Happy Father's Day

Pay It Forward ART STYLE

I took this photo of the ocean at Pacific Beach in San Diego, CA on June 9, 2009. A beautiful beautiful day to watch the waves and soak in some sunshine. I heart SD.

I'm taking on Brandi Milnes' challenge of Pay It Forward: Art Style. She wrote it best:

"I am entering into the following contract with the first 5 people who comment on this post and then commit to do the same on their blog. Just read below and if you feel up to the task copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment. Continental U.S. only... oh, ok just about anywhere, why not!

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. (unlikely!) Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something strange. (or insanely cute even if you are a boy or a macho girl)
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.

Welcome to everyone. I will however, make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog.

Come on, don't be shy. Even if you don't think you're the creative type, you might end up surprising yourself - and making 5 other people very happy too!

So there you go, be the first 5 to leave a comment and be a part of it! Please leave your email address as well so I can contact you :) "

THANKS BRANDI for the challenge, it's on!

Kokeshi Artists 2009 at JANM/ Opens July 11

This year's custom Kokeshi artists are (click on name to see their website):

Adolie Day
Aline Yamada
Allison Sommers
Amy Huddleston
Amy Paul
Amy Ruppel
Amy Sol
Ande Cook
Andrea Innocent aka Innocentgirl
Annie Wilkinson
APAK

Bubi Au Yeung
Bailey Saliwanchik
Betsy Walton
Brigitte Coovert

Caia Koopman
Calef Brown
Camilla d'Errico
Camilla Engman
Catherine Brooks
Cathie Bleck
Celene
Cheon Eun Sil
Christina Conway
CJ Metzger

Dacosta!
Danamarie Hosler
Dan May
David Horvath

Edwin Ushiro
Eliza Frye

egg scissors
Eveline Tarunadjaja

Ferris Plock
Florence Pacho
Fontaine Anderson

Gustavo Aimar

Harmony Gong
Hine Mizushima

Jacqueline Myers-Cho
Jaime Zollars
Jason Levesque aka Stuntkid
Jason Limon
Jeni Yang
Jen Lobo
Jenn Playford
Jenn Porreca
Jennifer Davis
Jeremiah Ketner
Jody Hewgill
Joel Nakamura
Johnny Yanok
Julie West

Kathleen Lolley
Kelly Tunstall
Kelly Vivanco
Ken Garduno
Kent Williams
kozyndan
Kris Chau
Krista Huot
Kristin Elder
Kukula

Laura Laine
Lilly Piri
Liza Corbett
Lorena Alvarez
Lou Pimentel

Macoe Swet
Marcos Chin
Marguerite Sauvage
Mar Hernández aka Malota
Mari Inukai
Meredith Dittmar
Michelle White
Mike Rivamonte
Miss Mindy

Nassyrova Dilka
N.C. Winters
Noferin (Nicho & Candy)

Paola Zakimi
PCP/Heisuke Kitazawa
Pietari Posti
Pilar Berrio
Poketo (Ted & Angie) x Busc

Raquel Aparicio
Red Nose Studio (Chris Sickels)

Samuel Ribeyron
Sandi Calistro
Sandra Equihua
Sandra Wang/Crockett Bodelson
Sayaka
Stella Im Hultberg
Sterling Hundley

Tado (Mike & Katie)
Tara McPherson
Tessar Lo
Timothy Karpinski
Travis Louie
Toshiyuki, Fukuda

Yellana James
Yoskay Yamamoto

The LATDA website will be updated periodically showing sneak peeks of finished work. Some artists have posted their finished Kokeshi... an early treat you'll only get by visiting their websites! Enjoy and get to know some favorite new artists!

The Family and Friends Dinnerware Collection

It's off to a small start, but a bright bright cheerful start it is! For Thanksgiving (2008) I asked my dad to paint me a cereal bowl at a ceramics store so I could have something I can use regularly that will remind me of him. He was visiting for a week and at one point he asked me what was something special I'd like to do/see/experience during his visit, having him create something at the paint-your-own-pottery shop was my immediate request. He was rather hesitant but considering the fact that the previous day we spent looking at an unholy number of military airplanes and other "exciting" memorabilia he kind owed me.

My dad is not exactly the crafty type, he does a great job drawing up blueprints and stick figures but asking him to paint/decorate a blank piece of pottery was really pushing it. He didn't have a lot of time to think up his masterpiece but what he did end up creating was better than anything he could have taken days and sketchbooks to work out. My dad raised me on his own pretty much from the time I was 5 to 12. He loved to pick on me and one of his favorite nicknames for me was/is "Sunshine Porcupine". He took this idea and went to hard work painting the brightest yellow sunshine he could to the inside of the cereal bowl. Underneath the bowl he painted a very very prickly porcupine. It was perfect! To finish it off he included one of my favorite creatures, the dragonfly and a "HAPPY THANKSGIVIN' 08 LOVE DAD" on opposite sides of the bowl. He had to leave before the bowl was fired and I could bring it home. He has been asking me for a few months now to show him the bowl... here you go dad, many many thanks for being a good sport and for starting off my first piece of FF Dinnerware. :)


