Artist Watch: Dan McCarthy

Monday was a great day because a silkscreen print that I have been patiently waiting for finally arrived!  I have been a fan of Dan McCarthy's work for years now and I'm so excited to have his 'Silence is Golden' print hanging in the studio.  It's stunning in person, the image below does not do it justice:

His work reminds me of Eyvind Earle's work-- graphic, bright colors, and nature based images.  But McCarthy also does these amazing gradients in his prints that add atmosphere and mood to the pieces.  The bright colors against stark black images really pull you in.  Sometimes he's subtle with the color, other times he's full on rainbow!

Check out more of Dan McCarthy's work here and his most recent show here.

-- Jess

What's Popped Up: Flanimals by Ricky Gervais

This hilarious book by comedian Ricky Gervais features fantastic pop-ups by veteran paper engineer Richard Ferguson with illustrations by Rob Steen (published by Candlewick in 2009). Gervais introduces us to Mernimbler, Grob, Bletchling and many other "pointless ugly creatures" from the Flanimal kingdom. Ferguson matches Gervais' humor with clever "poppy-upness."

Weekly Beast: Nudibranch

Nudibranch is a soft mollusk that sheds its shell after their larval stage.  What is really astonishing about these creatures is their striking patterns and colors!  The Colour Lovers blog actually have a really great article on the color breakdowns of each one.

Though there are over 3,000 described species, scientists believe that is only half of the nudibranchs out there!

Here's a few of my favorites!

~ Jess

Artist Watch: Lisa Nilsson

Quilling, also known as paper filigree, is the art of rolling or coiling
thin strips of colored paper to form a pattern or design. This practice,
which can be traced back as early as the 14th century, has been elegantly
repurposed by artist Lisa Nilsson in the form of anatomical diagrams and
cross-sections. I admire her absolute dedication to the art and science in
every piece she shows, you can find more of her work on her website.

www.lisanilssonart.com

Word of the Day: Purlieu

purlieu \PUR-loo\ noun

1. A place where one may range at large; confines or bounds.
2. A person's haunt or resort.
3. An outlying district or region, as of a town or city.

Origin:
Purlieu is an alteration (simulating French lieu, "place") of earlier parlewe, "of a forest".

Artist Watch: Joe Kievitt

Meticulously hand drawn and colored, one would believe that these pieces were digitally made and printed.  But if you look close enough there might be one blotch or something slightly not symmetrical that will be the sign that these were hand made.  Joe Kievitt is behind these beautiful drawings.  The mosaics are probably my favorite, but the crispness of the lines and the the even tones of color are astonishing.  Check out more of his work at his website.

--Jess

What's Popped Up: The Castaway Pirates by Ray Marshall

I'm always on the lookout for a clever, fun pop-up book. The Castaway Pirates (Chronicle Books, 2008), written and engineered by Ray Marshall and illustrated by Wilson Swain, is among my favorites. The book's jaunty rhyme is very funny and ends with a lucky twist, and the pop-ups and art  have unique styles. On his website, Ray Marshall posted a great explanation of how his book was made, from the original idea to the final production. If you're curious about the process of making a pop-up book, I recommend it!

Word of the Day: Gravitas

Gravitas \GRAV-uh-tahs\ noun

High seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject)

Gravitas comes from the Latin word gravitas "heaviness, seriousness" from gravis "heavy, serious"

Artist Watch: Bovey Lee

When one mixes Chinese calligraphy, painting, and digital work you get the amazing artist Bovey Lee.  Lee uses all of these disciplines to create wonderfully intricate cut paper art that are full of life.  She has exhibited her work all over the world and has won awards as well.

Even though the pieces are usually massive, they'll so delicate and painstakingly intricate.  Check out some of her work below and definitely dive into her website!

-- Jess