And the winner is ….. Jamie Lee Osborne! Thank you so much to everyone that entered! It is a gorgeous, helpful, advice-filled book so if you see it on bookshelves during your holiday shopping, GRAB IT! 

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What!? American collage artist Hollie Chastain wrote AND illustrated a book! Oh my word, this is who you want to learn your ‘collage how-tos’ from. It’s filled cover to cover with mixed media techniques, step-by-step instructions, inspirational bits ‘n pieces, AND a whole bunch of lovely paper at the back to get you started. And guess what… yep, I have one to give to one of you! Just leave a comment below and I’ll draw one lucky name on Friday November 24th. Anyone from anywhere can enter… good luck, and happy Monday!

ps. If you can’t wait for the draw, “If You Can Cut, You Can Collage”, hit shelves last week! Find it right here.

I am in absolute awe of everything Iraqi born, LA based artist Hayv Kahraman creates. The first piece above, for example, is titled “Strip Search”. Beautiful, powerful, personal, chill-inducing … all of it. These pieces are just a few of the works from her 2015-2016  “Audible Inaudible” series. Here are her words about this work:

“Audible Inaudible is a term keyed by ethnomusicologist Martin J Daughtry where the violent sounds of war become muted by its auditors as a mechanism for survival.

I have multiple memories that involve the terrifying sound of the air raid siren so I started the research in how to translate a sonic memory into object. This lead me to Martin’s a book titled “Listening to War, Sound, Music and Survival in Wartime Iraq” where he describes an interview with a mother shielding her children from the violent sounds of war by holding them tight and pressing her arms against their ears. Her body, her flesh then acted as a perfect, natural micro environment to protect her children. I wanted to mimic this concept of “flesh as defense” so I introduced pyramid acoustic foam in the paintings; a material that “detains” sound. I started surgically cutting my linen and pushing the foam through it from the back. As it was penetrating the surface I felt as if I was conducting an operation of resistance. These calculated cuts and wounds were enabling the painting to breathe. Inhaling and exhaling it was reacting, resisting, defending and accepting these sonic wounds.”

Speechless.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered! The winner of this lovely book is …. PAMELA HASTINGS! If you’re not Pamela, no worries, I have lots of other amazing give aways coming up in the next couple of months!

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Well, she’s done it again. A gorgeous, inspiring, wisdom-filled book has just been released by artist, illustrator, and author Lisa Congdon! It’s titled, “A Glorious Freedom – Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives”, and it is exactly that! Quotes, interviews, illustrations all celebrating the lives of some very awe-inspiring women. Here’s the gist:

“The glory of growing older is the freedom to be more truly ourselves—with age we gain the liberty to pursue bold new endeavors and worry less about what other people think. In this richly illustrated volume, bestselling author and artist Lisa Congdon explores the power of women over the age of forty who are thriving and living life on their own terms. Profiles, interviews, and essays from women—including Vera Wang, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Julia Child, Cheryl Strayed, and many more—who’ve found creative fulfillment and accomplished great things in the second half of their lives are lavishly illustrated and hand-lettered in Congdon’s signature style.” ~ Chronicle Books

This beauty is now on shelves, and it just so happens that I have ONE to give away to ONE of you! Please leave a comment below and I’ll draw one winner on Monday October 16th, 2017. Good luck! ps. Here is Lisa’s upcoming West Coast book tour schedule if you’d like to have your book signed/meet her:

Seriously, is there a better combo? I saw this hilarious and beautiful series, by Chicago based collage artist Stephen Eichhorn, a year or two ago. I loved them then, I love them now… the only difference being NOW they’re in a book titled, you guessed it, Cats & Plants. Here are the ins and outs:

Cats & Plants is the debut book from Chicago-based artist Stephen Eichhorn. The 152-page book includes more than 200 rich color images of the artist’s curious cat collages, and features felines balancing plants (and sometimes shells or minerals) on their furry heads. There are Calicos and cactuses, Siamese and succulents, and so much more. The book is now available for pre-order, and ships June 12.

In conjunction with the book, Zioxla has also released a limited-edition print, which is available here. For each book or print sold on this website, a can of cat food will be donated to a non-profit organization that saves cats from shelters and places them in loving homes.

Isn’t that great!? Turns out this work is hilarious, beautiful, and for a good cause. Meow.

“Bounce Bounce” … the accidental epic adventure of a super cute bug. This is the work of Irish artist / illustrator Brian Fitzgerald. I love his illustration style, but what I love even more is this email he sent me a few days ago:

… I’d like to share a little on the inner critic. In 2013 it was at its worst and I was about to give up on illustration having been one for forever. I spotted a Competition called the Silent Book Contest in Italy and decided to give illustrating one last go. I did however make some rules for myself before starting and stuck by them all the way. One of them was that Brian the child should write the story and Brian the adult wasn’t allowed to make any changes no matter what. I wrote the story that day and in the evening Brian the adult started to pick flaws in the story. Thanks to the rule, I never allowed Brian the adult to impose and I went ahead and won the Silent Book 2014 in the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. I guess my bully is Brian the adult and my creative is Brian the child. They get along thanks to the success and teamwork. Thanks for reading … Brian (the child)

I’m so glad that “Brian the adult” figured that out… and ended up on his very own epic adventure!

