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FINALLY I've uploaded new artwork to the website. EIGHT of my latest gouache and ink paintings (all of which were hanging at Pentimenti Gallery in Philadelphia this month) have been added for your viewing pleasure HERE. Take a peek, and let me know what you think! (unless you don't like them...then just politely pretend you didn't read this post, and send me candy and/or some of your OWN artwork as a consolation).
At the risk of straying away from craft and art completely... here are some money shots of Phil and I with some of the farm animals we cared for last week up in Baltimore County. We stayed at a beautiful farmhouse with (count em) 5 chickens, 4 Goats, 3 Cats, 2 Horses, and 1 lovely Donkey named Emma. Even knowing that the city is full of treasures like the previous post... it was wonderful to get away from the noise and clutter for a while, and enjoy some fresh country air. We drank tea in front of a fireplace, took long walks in the field with the horses and donkey, collected eggs, baked cookies, smelled the flowers, climbed haystacks, and threw cracked corn from a tin pail. Wait..... this isn't straying from art...I'm pretty sure it's a perfect setup for a new painting...
Stolen from the Atomic Books' Blog. God, I love Baltimore.
a more complete list of our Holiday shows to come soon.
"...Also, boygirlparty is one word. It just is." After drooling over everything boygirlparty for a couple years now, that statement is the thing that sticks with me after exploring Susie Ghahremani's magical online shop. The trend of quirky juvenile looking illustration that is drowning the art and craft world right now could learn a few things from Ghahremani. Her illustrations, while innocent and goofy, are so clever and beautiful and pulled together. Her patterns are unique, her world is dreamy, and her animals are so ridiculous you want to own them as little disfunctional family pets. Ghahremani takes illustration jobs by commission in a addition to selling her original artwork, and printed products (t-shirts, postcards, mirrors, stationary...) online at www.boygirlparty.com. We recently ran into boygirlparty's booth at Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago, and got to meet Susie Ghahremani in person. Not only is she a wonderful artist and charming person, but she is also a superb one-woman band ("Snoozer") and has a podcast called "Le Podcast de boygirlparty" which I am overjoyed to have discovered. How is it even possible to be so cool? She just is.
L.A. based Jon Huck has two series of photos on his website (www.jonhuck.com) and I am fascinated by both the breakfast and the couples series. In both, he seems to be suggesting mimicry and although I'm not sure if it was a happy mistake or a goal, it cracked me up and made me want to start eating more attractive breakfasts.
Admittedly, it's not the first time such a project has been done. I've seen people matching their cars, their pets, each other, and their homes before...and once in college, I took part in a one-week eating chart poll, and you had to pose for a photo portrait with whatever food appeared most often on your chart. I had baked banana bread that week, and somewhere in the world, there's a portrait of me with a collection of it. I never saw the proofs, but I hope my face didn't appear overly loaf-like...
But the cleanliness and intimacy in these photos is something Huck has personally perfected. I feel privileged seeing what people look like in the morning, and I believe they were really photographed at breakfast time. The coffee drinkers look like they'd sooner eat a camera than pose for a photo before obtaining caffine. As for me... I'm going to rethink my health regimin. Because for the record.... this is exactly what I ate this morning:
A new dress has appeared on the apparel page at Red Prairie Press. Asphalt gray with an off-white silhouette print of poppies from a photo taken in NH a few seasons ago, we managed to sell out of these at Crafty Bastards, where it debuted. Get yours while gray is still the new black.
Just made it down to Gallery Imperato on Saturday to see Alyssa Dennis' new show, LifeLINES. Knocking me out of breath as usual, her newest drawing/painting/mixed media pieces are inspired by vintage photos, urban environments, and a delightful new surprise... potbellied middle aged men! Each painting is packed with mystery and the images within are layered in stacked timelines and seem as though they would make film stills if separated. Parts of legs are left unfinished, while others are rendered so meticulously you could mistake them for photography. Daring blocks and stripes of color pass over beautifully drafted linework. The lack of finish in form ends up looking like aging and wear. Such simple things are so genius to me.
