chris applehans art prints

i am thoroughly enjoying the tales, style, color palettes and everything else in these richly emotional prints from los angeles-based artist chris applehans.

see chris’ portfolio and contact him on his website. purchase these prints and more at nucleus.

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michele pred mixed media sculpture

california artist michele pred creates three dimensional sculpture work out of confiscated items she has collected over the last five years from airport security checkpoints at the san francisco international airport. she collected these items to express the disruption we have felt in our everyday lives since the 9/11 attacks in a visual way. the works are open to interpretation of course, and to michele they represent the “arbitrary intrusion of disorder and all that is now lost and unrecoverable.”

what do they symbolize to you?

michele will be exhibiting her work in a solo chow at the john michael kohler arts center from june 15th - october 12th, 2008. if you can’t get there in person you can see her most excellent collection on her website.

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kathy osborn photography

i’m frequently overwhelmed by the consistently heartbreaking themes of loneliness and isolation in photo collections that involve dolls. maybe i’ve never any seen happy doll photography, but despite this, i am telling you straight up that it freaks me out. and yet, it also makes me want to stare and stare, and then stare some more. now may i present to you at these dollhouse photographs from brooklyn artist kathy osborn please? kathy is an accomplished illustrator whose work has been featured in many popular magazines and children’s books, but this collection of photos has a much more mature theme. i love the private scenes that we are peeping on, and appreciate the dark themes that lurk and crash against the seemingly innocent pastel colors. and i really love the lighting and art direction!

see more of kathy’s photography right here, and make sure to view her beautiful illustrations on her website.

(ed. note: as an aside, can i just tell you how much i love the beholder, the site where you can find kathy’s photos? suzanne shade is such an excellent curator and thoughtfully presents a well-edited variety of contemporary paintings, drawings, photography and mixed media, which is available for sale. she takes a fraction of the amount a traditional gallery would receive when a piece is sold, and is frequently on the hunt for new artists to represent, fyi.)

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(fantastic) michelle white illustrations

i am really nuts about this brilliant work from california (by way of florida) artist michelle white. michelle graduated from the ringling college of art & design. she has been creating her illustrations and paintings and residing in san francisco for the last ten years. she’s recently become a full time freelance artist, after working as an editorial artist for a variety of traditional and online publications. her pieces are made with pen and ink or graphite pencil on textured paper, their colors then subtly enhanced digitally. other pieces are made with color and graphite washes and are created on wood.

to me, there is a noteworthy amount of tension and contrast in this collection. i feel like i’m staring into the eyes of a real person, there is that much rare and melancholy depth of emotion here. and i could stare for quite a long time. the cracked up faces that look like chiseled stained glass, the mostly somber color palettes and the consistent, expressive nature and themes of love, dreams, childhood innocence and broken promises are so affecting.

isn’t it fantastic?

michelle will be showing a doll in the upcoming kokeshi doll show at subtext in san diego, which opens november 3rd.

she does not currently sell prints of her work, but she does make her paintings available for sale.

see michelle’s portfolio here. her blog is also an excellent place to see her terrific work and of course to contact her!

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