The next victims in my new personalized dinnerware collection scheme was my closest friend Philip Estes and his lovely wife Sarah. They are very book smart and art is sort of a foreign language to them. But I mean that in the most endearing of ways. They appreciate art but are more comfortable doodling math problems and dissertations than drawing or painting. For Christmas I asked for a painted plate and I got an "I.O.U.". Two months later my birthday comes around and to my HUGE surprise they had taken the time to create two dinner plates, each one creating their own masterpiece. Philip was very proud to tell me that he had looked up the color wheel online and used it as his source of inspiration for his plate. Sarah, knowing my LOVE for sushi was inspired to paint a plate full of yummy sushi rolls, seaweed and fish. You know you're loved when this kind of present comes your way. I love these two so much and just having them in my life is a present enough. :) I'm so spoiled!

By the way, Philip was reluctant to paint the ceramics just as much as my dad, but he admitted that while they were there doing it they got into a kind of zen mode and really really enjoyed the process. Think he'd actually do it again too!

Thanks again, Dad, Philip and Sarah. Ok, who's my next victim, I could really use a second cereal bowl!

Dilkabear Please Come Here

It all started with this mini watercolor... my love for Italian artist Dilkabear's work grows with each new piece she creates.

Painting two from Dilkabear, I knew I had to keep watch on her work after seeing the first piece in-person and that's when the above watercolor stared me down and won me over. Dilka was inspired by the movie "The Science of Sleep" which truly is a creative and captivating movie.

The most recent piece I have acquired is Dilkabear's "Amelie in the Magic Forest", an original acrylic painting on a 5" x 5" piece of wood. I feel almost guilty owning this piece because it's so precious. There are so many paintings she has recently created that should have been in a show of their own, sharing the same walls at the same time. With the talent this young woman has she deserves to be showing in the U.S. I definitely have my eye on her!
For more of her work, take a look at her Etsy shop and watch for her Kokeshi coming in July!

Art Collection

Posting a few pieces from my little collection of original works. It's growing and I'm running out of wall space but it's a pleasant problem.

My latest acquisition is "Golden Forest" by Ande Cook aka Chickory.
Her portfolio site can be found at www.andecook.com and her Etsy shop at chickory.etsy.com.
I immediately fell for this piece when I saw it on her Etsy site. It's not a typical style I'm drawn too but there was something magical about it that called to me. In-person, OH MY GOODINESS! The colors are wonderful and vibrant! The online image does it very little justice. I really like the folk art feel of Ande's work and the colors she works with are mouth-watering. This painting is made with acrylic paints on maple and is 6" x 6".


I bought this adorable painting a couple months ago, also through Etsy, it's Jennifer Davis' "Smile". It's acrylic and graphite on pine 4.25" x 4.25". An instant chuckle and warm giggle came to me when I first saw this painting. And honestly, it still does. I love the school portrait day feel of this character. I would love to be in a class with this, um, creature. And talk about awesome pattern mismatching!

You can find original pieces for sale at Jennifer's Etsy shop jenniferdavis.etsy.com and view some really incredible and a few slightly more serious works on her website www.JenniferDavisArt.com.

This tiny piece was also found through Etsy and is by Cori Dantini, titled "A Sharp Trio". I really really like the way she uses old papers with doodles and in this case watercolor paper with musical notations. Her sweet color palette has an aged feel to it and her characters dainty, delicate and friendly. The piece is referred to as an Art Trading Card due to it's small size of 3.5" x 2.5". It's an original painting with watercolors, pen and pencil. You can find prints, original works, ornaments and even pocket mirrors with her work at her Etsy shop corid.etsy.com
Pikaland has an interview with Cori here: http://pikaland.com/2008/04/03/interview-cori-dantini

2 Months Too Long and Another Year Older

What honestly sustains me in this life is art. The drawn, painted, photographed and created visual stimuli that keep me existing for another day. My friends of course mean just as much and without them there would be little reason to wake in the mornings. I write this not to frighten anyone but to admit why I merely exist.

It is through art that I see people, life, stories, love and passion. Things that life would be so plain without. Strangers' interpretations and desires become embedded in the work they create. And though it's impossible to meet everyone in the world to hear their unique stories, through art I can cover great distances and populations.

Art brings a smile to my heart. It's why I'm drawn to positive imagery the most. It's the smiles I get that feed my heart to produce smiles of its own.

I have surrounded myself with beautiful, fun, colorful, sweet and happy paintings and drawings. I have an addiction to collecting original works, I feel more connected to the artists and the pieces when I know their creator was right there, applying the brush strokes, surveying the piece as it developed and lovingly tidying it all up to be a completed piece. The art pieces I own have soul and I'm never truly alone in this apartment I call home.