RunAmuck - an upcoming race

This is the RunAmuck Mud Run! The Mud Run is a challenging 5K run with hills, tire obstacles, river crossings, walls, ropes, and MUD. Along the course there will be a number of water points with personnel staged at each. This is the most fun you can have running a 5K! Race individually, as a couple, or as a member of a 4-person team. Choose the Open category with no restrictions on attire and footwear, or the Costumed category, which requires your own zany costume or matching costumes (for couples and teams). Music will be playing all day on the big stage with food and beverage available. We’ll feature local acts and great cover bands.


I will introduce my 5 am running group --Team Lava, in a later post.

5 more artists I admire and so excited to share them

Francoise Nielly

Amazing portraits in vibrant colors

Growing up in the South of France where she lived between Cannes and Saint-Tropez, is never far from the light, the color sense and the atmosphere that permeates the South of France. This is coupled with her studies with her studies at the Beaux arts and Decorative Arts, and her sense of humor and of celebration.

Françoise Nielly's painting is expressive, exhibiting a brute force, a fascinating vital energy. Oil and knife combine tsculpt her images from a material that is , at the same time, biting and incisive, charnel and sensual. Whether she paints the human body or portraits, the artist takes a risk : her painting is sexual, her colors free, exuberant, surprising, even explosive, the cut of her knife incisive, her color pallet dazzling.

Françoise Nielly is a passionate woman who loves life, wide open spaces, sushi, blue lagoons, the Internet, humor, books, Paris, New-york and Vancouver. Resolutely inscribed in her epoch, she is an accomplished artist ; 20 years of artistic expression explain the maturity of her work and the perfect mastery of her art. She lives and paints in Paris near Montmartre; shows and sells her work in Europe, in Canada and in the United States.

Lisa Yuskavage

I have known about Yuskavage for many years and

saw her in ARTNEWS

Lisa Yuskavage may be the most controversial painter of her generation. Her loaded subject matter have been referred to as "outrageous quasi-pornographic sirens" "anatomically impossible bimbos." Her painting style has been described as "trying hard to make a travesty of the medium" while others including many of the top critics of the day find her virtuosity unassailable. The artist herself admires Vermeer and Degas. Chuck Close has called her work "beautifully painted" and he conducted an interview with her for her catalogue.

She is working in the minefield of male sexual fantasies seen from a woman's perspective. "Kathy" is a friend of the artist who has been the model for the artist's blonde bombshell, a character she calls "Motherfucker". One of the five "bad habits" (Socialclimber, Asspicker, Headshrinker, Foodeater) she personifies in her paintings. "My work has always been about things in myself that I feel incredibly uncomfortable with and embarrassed by. I exploit

what's dangerous and scares me about myself."

Pete Nawara
Discovered this artist on an artblog. Love, love, love him.
WHO IS THIS GUY?

I strive to make objects that are aesthetically pleasing. This, first and foremost, is my goal. I want to make a material thing that can be appreciated visually regardless of the viewer’s art education. Why should someone need an art degree to understand or feel a connection with a piece of art. I feel that my place in the art world is a struggle against just that.

With the use of color and composition I attempt to create a visual landscape that allows the viewer to tirelessly view the work. Whether it’s a portrait, an abstract piece, something...

Ali Cavanaugh
found this talent on "dailypaintersblog".

My fascination with the dichotomy of the seen and unseen has been a conceptual cornerstone for most of my career as a figurative artist. I am moved to portray the human figure in two aspects: body and soul. The image of a young female figure reaches into a part of my experience that contains infinite ideas and images. It’s in the moment of hesitation when one moves into the interior space of thought that I find my inspiration. I’m constantly in a state of awareness about the world taking in the imagery, colors, and patterns that to my eye are compositions of settings and people. This keeps my perception enriched by each and every moment. I believe that every situation in life has potential as a great work of art.

My intention in painting is to exemplify the human condition through the lens of my art. I strive to paint not only the delicate features of the external person but to capture the tender unseen presence that transcends understanding in the depth of a soul. The mystery of existence is profound. My hope is that in these works depicting the complexity within thought and emotion, people might find inspiration to look at one another in new ways and grow in sincere appreciation for each other. 

Kenton Nelson

 I was first exposed to his work when I saw the above painting titled "Swim Party" featured in one of my favorite films Something's Gotta Give. I love this painting.

