Tuesday Coolsday - Wadia Newman

Every Most Tuesdays, I will feature a Louisville artist whose work I admire.

Wadia Newman - Architectural Artist

This weekend was the September Art Fair at theMellwood Art Center. It was my first time to this major creative mecca over in the Clifton area, which is surprising since (a) it's ridiculously close to me, and (b) they have a funky maze of studios, galleries, cafes, and boutiques that are open regardless of a special event. But it took an art fair to get me there for the first time.

Enough about me. This is about Miss Wadia Newman, a very talented draftswoman I happened upon at the fair. Wadia grew up in Louisville, studied architecture at Arizona State, and then worked as an architect in SoCal. Upon her return to Louisville (those who leave always come back!), she was thrilled to draw the ornate architectural details of historic landmarks all over the city. Her drawings are meticulous (in a good way) and truly highlight the beautiful intricacies of these fabulous structures. I have so many favorites of hers already, but only two fit in my little preview image, so I encourage you to get lost in her artwork.

I should also mention that she's as friendly as can be. But then again, who in Louisville isn't?

Tuesday Coolsday - Mackenzie Haley

Every Most Tuesdays, I will feature a Louisville artist whose work I admire.

Mackenzie Haley - Illustrator

It's possible you haven't seen much of Mackenzie Haley's work - yet - because she is a moonlighting illustrator. She spends the weekdays working for The Man and has to then summon the energy to create some of her adorable pictures. It's truly a shame there isn't more of her stuff out there because Mackenzie does some really creative things with her unique drawing and collage style.

Her "critters" are drawn with a lively and playful line, and the colors are funky and fresh without being overwhelming or busy.

Right now, it looks like the best place to see her work is through her Carbon Made portfolio, but she also has a blog that is updated every few months. She is working on a children's book that is sure to be delightful and funky, just like Mackenzie!

I should mention that Mackenzie is a fellow University of Dayton Flyer with whom I had the pleasure of sharing Illustration classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 am :)

Tuesday Coolsday - Nancy Wentzel

Every Tuesday, I will feature a Louisville artist whose work I admire.

Nancy Wentzel - Painter

Over the weekend, I popped into a local Highlands gallery, Swanson Reed, and discovered a new favorite local artist. As a sucker for impressionism and vibrant colors, I was immediately attracted to her lush, lively landscapes scattered about the gallery space.

Her "streetscapes" feature rows of small homes with porches perfect for late evening chats with neighbors and sipping lemonade. "Mellwood Ave" struck the nostalgia chord with me having grown up on a similar street just a few blocks away. There were a few in the gallery that looked like my favorite grand brick homes here in the Highlands, unfortunately they do not seem to be up on her site.

Please go to Nancy's website to see more of her work, and head to Swanson Reed on Bardstown to get up close and personal with her beautiful paintings.

Tuesday Coolsday - Kalla Studios

Every Tuesday, I will feature a Louisville artist whose work I admire.

Kristen Reinhart Davis - Kalla Studios - Silversmith and Jewelry Maker

This week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to another talented craftswoman I met at the Buy Local First Fair a few weekends ago. I was attracted to the beauty and craft of her pieces, particularly the skill involved in her tree pieces. Having been a silversmith and silver instructor back in the day, I fully appreciated the skill and patience one needs with a jeweler's saw.

Upon visiting her Kalla Studios Etsy Shop, I learned that she only uses silver that is recycled or was mined ethically. She also uses a lot of recycled material in her work like the recycled glass in her Drop Pendant necklace (bottom, right).

Learn more about Kristen and her traditional artisan techniques over at her website, www.KallaStudios.com.

Tuesday Coolsday - Casey Emrich

Every Tuesday, I will feature a Louisville artist whose work I admire.

