Burning Art

Danny Shervin from Jackson Hole, Wyoming is lighting the art scene on fire. Literally. 

He calls it Painting with Gunpowder, and basically designs pictures with gunpowder, and then lights it on fire. When the powder burns away you're left with a beautiful etched effect.

It's a process he stumbled upon while a student at the University of Montana. He "paints" primarily wildlife subjects, which he meticulously lays in powder before setting the scene ablaze. Check it out:

I'm curious as to what the paintings sounds like while it's burning. Does it Crackle? Does it Pop? (is it reminiscent to eating a bowl of Rice Krispies??) 

Since I know all you pyros out there are having post-July4th withdrawal, here's another one. 
You can see (and purchase) more of Shervin's work on his website, paintingwithgunpowder.com.

Recognizing The Typewriter Artist

For 40 years, Paul Smith sat at his typewriter in Rose Haven nursing home in Oregon, creating masterful works of art.

These masterpieces were images, not novels, all created using the 10 top row of keys of: ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _

Smith suffered from severe spastic cerebral palsy at an early age, and the loss of fine motor control meant he had extremely limited movements.

Born in 1921, Smith's opportunities were limited—he wasn't given a mainstream education, or taught to read or write. It was 16 years before he learned to talk, and 32 before he learned to walk.

And yet, Smith grew up to be an inspiration—using a manual typewriter, he told his own stories.

By age 15, he'd discovered the typewriter and started making Typewriter ArtUsing his left hand to steady his right hand, he combined the various symbols to add texture—often making thousands of keystrokes on a single page. 

With this method, he was able to create shading so that his images actually gave off the impression they were charcoal drawing. Pieces often took weeks to month to complete.The advancement of technology introduced colored ribbons, allowing Smith to add color to his images.

At the time, using a typewriter meant positioning rollers and paper, and erasing mistakes was not an option. Recreating existing and recognizable work takes patience and painstaking skill, and Smith did so with extreme mastery.

Later in Life, Paul befriended a squirrel, who often was recreated in his work.

In 1967, Smith moved into the assisted living facility in 1967. He was able to continue making art until 2004 when his cataracts made it too difficult. Smith died in 2007 at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy of determination and admirable work.

Watch journalist John Stofflet's time spent with Smith above.You can read more of Smith's story here.

Showing Respect and Changing Perceptions

New Zealand photography Cally Whitham wants us to know animals as individuals not products, and has created a series of dramatic photographs to reconnect us with the beings that become the food on our plates. 

Whitham believes that, as a society, we've lost the connection with the livestock that sustains us. Meat comes from cellophane trays at the grocery store—faceless pieces of protein. Instead of being animals we've raised in fields, they've become a product.

It's easier to accept factory farming when the animals themselves are an abstraction, so in order to reconnect with the animals themselves, Whitham began making portraits in a stunning Rembrandt-like fashion. 

The photographs are made to look like paintings with post-processing and effects. By presenting these animals with a reverence for their beauty and the uniqueness of their breeds, Whitham is giving them their dignity back.

“I wanted to portray the animals as dignified individuals, photographed in a way that lent them a value, an importance, that was of the same weight as paintings of aristocracy or our ancestors,” says Whitham. “Our perceptions have changed but their importance has not. I wanted to give back to them a light they had lost.”

Being so disconnected from the animals we consume negatively effects our health, as well as the health of the animals.Whitman is not a vegetarian herself, but she does shop carefully, "If we're going to continue to eat animals, we must give them the best lives and deaths possible."

When we see a portrait hanging in a museum, we believe that they were important. She hopes that by photographing animals in a similar manner, we will be reminded of their importance, and that they deserve our respect. 

To read more about Whitman's philosophy and process for capturing these images, visit nationalgeographic.com.

If you are haunted by these images of a cow peering right into you, you may also be moved by her Captive series.

And if you're interested in seeing the New Rembrandt, which was created by analysts, computers and over 160,000 Rembrandt paint fragments, visit The Guardian.

Artist Frances Goodman Nails It

This is a lovely sculpture by artist Frances Goodman from Johannesburg, South Africa.
But take a closer look those shiny little bits are actually artificial nails.

Goodman focuses primarily on women, contemporary notions of beauty and desire, and the anxieties caused by social expectations. She considers false nails, the ultimate feminine accessory.
A symbol of excess, she has layered the nails to create organic shapes and body-like forms. The layers give the sculptures a sense of movement, while maintaining their fragility.

