Anai Cano I

Mini beast wonder from Anai Cano a celebration of insect life, perfect for the end of summer.

John Bond II

I also love that John Bond sees dogs everywhere, even in a half lemon.

John Bond I

John Bond is an illustrator whose imagination transforms the mundane and dull into magic and fun, I especially love his exceptional transformations of photographs. 

Sarah Jacoby II

Cycling into a more than hectic week, on tall bikes and many bikes by American illustrator Sarah Jacoby.

Sarah Jacoby I

Sarah Jacoby paints tiny worlds with a tiny brush, I love the little sparks of acrobats on the horses backs. 

Misty Lindsey I

A collection of black birds by Misty Lindsey a prolific self taught artist whose work are visual diaries and commentaries on her own life and society. Her work is sometimes dark, often full of teeth and humour.

Spider and the fly

A happy Friday spider to end spider week. Look after your spiders, use a glass and a piece of paper and pop them outside and pop your plugs in your plug holes to stop them coming in.

Yesterday my good deed was achieved just before I went to bed, I saved a giant spider who somehow was drowning in the toilet. I put in a brush and he grabbed it (thank goodness). a fitting end to a spider appreciation week.

A Knot

I think (in my abstract mind) of spiders as tangles of wool (silk) knots, which they miraculously de-tangle into their wonderful lacy, sticky, fly traps and so I am sketching scribble spiders to relax in between massive preparations for September when I have my first open studio.

Calef Brown III

Todays spider is from American illustrator Calef Brown, I knew with his love of mini-beasts that he would have a spider or two spinning in his portfolio.

Spider week

A happy spider on the ceiling, far above the maddening crowd of squashers (people).

Rob Dunlavey VII

A wonderful geometric spider, who also seems fearful of heights, from the sketchbook of Rob Dunlavey. 

Haliyaa II

Autumn is coming and the spiders are becoming emboldened to enter the house and find snug corners, or bejewel the hedge with their fine silver webs and garnet like bodies. So this week I am celebrating them with illustrations starting with this hairy toed, chomping jawed example from Haliyaa.

Geran Knol IV

A painting by Geran Knol capturing those brief seconds where you are overwhelmed with joy and beauty, Geran is a musician, artist and illustrator who sometimes works collaboratively with Bloeme van Bon on self initiated projects, illustrations and sculptures.

Pauline and the Matches

Last night as a special treat, I was taken to Art Late at the Edinburgh Festival. At the final art space; Custom Lane, 'Pauline and the Matches' an anonymous group of performance artists performed their collaborative project, which is based on Heinrich Hoffmann's cautionary tales. This featured an amazing rendition of Bohemian rhapsody by the 'fire assembly point' and cigaret smoking legs, culminating in a surreal performance of a pedal driven orchestra, a air pump in a kettle and a giant bellows.

Matías Krahn III

Matías Krahn is a Chilean artist based in Barcelona he does bold abstract impasto paintings full of colour and joy. I featured his work on this blog many years ago and it is interesting to see how his work is evolving, becoming calmer and simpler in its compositions.

Josias Scharf

It is time for some love letters, these are some examples from a series of twelve abstract works by Berlin based artist Josias Scharf where words and symbols have all but disappeared replaced by gesture, line and hints of colour to express emotions.

Haliyaa I

Haliyaa, what can I say? this is love! I love her ideas and style. This is a page from her sketch book to introduce you to the magic of Haliyaa.

Michèle Gravel

Michèle Gravel takes children's art and cleverly and sympathetically collages it into dynamic, bright, wonderful, large compositions for the family home.

Jae-Hwa Yoo

Jae-Hwa Yoo uses acrylic on muslin, on panels, her works though abstract are like ancient texts, tiny brush strokes making their own language.

Deb Laurence II

A series of works by Deb Laurence called 'Don't worry be Happy' using collage and mixed media in a primitive book form.

Deb Laurence I

Deb Lawrence's works traverse craft and fine art mixing them together to create work that binds many themes and ideas together. She uses mixed media on antique linen creating abstract 'quilt canvases'.

"My handling of materials is intimate and engaging as I fold, crease and paint, creating structural dimensionality and imbuing my work with a veritable soul. Collectively termed Self-Help, my titles serve as wry provocations to cope with contemporary life and get comfortable in our own skin.                                                                                                 The antique linen I use is integral both to the conceptual basis and visual aesthetics of my work. Hand woven by women in the 1800’s, it was originally used as bed sheets and duvet covers, security blankets in their own right. The coarse threads, hand stitched seams, and occasional repairs highlight the vestiges of the female hand and engender a sense of strength, authenticity and beauty in that which is genuine and imperfect."       Deb Laurence

Sara Matson Westover

Two pieces from Sara Matson Westovers' exhibition at M A Doran Gallery. Sara's work is inspired by daily events, words and memories, her pieces range from soft and abstracts to almost graffiti-esque statements. Sara is from Tulsa and trained in textiles and literature.