Beautiful Paper Sculptures by Calvin Nicholls

Thanks to my manager Happy Song, she introduced me to a new artist: Calvin Nicholls. This Canadian craftsman creates incredibly intricate and realistic paper sculptures. He began experimenting with paper sculptures in the mid-80s and since then has produced more than 500 pieces. Each artwork can take him around four weeks to produce and in some cases have taken up to two years. He says that to begin his process he "works through a series of sketches and decides on the final detail before the sculpture begins." He also credits his surrounding of nature for inspiration.

When completed, each sculpture is carefully lit to showcase the texture and detail that has been so thoughtfully placed in each work.. I still can't believe these creations are made of paper. They truly are mesmerizing

A Dahlia Painting for Miss Stalnaker

I thought I'd share what I've been up to lately. This week I've been working on a Dahlia painting for my sorority sister Katie Stalnaker. When we met for brunch the other day, she told me that she was wanting a painting for over her bed. Having nothing but black and white furniture, she really needs something with color to help enliven her space. She had no clue what to order for her first-ever-commissioned-art-piece but what she did know was this: she loves purple.

I left our meeting having no clue what I was going to paint. So I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood...

I had cut a sharp right off a huge intersection to get away from all the evening traffic and got onto a local street that I hadn't been on before. There, on the corner of two streets which names I had never seen; were a patch of purple and pink dahlias. I went home and immediately decided that this was the perfect flower to paint for Katie. Dahlias are so beautiful! They are a summer flower that commands attention.. I love the way their pedals are so intricate and bright... perfect for a great painting composition...

The painting isn't completed quite yet...(I'll post the final product soon)... But here is the progression so far !!

Friday Fun (art from real life objects)

For this Friday I wanted to post some amusing snapshots of some creatures/sculptures made from everyday items! Enjoy

Prints!

You can now buy prints of my artwork! Click on the title of this post for info !!

"With L.A. 405 closure, it's all about surviving 'Carmageddon' " -LA Times

Having lived in Los Angeles for the past 8 plus years, freeways (and traffic) are my life. Whether we really think about it or not, living in our cars is something we see, feel, and participate in for a good chunk of our existence. I thought it was funny that some of my most commented paintings that I have done, have been about freeways. I think the reason for this is people love recognition. People love images they can relate to ...
There is something kind of beautiful about the "concrete jungle" that we live in/on. In the images below, artists use their color palette to make these recognizable images somewhat romantic... Take a look-see.

Karlin Meehan "Downtown" , 2004, 36" x36"

Karlin Meehan "Concrete Jungle", 2007, 12" x 18"

Nathan Sawaya

What would it be like to actually quit your job, to pursue your dreams?!!! People do it, just not that often (especially these days). But that was the case for New York Lawyer Nathan Sawaya. This incredibly gifted Lawyer-turned-artist, builds his sculptures with LEGO'S. This playful medium really makes his work stand out. Anything from human size pieces to hand replications... He does it all. And by the looks of things, it appears that things are going well.
(click on the title of this post for the full CNN article about the artist.. fascinating stuff).

Amazing 3-D Sidewalk Chalk Art!

There's something really special about artwork thats done in chalk. I find it kinda impressive that artists are willing to put so much time, imagination, and energy into a piece that will eventually disappear within days. But here's the kicker: these drawings are 3-D!!!! Below are some images of different works in which artists take their work to a new level!! The sidewalk no longer is a flat surface!













Don't you just love that these artists become apart of the 3-D piece by participating in the drawing? It makes the overall work so playful!

Words from the Wise .....(via Forbes)

I love a good quote. In fact, I have a quote book at my desk at work. If something strikes me to be true or insightful, I write it down. Having a folder full of "snippits" reminds me to listen to others and their experiences. I stumbled upon a Forbes article that had some great quotes from talented and successful people in the art world and I wanted to share them... Enjoy!!


There's a vast difference between painting and being a painter.
-- Malcolm Forbes

Good painters imitate nature, bad ones spew it up.
--Miguel de Cervantes

Every artist dips his brush into his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures. --Henry Ward Beecher

A little amateur painting in water-colors shows the innocent and quiet mind. --Robert Louis Stevenson

When I paint a picture I want to give a message and I care comparatively little about how good the art is.
--Vanessa Bell

The reason that some portraits don't look true to life is that some people make no effort to resemble their pictures.
--Salvador Dali

Public art is art that the public can't avoid.
--George Wyllie

A painting is like a man. If you can live without it, then there isn't much point in having it. --Lila Acheson Wallace

When love of painting (late a passion) came,
With kindling zeal he caught the novel flame;
To joys unfelt before with rapture sprung,
Forgot his age and found he still was young.
--Sir Martin Archer Shee

Since I cannot sing, I paint. --Georgia O'Keeffe

The painters of old painted the ideas and not merely the shapes.
--Hsieh Ho

Art … is as much a source of happiness for the beginner as well as for the master. One forgets everything in one's work.
--Marie Bashkirtseff

Art-for-art's sake [and] art-for-people's sake are equally ridiculous. I suggest art for God's sake. --Jean Cocteau

Drawing is the true test of art.
--J.A.D. Ingres

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.
--Sir Joshua Reynolds

I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have the light joyousness of springtime, which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost.
--Henri Matisse

The enemy of all painting is the color grey.
--Eugene Delacroix

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.
--Leonardo da Vinci

The most valuable of arts, the art of living. --Cicero

There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but here are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.
--Pablo Picasso

A Text ...

One star differeth from another star in glory.
--Corinthians 15:41