Kenton Nelson was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA.  He attended Long Beach State University and Otis Parsons Art Institute, and for the last 35 years has had his art studio in Pasadena, CA.  He has been on the faculty of the Otis Parsons Art Institute in Los Angeles and the Academy of Art in San Francisco.
Nelson paints figures, landscape, and architecture bathed in light.  The objective in his paintings is to idealize the ordinary with the intention of engagement, using the iconic symbols and styles of his lifetime in a theatrical style to make leading suggestions.
All of Nelson's paintings are composed with a mature draftsman's pictorial intelligence. The compositions are ordered with the strong horizontal and vertical lines of architecture contrasting the curves of nature.
Nelson paints a distinctly California regionalism of his own native culture, documenting some of the better decisions, while remaining acutely aware of the art, and its function and purpose in society.

Post from Meghan Cook at Sydney Hale

Sydney Hale Co. candles is one of Covet's original products. Meghan Cook, owner, is an adorable girl who comes in the shop and delivers these wonderful soy based candles. This is what she had to say about us.

{ BOUTIQUE DOGS } FEB 18, 2011 ...................................................................... COVET Arlington, VA Covet is a great boutique in our part of town (Arlington, VA that is!) that opened close to a year ago off Wilson Blvd, just a few blocks from the heart of Ballston. Shop owners and friends, Sabrina Cabada and Autumn Clayton keep the shelves stocked with items of great design and craftsmanship (most often handmade) and the walls decorated with beautiful artwork available for purchase (where you can find some of Sabrina’s beautiful paintings!). This most adorable shop is also occasionally graced by the presence of two most adorable dogs….what could be better! Meet Fiona (a Pug named after Fiona Apple) who just turned three on Valentine’s Day and Baritone (aka “Bear”), an 8 year old Basenji. Fiona (top), age 3 and Bear, age 8 Sabrina and Autumn, who both attended VCU, were both very much into art and design which caused them to gravitate towards each other when they met at an Arlington play group when their kids were toddlers. They kept  in touch off and on but when Sabrina came across a retail space and the dream of opening a shop came to life, Autumn soon heard her phone ring and was off to look at the space. Once they had the concept of the shop laid out (an art gallery/boutique featuring mostly handmade items) Sabrina quickly signed the lease and Covet was born. Right now at Covet, you can find the work of the following artists / vendors (including Sydney Hale Co. products!): IMM Living, ADMK Jewelry, All That Glitters, Flourish Bath and Body Products , Jonathan Adler, Shiraleah vegan  purses and accessories, 3 sprouts, elizabthw and more. If you are in Arlington, come by and see if you can catch the dogs at Covet! Fiona will greet you with a friendly bark and Bear (who by the nature of her breed doesn’t bark at all) will sing you a lovely song if asked politely (it’s true!). Autumn (top), Sabrina, Fiona, Bear and Covet

Françoise Hardy - Tous les garçons et les filles

How cute is she?

 This is a video of a song by Francoise Hardy. When I was little, I mean 5 or so, my parents had this album. I spoke mostly spanish back then and understood no french. I thought she was so beautiful and sang like an angel. So many memories surround this music. I listened to these songs over and over.

Vintage Mid Century Modern Eames Era Pod Chair given new life

Here is an Eames era pod chair I quickly purchased at a thrift store for $15 (no one else knew how cool it was). Bought some amazing clearance fabric for $10 and had the chair reupholstered for $175. Total investment $200. I think it turned out great and I made the little pillow years ago.
Basically, I love most mid-century furniture design and will feature a new find soon.

more valentine fun

Two more adorable valentine ideas

All you need is love.....and little paper cut-out hearts

How cute is this London based business--sarah&bendrix? I am going to try my own version. I'll keep you posted.

 

How it all began It all started with a present for a friends wedding and a question : ‘Who is the artist?’ and the rest is history.

Sarah & Bendrix is a design studio based in London, UK created by Veronika in 2009. We specialize in personalised handmade pictures. All pictures are made to order, some of them can be personalised, some are limited editions, some one of pieces, made just for you. Each piece is made with love, care, attention and they would make a wonderful presents for your loved ones or great additions to your home. Looking for something different, to mark a special occasion in your life, friend’s wedding, new born baby, anniversary or just a new wall decoration for your home.

They are sentimental, modern, vintage, simple and beautiful.

You can browse through the gallery to see our current items for sale or drop us an email if you are interested in a custom, bespoke order. Any questions, please don’t hesitate and ask.

Thank you for buying our products and supporting handmade.

Veronika

"Sunshine"

"Sunshine" created in 2010 over several painting sessions in the studio.
I had a very difficult time with the shadows on face on the girl in the middle.