34 things :: some art i like

sharing some art i've quite liked over the past while. i think it would be fun to have a huge wall of indie art, don't you? i've got a few pieces already, these are some i'd love to add to my collection.

images via artists as listed below

{clockwise from top left}

pheasant wing bird art large original watercolor painting :: golly bard

blue tit limited edition print :: bee things

monsieur II print :: cosas minimas by blanca gomez

les ciseaux :: evajuliet atelier

whooping crane limited edition print :: bee things

terrarium cork bottle :: quill and fox

tail feather no 2 large original watercolor painting :: golly bard

terrarium glass case :: quill and fox

{centre}

fortune favors the brave print :: small talk studio

city prints by albie designs

i absolutely love these city prints by portland artist kim of albie designs. the colours are amazing, i love the yellow + orange that figure heavily in her palettes, whether they're bold or more subdued. gorgeous.

really wish there was one for vancouver, i'd snap it up in a second. maybe she'll visit here someday and be inspired to make one. i can always hope!

images via albie designs

my city

vancouver.

british columbia love :: poppy & pinecone

my city

neighbourhoods.

vancouver, poster in stanley park green :: ork posters

my city

love this skyline.

vancouver, british columbia - city skyline series :: architette studios

my city

my heart.

vancouver map art poster :: mr city printing

little wooden villages

i am completely smitten by these little wooden town art sculptures by the haunted hollow tree on etsy. i think they are simply perfect. in fact, i think the whole shop is fantastic.

images via the haunted hollow tree

zac freeman

my husband and i stumbled across this incredible art a couple months ago. artist zac freeman has been working on his assemblage series for 12 years now, and i think the level of commitment to his work is simply incredible. built completely with found objects, junk, and garbage, assembled on boards, zac creates these very thoughtful works of art.

looking at the images again today, i am still totally blown away by the incredibly detailed work, and the emotions conveyed in the faces. click on each image in his portfolio, and after seeing the whole piece, click again to see a detailed section. you will be amazed at the bits + pieces of random stuff, carefully chosen, carefully thought out, all placed just so.

i really like what zac says about the junk he uses in this art, how it is "more powerful being present. {...} and carries energy in and of itself." i think you can imagine his process, choosing the pieces that will make up each portrait, incorporating their energy into the feeling of the art. art with purpose, and visually stunning at that.

all images used with permission of artist zac freeman. visit his website here.

affordable art :: leah duncan

images via leah duncan on etsy.

i'm totally smitten with leah duncan's beautiful prints. i love the subtle colours, patterned geometrics, and simple yet striking compositions. how am i to choose which one to get for my workspace? her tea towels would also be pretty perfect for my new kitchen. decisions, decisions.

waiting for spring

i've had this print bookmarked for some time now. to me, it seems like the figure in the canoe is trying to choose between two seasons, fall or winter. i know which way i'd go, cause after winter comes spring, and right now i am just dying for spring. how about you?

inside or outside :: illustration by dadu shin, found on in print

cityscapes

i adore these skyline prints by chicago artist erin burke, found in her sweet etsy shop, yard sale. the combination of muted and bold colours give off a bit of retro appeal, and the linear focus of the illustrations is just right. i love them!

images via yard sale on etsy.

lemon + teal art wall.

images via shops as listed below, clockwise from top left.

rounding out my love for lemon + teal this week is a sweet selection of affordable art, all from my fave shopping stop for great unique art prints. {etsy, of course!} it's fun to imagine an art wall in a select colour scheme. what do you think -- would you hang a whole art wall based around a single colour or theme?

winter coats :: kiki & polly

small map of canada in blues and greens :: english muffin shop

crocodile scales :: farouche

letterpress print - wasted time :: sapling press

blue block flowers - limited edition giclee print :: eloise renouf

life is a daring adventure letterpress print [teal] :: happy deliveries

sparkle

i'm feeling in need of a little sparkle today. can you feel it? the holidays are coming...

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

twinkle - fine art photograph :: irene suchocki

sparkle - 5x7 inch print :: abby try again

festival - 5x5 fine art photograph print :: monko photography

downpour

i'm looking for some brightness to liven up this rainy + dark vancouver day.

