I can’t get enough of artist Tamar Stone — her corset and bed books inspire me so much! With all these projects and interests, I knew she’d collect lots of stuff, but I wanted to know more about what the artist draws from… I collect a lot of books, images etc. However, because of limited [...]
Nudity In Art
When we were creating Ululating Undulating Ungulate, we had to come up with our policy on nudity in art; not being big into censorship, and creating a site for adults, we opted to include nudity. Deciding what is art, or, perhaps more accurately, what are “good nudes vs. bad nudes” is highly subjective — but [...]
Metallic Fashion Forward
The cover, and other pages, which graced the Coilhouse, issue 03, are from of a series called Avatars photographed by Gustavo Lopez Mañas, featuring the wearable metal work of Manuel Albarran. A stunning collaboration, these photos; but today I’m all about Manuel Albarran’s works. Called “Metal Couture” by some, but described by the artist as [...]
Doodle Week Challenge: Doodle Away Your Bad Dreams!
I don’t usually post the Doodle Weeks; and, like too many of you, I am a sad participating in them as well. (Shame on all of us!) But, as coincidence (or my weird psyche) would have it, I had a bad dream last night — so bad I had to blog about it at my [...]
Talking Photography With Alexander S. Kunz
After enjoying the landscapes and nature portraits by Alexander S. Kunz, I wanted to talk about photography with him; the self-taught artist graciously agreed. Photography — in it’s original concept, anyway — was the means by which to capture a precise moment in time, the way a person, place, or object was. But your works [...]
Review: The Painted Backdrop: Behind the Sitter in American Tintype Photograph
Have you ever thought about the painted backgrounds in antique and vintage photographs? No? Well, you aren’t alone. Until I read The Painted Backdrop: Behind the Sitter in American Tintype Photography, by Jim Linderman (with an essay by Kate Bloomquist), I hadn’t either. In fact, the story of and between 19th century painters and American [...]
An Interview With Ghosts In The Machines Creator Erika Iris Simmons
I so fell in love with the stunning art made from cassette tapes by Erika Iris Simmons that I just had to speak with her and learn more about her incredibly iconic works. Erika, I don’t like to ask a lady her age — especially right at the start! — but in this case I [...]
The Interview With Collin David
I’ve known Collin David for like 5-6 years now; we met when we both started writing for Collectors’ Quest. I quickly discovered his passion for comics, action figures, robots, cephalopods, etc. was entwined with something more… His art. In the past year, Collin’s art work has been getting him more attention, respect, and, yes, money. [...]
An Interview With Sam Garton, The Illustrator Behind The Adorable Otter & Robot Suicides
I first met Sam at Tumblr, where I immediately was attracted to the dark yet whimsical works… Mr. Gerald Beaufort, the rat, making plans to break in: A robot suicide: A dog who finds scary movies too scary: But Sam, it turns out, is more known for his role as The Otter Keeper, the creator [...]
Creating Ceramic Mosaics Of Silent Film Stars
A few months ago I was contacted by Nick Bannikoff, a graphic designer in Sydney, Australia, who had recently worked on the refurbished Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre in Marrickville. The centre is now finished, and Bannikoff was assisting with the creation of a graphic interpreting / explaining Annette Kellerman’s life to be installed at the [...]
The Art Of Making Stuff, Making The Pain Going Away, And Making Child Artists
In case you’ve missed my flurry of posts, and so have missed meeting the lovely artisan-crafter behind I Sew Cute and As Luck Would Have It, consider these comments by June on the importance of art your inspiring introduction: Making stuff is so rewarding on many levels. It really is my therapy, taking my mind [...]
Stitches In (My) Time
My mother, as she will tell you, is neither a very artsy person nor a very domesticated woman. While she is a rather gifted decorator, with an eye for beauty, detail, & quality — and a pocketbook which supports the artsy along with the arts, she doesn’t make things (other than reservations!). The result is [...]
Handmade Craft Shopping Parties
Back in the day, I offered and held a few home parties for selling my artworks. Being about 15 years ago, ish, I felt like I was charting new territories. I had a bunch of catalogs and brochures from other successful home party plan businesses — and my vast knowledge of attending such parties — [...]
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Artists & Creators
2009, The Year In Quilting
I’m not a quilter — despite the ridiculous number of quilting books (old and new) and boxes of fabric (vintage and modern) I own. I made one honest attempt at making my daughter a crazy quilt… But, well, I’m saving it all for that magical One Day when I’ll have the time and patience to [...]
