Sigh… this is the latest dreamy work from London based artist Sue Williams A’Court. And yes, I included close-ups because these “portraits” are drawings. If you happen to be in London this weekend, you can see Lady Di, Rocky, Belle and Audrey starting THIS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14th at START Art Fair {Stand 12 BoLee Gallery} Saatchi Gallery in London, 14-17th September. Here is a description of this Rococo-ish work:

Sue Williams A’Court’s exquisitely intricate and beautiful Escape From Eden borrows details from Arcadian landscapes of historical works to create an extraordinary series of ‘portraits’. Exploring the way we subconsciously see human forms in the world around us, the muted, delicate paintings evoke Victorian photographs, yet the faces within emerge from delicately interwoven trees, paths and boulders. Playing with ideas of identity, and perception questioning reality, the portraits are landscapes of our own imagination, a state of mind rather than a specific location. Hovering ambiguously between our inner and outer worlds, their mesmerizing, miniature scale invites viewers to lose themselves in an intimate, contemplative reverie in which we no longer feel wholly separate from what we observe.

Lovely. For ticket info etc, visit the START site.

Ahhh, August. I just got back from spending the majority of the month in Venice!? I saw insane installations, glass sculptures, huge paintings, and a lot of very conceptual artwork. I took in more art than one person can handle {not to mention the pasta and gelato}. When I arrived home, this month’s artsy mystery box from ArtSnacks was waiting for me :

Yum! Obviously I had no choice but to stage my own mini Biennale using all of these new supplies… inky paintings, candy sculptures, and you guessed it, a gift shop! {In case you didn’t see the June and July posts, I’ve decided to team up with these guys once a month because, quite frankly, I love their art-filled boxes. Let’s face it – the more supplies you have, the more art you’ll make, and the more artwork I’ll have to write about. Plus, they put CANDY in every box! Win-win.}

So, on with the show. NOTE: No flash photography allowed 

Ah yes, there might be a line-up or two, but when it’s your turn you can totally eat that sugary sculpture… very interactive, indeed. But wait, there’s more! A trip to any gallery would not be complete without this :

Oh yeah, baby – exit through the gift shop! I have to admit, I love gallery gift shops… and in Italy, they are particularly fantastic! Now, if you’re not in the market for any of these ‘works of art’ that I whipped up, perhaps I can interest you in the September ArtSnacks box. You can still get it if you sign up by August 31. Order one month at a time or sign up for 3 months, 6 months, or a full year… whatever works for you. Click here for all of the ins and outs. ps. enter coupon code ‘thejealouscurator’ and you’ll receive 10% off your first month of ArtSnacks! ps. hashtag your box openings / what you make with, #artsnacks

In the August box: Amsterdam Acrylic Ink (I got ‘Burnt Umber’); Princeton Velvet Touch Long Round Brush; ZIG Cocoira Letter Pen – Body & Ink; Faber-Castell Ecco Pigment Fibre-Tip Pen; A yummy roll of Necco candy!

A dreamlike, imaginary, and very pink world that might exist in the aftermath of a “Deluge”. This series – color pencil on paper – is the beautiful work of UK based artist Sam Branton, and this is what it’s all about:

Deluge is a collection of miniature drawings which imagines the bizarre, comical and confused moments that could happen during the aftermath of a great downpour. Newly paired and mystified inhabitants are set against idyllic, pastoral landscapes – a whale hangs from a tree, waiting for his weight to break the branch; elsewhere, a horse, awkwardly struggles escape from an inflated pufferfish; and a baby elephant struggles to carry a beached whale back to the water.

That pufferfish and horse? I could not love them more. ps. Some of his work is available as prints.

You know how much I love embroidery, right? I do. But this isn’t it. This is the work of South African artist Marsi van de Heuvel … they’re drawings. Drawings created with fineliner pens. FINELINER PENS. I can’t even begin to imagine the patience and concentration involved in creating all of these small, colorful, botanical lines. Stunning.

