roadside scholar

stuff i found on the highway of life

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identity tank decorative ceramic tiles

You did not think I was finished writing about artists in Brooklyn on Etsy, did you? One more: cool decorative ceramic tiles with hand drawn details from the creative hands of Identity Tank.

 

See more here.

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clare stoker macro photography

I like this macro photography collection from the talented Clare Stoker of Brooklyn. It’s small but it is mighty.

 

See more here.

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damaged photography (mysterious)

I am liking these TTV-styled shots of darkly mysterious things from the equally mysterious Washington artist and Etsy seller damaged. Who is he, or she, or they? We don’t know. Where did they go to take all these photos? Certainly not just one place. How long did to take in pre and post-production to achieve such a consistent feel and mood? We don’t know.

One thing I do know, though: it’s a very tight collection with an intriguing point of view.

I really like the spookiness and sadness and loneliness all captured within each shot. It compels me without alienating me by being too scary.

See more at the damaged shop and also on Flickr right here.

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tomasz zarachowicz art prints

omG I love this work from Paris-based artist Tomasz Zarachowicz, aka Etsy seller ittichips. I love the colors, the styling, the whimsy, the surreal motifs, the floaty feeling I am getting the longer I stare at them. THese are prints from his original paintings.

Tomasz works in gouache and ink but also does the occasional screenprint too. I love his collection so much any medium will do for me.

Say hi to Tomasz on his blog and purchase these works right here.

via Bloesem

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jenny flanders photography: miniview

what you see is what you get, or wysiwyg. have you ever heard that phrase before? i usually think of it with regards to lotus spreadsheets. i also think that it applies to good food that is essentially naked and perfectly seasoned, which requires talent and effort to achieve. now, i also think it applies to the beautiful work of photographer jenny flanders. jenny is able to capture the essence of her subjects in a very intimate, authentic way. her macro shots are so inviting, and her abstract shots compel me to look a little bit longer and think about how she shot them, and how she brings out the best in them using this wysiwyg style. no primping or preening at all. just purity, plain and simple. i wanted to know a little more, so i asked…

q: where do you live and where do you create your work?
a: i live in seattle, washington, and i create much of my work just walking around my neighborhood. (i try to stick to what i can reach from the sidewalk rather than trespassing in my neighbors’ gardens.) i also spend quite a bit of time in central washington state, which is orchard and wine country. and of course i always take my camera on vacation!

 

q: what sold you on photography? what do you think makes it stand out from other art mediums?
a: i haven’t figured out another way to make art that satisfies me enough that i’d display it in my own home. photography stands out from many other mediums in that it’s more accessible. it’s relatively easy to acquire a camera, and it’s more portable than an easel, a sewing machine or a pottery wheel. photography can also be more “concrete” than other art forms, and i think that gives it great power to help people see the world differently.

q: you’ve got two shops on etsy: one with your nature images, and the other with your abstract collection. do you have a favorite motif?
a: i’m going to have to go with “natural abstracts.” 🙂 there are other things that catch my eye, but a lot of them just don’t fit with my nature photos. hence, my rather neglected second shop.

 

q: your images are largely if not exclusively unadorned (and by that i mean unenhanced digitally). what made you make that decision, and what do you think is the main benefit of this style?
a: well, i’ve moved from not knowing how to digitally enhance my photos to having some idea but still thinking they look pretty good without it. beyond removing a stray speck of dirt, how can i improve on nature? time is definitely a factor, but editing really isn’t the fun part for me. maybe i’ll develop that interest someday and open a third shop!

 

q: if you could shoot anywhere in the world, where would it be? and why?
a: the first place that comes to mind is hawaii, or anywhere lush, tropical and exotic. brazil’s atlantic forest is known for its biodiversity — 20,000 plant species ought to keep me busy for a while! i also need to pay my brother a visit in brooklyn, since the botanic garden there is considered among the best in the world. the why is probably pretty evident when you look at my “main” shop, but i’m truly fascinated by the details nature has to offer.

see more of jenny’s work at her two etsy shops.

thank you jenny!

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the art of veronika nagy

i don’t think i have mentioned this before, but i have been diligently building a fabulous etsy bunny collection. now that you know, looky here what just came in the mail from talented california artist veronika nagy:

isn’t it clever? veronika’s work is not exclusively limited to rabbits either. she enjoys experimenting with different traditional and digital techniques, which is reflected in her eclectic collection filled with paintings, etchings and mixed media drawings. strong childhood narratives and a certain positive, dreamy energy run through her pieces too, which serves to link all the different mediums used very cohesively.

purchase these pieces and see more in veronika’s etsy shop, and see what she’s up to on her blog right here.

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karen casey smith photography: miniview

i want everyone to visualize calm right now. let’s breathe in deeply through the nose and hold it for a moment. now, slowly exhale through the mouth. if it make you feel better, then i think you’re ready to look at the meditative work of karen casey smith. karen’s collection is filled to the brim with thoughtful, focused shots that lead your eye in and hold it, quietly. afterwards, whether you were prepared to do it (or not), you might find yourself a bit more relaxed afterwards, a bit more focused inwardly, a bit more healed – in a million different ways. it’s a zen feeling. and who wouldn’t want to know a little bit more about the brains behind that operation?

q: where do you live and where do you create your work?
a: home is about 30 miles from chicago, in the northwest suburbs. my work is created first in thought, then with attention to my subject while making the photograph and then in my computer at home.

 

q: your flower collection is pretty extensive. what is it about flowers that appeals to you most?
a: i love being around flowers. they are a miracle of beauty, and with closer attention even more amazing than anyone could know at first glance. throughout the ages flowers have been loved and given in love, to celebrate, to comfort, and to lift spirits. the beauty of flowers can be experienced directly, without words. when contemplating a flower, time seems to cease to exist and in that silent space you can experience the beauty to the core of your being.

q: i think your mandalas are mesmerizing – can you tell us a little about your technique, and the reasons why you create them?
a: mandalas are so appealing to me. i’ve been working in that form since around 1995 when i first read judith cornell’s book, mandala. she teaches that creating and contemplating mandalas is healing at the deepest levels. each of my mandalas carries a energy or vibration uniquely its own. the mandalas are a way to share positive, healing energy.

the mandalas are made with the aid of templates i designed myself. i first do any editing of the original photograph that’s necessary to make sure the contrast is good, and that all color is in gamut and printable. depending on the flower, i have different templates to choose from that have a varying number of divisions of the circle. in choosing the flower and creating the mandala, i work intuitively. the message or energy of the piece is revealed when it’s completed.

q: what are you doing when you aren’t taking photographs?
a: sometimes i work with and assist my husband, and occasionally do freelance graphic design. i love photoshop, and am always studying and working to improve my skills in both photoshop and photography. currently you could also find me cooking, baking (sometimes in my solar oven!), gardening, playing my ukulele or djembe, practicing tai chi, and playing with our two cats.

see more of karen’s work on her website as well as at her etsy and redbubble shops.

thank you karen!

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hide and seek illustrations

kelly spotted these lovely illustrations on etsy and i love the childhood fairy tale motifs and this spooky/enchanting feeling they give off. they created by uk artist hidden eloise, aka hidenseek. these pieces start out as hand drawn images and then are digitally colored.

see more compelling visual storytelling at eloise’s etsy shop and be sure to check out her website too.

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