carole ochs paintings

I love the mood of these two oil paintings (the only two in the shop) by Kansas artist Carole Ochs, aka the mysterious Etsy seller cochs. The fact that they are only $50 each just blows me away too.

See and purchase them right here. You better hurry though - I think I might need both of them!

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justin taylor paintings

loving the light and the intimacy in these oil works on canvas from utah artist justin taylor. the honesty in the eyes and natural posing is just perfect.

see more of justin’s work on his website, say hi to him on his blog, and if you happen to be ambling around park city or santa fe, stop by the terzian galleries or the blue rain gallery to see them in person, respectively.

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michelle armas paintings: let’s chat!

the world connects us in mysterious ways. you know how last week i interviewed suzanne shade of the beholder? it was so funny because in her answers she mentions the work of graphic designer michelle armas, who is one of the artists her gallery represents. the funny thing is i had contacted michelle and asked her for an interview before my interview with suzanne was complete. call it six degrees of separation or odd coincidence, but without further ado may i present these engrossing oil on canvas works. when i look at them i think that i could be anyplace at any moment, moving closer and closer to the canvas. there are sweeping curves and jagged peaks and wispy lines and cool splotches of color that are harmonious and flowing and make me wish i was in a gigantic room using my peripheral vision to see all of them at the same time, my eyes greedily scanning the corners and walls so as not to miss one bit of it all. let’s have a chat with michelle and find out more!

q: where do you live, and where do you create your art?
a: i live in a house in atlanta, and my studio is the whole top floor, the master bedroom, but who needs a huge bedroom? i have lots of natural light, that is great for painting, and just a few steps from the kitchen, very important. my intern coco (below) is frequently working with me too.

q: what is your background, and did you study art formally?
a: i have a masters of graphic design in branding. i moved to new york after i graduated and worked in branding and i really didn’t like it. i was way stressed out, so to feel better i started painting, and it kinda grew from there.

q: do you have a favorite medium to use?
a: i love oils so much, so fluid, i even love the smell, it is like there is some serious science going on when i smell that oil. but, i am experimenting with acrylics now too, they dry so much faster, and since i layer so much, i can make a whole painting in a few days, it changes how the end product looks. very cool.

q: do you think your painting style influences your graphic design work, or vice versa?
a: i am so much a graphic designer, i start with a concept or a story first, then explore basic shapes that communicate the idea, however abstract. then when i have a clear voice, i let go and just create. that is how i design too. i can’t just say, oh i want to do some flowers. it will end up looking crappy.

q: what is the price range of your collection?
a: very inexpensive actually. canvases around $400-$600, with prints from $20-$30. but i do have another project that i will reveal soon, that involves textiles.

q: what is your inspiration for these works? do you have a message you want to send through these pieces?
a: my first series was inspired by science. i am a huge science person, i love the idea of cells upon cells working together to create a body, and bodies together, very special to me. also i love history, i read historical books all the time, so i was researching early biologists and their reactions to the discovery of bacteria and single celled animals. how wonderful, i thought, to learn about these things that are all around, and how that would trigger your imagination. i don’t send messages really, i like to just create a fantastical environment, a place to let your brain just go and dream.

q: can we go to see your collection in person anywhere? are you currently exhibiting in any shows or is there anything else meaningful you would like to include here?
a: i am participating in a show at the tinlark gallery in september with some very talented artists via little paper planes. i keep selling paintings, that is good, but that makes it hard to have a permanent exhibition anywhere when i don’t have a very large body of work.

say hi to michelle on her blog, view her graphic design portfolio here and see more work from her in her etsy shop and (of course!) the beholder.

thanks michelle!

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marc hatfield impasto oil paintings

strolling through the narrow streets of the french quarter this last weekend, i happened across these magnificent paintings of arkansas artist marc hatfield. marc, who describes his style as representational expressionism, uses oil and a palette knife to create these thickly layered impasto works. his carefully selected scenes and subjects, things we pass everyday, are filled with rich, exaggerated action that leaps off the canvas as you look.

the style and technique that he uses has also been adopted by more than one artist selling their collections in the quarter, but i think marc does it best.

see more on marc’s website and if you are fortunate enough to find yourself in the crescent city, view them in person at the sterling gallery. i can assure you they are even more gorgeous in person (especially that piece in the top photo, which is an impressive 48″ x 48″ and truly, truly splendid)!

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susan shippey borski paintings

now begins the yearly automatic ritual for me to seek out bright happy colors as we near the depths of winter. please enjoy these contemporary mixed media paintings by bay area artist susan shippey borski. suz strives to capture the ideas of rampant movement and plenty of possibility, and frequently finds inspiration in nature. these expressive works are made with a variety of materials, such as oil, watercolors, golf leaf and acrylic.

i love these loose, abstract compositions that are filled with flashes of light, and the spirited feeling that emanates through them. i feel hydrated and refreshed now after looking at them.

find suz’s extremely reasonably priced paintings (nothing more than $250 right now!) over on here.

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john zoller art

i must admit i’m slightly stupefied by this artwork from miami artist john zoller. this is john’s united states color and learn series of paintings and drawings, a collection that he started several years ago and has been adding to regularly. they’re based on traditional american educational coloring books that were used to teach our culture’s history to children. these oversized, bright and playful presentations pay homage to traditional pop art style, and are the first reasons that compel you to look. the painting style is a familiar reflection of mid-century illustration techniques. each piece, soft and glistening with color, glitter, plastic eyeballs and pompoms, is a “typical” example of the pioneering spirit of our iconic forefathers and of average everyday youth at work and play. the longer you look, though, the quicker all that style falls to the wayside. the glitter turns cold, and those plastic eyes are more static and soulless than cute. imagine a seamless transport to a place where levels of high indoctrination, historical inaccuracies and modern tragedy meet a hungry longing for utopian youth, with nostalgia and dark humor as its vehicle, and walk the line into this collection.

i want to speak to the versatility here. this is jarring social commentary wrapped in a bright and pretty package, but people can choose not to derive the deep meaning either, and can simply enjoy the images and historical narrative. of course i think the artwork is so much richer when looking at the complete picture. it’s edgy, political and eerily haunting. the artist himself describes the content of his series “like a time released drug with a long list of bad side effects.” how apropos.

to me, john’s painting technique and style is like a fabulous party, and the impact of these works is like the smoke that rolls into the room at the event. you might not notice it at first. when you do, it might make you uncomfortable, and when you leave, it lingers with you, just as the the events of the evening do in your mind. intertwined, integrated, affecting. the mark of a highly successful and satisfying experience.

thanks for the info, john!

john is currently participating in the happy days exhibit, curated by dorian gray, at john jones in london through november 30th (hurry!).

see his diverse portfolio on his website, and check out his cafepress shop too!

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briana taylor paintings

i am enjoying this realistic vessel oil painting series from massachusetts artist briana taylor. i like the crispness of the compositions and moody earthtone color palette. these pieces feel inevitably cool to me, like the changing of the seasons we are experiencing right now.

briana finds a lot of joy in making things with her hands, and doesn’t limit herself to painting. see for yourself at her etsy shop, and be sure to check out her quilts!

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transportation monday: feet

last week my clever and creative friend came up with a neat idea of devoting a week of posts to modes of transport. rather than expressing my ideas about this through words, i thought it would be fun to use artwork, and monday is feet. i love the strong lines and imaginative imagery of massachusetts artist shawna handke’s pieces. she works in a variety of media including oil, acrylic and pen and ink. she thinks hands and feet can be quite emotional and telling, and so do i!

find more wonderful works in shawna’s etsy shop, and check out her blog too!

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