Clockwise from top left: "Rush Less Play More" by the big harumph; "Only between us (I love you)" by La Signora Bon Bon - Francesca Capellini; Sriracha sauce bottle by Herman Marie - Kim Laurenti; and Cotton clouds over the railway by Christina B Studio.

(Clockwise from top left: "The Tea Party" by Maria Pace-Wynters; Alice by Lisa Chow; "Pink Flowering Gum" by Ola Liola; and "T is for Thonet" by Pey Lu.)

It's been a while since I did one of these, and I missed looking through all the dreamy art on Etsy. Today I'm happy to spend a little while in fantasy land with tea parties and flowers and Thonet chairs. Want to join me? :)

Over, Under, Next

A few weeks ago, we went to see "Over, Under, Next: Experiments in Mixed Media 1913-Present" at the Hirshhorn. Normally, I'm not able to take photos in most exhibitions, but since most of the works in this particular exhibition came from the Hirshhorn's permanent collection, I was a happy snapper all day. Here are a few highlights:

Flower Overcoat, Yayoi Kusama

Medici Princess, Joseph Cornell

Aviary with Parrot and Drawers, Joseph Cornell

?, Joseph Cornell (Anyone know the title of this one? Can't remember.)

Buddha of Las Cruces (detail), Terry Allen

Fish, Alexander Calder

Peter studying Stalingrad (Victory in the East) by Hans Richter

Untitled, Doris Salcedo

Ruth Szowie, Ray Johnson

From Continent to Continent, Mario Merz

Soundsuit, Nick Cave

This Way In, Jim Hodges

Yours truly looking through Damien Hirst's The Asthmatic Escaped II

I was happy to see a lot of my favorite artists represented in this collection, including many who aren't pictured here. I have such a soft spot for collage, assemblage, found object, and mixed-media art in general. It's like the best mix of artistic talent and creativity combined with a bit of the unexpected, a dash of happenstance that makes each piece unique. And when put in context of the history of art, works like these are nothing short of revolutionary.

The exhibition runs until September 8, and it's definitely worth checking out if you're in town. I should mention, though, that a large part of the 3rd floor of the Hirshhorn will be closed all summer due to budget cuts (fewer security guards) thanks to sequestration. Bummer. There's still a lot to see, though, in the lower levels.

And as always, I encourage you to seek out art exhibitions in your town too; you'll be happy you did. :)

Clockwise from top left: "Bicycle Machine That Makes Storms" by Jesús Perea; "Birds I Have Known" by Susan Farrington; Black and White and Red All Over original assemblage collage by Elizabeth Rosen; "Murky Water 03" by doubleparlour; and The Walk mixed media original drawing on clay by Double Fox Studio.

All of these pieces have a folk art feel, combined with some use of collage/assemblage/mixed media. I like the idea of mixing up materials and combining originals with prints while keeping to a similar color palette. It makes a strong statement, don't you think? And this collection is endlessly interesting...so many things to look at.

Clockwise from top left: "Full Moon" by The Pixel Files; "Le Lapin Jaune" by Sarah Ryan; Nour by Erin Jorgensen; and "As Lucy Watches, Jules Collects the First Snowflakes of Winter" by Amanda Blake.

I guess if I had to pin down a theme for this week's collection, I'd say it's about natural wonders and celestial things, the importance of light balanced by dark. But sometimes things just fit without a lot of exposition and analysis (said every artist to every art critic ever-haha).

Clockwise from top left: "Octobre" by aliette; "Disappearing Landscape II" and "The Flying Exercise" both by Jesús Perea; and "Beach Towels" by Carl Christensen.

I don't know about you, but this collection is making me crazy for warmer weather! It makes me want to go to some hot place and spend the day exploring and swimming. I love all the saturated washes of color, the cute mushrooms and whimsical, diving ladies. Looking at these happy prints on my wall would easily take my mind off my frozen toes for at least a few minutes every day. :)

Fun Valentine's Day Gift Guide

(miniature movable Valentine dolls by Jordan Grace Owens)

With Valentine's Day just a couple of weeks away, I thought I'd share a fun gift guide with all the things men stereotypically give women on this occasion, only a bit more tongue-in-cheek. Here are some popular gift ideas, in no particular order:

(brass diamond studs by Rachel Pfeffer; and mini gem studs by gemagenta)

(pretty pink cake pops soap by Mad City Soap; giant ice cream cone lamp from perpetual kid; cotton candy twist sugar scrub by Mad City Soap; and conversation hearts iphone case from shannonblue)

(black lace headband by branchbound; gold-dipped lace bow necklace by made by maru; vintage-inspired black lace and butterflies postcards from archiviogotico; and vintage lace necklaces by That Old Blue House)

(floral birdhouse necklace by Peaches and Pebbles; and "Nightshade" by Janet Hill).

Are you a traditionalist when it comes to Valentine's Day or do you prefer slightly offbeat gifts? I'm sure you could guess that I prefer handmade over anything else, but I've never been one to turn down chocolates either. :)

(Top to bottom: Food Chain by Retro Whale - Kelly Puissegur; "Black Sun Stegosaurus Print" by Amy Sullivan; Donuts by RozArt; and "Twilight" by Laura George - Laura Berger.)

This week's collection is about color and fun and texture and awesomeness. What more do you need?

(Clockwise from top left: Striation 43 by Elvia Perrin; Scalloped Line Drawing by Missouri Bend Musings - Patti Roberts-Pizzuto; On the Way by Valeria Kondor; and "Moon-faced Margalo" by Tricia Scott.)

