeling simultaneously amazed, thrilled, and creeped out yet? I hope so.
See more photos at Kate MccGwire's website.
Enjoy! xoxo Maeg
I've been wanting to share these for awhile, on the off chance that some of you have missed them.
Therefore, this week's Art Crush of the Week is: the genius team behind Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.
Oh yes. Here's to video, cuteness, and quotable hilarity.
Enjoy!
xo, Maeg
This week I want to share with you the work of Lee Price. I first saw her work a long time ago, on an Iphone being passed around amongst coworkers. Even with that short (and small) introduction, the name and the images stuck with me. You'll see why.
Her self-portraits are stunning explorations of compulsive consumption, avoidance of discomfort, and unsettling glimpses into private moments. Read more about Lee Price, her work, and what it all means in this great interview, and see more of her paintings here.
xo Maeg
A major holiday is almost upon us here in the States! Holidays can be synonymous with both relaxation and...stress. So let's take a moment to breathe deeply and dive into the beautiful and calming work of Danna Ray.
Gorgeous and soothing. Don't you feel better already?
Learn more about Danna and her work by visiting her site and her shop.
I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow, holiday or not. I'll be dropping in to share a special one-week challenge I'm embarking on...and you are invited!
Until then,
xo xo xo
Maeg
Sometimes wandering on the web pays off! I can't remember exactly where and how I first came across Kaspian's work, but I know I was instantly smitten. His paintings are stunning and moving, but you don't need to hear that from me! Let's get on with the interviewing and eye candy, shall we?
Kaspian, I read that you are a self-taught painter. Also, as I looked at your work I could see a definite progression between some of your older work and your new stuff--just within the last couple years. I'm curious to know as much as you'd like to share about how you taught (and teach!) yourself those amazing technical skills, and about how you've continually evolved your style over time.
It's not actually a conscious process. I always loved to draw, and it came to me very naturally. Like some kids are good runners and others have exceptional voices, I would just sit down and draw faces from photos all day. I always wanted to go to art school but they didn't accept me, so I had no choice but study other artists' work to understand their techniques and how they built up the final product we get to see.
The one thing I was lacking for most of my life was a distinct style. I've been drawing with ink for about five years but it never satisfied me. The medium felt very limited and I didn't see much progress in my work. I made my last ink drawing in September 2010, then started experimenting with a handful of different mediums. A couple of months later, I would paint my first acrylic and coloured pencil pieces, and I realised I was a much better painter than I ever expected.
What's your creative process like, from first idea to finish?
I've always daydreamed a lot. I don't doodle and I have no sketchbook, I just sit and dream, of a face, a palette of colours. Once I have a clear image in mind, I cut my paper, sometimes browse for reference photos, then make a drawing, cover it with dozens of transparent layers of acrylic washes, and add highlights and details with coloured pencil.
Your work is not only technically stunning, but also incredibly emotional. Do you create a narrative for the figures in the paintings, and their feelings, as part of your creative process?
I've written many short stories in the past, and I sometimes draw inspiration from them. I can't say that every single boy I paint has his own biography but some of them I feel very close to, some resemble people I once knew, some I slightly alter and make them reappear in a different setting, and one of them I miss and love deeply.
Any words of wisdom for aspiring artists starting their careers?
Be prepared to be poor and underestimated. Work your butt off and enjoy every minute of it.
Also--please list all your links so my readers can visit you.
Website >> http://www.kaspianshore.com
Facebook >> http://www.facebook.com/art.of.kaspianshore
Twitter >> http://www.twitter.com/kaspianshore
Tumblr >> http://kaspianshore.tumblr.com/Shop Originals >> http://kaspianshore.com/shop/originals
Shop prints >> http://kaspianshore.com/shop/prints
Kaspian, thank you so much for interview with me and sharing some insight into your work and process. Rexlets, let's give Kaspian some love, visit his links, and see more of his amazing paintings and work-in-progress.
Until tomorrow--
xo Maeg
*all art images © Kaspian Shore*
Hey there! It's Wednesay, so you know what time it is.
Art Crush of the Week time, of course!
This week we are staying local and chatting with Adam Connor of Little Green Toaster. Adam and I were both in the LOOK! show at FOE Gallery in September. I was especially charmed by this piece (you know I'm a sucker for a narwhal!):
Adam was kind enough to do a little interview with me about his work, life, and the great balancing act that is being a dad, husband, designer, artist, and illustrator all at once. Let's go!
Adam, please tell us a little bit about yourself!