{via Miss Moss}

Sigh… these lovely drawings make me exhale. Perfect for a Friday. This is the work of California based artist/illustrator Liana Jegers. I love her simple color palette, those lovely lines, and the subjects she chooses. Her portfolio if filled with gorgeous work, zines, client collaborations … but these “farmers market” inspired pieces are my favorites. Here’s to a weekend filled with fresh fruit and fragrant flowers. Exhale.

If I told you these were casting storyboards for the next Wes Anderson film, I bet you’d believe me… ok, they’re not, but they should be! These pieces are all from the “people” section in the portfolio of Boston based artist/illustrator Anne Bentley. She uses traditional painting and drawing with digital techniques, resulting in a slew of characters that I’d love to meet … or at least eavesdrop on at a cafe. Happy weekend! {Found via Thrive Art Studio’s Instagram}

ps. If you happen to be in Toronto this weekend, come to the opening of my latest show, “That Night In Toronto”, 4-7pm at Mayberry Fine Art, across from the AGO.

Oh, where do I begin? This show is so important to me. It’s an ode to a Canadian great – singer songwriter and front man of The Tragically Hip, Gord Downie. If you’re Canadian you know all about The Hip. For those of you who don’t, they are an iconic band that so many of us know and love. Gord is a musical genius, and sadly was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last year. You could hear a nation gasp when that news was made public. I wanted to do something, but what? An art show, of course. Here is the curatorial statement for the show that opens THIS SATURDAY, JULY 8th at Mayberry Fine Art in Toronto {4-7pm}

“That Night In Toronto” 

Poetry. That is the best way to describe any and all lyrics written by Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip. From “wheat kings and pretty things”, to “musical chairs, double dares, memorized stairs” the words from these generation defining songs strike a chord in, well, anyone who has ever heard them.  As a curator, and artist, I want to honor this poetry the only way I know how – visually. I asked ten Canadian artists to create original work inspired by their favourite Tragically Hip lyrics. FYI, it was very difficult to choose, which is why some artists have more than one piece in the show! Originally, I was going to assign bits of Hip poetry to each of them, but every artist came back with stories of their favorite songs – memories from road trips, University, concerts, breakups, dance floors, house parties and the list goes on. The paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages, paper-cut pieces they’ve created are beyond what I ever could have imagined. Stunning artwork, each with the magical power to conjure up a song.

This show is a heartfelt tribute from one group of Canadian artists to another – and simply our way of saying, “Hey man, thanks”. 

ps. Twenty per cent of sales will be donated to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research via Sunnybrook Hospital. 

If you can come, please do. I will be there with bells on, or at least a Hip t-shirt. Mayberry is just across the street from the AGO {324 Dundas Street West}. Send your RSVP to toronto@mayberryfineart.com – see you soon!

Artists {in order shown} : Annyen Lam, Ben Skinner, Meghan Hildebrand, Danielle Krysa {me!}, Sara Genn, Sean William Randall, Don Proch, Jay Dart, Brandy Masch, Sarah Gee Miller

Graphite and paint on found book covers … be still my heart! And just to be clear, those landscapes are drawn by Sue {ie. not images cut from old books!}. Amazing. This is new work, from the “Anonymous” series, by British artist Sue Williams A’Court, and once again, I love every single piece! This work is part of ‘Only Connect’, the latest Art Sales exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

I know you’re already wondering… it’s pencil & gouache on paper. So beautiful!  This is the lovely work of Vancouver based artist/illustrator Janice Wu. I am totally smitten with her entire portfolio of found bits and pieces – yep, anyone who can turn trash into treasure is a-ok in my book! ps. Now I want strawberry candies.

“Hand drawn artworks in pastel on cotton paper” … um, WHAT? This is the absolutely exquisite work of UK based artist / illustrator Anna Roberts. Drawings. Not photographs. I’m not sure my mind can handle this loveliness on a Monday.

{Thanks to my friend Liezel, at Subject Matter Art, for sending me a link to Anna’s site.}