maira kalman

New York artist

Maira Kalman

is famous for her

work in

The New Yorker

and

children's books,

and I find her

simply delightful.

I  own many of her books,

and each feels like a little

treasure trove of wit and wisdom.

I think what I like most

about her work

is how it is consistently

one-off and childlike

(not childish!)

in its whimsy.

The Principles of Uncertainty

(Penguin Press HC)

is more fun than I can say.

Maira blogged for the New Yorker

(And the Pursuit of Happiness),

and you can enjoy her posts

here.

malik saaka

The

d i v i n e

a r t i s t r y

of

malik saaka

may take you by surprise.

Emerging artist Malik

is a full time student at Mizzou,

and it was my honor to shhhhhh! score a sneak peek

at his collection

before a recent exhibition.

Hiding delight

is not one of my special talents 

so I may have said 'kill me now'

or punched Malik hard in the gut

(most likely I chanted 'dreeeeaaamy' an annoying

amount of times).

"I can tell you right now that my creative process is one of obsession and I get pretty incensed when I work and usually produce works in an unofficial series, almost as if there is a thin thread connecting each work but said thread is stretched to it's limits and then I start on a new series."

I can tell you right now Malik is brilliant.



Can't wait to receive

my MS originals!

Inquire about 
his engaging inventory
or commission a work

here.

Personality! Tiny feet!

I'm shutting up.

all images, Malik Saaka

The artist's blog is here.

andrea shapiro

Arcade #1

(mixed media on paper)

ANDREA SHAPIRO

has inspiring talent

and

the coolest studio in NY

constructed of shipping containers.

Rigoletto collage

No, I'm not joking about the studio.

Arcade #2

Click here for more Andrea Shapiro.

pop pop portraits

Waiting for Fall

lovely renderings

that pop. 

POP POP PORTRAITS

*etsy.com

Isabel

Helena's work makes me smile.

Takes me back to my childhood and

my mom who shared her love for artist

Joan Walsh Anglund.

We had all her dolls and books.

My Lovely Aunt

I would so wear these boots and this animal print

even though I'm sick to death of

seeing awful awful animal prints everywhere out there.

Nerdy Nymphet

Ah.

Who I aspire to be.

Tatiana

C'mon now.

The turned in little tootsie?

The peepers?

Irresistible.

all images, Pop Pop Portraits

linn olofsdotter

Grolsch "The Mark"

Tree Life (personal)

Uff da.

Sweden's own

L I N N  O L O F S D O T T E R

see more of this illustrator's work

Easterwitch (personal)

for Australia's retail chain

Portman's

george marks magic

Depth and layers of meaning in these brilliant paintings by artist

George Marks

Marks

is represented by Ann Connelly Fine Art.

See his thoughtful

landscape, figurative, and abstract work

here. 

brett amory

From San Francisco based Brett Amory's

"Waiting" exhibit.

His paintings depict various people waiting.

About the 'waiting' subject matter, the artist says:

"People are afraid to leave the house without their phone now

and ten years ago it wasn't like that. Electronics get smaller and

people are more and more occupied with them.

People are afraid to be with their own thoughts."

Brett captures loneliness

and sometimes emptiness.

He begins first by taking photos of people and places.

Then he paints these contemplative, quiet

souls who are in between distractions.

I learned about Brett's amazing work here. 

irene diamente

Many many thanks to the lovely Italian artist,

Irene Diamente

who painted this adorable watercolor of our beloved and Italian named,

Bella Luna.

It was such a pleasure corresponding

with the artist (dimdi on etsy) who offers original

paintings of the animals she loves.

I could not resist requesting a custom portrait of our fluffy baby

who drinks from the faucet

and chases a red balloon everyday.

Please send Irene my greetings if you contact her for your own masterpiece!