Well, Except for a few short periods, I've always lived in Western Massachusetts. I grew up addicted to cartoons and comic books, and after graduating high school went to study animation at RIT. After a year and half there I left and moved back home to be with my girlfriend. I enrolled in UMass Amherst and after not getting along with some of the art faculty there, found out I was halfway decent at Computer Science. I got an internship as a Web Designer at MassMutual, which eventually grew into a User Experience Design position. Today, I'm an Experience Design Director with Mad*Pow in Portsmouth, NH specializing in digital product design and strategy. I'm also a public speaker and enjoy getting out and talking with audiences about design, collaboration and process. I never did stop drawing though, and recently with the encouragement of my wife (the girl I moved back to Western MA to be with), my kids, and a few really important friends, I decided to start putting my stuff out there.
You've got a sweet day gig at mad*pow doing design work. You're moonlighting as a little green toaster. I'm curious first about how you do it all, and also about how each thing feeds you creatively. Do you get different sorts of satisfaction from different kinds of work?
To be honest I'm not sure how I do it all either. The balance has been, and probably always will be tricky. My first responsibility is to my family and providing them with the stability they need, by extension that goes to my work with Mad*Pow. The art is very important to me, but it definitely isn't something I can support my family with right now, so it takes a back seat, and I do it when I have free time or if I have an idea gnawing at me that I need to get out before I can do anything else.
I definitely get different senses of satisfaction from the different work I do. I try to focus my design work on creating products that improve people's life, not in superficial ways but in creating products and services that take a problem or something people are really struggling with, and making it easier and understandable for them. My speaking is all about helping people learn and getting them to try new things when it comes to design and creation. Both of these types of work are great, but their for and in the service of others, which I believe is a very important part of life, but I also have things I need to do and express, and that's where my art comes in. I do take on commissions, but for the most part, my drawings are something I do for myself.
I'm also curious about your training and career path.
As I mentioned, I studied Animation at RIT for a little while and then Computer Science at UMass. My time at MassMutual lasted quite a while, 8 years or so, I believe. In that time I was very lucky to work with and for a number of really great managers and mentors who taught me a lot and helped me teach myself quite a bit about experience design. In 2009 I met Amy Cueva, the CXO and one of the owners of Mad*Pow. We hit it off quite well and later that year I took a position with them. They've been great, allowing me to get out and speak, voice my thoughts about design, process and product design internally and externally and most importantly, letting me work from my home, which allows me to play a bigger role in my kids lives which is crucial for me. Where I go from here, who knows. I love speaking and teaching companies about design, facilitating workshops for them. Did I mention that for a little while while I worked at MassMutual, I also taught experience design at UMass on a volunteer basis for alittle while. I'd love to do more of that too. And do lots more with my art and design. Basically I just want to do everything I'm doing now, just maybe more of it.
What's your creative process like in your art and illustration work? I'm also curious if you've found similarities/differences between your illustration process and your design process.
My drawings come about in one of two ways. The first and most common is that I'll get some sort of quick mental picture of an image, usually a creature of some sort, and then I draw it up. The second way is that I'll get hooked on a concept, like a phrase or a thought that I want to illustrate and I'll work on pulling together an image of it.
There are definitely similarities in the actual process of creation between my design work and my illustration. My preference in design is to sketch a lot of ideas for how to solve the design problem at hand, then step back, critique them, eliminate some, and refine the others, then repeat the process of critiquing, eliminating and refining until I come to the one solution that I'll pursue. If I'm working on a real illustration (not a quick doodle) I do pretty much the same thing. I sketch out a few ideas and critique them, often making notes right in my sketchbook, iterate and repeat, until I get one final sketch/study and then I begin working on the final piece.
I've been talking an awful lot about creative mamas over here lately, but I think it's time to give a little space to creative papas too. I know that you're a family man on top of all the other things you're doing--what does "balance" look like for you? How do you keep the creative well full while being a husband and raising a family? Thoughts?
I wish I could say what balance looked like. The truth is, I'm still searching for it. Every time I think I've got it figured out I find that I'm wrong and something isn't getting the attention I need to give it. The worst is when I find that the thing not getting enough attention is my family. Nothing feels worse than that. One thing that has helped is my son's interest in art and illustration, being able to sit down at the kitchen table with him and his sister and draw is great. And my wife has been amazingly supportive. I have some problems with depression and paranoia and if it wasn't for her I'd probably have given up on this a long time ago.
What new work/shows/projects are you working on right now?
