porcelain wall bud vases

These sculptures are amazing! Each piece is one of a kind based on how it is glazed and constructed. Check out more on Ryan Takaba's Etsy shop.

New shop

My Etsy shop was getting a bit full so I opened another Etsy shop just for my vinyl designs. Please check it out!

96 degrees

It got really hot outside today but it remained nice and cool inside. Living in a home with stone floors and walls is wonderful! Floyd didn't spend too much time outside today.

Decals

lime green, mint & orange

For those of you who ordered some of my decals, they will finally be shipping out this week. I ordered a bunch of vinyl colors from my readers suggestions and I'm so surprised how great they look in color. Thanks everyone!

Interview: Kareem Rizk

Name: Kareem Rizk
Occupation: Artist
Location: Melbourne, Australia

1. What kind of art do you make?

I make collage art - both handmade and digital. The majority however is handmade. My digital work started out as an experimentation in trying to mimic the tactile qualities of handmade work (scratches, creases, stains etc.).

Collage is my sole technique but I use a variety of mixed mediums including acrylic, oil pastel, pencil, letter press, acrylic transfers and solvent transfers. I work mostly on paper and canvas. I ’ve also applied my technique to working on sneakers.

Links to my work:
www.kareemrizk.com
www.kareemr.blogspot.com
www.kareemrizk.etsy.com
www.kareemrizk.deviantart.com



2. What do you enjoy most about working in this medium?

The medium of collage is very versatile. The technique can be applied to many different surfaces and the sources for imagery and graphic elements are almost endless. Everything that I need to make a composition already exists in the form of press images and printed material. All I need to do is find the right elements to construct the desired composition.

As a basis for a composition starts to develop, there is still often a great sense of mystery in not knowing how a work in progress will look in the end. I enjoy the fact that often the final composition cannot be foreseen and so the work evolves as it is put together bit by bit.

I also enjoy the openness to viewer interpretation that the technique of collage can create. As my work comes from a surrealist motivation, the work can be read in many different ways. In the majority of my work there is often no clear-cut message or distinct concept. And so the work is often very open to varied interpretation. - the viewer more often has the privilege of creating their own story from the work. 





3. What challenges have you found in your work?

As my main medium is collage, I source a lot of imagery from old magazines, books and brochures. It can sometimes be a bit challenging when I can’t find the right image or element to fit a certain piece of work e.g. when I’m working on an illustration job or making new gallery work. But it’s a rare occurrence as I have a fairly extensive collection of vintage publications and ephemera.






4. Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in the work of many other collage artists. But I also draw inspiration from the world around me and often from memories. Also I have somewhat of an obsession with retro nostalgia and so I often get inspiration from simple things like dynamic black and white images in vintage magazines, 60 & 70’s graphic elements and typography and also the fashion, cars and culture of these eras.






5. What are your favorite artists, designer or blogs.

Kurt Schwitters
Max Ernst
Hannah Hock
Richard Hamilton
Magritte
Mario Wagner
Eduardo Recife
Brandon McLean
Robert Mars
Charles Wilkin

Biography of Kareem Rizk

Kareem Rizk is a Melbourne based Australian collage artist who graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor in Graphic Design. This course encouraged a rich influence of mixed media techniques within the field of graphic design, which has always been evident in his work.

Rizk’s initial ambition was to forge a career as a Graphic Designer. However, it was a short time after the completion of the university course that a more prominent interest in fine art became the focus of his endeavours.

Previous work includes a position as a Graphic Designer for Melbourne‘s No.1 selling newspaper, The Herald Sun, as well as freelance graphic design for various large and small clients.

Working mediums include collage, acrylic, oil pastel, pencil, solvent transfers and acrylic transfers. The work is highly textured and often multi-layered with a nostalgic and weathered quality. Rizk's works can often be vibrant with colour, while others display a very refined or minimal palette.

Rizk's working methods also extend to digital collage with a very gritty and realistic display of texture and layering. The digital work is very much an experimentation in blurring the line between handmade work and digital work.

Rizk's work has been published in numerous magazines and books including Art Review, Empty magazine, Trip magazine, Advanced Photoshop, Rojo magazine, Semi-Permanent Book 2007 & 2009, Computer Arts, Don’t Panic magazine and Desktop magazine.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

2009

Art Whino Gallery: ‘Trapped In Paradise’ - Solo Exhibition
National Harbor, Maryland, USA (May 1st - 31st)

Gallery KG5: ‘Cut & Paste’ - Group show
Stockholm, Sweden (September 17th - October 10th)

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS:

2009

ROJO Artspace: ‘OCHO’ - International Group Exhibitions
Barcelona, Spain & Milan, Italy

Gallery 696: 2nd Birthday Group Show
Melbourne, Australia

Adidas Anniversary - Group show
In association with the Art Whino Gallery
Arlington, USA 

