I can't decide who I like better....

michael carson (via this gallery)



samantha french (via her etsy store)





beverley hawksley (via her website)




kelly grace (via her website here)


I'm reviewing each artist and trying to decide what it is that I identify with.  I thought at first it was the vintage quality.  There is evidence of that with Michael Carson, Beverley Hawksley, and Kelly Grace.  But I'm not too sure about Samantha French.  Then, I thought there was a watery aqua coloured themed.  But no.  Michael Carson doesn't push that colour, nor does Ms. Hawksley.  So, what is it?  Hawksley and Grace are Canadian through and through.  Having seen Ms. Hawksley many times as she would quietly wander through my former store in Muskoka, I like to think I entered her artistic genius.  I can't pick a favourite, so I pick all 4!

signed, the willow

3 generations; same page

More often than not, my mother and I find ourselves doing/saying/thinking/dreaming the same things.  We think we're psychic.  Outsiders think we're psycho.  We don't care.

But get this, now my daughter, *Mila* is in on the act.

Last month, we all created art in our own ways.  Separately, yet simultaneously.

Beatles songs came forth.  Check us out.

Gramma [Golden Slumbers]

Willow [Hey, Bulldog!]

*Mila* [hybrid of Golden Slumbers]:

signed, the willow

Art and the Written Word

I've always been a fan of text and art together.  To me, it's how art makes sense.  Art Journaling.

Source: sarahearn.blogspot.com via Darrell N Karen on Pinterest

Source: andreajoseph24.blogspot.com via Muriel on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Rowena on Pinterest

Source: artistjournals.tumblr.com via Rowena on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Rowena on Pinterest

signed, the willow

A drive on the Etsy highway

Today I felt like a scenic drive.... on Etsy.


First, we need a ride.

source:  blackbirdletterpress on etsy


Look out the window, we're all passengers.  Say goodbye to the hydro lines of the city.

source:  blackbirdletterpress on etsy



maybe we'll stop at a roadside diner somewhere.  which one?

source:  elukka on etsy



I think I'll be needing this hat for the ride.

source:  buygail on etsy


Finally, a little road trip freshen up to "blow the stink off" as my mum would say.

source:  signal mountain on etsy


signed, the willow

MoVember?

Will you be letting your guy or girl dote on some facial hair for the benefit of Movember?  I'm thinking if they commit to donating some money (or time....time is good too) to a good cause like Prostate Cancer awareness, then why not.  But if they're just doing it for Grey Cup or Hockey Season (*Steve*!) then my answer will be no - for my husband, anyhow.

For those of you who will support a good cause, here's some simpler ideas.  And this allows us girls or children to participate too.

Two Finger Moustache Ring (Amberie on Etsy)

Tachinator Fascinator ( Crown and Glory on Etsy)

Moustache Straws (The Paper Jungle on Etsy)

So?  Are you going to participate in a more stylish version of Movember?

signed, the willow

So, she remains faceless

This girl has come and gone, been reshaped, reformed, dripped, changed skin tones, added with a face, taken a face away.  Not sure what I've done with her arm.  She's been liquid papered.  But her expression is empty still.  Is this my transitional state right now?  Unsure of how I should feel.  Unsure of how I should tackle her.  So she sits and waits for me.

signed, the willow

Silver Spoons without Ricky Schroeder

This great little metal piece was made by a Muskoka artist.  The petals are fashioned from old silver spoons. You know the tarnished old collectible ones your Gramma has.  A pink rock tied in for soft effect and then it was fashioned to a metal hair band.

But it fell off of *mila* girl's head a few too many times and I need someone to solder it back on.

Who would that be?

Maybe this guy?

Maybe not.  He looks like he catches flies with that mouth.


Doh!

signed, the willow

Song of the Spindle

The whale that I painted during the G8 - guarding the oceans and waters of the world.  Steward of the waters.

Which makes me love the connection here with this whale video.  The odd thing is, today *Mila* and I walked home talking about the brain size relative to body size of an animal.  I used a whale as an example of a large brain, then we got hung up on the pea brain variety of birds (and humans).  Fast forward 2 hours and I run across this video.  It starts off talking about brain size of animals.  The singing connection between human and the whale is so unusual.  It haunts me.  I love whales and I remember why. It was that flippy, floppy paper-like record, that arrived in the National Geographic magazine in the early 1980s, proving that whales too made music.  My grandparents went to Hawaii and more whale songs soon arrived on vinyl.  We all pretended to enjoy their deep dark songs from the ocean realm.  Honestly, their songs were sad, morose and told a story.

This is their story.  Enjoy the film.





Song Of the Spindle from Drew Christie on Vimeo.



signed, the willow

Beautiful Zombies

It's all about the Zombie trend this Halloween.  These are some great costume ideas.



Yowza! Is this not the best zombie costume?

Source: piccsy.com via Rowena on Pinterest

This art by Nick Karn is just too incredible. Regardless of its zombie-like qualities.

Source: None via Rowena on Pinterest

Source: breeperez.blogspot.com via Rowena on Pinterest

I am fascinated by Day of the Dead zombies.

Source: herebewitches.tumblr.com via Rowena on Pinterest



zombie

Source: google.com via Rachael on Pinterest

signed, the willow

Art makes you Smart

a medley of art that will make you smart, I promise.

enjoy.



source:  hu.hu.hu!




source:  thisisnthappiness






source:  itkupilli inspirations




source:  yulia brodskaya
pssst....this is paper!


signed, the willow

Studio Moodio Love

Daydreaming of a new art studio?  Daydream no more.  Put your paints or musical instruments in one of these beautiful studios here.


source:  wishstudio



source:  roomzaar






source:  borough gallery & studio


source:  flickr




source:  studio-house




source:  emergency response studio





source:  jenniferyoung





source:  fashion copious



source:  interiordesignnet




I long for a studio in a loft space.  I know, I know, "be careful what you wish for".  Maybe I'll take a room above the garage instead. Or, I love the idea of transforming a trailer or airstream!


Do you have a studio?  Send me a link and I'll make a special mention!

signed, the willow

Refuse Art

Always on the lookout for artists who recycle, who reuse, who reduce.

Here's today's collection found on the network that connects us all, called the internet.

Wonder Baby. Meet Ruby Reusable, where I found Wonder Baby by artist Olympia Dumpster Diver aka Ruby Reusable.  I found her on Find, Make, Do.  One helluva good site too!

(source:  Ruby Reusable)

woven plastic bag art via art business

Unintentional art is the mining of phosphorus in Florida.  It's beautiful blended lines and crystalline inertia is sinfully as bad as admiring a fur coat (on a person).  But, it's mesmerizing, isn't it?

source:  Discover magazine

free garbage art via art business

wabisabi chair via inhabitat

signed, the willow

White Pumpkin Love

I am tempted to paint this baby with some wickedly cool design, but she sits so pretty on my table overlooked by "The Carousel" by Ken Danby.

Question of the day:  Paint it? Leave it?  Paint another one and put it outside? 

signed, the willow