{And in case you’re wondering, “Can I buy this beautiful book!?” … yes, yes you can: buy it right here}

If you are not experiencing this episode from Paris, brace yourself because you’re gonna wanna go! Artist, designer, author, shop owner, traveler, and mother (phewf) Cat Seto is my guest today. She owns the lovely shop & studio, Ferme à Papier, in San Francisco. However, as much as she loves the city by the bay, I am quite certain her heart belongs to Paris … and its pastries. You can listen to this episode right under that lovely little collection of all things Parisian, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First, Instagram proof of a Cat in Paris:

Are you booking your flight? Yep, me too. (See, that was the photo on the balcony I mentioned… she looks very at home if you ask me!)

Next, a tiny peek at just a few of the gorgeous things (art prints, cards, planners etc) at her shop in San Francisco, Ferme à Papier:

Those shoes. I need this print maintenant!

So, along with everything else she does, Cat is also a mama… so how perfect was this collaboration?! Mom Inc., the inspiring, advice-filled book she co-authored with Meg Ilasco in 2012:

… and, the “Joie du Jour” line of loveliness that she also created with Chronicle Books, with of course, just a petite touch of Paris.

Well, clearly a petite touch wasn’t enough for Cat! Enter her new book (on shelves April 4, 2017 released by Harper Design), Impressions of Paris – An Artist’s Sketchbook:

Oh mon Dieu, so lovely. The book is broken up into four sections: color, pattern, perspective and rhythm … and it captures Paris beautifully. Well, not only does her book do that, so does her dreamy little shop & studio! Here’s a little look into Ferme à Papier’s HQ in San Francisco:

Ahhh… a bike in the window, navy walls, wood accents. Now, I wonder if she has any pastries in there? My money is on ‘YES’.

During the Not-So-Speedy Speed Round™ I asked Cat for her favorite dessert in Paris. She couldn’t name just one. Who’s surprised? Me either. Here are a few that she mentioned… illustrated!

Oui, oui, oui to all of that scrumptiousness! And, if those rainbow-hued macarons aren’t sweet enough for you, how ’bout this:

Aw, come on! The cutest! ♥ Thanks so much to Cat for taking time out of her insanely busy life to do this with me; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting this episode, and big high-fives to you for listening! There will be more art for your ear next weekend.

Other links:

1. Ferme à Papier on Instagram
2. ParisToSF on Instagram
3. University of Michigan (Go Wolverines!) 
4. National Stationery Show, New York
5. Anthropologie
6. Alt Summit
7. Mom Inc. Book
8. Sylvia Weinstock Cakes
9. Kate Woodrow (book agent!) + her episode
10. Lisa Congdon LIVE episode
11. Japanese Paper Place
12. Saving Faces 

Here we are, 77 episodes into “Art For Your Ear”, but today is something a little different. Yep, this was recored at a live event in Portland! Artist/illustrator Lisa Congdon and I showed up at a gorgeous shop called Hand-Eye Supply. But we weren’t alone, oh no, we had an amazing live audience there too! Lisa and I decided to sort of interview each other (really it was just a good excuse for me and Lisa to talk… which by the way we could do for HOURS.) I think my favorite part was at the end, when the audience asked questions. They were tough, but oh so good! You can listen right up there under the lovely Lisa, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

Alright, first up. Where were we? Right here:

Hand-Eye Supply is such a beautiful, creative space! This looks like me talking about when I started working on “Your Inner Critic Is A Big Jerk”… I had dinner with Lisa in Oakland about a week after I signed the contract, and to be totally blunt, I was freaking out. I have a feeling this was me saying, “Um, how do I write a whole book, Lisa!? You just wrote “Art, Inc.”, so TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” And no surprise, she had fabulous advice.

Next up, flowers, patterns, and Lisa finally being ready to put her own work on her own body:

Yes, there it is {photo taken today!} Her brand new tattoo, on her drawing arm no less. She has lots of tattoos, but this is the first one that is her work. I love the story around this, so if you’re not listening yet… hit play!

We were talking about showing “in progress” work, and I always love an excuse to post images from an artist’s studio, so here you go:

Ah, gorgeous! So happy and filled with life… much like Lisa herself!

Ok, here we go. Some of my collages because we talked about them and so I’m gonna show them, no matter what ‘Arlo’ has to say:

Oh, that wasn’t so hard. The titles of these three (because, for me, the titles are a huge part) are:

1. “saturday’s jazzercise class had, like totally, transformed candace both physically and, like, spiritually.”
2. “another saturday night, and without fail, margot left it ALL on the dance floor”
3. “they always said she had a real flare for fashion”

And finally, once the recording was over, we all headed back into Hand-Eye’s main shop area for chattin’ and book signin’:

Sigh. It was such an amazing night. I want to do lots and lots of live recordings now! Who’s in?