2008

Art Whino Gallery: ‘Inked Souls’ - Group show
National Harbor, Maryland, USA

The Artery: Grand Opening - Group show
Sydney, Australia

The Shoplift Gallery: ‘What We Are’ - Group show
In association with The MacBeth Gallery
London, UK

Phone Booth Gallery: ‘Pulp Fiction’ - Solo exhibition
Los Angeles, USA

Gallery 696: ‘1st Birthday’ - Group show
Melbourne, Australia

Sydney Airport: ‘Wellbeing’ - Group show
In association with Australian Unity
Sydney, Australia

Organizing the garage

I had many guests over this weekend so I didn't have much time to do anything around the house, but I did start painting a small portion of the garage a bright white. Also I'm in the process of getting rid some things in my garage to make room for Al's tools.

I have a beautiful wall oven If anyone is interested I picked it up a few years ago on Craigslist and I have been lugging it around ever since. I don't know if it works but it sure looks cute. I think the owners of it's last home said it worked, but who knows. It's called the Frigidaire custom imperial but it's the wall oven version in aqua. I would have kept it for myself but it won't work in my kitchen. If there is anyone in the souther N.H. area who wants it please let me know. I can send you pictures.

Modern outdoor living

Some of my favorites:

metal mesh lounge chair + cushion

VÄNÖ easy chair


formosa tray table


Modern Wire Chair- Green

She's Got Me Dancing

My husband finds the weirdest things...

Interview: Jim Ward Morris

Name: Jim Ward Morris
Occupation: Art & Design
Where you are located: Bellingham, Washington (USA)

1. What kind of art do you make?

I studied art with John Baldessari at California Institute of the Arts and his postmodern appropriated image ideas are very inspiring to me. Lou Danziger was also teaching design at Cal Arts when I received my MFA degree. His clean minimal midcentuy modern design ideas have also influenced my work. Over time I have created a ridiculously long list of people who in some way, shape or form have influenced me as an artist…here is the short version of my favorites:
Mies Van Der Rohe, Charles Eames, George Nelson, Herman Miller, Arthur Miller, Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson, The Birth of Cool, Jim Jarmusch, Saul Bass, Joseph Eichler, Pierre Koenig, Andy Warhol, Elvis Presley, Seatbelt Bags, VW Bus, The Incredibles, Big Joe Turner, Jonathan Adler, Etsy, Atlantic Records, Capitol Records, Motown, Life Magazine, Russel Wright, Florence Knoll, Arne Jacobsen, Eero Saarinen, Rob & Laura Petrie, Hive, Dwell, Flor, Turntables, Galaxie 500, Luna, Sputnik, Telstar, Cowboys and Poodles, Astro Jetson, Richard Neutra, Motor Scooters, Vespas, Eero Aarnio, Anita Ekberg, Paul Rand, Alvin Lustig, James Bond, Dr Seuss, Man from Uncle, MadMen, Catcher Block, Send Me No Flowers, Vertigo, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Miller James Huggins, North by Northwest, Alan Brady, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Ad Reinhardt, Franz Kline, Ellsworth Kelly, Barnett Newman, Midcentury Art & Design.

I love popular culture, advertising from the 1950's and 1960's and I love my urban lifestyle…so I make art about the things I love.

Visit my site and work at JIMWARDMORRIS.COM



2. What do you enjoy most about working in this medium?

My work begins as printed analog imagery. Each image is transformed to a digital file and designed with color and illustration. I remember Mies Van Der Rohes idea of "less is more" when I begin to make art. This brilliant thought helps me every time. As a young artist I remember not having great museums close by to visit, so for many years my experience with great art was with what could be seen in a magazine or in a history book. To this day I like the way most great art looks on the printed page much better than in real life. My art career started (in Orange County) looking carefully at each advertisement on the pages of Life magazine. I was born in Fullerton California (home to Leo Fender and the original Fender Music Company). After school at Cal Arts I moved to New York. I lived in Manhattan for a while and hung out with people like Robert Longo and Cindy Sherman. Manhattan became too expensive and I did not want to move out to Brooklyn, so I moved back to the West Coast. For years I created (and sold) very large paintings (10X20 feet) in galleries in Los Angeles. The art world in LA was very pretentious so I began to spend more time with people in the music world in LA. They can be just as pretentious, but they understand how to have fun better than the art world does. I began to design and create images for bands who had deals with major record label, bands like Son Volt, Wilco, Dwight Yoakam, Cracker and REM. We all had lots of fun and we all made lots of money. LA and the art & music worlds have changed, and I have changed as well. So, a few years ago I moved to Bellingham Washington. I now live and work in a very cool house built 1956 with my daughter Pearl, my son Huggins, and my wife Carly. Carly is absolutely beautiful and she is much younger than me…but our age difference works out well because, Carly is much smarter than me. Carly looks a lot like Scarlett Johansson meets Marilyn Monroe, and I love her.



