Thursday, May 29, 2014

maison paulette


These gouache paintings are from Maison Paulette—a sweet, idiosyncratic Swiss-based online shop, selling art and vintage items. The paintings are my favorite, but the whole site is worth a browse.


Thursday, May 22, 2014

jaclyn conley


Jaclyn Conley, a Canadian painter, did this series of heads turned away from the viewer. Most of them look like children, but I'm not sure. The paintings are weird and lovely, and I especially like that her website doesn't include an artist's statement that removes all the weirdness and mystery.


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

suzani

HandEmbroideryCraf


A friend just sent me images of some fun furniture upholstered with suzanis...and inspired me to seek out the fabric itself. These Central Asian pieces look great framed, made into pillows, draped over a bed or sofa—and they're best in a sleek, fairly minimalist setting. (I especially like framing them; it's like you're taking something tactile and humble, and elevating it.) I prefer the slightly more modern, stylized examples, but the classic styles are great too. Etsy and eBay have tons; click through to the ones I've found, or just search your own. The amateur photography (fingers in the frame, wrinkled surfaces) is part of the charm.

Cicem
WeMakeRugs
Islimi
eBay

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

ilona szalay


I'm really liking Ilona Szalay's paintings (on Saatchi Online): the simple brushwork of her figures, the cool-and-hot color schemes, the way the subjects are stylized so that they almost become abstract designs.


Friday, May 16, 2014

rainy friday, around the house


I just walked around my house, looking closely at things, taking photos. It's nice just to observe sometimes.

 


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

emma lipscombe


Should I be examining the fact that I feature overwhelmingly female artists on this blog? Female artists whose work is pretty and decorative? Or should I just let it be, and accept my taste? Emma Lipscombe is Australian, female, and the creator of some pretty paintings. Rendered in oil paint on timber board, her work is a little more geometric and hard-edged than my recent picks—but still in a springy, "feminine" palette.


Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Friday, May 9, 2014

louiseartstudio on etsy


Just an Etsy recommendation for the end of the week: Louise van Terheijden's simple, dainty watercolors, available as originals and prints.



Thursday, May 8, 2014

mquan



In the spirit of art that's unconventional and three-dimensional, check out MQuan's ceramic objects and wall hangings. Her larger-scale installations are especially appealing: they're like giant pieces of jewelry for rooms.