Artist Showcase: John Marin (1870-1953)

The Art Institute of Chicago is displaying John Marin's work through April 17, 2011.

[images: The Art Insitute of Chicago]

Color Inspiration at The Art Institute of Chicago

Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (Portuguese, 1887-1918)

The Leap of the Rabbit, 1911

Oil on Canvas

Arthur Jerome Eddy Memorial Collection, 1931.514

The Art Institute of Chicago

James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834-1903)

Green and Blue: The Dancer, c. 1893

Transparent and opaque watercolor, over traces of black chalk, on brown wove paper, laid down on card, 275x183 mm

Restricted Gift of Dr. William D. Shorey; through prior acquisitions of the Charles Deering Collection and through prior beqeust of Mrs. Gordon Palmer, 1988.219

The Art Institute of Chicago

[images: The Leap of the Rabbit; Green and Blue: The Dancer]

Artist Showcase: Samantha French

[images: Samantha French for Poppytalk Handmade]

Artist Showcase: Russell Chatham

I discovered this artist via Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations episode in Montana. Aren't these lithographs beautiful? I love the golden hues and overall feeling of peace Chatham incorporates into his work.

Montana really sounds lovely. It's going on my to-do list.

[images: Russell Chatham]

Artist Showcase: Susan Biaggi

California Home + Design recognizes Susan Biaggi in its 2011 CH+D Awards as the top designer in Landscape Design, and it's easy to understand why. How about planning a dinner party with that table? I bet it smells fabulous.

[image: SBiaggi]

A Treehouse by Bosworth Hoedemaker

Check out some of their other work here. Amazing! I love the clean, simple lines.

[images: Bosworth Hoedemaker]

Vivian Maier Discovered

Vivian Maier was a Chicago nanny and amateur street photographer. Due to delinquent payments near the end of her life, the contents of her storage locker, including 10,000 - 20,000 negatives of Chicagoans and their neighborhoods, were sold in an antique auction.

Since discovering the images, new owner John Maloof showcases them through his blog (vivianmaier.blogspot.com) and various gallery exhibits, which have helped generate some major curiosity for the woman on the other side of the lens.

[images: Vivian Maier]

Ice Bulb's Ice Art

[images: Ice Bulb]

28 Millimeters, Women are Heroes Project, by JR

Artist JR wants to underline women's "pivotal role and to highlight their dignity by shooting them in their daily lives and posting them on the walls of their country."

"The goal is to reach the limits of art in a closed social and cultural environment and watch the reaction of the local population."

Amazing!

[images and text: 28 mm, Women are Heroes]

Andrew Wyeth's World

My grandma has a print of Andrew Wyeth's Christina’s World, which used to hang in the front bedroom of her house in Vienna, VA. The room was painted a cool blue; it was minimally furnished with a dark wooden desk, a thin white blanket over the double bed, and a nightstand with a small reading light. In the late afternoon, you could hear the grandfather clock ticking from out in the living room, the house could be so still.

Below are some other paintings by Wyeth that capture those same feelings of isolation and solitude, as depicted in Christina's World. Imagine my surprise when I saw how similar they are to how I remember my grandma's house!

For more information on Wyeth, click here and here.

[images: Chistina's World: MoMA, Wind From the Sea, Master Bedroom]

Artist Showcase: Leaf Silhouettes by JennyLeeFowler

[image: jennyleefowler]

Ryan Berkley - Animals in Suits

This guy is cracking me up! Can you just picture these animals gathering at a town hall meeting? I love the playfulness.

The little fellow in the turtlneck is fantastic. Such quiet resolve.

These remind me of Michael Sowa's paintings of a Filmhound and Fowl with Pearls, hanging in Amelie's bedroom.

[images: Berkley Illustration; CasaSugar]