my love for you is a stampede of horses.

My Love for You Flickr Group!

One of the things I love most in life is community, it's not only important but necessary. To increase the blog's community and to reach out more to the readers I just created a flickr group, called, yes, you guessed it: My Love for You Group. Please join and upload your art. I hope that you guys will use it to create community, inspire and share. I'll be checking on it often and plan on spotlighting work from it here on the blog.

The image above is by the very talented Sam Wedelich of Dwell Deep...who I'll have you know, was one of the very first artists I wrote about when this blog was wee and not even what it is today! :)

Dan Witz: Dark Doings at Carmichael Gallery.

The latest work from prolific street artist Dan Witz is at both intense and unreal. It seriously has blown me away. Always one to simultaneously work and play with the natural urban settings around him, Dark Doings is no exception. Dan's work always leaves me feeling inspired and in a state of "holy shit". But this new group, took me to another level entirely. It left me feeling haunted in only the way incredible art can. It also left me unable to look at creepy steel doors the same again. Dark Doings opens tomorrow night at Carmichael Gallery in LA. Should be an incredible show. You can see more on Dan's flickr page.

 

 

Gently By The Horns.

Two of my very favorite West Coast artists,San Franciscan Lisa Congdon's and PDX based artist Amy Ruppel show, Gently By The Horns opens this Friday at Rare Device. A two person show paying homage to one the lady's favorite animal groups: the cloven hoofed, horned, furry creatures that belong to the family Bovidae. They each chose 5 different Bovids to render in their own unique style, including the Yak, Duiker, Bongo and Chamois. The show will not only include the original work you see here (and more) but also horns and antlers from the artist's personal collections and a fake fur chandelier. Love it!

Ysé Jewelry.

Recently I have become obsessed with owls, barn owls to be exact. (This photograph did it all for me.) However though I think it's safe to say I'm pretty obsessed with most animals, so naturally I fell in love with Ysé jewelry, right away. I want both the wolf and owl rings...oh and the bicycle necklace too. And the bambi necklace...

Opening Pics of Urban Menagerie.

A few weeks ago, I posted about Charmaine Olivia's show Urban Menagerie at Gallery Six. From what I saw online it looks like it's an amazing show. Jillian, the lovely proprietress of Gallery Six sent over opening shots from the show and I had to share. I don't know about you, but I love to people watch. Just add beautiful art and we're good to go! Enjoy.

Christopher Russell at LPP.

Christopher Russell's print over at Little Paper Planes almost makes me look forward to winter. He has such an amazing way of capturing landscapes and weaving fantasy within them. There is an incredible warmth to his work. This print would add a touch of gorgeous to any wall it hung on. It's hand numbered in an edition of only 15, so don't wait. Christopher is LPP's artist of the month and he talks candidly about his influences of nature and his own travels outdoors. Along with the interview are some beautiful examples of Chris' work.

Sofia Arnold.

I just stumbled upon Sofia Arnold's work yesterday. Needless to say I have immediately fallen in love, hard. As I poured over her website, it was honestly hard to not post most everything I looked at. What I love most about Sofia's work is her ability to paint vague, slightly unsettling happenings in a very colorful, cheerful way. I love creeptastic all done up and pretty and stealth. Sofia has a solo show opening on January 16th at Tony Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee, Wi.

Jim Houser Print at BLDG.

Make Room For The Emptiness by Jim Houser is the latest print released by BLDG. The title makes me a wee bit sad, but Jim's honesty and intensity shines through in the detail making it feel all ok again. Plus who doesn't love a crying octopus?

New Work: Acorn.

I'm really loving Acorn's latest work. His delicate line work of a land far away is totally some place I'd love to camp and stay awhile. Acorn is currently in a show, Never Ending Master Quest with Ghostpatrol and Miso at Gorker Gallery. He's busy working on getting his website up and as soon as it's live we'll give you a heads up for sure. Until then let's just hang around his flickr page a little longer...

Roll & Tumble Press.

Awwww, sometimes you just need a pick me up. You hear me barkin' big dog?I know you're pickin up what I'm puttin' down. Roll & Tumble Press make super adorable (and affordable) prints that'll make anyone feel all pretty again. Or just make your house look put together and rad.

 

 

 

Zookimono and their Adorable Skins.

How can you not absolutely fall in love with something that says: "You made me a mix tape. Now you are my boyfriend."?! I just go nuts over crazy ass statements that are drawn well. Zookimono has a bunch of awesome skins from a ton of talented folks including two of our very favorite illustrators, Gemma Correll and Julia Pott. Holiday season is barking y'all!