Spread the Woosah Grand Rapids!

The highlight of the SS16 Cushe Conference was collaborating with Erica Lang of Woosah Outfitters on an original woodcut design.

Woosah Outfitters and Printshop is a naturally inspired print and apparel brand meant to inspire an inner peace and calmness—which Erica refers to as Woosah.

Today, Erica celebrated a great achievement, the grand opening of her store front on Division Avenue, known as the Avenue for the Arts, in Grand Rapids.

The store is combination of everything Woosah means for Erica > the artful, handmade nature of her carved woodblocks, mixed with the stillness and beauty of nature. Erica has put so much of herself into the store, and it is designed personally and immaculately. Details were not overlooked.


A graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, Erica's designs are created as woodcuts, which is the oldest form of printmaking. It's a time consuming process, driven by skill, but also by pure passion.

To make a woodcut, first you carve a design (in reverse) into a block of wood. You carve away the areas you don't want printed. What remains will then get inked, usually with a roller. When you roll ink across the block, the raised portions will take on ink. You can then print the design by pressing it into paper (Erica uses an etching press here to apply even, consistent pressure).*

Erica's designs have a distinct style and handmade texture to them. Each is inspired by an obvious love for the outdoors, and displays a sense of whimsy and inspiration.

Erica funded the store opening through a very successful Kickstarter campaign. It is a place that brings about immediate peace and wonder, and invites you to look around and linger. Check it out for yourself at 131 S Division in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Follow Erica and her amazing art on instagram, and spread a little Woosah yourself!

*This process is not entirely unlike the linoleum block printing I've done in that past.

Art. Math. Science. Magic.

I'm sure you're as familiar with Fibonacci's Sequence as I am...

The mathematical sequence follows the pattern of:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55. 89, 144....
and manifests naturally in objects like sunflowers and pine cones.*

So when John Edmark,  an inventor, designer and artist who teaches design at Stanford University, used the sequence in the creation of some 3D printed sculptures, the result was something naturally beautiful.

Beyond the stunning simple beauty of their static form, when the sculptures are spun at just the right frequency under a strobe light, a shocking effect is achieved.
 
So it looks like all we needed to liven up math class, was a little strobe light action...

*Don't ask me how!

#HappinessHunting at the Spring/Summer 2016 Cushe Brand Conference

Just wrapping up another Cushe conference, which means I'm delighted to be returning to part time this week!

All 15 Wolverine Worldwide brands set up booths inside the Devos Convention Center for another week, showcasing their SS16 lines to reps, distributors and licensees. Cushe used their repurposed shipping container booth as their store front.

The highlight of the conference, by far, was collaborating with Erica Lang of Woosah Outfitters on an original wood cut, that she screen printed live at the event onto t-shirts. See a time-lapse of the carving process and printing process on Cushe's Instagram.

Woosah Outfitters and Printshop is a naturally inspired print and apparel brand based in Grand Rapids. Erica's outdoor inspired woodcuts are meant to inspire an inner peace and calmness—what she refers to as Woosah 

Woosah will be opening a storefront at the Avenue of the Arts on Division next month. You can see the Cushe booth set-up and follow the amazing work of Woosah on Instagram.

 

Art with Soul

A few hours in on our New Orleans adventures, we stumbled across an Easter Hat Bar Crawl. Now this alone is worth mentioning, as I love the idea and spirit of this event. Moreover, the people watching was epic. And as an excuse to stare a little longer,  we meandered into the nearest bar.

The bar was Mimi's in the Marigny, and we quickly found ourselves admiring and commenting on the "Be Nice or Leave" sign hanging above the dartboard.

It was straight-forward. And we appreciated its candor. Little did we know, this sign was kind of a big idea and a big deal in New Orleans. 

It's a simple message, but it embodies the spirit of New Orleans. Over the course of the week, we noted many times just how friendly people were, (with few exceptions—Vaughan's).

The painting was done by Dr. Bob (Bob Shaffer), a local Bywater artist, and in the days to come, we would see the sign (or variations therein) dozens of times. Dr. Bob started selling these signs after his own sign bearing the message continued to get stolen (and he continued to replace it).

