Liking Lately

Vintage Green Tin Picnic Basket 

$45 from shopkeeparlington on Etsy

A brief collection of things on Etsy that I've been liking lately with just as brief an explanation. Enjoy!  

Sawtooth Cuff

$62 from foxtailboutique on Etsy

Sweatertoy Narwhal

$46 from caitlinowicker on Etsy

Belief in Inquiry, 42 x 52" framed oil painting 

$5,600 from KatherineFraser on Etsy

African Print Midi Skirt

$145 from ALUMAhandmade on Etsy

- Cathleen 

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: Grapefruit

Grapefruit by Elizabeth Mayville

gouache on paper, 5 x 7" with 1" border

I don't like grapefruit, but I love this painting. 

You can see more of Elizabeth Mayville's work on her website www.elizabethmayville.com

and additional work of various sizes for sale in her Etsy shop.

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: Sink and Mirror

Sink and Mirror by Antonio López Garcia

oil on wood, 38.5 x 33 in, 1967

It's official. We are moving into our new home at the end of the month! So I have to apologize but I've pretty much only got house stuff on the brain right now. Last night I went down a Pinterest rabbit hole searching for a solution to the Great Frosted Sliding Shower Door debate. Micky thinks it's fine---and really, it is. We probably won't update it for a while since there are far more pressing matters like roofs and HVACs to fix. But I keep thinking about all of the gross gunk that inevitably gets trapped in the door track. And that gives me the skeeves. 

This oil painting by Spanish artist Antonio López Garcia turns the grime and the mundanity of his private space into a poignant self-portrait. I like the hexagonal white floor tile too. 

- Cathleen

[Image via arttattler.com by way of Museum of Fine Arts Boston]

Artwork of the Week: Yes

Yes by Tiffany Bozic

acrylic on maple panel, 44 x14 in

$4,200 via archimedesgallery.com

We are flying home tomorrow after a week and a half stuffed full of life-affirming visits with friends and family in New York. Though I had a great time catching up with peeps that I hadn't seen since we moved to Durham last August, I am completely wrung out by this trip. It felt like all of my waking minutes were scheduled, and even so, I unfortunately did not get to meet up with every person I planned to. But that just means those precious few will be at the top of the MUST SEE list for next time. 

Right now I cannot wait to get back home to a space that is not full of NO! DON'T TOUCH THATs and to the saggy bed that is my own. Then we've got the new house to contend with! I'm overwhelmed that it's all happening so fast, but totally excited. 

You can see more of Tiffany Bozic's work on her website: tiffanybozic.com

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Jeremy Miranda

Massive Ice Wall

8 x 10" archival print of original painting

$20 from jeremymiranda on Etsy

Jeremy Miranda is an artist born in Newport, RI who graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art in 2004 with a BFA and settled in Salem, MA where he paints acrylic on panel. All of that steeping in the dark New England tea has certainly influenced Miranda's choice of subject matter as well as his muted palette. His paintings are filled with crashing waves on rocky shores and chilly gray landscapes juxtaposed with warm interiors. His interest in nature vs. man-made architecture and focus on what's happening above and below the surface of things has a very science-fiction feel to it that I really like. 

The artist sells original paintings as well as more affordable signed archival prints of his work through his Etsy shop, jeremymiranda. You can see a wider range of Miranda's art on his website: jeremymiranda.com

Shelter

8 x 10" archival print of original painting

$20 from jeremymiranda on Etsy

Chasm

11 x 14" archival print of original painting

$40 from jeremymiranda on Etsy

Library by the Sea

8 x 10" archival print of original painting

$20 from jeremymiranda on Etsy

Greenhouse Interior

11 x 14" limited edition print of original painting

$40 from jeremymiranda on Etsy

- Cathleen 

For Your Honey

Gold Bumble Bee Bobby Pins

$18 from shopelizabethperry on Etsy

Looking for something sweet for your honey this Valentine's Day? Me too. 

Micky just walked in on me making what was supposed to be a surprise Valentine batch of lime buttermilk sorbet, his *favorite* dessert of all time. 

He's such a ruiner. 

Hopefully you guys will have better luck than I! 

Here are some ideas in that department just in case you need a plan bee.

