THESE ARE OIL PAINTINGS. I felt the need to put that in all caps + bold so that you’d fully understand that these stunning portraits are not photographs, THEY ARE PAINTINGS by New York based Israeli artist Yigal Ozeri. How does he do it? … “Thousands of tiny brushstrokes animate his lifelike paintings, giving way to a remarkable realism, distinct beauty, and seductive power.” Yeah, you can say that again.

“Lucite, wood, paints and mixed media are cut, assembled, adhered and re-cut.” This is the description of this beautiful, translucent, layered, candy-hued work {that I kind of want to taste} by American artist Michelle Benoit. Quite a few of these pieces are currently part of a two-person show titled, “Dive In”, at Muriel Guepin Gallery in New York until February 11, 2017. If you go, don’t taste them. Apparently you’re not really allowed to do that kind of thing.

Now that is some very fancy folding! This is the intricate work of Toronto based artist Andrew Ooi. I was already impressed with his precise compositions, and then I found out that there’s so much more than just fancy folding going on here:

“… Ooi’s artworks are made by hand with environmentally-conscious, specialty papers. Ooi cuts the papers into strips and units; creasing the structural components afterward. He then paints each individual piece of paper with a pattern of his devising. Ooi groups, gathers, and finally folds the painted papers along select sections, which he fits into one another by interpreting Japanese joinery and origami techniques.”

Whoa.

Ahhh… relaxing, gouachie goodness. This is the work of Australian artist, illustrator, and textile designer Sarah Strickland. Oh, so many lovely patterns, gorgeous botanicals, and bright pops of color living happily beside dreamy ice cream pastels. Sigh. Happy Monday.

Today we’re taking a little trip into the woods, to a magical place called “Yawnder”. I’m talking to Canadian drawist {that’s an artist who draws}, Jay Dart. You can listen right up there under that bearded log driver, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

I’ve been a fan of Jay’s work for years, but I’m embarrassed to say it wasn’t until his most recent show,  “Greetings From Yawnder”, that I finally began to understand his work, and more importantly, the secret meaning behind it.  The “Field Guide to Yawnder”, a lovely little book that he created for the show, is to thank for this. It’s insightful, insanely detailed, and a true field guide complete with maps, glossaries, definitions and introductions to characters that I want to be friends with… like Jiggs and his trusty dog Floyd, for example. Jiggs is Jay’s muse/alter-ego who travels Yawnder searching for creative inspiration:

I want to go to there. Geist trees growing ideas, “Beyawnder” where you’re free to be as creative as possible, and a land called “The Unknowns” … nobody knows what happens there, obviously. This is the part in the podcast when I made Jay read his own poetry. I love this, especially the bit about the referers:

Hilarious and so smart! If you have no idea what this is about, then you haven’t listened to the episode yet. What are you waiting for!?

Next, this is the self-published book, “Wanderer of Yawnder”, that Jay was telling me about. I have a copy and it’s so lovely, magical, and beautifully made:

Note the author: writing credit to Jiggs! LOVE. Speaking of love… magical mystery beards, and branch libraries:

So simple. So Magical. That last framed piece is the branch library that Jay made for my Land of Nod collection.

Oh, the geist trees. The entire idea behind these rainbow-hued beauties is absolutely brilliant:

Sigh. Wouldn’t you love to spend an afternoon in Jay’s mind?

Aaaaand here we are… we’ve arrived in “Beyawnder”. This wonderful, creatively-carefree place is a collaboration between Jay and his little boy. One of them is in charge of scribbles, the other takes care of the wanderers:

Yep, anything is possible in this wonderful little corner of the map.

Now, we thought we were finished and then I realized I forgot to ask about these fabulous album covers that Jay designed for his friend, and talented Canadian musician, Donovan Woods:

Ah! I love all of them, but that geist tree cut-away?! So, so good.

And finally, in case you want to see his ginger beard, a photo of Jay mid-install at Galerie Youn in Montreal {they were the first gallery to represent his work, and he’s forever grateful.}

I think I see a bit of Jiggs in that photo of Jay, can’t you? Thank you so much to Jay for taking us to Yawnder; Thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting this episode; and you guessed it, big high-fives to you for listening! Now normally I say, “there will be more art for your ear next weekend”, but I’m in Hawaii at the moment and didn’t get organized enough to have an episode ready for next week… but there will be one waiting for you the weekend after that {I promise!}.

Other links:

1. Galerie Youn, Montreal
2. University of Guelph
3. Elspeth Pratt, sculptor/professor
4. Toronto International Film Festival
5. “Beautiful Losers” documentary
6. “Greetings From Yawnder” Show, Art Gallery of Sudbury (Feb 3)
7. Jay’s next show, Wall Space Gallery, Ottawa (May 5)
8. Jiggs’ site (yes, Jiggs has his own site)

ps. “Log Driver’s Waltz” for all of you true Canadians out there:

Will I ever get tired of writing about this woman? No, no I won’t. Norway-born, UK-based painter Kristin Vestgard creates dreamy scenes with mysterious women in pattern-covered dresses… add a few starry nights and couple of pastel-hued palm trees … and voila, yet another post! Happy Friday.

{You can find some of Kristin’s work for sale at REN fine art}

These gorgeous, action-packed pools are cool, blue, and BIG. Yep, these are the large scale {40″x60″} oil paintings of London based artist Eddie K. I found his work over on Uprise Art, and there’s an interview with him there too. I discovered two tidbits that I really loved… No.1. He uses a palette knife to create these beauties!? And No.2. This quote:

“My art making process is quite solitary. On one hand, I love it as it’s quite personal and focused. Then, on the other hand, you can go a bit crazy spending hours alone in a studio living in an artificial beach environment in your mind.”

Ha! Maybe, but what a gorgeous place to go crazy.

Thread. WHAT!? Yes. Coral and lily pads made from thread.  This is the stunning work of Australian artist Meredith Woolnough. How you ask? I have no idea, so I’m going to let the ‘about’ section from her portfolio site do the talking:

“… Through a delicate system of tiny stitches she creates intricate and complex openwork compositions that are then carefully pinned in shadowboxes, just like preserved specimens. 

The work maps the frameworks of the various veining systems found in nature to create work that explores the balance, harmony and connectivity of life on Earth. Inspired by the patterns, structures and shapes found in plants, coral, cells and shells Meredith’s embroideries represent both the robust beauty and elegant fragility of life.

Robust beauty and elegant fragility of life… love.

Oooooh! So many layers of resin… if I could dive in, I totally would! These ocean-inspired pieces are the work of Belarus-born, US-based artist Marina Dunbar. I had to include that final piece of Marina at work – the size, the shine, the depth. Ahhhh, now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find a pool to jump into. Aloha!