A blog about making art, diy and journey of being a new mommy.
August
In this monthly collection, we are featuring some of the latest illustrations, digital art, sketches acryllic and watercolour paintings by Stigy Hanrahan, Sarah Plasencia, Mona Frey and many more. Check them out as follows.
A few weeks ago I published an interview with a new art licensing agency called Jennifer Nelson Artists. I really liked their fresh and unique work so I decided to publish all the artists there, starting with the amazing Jennifer Orkin Lewis, aka August Wren. We share a passion for art and design but also for interviewing artists to help them connect to their communities. Jennifer's interviews can be found here on Riverarts. Jennifer is an illustrator and painter and a RISD graduate in textile design. She lives in a pretty little village just a bit north of NYC on the Hudson River. For many years she was a stylist in fabric manufacturing companies and designed lines for lingerie, children's clothes, and sleepwear, she said. Jennifer bought lots of art from shows like Surtex and Printsource. She got to know all of the design studios, although she didn't paint at all herself in those years. © Jennifer Orkin Lewis "When my son was small I started painting for a design studio that sold to card companies. That was the beginning of starting my own business. I slowly phased out of my job and focused more on my own art. When my son was in high school I realized I would have an empty nest soon and that's when I made a strong decision to become an illustrator. I opened an Etsy store, took many classes, and painted and drew all the time. I started getting licensing and freelance work but it was a long path. The culmination so far is a book I illustrated last summer for Abrams books coming out April 7th. It's called Sitting in Bars with Cake." YOUR FAVORITE DESIGN/ART STYLE: I have so many different styles that could be my favorite, I love Matisse and also American Folk art. I love roaming the Met to see ancient vases and tapestries. I can't leave out mid-century modern and vintage/flea market stuff. There is something inspiring to find in everything it's hard for me to choose just one. But I try to find that spark that speaks to me and create my own language. © Jennifer Orkin Lewis THE MAIN INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR WORK: I find my inspiration everywhere, I particularly love painting flowers and people. But it's the little everyday thoughts and things that cross my path that make up most of my work. I will paint a bouquet of flowers or find some leaves from a walk on a trail, I visit a busy place and look at all the crowds, I see a beautiful teacup or a fancy sweater. I imagine an intricate piece of lace or a butterfly garden. All of these things inspire me to paint. THREE (or less) KEY NOTES ON ART & LICENSING: This is my first year showing at Surtex. So far my advice is to start preparing early – create new art, your banners, a portfolio book. It's so much work and you don't want to be scrambling at the end. And don't be afraid to show your work. WHAT YOU REALLY LOVE, I.E. YOUR PASSION: I really love ice cream. Black raspberry chip. That makes me very happy. The beach, traveling with my husband and son and sitting on my porch in the warm weather with the sun on my face for a mid afternoon break. © Jennifer Orkin Lewis WHAT YOU DON'T REALLY LIKE: I hate migraines and cold weather. A lot. A FAVORITE SOMETHING: Speaking on the phone with my son who is in Florence for a semester. A MEMORABLE EVENT IN YOUR LIFE: Having lunch on a rock in Northern Thailand with elephants bathing in the water beside us. And having my sketchbook featured in Uppercase magazine. A FUN MEMORY: I had the most delicious peach I have ever eaten from a farm stand in Sicily on my honeymoon. It's been many years and I can still taste it; I've never had another peach that great. Another is on a trip to Paris. I stopped into the Notre Dame cathedral for a minute (for some reason there weren't many tourists) and a choir was singing Gregorian chants, filling the whole space with incredible sound. It was unforgettable. © Jennifer Orkin Lewis YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD AS AN ARTIST: For the past 6 years I've been on the board of our local arts council Riverarts. I've created a blog where I interview artists to introduce them to our community. It's something that has been on the back burner for a little while but I mean to pick up again. I've also started a sketchbook project where I paint for 30 minutes daily and post them on Instagram. I think and hope I have inspired many others to start their own daily practice. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done. THE NEXT CHAPTER IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE: For the last two months I've been lucky enough to have a wonderful agent, Jennifer Nelson. She is smart, encouraging and lovely. I hope to up my whole game in the licensing world. I will be showing for the first time this year at Surtex (Booth 355) with a new collective I've joined called Cloverly with 3 other amazing artists. A HELPFUL TIP TO OTHER ARTISTS: Be yourself. Look at other's work for inspiration but then close it down when you are doing your own. Don't worry about the final outcome during your creative playtime. That's where you discover the most about yourself. © Jennifer Orkin Lewis © Jennifer Orkin Lewis
"...Sooooon..." they chant in a low whisper as the last week of August begins...
