Beck Wheeler
Posted by Amy on Thu Sep 2, 07:20 PM
From Kate McCarthy I stumbled on the work of Beck Wheeler — an artist who is living in New Zealand. She combines toy making, textile and woodworking techniques to produce sculptures and her work has been exhibited in Melbourne, Spain, UK, USA and Canada.
She is continually inspired by the tradition of folklores and since her move back to New Zealand from Melbourne, Australia – she is inspired by patterns and textures found in nature. She’s also experimenting with digital media and will bring painting, sculpture and digital media together through installation which will culminate in an exhibition entitled The Swanndries Guys, which will be held at High Seas Gallery in Auckland starting 22nd October 2010.
Kate McCarthy
Posted by Amy on Wed Sep 1, 11:30 PM
Ever looked at child-inspired art that’s well, grown up?
Take a look at Kate McCarthy’s work and you’ll see what I mean. Inspired by early childhood memory of pure shape, color and intent, Kathy’s managed to dissect the colorful (and sometimes fleeting) world of play into a 2D interpretation mixed media work with a spot of humor thrown in.
I could detect a hint of innocence in her works, and also a sense of wonder as she wields her brush – I love the playfulness that shines through!
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Laurie Hastings
Posted by Amy on Wed Sep 1, 07:45 PM
Laurie Hastings is an Edinburgh-based illustrator, and I’m really fascinated by her use of cool colors for her work. There’s lots of blues in there, but they work beautifully for each of her commissions.
She’s collaborated with with poet David Troupes, has done book covers for Random House, magazine illustrations and also runs a small online shop, which you can find silk screen prints and other little bits and pieces such as cards, matchboxes, cotton shoppers and purses!
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Dasrotesrabbit
Posted by Amy on Tue Aug 31, 11:13 PM
Loving the strong visuals behind Sarah of Dasroterabbit’s work. She’s a freelance designer since 2003 (with a Masters in Visual Communications from Danmarks Design School) who resides in Sweden. Dasroterabbit is a brand
she created that pulls together her love for graphics and arts and embraces graphic design, illustration, art direction and handmade plywood (wall hanging) artworks.
Right now in her Etsy shop there’s lots of colorful posters available that’s guaranteed to add some zing to your walls!
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My Favourite Weather
Posted by Amy on Mon Aug 30, 10:50 PM
I think that the weather is getting better over here. For the past few weeks it’s been nothing but hot scorching sun that birds won’t even come out for lest they burn (I’m pretty sure that birds don’t really burn though…)
But I do hope that birds are chirping wherever you are!
{Bird Chirping Weather by Katie Daisy}
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Special giveaway: A spot in our class!
Posted by Amy on Sat Aug 28, 11:13 AM
I think a lot of people are already informed about the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp — Fall classes will be in session in little over a week and we’re getting ourselves ready for the mind-blowing sessions ahead!
For those who are new though, the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp will enable artists to cement their personal style and also help them thrive and have fun as an artist online – with weekly exercises and personalized, constructive, one-on-one critiques to help emerging artists find their footing and ways to set themselves apart from others in the vast online world. No matter if you’re just starting out, or have been doing this for a long time, all are welcome!
Since we’re going to be running three classes in the span of more than two months, we’d like to offer ONE reader a very special chance of winning a spot in the class of their choice (see the full listings here)!
All you have to do, is to head to the Pikaland Facebook page and comment over on this post!
For more chances of winning a spot, you can retweet this Twitter status as well: I want to go to Pikaland’s Artist Bootcamp! http://tinyurl.com/29rs7l8 #pikabootcamp — we’re going to pick a winner on Wednesday, 1st September Thursday, 2nd September — call for entries will close at 12am PST Thursday!
Have a lovely weekend and I’ll see you back next week!
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These I steal for you
Posted by Amy on Thu Aug 26, 10:41 PM
“Chase your dreams until you catch them…and then dream, catch, and dream again!”
~ Dee Marie (Sons of Avalon: Merlin’s Prophecy)
I forgot about that quote for the longest time, but remembered it again after looking at Brooklyn-based artist Dan-ah Kim’s print called These I steal for you. I am absolutely in love with this print – it’s really romantic in an uplifting yet poignant way.
What dreams are you trying to catch?
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Kristin Nohe
Posted by Amy on Tue Aug 24, 10:30 PM
Kristin Nohe is a junior Illustration Major/Book Arts Concentrator at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and I’m amazed at what she has come up with so far. Though she has a website, her blog serves as a portfolio-in-progress and it’s where you can find lots of new, fun work. Things like sketchbook spreads from her trip to California (can you imagine if she had gone for a trip around the world?) and also her fun, random hand-letterings has earned her a bookmark on my Google reader.
Though she has confessed to struggling with shifting her work from traditional methods (like painting) to digital techniques, watching her progress is truly inspiring. Her future is indeed shining bright!
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The Apples Of Youth and The Living Water
Posted by Amy on Tue Aug 24, 06:08 PM
If you haven’t heard already, Arrow to Arrow is a new online gallery and shop that sells beautiful, exclusive and limited edition prints by various artists. Jess sent me a link to a print called The Apples Of Youth and The Living Water by Sophie Alda that’s based on a Russian folklore of the same name, and now I’m in love.
Isn’t her work fabulous? Her style is wonderfully unique and very memorable as well. Her color choices, the way she renders people (critters too!) and the interplay of patterns in each illustration is top notch. See more at Sophie’s website!
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Review: Different – Escaping the Competitive Herd
Posted by Amy on Sat Aug 21, 12:30 AM
I picked up Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd after browsing the shelves at my local Kinokuniya bookstore. The title itself is interesting — the promise, even more so. How can one be different among a sea of competition? How can your product, your work stand out among so many others? How can someone succeed in a world where conformity reigns and exceptions rule?
Title: Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd
Hardcover: 288 pages
From the start, reviewers have warned me about not expecting this book to be a hands-on business book. That’s fine. I don’t need another book screaming out to me “How to get that sale, STAT!” (or something along those lines — you get my drift). Differentiating opinions had me highly intrigued, and I figured with a subject that I really loved reading about I went for it and read it with no expectations whatsoever.
By the end of the book, I think I have a definition of what this book is.
It’s a lecture. A long, and very enlightening one.
And with all good lectures, the teacher doesn’t tell you exactly how to solve your problems. They merely share with you their views, tips and years of experience – a glance through their eyes of the subject matter at hand, and this is what Different is about. There’s no step by step on how to conquer your market; because each business is different (or at least, they should be!) You won’t find nifty little sidebar packed with information or links to this or that. What you’ll find is a good, solid lecture about brands and business evolutions as seen through the eyes of a mother, a lecturer, and a woman.
CLICK HERE to read the entire review!
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