Farewell for Now

Hand Drape by Diane Komater

steel wire, 48 x 36 x 1"

After much consideration, we have all decided to say farewell to the blog for now. It's not for good, just for awhile. We have so loved bringing you beautiful things every week, but our lives outside of the internet have recently become very busy, so we need to put Swings and Arrows on hold for the time being. 

Thank you for your support over the years. 

Your readership has been appreciated more than you know. 

You can see more work from marvelous wire sculptor Diane Komater on the artist's website: 

www.wireist.com

Love, 

Cathleen, Grace, Alissa and Brian

Artwork of the Week: Illustration by Luke Best

illustration by Luke Best

published in Geo Wissen, 2012

After multiple reschedulings, we finally had our yard sale this past Saturday and it was a minor success! We made 118 bucks which was way more than we expected. Besides the rush that came over me each time I made a $3 sale, I mostly just felt relief to finally exorcise the house of all our junky demons. Most surprising transaction? One chipped Martha Stewart for Kmart bowl circa 2001 for 10 cents. After the guy failed to produce anything smaller than a $20 bill, he seemed genuinely psyched when I told him he could have it for free. I hope he and his roughly used bowl are happy. Wherever they are.

You can see more work from London-living Luke Best on his website: www.lukebest.com 

and his blog: lukebest.blogspot.kr

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Ruin #9

Ruin #9 by Danny Jauregui

graphite and ash on panel, 2007 

We are back! While I had a wonderful time spending bright mornings on the beach and overeating delicious food by dad all summer, it feels SO nice to be back in my own space again. And getting things in order! I finally backed up my computer and updated my OS after months of moving the task from week to week on my To-Do list. Boring stuff, I know, but it feels like I've done a cleanse. Minus the glowing skin and energy boost. Anyway, major administrative accomplishments over here! Next on the list: finally finishing Graham's baby book. IT SHALL BE DONE.

You can see more work from artist Danny Jauregui on his website: www.dannyjauregui.com

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Personal Work

Personal Work by David Abrahams

(though I have a feeling that's not actually the title of the piece)

The first official day of fall this year isn't until September 22, but now that Labor Day has come and gone, summer feels over for me mentally. Physically I'm still at the beach and it's still hot as ever. Actually TOO hot to go down to the shore today if you can believe it. So we're spending our morning indoors, eating melon and watching our fourth episode of Curious George. Oh yeah. 

You can see more work by London-based fashion photographer David Abrahams on www.mbklondon.com

- Cathleen 

[via trendland.com]

Artwork of the Week: Drawing by Junyi Wu

Pencil drawing by Junyi Wu

Alissa! I feel the same way! Fall is so open! Full of possibilities! Brimming with potential! 

We've just finished setting up our living room (after moving in almost 4 months ago) and it feels like a fresh start. We splurged and had it painted in my favorite Pewter Mug gray and spent one night last week hanging art on the walls. I even took a drawing that we received as a wedding gift (over 3 years ago) to be framed and I'm SO excited to finally see it hung in our home and checked off my to-do list. 

And I bought a new plant! (To replace one that was recently confirmed dead.) Things are really looking bright shiny and new over here!

You can see more work from Los Angeles-based illustrator Junyi Wu on the artist's website and Tumblr, as well as purchase original artwork and prints online from Nucleus Gallery. 

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Marketplace

Marketplace sketch by Melissa Castrillon, 2012

My friend Janie and I decided to do an entire dinner sourced from the Durham Farmer's Market this weekend. Unfortunately (ok, fortunately!) they only sell what's in season, so both of us ended up rounding out the meal with a little help from the bog box supermarket. (Who knew lettuce season was over?) But all of the main stars of the meal were local! I cooked these super delicious meatballs with ground beef I got from one vendor and sliced up some goat cheese from another guy that I served on a whole grain bread bought from one of the baked goods tables. Janie boiled up some sweet corn for our side, tossed some beets into a salad, and baked a beautiful peach buckle for dessert. It was great! Though next time it would be really cool to limit ourselves to JUST what they're selling at the DFM. It would be tough, but I think we're up to the challenge. 

You can see more from British illustrator Melissa Castrillon on her website www.melissacastrillon.co.uk, purchase prints from her shop, and peek her process on her blog. 


