howard finster, visionary artist

in my quest for fun and interesting things to do while ryan's parents are visiting next weekend, i have been thinking a visit to howard finster's paradise gardens might be on the agenda.

howard finster was a folk artist who began his career as a bicycle repairman and part time traveling preacher. one day he got some paint on his thumb, which took the form of Jesus and told him to "paint sacred art," in a vision that changed his life forever.

he proceeded to live the life of an amazingly prolific and inspired artist, creating tens of thousands of pieces, and the house he created (paradise gardens) supposedly attracts tons of visitors. i can't wait to see it!

i think it's a bit of a trek out to summerville, ga from atlanta, but well worth it i'm sure.

a couple of fun facts:

finster gained national fame after his collaborative work on the album "reckoning" with athens, georgia-based rock band R.E.M.. the group filmed the video for their debut single "radio free europe" in finster's paradise gardens in 1983!


he also collaborated with the talking heads and created the cover for the album "little creatures", which was selected as cover of the year by rolling stone magazine in 1985.



a few more things made by finster...

cool model... jessica stam

i don't know that i've ever posted about fashion or model sin my life, but for some reason i am enamored with model jessica stam. i just think she is beautiful. she looked familiar to me when i saw this image, and i realized i saw her sometime last year in an issue of harper's bazaar in an amish-esque photo shoot, but i forget what it was for.

anyway, i was checking out go fug yourself (a daily read, i admit!), and came across these photos from ny magazine, and thought i'd post about them. i've never wanted to be a model, but this for some reason makes me think it would be a rather fun and glamourous life. all those great clothes, and the fabulous makeup!! what fun...

*loving* the biobanger!

i've always had a thing against hand-painted cars. i'm not sure why- i think it has something to do with the fact that it usually looks like a really artistically untalented person went at it with some acrylic paint, and i don't know how they're not completely embarrassed to drive it around. that being said (sorry to anyone that has done this by the way..... don't take it personally, i'm just not a big fan!), i loooove this car. i love the elephant pointing his trunk at the vegetable oil "gas" tank, and i love that the folks that created it are driving it to rome. this is not a car to be embarrassed about driving around in! i love that they're promoting a more eco-friendly, gas-free car, all over europe.

check out more from candeo collective, the creators of this fine vehicle- they are all illustrators and pattern designers.

{via print & pattern}

cool artist... sophie leblanc

today seems to be about artists so far. i found the work of sophie leblanc this morning while browsing simply olive (one of my favorite blogs-- check it out!!), who found it via labour of heart.

i am absolutely loving, drooling over, the colors and imagery in these illustrations. i love love love seeing what people's imaginations create. it amazes me!

alyoisius spyker... gorgeous screen prints

i am ever-inspired by the things i see on trunkt, and alyoisius spyker in sydney, australia is continuing that trend for me. i love the bright colors on the muted paper, and the way the colors overlap in the top image. see more right here.

fabric and coasters and block printing, oh my!

here is some new fabric i block printed this morning!!

and some better photos of the coasters...
(on the fabric)

and some more....

some slug-inspired coasters...

and a few more.
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more to come soon!!

manifesto

i am loving the idea of creating a manifesto for myself and my work lately. it is brewing in my mind and is beginning to take some sort of form.... perhaps it will become a part of my website, perhaps just a private little motivator, but something is coming......

as for manifestos, ever-inspiring jonathan adler has a *great* one on his website (along with fantastic objects and design delights, of course!)

in his words, here is what his company stands for:

We believe that your home should make you happy.

We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. Unless the husband is gay.

We believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences.

We believe minimalism is a bummer.

We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.

We believe tassels are the earrings of the home.

We believe in our muses: David Hicks, Alexander Girard, Bonnie Cashin. Hans Coper, Gio Ponti, Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, Yves Saint Laurent, and Madonna.

We believe in the innate chicness of red with brown.

We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always.

We believe in infantile, happy emblems like butterflies and hearts.

We believe celebrities should pay full price.

We believe in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-Frame beach houses, raw beams, and geodesic dome homes.

