There was so much driftwood on the beach. Among the seemingly random driftwood was this deliberately placed bird house. Who put it here, and why? Is it made of driftwood?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A walk on the beach
There was so much driftwood on the beach. Among the seemingly random driftwood was this deliberately placed bird house. Who put it here, and why? Is it made of driftwood?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Custom Toys and Fine Art - APAK
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwpFXn1Z_A7N0tfGiN169jtuGNnmTAWU4mC6n8pICPz66NyLVkHrrSfJ0ZHjiBWBEmtkHGbVwWwh88Fy5vnEV8-6nAbMTCJUwLTUV2oeblQ5veBl6zPmbtiQT4pOKRKmB5FSFmsX8vEI/s400/unkl_sugD56.jpg)
Meet Sug by UNKL Brand formerly available at My Plastic Heart. According to MPH Sug is big and strong, but he's also gentle. He has a bag that holds a set of secret serum vials that will cure almost any ailment.
By noticing this cute toy, I've learned about the artists who call themselves APAK.
It is impossible to look at APAK's work and not smile, it is so full of love. Definitely influenced by Japanese pop culture, their work is populated by little creatures who live cooperatively and peacefully. There is a utopian quality to their work which speaks to me of the endless possibilities of art. Their Etsy shop, their home page and blog are delightful. I am always fascinated by (and a little envious of) husband and wife artist teams. This team is skilled at creating imagery with words as well.
This is from the profile at their Etsy shop. "Aaron and Ayumi Piland are two physically separate beings who are united in art as APAK. They met in a distant dimension and traveled to Earth together in a magic imagination machine....." On their blog they tell us that when they collaborate anything is possible. Delightful! I wanted to take a quote from their blog too, but you just gotta check it out yourself.
APAK's Etsy shop is here, their home page is here. All this wonderful discovery from someone sharing their toys on flickr. Ain't life grand?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Love of a Gravely Voice and Surrendering to Process
The only thing I know about Leonard Cohen, is that I want to know more about him. While watching the film, I found myself fast forwarding through the parts where other artists were speaking about him or singing his songs. I felt pangs of guilt at the disrespect to these artists, but I was intrigued by Leonard. I could not get enough. His words captivated me as much as his mysterious voice has. And his creative process is almost, well, spiritual. As I listened to him, I thought of surrender.
These words seem appropriate for the new chapter I'm beginning in my life. No longer kicking and screaming, I am sinking into my life. We are art. Our lives are our canvas.
As I sink into my art, I find that I am captivated by images from below the oceans and sea, and in the sky and beyond. I am fascinated by organic shapes and weather phenomenon. How would these images that haunt me play out on a canvas, set to the music of Leonard Cohen? I intend to find out this weekend.
For now, I do not have time to paint. But I have time to contemplate paintings that I love.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9Hr_bNzYRk8RcV0lwelgoxaMNqGA_QRJLQgOb3CJEKh3xa1Z-ct1Qq5IYIhQSfRRN02QPtaevp-ozYSHFP-SyV3Kh6SssUlrqm02V6S31jMc3aoL55W79j0T4D7JmAdl8lkl8CHsf30/s400/2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsl_C1ScMc-hLVgAZk6SqwQ3UAX-wuU6GUHs2u2tlxk1ebJZCDecbeS2WFxipTQUISRdj5qkg_oimhh9v6vqMAkqdmb4JbmCy2_P8SK4SrtUeAilBd8oH4a3ceFwNtT6a2cdpfS_2aQI/s400/3.jpg)
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
A Celebration of Orange!
An orange tote bag in my office neatly holds files.
Mixing orange and pink paint. Can't wait to get these on a canvas!