Ok, thank yous are going to pour out of me now… Thank you so much to Lisa for always being up for whatever I ask her to do; giant thanks to Hand-Eye Supply for hosting us and to their fabulous in-house go-to-guy, Matt, for doing the recording; thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone that showed up to hang out with us even though there was a protest/riot going on that very same night (?!) ; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting this episode; thanks to audible.com for making my new book into an audio book – it’s officially available now – and of course, thank YOU for listening. There will be more art for your ear next weekend. xo

Other links:

1. Your Inner Critic Is a Big Jerk (book)
2. Art, Inc. (book)
3. Lisa’s new online course!
4. Girl Crush Vancouver, Feb 25th, at THRIVE
5. Sarah Gee Miller
6. Jessica Bell
7. Lisa Golightly

Well that was hilarious and fun! I had Philadelphia based artist Martha Rich as my guest on the VERY FIRST Art For Your Ear, 71 episodes ago… annnnnd, she’s back! The book we worked on together was just released this past Tuesday, so what better way to celebrate than having Martha come on the podcast to talk about inner critics, pantyhose, and the possibility that armadillos are actually dinosaurs that still roam our planet. For reals. You can listen right up there, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First, a few of my faves… and no little kitty, we will NEVER stop talking!

Hell yes, indeed!

Martha was saying how crazy busy she is these days (YAY!), but that her crazy projects have been taking a backseat. You know, things like painting on rocks and leaving them around Philadelphia to be found by passers-by, and also working on a painting a day for a year type of projects:

How badly do I want the finger rock!? Sooooo badly.

And now, onto the book… “Your Inner Critic Is A Big Jerk”. We worked on this for almost two years, and had so much fun together… mind you, we both also had a few very meta moments when our inner critics told us there was no way we could pull this off. Luckily we ignored those jerks and got it done! Here’s a few pieces from the book {including the “speech bubble coming out of a butt”}, and some of Martha’s sketches:

LOVE! Those final two paintings are the pieces that got into this year’s American Illustration Magazine! Very big deal in the illustration world and so exciting for Martha {and me… living vicariously}. I wish I could be there this November to see them hanging on the wall at the big par-tay, but at least I got to be there last year. Here’s a few Instagram shots of me and Martha being very New York fancy/pink:

Isn’t that stunning? Quite a venue for a party {ps. I think Sarah Jessica Parker got married there.}

Next… SPEECH BUBBLES! I love her wooden bubbles oh so very much:

Weird and wonderful! And, that little guy is a perfect segue into one of the not-so-speedy speed round questions… favorite animal to draw? We all knew it was either going to be a lobster or an armadillo:

… what I didn’t expect was our crazy tangent about armadillos being dinosaurs. Oh my word, hilarious! Please don’t judge us!!! Oh no, prom photos are up next, so not judging us is totally out of the question now:

Hm, where’s Martha’s photo? Conveniently, she “couldn’t find it”, so now I’m forced to make a guess as to what she and “Mark” looked like at their Senior Prom. I bet this painting is pretty darn close!

And the final question in the not-so-speedy speed round… would she rather “wear pantyhose everyday for the rest of her life, or shave her head”. She voted for “shave her head”:

Bahaha! Pantyhose. She really does hate them so much. And with that, I’ll say thanks to Martha for doing this with me, AGAIN; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting this episode; thanks to audible.com for making my new book into an audio book – it will be out on October 25th! To preorder a copy for FREE {or to pick up any other book you might want} just use my link: audibletrial.com/JealousCurator. And you know it, high fives to you for listening… there will be more art for your ear next weekend.

Other links:

1. Episode no.1 with Martha Rich
2. Atlanta Magazine
3. ArtCenter College of Design, LA
4. Clayton Brothers
5. FIT, New York
6. Natural History Museum of LA County
7. American Illustration
8. Skylight Books, LA

Thanks so much to EVERYONE that entered to win this gorgeous book… if I didn’t draw your name, you can always buy a copy of this beauty right here. BUT, if your name is Frances Soosman, there’s a copy coming to you! More giveaways coming soon xo

Oh my word! This book is AMAZING!!! I talked to New York based artist Andrea D’Aquino on my podcast earlier this year when she was still working on “Once Upon A Piece of Paper”. Well, it’s officially out in the world and it is SO GOOD. Brilliant words of wisdom, tips and tricks for making, and actual step-by-step demos. Oh, and there’s more… a second book filled with paper for you to USE for your own collages. Seriously. So good.

Hm, and as luck would have it, I have one to give away to one of you! Leave a comment below and I’ll draw one name on Monday October  10th. Good luck! {ps. Anyone can enter! Thanks to Quarto Publishing for making this happen xo}

What’s the name of that book? You know, the one about the guy with the face? Exactly. These paintings are the hilarious work of California based artist Marina Luz. This ongoing series is titled, IF I DON’T FIND THIS BOOK I WILL DIE, or, How We Describe Books When We Can’t Remember the Title or Author. The idea for this work came to her while trying to track down one of her favorite forgotten books. She searched for “Iceberg Shows Up Overnight in Front of Hotel”, hence the final book above, “ICE was in the title” … and FYI she still hasn’t figured this one out. Any thoughts?

{via Chronicle Books’ blog}