Caitlin McGauley's Watercolor World

This New York City artist has become the house illustrator for Lonny Magazine, with her charming watercolors:





She's also painted for Kate Spade and Hermes. Her work reminds me so much of Maira Kalman's -- whimsical and smart.

More here!

Matchbook Magazine, May Issue

The new issue of Matchbook Magazine is out today. As you guys know I LOVE this magazine...but I'm especially excited this month because I'm included as one of the featured bloggers. We were asked: What would you bring to a potluck?
Visit the magazine here!

PS: We're finally done moving...Now comes the hard part: unpacking the boxes.

Wuthering Heights -- A Family Tree...

Although I know from previous comments that some you absolutely hated Wuthering Heights, I wanted to post this illustration by Lizzy Stewart. I think it's so charming and I love how Catherine is in sepia.

Have a lovely Monday, everyone!

A chainsaw and an ax

I love these paintings by LA artist Kelly Reemtsen:

Women armed to bust through ceilings and walls...and clear out the brush in the front yard.
(more here!)

Black & White: The graphic designs of Anne Higgie

Off-kilter yet carefully symmetric, I love these illustrations by Anne Higgie...

They're like mysteries penned on art paper.  Especially this one:

Why do you suppose she's crying?

Automatism Atelier

I love Lori Langille's clever art, especially her new holiday cards (above). They're stocked in her Etsy store. She recently did the butterfly lady for my profile box....and....she's working on my new header...I CAN'T WAIT! She has a wonderful blog too, Automatism.

Hope you're having a very nice weekend...

Beauty, Illustrated

It's Lisi from The Beauty File and I'd like to introduce

you to Melbourne's own, Nevin Hirik.

The paintbrush: her instrument.

The canvas: her linen storyboard where dreams come alive....

Remember, 2009

Dreams to Remember, 2009

Three, 2003

Dreams to Remember VI, 2009

Theme of the Uprooting II, 2006

I Will Wait to See You Again, 2008

In Nevin's studio...

I had the opportunity to interview the lovely artist.

She shared her inspirations, experiences and favorite music.

Enjoy!

1. What inspires you? Art? Music? Literature? Other artists?

Life!! Everything really. Literature, film, dance, history, traveling, stories, my life, your life, pain, happiness, one word in the movie, a line in the book, Art itself, and Music, of course.

2. What colors do you feel most comfortable using? Are there certain shades that you are drawn to?

Not really. Every painting has its own story and the colours come with the painting naturally, I don’t plan this before the painting. Funny thing is if I want a painting with lots of red it ends up blue, if I want it blue it ends up red. So the best thing is not planning it, it tells me what it wants!

3. Your work truly invokes a dreamlike state and your use of layering is incredible. How long does it take you to create your work?

Thank you. It really depends on the painting, also my mood. I am a full time artist. Sometimes I am locked in my studio and paint days and nights, and I get burned out, physically and mentally, I get so tired. And then I have a break. Then back to the studio again. One solo show a year. And some mixed small shows. I can’t have more than one solo show a year; really I don’t know how people paint like that.

4. Do you paint with music playing in the background? What is on your play list right now?

I do. I can’t think of my studio without music. I love listening to music when I am painting. I listen to lots of different music.

I listen to lots of world music, classic, opera, hip-hop, Blues, Gypsy, Jazz. Lots of good music. I listen to lots of silly music in private life, but in the studio I listen to good music:

Eleni Karaindrou, Zulya, Portishead, Djivan Gasparyan, Elliot Goldenthal, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, David Hirschfelder, Elvira Uzunian, Kim Kashkashian, Robert Levin, Fazil Say, Nick Cave, Rashid Behbudov and Erkan Ogur.

5. What experiences/people from your own life are reflected in your collection?

I sometimes call my paintings a mirror. Every single private story behind these pictures also belongs to you. I am not unique, none of us are. We are all human. We share all the stories.

You can see my stories in my paintings. I am a migrant. I came to Australia from Turkey when I was 23 years old. There is a girl in my painting carry her house in her hand; another one has got the tree inside the house. So this is my experience, but it is also others stories too. For me it represent more than private stories. Thousands of people are homeless now, countries simply can’t share the earth with other nations.

Painting is the language I choose. And I love sharing this with others, that is the best part.

Visit Nevin's blog to view all of her work here

To contact Nevin, email her at: nevin@nevinhirik.com

top photo: silence is everywhere, 2008

(Guest Post by Lisi at the Beauty File.)

Missed Connections

Artist Sophie Blackall has created the most clever blog...


... illustrating posts on the Craigslist Missed Connections sites...



"Messages in bottles, smoke signals, letters written in the sand; the modern equivalents are the funny, sad, beautiful, hopeful, hopeless, poetic posts on Missed Connections websites," she writes....



"Every day hundreds of strangers reach out to other strangers on the strength of a glance, a smile or a blue hat. Their messages have the lifespan of a butterfly. I'm trying to pin a few of them down."

Lovely!

Sophie's blog Missed Connections {here}.

And...her magnificent inspiration board.

Illuminated in Illustration: Daren Newman

Pen and Ink to Blow Your Mind

click all images for larger, more mind boggling viewing

The truly mind boggling pen-and-ink drawings of Melissa B Tubbs can be purchased here

xo, Flux

City of Dionne

Hello! It's Lindsey with a GreatFull day again.
Don't you think there are so many great things about this super connected cyber world we live in? I think the best perk is the opportunity to meet inspiring, creative and super sweet friends with the click of a mouse.

This happened to me a couple weeks ago when I was matched up in a blogging swap with the wonderful, Dionne. Eager to learn more about her I perused her blog which led me to her Etsy shop. Not only are our personalities similar but our artistic tastes too! Her shop features the loveliest illustrations. I wish I could find a spot for each one in my home...it's as if I comissioned each one for myself!

Take a look at these beautiful pieces from my new friend. I'm pretty sure they'll make your heart happy!

And if you need more pretty. Take a look at some photos from her gorgeous wedding last year...

Have you met a kindred spirit via the blogosphere? Do tell!

Maira Kalman, Part Deux

Have you seen Maira Kalman's latest blog post on the NYT website? It's a tribute to Abraham Lincoln and it's absolutely brilliant. One of the things Kalman wonders: What would Lincoln have thought of Frida Kahlo? What do you think?

UPDATE: I love this comment from Yoli: "I whole heartedly believe he would have asked her out on a date."

Hmm, what if Lincoln were a ladies man...

Assemblage

I happened to stumble upon Suzanna Scott's Etsy store, Sushipot, this evening. She's a collage artist in Manhattan, Kansas, whose inspirations come from "all things old, chipped, cracked, worn, dusty, used, found, buried, designed, loved, pieced, intricate, aged and transfigured." I think she's found the recipe for treasure.

Reading...

Hello Everyone, I love the Penguin UK edition of the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. (Their cover design is always marvelous.) The story was originally written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of my all time favorite authors.

Meanwhile, I wanted to tell you that I put together an Amazon list of some of the books you're reading. Thank you all for your comments on the "Got Books?" post. You inspire me!

Your list here!

And the original post. (Let me know if you want to add any books to the list.)

New Etsy Crush

I'm quite smitten by D. Kim's wry illustrations on Etsy. Above: A jumble of glass lanterns, a new take on the silhouette and subway entrances. (I need directions to the station that takes me many moons away!) Kim is a Brooklyn artist, with humor, talent and an edge. Bravo.