I wrote about UK based painter Sarah Ball, and her series of mugshot portraits, two years ago. Well, she’s currently working on a huge new body of work, titled “Immigrants”, that is equally lovely, very emotional, and beautifully painted. These are just a few of my favorites… all of these ladies happen to be Romanian, but each portrait in this series tells it’s own story. Are they excited? Terrified? Both, perhaps. Sarah is still working on pieces in this series for an extensive exhibition that will open this August in Cornwall at Millennium Gallery. If you’re there this summer… GO.

Yep, I’m heading to New York in a couple of weeks, and I’m bringing a whole bunch of art with me! GREAT.LY has a shop at the Architectural Digest Home Show and I’ll be there every day, sellin’ art and signin’ books! Here’s a peek at a few of the pieces that I’m bringing with me:

Yes! Lots of gorgeous art… and a cat planter! I couldn’t resist! {and I may have been pressured into including one of my own collages too}. Design Milk will also be hosting one of the days, as well as the ladies from Cool Mom Picks. Pop by if you can! Oh, and all of these pieces are also available in my online gallery, so no need to worry if you’re not actually in NYC. Click on the images above and they’ll take you right to my shop. Ok, happy weekend! I’ll be working on creativeUNblock no.3 … will you? ; )

Ok, this might be the longest post ever, but this show is just so gorgeous, I had to show you everything! I was thrilled when the Bedford Gallery asked me to curate a show in their lovely space… and after almost a year of planning, it finally opened on December 7th! The Bedford gave me carte blanche, so I decided to bring my book, Creative Block, to life! We have work from 20 of the 50 artists, unblocking stations set up so that people can try a few exercises from the book, and some of my most favorite pull-quotes are on the wall in vinyl lettering. Have a look, and I’ll see you at the bottom of this gigantic recap…

Ahhhh! So exciting! Six of the artists came to the opening from as far as Chicago and New York… it was an amazing night! So many friends, collectors, art enthusiasts, kids, and even a chihuahua {sorry, no photo of him!}. The days following the opening were action packed too. I did an indepth walkthrough with the 60+ docents that volunteer at the gallery {so many amazing people!}, and artist Trey Speegle was still in town so he stopped by to chat about his work, the book, etc. I also went to a sound studio and recorded the voiceover for the show! You know when you can rent the headset at a gallery to get the details on each piece… yep, I got to record that! Later that night we had Q&A event at the gallery… it was a packed house!

And finally, the badges. I designed these as section headers in the creative talk that I give, and so when Carrie Lederer, the gallery director, asked if I wanted to make anything for their gift shop I said, “YES. Actual, embroidered creative scout badges!” and she made it happen! Originally they were only available at the Bedford, but, I’ve arranged to have them in my online gallery too {$17.50 for the set}, so now anyone anywhere in the world can have them! They’re the merit badges you earn as a creative person. None of us are alone when it comes to asshole-ish inner critics, or being burnt by criticism, or the fact that we love making stuff. We’re all in one giant, supportive, amazing creative club… so put those badges on, and wear them with pride!

Well, there you have it. The show is still up until February 1, so if you find yourself in the Bay Area over the next couple of months you should totally go! Thanks again to the Bedford… Carrie, Eric, Christine… you guys are amazing, and I loved every second of my time with you! xo

ps. Thanks to WCTV for doing this interview/peek inside the show with me!

Sigh. I was lucky enough to see some of this work in progress when I popped in for a quick visit to Kris Knight‘s Toronto studio this past September. I love everything that he paints, but those last two pieces… the boys in their summer hats… GOR.GE.OUS! Gorgeous and absolutely perfect for Kris’s latest show. You can see this work in Miami at Spinello Projects – an Art Basel popup show – but it closes today! If you’re in Miami get yourself over there immediately, because these boys are absolutely stunning {and big!} in person. ps. That green visor is killing me.

