On the Move!

We're moving today! So I don't have much to report besides that. 

I really wish the Etsy seller Anamarko was still making and selling these awesome custom hand-painted miniature wooden houses. It would have been the perfect house-warming present for me to give Micky (and myself?) today. 

Now I guess he'll just have to settle for backaches and strained muscles. The gifts that keep on giving!

See you next week, friends! 

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Kew Cacti House

Kew Cacti House by Alicia Galer

oil pastel, acrylic paint, watercolor pencil on paper, 41 x 29 cm, 2013

Bad news. I'm pretty sure my Venus Flytrap is no longer with us. The traps are turning black and dropping off like...well, you know. I even hand fed it a dead bug I found on our windowsill last week. I don't do that for just anyone. I'm thinking I might have to invest in some hard to kill cacti instead. These do look pretty nice. 

Alicia Galer's work is available for purchase through thegardenedit.com and you can see more of her art on her website aliciagaler.com

- Cathleen

It's Only Temporary

A long time ago in a faraway land (Brooklyn at 27 years old), I used to want a tattoo. After a lengthy deliberation over what it would be and where, I decided on a Charley Harper illustration of a bee on my right wrist in white ink. Once that was settled I told myself that I had to want it—REALLY want it—for a year solid before I would go under the needle. And then I kind of forgot about it. Which later made me realize I must not have wanted it that bad after all. 

This temporary tattoo designed by painter Mia Christopher would be a nice way to dip my toes back into the proverbial inky waters, without the pesky pain and FOREVER factors. And it's only a $5 commitment to boot. 

I also like that it looks a little like a beautiful bruise. 

If you're so inclined, you can peer at more of Mia's canvas and paper work on her website: 

www.miachristopher.com

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Spotty Banana Peel

Spotty Banana Peel by Aubrey Levinthal

Oil painting on masonite panel, 5 x 8 in

I love the idea of elevating a cast off fruit rind to fine art status.

You can see more of Aubrey's work on her website: www.aubreylevinthal.com

And purchase some of her small original paintings from her Etsy shop: Tastycakeartist 

- Cathleen 

She Brakes for Art: John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent's Palette (1933.49), Oil Paints and Brushes (Straus.919)

via harvardartmuseums.org

Grace is currently tied up producing the annual Week of the Arts extravaganza that she helms every year, and so, will be taking a short break from the blog for the next two weeks. She did an awesome round-up of artists' palettes and their work last January, so I thought in honor of the hard work she puts into inspiring young minds towards creativity every year it might be cool to see some more tools of the trade used by the great creative minds that inspire us everyday. 

John Singer Sargent is one of my favorite portraitists, but I especially love his en plein air work. Imagine him toting all of this equipment out to capture the ephemerality of nature in slow-drying oil paint no less. More to come! 


- Cathleen