Italian artist Moira Ricci is present in all of her photographs, much like another favourite photographer of mine, Cindy Sherman. The difference between the work of these two women is that Moira is not the main subject of the shot, but always a secondary character in the scene… oh and did I mention that some of the photos were taken before she was born? Yep. She has placed herself into photographs with her mother, essentially stepping back into her family memories as an observer. Wouldn’t it be great if you could actually do that?

{The series is titled, series 20.12.53 – 10.08.04, the dates of her mother’s life from birth to death.}

Uh-oh. Looks like ‘Netherland’, from yesterday’s post, might have a little competition for my heart.

It always amazes me how many artists use found imagery, yet it all looks so different… well, the really good stuff anyway. And speaking of really good stuff, this is the work of artist/illustrator Matthew Billington. I haven’t been able to find any details on him, so instead of reading facts, let’s just have a quiet moment and relish in the jealousy. Ahhhhh…

I was flipping through the latest issue of Juxtapoz yesterday and landed on an ad for Parlour Gallery in New Jersey. David ‘Netherland’ van Alphen, a Canadian now living in Chicago, was the featured artist. It was love at first sight. Rainbows, wood grain and some strategically placed stereo equipment was all it took…  what can I say, the heart wants what the heart wants.

{If you’re in the Chicago area you can check out Netherland’s show, until January 24th, at Rotofuji Gallery… 1955 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago’s “East Village” neighborhood, immediately next door to Rotofugi Designer Toy Store.}

Ahh, Paris. Home of fine wine, croissants, galleries galore and… Tombées du Camion {Fallen off the Truck}, a small shop, packed to the rafters with the most inspirational ‘junk’ you’ve ever seen. I’ve been to Paris four times but somehow I missed this. Damn. Ok, that’s it… I’m going back. There’s a vintage doll leg in there with my name on it.

{I found about this amazing little place via Junk Culture.}

A little bird told me about Dolan Geiman… ok, it was the Twitter bird. Dolan started following me, and moments later I was on his site, filled with jealousy, and following him. His work is an amazing combination of found objects, salvaged surfaces, drawing, painting, and screen printing. He lives in Chicago with his operations manager, marketing director, bookkeeper, web editor, wife, and occasional bait carrier/fishing assistant. Quite the entourage… actually, that’s all just one person, his life & business partner Ali Marie Geiman. He does the art and she runs their sustainable, eco-friendly business behind the scenes. Apparently it was a three month hiatus in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay that helped them clear their heads, gain perspective, and put this life plan together…  can somebody give me the quickest route to Chesapeake Bay, because my bags are packed!

I truly love every piece of art that I write about, so it’s really hard to pick a ‘Top 10’… so I’m doing a ‘Top 15’. It has literally taken me hours to decide on only 15. Maybe I should do a ‘Top 100’ next year? Anyway, these are the chosen few {in no particular order}. Some of them have inspired my own artwork, others represent major milestones for The Jealous Curator, and the rest just make me really, really jealous.  Here’s to the year ahead… may it be filled with cheek-flushing inspiration & soul-crushing jealousy for all! Cheers and Happy 2010!

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Martha Rich (Sketchbook)

Trey Speegle

Alyson Fox

The Hot One Inch Action Show 2009

Margaret Kilgallen

Dave Barnes

Mikael Kennedy

Anthony Zinonos

Julien Pacaud

Diane Arbus

Tina Berning

Yellena James

Sarah Applebaum

Vivian Maier

Wendy Walgate

Found imagery & hand drawn illustration… ah, they go together like peanut butter & jelly. Yum. Clearly, New York based artist Jacqueline Kari Bos likes this combo too. Well, the mixed media part that is… I’m not sure how she feels about peanut butter & jelly.

Inspired? Yep. Jealous? Yep. A tiny bit scared? Yep!

Lynn Whipple is a fantastic, and very accomplished, American collage/assemblage artist. These pieces are from her lovely, yet kind of absurd, mixed media series called ‘Ninnies’. She has work in galleries all across the US, and is featured in more publications than I can list. I love her work, but what inspires me even more is a little section on her blog called 100 Bad Paintings. All of you artists out there – listen up! The idea is that when you’re starting out, or changing your style, or just working on new ideas, chances are you’ll do 100 bad paintings… so you might as well get started. ‘What really happens is, it frees you up to play and not worry. Now you can enjoy the process. The truth is you get better really quick, maybe even by #19. Try it!’ She has bravely posted a bunch of oil paintings (not her usual medium of choice) that she considers bad, but in progress.

That’s it, I’m starting on canvas #1 tomorrow.

“Take something; do something to it; then do something else to it.” – Jasper Johns

I think I may have just found my new art credo. Ok, American painter Trey Speegle was using it first, but I’m jumping on the band wagon. In this case, the something he’s taken are vintage paint-by-numbers sets, and then what he’s done to it is add words and phrases to add meaning to these usually meaningless images. I’ve shown only 4 of them here, but this collection has over 2500 pieces. Now that’s inspiring.

{Fashion designer Stella McCartney commissioned Trey to do the runway backdrop for the launch of her Spring collection in Paris this past October. I’ve included this amazing piece in my most recent show, Fashion Show.}

Holly Farrell, Solo Show

December 2nd – December 31, Chase Gallery ~ Boston

Holly Farrell has been featured on The Jealous Curator more than any other artist I think, and now with a new solo show opening in Boston tomorrow night, how can I not write about her again? It’s a combination of her subject matter and her amazing technical skill that gets me every time. I saw some of her work in person this past summer and it’s even better up close. And, if you go to the opening tomorrow, you might even be lucky enough to meet her. She’s just like her work… oh so lovely.