Painting
Fauning Over Maclise
Several people must have been fauning fawning over R.A. Daniel Maclise’s Pan And The Dancing Fairies (The Faun And The Fairies) because the pretty painted piece sold for 301,250 GBP (roughly $498,509 in US dollars) at Sotheby’s Victorian & Edwardian Art auction held December 17th, 2009. I show it to you merely because it would [...]
Challenges
Doodle Week
Doodle Week is back. This time it will be part of U3. (I type it as U3 because I don’t want to type slower and check my spelling). Doodle Week was something I started with Claire. Later, Mo joined us and helped bring in more people to doodle. Over time things wound down until I [...]
Buying Art
A Word On Buying Antique Paintings At Auctions
I hate putting a value on art. I think you should pay what the artist asks, so long as the depth of your affection for the piece matches the depth of your pockets. But, because I mostly write about antiques and collectibles, people often ask me about how much they should pay for art at [...]
Illustration
A Breath Of Spring Air
A lovely fashion sketch by Sir Cecil Beaton, which wafts off my monitor and makes my heart lighter… In non-art related news, I’ve been spending all weekend cleaning my home, laying down poison and traps, all to rid myself of an unwanted, non-pet, mouse. I can understand him wanting to move in here; it’s already [...]
Fiber Arts
Heartfelt Needlefelt
This needlefelt ‘wool painting’ (No.499 Hillside Too by Deebs) reminded me that a few years ago — five, maybe — I saw some crafting show on TV showing how to do such a thing. They were making a purse, and all I could think of was how fragile and itchy such a purse seemed to [...]
Altered Art
Writing On The Wall Book Art
Etsy artist WHIMSYlove turns vintage and used books into wall art by folding the pages, origami style, for three-dimensional artworks dubbed Writing on the Wall Book Art — and it’s being featured for sale at the Bellevue Art Museum. Each Writing on the Wall piece arrives with hanging hardware and a keepsake card printed on [...]
Fairs & Shows
Seeing Around With Edward Tufte
I received a promotional mailing from Edward Tufte about the first major museum exhibition of his sculpture. I can’t say much about the actual exhibition (Seeing Around, on view at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum) as I haven’t been there. (Yet?) But I do have a few thoughts on the promo pieces. First of all, [...]
Buying Art
Hugh Grant: Lessons In Buying Art
In the January 2010 issue of Elle magazine, there’s an interview of Hugh Grant by Holly Millea. Whatever you think of Grant, there’s an interesting bit on the actor as an art collector. Elle: Tell me, is it true that you bought an Andy Warhol painting of Elizabeth Taylor for $4 million in 2002 and [...]
Notebook
If Art Is Intimidating, What About The Supplies?
When I was about to turn 10, my mother took me out — just her and I — to go shopping for my own gifts. It may sound silly, but at the time it was the coolest thing ever. A few blissful hours in which I was the only kid and had the sole attention [...]
Contests
Future Generation Contemporary Art Prize
Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk, via the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, has created a new international contemporary art prize to discover, recognize and give long-term support to a future generation of artists. The Future Generation Art Prize will be held every two years and the winner will receive $100,000. All artists up to 35 may apply with [...]
Commercial Success?
Pop Art: Pop Culture Defined
I dated a musician, once upon a time; a jazz musician. He was often put off by my love of certain music, deriding it as ‘pop music.’ I had to remind him that the ‘pop’ stood for popular, and that meant that a large body of folks had to like it to make it ‘popular’. [...]
Commercial Success?
Michael Jackson: King Of Commissioned Kitsch
We keep hearing how poor MJ was, but the dude spent a fortune commissioning art — of himself. And while he was one helluva a musical artist & entertainer, he didn’t have a clue about art. Just unveiled, Kehinde Wiley’s monumental commissioned portrait of Michael Jackson: And here’s a 1990 painting of Jackson by David [...]
Collecting
Illustration Magazine: An Art Publication I Am Drawn To
Men may be, as we are told, visual creatures, but many women adore and collect vintage images. Pinups and those ‘trashy’ covers of pulp novels do more than just flirt with men ya know — we women like them too. And if this includes you, then girl do I have a treat for you: Illustration [...]
