Every Day is a Gift

I ran across the artist, Rob Zylowski, at lunch yesterday, and found this delighted my dark little heart.

Get it here. Rob's Society 6 store is here, and filled with other fun illustrations you can own!

Thanks for this Rob! Cheers!

Saturday Night Fun

 One of my dearest friends in the Universe, Ron Whipple, is also an artist. We met back in the 7th grade and have been fast friends ever since. When we were kids, I used to go over to his house and help him paint on his bedroom wall-his parents were so cool!



A bad picture of Ron's "Der Krampus"



 In any case, Ron has had his work featured in the office of the Mayor of Los Angeles, and has worked in mixed media for quite a while. His latest venture has been with sock dolls. Unfortunately, I only have one not-very-good photo to share with you, but please don't think that his work isn't worth looking at! Each doll he makes is really unique. Some are dark, some whimsical, some will make you afraid to go to sleep in the same room with them.

Ron started the dolls after purchasing one craft book on how to make them, teaching himself to sew along the way. (I think he's only been at this for a year.) He tells me he has never looked at anyone else's dolls, just experimented along the way. Now, it seems to be paying off.

Ron's work is being shown at the Hyaena Gallery in Burbank, where it will be on display all week. If you have an interest in owning one of these nifty dolls and you're not busy tonight, get over there asap! He's already sold two of them. The opening reception is tonight, so if you have time, grab a friend and head over to Hyaena. Tell him Shell sent you!

Congrats, Ron! I'm so very proud of you!

The Betrayal

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy back in 2010, I had a piece on display as part of a show at The Crocker Art Museum. I have to say, there were a lot of really great pieces in all different media there. Hubby came along with me for the closing reception, and for the second time, saw and fell in love with this painting:


"The Betrayal," by Victoria Walters

I have to admit, I loved it both the first time and the second time, too. The expression on the woman's face is captured with sensitivity and grace and the softness of her body is beautifully contrasted by the wood it's painted on.

When Mr. ShellHawk said "Find out who the artist is and how much she wants for it," it was a pretty easy sell. It helped that he said the model looked like me. (I mentally added, "Yeah. About 25 pounds ago!")

I'd heard about Victoria Walters when I was hanging around my school clay buddies, but since I pretty much had to go to school and come home immediately because of The Dog's injury, I hadn't had time to track her down and schmooze with her.

I was glad when I finally got to meet her at the reception. Victoria is one of those young women who should have "Going Places" tattooed on her forehead. She is very talented and very active with the Fine Arts Club at the college, and clearly loves art with every fiber of her body and soul.

We bought the piece, but have still not agreed on a permanent place for it as of yet. We do have a few ideas, and are blessed with tall ceilings so this can be displayed properly. We're also talking about rearranging another wall so that it can hang there. Meanwhile, it's leaning in a niche by the fireplace, waiting for its permanent home.

Thanks, Victoria! I can't wait to see what you paint next.