Artistically, Dr. Bob reminded me of GR's Reb Roberts,  (who coincidentally has a gator gumbo painting reminiscent of Dr. Bob's gator po-boy painting). Wild, colorful folk art with big block letters, messages of kindness or animal inspired, Dr. Bob livens up the buildings of New Orleans much in the same manner that Reb adorns the streets of Easttown.

In my head, especially since we were staying in Bywater, Dr. Bob's artwork is an integral part of the visual experience of New Orleans. When I reflect back on the trip, I will see his art on sidewalks, buildings and inside restaurants.

I'm sure Dr. Bob wants everyone to be nice (or leave) but I'm sure he also gets a kick out of all the yankees who come down to NOLA and spend $50 on one of his signs. But what better message to take home, then these simple words that should be a motto world-wide.

Read the interesting and entertaining story of the messages origin here. 

A Felt Family

This afternoon I saw the most intricate and adorable (and in some cases creepy) felted creatures at the UICA Holiday Art Market. 

"Needle Felted Fancies" by Aron Lowe are completely handmade creations by a Saugatauk artist. They are full of whimsy and vary in size from quite tiny (1 inch) to quite large (12 inches). 

Needle felting is something I get, but I don't fully understand. I have no idea the amount of materials or time that goes into each character. But I have a feeling it's a lot. The intricacies and the detailing baffles me. 

Lowe's work here is some of the more complex felting that I've seen. Each face has such individual charm and character, I feel like her selling them must be like parting with a beloved family member. Check out the family of characters on her Etsy page. 

The Market continues through Sunday at the Steelcase Town Hall, so stop on by and check it out. Aside from Lower, there's many other very impressive and unique artists. Great opportunity for some Holiday shopping!

Art, with a touch of Horror

Local designer, artist and illustrator Matt Peppler has launched a new website to promote his retro inspired posters. His illustrations are started by hand with Sharpie Markers than completed using Photoshop and Illustrator. The colorizations and textures added give them  a vintage flare. 

To see Matt's awesome illustration style, stop by his website or go shopping on Etsy.

Art on Drugs

I'm going to say that I find this fascinating, but I hesitate to recommend this....

Artist Bryan Lewis Saunders decided to take a different drug every day for a few weeks and draw a self portrait while under the influence of each substance.

The results are staggering. I'm stunned by not only the different styles but the different mediums, techniques and skill level that came forth during this experiment. 

For starters, i think this would be incredibly challenging and difficult on the body doing this Every Day and allowing no recovery time in between. It seems like the risk for disaster would increase with every drug you took, and Lewis came up with a lot to try...

I also feel like he must have a handler for some of these instances. Someone to remind him that he's supposed to draw a self portrait. One would think you'd forget what you're meant to be doing once you get high!

Here's just a few samples but you can see many, many more here.
(Oxycodene shown above).

Cough Syrup, Abilify, Xanax >

PCP, Ritalin, Mushrooms >

I'm curious to know what Bryan thinks of these drugs after trying so many of them and seeing the often insane impact they had upon his work. 

So the question is, is Bryan Lewis justifiably committed to his work? Or should he just be committed? 

Dedicated Heart and Sole

Barbara Shaum has been working the same job for over 60 years. As I stare 30 in the face, I'm well aware of just how long that is. And, wow.

Barbara Shaum, Ltd has been in business since 1962, hand-making what many view to be the very best leather sandals and belts in New York City. The 84-year-old cobbles togethers the shoes herself, putting out only 3 to 4 perfect pairs a week. 

She begins by tracing her clients feet on cardboard, then cuts, soaks and molds the soles. The custom fit shoes have molded arches, meticulously finished edges and are finished with brass nails. 

Starting at $395, it may seem steep for a pair of sandals, but these handcrafted works of wearable art will last for decades. 

Read more Q&A with the beloved East Village cobbler here.

Walart of America's Favorite Superstore

Brendan O'Connell explores über consumption in his very captivating Walmart series.

O'Connell recognizes shopping as one of the of the only times you can see large numbers of people interacting with their environment. Within this, Walmart is this global icon of mass consumption. He sees it as the most visited interior architecture on the planet.

The series started following a single model, but has evolved to include the muchness of products, and the typical American shopping experience.

See more on O'Connell's process here or listen to him on the Colbert Report (towards the end of the show—very entertaining interaction).