- Cathleen 


[Image via flickr]

Artwork of the Week: Drawing by David Hockney

Drawing by David Hockney

October 1966

Is there anything crueler than a summer cold? I am home with a runny nose and sore throat today---though not in bed. A certain yell-y little boy would never allow something like that. This drawing by David Hockney certainly makes me wish I were, however. 

- Cathleen

[Image via berlindrawingroom.blogspot.com]

Artwork of the Week: Ocean Abstract

Ocean Abstract by Gao Cheng

ink on paper, 54.3 x 54.3 x 3.9"

$4000 from Saatchi Art

It's rained for three days straight. Three days cooped up in a house at the beach with an 18 month old has tested all of our mettle. We went to the aquarium. Two days in a row. We've watched more episodes of Curious George and Peppa Pig than I can count. We made a blanket fort (that Graham promptly tore down) and splashed in the puddles outside (until he got down on his hands and knees to lap up the dirty water). Hopefully tomorrow will be brighter. And drier. And outside! 

You can see more work from Chinese artist Gao Cheng on saatchiart.com/gaocheng

- Cathleen 

[Image via booooooom]

Artwork of the Week: Illustration by Rhona Garvin

Illustration by Rhona Garvin

Still beaching. I finished AOGG. A pile of tears were shed. (SO GOOD, you guys.)

Nothing much else to report. 

The drawing above was a sketch for what turned into this screenprint. I think I prefer the earlier version, though. I have always appreciated great economy of line. You can see more work from UK illustrator Rhona Garvin on her website (www.rhonagarvin.com) as well as a peek into her process on her blog (rhonagarvin.blogspot.co.uk).

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Illustration by Sabrina Arnault

Illustration by Sabrina Arnault

We are at the beach! Emerald Isle, NC to be precise. We arrived Saturday afternoon and so far my main concerns are adequate sunscreen coverage and nap schedule adherence. Sunday morning was spent trying to coax Graham away from the comforts of sandy Cheerios under the beach umbrella and into the water. Progress was made --- after 2 hours and several attempts, he allowed me to carry him in up to my waist, and even laughed when we were blind-sided by a wave on the way back to the shore. But it was all at great cost; I probably brought home a pound of sand in my bathing suit. Speaking of, I picked up a couple of solid one pieces at Target before I left. Pleasantly surprised by the selection; both fairly attractive with decent butt coverage. I recommend a look-see if you're in the market for something along those lines. 

The illustration above doesn't have a title that I could find, but it does have some serious sass. Also Sabrina Arnault's website doesn't appear to be up and running (what gives?), so you'll have to just Google her for more images.

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Unknown

As promised, my mom and I spent some time in the garden this past week while she was in town for a visit. She helped me identify the purple flowering shrub with the sweet smelling leaves planted just off the patio. And we built a little retaining wall out of old bricks to keep my front yard from invading our walkway every time it rains. She also informed me that the rose bushes just to the right of our house  have come down with a spotty leaf syndrome that I need to fix with a spray of milk and water. 

This drawing reminded me to add it to my list of things to do this week. And also that there can be such beauty in the way something destructive manifests itself. 

You can see more botanical drawings like this one (without attribution... maybe from A History of the Earth and Animated Nature?) on greyherbert's Flickr stream. 


- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: The Velveteen Rabbit

Endpapers from The Velveteen Rabbit illustrated by William Nicholson, 1922

We have three rabbits that like to hang around our yard. They're rather brazen too. Graham has gotten within a few feet of one of them, and they only slowly hop off when they decide they don't want to be bothered anymore. Though since they started work on our new screened-in porch, the bunnies have been pretty scarce. I will probably rue saying this once we've planted a garden, but I miss seeing those little guys on the daily. It makes me feel like we live in a Disney movie. 

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Lawnmower Man

Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share one of my favorite photographs that I've snapped of these two in a while. Micky taking care of business while Graham looks out at his dad, totally amazed. I really love watching these two together. Graham so obviously thinks his dad is the funnest funniest guy in the world. Hearing him say DA DEE is one of my favorite sounds. And Micky so obviously loves being this little guy's dad. It seems like he's made it his personal mission to make his son laugh every single minute they are together. Seriously, I have warned him more than once: "Watch out! Graham just ate! You don't want him to spew all over you!"

Happy Father's Day to all the fun dads out there!

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Loft

Loft by Francesca Buchko

10 x 14" archival giclee print

$30 via TheVintagePostbox on Etsy

Weather reports are calling for rain all week. ALL SEVEN DAYS. I wish I could face a week of being cooped up inside with a 16-month-old with 16 bite-y teeth this peacefully. 