We believe in Palm Beach style: Louis chairs, chinoiserie, Lilly Pulitzer, The Breakers circa '72.

We believe our designs are award winning even though they've never actually won any.

We believe in Aid to Artisans.

We believe dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.

We believe in mantiques - suits of armour, worn chesterfield sofas, heraldic tapestries.

We believe you should throw out your Blackberry and go pick some actual blackberries.

We believe colors can't clash.

We believe in blowing your nest egg on our pots.

We believe our lamps will make you look younger and thinner.

We believe in irreverent luxury.

i love that it is fun and humorous, but really true for his own life, and really focused on making work that is connected with the world and will make our homes and lives better, happier places.

here are some faves from his website:

san francisco in jello

the things that people do. amazing.

liz hickok creates san francisco landscapes out of jello, i am not joking. i simply cannot imagine sitting in my studio thinking "hey, i know! i'll make landscapes out of jello!" i am constantly amazed by how different other artists' minds are than mine. you have to check out the whole series-- they are absolutely gorgeous. i would love to see this in person. she also did jello models of scottsdale, arizona, which you can also see on her website.
enjoy!

{via bust magazine}

haunting photography

just saw these photographs by chris honeysett, and had to post them, because they are absolutely *stunning.* so stark and quiet, it is both haunting and relaxing. i am in love......

{via a little bit of inspiration, the blog of nohea interiors}

a new project!

slugs slugs slugs...

to break myself in to my new (and slightly more cozy than the last one) studio, i've been working on a really fun new project: coasters!

they are all hand painted and each different, and they're just like little tiny paintings! (4x4" each) i'm having such a great time with them.

and, i'm discovering that the strange (and large) bugs here are actually good for something other than freaking me out: they've become inspiration for my work as of late. :) yay for bugs!

i will be taking better and more interesting photos of the coasters in the next couple of days; they have to get a shiny coat of resin first!

then the next step: into the etsy shop they go! and onto the website. keep your eye out....

ants and cicadas and birds!

flowers and peacock feathers

flowers and leaves and such

cool artist...dkim

i like these illustrations by dkim, found on etsy. i've been thinking about fall lately, and some of these remind me of late fall/early winter. i have a feeling i am going to miss the colorado snow this year, now that i live in georgia. it'll be nice not to have to drive in the snow, though!

thursday morning colors

just a little thursday morning color inspiration. i'm loving using paint swatches for color inspiration these days....

exploring buckhead

i spent some time wandering around buckhead the other day, and i'm finding that i like atlanta more and more each time i go there. the above photo is the outside wall of belly general store, an adorable little cafe which also sells gourmet provisions and has a quaint and comfortable feel.

while walking around the virginia highlands area of town, i came across a house with a yard full of bamboo! i had no idea bamboo grew in georgia, but apparently it does very well here. supposedly it is a very chic thing to be using in your landscaping these days. who knew. i felt like i'd entered a different world!

and here are 2 very different houses i came across in the v-h area... the top 2 images are of a yard that had junk and old signs hanging from the fence all the way around the house. very interesting. love that disco ball. and below is one of the lovely houses across the street, in a gorgeous neighborhood full of stately old houses that reminded me i live in the south now. there are some seriously amazing houses here!

i'm off to buckhead again today, so more photos later...

pesky internet

sorry all, my internet is down, and i have no idea why. that is so irritating.

i am sitting outside a coffee shop right now borrowing theirs...

more posting soon!

love is blind

love these pull down shades from love is blind! (via bodie and fou in the uk, via little willow.)

i would actually love to see that tree shade at the top as wallpaper... it would look so lovely on my front wall that is crying out for a pop of something. i know there are some tree wallpapers out there... something by cavern home perhaps? i'll have to conduct a search. i'd love something in a two-toned green color scheme.... results of the search later!

i'm off to atlanta this afternoon for more fun and adventuring...
on the list to visit today:

belly general store


providence


little 5 points area

and then the wall was green

yesterday i painted our living room wall green, and i am oh so happy with the results.

next project to tackle: the bedroom. it is in serious need of improvement.
i hope to start the wallpaper headboard project soon... photos to come once it's underway!