Not everyone likes bugs, but you have to admit they’re amazing creatures and often quite beautiful. Let’s make a bug that you won’t mind having in your house — a […]
August Friedrich Schenk (1828-1901), Anguish (Angoisse), 1878, oil on canvas, 151 x 251.2 cm. National Gallery of Victoria - More Art on Facebook and Instagram
FREE August wallpapers — 14 colorful designs to choose from in Sunday and Monday starts (as well as no calendar options) for desktop and smart phone!
Art and Home: The Color Blue - “Blue is therefore most suitable as the color of interior life.” ― William H. Gass, On Being Blue
Welcome to the Concept Thread for the next Monthly Environment / Prop Challenge!
Happy August! We're wrapping up a fun filled Summer and getting ready for Fall. It's that in-between month where I'm not quite ready to give up sunshine, and I'm so ready for cool weather. To download the phone wallpaper go here to save the above image to your phone/tablet. To download your free desktop you can go here. Once you have saved the image you can set it as your background through your system preferences (desktop/screensaver)/control panel (appearance/personalization).*As with all my freebies, please remember these are for personal use only for you to enjoy. Please link back and credit. Thanks!*
Top Of the World by Jim Warren This fine art limited edition gicleé is stretched on canvas and is available in 3 editions, signed and numbered by the artist. Original 30" x 40" Please call the gallery 702-363-4278 Small Limited Edition $555 18" x 24" Medium Limited Edition $885 24" x 30" Large Limited Edition $1110 30" x 40" Contact the gallery for additional options or special requests. 702-363-4278 Framing, AP Embellishment or Customization available. **Dimensions are approximate and exact size may vary.
Acrylic ink on wood — Inc acrilig ar bren — Encre acrylique sur bois J'ai offert cette peinture à des amis — Marie-Thècle et François — pour leur mariage, en août 2010. On peut y voir toute sorte de symboles sur l'amour, sa durée et sa fragilité, mais je n'ai pas peint ce tableau avec ces intentions! ☁ Facebook : www.facebook.com/Valeriane.Leblond.Art. ☂ Website : www.valeriane-leblond.eu ✒ [email protected]
Green Wheat Field (detail), Vincent Van Gogh, 1890
Rocky Mountain Poison by Luana Rubin. 35" x 72". "Water is Life" exhibit, United Nations in Geneva Switzerland. This art quilt tells the story of the Gold King Mine spill into the Animas River near Durango Colorado in August 2015. The orange toxic spill then flowed into the San Juan River, the Navajo Nation, the Colorado River, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, down to the California coast, affecting the drinking water for 20 million people. The mine continues to leak 800 gallons of toxic water per hour, into the Animas River and the downstream waterways. Video interview with artist at UN - Feb 2016: youtu.be/_VTWTswSKqw
Spring has taken forever to arrive…. If I wait one more day, I don’t know what’s going to happen to me! It’s been said that you create your own reality… so here we go…
It’s THAT time of year again! I’ll get to see my collectors and friends in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico at my ANNUAL TEAM SENKARIK COLLECTOR EVENT. It’s a chance for all …
Jack Dylan www.jack-dylan.comAvailable at: bloorcourt.com/arts-and-crafts-fair/marketplace August 13, 2011
Each month, Street Art Today selects the seven most stunning street art murals of the past month. Be amazed by these masterpieces made in August 2017.
So now, in the midst of my first watercolor drawings show, I am thinking about my career, why I do this, is it too selfish not to be a doctor or someone more sensible.
Watercolor Artist Margaret Morales. Margaret Morales is a visual designer, painter and watercolor artist from Philippines.