You can see more of Francesca's work on her website, francescabuchko.com, and purchase some of her prints in her Etsy shop, The Vintage Postbox. 

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: Woods

Woods by Rosie Gainsborough

My mom is coming to visit in a few weeks and I've already started a massive list of things we will do when she gets here. The highlights include going to the Raleigh Flea Market, eating at the new BBQ restaurant downtown, and identifying all of the trees and new plants that have popped up in our yard since we moved in. It's been kind of a nice surprise seeing what the former tenants sowed while they were living here. But I'm having trouble discerning what was planted purposefully from what are just weeds. Micky wants to chop it all down, lay grass seed, and start fresh, which I am inclined to do considering how much easier it is to simply mow a lawn and be done with it. But the little flowers and smelly grasses (herbs?) are so nice!

If you'd like to see more work from artist Rosie Gainsborough, head on over to her blog: rosiegainsborough.tumblr.com

You can also download the above image as wallpaper for various electronic devices on poolga.com.


- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: Cold on a Beach

Cold on a Beach by Lizzy Stewart

This past holiday weekend, pools across America flung open their gates, peeled back their covers, and welcomed pale swimmers to cannonball into their deep ends. We spent a sunny afternoon at my sister-in-law's pool and despite it being the unofficial start of summer, this drawing completely encapsulates how I looked that day: cold and cross-armed. But it was lovely! Still! Especially watching Graham throw a ball into the freezy water, again and again, after Micky had JUST fished it out. 

You can see more of London-based illustrator Lizzy Stewart's work on her website abouttoday.co.uk

and purchase her art in her online shop here: lizzystewart.bigcartel.com

[Image found via Pinterest on Lizzy's flickr.com]

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: Telmo

An illustration by Patricia Metola from Telmo

I thought I'd post this sweet illustration in honor of Mother's Day yesterday. I had a great time with my two guys; a deliciously greasy breakfast at The Waffle House following by a walk around the neighborhood with surprise gifts from Ash that "fell" out of the stroller canopy when the sun was getting too bright. I also did some solo shopping for new patio chair cushions. That part was sort of thrilling, not having to buckle a kid in and out of the car over and over again. All in all, it was a really wonderful day. 

You can see more drawings from Telmo, a children's book by Carlo Frabetti and Patricia Metola, here.  

And more examples of the illustrator's work on her blog: 

patriciametola.blogspot.com

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: My Library

My Library by Carine Brancowitz

Nothing makes you step back and assess your lot in life quite like a move. (Or an episode of Hoarders.) And by "lot" I mean "possessions" --- as in, we've got quite a lot of them. And by "them" I mean specifically "books" --- as in, why do we keep books at all? After you've read them, even if you absolutely loved the narrative, are you ever really going to read through it a second time? I know some people do, but I am not one of them. And yet! I'm saving (and moving) all of these books. For what? To pass onto my future literate children who will probably only skim stories on screens by then?

These are the thoughts that roll over me when I sit here walled in by heavy cartons. With, if I'm being honest here, no deep intention of changing my pack ratting ways. But I'm thinking about thinking about it. 

This drawing by French illustrator Carine Brancowitz made me think about it some more. She does very detailed and finely patterned work in ballpoint pen mostly. You can see more of her art on her website: www.carinebrancowitz.com

- Cathleen 

[Image via bibliolectors.tumblr.com]

Artwork of the Week: Marriage

Marriage by Andrew Wyeth

1993

I picked this painting to post this week before I knew its title and as it turns out this Wednesday happens to mark my 3rd wedding anniversary. The old couple looks so peaceful, lying next to each other tucked in bed. And also very stiff. Like almost TOO rest-in-peaceful, if you know what I mean. 

Things certainly took a turn for the morose there! 

Happy anniversary, honey! 

- Cathleen  

Artwork of the Week: Snail Hand

Snail Hand by Robert Langham

platinum print, 1994

Robert Langham is a photographer from Tyler, Texas whose work is mostly comprised of stark East Texas and Western landscapes. This shot is by far my most favorite of his photos. Those snails. They get me every time. 

You can see more of Langham's work and process on his blog: robertlangham.blogspot.com

- Cathleen 

[Image via ghoulnextdoor.tumblr.com]