Sigh…. I want to go camping in there, and I never want to go camping! This is brand new work by Canadian painter Meghan Hildebrand. Her latest solo show, titled “Lorafauna”:

“Lorafauna pays tribute to the marvels and mysteries of the coast and forest.  Using animal and mythical motifs, symbolic landscape elements, and a highly tuned colour palette, these paintings portray the stories of dark and light just under the surface of familiar places.”

The show just opened at Madrona Gallery (Victoria BC) over the weekend. Don’t worry though, it will be up until October 28th. Pop in if you can because seeing her work in person is an entirely different experience than seeing it online.

NO. I am the fanciest! I have to be honest, things got a little out of hand when I opened October’s mystery Art Snacks box. There was so much good stuff in there, but this purple meets magenta Winsor & Newton ink … be still my beating heart! Have you ever made branches with ink / blowing through a straw? Is that a 1970s thing? My mom and I used to do this with her special ink when I was little, and I haven’t done it in years. Until today! Also, there was a dip pen!? I’ve never used a dip pen in my entire life, hence feeling much fancier than both Dave and Phil. Clearly they’re a bit competitive with each other, but I’m hoping their worlds can become one somehow …

Oh, thank goodness for grape lollipops … it seems to have helped make peace between Dave and Phil. For now. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, yes, that is a little limited edition gold pencil pin {by Adam J.K.}, to wear proudly on your shirt, smock, artist beret … whatever you like! LOVE. To get in on the November box, sign up by October 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  ps. Not to be bossy, but the holidays are fast approaching, and these artsy boxes would be awesome gifts. Just sayin.

In the October box: Limited Edition ‘Things Are What You Make of Them’ Pencil Pin (and mini zine!) by Adam J.K.; Marabu Fineliner Graphix Pen – set of 4; Winsor & Newton Drawing Ink; Speedball Standard Pen Nib & Holder; Connoisseur Protege Short Handle White Nylon Brush; ZIG Fudebiyori Brush Pen; Tootsie Pop!

Oh boy! Flaming cars burning across the wide open skies of the Canadian Prairies… why? Well, you’re about to find out! Today I’m talking to Canadian painter Sean William Randall. We’ve been trying to make this happen since August, and today is finally the day! You can listen to our conversation right under that “tranquil” nightscape, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First up, the painting Sean did for “That Night In Toronto”, the show I curated this past July at Mayberry Fine Art in, you guessed it, Toronto. I asked each of the ten Canadian artists in the show to make a piece inspired by any lyric from any “Tragically Hip” song, as an ode to an iconic Canadian band whose front man, Gord Downie, had recently been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. This was the piece Sean made, titled “I thought of leaving it behind”:

Gorgeous! I had to include closeups of this beautiful beast – the final painting is 48″x60″ but the brushstrokes are so tiny! From across the room it’s hard to believe you’re looking at a painting – only when you get really close up (which I totally did) do you understand it is, in fact, an acrylic painting.

Speaking of flaming cars, here are some more (because I love them so much!). I realize Sean is beginning to move on from this series, but apparently I’m not! Oh and ps. the first one below is the first car piece he ever did – thank goodness for that frustration-filled, painting defacing, wonderful turn of events:

Gah! Again, so good! These are all quite big, so pretend you’re standing really close up, taking in all of the detail done with Sean’s teeny tiny brushes.

Next, I’ve always thought the paintings from this series would make a great album cover… turns out, they do!

Yes, orange vinyl! This was part of a project Sean did with Vinyl Moon.

And now, a few of his latest pieces featuring diners, astronauts, and of course, ice cream:

… and let’s not forget his dogs! This little fella got a starring role in “Sun Machine” :

Big white dog, tiny little brush. Love! All of this new work will be featured in his show, “IRREMEABLE”, that opens TODAY, Saturday October 14th at Mayberry Fine Art in Toronto. The opening is from 2pm – 5pm at 324 Dundas W (right across from the AGO). Sean will be there, so pop by if you can! Thanks so much to Sean for this really fun chat – life-threatening stories included; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting the episode; as always thank YOU so much for stopping by to look and listen! There will be more art for your ear next weekend:

