Jennifer Belgard interviews Dirk Hays, carver of kitsch critters, in Carving Critters with Uncle Daddy Dirk Hays.
Illustration
Literary Art, Puns, And Bookmarks
Continuing my interview with Robin Blum, founder of In My Book® — the bookmark and greeting cards in one… How do you go about getting the art for the bookmarks and cards? I am fortunate to work with illustrator (and Brooklyn neighbor) Meredith Hamilton. I found her on a wonderful listing of artists for hire [...]
Artists & Creators
Of Howdy Bears, Mermaids & Punk Rock Grrls
While writing my unorthodox review of The Runaways (2010), I found Cherie Currie’s chainsaw art site. I don’t know about you, but when I think of the original Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb girl and a chainsaw, I do not think of cute country bears… Or toucans painted on tables, for that matter. But she did put a [...]
Altered Art
Beware This Teddy Bear!
Rachel Betty Case made another appearance on Oddities; instead of the Human Ivory works, she presented a teddy bear made of belly button lint. (The example shown here is of her Siamese version.) Incredibly creative? Yup. Nice way to recycle or reuse things that exist? I suppose… But still rather creepy? More than you probably [...]
Altered Art
Nike Says, “Just Do It”
Go see the incredible sneaker art of Sean Paul. You might never toss your old shoes in the trash again.
Custom Toys
Super Girls: Life Size Female Action Figures
Super Girls is a collection of store mannequins hand painted and sprayed to look like comic book superheroes and villains. Because each life size art piece is made from a mannequin it is equal to an action figure in that it can be posed! Each art work is numbered.
Altered Art
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 [...]
Artists & Creators
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. [...]
Woodwork
Pretty Colored Pop Culture Woodcuts
Lisa Brawn does more than pop culture icons, but those portraits are my favorite. Maybe you’d prefer to “crow” over her lovely birds?
Photography
The Elemental Art Of Photography
In a world, a country, with dwindling art and music programs, I’m thrilled to read at History Is Elementary that students in upper elementary grades (grades 4, 5, and 6) will be taught darkroom photography and printmaking. I’m so jealous — but mostly happy. *wink* And I hope it starts a trend. In the article, [...]
Altered Art
Fear Of The Blank Paper
Staring down the pristine, stark-white surface of a blank page can be soooo intimidating… This phenomenon occurs with writers too. So what can you do when you’ve got your supplies all set, but that blank white page just stares back at you, taunting you, teasing you, bullying you… Well, if you’re like Steve Thompson, maybe [...]
Aesthetics
“Artist’s Shit”
the cans of crap are signed and numbered on the lid and the label printed in italian, english, french and german – as a reference to alchemy, the shit was sold at the same price as it’s weight in 18-carot gold Get the whole story of Art As Commodity.
Artists & Creators
ISewCute Certainly Is (The Interview!)
Sometimes, when I’m interviewing someone, I’ll make them do all the work and ask them to define their work. For the absolutely adorable artisan behind the equally charming isewcute, I asked her to define her work in just three words. I knew it would be hard, perhaps it was even unfair, but then I knew [...]
Fairs & Shows
The Dollypop Guild
Paul Richmond (whose upcoming exhibit, Cheesecake, will be opening in June at the Center on Halsted in Chicago) explores the path of his own identity and sexuality in his paintings. Prints and original paintings available at Etsy — and there’s a book of his works, with text, titled Ins & Outs: A Collection. (Via A [...]
Fiber Arts
These Ain’t Your Granny’s Stitches
Dale Spender feminism quote in needlework by Rosa Martyn (of My Little Stitches) isn’t the only feminist needlework out there, but it’s a great example of something — a cause, a philosophy, a book — inspiring you into picking up a needle and thread. In this case, Martyn did her cross stitch on the back [...]
Illustration
“The Alf Files”
Did Mulder or Scully ever own a cat? If so, its mysterious disappearance would be explained and the culprit caught in this illustration by Tim Tomkinson. (Via Don’t Stand There Gawping.)
Illustration
Death By Jelly Bean?
In February, bhagvati drew one drawing a day of the same little stuffed white bunny. This one was especially worthy of an Easter mention.
Digital Art
Housecleaning Is A Drag
I was looking for images of Freddie Mercury in drag, and I found this portrait. I think it was a digital creation.
Illustration
Skeletor’s Valentine
I always knew there was erotic subtext to He-Man. Watercolor and colored pencil illustration by Christopher Tupa (available for purchase at the artist’s Tumblr).
Opinions
Hey, Me, Get Out Of My Travel Photos (Not!)
There are just about as many reasons for taking photos as there are people who take them, so it would be foolish for me to try to encompass them all in one itty-bitty blog post. But I do feel I need to respond to this blog post about travel photos by Natalia Forrest. Especially this [...]
Artists & Creators
John Waters Says, “Contemporary Art Hates You …And Your Family Too”
I subscribe to Modern Painters, but just now got around to reading the September ’09 issue — despite the fabulous John Waters on the cover. Mr. Waters need not take it personally; I just have a plethora of magazines to get through, and if they aren’t in the magazine rack in the bathroom, well, it [...]
Publications & Media
What’s Kitsch?
In order to discuss the meaning of kitsch, you first need to know it’s definition. So I grabbed my copy of Kitsch, The World of Bad Taste, by Gillo Dorfles (with contributions by John McHale, Karl Pawek, Ludwig Giesz, Lotte H. Eisner, Ugo Volli, Vittorio Gregotti, and Aleksa Celebonovic; and essays by Hermann Broch and [...]
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’. [...]
