Weekend Inspiration: Raven Roxanne

 *photo by Kristen Blanton of Hello America

 *Photo by Paige French

 *Photo by Paige French

I am inspired by the super talented Raven Roxannes'"Nest" series.

The composition, the colors, not to mention the treatment of the paint, are such a visual treat.  I've been following her on Instagram for a while, and am always inspired by her images.
Raven was gracious enough to  answer a few questions I had.

1. I just love your "Nest" series.  How did it come about?

The ‘Nest’ series came along organically due to what is going on in my life.  I am engaged and we just bought our first house.  Understandably the idea of ‘nesting’ is very present in my life right now.   "There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”  Vincent van Gogh - This quote embodies what my ‘nest' are about.

 

2. Where do you typically find inspiration?  And what artist are inspiring you right now?

I find inspiration in my surrounding humans, clothing, nature, my dog 'Willie Boy’, Charleston, water, light, yoga and my love.  I am inspired by my friends Teil Duncan, Lulie Wallace, all my fellow redux artist, Becca Barnet and so many more….  It helps to have so many wonderfully creative friends.  I am also loving Hense, Michelle Armas, Andrew Hem, Conrad Roset, etc.   

3. What's the studio tool you can't live without?

 Gesso… Some times you have to say f**k it and paint it white. 
 *****

How true is that?! Wouldn't it be fun to have a studio next door to her, so you could stop by and have a glass of wine?  Thank you Raven for sharing your work.  If you would like to see it up close and personal and you're in the Charleston area check out her show at Billy Reid. (On the corner of King and Queen streets) 
If your not in that neck of the woods, she'll have the paintings available on her website as well.

Have a great weekend!

Patricia Gerkin: Weekend Inspiration

"Greek Chorus" 8x8" encaustic/mixed media on wood

"Secret Woods" 8x8" mixed media on wood

"Spring is in The Air" 12 x12" encaustic on wood

Hubby was searching for himself one day.  (See...I told you I wasn't the only one.)  And he came across Patricia Gerkin. (Gerkin is my married name.)  How surprising that she is a fellow encaustic artist that seems to perhaps be distantly related to my husband!  And to top it off I rather adore her work! I am so glad that Hubby stumbled across her.  Check out more of her work here.  I particularly like the Currents and Consistency series.  Thank you for sharing Patricia.

Christine Sajecki: Weekend Inspiration

The Works
48"x24" encaustic and oil on board
2005 

Backyards of Baltimore
34"x30" encaustic and photocopy transfer on birch
2009 

 

I first saw Christine's work during an open studio tour in 2006 (I think?) I remember seeing "The Works" and thinking that is the surface I've been trying to create since college!  I wanted to touch it, and ask a thousand questions!  I didn't.  (I wasn't as pushy as I am now.) I can't believe I waited until 2009 to take a class on encaustic at The Creative Alliance in Baltimore, and Christine was teaching. (She was a resident artist there art the time.)

Her work is even more beautiful and complex in person.  Her mastery of the medium is stellar.  There is such a great balance of color, depth and imagery. You've gotta check out her website to see the full breath of Christine's work.  I love her sculptural work as well, since encaustic is such a tactile medium, she gives the viewer an opportunity to carry some pieces around. I can't wait to see what is coming up for her.  Thank you Christine for sharing!! (And for creating another encaustic painter.)

Allison Long Hardy: Weekend Inspiration

Finish Line  

Monotype, pen, colored pencil on paper

10" x 10"  2011

Pour Out

Monotype, colored pencil, pen on paper

21.5" x 19"  2011

Shelf Life

Monotype, colored pencil on paper

43" x 25"  2010

Flourish

India ink, colored pencil, graphite, pen on paper

60" x 30"  2011

Flourish, detail

Aren't these pieces just glowing?!  I found Allison Long Hardy  when I saw this post about one of her shows. I love the build up of layer after of layer and the colors! I could get mesmerized by them, or lost as I follow the twist and turns of the marks.  Allison also plays with the opacity of the inks to add even further dimension.  The play off the dark and light in "Shelf Life" really attracts me, as well as the drawing of the scratches/marks through out.  The final image of her drawings I was going to begin to describe as a deconstructed version of her prints, but that's not quite true.  There is still so much depth and presence to the marks and intensity of the ink.  Just lovely!  Please check out more of her work on her website and enjoy getting lost in her amazing work. 

Miss V and I took a field trip to The Howard County Center for The Arts yesterday afternoon.  I got to see "Shelf Life" in person.  I'm going to add that to my wish list of artwork I'd like to own.  It was a great show, well curated.


Her work is currently being shown at The Howard County Center for the Arts in "Intertwined Expressions" and at The Dupont Gallery in "Crowded Spaces".




Thank you Allison for sharing and kicking off an inspiring weekend!

Anselm Kiefer: Weekend Inspiration

Lot's Wife, 1989
Oil paint, ash, stucco, chalk, linseed oil, polymer emulsion, salt and applied elements (e.g., copper heating coil), on canvas, attached to lead foil, on plywood panels, 11 _ x 14 feet 

 

"Merkaba", 2002
Oil, emulsion, acrylic and lead objects on canvas
110 x 149-1/2 inches (280 x 380 cm)

The first time I saw Anselm Kiefer's work in person I was utterly dumb struck.  I wish I could remember the title of the piece.  It was in the late '90's at the Smithsonian.  It took up the entire room, it felt like, as it covered an expansive wall.  I couldn't get close enough, it begged to be touched.  The structure of it was daunting, and I imagined it hardly being contained by the ground it was painted on. I had seen the grit and grim of ash and strange mixed media elements in Rauschenberg, and Pollack's work, but here it was really used as a medium the intent was clear. I don't know about you, but I am always amazed that this artist that I have been in awe of is still out there today painting in his studio.  Maybe even this weekend. I hope you're creating too!