Jen September 16th, 2008
If you haven’t been following Seth’s The Pulse, today is the day to start. All 95 participating artists are revealing "where the magic happens". And I don’t know about you but one of my absolute favourite things to do is sneak a peek into an artist’s workspace. Go now! http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/2008/09/pulse-studio-shots-1.html
Jen August 28th, 2008
I received an email from Emma Powell this morning - we "met" via ISABA a looonnnggg time ago when I was heavily into altered books - she was doing her PhD based around using found objects in art and sounds like she’s close to finishing her research. SEVEN years in the making. Go Emma! She also happened to ask for submissions for her Book Exhibition. The above piece by Phiona Richards is one from last year’s, themed ABC. Awesome isn’t it?!? You can read more about this year’s here: http://www.weloveyourbooks.com/index.html
Seque to Seth, because he makes THE greatest books, be sure to visit The Altered Page as he continues The Pulse. So many new faces. So much eye candy. DEEvine stuff!
Jen January 3rd, 2008
It is a blistering -22°C out there today and I’m not sure I’ll be heading out to the studio. Which means no photos of current projects. Which means… Eye Candy day! Lucky you!
Swallowfield - Jennifer Judd-McGee
Jen offers the best in blogging to my mind, a warm homey voice that invites you in, wonderful photographs of the life that surrounds her and captivating art. Jen manages to combine paper and fabric in a new and refreshing way. No Somerset browns here (and yes, I really must let up on SS. But not today.) If I were ever to get back into fabrics this is the sort of direction I’d want to move in. Strong modern graphics and yet, a decided East Coast sensibility. Not that I’m biased or anything. Oh. And proffering popovers’n'tea doesn’t hurt either! http://swallowfield.typepad.com/swallowfield/
Walter Martin & Paloma Muñoz
I followed a link to Martin & Muñoz’s snowglobes, continued to click and was overwhelmed by this couple’s work. YUM! to the highest order. The complete worlds that are encompassed in glass are astounding but they also eschew the cutesy stereotype of "snow globes" and move into a whole OTHER world. Not quite macabre but definitely twisted, these are vignettes that I’m happy to be viewing from the other side of the glass. While visiting be sure to take in their Islands series as well which are equally warped. Past works include the above full body wax casting entitled "Human Candles" which were lit for the duration of the installation melting into galvanized tubs. How could you not love that?!? http://www.martin-munoz.com/
Jen December 13th, 2007
… and so I continue with the surfing, bopping, link clicking, time wasting researching. Again, not sure how I happened upon these two ladies but they continue to lure me back. Y’know my husband has this method of wine choice - he reads a review in the paper - it has to have been rated 3 stars (meaning a good value for money) and preferably be under $10. He buys one bottle, tries it and if he likes it he buys 6 more. The wine cellar eventually overfloweth but you have an inventory of really enjoyable wine. Not such a bad thing.
I kinda do the same thing with links/feeds. On one of my bopping trips, I’ll click link after link after link. (one of my resources is Craft Zine’s blog). The photos always draw me in. No photos? No read. Why yes I have the attention span of a gnat thanks for noticing. If I notice 3 things that I absolutely LOVE, I will put it on my feed list immediately. Sometimes the photos will be "nice" but not over the top gorgeous and then it is the writing that keeps me glued. Again, if I feel a kindred spirit, on the list it goes. Occasionally, I will move on. Clicking a link. Surf away. But something rankles, keeps me thinking about the site that I didn’t subscribe to. If that happens I almost always retrace my steps and add’em. I mean if it really doesn’t work out - they were just one day wonders OR they only update once a month (NOT enough for my high maintenance needs) - I can always delete the feed. So that’s a little history on how I happen to have 3 dozen or so links on my feed list. I am a slave to my large eye candy need what can I say?
A Very Mary Design - "I teach English and I make stuff. Is there really more to know?" so says Mary Ann. Well yes Mary Ann there is. Because your lovely portrayals of your life intrigue. Cute sewn handmade goods abound but it is the undertone, the little glimpses of "other" that make me want to keep on reading. I mean really, anyone that writes a love letter to vintage pillowcases is AOK in my book. I know I’M hooked. http://averymarydesign.blogspot.com/
Dianas Zeug - This blog is pure eye candy. And of the best kind there is - dark brooding found object assemblages - MY kind of art. And while her prose might be just as excellent, though from what I can discern, a wordy girl she ain’t, Diana’s site is in German. I can’t read German. So it is solely a visual treat. I think Diana actually found me - commenting on something or other - and left a link. Folks, if you leave me a link. I will always always visit. I like to know who’s looking reading enjoying (or not) my work/site. I was blown away by her work and will continue to follow. http://dianaszeug.mydesignblog.de/
Jen December 7th, 2007
… as part of my attempt to get things* done for Christmas, I keep looking for inspiration online. I don’t have a clue why. I already - well pretty much - know what I’m making for everyone on my list this year. But there is something about the approaching (impending?) holidays that have me seeking eye candy on the internets. Eye candy I might add that has absolutely NOTHING to do with what I do. I have this absolute NEED to sew (sew? I haven’t sewn anything and I do mean anything for YEARS), to "craft", to bake (bake? BAKE??). Delusions of Martha Stewart Syndrome perhaps? As a result my feed list overflowth and thought I’d share the wealth. Oh some very very cool things to buy, to make or just to drool over, there be out in bloglandia.
Camilla Engman
I saw this photo on Camilla’s blog and was completely smitten. What is it about that Scandinavian aesthectic that makes me swoon. I want to grab a can of white paint and slosh everything in sight - light, clean, and oh! so modern. Camilla’s illustrations are equally entrancing, on her website she offers prints, crochet characters as well as a 2008 calendar. Her blog offers a glimpse into life in Göteborg, Sweden including old cityscapes, lush countryside, Morran the wunderdog along with smorgasbord of lucious links. http://camillaengman.blogspot.com/
Semiprecious Salvage - Stephanie Lee
I’m probably the last person on the "alternative art" planet that hadn’t discovered Stephanie Lee. Sometimes I am so self involved I forget to peek out of my hole every so often to see how the other half lives. I’m glad that I did and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading Stephanie’s blog. There is something warm and soft and lyrical about how she describes her daily run or dealing with the kid’s haircut choices. That she is a talented artist goes without saying but I confess it is her words that will continue to bring me back. http://stephanielee.typepad.com