Casey Emrich - Jewelry Artist

I met Casey at the Buy Local First Fair at the Louisville Visual Art Association this weekend. She recognized me as a fellow Sacred Heart Academy graduate (not sure how when she wasn't in my class. She must have the best memory EVER). We shared memories of our old art teachers and I learned about her: Her beautiful little jewelry pieces are made from reclaimed findings that she paints and reassembled. She and her partner are opening a new boutique called "Consider Boutique" opening around the Holiday season right in my 'hood, the Highlands.

Visit her LeeluQ Etsy Shop to snatch up some of her goodies. I have my eye on the Autumn Branch (above, top right)!

Tuesday Coolsday: Philip Burke

I don't remember if I first discovered Philip Burke in my copy of "The Illustrated Portraits," or gracing the pages of my own Rolling Stone, but I do know that the first time I saw his paintings I was hooked.

As a student of illustration, I was doing a lot of caricatures.  Some caricature artists take the time to push and pull different features in many versions, but Burke's work seems more spontaneous and lively, like it was all done in one impression. His exaggerations are fierce and his use of color just jumps off the page at you.

These paintings are as big as I am and sell for more than I hope to make in my entire career.  But what's cooler is that his paintings hang in the homes of his subjects - that is a true honor. He is a lucky man whom I admire quite a bit.

His gallery's site is located here:  LB Madison

For more info, better writing, and links, visit Charley Parker's write-up on Burke at Lines and Colors

Tuesday Coolsday: Bruce Scott

Will Rogers Park - 11.25.09 - by Bruce Scott

This is a little cheesy, but this Tuesday I would like to give props to my dad, Bruce.

My dad wasn't an artist, but he was always doing something creative with his time.  When I was little, he taught himself how to watercolor in our basement.  He worked on plans for the never-ending landscaping project that was our tiny backyard while I worked on long division.  The blueprint to the left shows some of his sketches for the white picket fence he built in our backyard (click for larger view).

He's been retired for several years, and since then, he has been a cello player for the Lexington Community Orchestra, written a book, hiked hundreds - thousands? - of miles, and still has time to garden and work on little projects here and there.

Additionally, without all the boxes and boxes of Crayola and Mr. Sketch markers that he bought me as a kid, I may not be doing this art thing.

So dad, thanks for all the markers, thanks for inspiring productivity, thanks for letting me major in art, and thanks for coming to visit me over Thanksgiving!

Tuesday Coolsday - Orba Squara

Do you like great music?  Does photography tickle your pickle?  Do you get goosebumps at the thought of a road trip?  Is a hand-lettered and illustrated journal your idea of a good time?  Are you into funky graphic design? Are you bored at work?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, then this website is for you!  Turn up your speakers, lean back (with your hand on the mouse/wacom pen), and spend a good hour or two cruising through this beautiful Flashumentary* of a band, Orba Squara, promoting their album, The Trouble with Flying.

This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful, creative, and inspiring websites I have ever....visited experienced.

* Did I just invent a word?

Found via Doodler's Anonymous.

Tuesday Coolsday - Mary GrandPrè

images courtesy of www.scholastic.com

Apologies for the absense, I was back in my hometown of Louisville last week celebrating my mother's birthday.  Now I'm back to it.

I've mentioned in the past that I'm reading the Harry Potter series, and I have to admit I'm enjoying the nightly escape into the magical world of Hogwarts, Muggles, and Quidditch. I'm five books into the series and am looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up in the end.

One thing I love about these books are the illustrations by Mary GrandPrè.  Most people will recognize her vibrant cover illustrations, and I urge you to look at them closely.  There's a lot going on, and the attention to detail is impeccable.

As cool as the cover illos are, I have to give props to the beautiful chapter illustrations.  These tiny drawings (that most people don't give a second thought) are like mini masterpieces.  The compositions are balanced yet dynamic, the values are spot on, and careful attention is paid to every millimeter of the small artwork.  Brilliant.

Thirty (30) of these mini masterpieces are completed in a timespan of only 3 weeks, according to this great interview about her work on the Harry Potter series.

All of her illustrations (which can be seen on her website) have vibrant color, interesting shapes, and strong value, all of which I strive for in my own work.  She is a new addition to my list of inspirational female illustrators.