Nothing big in the works right now. I've got some commissions going. Shows are a new thing for me. The recent Look show at FOE was really my first show. I'm eager to do more though. My stuff lately has all just been character doodles. I'm looking to get some time in and work on some serious pieces. My work has basically been black and white and in Ink, but I'm eager to try some new things. I've been in talks with a couple people about turning some of my characters into toys, which would be a dream come true for me, so, fingers crossed there.
Please list all your links so Rex readers can find you!
I'm pretty all over the place...
There's my Twitter stream at: http://twitter.com/adamconnor
The Little Green Toaster Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Green-Toaster-The-art-and-illustration-of-Adam-Connor/219478508110684
My online store: http://littlegreentoaster.com (use code BRAAAINS at checkout for 20% off thru Nov. 3)My personal Tumblr account (focused mostly on my art) at: http://adamconnor.tumblr.com/
My site, which has some of my art and my thoughts on design at: http://adamconnor.com
A blog I co-maintain that curates posts from all over the web about artists and their processes: http://creativeprogress.posterous.com
And I occasionally write on the Mad*Pow blog: http://madpow.net/Team/Adam-Connor.aspx
Adam, thank you so much for sharing with us! Please show Adam a little link love!
Until tomorrow,
xo Maeg
*all images in this post © Adam Connor*
Hello and welcome to another Art Crush of the Week, where each Wednesday I become positively smitten on the work of a fellow artist. This week I'm talking with Belinda Kemp, aka Gretchen Mist, whose paintings I find to be mysterious, atmospheric, and minimal. And just beautiful.
![[me+w+pep+tea.jpg]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A3ovvmw1pCY/TIihGJrI9PI/AAAAAAAACjM/UHPLGGvBKJs/S220/me%2Bw%2Bpep%2Btea.jpg)
Hi Belinda! Please tell everyone at Edison Rex a little bit about yourself.
I live in Melbourne, Australia with my husband and two little boys.
I'm a creature of habit! I love my coffee. I work a lot. I love aquas and greens. And I love to swim.
How long have you been working as an artist, and what’s your career been like? Have you always been doing art or did it sort of sneak up on you at a certain point? How did you develop your particular style?
I've been making art for 7 years. I built a 'career' {pre-kids} out of really not having a career!! I never really liked the jobs I was doing and always had the desire to make something of my creative life. The option of not being able to return to my job after having our first baby was a blessing in disguise! It really allowed me to focus on painting and making art.
My style has developed on its own just through working and trying new things.
I read that you are self taught. SO many of my favorite artists are self taught. Personally, I’ve had not a lot of formal training, so I find self-taught artists to be an inspiration at the same time I wish for more technical training. Do you feel that being self-taught is a strength for you, a difficulty, or both, and how?
I guess it's a bit of both! On one hand I drive myself crazy when I see work that I love, just wondering and trying to figure out exactly how it was made. On the other hand not really knowing the technical stuff and working anyway helps with making discoveries about what feels right for me. I seem to accidentally figure things out by doing!
I like to learn new techniques in small doses, otherwise it' becomes too much of an upheaval! The best way to learn, I've found, is watching others work ~ it's so great when artists make and share videos of themselves working.
You’re the mama of two young boys and a working artist--what’s the interplay of those two roles like for you? How do you find your day to day balance?
I really try to find the balance!! And I try to separate the two roles but it's hard to switch off from the work, especially as I work from home. The family holiday that we recently had was great for snapping out of my work mode and really enjoying time with the kids. Organising time and activities away from home helps.
What current projects are you working on? What are your big plans for future projects?
I'm working on my paintings and drawings along with my fabric designs and patterns. I really hope to build up my pattern collection in the future. The more I make, the more I want to make, so having a bit more time would be ideal.
Your dream life, five years from now?
I hope to be working away on lots of fun and exciting projects while the kids are at school. I'd also love to travel as a family.
What are your favorite creative things to do when you’re not drawing or painting?
I love crochet and knitting!
Who are your artistic heroes?
Brandi Strickland, Leah Giberson, Camilla Engman, Kat McLeod
Any advice for aspiring artists?
Follow your instincts and make what you love! Making connections with other artists is priceless.
Please take a moment to visit Belinda's website, read her blog, or visit her shop!
Thank you, Belinda, for doing this lovely interview with me!
*all artwork in this post by Belinda Kemp*
When I first discovered Stacey Rozich's work last year via The Working Proof, I was instantly mesmerized. I love the mystery and power of the figures in her paintings. Much of her work draws from the folklore and traditions of various places including Yugoslavia, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Pacific Northwest.