I got so over-excited that I convinced Imperato's new director, Cheri Landry, to pull out all of the additional paintings they have of Alyssa's so that Phil and I could drool over those too. The above piece, "The Stack Moves," is on my wish list. Show runs September 28-November 3 2007, and Gallery Imperato's hours are Tues-Sat 11-9pm; Sun 11-5pm and Monday by appointment. Well worth the hike to Locust Point
Remember how you've been wondering how to make your home hipper without spending much money on fine art, and how you asked us for a 75% discount on our paintings? Well, you still can't have one, but you CAN own our artwork for cheap. In celebration of Phil's birthday (today) and another year down, we are working on the first annual RED PRAIRIE PRESS 12-MONTH CALENDAR!!!!!
GET PUMPED, FRIENDS!!!!!!
Due out at the end of the month, this enviro-friendly calendar is your answer to cheap art ownership, daily planning, all round hipster well-being and of course, it also makes a kick-butt holiday gift. Ironic how it worked out that it's coming out party is right before the holidays, huh?? It even gets cheaper when you buy multiple copies!!
Look for it at local stores where Red Prairie Press apparel is sold, as well as on our website, and at our table at craft shows!
NaNa Projects is HIRING! The fine ladies behind the Great Halloween Lantern Parade, Parade School and other magical lantern puppet shows are looking to find Interns and a Business Manager. We couldn't think of a niftier place to work! Molly Ross, the brains behind NaNa, is a wonderful woman and we had the pleasure of being her neighbor for two years on Wilmslow Road in Roland Park. She and her trusty redheaded sidekick (Annie Howe) and a whole heap of volunteers and students are often seen stilt-walking down the street, playing with Molly's dog Ruby, and stitching enourmous puppet lanterny jugheads on the sidewalk outside their studio- the former home of the Baltimore Electric Light Company (how fitting).
Most times I've entered this studio, there was pie. There was always good conversation, and always hard work and happiness abounding. I can't stress enough.... YOU SHOULD WORK HERE! To apply, visit www.nanaprojects.com.
Nicholas Gurewitch is both a dear friend and superb artist. His comic strip, The Perry Bible Fellowship, started at Syracuse University a half decade ago, and has since been published in newspapers and online comic form all over the world. Recently, Nick teamed with Dark Horse Comics to publish a hardbound collection of PBF comics. The book, titled "The Trial Of Colonel Sweeto & Other Stories" is available for pre-order through Amazon and has positive comments from Jim Woodring (Frank), Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) & Mark Millar, who writes "This is the reason paper was invented. Give him your money now." Frankly, we couldn't agree more.
Now, instead of having to skip to the comics pages, you can just skip picking up the newspaper altogether. Pick up the comics instead, and skip to your favorites! Who needs news, right....? Riiigghhhttttt.
Anyway, go HERE to give this demented genius your dollars, and HERE to view more of his comics, art & movies online!
Monika Krol is the Philadelphia based jeweler responsible for this very special necklace. She recently put up a website with a whole slideshow of her sculptural jewelry at www.monikakrol.com. Red Prairie Press was next door to Monika and her all-woman-jeweler-group AYM (www.aym-ladies.com, coming soon) at Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia this summer. I'm so glad we found her, because two months later, I opened a box of cereal and poured a bowl, and out popped a velvet box, with this baby inside. Down went dear sweet Phil on one knee, and before I could shout out that we'd just scored the ultimate cereal prize, he had proposed, I had accepted, and the cat had gone running out the door in excitement and slammed his head into the wall. (no joke).
Faq about this treasure:
-Yes, it's a real barbie hand.
-Yes, Monika customized this (pale skin, real diamond) per Phil's request.
-Yes, You should get one too....and...
-No, I don't think her original intent was for this to be an engagement ring...but I'm glad it is! (I had asked to not have a ring, as I work with my hands and fear breaking or losing something on my finger. Now, my recycled Barbie hand is wearing the ring FOR me, and I am worry free!)
Washington, DC has once again managed to assure us that running an indie business is a good idea. We had a record breaking day yesterday at Crafty Bastards Craft Fair in Adams Morgan and met some of the greatest people to date. If we were organized enough, we would start a fan club for the organizers Liz, Sara and Kim. The fine people of our nation's capitol know how to shop, and the weather could not have been more beautiful. Phil and I were especially happy to be stationed next door to our favorite crafter of all time, Jennifer Strunge of Cotton Monster fame. Since the day was so busy & we never saw past the booths directly next to us, our only purchases were of Cotton Monsters! Here is a photo of a new breed of monster, the jellymonster. Rahhhr.