My favorite orange vase. Proof that orange and hot pink make a stunning couple.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BqTJMLZpbCVBiKg1nzmSky5baoDw8PYrR3OD-3BaI3GUACwa2iQl7LRjnkY7_sikUvpzdmdKzfOPgkxiAFyWFIy_-Un6b927iFt9we5-DN82PWOEBIkjXnumXOv5zAzwsgV2AeCAQLg/s320/543245105_1050bd6a6e.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigtT_yrwirviXHHyWG5Kmqzhh9Jk6sFK3Ir2_Vi-1LFkDq016JXUIwUe8mAKPT-7Aalj5JG-_VHlnvqBWYmXb6A_95wpp5nwfP_CaFs627jSwIk6i1Q_luT8sm4Y6ElyhdOZfSLOsrEI/s320/543245093_6de0ee4a03.jpg)
A couple of my paintings. 2005, 11" x 14", each piece. Acrylic and marker on paper. See more of my paintings, here.
It made me happy thinking of orange today. Stay tuned. I believe orange will be showing up in my paintings in the near future. Hooray for orange!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Is it pottery or is it sculpture?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QPJrETyq6wBsR0i1pUYfh7c8uhvV2SeBjdiQ3BSXRGepTy9aPUDIHMmNYVyC4Q8A-i_pi1ayBPYrxdXYTkIZXrkZKs1GszlENfKm3FZCti00aeqIna6dEWqnVKzfF-btGV8kIlSr1RA/s320/il_430xN_19567015.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkEkrffju-2thnYQaYfyu2p-ZQ8ZHnC9GkB4humVm4JtZFxWEUvq-iuN0MlbrBC9JUrzIUN87dIrniQcin2e5o-5HEGhXD5aWn_fD19wPpXuS__V_Le-ydpQISYICmh_8YM0YyJvYALY/s320/il_430xN_19565007.jpg)
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It's both! I adore these new ceramic works by Paloma's Nest. So much so that I would like to design a room around them. These unique artworks lend themselves to so many interpretations. Perhaps they are inspired by undersea creatures, or perhaps they are alien spacecraft. Whatever the inspiration, they are funky and fun.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6dG_CMLieoRh3ZkANdFBMjHwxBWDhxcDB5kbzi5k46lX0TsdcjO7sMCniX1zjL6EXHLRHw9gW0cxr-ddYY0mmojxJc-AMyUmL0zQXJEmZoCKs7r6CEgpu7WPJ8lf2AFZJlogxz3ZBCg/s400/vincent+wolfe.jpg)
I could also see them in these wonderful rooms designed by Frank Roop. I adore Roop's designs. I could see the vases on the mantel here or on the shelf below. Roop always features the most wonderful paintings, I wonder if he is a painter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYlrHuY3bclUyMJALykXpk4Bu89q_1BYDxtQryk-Owq1_uLXhW_QNAItfpdGvJCj9wkpUPioVmoEl2jsHcLeib8TmIab7tjUrrxKcnpnpwTEm3zUSfYFvnCAp_Us4DQpRDG2aErv0YtY/s400/photo-3.jpg)
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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Two of my favorite things: vases and lamps
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG9v6fbAu18W2lMD8YzwkqWuieaYr2jjJi7WAaDdtDOtffSNJ9uUzEH8Tbc2g1wFWmAwaiUDYfqyIHRNvKiY0kbypyYCV3DMjPRFwkJK7FpuwsyzsPvsb-kHPzH7w4T78fjFBt4RtdKQ/s400/LALIGHT0017.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYPQUJTneJbWyymItc3owleeKEGxYP8ZkskiNrGlgzekyvaZRjC6cu56fc4RjAoKYNaUSH5uxfd3n-sNV71pav5Zds1zIIlgGOy15RB04Bu2TK8zG32VTFzgfV9Tt0hIqS-88cbjGLLQ/s320/asteriod+vase+-+rare+device.jpg)
Since I seem to be gravitating toward organic shapes, I'm thinking of ordering the Asteriod vase from Rare Device.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqVuQQni1DTM5jg7Zz5L3KaQuHLHDDmAVhfmPootpWB78zoeSBh0stbesOnkhHTv765FhWyV8J-5IULs974dWVEh9FAR9DjlXuWGjdmiwffK_b3-pv-MfhS1Hv2pJsIBuE8TFW8ieeHY/s320/design+public+-+meridian+lamps.jpg)