Paisley St Claire

Charmed, I'm sure

There's no excuse these days for not having cool art in your home. It used to be that if you had less than $100 to spend on artwork you would have to resort to scratching through the mass-produced 'art prints' in the homewares department of Target. Not anymore.

New York based gallery, Charmingwall, has set about finding some of the coolest artists around just so that you can surround yourself with cool yet affordable art. These prints start at just US$20 and if you are lazy (like me) I suggest you pay a bit extra for them to frame the prints for you. Art can also make a great gift, although I am dead against giving someone a piece of art unless you really know their taste. The lovely Charmingwall people have a selection of gift certificates so you don't have to worry about your favourite print sitting in the back of someone's wardrobe. Besides, half the fun of buying art is in the choosing so it makes your gift even better.

Clockwise from Top Left: Delivery by Bailey Saliwanchik, October by Devon Kelley-Yurdin, Blondie by Bailey Saliwanchik, Fauna in the Forest by Matthew Doubek.

Cool girl, Neryl

You know, I think that some people are just born cool. At school they weren't necessarily the cheerleader, "popular" girl with the blonde pony tail and loads of boyfriends. But they were cool, listening to the Ramones and The Cure and doodling pictures all over the front of their Geography book. I imagine Neryl Walker was one of those cool people.

Neryl grew up to be an artist and illustrator with clients like Bloom Cosmetics, Shiseido, Roxy, Coca Cola, Nippon Vogue, New York magazine, Cleo, Cosmopolitan, Chronicle Books and Harper Collins. She also plays in a couple of bands and who knows what other cool stuff. Her drawings are mainly of hot, sexy women with hardly any clothes on which remind me of a 1960s Carry On film. You can buy Neryl Walker prints at Click for Art or check out her website and blog.

Meanwhile the cheerleader has 3 kids and is in charge of the school canteen on Thursdays.

Tim Walker

This limited edition poster, Dress Lamp Tree by Tim Walker, was produced exclusively for the Design Museum Shop as part of the Design Museum's current exhibition, Tim Walker - Pictures. Its kind of surreal and magical. A bit like the Stepford Wives have run off with Peter Pan. You can buy it (and a few other Tim Walker goodies) online at the Design Museum Shop.

Tattoo Darling

An exhibition of Dutch artist, Angelique Houtkamp's tattoo inspired art is on now at Melbourne's Outre Gallery. Angelique learnt how to tattoo in Amsterdam in 1998 and then a friend introduced her to watercolours in 2000. The result is an impressive portfolio of tattoo inspired art that has lead her to tour the world. With a strong air of old-world Hollywood glamour, Angelique's art has quirky yet comtemporary feel. The exhibition lasts until 23 July 2008.

This original piece, Roshanna is available through the Outre Gallery's website. The continuation of my yellow fettish is purely coincidental.  

Hot Dog!

I wish I was this dog. How deliriously happy does he look with his string of sausages? I hope they are chorizo. I on the other hand, have heaps of bills to pay, piles of washing to do, a teething baby who hardly sleeps and stacks of end-of-financial-year stuff to organise.

Adorable limited edition print by Strawberryluna (US$15).

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!

Today was the public holiday to celebrate our Queen's birthday. I'm a bit of a romantic at heart, I quite like having the royal family.

I guess I always dreamed of being a princess. Of course, I was incredibly jealous when, the once ordinary Tasmanian girl, Mary married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and not only became a princess but the future Queen of Denmark. Who knew that was possible? If I had have known there was a possibility that an ordinary Australian girl could become a princess I would have... well, I don't know what I would have done. Something more princess-y.

Handmade collage by Anne Harwell from annechovie.

No post tomorrow, I'll be at Springboard again.

I'm taking a break...

I'm going to take a break for a little while and be a responsible wife and mother. Have a good weekend and I'll be back again soon.
Love,
Paisley

Sweet print by Isa Form.

Caia Koopman

I have been completely enamoured by Caia Koopman's gorgeous ladies for a while now. Caia Koopman is a Californian native whose art has been heavily influenced by the skateboarding scene. Caia's soulful girls have big dreamy eyes and somehow portray innocence and a little bit of creepy at the same time. I love them. Have a look at her website.

I'm going to add Caia Koopman to my wishlist. (*While I blog about things I would love all the time, my  wishlist is reserved for things that I plan to buy for myself or that I really want someone to buy for me  - hint, hint husband.) For the record, I'd be happy with any of these. 

Hide n Seek Illustrations

I'm a sucker for childhood illustrations, particularly if they are little girl ones. These prints from Hide n Seek are adorable.

UK based, Eloise also takes commissions and custom orders. Check out the Hide n Seek etsy store for more old fashioned sweetness.

Eveline Tarunadjaja

I stumbled upon these beautiful prints by Australian artist, Eveline Tarunadjaja.

Take a look at Eveline's website, Lovepad, for more whimsical prints, original pieces and calendars.

Customisable Childrens Art

I just discovered the most fabulous art shop! Isa Form is a Swedish company (with an English version site) run by artist and designer, Isabelle Norman Sällström.