I have another assignment for Better RVing Magazine in the works; hopefully I can summon her creativity for my own piece!

Cheers!

Tuesday Coolsday

If you like artists like Norman Rockwell and Bernie Fuchs, or any other illustrator working in the middle of the 20th century, Today's Inspiration is the blog for you.  Authored and maintained by cartoonist Leif Peng, the site pays tribute to American illustrators of the era, ranging from the Greats to the lesser known.  He goes into great detail about the artists' careers and usually scans original ads and magazines from his own collection or the collections of an artists' family members.

Having never had proper Illustration History lessons, this site has been a great resource for me.  Every day, I'm exposed to new paintings and artists, and am often treated with analysis of their work.  It's like having a daily art history class delivered right in my Google Reader.  Occasionally Mr. Peng brings in guest bloggers to discuss their areas of expertise. For example, I really enjoyed the week dedicated to Norman Rockwell (who wouldn't?), during which we get this close-up detail of one of his illustrations for Huck Finn.  I recommend you check out the archives and check it regularly!

Tuesday Coolsday: Milton Glaser

"Curiously, people think that the difficulty of drawing is making things look accurate, but accuracy is the least significant part of the drawing..."  - Milton Glaser

Please watch this video. Twice.



via Drawn!

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool Watercolorist: Manoli Lopez

This young illustrator does beautiful loose pen & ink sketches and then pains in loose, vibrant layers of watercolor and gouache (I think). As one who can't get enough of bright colors, I am absolutely in love with it. I can learn something from the looseness in her drawings; it's something I struggle with as a naturally meticulous person.

Also check out her blog - not in English, but lots of great sketchbook stuff that does not need translation.

via Design Work Life

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.

Cool Sewing Illustrator: Miki Sato

This young illustrator demonstrates how successful an image can be with a limited color pallete, interesting textures, and simple design. I can't believe she sews her illustrations! It's such a unique and interesting technique.

Most of the time, I love how there are no answers in illustration. There are thousands of solutions to one problem. I am constantly learning from how others tackle problems and it encourages me to push myself in my image making.

Sometimes, however, I hate that there are no right answers. When my brain is spinning out of control searching for an absolute, I like to do some algebraic equations. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. It helps rope in my brain, and reminds me why I want to do art for a living.

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.

I like the abbreviated Tuesday Coolsday from the previous post, so I'm going to keep it to just one Cool topic per week. Also, maybe by next week, I'll manage to get the post written before the end of the day :)

Cool NY Times Feature Contributor: Christoph Niemann & his Abstract City column

About once a month, Mr. Niemann creates an illustrated reflection on life around him. The articles are executed using everything from Legos to coffee, and are always charming, quirky, and interesting. From my past "cool" entries, you may have noticed that I don't usually dig such a naive style, but when paired with such thoughtful and clever content, I find it simply brilliant.

I recommend subscribing to the column; it's such a treat when a new one shows up in your reader! You can see more of Christoph's work at his website, www.christophniemann.com.

via NY Times

Tuesday Coolsday

I have been away from the studio, roaming the coastal town of Monterey, CA for a very long weekend. I have some sketches to scan and some blogs to catch up on and will return to my normal blogging soon. In the meantime, here's an abbreviated Tuesday Coolsday post:

Cool illustrator: Zina Saunders

I'm currently obsessed with Drawger. it's like the cool kids club for illustrators. I was floored when I saw the beautifully composed, vibrantly colored illustrations of Zina's. Her blog on Drawger is interesting and inspiring; I particularly enjoyed her Woodstock narrative and the illustrations that accompanied them.

Thanks, and until next time!

