Category: Mixed media

Grayson’s art club

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In these troubled times, it is easy to slip into the fold of our sofa in a mindless slumber. And while I have nothing against a good ol’ binge-watch, I find that it usually leaves me drained of all energy and creativity. That’s when Grayson Perry’s magnificent art club comes into the game.

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(painting by Julia Gardner; Julia Gardner via Channel 4)

The 6-episode program brings you Grayson and wife Philippa in their workshop as they work on some creative endeavours. Each episode is devoted to a theme and explores not only Perry’s work but also the public’s, which had been invited to participate and send in their works. Fun, entertaining and inspiring, Grayson’s art club makes me wish there were more similar TV programs out there.

Grayson’s Art Club is available on reply on Channel 4’s website.

Elphick’s Preraphaelite muses

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I may have missed the very promising exhibition The Pre-raphaelite Sisters at the National Portrait Gallery in London, what I did not miss though, is that:

a) its curator Jan Marsh has a blog where you can read about history of art, the making of an exhibition and other art-related subjects; and

b) I fell in love with artist Marina Elphick‘s work, discovered through Marsh’s blog.

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Elphick was showcased at the Preraphaelite Sisters conference at York, where she brought her own depictions of the famous Preraphaelite models made with fabric and thread. Her “muses” as she calls them, are skillfully crafted (look at the hair! look at the dresses!) and perfectly beautiful. But that’s not everything. Not only did she create these amazing figures, but she also collaged them into illustrations, photographs and paintings of their contemporaries, thus creating new artworks for us all to enjoy.

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Posing in picturesque landscapes and Victorian interiors, the muses are depicted as Elphick imagined their lives were. But she didn’t stop there either! On her website, she also shares the biographies of each of her muses, filled with details, portraits and anecdotes.

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The creative process Elphick went through to create this multifacted project resulted in a very aesthetically pleasing, dream-like world where her enigmatic figures evolve surrounded by art and history. *le sigh!*

Eugenia Loli | Oh, L’amour

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Eugenia Loli is a Greek, California-based artist who creates images of love and passion by using collage and vintage images. Each of her works has a meaning and a story behind it, as she says in her biography:

“It’s important for me to “say” something with my artwork, so for the vast majority of my work there’s a meaning behind them. I usually do this via presenting a “narrative” scene in my collages, like there’s something bigger going on than what’s merely depicted. Sometimes the scene is witty or sarcastic, some times it’s horrific with a sense of danger or urgency, some times it’s chill. I leave it to the viewer’s imagination to fill-in the blanks of the story plot.”

You can buy her prints here.

Davide D’Elia | Antivegetativa

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Antivegetativa is the name of a thick anti-fouling paint used to cover old ships to prevent them from moulding. It basically kills any living form. This exhibition held at the Ex Elettrofonica gallery in Rome took over the whole exhibition space, “dipping” it into this beautiful blue colour. The walls, the floor but also the various objects (such as a chair and several paintings gathered from flea markets and old roman cellars) have all been covered by the blue paint. In his statement, Davide explains that he wants to experiment in stopping nature’s physicality as well as the passing of time.

(via Jealous Curator)

The Penniless Photographer

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Penniless photographer Zeren Badar chose to express his creativity by re-vamping old masterpieces. Bold and playful, his photographs have been noticed by several art entities and websites. These are amusing, colourful and original. They also remind us that art of quality doesn’t depend on the amount of money spent to make an artwork, but on the creativity of the artist. Well done to Zeren, I hope you don’t stay penniless for much longer!

Nathalie Lété

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Nathalie Lété is a French artist who creates wonderful illustrations mixing her imagination as well as some real influence from childhood and France in general. Not only does she sell regular prints and silk prints, she also makes hanging toys, cushion covers and… rugs!! Look at these:

 

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Cat or steak? I must admit I love them both. But if you would rather have a cute owl, some simple but beautiful flowers and even a colorful mushroom, you can find them all on her e-shop.