Isabelle's prints are not only bright, colourful and totally delightful, she also gives you several options for customising the print. Customisable options include a choice of colour, sizes, languages and adding your child's name. For example, the first print below (the elephant) comes in pink, blue, red and olive green and the text says "Ella & Miranda live here". And, the alphabet at the bottom comes in Swedish, English and Norweigan.

Isa Form also have prints for grown up spaces which are customisable (I'll show you those another day).  It's like Isabelle has thought of everything. Visit Isa Form and have play (and shop)!

The Small Stakes

These amazing posters are by Californian based artist, Jason Munn. Over the last 5 years Jason has built his business, The Small Stakes, into a very successful independent design studio, producing nationally and internationally commissioned work including book covers, album packaging, T-shirt designs, screen-printed posters, and illustrations. Jason's clients include the likes of Ben Harper, Norah Jones and Feist.

I wish I was a rock chick so that I could have a poster made for me. *Sigh. Unfortunately, that is never going to happen so I'll have to just buy a Small Stakes poster via the website. At just US$25 each these posters are some of the coolest affordable art around.

New Prints from Art Princesses

You have to be quick to get prints from these ladies.  Audrey Kawasaki's Lacey Print went on sale on the weekend and sold out in 24 hours.

And my favourite artist, Stella Im Hultberg has some prints available soon which I'm sure will sell just as quickly. Thankfully, I have some prints of her earlier work. But I know from experience, the bitter disappointment of missing out on ones that you really, really love. This is one of Stella's prints I was lucky enough to get, 'Always'.

Imagine how exciting it would be to have an original piece.

The best way to find out about new prints is to go to the artist's website or blog and sign up to their mailing list. That way you'll at least get a couple of days to be ready to buy. Its almost as nerve racking as trying to get concert tickets.

Check out Audrey Kawaski's website and Stella Im Hultberg's blog for more details.

Painter Girl - Gemma Jones

Ooohhh! I just discovered some gorgeous retro art by Gemma Jones (via Wee Birdy).

I immediately bought the top 2 prints for my daughter's room. I would have liked to buy a third (because I think things look good hung in threes) but I couldn't decide between the other two.

I was also excited to find out that the artist is an Australian too. Check out Gemma Jones' etsy shop and website for more details.

Lindsay Brackeen

I am so happy to have stumbled upon the beautiful art of Lindsay Brackeen. Her girls are so sweet and innocent. They all look so happy, their woodland home so peaceful and their dresses so pretty. Oh, to be one of those girls.

Lindsay has an etsy shop and her blog is the best way to find out about fresh original pieces and new prints.

As mentioned in earlier posts, I'm on a self-imposed art diet - from spending way too much on prints. So I'm putting Lindsay's delightful Me and Hoo print (top right) in my wishlist. Although I just realised that these prints would be perfect for my daughter's room so I don't think it will be long before I've collected a couple of these. *I can justify anything!

I found Lindsay's art via Poppytalk.

X-ray Art

I was really taken with these 'photos' by Steven Meyers when I saw them. The flowers look so soft and delicate. Some of them even look as transient as smoke.

In fact, these are actually taken using x-ray technology. I don't completely understand it, but this is what Steven Meyers says on his website:

By using x-rays instead of light, and unusual innervision can be revealed, and nature shows us textures, details, and shadows that would otherwise not be seen. Visible light is just a small part the electromagnetic spectrum, and falls between x-rays and infrared. My x-ray images are a collection of negatives, positives, and solarized images, solarized being partly negative and partly positive at the same time.

You can find a selection of these beautiful photographic prints online at Art Select or check Steven Meyer's website for locations in the United States.

Jenn Ski

What better way to start the week than some fabulous art from Jenn Ski.

These are Jenn's brand new original artwork available for purchase via her website. If you miss out on one of these pieces she also has gorgeous glicee prints.

I'm lusting after a couple of her latest prints but unfortunately I've bought more art in the last 6 months than in the whole of my life. So I'm on a self-imposed art diet. Its going on my wishlist.

Esra Roise

I struggle to draw a stick figure. Esra Roise on the other hand, does not. These drawings are astounding.

Esra is a freelance illustrator based in Norway who, among other projects, has illustrated several children's books. Visit Esra Roise's website to see more.

via Happy Cavalier.

Botanical Art

I've been thinking about putting some little framed prints in the corner where I have my computer. Its a communal space so I want something that is appropriate for the room. I figure you can't really go wrong with botanicals. I'm considering framing some Angie Lewin cards to make a series of pictures. You can buy boxed sets of Angie Lewin cards here. Below is my round up of affordable Botanical Art. 

Linocut and Wood Engraving prints by Angie Lewin.

Limited edition prints of original colour ink paintings by Ola Design.

Delightfully dotty prints from Jelly Beans.

Magnumfied On the Move by Mindy Wilson and Feeling Jazzy print by Browington Forest.

I adore these fabulous bright prints by Yellena.  I had such a hard time picking some out for this post - there are so many great prints. I really like this one below as well. Its so earthy and retro.

 

You can buy Yellena's prints at her Etsy store and you can read about her work on her blog. It seems that her original work sells pretty quickly so it may be a good way of getting a heads up on new pieces.