Beauty emerging from the ruins

A few weeks ago, I created a mess (by mistake) -

I had glued pretty paper onto the canvas but had to rip it off because it was bubbly.  I finally figured out what to do with my disaster -

I ripped out some more pretty paper and glued it on (this time more carefully) to create a border.  Then, I taped photos into the center of each paper.  I like how the photos are framed by the "antiqued" areas.  It is beauty emerging from the ruins.

Inspired in Saks

Guess what I found last week in the middle of Saks Fifth Avenue?  

Art.  And art that I really like.  I love the colors in this "drip" painting by Kathryn Fortson -

Here is another one -

I think her quote below about being able to feel and hear colors is interesting. 

My other favorite at the Saks "art gallery" was this one -

I would love to have one of these paintings (and by "have" I mean "re-create").  I'll show you my versions next week if they are presentable.

Attraction at the museum

This is the huge sculpture that is currently sitting outside of the High Museum.  It was created by Brian Donnelly to be both "disconcerting" and "delightful".  Everyone definitely stopped to talk about it and take pictures of it.

It is a little cute and creepy at the same time.  What do you think about it?

Two days in the museum

Last week, I spent 2 days at the High Museum.  They are currently showing an exhibit called "Modern Masters" that includes work by Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, and Pollock.

It is an inspiring exhibit.  Unfortunately, the Atlanta museum won't let me show you pictures of the art. However, I do have a photo of one of the Jackson Pollock paintings that I took at the Met in New York in 2008 -

To some people it may look like a mess, but I am fascinated by it.  I can stare at it for a long time. He inspired me to paint this a few years ago -

One of my new favorites is Romare Bearden.  He created some amazing collages depicting life in Harlem in the 1920's and 30's.  You can go to http://www.high.org/moma.aspx#/Picasso-to-Warhol/video to see his work as well as the others.   

Chastain Park Arts Festival

I had a wonderful time at the Chastain Park Arts Festival (open until 6:00 today and again 11-5 tomorrow).  I've been to enough arts festivals this season that the vendors are starting to remember me.  I went to this festival intent on actually buying some items for Christmas presents, but I also ended up buying something for myself and learning about new artistic techniques that I would love to try one day. 

The first artist I came across was Patricia DiBona (www.dibonadesigns.com).  I love her paintings and prints.  They include layers of beeswax, which gives them an interesting look and feel -

And she makes beautiful antique looking jewelry that include initials or prints of her paintings -

Next, Julie Sola's layered ink prints (http://www.fatcrowpress.com/) intrigued me -

She carves the image into a block of wood and then prints them onto paper using a press or hand rubbing -

I bought one of her bird prints for my daughter's bedroom -

I think it looks good next to my "angry pink" painting -

Let me divert for a moment into the fashion of this Arts Festival.  Every woman seemed to be wearing scarves and sporting boots over their skinny jeans (actually the same outfit I was wearing).   I am fascinated when I go somewhere and everyone is wearing the same thing.  This sweater stood out from the crowd -

It was very cold, so the fingerless gloves were popular with the artists -

She bought them from www.sundancecatalog.com.  The funny thing is that this is the second time I've photographed this jewelry maker's clothes, and both times we've talked so much about the clothes that I forgot to take pictures of her jewelry.  If you read this, send me your website info, so I can plug your jewelry.

These fingerless leopard gloves belong to Kristi Hyde (www.kristihyde.com).  She purchase them at Urban Outfitters.  I loved the bird necklace that she had on display -

I thought Maggie Grier with her Fall colored scarf looked so pretty sitting in the sun that I stopped to take her picture -

Here is her beautiful artwork (maggiegrier@aol.com) -

Sarah Tams' jewelry (www.routethirteen.com) is just my style (and I thought she looked cute in her scarf and glasses) -

  Even though I was trying to shop for other people, I bought myself a little something -

I also loved the jewelry of Delias Thompson (www.deliasstudioinc.com) -

If anyone wants to buy me something for Christmas, you can shop at either of those last two vendors (especially the circle necklaces from Route Thirteen or the star necklace pictured above). 

I bought a Christmas present for one of my younger family members from Tom Kat Originals (www.TomKatOriginals.weebly.com).  I can't reveal exactly which one in case they read this, but here are some of their leather accessories -

And finally, I have to mention Alan Mogensen (www.alanmogensen.com), because we had such a nice conversation about art and photography.  He still uses film and emphasizes the eye of the photographer over the equipment.  Here are a couple of the beautifully colorful photographs that he had on display (photos were obtained from his website) -

If you get a chance, stop by to see these wonderful artists in lovely Chastain Park.



City girl goes country...and finds art

This past weekend, we went to visit my husband's sister and her family in Missouri.  They live out in the country where it takes them 30 minutes to get anywhere.  My daughter argued with her cousin when she claimed they live in the suburbs.  The suburbs of what? 

All good natured kidding aside, I am fascinated by how different their surroundings are from mine -



They also have some interesting decor with all of the animals they have killed and hung on their wall -

The turkey was killed by Marlee, my niece, when she was 10.  In addition to being a good hunter, she's always been artistic.  During her hunting and animal phase, she drew this picture and left it at my house -



She is now 16 and has moved onto cities and collages - two subjects I currently love as well -

Here are her dressers -

And her drawing of the Van Gogh brothers -

She has also painted the sides of the school softball dugouts -

I can't wait to see what she does next.  I love finding interesting beauty in unexpected places.