(Sorry, I HAD to do it.)

Happy V-Day, everyone!

Utah Salt Honey Caramel

1/4 lb box, $8 from beesbrothers on Etsy

Bee by Suren Nersisyan

8 x 10" original watercolor, $25 from ORIGINALONLY on Etsy

Busy Bee Mug

from kinshipgoods on Etsy

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger (Painting Internet Images Digital), 2014 by Ibon Mainar 

This painting is a slick, greasy reminder of last night's wonderfully glutenous Superbowl 

party that my stomach is still recovering from.

You can see more examples of the artist's work on his website: mainart.tumblr.com 

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: Flowers for Susie

Flowers for Susie by Lulie Wallace

acrylic on birch wood panel, 16 x 20"

It was warm enough to pull on sweatshirts and go for a walk outside yesterday. It felt like spring was on the edge of the breeze as we bounded up and down the hills in our neighborhood. I even saw a few little shoots peeking out of a flower bed or two. Obviously these expectations will all come back to bite me when the temperature drops down below freezing again in a couple of days. It is still January after all. I get so sad seeing those premature pops of bright green on the ground knowing that those early buds will soon catch cold, some of their lives stamped out before they even had the chance to stretch and grow.

Let's shake off that morbid thought, shall we? This painting is an early shot of springtime in the face of the gloom that February probably still has in store for us. Lulie Wallace is a painter based in Charleston, SC who also produces some pretty textiles and lunch boxes. You can see more of her work on her website: www.luliewallace.com


- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Mute 14

Mute 14 by Francisca Sutil

gouache on paper, 2013

Two things: I love the variations that emerge within a pattern. 

And I love white marks laid down on dark paper. 

It's simple, elegant and quite hypnotic. My eyes can't rest anywhere on the page, and I like it. 

- Cathleen

[Image courtesy of nohrahaimegallery.com]

Artwork of the Week: Twelve Days of Twelve Nights

Twelve Days of Twelve Nights by Félix de la Concha

installation of 12 oil on canvas works of 28 × 23 cm

Micky's out of town on business for four nights this week. Yes, only 4 and not 12. But still. Our bed and our days are going to feel awfully empty while he's away. 

(Dear robbers and home invaders: this is not an open invitation to stop by.)

- Cathleen  

[Image courtesy of Open Museum]

Artwork of the Week: Porch

Alex Katz, Porch, 1958

oil on masonite, 28 x 28"

Happy Labor Day! Hope you are relaxing, wherever it might be. Did I tell you guys we have a screened in back porch? I plan on putting my feet up out there for at least some portion of the day. With a cool drink in hand. Ahhh yes. 

This beautiful pastel-y painting by Alex Katz is one I'd never seen before. The artist is mostly known for his striking, monochromatic portraits of friends and family, but this early work of his depicts a calm, pleasant light-filled space that I would love to spend some time in today. 

- Cathleen

[Image via Christies.com]

ArtworkS of the Week by Jules De Balincourt

Little Men, Big Map, 2005

oil and acrylic on wood panel, 47.2 x 37.4 in

This week we've got THREE Artworks of the Week to share, because though I tried, I could not pick just one. They are all by the same Paris-born Brooklyn-based painter, Jules De Balincourt, and they are all somewhat older works of his. And they all have a palette and mundane-yet-unusual subject-matter that I rather like. 

Untitled (Hunting Room), 2007

oil on panel, 17 x 13.5 in 

Internal Renovations (Diptych), 2005

acrylic, oil and spray paint on panel, 86.6 x 118 in

Images courtesy of the artist's website: www.julesdebalincourt.com

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Scholar

Scholar by Claire Desjardins

30"x 60", acrylic on canvas 

Such a vibrant and optimistic painting from Montreal-based artist Claire Desjardins.  

You can see more of Claire's work on her website: www.clairedesjardins.com

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: A Lawn Being Sprinkled

A Lawn Being Sprinkled by David Hockney

1967, Acrylic on canvas, 96 x 96 in

Collection of Lyn and Norman Lear

It's been super warm and beautiful in NY these last few days, a welcome reprieve from a gray and cold winter spent cooped up in our chilly apartment. This painting is getting me excited for spring! I can't wait to take Graham on walks to the park for a roll in the bright green grass. Though knowing our park it will probably be more patchy and brown. I'll bring a blanket. 

