Artist Love - Australian Series - Kirra Jamison

Kirra Jamison is a young Australian artist. {A.very. talented. artist.}.  Born in Byron Bay but currently Melbourne based. 

Kirra draws upon mythology and fairy tales for inspiration to create her artworks of seemingly surreal worlds, with ambiguous narratives that are sometimes dark, sometimes whimsical and sometimes both at once! Kirra uses a kaleidoscopic palette and employs various techniques and mediums.

{photos of artworks via Kirrajamison.com}

Surrender Star, Firstdraft, Sydney 8- 26 September 2010

Cosmic Might  by Kirra Jamison. 

Kirra in her studio by Daniel Mahon

{photo}

Kirra has been featured on photographer Paul Barbera's "Where They create" series. The photo above and the ones below give you a sneak peek of her studio and creative life. Go visit for more fab pics.

You can also go take a "sticky beak" (an 'Australianism' for being nosy!!)

at Kirra and partner Dane Lovett's funky home on Design*Sponge here. 

Their colourful home is situated above their studio spaces amongst a community of artists.

or over at The Design Files.

For more information visit Kirra Jamison's website, or maybe you'd like to stop by Kirra's blog Keke,

inspired by time she spent living (and cooking) in Japan, she says of it:

"Keke is inspired by the people I know, the places they cook and the food we share. Keke likes to use organic, sustainable and ethically farmed ingredients whenever possible."

photos from Keke

Hope you enjoyed peeking into Kirra Jamison's creative world - I did!

Take care,

Sally xox

Artist Love - Rosetta Santucci

Finding My Way Back {photo}

Dandelion Walk

Have you seen any of the fabulous paintings by Australian artist Rosetta Santucci - possibly in Nina Proudman's bedroom if you, like me,  obsessively watched Channel 10's Offspring?
{Weebirdy has a great blog post on how to get the 'Nina'-look here}.

{photo via Weebirdy}

I think this is my favourite of Rosetta's paintings (but it's hard to choose!).

Falling Into The Light  86cm x 61cm

Rosetta's husband John is also a talented artist, so it's no surprise to discover that they have a very stylish home, it's been featured on The Design Files, as well as a few magazines and Design*Sponge too.
My favourite rooms are the bedroom (below) and her painting studio.

Rosetta's fabulous and original style is influenced by her background in costume (for film /TV), jewellery & Textile design. She is particularly inspired by ethnic & tribal textiles.
Her work is also evocative of a birds eye view of exotic, fantastical landscapes. Imagine a land or a world with that much colour....

{bedroom & studio photos - via The Design Files}

Rosetta in Real Living mag 

I know The way Out {photo}

Enjoy!
love,
Sally xox

Artist Love - Jessica Swift

I absolutely adore the energetic, whimsical, exuberantly-colourful work of fabulous artist / surface pattern designer Jessica Swift. {Can you tell I am a fan?!}

Jessica has a blog, a fabulous website, which you can buy a multitude of colourful products from, an Etsy Shop where you can buy fab prints like this one (below), along with things like pocket mirrors and cards...

Basically if you can think of something to print a pattern on - Jessica is likely to have done it! Even rain boots!!

I especially love Jessica's paintings: Here's a taster - but you can peruse many more or perhaps even purchase of Jessica's playful, funky original works on wood panels at Gregg Irby Fine Art.

{images from Gregg Irby Fine Art}

Enjoy ~ I hope to have brightened your day a little!

Love,

Sally xoxhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/jessicagswift

Artist Love - Kathe Fraga

I just love the gorgeous Modern Chinoiserie style paintings of artist Kathe Fraga who lives in Washington, USA. Kathe looks to the beauty of the past and of time-worn beauty, she is inspired by grand old Parisian mansions, frescoes and vintage kimonos for example, and the colours and images of nature. 
Kathe's paintings often have a global feel, most likely influenced by Kathe having lived in South America, France, England and Denmark.


You can see more of her paintings here or read her blog here.

{images via Kathe Fraga}

Enjoy!
love,
Sally x0x

Artist Love - Lulie Wallace

    Hello! How are you?

Today, I'd like to introduce you to the work of Lulie Wallace.

Vibrant American artist, Lulie, studied art at the College of Charleston,  
earning her Bachelor of Arts in painting.

 Lulie and her husband Harrison - (Oh and Abe the Labradoodle!), live and work in the Charleston area, of South Carolina.

       I love these floral paintings - Lulie describes them as having an
      'alien quality'..."not the kind that travel to earth in UFOs,
but are the objects that, at first glance, appear to be everyday objects, but upon a closer look, are distinguished by uniqueness and   character".

About her paintings Lulie says "My aliens take form in a
lime green tabletop, a magenta shadow, or in vibrant teal
greenery.
 A painting of flowers in a vase is an obvious subject matter to
most collectors or observers, but what I want my art to achieve
 through color, shape, and texture is the balance of uniqueness,
character, and honest materiality".

{images}

Lulie's palette ~ like a work of art in itself!

Lulie's art blog can be found here. 
Her shop is here

Love,
Sally xox

Designer Love - Mr.PS by Megan Price

Hi there! 
On this very wet and unseasonably cold Sydney Spring day, my thoughts turn to home. My homeland that is. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am an English expat and sometimes I am drawn to things that remind me of 'Blighty', and my childhood, (I guess most of us have at least some fond memories of being a kid that we like to re-visit from time to time!).


I had fish and chips for dinner this evening - with brown (malt) vinegar of course. That's the English way.
It reminded me of one of my favourite Etsy shops - Mr.PS.

{Fish n Chips screenprint on paper - buy here}

I love the work of Megan Price who owns said Etsy shop. 
Her designs are in just the kind of Quintessentially-British-but-fun, retro style that I adore. 


...Think pots of tea, fry-ups for brekkie, fish and chips, 'bangers' and mash, pick and mix sweets and the ice cream van that came round after tea on a Sunday, offering up 99's, FAB's, Rocket Lollies and Snowballs... (did you have all of those where you are from? Are you OLD enough to remember them?? Not to mention 'Chopper' & 'Tomahawk' bicycles and Holly Hobby knee-high white socks!!!!).
I digress. Forgive me!

Anyway, as I was saying (before I oh so rudely interrupted myself!)...
Megan's screen-printed wares are quirky and British and really rather fabbo!


Megan, who is based in Greater Manchester, trained in illustration and has a passion for PRINT. 
Her hand screen-printed, hand finished  products, such as tea towels and tote bags;
 feature whimsical, bold graphics, line drawings and messages. 


Her Design inspiration comes from vintage signage, food and drinks, and the great British seaside, such as Brighton, Blackpool or good old Skegness! 


Here are some more pics of her wares:

Find out more about Megan here, or visit her shop, Mr. PS here.


All images by Megan Price.


Thanks for stopping by,


Happy weekend!


Love Sally xox