3. What challenges have you found in your work?

The biggest challenge I see as an artist is our societies view of what is important. I of course believe art is much more important than the war in Afghanistan or the TV show American Idol. Most would disagree with me, but surely having more art and design in your life is best.

4. What are your favorite artists, designers & blogs.

If forced to make a top 10 list I include: Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Mies Van Der Rohe, Charles Eames, Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Miller James Huggins, Saul Bass, Etsy and Jenn Ski.

Winner!

Zach & Hannah Parris is the winner of one of my decals. Please message me for more info, congrats!

Naïve: The new wave

Grab a copy of Naïve, which is now available. Myself and many other amazing artists are in this book and I can't wait to get my copy. I feel so honored to be a part of it.

*Naïve documents the extraordinary renaissance of Classic Modernism, from the 1940s to 1960s, in contemporary graphic design. This compilation introduces a new wave of young designers who are rediscovering the stylistic elements reminiscent of classic graphic design such as silkscreen printing, classical typography, hand lettering, woodcutting and folk art and integrating them into their work.

Via Orange you lucky

Tweenbots

Robot/People art by Kacie Kinzer

Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal.

Night time

It's here!

I love it so much! It looks just as I imagined it. My next steps are to paint the inside of the garage a bright white and get up some peg board. Currently all of my husband's tools are in the guest room; I'll be so happy to get that room back!

Front yard: I need to mix some peat moss and lime into the dirt to have some healthy grass growing.
Walkway: We have decided to put in 20" square cement stones for the front walkway. We still need to shop around for supplies.

Yippeee!

My garage door gets installed tomorrow! I will definitely take some before and after photo's and also some night photo's! Yippee!

Tulip Fields

Sorry about the lack of posts, I've been so busy this week working and playing in the yard. Enjoy these images of Dutch tulip fields via Apartment Therapy.

Interview with CZM

Name: CZM
Occupation: Artist & Designer
Where you are located: Pittsburgh

1. What kind of art/craft do you make?
Wire sculpture, and paintings inspired by mid-century design.

2. What do you enjoy most about working in this medium?
I really enjoy painting with gouache. It has a wonderful matte look and is easy to get a very smooth workable consistency. I also love soldering. I am absolutley no expert, and don't even try to be - my joints are hilarious and lumpy, but working molten metal is just so satisfying.



3. What challenges have you found in your work?
The hardest thing is to create a work with that classic mid-century asthetic without being redundant.

4. Where do you find inspiration?
Old magazines, album covers, book covers, film imagery, catalogs, other artists... I have some fabulous vintage art and decorating magazines that I reference all the time. Research is one of the most fun and time consuming parts in creating my work.



5. What are your favorite artists, designers or blogs.
WOW! Too many to count, I discover and fall in love with some new artist every day! Jim Flora has always been close to my heart, and Bernard Buffet, though Oswaldo Guayasamin is my latest obsession. I've been collecting local Pittsburgh artists as well, this is where Warhol was trained and I've come across pieces by some of his contemporaries. It's very exciting!

6. Where can we purchase your work?
El Gato Gomez is my personal website. I display available works and sold pieces. I accept commissions and will reproduce sold pieces with variations, so all works are original.
I also sell on Ebay through Design Revolution LLC. The seller ID is modasahatter.

7. Do you have any new projects in the works?
Always, if you visit my site you will see how my work morphs and mutates constantly. I have some sort of artistic A.D.D. and I find myself jumping around quite a bit. I have a kiln now, so I plan to get started on some ceramic pieces as soon as it gets a little warmer outside.

New Jenn Ski Vinyl Decal Contest!

A few weeks ago I purchased a vinyl cutter and started slowly playing with it, learning how to use it and coming up with different designs to cut. Well, today is the day I formally announce my new line of vinyl decals!

Vinyl decals are a fun and easy way to turn any surface into art. They add a stylish decorative touch to walls, windows, doors, mirrors, computer cases, coffee tables, or any other flat surface. The durable vinyl material will not peel or fall off on its own once applied, yet it can be easily removed if necessary, without damaging the surface. An illustrated instructions sheet is included with my decals to guide you through the application process.

Anyway, vinyl is available in a variety of colors - which is where you come in: Post a comment letting me know which three of the following colors you like the best, and you'll be entered into a contest to win a free vinyl decal! Use the color chart below for reference:



And be sure to look for more decal designs in my Etsy shop coming up in the following weeks!


Contest ends next Monday April 20th at 11:59 PM EST (US)

Before and after: Stone Patio (work in progress)

After


I took some images last week of my patio area and the pictures looked so bad I didn't want to show you. But yesterday I added some rocks, dirt, mulch and removed some old bushes. It's looking so much better now, I can't wait to get a patio set!

That water in the back is my vernal pond, which is currently home to hundreds of mating frogs and one lonely mallard duck.