Stacey oh-so kindly granted me an interview to give us a peek into her growing career, body of work, and process. Read on!
Wow! Your career has totally taken off since I first came across your work through The Working Proof last year--you quit your day job this past winter and seem super busy with gallery shows, commissions, etc. Congratulations! I think that behind most success stories is a whole lotta untold hard work. Can you tell us the story of how you got to this point in your career? Any sage advice for other artists?
Hard work is right! I think over the past four years — since I left art school in San Francisco in 2007 — I've become a champion of the old saying: "Hard work pays off." My dad would say that to me when I was a teenager and still says it today. How true it really is, at least in terms of my art career.
When I was in school for Illustration I was immersed in this amazing environment of artists, working faculty and the fact I was on my own in one of the best cities in the world was pretty cool. At 20 years old this was a total dream situation for me. But something tugged me home to Washington and before I knew it was back living with my parents in Seattle trying to figure out my next move. I had a little pity part for a minute but got on my grind: I rented a studio in a(locally) well known artist loft building and got to work. I've since moved on from working there and gone back to school for design at Seattle Central, graduated, done freelance for record labels, magazines, publishing companies and started doing a bit of work with a small design firm in town. Hard work really does pay off.
Sometimes, like any artists, I get derailed by a creative block. I find they are most prevalent when I'm working on other projects besides my illustration. The only time I feel like I truly tap back into a creative force is when I have to sit down and create a lot of work. I look to a few sites for inspiration, namely Bibliodyssey, and a rotating list of Tumblrs. Sometimes I feel like I'm searching for hours and then one, one image does it. It's like a levy breaking and all of the sudden I go full-force into a new narrative which is handy when I'm working on a solo show. The difference in technique, composition and idea of the very first piece in the series to the last is usually so different. Many might not see it, but I can look at both in a show and point out to you how different they are, but I won't because that would be too revealing. It's kind of like dusting off my skills and once the wheels get greased it's like lightning! Grease lightning, even.
I am really honored my style is recognizable. I'm not quite sure what happened in the beginning of this style four years ago until now, I think it might be my personal love of bight colors, neutral tones, animals, strong patterning in textiles and weaving, cultural folklore and fairy tales all brought to life with saturated watercolor, gouache and acrylic ink. I think a defining moment for my style is when I started getting offers from bands to do album artwork, to do commercial illustration (which is still my largest goal to do all the time) and to bring my work to life via animation [release date TBA]. Seeing my work cross over from being viewed in a gallery to a larger audience of viewers was a large factor in my realizing what I've spent so much time on was going to another level.
Your studio: neat and tidy or messy and cluttered? In your home or out of it? A place for late nights or early mornings?
I spent two years working exclusively in a studio and when I went back to school I just couldn't foot the bill. I took my operation home and it's been pretty successful ever since. Though I will say not having a computer or Internet connection at that studio really forced me to do research in books and magazines which was nice. Now that I work about a foot away from my computer my day takes a bit longer to start sometimes because I get lost looking at blogs and that cursed Facebook.
When I do get working, my space is usually cluttered and I always work mornings until the afternoon. Sometimes late depending on how much time I've wasted on the Internet.
Blasting "Eye of the Tiger" and doing a lot of high-kicks and air punches. Not really, I suppose I do research and bookmark things I should come back to that might fit into a future narrative. Drawing, always drawing.
Waking up later than expected, a little breakfast and answering e-mails and checking blogs. Maybe I'll get dressed. Depending on what I have to get done for the day, I usually work through the afternoon. If I'm good and have got a lot of work done I'll allow myself to go out and meet with friends, get a drink, see a movie. If not then I better not leave that desk!
I'd like to be showing in large galleries all over the world and making my living solely on that. Maybe have a book or two published. I'd also like to be art directing music videos or short films by then. I've recently gotten a taste of seeing my work animated and I'm kind of addicted now. I want more! I'm not sure where I'll be living, I love Seattle so much but I do think I need a change of scenery for a while. So I could be doing any of these things in San Francisco, LA, Chicago, New York...stay tuned!
Thank you, Stacey!
It's Art Crush of the Week time--and this week I'm crushing hard on the work of artist Amy Blackwell. I love her beautifully colored illustrations of cats, badgers, foxes, teacups, and houses, and boats. I also love how she can choose a simple theme (like a tree, or teacup) and make it remarkable.