40 Under 40

I finally went to see 40 Under 40 at The Renwick Gallery, an exhibit featuring 40 artists under the age of 40 who all work in various craft media. The exhibit explores the future of craft and the changing notions of craft in the art world. I won't go into a large discussion here about craft versus art; I wrote a bit on that topic here. But I do want to write that the main impression I took away from this exhibit was one of scale. Several of the pieces are large, very large installations in fact, and they reinforced something I've been thinking about a lot this past year. I realized I have a tendency to think "small" when working on craft projects, whether because of time constraints or financial constraints or some other self-imposed limits. Restrictions can push us to new discoveries, but they can also force us to be too narrow in our approach. I've been making an effort to think bigger, not just in literal terms of the scale of my projects, but the reach of my work, the intended audience, the potential imprint. These are all very big and potentially scary ideas but necessary if I'm to continue to grow as an artist and maker. After all, isn't that why we're all here?

Photos aren't allowed inside the exhibition, of course, so I borrowed these from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's flickr pool for the show. (Click on images to go directly to source.)



To find out more about the artists whose work is pictured, please visit the exhibition site; there are links to short videos on each artist that introduce them and show a bit about how they work--fascinating stuff.

(Clockwise from top left: altered vintage matchbox from Lobster and Swan; "Milkweed Pod" by Amber Alexander; ceramic still life by House of Ceramics; "So Long As Nothing Changes" by Windy Lane Studio; "Seasonal Eggs" by Leah Duncan.)

This week's Instant Art Collection is full of still lifes, botanical bits and bobs, and nature...the kind of collection likely to appeal to the amateur botanist, archaeologist, or someone who simply loves to display beautiful objects. If I had more space and more funds at my disposal, I'd have a room chock-full of handmade artifacts, natural wonders and other curiosities.

Are you a collector too?

(Clockwise from top left: collage/painting by Karine Léger; textured pottery vase by White Earth Studio; paper necklace by Elsa Mora; string painting by Andrea Rogers; and "Plumed Bird of Paradise" by Aly Parrott.)

If you're the type of person who secretly wants to touch all of the art in the museum, this is the collection for you! (I mean, really, who hasn't wanted to run their fingers along a smooth marble statue, or grab hold of a wooley fiber art piece hanging on the wall?)

I love texture, and I get excited when I see artists mixing traditional "craft" with "high art." All of these pieces share a natural, organic feel...a rawness paired with precision. I feel compelled to note these are all women artists as well. In the 1970s, feminist artists went a long way to prove that craft was not "lesser" because it was so-called "women's work" or work made in the home...that craft need not be purely functional. This discussion is ongoing in the art world, though now I see more and more male artists exploring traditional craft media as well, and I hope it's losing some of the stigma.

When a piece of art affects you completely, when you leave an exhibit and keep thinking about it for days, it doesn't matter what media the artist used to get the message across. In my opinion, there's no high or low art, only successful or unsuccessful, in terms of whether the artist achieved what he or she was trying to do, and how it impacts viewers. And of course, objects or art pieces that are simply beautiful on their own need no classification.

(From top to bottom: "Sometimes I Act Like Myself" by Tim Sebright; "Ode to the Pollinators" by Theater Clouds - Elly Mackay; "Ember Bunny" by Tiny Fawn - Darrah Gooden; "Mae" by Holli - Paola Zakimi; finger puppet box by Lazy Animals; and hand-felted baby mobile by Sheep Creek Needlecraft - Andrea Burnett.)

I started out doing a completely different collection this week, then stumbled upon Tim Sebright's illustration and was so inspired by it I decided to abandon that post in favor of a nursery collection. None of the art featured here is strictly off-limits for those of us who don't have any bambinos, of course. I would gladly hang any of these awesome pieces in my apartment.

I love the retro color palette and whimsy of Sebright's illustration; the texture, layers and light in "Ode to the Pollinators" and "Ember Bunny"; the sweet, storybook feel and loose drawing in Holli's illustration; the super cute finger puppets (that mini pastel bunting kills me); and the wonderful texture and soft forms in the needle-felted mobile. All of these pieces have a soft color palette and a serene, calming affect, don't you think?

You can see more Instant Art Collections here.

Instant Art Collection

I get emails from readers all the time asking for art recommendations. And people sometimes tell me they have trouble navigating Etsy or that the sheer number of results when they search for a print is overwhelming. I know. There are A LOT of shops on Etsy these days, and believe me, I experience this frustration on a daily basis both as a buyer browsing and as a seller trying to get my shop noticed among the thousands.

I love responding to reader emails individually, but since this seems to be a common query, I thought, "Why don't I start a regular feature on the blog with collections of art I think would go well together?" And here's the first collection: one for the illustration lover who enjoys plays on perspective...that things aren't always what they seem. Add to that visually striking line work and a pleasing color palette, and I think this is a grouping you wouldn't quickly tire of looking at.

(Clockwise from top left: "UpsideDown" by Jennifer Davis; modern mobile: himmeli no. 1 by AMradio; "Let's Make a Pile" by Leah Duncan; and Giclee Print "2,3,4" by Jenn Ski.)

What do you think? Are there any artists you would add to this collection?

Do Not Be Scared

I've been meaning to share these brilliant 3d box frames I got from my pal Paul since last November. I wrote about his shop here last year and immediately started saving my paypal pennies to purchase some of his work. I absolutely love his "Do Not Be Scared" series, which will be no surprise to anyone who reads this blog. (Art that combines animals, vintage illustrations, and a sense of humor?? It's like a trifecta of awesomeness.) Paul took a bit of a break from Etsy for the best reason ever, to become a dad, but now his shop is back open! So I guess the little guy is fending for himself now. ;)