Thinking Pink

Well, our due date came and went last week and our little girl is showing no signs of arriving. I like to think she's comfy and cozy and just taking her time. Of course, we're so excited to meet her and having a hard time waiting!

Maybe because my mind is on the baby, I am drawn to gorgeous shades of pink even more than usual. I love all these paintings by Vancouver artist Zoe Pawlak. She is incredibly versatile but there's something beautiful that connects all her work.

Photos from here. 

Summertime

Aren't these oil paintings by J Shears gorgeous? They make me feel like summer is really here. Now all I need is a picnic, a free afternoon and someone fun to spend it with!

Photo from here. 

Happy Weekend!

I'm so glad the weekend's nearly here, and I think it's going to be a busy one! It's often hard to know what path to take on a weekend: Do you relax, get a lot of work done or go out and do something fun? These gorgeous paintings by Erica Kirkpatrick make me think about paths and choices. I love her moody and atmospheric landscapes and how they suggest a route to take or a place to go. I hope you have an equally beautiful weekend, no matter what you do!

Photos from here. 

The Shape of Things

When I first saw a painting by Sally King Benedict, it was her use of vibrant color that drew me in. But then I noticed the textures and layers and interesting shapes she employed. Her compositions feel to me like unique spaces or realms, and I don't want to leave them.

Photos from here. 

A Gorgeous Clash

I love the beautiful turmoil of these paintings by Todd Hunter. The colors and brushstrokes are presented in such a dynamic mashup. I can't get enough of the emotion in them!

Photos from here. 

Flowering

I've loved noticing lately how trees are blooming and flowering. Doesn't that sight make you happy? These recent paintings by Jen Garrido give me the same feeling.

The artist writes in a statement, "I favor forms that are nature-based and that tangle and overlap, lean, sit and hold. In my newest works, the compositions are hybrid and formal, have moments of representation and are infused with a sense of movement. I bring together shapes and lines that are biomorphic, animated and gestural. The ways in which the forms sit, touch, tangle and lay creates a space that is open to narrative."

Photos from here.

Vibrant Legacy

I was saddened yesterday to hear about the passing of Helen Frankenthaler. The artist was so influential, and her paintings are are mesmerizing in their sense of freedom and expressive color. I always love seeing her canvases in person. What an inspiration.

Photos from Google Images. 

True Colors

I find the artwork of Claire Desjardins so encouraging. Her paintings are bright and exuberant but also feel contemplative and personal. She writes in her artist statement, "My work is about me and my existence in this world. It reflects my journey on this planet, and the context in which I fit: sometimes melding with the flow of my environment, sometimes feeling quite separate ..."

I hope you have a beautiful, colorful weekend!

Photos from here. 

Brighten Up

This time of year can be difficult. The trees are bare, the skies are gray and it gets dark so early. I find myself craving color and light, and I'm drawn to artwork like these paintings by Linda Monfort. From the free brushstrokes to the vibrant hues to the flowers, these works do brighten my day.

Photos from here. 

Illuminated

On this dreary, rainy fall morning, I'm captivated by the artwork of Luc Leestemaker. His paintings are so vibrant and alive, practically glowing with life. His use of yellow, in particular, is especially energizing, don't you think?

Photos from here. 

Wild

Today, the artwork of Rob Nadeau is really speaking to me. His recent paintings in particular, with their bold colors and assertive brushstrokes, are so energizing. They make me feel like anything could happen today -- and for once, that wild feeling seems freeing.

Photos from here. 

Splash

I've been a fan of Amy Arntson's artwork for some time. Her paintings of water and waves are incredible -- soothing, refreshing, rhythmic, mesmerizing and utterly beautiful.

Photos from here. 

Season's Greetings

Happy fall! Are you glad autumn has arrived? I am loving the crisper, cooler air and the way the leaves are just beginning to change color.

Rich shades of gold and red are also what I am drawn to in these paintings and prints by Begian-born artist Dirk de Bruycker. The saturated hues and organic shapes feel so appropriate right now, like a celebration of the season. Have a look:

Photos from here.