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

cheerful yellow wellie boot print :: sloe gin fizz

cheer up :: paper pattern silk

bird bath, limited edition colorful bird art aceo :: artocrat by pragya k

the rain cloud - print :: tine wiggens

shanna murray

artist - stylist - optimist. i love shanna murray's tagline, isn't it divine? i have always been an optimist, i just believe that things will work out in the end. i'm not saying i don't have thoughts of doubt, insecurity, and occasional hopelessness. who doesn't have those moments? but i do tend to look at the bright side over all. life just feels better that way.

anyhow, tangent aside, i just wanted to share the amazing wall decals by shanna murray. i know these have made the design blog rounds, but i've had decorating on my mind since our little one got into a big girl bed a couple weeks back. i want to finalize choices for her wall art. i've collected a couple of prints from etsy, and am on the hunt for a couple more. i will also be hanging julie morstad's alphabet cards, with baker's twine + mini clothes pegs. i feel like one of shanna's wall decals would be just right. i'm thinking this one, shown above, in charcoal. [her walls are palest greige, called dove wing]

though i also really love the sentiment here. i love you more than all the stars. isn't it true? sigh, so sweet. the garlands are awesome, too. i think it would be great to frame a whole wall of photos in these decals, like you see below. fun!

images via shanna murray on big cartel.

::::::

as an aside, i'm in the thick of the first week of kindergarten, getting used to a new, early routine and new activities. i've also volunteered to be assistant coach for said kindergartner's soccer team [i know, in all my 'spare' time]. between meetings + forms + practices on top of a more limited work schedule + starting holiday prep, i'm feeling a little swamped! i hope you understand my being a tad scarce in the parts. i promise to keep posting when i can, i am really missing the everyday...

also, i listed these hallowe'en cuties in my shop on monday. what do you think? who's your favourite spook? little o has staked his claim on frankenstein!

do what you love

do what you love what you do. 8x10 art print :: letterhappy by christen strang

please excuse my slight presence in these parts. i'm working away, doing what i love. i promise to be around more soon! i'd love it if you'd stick around.

swift work

while i was gathering art to show in my last post, i was reminded of how much i love jessica swift's work. the colours are amazing, she often uses combinations that are uncommon and unexpected. gorgeous, unique, love! the layered effect of her artwork is incredible, i love the way she incorporates the organic patterns she creates into each piece. besides the lovely paintings, jessica also has a number of sweet inspirational prints in her shop. have a look!

images via jessica swift on etsy

bonus :: jessica is having a one-day-sale to celebrate her birthday, today only! details here. the sale's over, but you can still snap up some of jessica's gorgeous work!

vegetables

this beautifully photographed post on poppytalk this morning had me thinking about vegetable gardens. someday, i would love to have a wonderful back yard plot where i can grow some of my own. i have fond childhood memories of going out back and picking fresh, crisp lettuce for dinner. do you grow your own food? what are your favourite things to grow?

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

single vegetable portrait card :: chavah's garden

beet gem :: vegetable gems

tomato plant original painting :: specific flavour

impromptu getaway

these dreamy pieces by lisa golightly perfectly illustrate the relaxed summertime feel of our quick getaway to whistler this weekend. lots of time spent at the lake, by the pool, and generally having fun in the sun. somehow, 36 hours feels like a whole lot more when it's spent being completely carefree.

images via kiki & polly on etsy

visit lisa's amazing etsy shop and kiki & polly website to find more beautiful pieces of art like the ones above. i have always been enamoured by her paintings, and i think you'll love them, too.

pencils as stilts

i am absolutely smitten with illustrator julie morstad's work. i've long been a fan, and i have to say i love pretty much anything and everything that she produces. it makes me smile to think that she's a local talent [yay, vancouver!]. every time my son + i read one of her books, we both giggle over the delightful drawings. my daughter's room is adorned with the artist's abc flash cards, hung with mini clothes pegs on baker's twine. i think julie's work touches such a wide range of people. the hauntingly beautiful faces, saturated colours, playful scenarios. adults will have a little chuckle from the tongue in cheek imagery, while children are drawn to the whimsy + fun.

images via julie morstad

i just love the idea of pencils as stilts. i'd like to see what these girls draw with their feet, as they dance and twirl through their day. birds as kites, gluttonous girls who've imbibed in too much tea, men growing in fields of poppies. it's all just too wonderful. head over to julie morstad's site for more of her portfolio, and her shop, stocked with a handful of delightful prints.