- Cathleen

Artwork of the Week: a man's nape. with ears.

a man's nape. with ears. by Robyn B. West

4 x 5" print (w/ 1" border) of original painting, $12 via smiling robyn on Etsy

A girl named Mary Stork used to draw pencil portraits of the backs of people's heads during class in my high school. Whomever was sitting in the desk in front of her was a captive audience, at least until the period ended, and by the time we graduated she had done all of the girls in our grade. I found the portraits to be just as revealing as the face-first variety—everyone had their own distinctive hairstyle, with their mother-of-pearl barrettes clipping up curls or the way they pulled their ponytail into a bun with a fan of fringe that always flared off to the right. I so wish that I got my own portrait to keep. For some reason I have Marita Horvath's (on a torn piece of paper somewhere), but it's definitely one of my favorite fragments from my time at the Oakcrest College Preparatory School for Girls.   

Searching for something comparable online, I found the above portrait by Robyn B. West that I thought was quite nice. You can see more of Robyn's work in her Etsy shop here.

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Preservation

Preservation by Mary Laube

 oil and acrylic on panel, 36 x 24", 2011-2012

You can see more examples of Mary's work on her website: marylaube.com

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Kimberley Laurenti

Cute Plant, $39 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Kimberley Laurenti is the painter/illustrator/sculptor extraordinaire responsible for these cute little guys. She has two Etsy shops: Herman Marie, where the first five of these flat wall sculptures hang out, and My Grey Sky, where she features the rest of her 3-D Mooks and 1-D prints. Though there is a distinct difference in color and content between the two stores—one's a bit brighter and more whimsical, while the other strays into slightly darker territory—you can definitely tell they were made by the same funny hand. Kimberley lives in Florida and has a blog that she occasionally updates with sweet shots from her daily life and sneak peeks of what's soon to be in store. You can check it out here: www.ilovegreyskies.blogspot.com

Two Orange Snakes, $56 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Yellow Bear with Bow Tie, $46 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Anatomical Art, $56 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Egg Cups, $55 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Bear Hood Mook, $36 via ilovegreyskies on Etsy

Mook Love Print, $15 via ilovegreyskies on Etsy

Wolk Mooks, Mounted, $40 via ilovegreyskies on Etsy

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Deborah Zlotsky

Catch-22, 2011, oil on canvas, 36" x 36"

Painter Deborah Zlotsky lives and works in Albany, NY. She did her undergraduate at Yale, her graduate at the University of Connecticut, and she has exhibited at Kathryn Markel Fine Arts in NYC, as well as Pierogi Gallery. I discovered her painting "Waiting room" (below) while tripping my way through Pinterest last week and was immediately intrigued. Once I located her website, I found each painting from her recent series "Adjacent Possibilities"almost better than the last. There is something about her work that really pleases my eyes; the geometrics, the colors, the drips. Yes. Very pleasing indeed. 

Waiting room, 2011, oil on canvas, 48" x 60"

All that follows, 2011, oil on canvas, 48" x 60"

Unknown unknown, 2011, oil on canvas, 36" x 36"

- Cathleen 

[Images courtesy of the artist's website: deborahzlotsky.com]

ArtWORKS of the Week: Jim Darling

In light of many of us probably coming off the heels of some serious holiday traveling, I have somewhat of a timely post/cliched confession to make: I hate flying. Mainly it's because of the turbulence, though take off and landing aren't much of a picnic either. And if I'm assigned to a window seat, I pretty much keep the shades drawn the whole ride. No need to be reminded of the fact that I'm thousands of feet above ground with only the magic of aerodynamics keeping me from plummeting to my death. Despite all of this, however, I love the idea of these airplane window paintings by artist and illustrator Jim Darling. Each oil and aerosol painting on woodwork measures 11"x 14" and depicts a different point of view named for the seat number in which the artist sat. Each piece costs $650, some of which are still available for purchase on the Open Space Gallery website.

- Cathleen

[Images from the artist's website: www.jimdarling.com]