 

 

 

Gretchen Wagoner X The Working Proof.

Gretchen Wagoner just released this gocco print of a mating Hera Buckmoth through The Working Proof to benefit the Jane Goodall Society. I love the simplicity of the colors and the way the print plays with the rough paper. Gretchen says this about her inspiration behind the print:

"I am fascinated with butterflies and knots. My interest lies in the delicate yet resilient characteristics of a butterfly as opposed to the robust and stabilizing mechanisms of a knot. Natural examples of conformity and a deviation – both are symbolically used to describe physical characteristics brought on by strong emotional reactions. Having butterflies or knots in your stomach may physically feel similar but evoke completely different emotional connotations."

Below are some of Gretchen's pieces she is referring to...these pieces will be in a group show at Edge Zones in Miami.

 

The Holy Goats by Brad Woodfin.

I was introduced to Brad Woodfin's haunting animal portraits through Atelier Gallery, that has since closed, :( last year. I was awestruck by his ability to capture animals in such a moving way. Brad's latest show The Holy Goats opens next month at Jacana Gallery in Vancouver. His latest work still manages to mesmerize me, I'm also really excited by what he is doing with the found books. He told me in a recent email that a lot of this show was painted listening to the new Fever Ray. I love little facts like that! See more on his website.

 

 

 

 

Carson Ellis Work Available at Nationale.

The very first thing that drew me to the band The Decemberists were the illustrations on their first album Castaways and Cutouts by Carson Ellis. The scratchy, old-timey drawings seemed so epic and full of stories. I was taken immediately, then of course the band blew me away. I'm not sure I would have picked up that album if it hadn't been for Carson's drawings. Her work, the bands style and the lyrics go hand in hand (no surprise as Carson is married to front man Collin Meloy), the whole package in and of itself is pretty amazing. (I saw the band on tour in 2004 at Bottom of the Hill in SF and scored a cute t-shirt with a bicycle drawn by Carson.) Nationale has original work of Carson's right now for sale. Oh what I wouldn't do to have an original. Just look at how beautiful these are. See more here.

 

 

 

Michelle Hailey

I was charmed by Michelle Hailey's work. Her paintings have certain nostalgia that avoids flaky sentimentality. When I look at her interiors or still-lifes I begin to feel like I'm the figure in the piece. For me, they have an enigmatic "this is what I did and this is what I will be doing" quality that makes me feel warm.

Michelle is in a group show in Bushwick that opens Saturday, November 7th at 1717 Troutman Street. Catch it please!

Jeff Hamada is Magic.

My international bff, Jeff Hamada just made this shirt for the folks over at Crownfarmer. Only he could turn a bird into a ghost. I thought I'd be an Iphone app for Halloween, but this t-shirt is so much cuter. Plus, riding my bike in a t-shirt and jeans on Halloween will be a hell of a lot easier than a big ass cardboard app and a bodysuit.

Mural at Bodega for NONE MORE BLACK.

A few weeks ago I previewed a little sneak peek of the show NONE MORE BLACK that I am curating at 4th Wall Project, featuring work by Bill Dunlap, Chad Chesko, Tony Bevilacqua and Elisabeth Timpone. We're getting ready for the show to open this Friday. There is lots to do so there will probably be limited posting here on the bloggy. To tide you over and for those of you who can't make it to Boston, I've got pics of Chad and Tony working on the mural they painted for the show at Bodega last week.

 

Outside the infamous, secret Boston sneaker store.

The wall before.

 

Tony taping down kraft paper to get prepped. Look at his cute little stockinged feet.

Chad and Tony working their magic.

 

Local artist Nick Z and some sweet kicks.

 

Tony drawing rainbow drops.

 

Andrew helping to paint the drops in.

 

Me painting the drops, look out...I may be hanging up the blog to be a session artist.

Mmmmm, paint.

 

 

Tony putting the wash, the finishing touch on the mural.

 

Ta-da!

 

I love it. Check it out at Bodega. Hope to see you at the show!

Studio Visit with Elbow-Toe.

A few weeks ago I met up with Elbow-Toe at his Brooklyn studio. It was awesome to get to hang out, chat, see where he works and what he's up to. Elbow-Toe's work continues to amaze me with every new piece I see. If you are in Brooklyn this weekend, he's part of the Annual Gowanus Artist Studio Tour so be sure to stop by. But if you are like a good majority of us who do not live in Brooklyn you can enjoy this virtual tour. Also, if you haven't already, be sure to check out a q&a Elbow-Toe did last year, definitely one of my very favorite q&a's I've done.