Chick Art, Vol I.

This week at Creative Influences is all about chick art. Popular chick art is fascinating. Many contemporary artists produce cute pieces, with a definite Japanese influence. The most intriguing of these works tinge the cuteness with just the right amount of creepiness or melancholy to render the work edgy and more complex. Merriam Webster defines creepy as "producing a nervous shivery apprehension." I like that, just like a mysterious woman. And like a mysterious, complex woman, these works all exude an independence of thought and sexiness. And oh yeah, the artists produce cool toys too. Here are a few of my favorites.

Julie West

These images are from Julie's Sickly Sweet exhibition featured on My Plastic Heart.

Images from Julie West's website. Check it out. Her art is fascinating. She has some really interesting futuristic, techno and robot paintings too.

Sara Harvey




Sara's work can be seen at her Etsy shop entitled Multiple Personality. Oh and by the way - Sara has the most enviable toy collection. It has to be seen to be believed! You can check it out at her flickr set here. I predict that one day Sara will design some groovy toys.

Jennifer Davis





Jennifer's website is here, while you're there be sure to check out her blog. Her work is ethereal. Her flickr set is here.

Fawn Gehweiler



Remember the prints from the 60s of the girls with big eyes? Everybody I knew had one in their home. Aren't these an amazing rethinking of that icon? Fawn's girls have the innocence the 60s prints had, but these girls are also wise, weary and wistful.

This work reminds me of an Eastman print. It would make a great album cover. I dig it. Fawn also designed two of my favorite Dunnies from the LA series.






See her website here and her flickr set here. Stay tuned. More fascinating chick art to come in the next few days.

A Little Bit of Heaven

A few things I find beautiful.

Blue curtains.

The legs of a little gold sofa.

White lipstick.

The State of Things

I received a very kind email from a reader asking what is going on my apartment. It has been a while since I wrote about my apartment, so here is a little update of the direction things are taking - for now.

Bought a new love seat at my favorite vintage store. Surprising choice, not my usual pared down, modern style. I wanted a comfy place to curl up and read for the winter, and I do love the high back. The price was so amazing - just couldn't pass it up! $79.00!

It's very sturdy. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. I must admit, however, when I got it home I was disappointed in the color. I thought it was more yellow rather than gold. I'd love to have it reupholstered in hot pink, but I probably won't. I can't see spending $1000 to reupholster a $79 sofa. The first thing I'm going to do is take that skirt off to show its cute legs. I'm definitely a leg person. I like to see the legs of furniture.

So for now, I just have it covered in a cheap white sheet. Looks shabby chic, doesn't it? Oh man, how unhip. I prefer the term Midcentury Jo used recently, "dirty glam." Yeah, now that's cool. The room will not look like this for long. I have plans. I'll probably have a cover made professionally by the same lady who did my dining room pillows.

I've been contemplating this lamp from a second hand store downtown.

I love the lantern, but I don't like the base very much, wish it were simpler, less ornate. The base competes with the lantern. If I bought it, I'd have to spray paint it white. And speaking of white, I am still drooling over white painted floors. Wish I could paint my floors!

I read lots of shelter magazines, and I love many rooms. But this bedroom featured in the September Elle Decor really captivated me.

I adore those turquoise curtains, so am thinking of replacing my white curtains. And isn't that Vishnu needlepoint by Matthew Williamson just too fab? I'd like to have him protecting my dreams.

I'd love to have a couple of these patent leather ottomans from Brocade Home. I gotta thing for patent leather, especially white patent leather.

Image from Glam Nest.

Not sure where my style is heading. Still Bohemian, part Hindu princess, part modern. Not so minimal.

Oh, and I almost forgot. I bought a new vase.

White, of course.

Wish I'd Painted That

There's a little place called Liquid Planet. The service is good. The food is good, reasonably priced and reasonably healthy. But - all that is secondary to the sublime painting that hangs in this modest restaurant.


Each time I go to Liquid Planet, I am entranced. I forget about my tuna melt as I stare at this painting, contemplating the brush strokes. Each stroke is a meditation for me.

The artist seems to be A. Scott Miller. I am in love with this work. Those colors, the way the branch leaps off the page. The seeds that appear to be pearls. I never tire of staring at it. In fact, I've ordered many a tuna melt just to have an excuse to stare at this painting. The photo just doesn't do it justice. I wish this work were in my living room. And more than that, I wish I'd painted it.

My City

I'd like to thank everyone who takes the time to read my blog. You have no idea how much it means to me. And thank you for all of the kind emails I receive.

I've been thinking about design a lot lately. Actually, this is nothing new, I tend to obsess about design. I started to prepare a boring treatise about design as art. As I looked over my writing, I grew weary - I can be so opinionated when it comes to design. There comes a time when we need to get beyond our positions and just be open to the beauty that is all around us. So today, instead of presenting too many words on a tireless subject, I'd just like to show you some of the beauty of my city. Hope you enjoy.

Cleveland. I never grow tired of her.

Last weekend my nephews visited and we went for a ride on the rapid. Have you ever thought about what a marvel the rapid is? Just look it at through the eyes of an eight-year old. This wonderful graphic pic was taken by my eight-year old nephew.

I noticed this cool ad as we waited for our train. Would make a great poster.

All the rapid stations have art displayed. I love these glass bricks.

The Chicle building is a fine example of post-industrial living. The nice guys who were washing their car told me that the building is made of recycled materials. I would love to see what the lofts look like.

A pizza shop had poetry all over its windows.

At the science center.

Kind of a boring Cleveland pic, everyone takes this pic. But it's still cool. The Rock Hall looks like the needle of an old-fashioned record player.

Cleveland's sky is a never-ending source of fascination. This day the sun shined gloriously on the soldiers' monument. While looking at this sky, I prayed for all the soldiers in Iraq. Please let them all come home safely.

There's a lot of new sidewalk art. This piece says: Things Change ... or .... Change Things ... depending on how you look at it.

These pods are made of solar panels and are the perfect mix of science and art.

There are so many fine artists in Cleveland. These were hand painted on the walls in a store in Tower City. I love them. Wish I'd painted them. It seems even hooded sweatshirts have been elevated to fine art. This one looks good enough to frame.

These lovely ladies are in the window of a new Vietnamese restaurant.

I discovered a new shop called DuoHome. They had many beautiful things, and reasonably priced. Things with yellow dots were on sale.

Love these!

My readers will not be surprised to learn that I could not resist this white vase. $16.00, not bad. Love the matte white finish. Think I'll go back and get that green one for SNL.

They have cute art. And just look at this fab light fixture.

Wouldn't this look great in an industrial loft, hanging over a large farm table? Think I'll make an appointment to see the Chicle lofts. And I'll be sure to take my camera with me.