Amy kindly interviewed with me, sharing a look into her artistic process, daily life, and how she chooses those amazing colors. Make a cup of tea, read, take in some beautiful work, and please share your thoughts in the comments below. Enjoy!
Hi Amy! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What’s your artist story--how did you come to be working as an artist, what’s your career path been like? Also, any sage advice for other aspiring artists?
I’ve always enjoyed and done lots of making, drawing and other creative things. From day one I was inspired and encouraged by my arty parents and their friends. I don’t think I ever seriously considered choosing a career path that had nothing at all to do with drawing or making - although saying that once upon a time I did get tempted to pursue Archaeology - My reason for that was because I’d had a massive falling out with my art degree in it’s early years and felt a very strong urge to do something completely different - As you can probably tell I stuck with art in the end.
Im not a fan of the “fine art” degree. It all boils down to individual taste and it definitely wasn’t for me. I reckon I would’ve got more out of a more hands on technical degree like ‘decorative arts’, ‘theatre design’ or even pure ‘illustration’. My only advice would be to do exactly what you want to do even if parts of the course might be intimidating or a little bit frightening - just go for it. I took what I thought was the easier/less daunting option and I ended up on the wrong course for me. But I can’t deny that sometimes you have to try these things out to find out which way works best for you.
I love your work. I love the simplicity, the subject matter, but I think I am especially drawn to your use of color. Can you talk a little about how you make your color choices? Instinct? Lengthy trial and error?
All of the above. I collect favourite colours - I don’t think I can pick out a specific all time favourite. At the moment it’s yellow. Next week it might be something else. I get a lot of colour inspiration from the seasons/the weather and from fashion and textiles. From shops and market stalls - green grocers/flower stalls etc. I live in a city so everything’s bright and bold. Sometimes it’s nice to escape to the quieter bits or even the countryside and thats where the more muted colour schemes come from. I do a lot of knitting too and a lot of the colours I pick are inspired by knitting patterns and new yarns.
What current projects are you working on right now? Any big projects or events coming up?
I’m trying to train my brain to play with narratives. I’m trying to move more towards making books and telling stories, which is always easier said that done - I have a couple of stories ready but getting the pictures to work with the words is taking its time. As for craft projects I’m working on a huge (hopefully it will be one day) patchwork knitted blanket. I’m using up all of the leftover bits and balls of yarns I’ve gathered and hoarded over the years. Most of them are blues and greys and yellows so it should be quite a subtle creation when I’m finished :)
What’s a working day like for you?
The working day usually goes something like this:
Alarm on and quickly off again - I can’t pretend it’s very early, at the minute it’s only 8:25...
Cup of tea and sometimes a little trip over the cat.
Get clean.
Drawing/painting/emails/blog posts/online supplies shopping.
Cup of coffee.
Hunt and gather some lunch + post office adventure time.
Some colouring in.
Cup of coffee.
Go to work around 4ish.
Lots of cups of coffee.
Bit of knitting/doodling at work.
Come home.
Watch a tiny weeny bit of tele - this is usually around 11:30 though so my attention span is very limited.
Bed + book time.
Sleep.
Who are your artistic heroes?
I don’t really have arty heros. I have people who’s work and stories I’m very inspired by. At the moment I’m in love with the paintings by Vanessa Bowman and stories that make you jump.
How do new ideas come to you? What sorts of things do you do to help generate them?
Every day activities and objects can spark ideas. The walk or bus ride from home to work and then home again usually sparks something, whether it was a colour that catches my eye or people you meet along the way. Or a really nice bunch of flowers in a shop window - things like that. I listen to a lot of talky radio - loads of radio dramas and plays etc. I work in a cinema so I see lots of films too. All of these stories and narratives trigger ideas and inspiration for my next projects. I used to love being read stories too when I was a kid - hearing them lets your imagination run riot - it’s great!
Your dream life, five or ten years from now?
With/beginning a career or specialising in something I’m really really passionate about. I love painting - I’d love to still be able to find the inspiration to fuel it and my other projects. I’d love to have created a couple of books too and got my zine making back in action. It would be nice to dedicate more of my time to making and creating because that’s one of the most important parts of my day.
Any non-illustrative creative outlets?
Knitter/crocheter/reader
*Please list all your links* (Dear readers, please go pay Amy a visit!)
www.amyblackwell.co.uk
http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackoutwell
Thank you, Amy, for interviewing with me. I can't wait to see your first story.
xo Maeg