The earrings, no, the matches… I even love that old bandaid. Ok, there is no possible way for me to choose a favorite. They are all so quiet. So simple. So, so good. This is the work of Mollie Douthit, an American artist who studied {MFA Burren College of Art}, and now lives, in Ireland. I wish I was going to be here in January because she has a show opening at Ashford gallery space at the RHA, Dublin. If you’re in Dublin, please go and then tell me all about it!

ps. So crazy. I wrote this post before I came to Ireland (I’m super organized like that), and last night I was in a little pub in Dublin to meet up with the amazing team from Saatchi Art that are here for Web Summit as well. I was telling them about Mollie and this lovely work, and they said… “Oh, that’s her right there!” What?! Yes. We sat and had a drink together, and it’s safe to say that she’s just as lovely as her work! … what a crazy small world.

How’s that for a really weird & wonderful start to your week? I’m not sure that I’ll even need coffee … ok, that’s just crazy talk! See what these paintings by Chicago based artist/illustrator Laura Berger are doing to me!? They are crazy, wonderful, weird, and they make me so happy! Ok. Now it’s time for coffee. Happy Monday, everyone!

{ps. Laura has new paintings, and her new calendar, on display at Hazel in Chicago until October 31… pop in and see them in person if you can}

New York based illustrator, Mac Conner has a show currently hanging at the Museum of the City of New York. His work was a staple in magazines like The Saturday Evening Post and McCall’s, and in ads for General Motors and United Airlines just to name few… an illustrator who was truly part of the Mad Men era… and now, at age 100 (100!?) he finally has his own, long overdue, solo show featuring decades worth of his work. If you’re in New York between now and January 19, 2015 you really should go and see these beauties in person… I know I will!

{Thanks to GregoryWest for pointing me to this fantastic story}

I don’t know about you, but I feel like we should all be slightly concerned for “Jeff”. I am completely in awe of Los Angeles based artist Mercedes Helnweinf. Her portfolio goes on and on, each piece as fantastic as the last. Oil pastel, black pencil, paper… such a simple recipe that produces the most amazingly creepy/pretty, beautifully drawn work. LOVE.

{Mercedes’ work is in a group show that opens tomorrow night, Saturday October 11th, 8-11pm, at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles.  ps. You must be on the guest list to get in, so please RSVP to RSVP@MKGALLERY.COM}

Oh summer, you’re so dreamy. Fading memories of summers past in the most gorgeous hues of blue! This is a new body of work by one of my favorite artists, Portland based Lisa Golightly. All of these paintings are part of a new show, titled quite appropriately Endless Summer, which opens this Friday {October 3rd, 7-9pm} in the city of endless summer, Los Angeles.

*The show has been organized by Goodeye Gallery, and will be hung at House of Honey {more details here}. You should totally go – not only will all of these amazing originals be there, so will Lisa!

Vancouver based photographer Angela Fama wants to take your picture, and then ask you…

… and then she’ll take your picture AGAIN! Yep, next spring, Angela is going to drive across Canada and the US in a used motorhome, turned mobile-photo-studio, so that she can ask that question of people from all walks of life. Her goal is to “unify individuals throughout Canada and the United States using compassion and a pop-up photo studio. “What Is Love” will reveal through comparative photography the strength and beauty of vulnerability that can be found within all adults, regardless of age, nationality, income, sexual orientation or gender.”

She had planned on doing this on her own {Canadians aren’t very good at asking for money… too polite!}, but her friends told her that she was crazy, and that she should at least try Kickstarter. So she has. Reluctantly. I’m glad she did though, because “What is Love” is going to be a beautiful project, as you can see from her past projects, Mirror Face, and How Are You. For How Are You, she set up a quiet/private temporary studio at a street festival in Vancouver. As people came in, she started by taking their “mug shot”, then she told them to close their eyes, and while their eyes were closed she asked, ‘How Are You… really?‘ which is when she captured the final shot:

Lovely, and so simply human. And so, next spring, she is going to travel through small towns and big cities, in her new/old motorhome asking people “What is Love to you?”. She’s not sure if the final faces will be happy or sad or a combination of the two, depending on what the word love conjures up for each person… if you’d like to help her get on the road, please visit her Kickstarter page {Details of the project & pledge rewards are listed there. Pledging closes on October 2nd.}