Inspiration: Jo Oakley

'Through her eyes'

Mixed media on canvas 176x96cm 

I saw this painting on Pinterest this morning and immediately went looking for more. I found my way to the artists's web site and discovered a whole collection of paintings one more gorgeous than the next. This is the work of London-based artist, Jo Oakley. I am fully in love and so want to be able to see these in person. Her artist statement went right through my heart. 

'The calm before the storm'


mixed media on canvas 120x100cm

'Tin table and snowdrops'

mixed media on canvas 80x80cm

'Forget me not'

mixed media on canvas 152x91cm 

'She is waiting'

Mixed media 152x91cm

'He's on his way'

Mixed media on linen

Ann Arbor Art Center's A2 Art & Brew

This Thursday, September 26 is the Ann Arbor Art Center's A2 Art & Brew Pub Crawl. A fundraiser for the Art Center, participants will sample featured brews at Mash Bar, the Wolverine (hosted at the Ann Arbor Art Center), Jolly Pumpkin, Arbor Brewing Company, the Old German and Bill's Beer Garden.

Six local artists were paired with the breweries to create a piece of art based on their featured brew on tap for the event. Above is the painting I did inspired by the Wolverine's Gulo Gulo India Pale Lager. I think my wolverine has had a few too many—he doesn't quite look fierce?! 

Pub crawl participants will be asked to vote on Best Brew, Best Bite and Best Original Work of Art. The artist whose work receives the most votes will receive $500, so please get out the vote!! The paintings are on display this week in the Ann Arbor Art Center front windows and voting will be done by text. I'll let you know when I have more details. 

Wild Spring Ride limited edition print

Tada! One of the things I mentioned in my latest newsletter was that I was going to be releasing a few limited edition prints, originals and handprinted items. Some of you may have seen the handprinted giraffe onesies I made for the Handmade Arcade in Pittsburgh or on Saturday at Blue House. I haven't posted those online yet (I'm still trying to figure out the best way to photograph them), but what I do have is my first ever limited edition print. Called Wild Spring Ride, this is an edition of 50 — each signed, titled and numbered and packaged with a Statement of Reproduction to authenticate the edition.

It's a piece that I developed during the Get Your Paint On workshop with Lisa Congdon and Mati McDonough earlier this spring. It is a complete departure in technique for me as it is all painting — no drawing. Using the work of Jennifer Davis as inspiration, this is where my mind flowed—and I have to say I like it! Jennifer's color palette is predominantly pastels, which I usually am not a fan of but she does so in a way that feels menacing and edgy yet oddly appealing. I definitely recommend taking a stroll through her shop or portfolio. And I would also highly recommend the Get Your Paint On course if you are looking to spark your creativity — no experience necessary! I really enjoyed this process and hope to keep up with the painting and develop it more in the coming year or so.

Wednesday afternoon painterly inspiration

I was introduced to Danna Ray's work through Get Your Paint On, the online painting course I took with Lisa Congdon and Mati McDonough. I think it's just magical. Beautiful, beautiful magic — perfect for a rainy Wednesday afternoon. The best part? No, it's not that we share a last name, though that's pretty cool, but it's that she has an Etsy shop where you can buy prints of these beauties…

Get Your Paint On

 

Here's a look at my desk these days. I signed on to take a fantastic online painting course called Get Your Paint On with two artists I greatly admire: Mati McDonough and Lisa Congdon. It's a five-week course and we're already into week four — I don't want it to be over so quickly.  

Acrylic on Illustration Board

If you're familiar with my artwork and shop, you may have noticed that it is dominated by hand drawings that are colored digitally. I've been itching to get my hand back into more of the process painting and/or printmaking.  My prior experience with painting had kind of dead-ended. I had found a technique whose outcome I really liked, but only now am I realizing that I didn't like the actual painting process. I think that's why I slowly moved away from that to the digital. But this class has definitely jump-started my engines and I am really enjoying the process. 

Acrylic on Gesso Board

I'm working with acrylics and am quite a slow painter and decision-maker so I am about a week behind in the assignments, but I'm okay with that. I'm just enjoying the exploration process and am so glad I signed on. It is an incredibly supportive atmosphere and I would encourage anyone who has even the slightest interest in painting, or who just needs a creative jolt, to sign on to the next round — it will jiggle your inspiration in just the right ways!

Work in progess

I've always wanted a green kitchen.