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.
	Cool Wedding Invitation: Lauren+Ryan I am enjoying all the untraditional wedding invitations I have seen floating around the interweb, and this invitation designed by Lauren Panepinto is the cream of the crop. From what I could tell, this couple had a storybook like meeting on a cruise ship, and thus created a literal storybook to share the story with their friends and family and tied in the wedding details seamlessly. It is absolutely charming. I wish I knew her so I could have a copy of the invitation! You really need to see the full spread here on the head vs. heart blog. If you're nosy like me, you can read the intro to their story - I recommend it!
	Cool Illustrator: John Manders I am so glad Drawn! sent me to John Mander's blog. Not only is his work inspiring, exciting, and professional, but he's so kind as to share his process with the internet world. It's educational and inspirational and I find myself delighted when there's a new post from him. Please go see the blog or his online portfolio, and if you're into the RSS feed thing, his blog is well worth a subscription. The image on the left is from his series of "circus poster" stickers promoting his books about Pete the Poodle and the rest of his circus.
Thanks for reading, 'till next Tuesday!

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.

Animation has never blown my skirt up until now.

Cool Low-Frills Stopmotion Animation: Firekite's Autumn Story video
Mesmerizing. Beautiful. And it's just chalkboards! By Lucinda Schreiber and Yanni Kronenberg.


Cool Higher Frills Stopmotion Animation: Coldplay's Strawberry Swing Video
I have no words. Please just watch. By Shynola.

Both amazing animations found via Drawn! Thanks for reading, 'till next Tuesday!

Wednesday Coolsday?

A little late on the weekly post. There are excuses but I won't bore you with them.

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.
	Cool Gallery Opening: Sterling Hundley Sterling was one of my instructors at the Illustration Academy and is a huge inspiration to me (and just about every other illustrator I know).  He has been working diligently towards some personal work for a gallery. If you are going to be in the Richmond Area between September 4 and 26, you absolutely must stop by the Ghostpring Gallery. See Sterling's Illustration Portfolio here.  But please don't compare it to mine.
	Cool Photographer: Megan Resch I've known Megan since we were about 12 or 13 (I think?), so obviously I'm biased when I say she's incredibly talented.  But the Wedding Photojournalist Association gave her a big shiny award, and I think their opinion is pretty valid.  Plus, her work speaks for herself.  Great composition, contrast, and beautiful saturated colors.  She does mostly weddings, but jumps at the opportunity to do family portraits.  The link above is to her real site, but check out her blog to get a glimpse into her current activity. Lots of great work on there. Megan just had a little baby - congratulations, Megan!
Thanks for reading, 'till next Tuesday!

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.
	Cool Hand Lettering: Rudi de Wet I'm so attracted to hand written text these days, and Rudi de Wet's stuff really jumped out at me from my Google Reader because of his bold use of color. Definitely take some time to see all of his samples. via Design Work Life
	Cool Louisville Painter: Ashley Cecil Ashley is a fellow Kentuckian and UD grad. She is a social activist that has found a way to use her great talent of painting to raise awareness for many non-profits in Kentuckiana. Her oil paintings and watercolors are vibrant and impressionistic - my kind of style! Be sure to snatch up some of her originals - part of the proceeds go towards a great cause!
Thanks for reading, 'till next Tuesday!

Tuesday Coolsday

Cool finds from working the google reader on the internet machine.

Cool Daily Painter/Blogger: Karin Jurick I have been following the blog of a "Daily Painter" named Karin Jurick for quite some time. Her paintings are fairly impressionistic with vibrant color and spontaneous, loose, brushwork. Occasionally she spends more than an hour or two on a painting and produces something really striking like this San Francisco scene. It's incredibly reminiscent of Wayne Thiebaud's San Francisco landscapes....

Cool Famous Painter: Wayne Thiebaud Nice transition, huh? I've been a huge fan of Wayne Thiebaud ever since I saw his famous colorful paintings of gumballs and cakes, but fell head over heels when I saw his San Francisco landscapes. They are incredibly stylized and some are almost cubist, so I guess Karin's landscape isn't exactly the same, but you can see the similarities, right? The blue/violet shadows in his paintings really blow my skirt up. Mmmm. He doesn't have a web page, so I recommend perusing google images to see his stuff.

Thanks for reading, 'till next Tuesday!