susan graham sculpture: miniview

i thoroughly enjoy the thoughtful construction and loose style of these metal animal sculptures from new york artist susan graham. her handmade menagerie is created from the idea of a three dimensional drawing, with a single continuous strand of steel or copper wire used for as long as possible for stability. special attention is addressed toward the character, gestures and expression of each animal, which makes it difficult to choose a favorite! ever curious to know more about the brains behind the operation, i asked susan three quick questions…

q: how did you get into making these sculptures?
a: i made a wire animal a long time ago as an art assignment. a teacher brought in a live rooster in a cage (this was in ohio, where i’m from) and asked us to use wire as a medium and capture the character of the rooster.

q: do you have an art background?
a: i do have an art background. i had started school in chemistry at ohio state university and then switched to art-sculpture and photography - because that’s what i had always wanted to do. i moved to new york city and started a degree at the school of visual arts, but did not finish. i was afraid of getting too much in debt and not being able to afford an art studio here. i have a whole other art career besides the wire animals - i show at a gallery in chelsea called schroeder romero.

q: what inspires you to create?
a: i am not sure what prompts my desire to create, but it is constant - a basic need. i do my art, i sew clothes sometimes, i make the wire pieces, i like to make cakes. it just seems to be built in.

susan will be exhibiting in future tense: reshaping the landscape at the neuberger museum from may 11th - july 20th, 2008. be sure to see her etsy shop for her wonderful collection (or to commission your favorite animal), and go here to see some of her photographs from a recent exhibition she had at the philip morris branch of the whitney.

thank you susan!

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gypsy and twink collage art: miniview

pssst. let me take you into my imagination for a moment today if you will: a dappled candy forest filled with dark chocolate trees and gumdrop leaves, a rambling dulce de leche river, cotton candy clouds and tiny meringue mushrooms that the sprites regularly whip up into a tasty risotto. if such a place existed i do believe it would be populated by the charming birds, little ladies and other creatures crafted by kirsty macintosh, aka etsy seller gypsyandtwink. equally fitting on a shelf in a child’s room or a family room, these enchanting three dimensional collage pieces, with their vivid colors and patterns, just make my imagination go cuckoo. ever curious to know more about the brains behind the operation, i asked a few quick questions…

q: where do you live and what is your inspiration for these happy creatures?
a: i am a scottish lass living in the north of england. as far as inspiration goes - its everywhere isn’t it? i just love colour and pattern and shape in and amongst all that these things seem to pop up. i want to make nice things that put a smile on your face.

q: do you have an art background?
a: yes my background is art, i have a masters of fine art, and for the last 10 years or so i have worked in art education, community art and public art. i like to help other people bring their ideas to life. now i’m having a go at making my living through the things i make…the “art” world as such scares me a bit so i guess making the things i do. i like their simplicity, they don’t need to be “understood” because they just are… does that make sense?

q: who are gypsy and twink? are they the owl and the elephant in your shop?
a: gypsy & twink were actually my two siamese cats i had when i was growing up… their names go together so well in my head.

purchase these pieces and see kirsty’s complete collection over at her etsy shop.

thank you kirsty!

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kyley hellhake photography

omg what a riot! look at these photobooth strips of barnyard animals and other friendly looking beasts from pennsylvania artist kyley hellhake. she sells them in sets of four and you have the choice of mixing and matching any four strips you like.

how absolutely hilarious and charming! seeing that it’s hard enough to wrangle people together for a photo, i cannot imagine the patience kelly must have had to take photos of all these guys. hats off to her creativity and sense of humor.

find these wonderful photos on her etsy shop, check out her frame shop and gallery, see the beautiful paintings made by minnow, her chincoteague pony (yes like misty and stormy and yes the horse painted them!) and see the rest of her portfolio here (whew!).

via bb-blog

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