Other links:

1. Gordon Adaskin
2. Frank Lloyd Wright
3. University of Manitoba
4. Andrew Wyeth
5. Mayberry Fine Art

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:

Gasp! New oil paintings by UK based painter Pippa Young. Seriously. I am always absolutely blown away by her work, but these pieces for her latest show, “Through a Glass Darkly”, are easily my favorites. The top-most piece, titled “Unspoken”, feels very relevant at the moment, no? Now, I apologize for the late notice on this one {just discovered this today, myself} but this show opens TODAY, October 12th, 6pm at Arusha Gallery in Edinburgh! Not to worry though, it will be up until November 5th. Go if you can!

Acrylic on large-scale canvas… sigh. This is the work of Chilean born, New York based painter Federico Infante. From what I can tell, he applies the paint, scrapes it away, applies it again, scratches at it, applies more eventually building layer upon gorgeous layer to these landscapes… landscapes that look like bits and pieces of a really good novel! Here is how Federico describes the beginning of his process:

“Each of my paintings is deeply unique and emerges through its own process. I start with an expressive act of covering the canvas with several layers of acrylic paint and then scratching it off. I repeat this process many times. I do not plan my images in advance and try to stay present and as detached as possible from the result. In doing this I am able to express my unconscious mind, the part of me that has not been processed by logic. I then react to this abstract and expressive atmosphere, by searching for the elements that have emerged, possibly in pockets of light, or the foundations of a landscape. In this way each painting shows me its singular identity.” 

Beautiful.

Oh! Dreamy oil paintings of even dreamier chandeliers and their magical light. This is just one series by Toronto based painter Laura Wood. She also paints gaussy cityscapes, swans, sunlight filtered through tree branches, and lost memories… but these chandeliers … well, need I say more? Beautiful.

Whoa. This is “Cityfold”, a new series by German (LA based) artist Nike Schroeder. I’ve had her on the podcast and she’s in my new book that focuses on female artists – past, present and future! Paint, thread, linen, and love. Sigh. I can’t wait to see what she does next … wait for it…

ps. Nike is currently working on a solo show, titled BACKSPACE/DELETE, opening in Los Angeles at Walter Maciel Gallery on November 4th. The show grew from the Cityfolds series and is a deeper exploration of materials and urban experience. It’s even more painterly with collage elements of concrete, different cloths and canvases, rope and of course thread. If you’re in LA, go!

Yes, that is a ceramic urn custom made for Pants the cat… AMAZING. Today’s episode is filled with weird and wacky ceramics – both functional and sculptural – by Canadian artist Mariko Paterson, aka Forage Studios. You can listen to our conversation right up there under Mr.Pants’ final resting place, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First up, a few of my favorites from her functional portfolio … obviously I had to start off with a little Wonder Woman action!

… and finishing with a lobster bowl! Hilariously awesome.

Next, a few of Mariko’s sculptural pieces, including another urn because I can’t get over how fantastic they are:

Ah, Buddy.

And as always, the Not-so-speedy Speed Round™. I asked her a question about wrestling a luchador … the sole purpose, of course, being an excuse to include these beauties in the post:

Te Amo, too! Yes, I want to eat all of my soups and noodles from a “Forage Studios” luchador bowl from this day forward.

And finally, Mariko and one hairy wiener so you can see who you were listening to:

Awww! So sweet! Thanks to Mariko for taking the time to chat with me, and being so open and honest about “the hustle”; thank you to Saatchi Art, and the wonderful, creative women at THRIVE, for supporting the podcast; and of course, thanks to you for listening! There will be more Art For Your Ear next weekend.

Other links:

1. Langara College, Vancouver
2. Alberta College of Art & Design
3. NASCAD
4. SOFA Show, Chicago
5. Molly Hatch episode
6. Mariko’s Instagram feed
7. Forage Studios, aka Mariko’s shop

HELLO! Oh my goodness… her work gets me every single time. Manila born, US based artist Dan Lam has a new show, titled “Bait”, opening at Spoke Art in San Fransisco tomorrow night! These pokey, drippy, rainbow-hued wonderful weirdos will be on display from October 7th through 28th. Happy Friday.