Artist spotlight: Kimia Kline

Today's post is a small artist spotlight, featuring Kimia who is a talented artist currently living in San Francisco in the States. Kimia's work really appeals to me, I love the colours she uses and the soft lines. I've chosen my favourite pieces from Kimia's portfolio to show you, I absolutely love the pink piece with the girl holding the red roses.

Let's find out a little more about Kimia...
Please describe yourself in 3 words

Creative, Driven, Compassionate

City or country, where would you rather live?
City City City :)

Do you do your art full time or is it a hobby?
Full-time (thanks to my lucky stars).

Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration when I'm around excellence, whether it be great writing or photography or ballet, there's just something so inspiring about witnessing others do things really well.

Please name one or two of your favourite artists?
Marlene Dumas and Eric Fischl have always been favorites of mine.

What is your favourite season?
Definitely summer. I am so sad to see it ending over here!

Favourite thing to do on a weekend?
Paint in my studio and sleep in.

What makes you smile?
Wedding pictures :)

Do you have any tips for new artists?
Simply work hard. There are no shortcuts in the arts--it's all about putting in enough hours and staying passionate and focused. 

Thanks so much Kimia, it was great finding out a little more about you and I wish you loads more success with your painting! You can see more of Kimia's work over on her website or her blog.

All images via Kimia Kline

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Kirra Jamison

More art for you today! Thanks to design*sponge I heard about Kirra Jamison, an artist from Australia. Her work is just amazing and instantly draws you in. I absolutely love her use of colour and fine detail. Imagine waking up to one of these pieces each morning... I'd almost certainly be up and about with a smile on my face and be in a good mood. There's a great interview over on The Design Files if you want to find out more about Kirra.

All images via Kirra Jamison

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Corduroy by Jen Ray

I came across Corduroy on etsy this week and was instantly drawn to Jen Ray's quirky creations especially the Action Bunny with Shiny Gold Pants... isn't he just too cute? You'll also find other sweet action figures as well as fun mugs and prints.

All images from Corduroy

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René Twigge

I love discovering new local artists especially when their work really appeals to me. Réne Twigge is a Capetonian artist who creates the most amazing, vibrant and bold digital artworks. René's abstract pieces are full of life and colour. I can just imagine one of these being used as a statement piece, bringing a splash of colour into a contemporary home. Mmm which one to choose though?...

(All images via Rene Twigge)

I asked René to share a little about herself...
Describe your personal style in a few words...

Fashion wise I used to be quite glamorous, but that changed drastically since becoming a mom.  My style is more toned down now, probably for the better, with comfort being crucial – ready to make a run for it when my 3yr old boy decides to just take off from me in public.  In décor I prefer eccentric interiors with unique pieces, collected over a period of time, grouped together.  I love splashes of bright colours here and there, as long as it’s not overdone.

Where do you find inspiration?

I’m inspired by the forms, textures and colours of plants during the various stages of growth and deterioration as well as the visual and light effects created digitally for animated and 3D movies.  The integration of these opposites, organic and digital, is a subject matter that I will continue to explore.

Is your house as colourful as your work?

Our house has bold, brightly coloured art against off-white walls that contrasts with patterned fabrics, wooden furniture and a mixture of ornaments and succulents. The décor changes constantly, mostly to ‘cater’ for bouncy toddler play dates.

(Images credits: Kirstenbosch via South African Tourism, Tracy Payne via Michael Stevenson)

What other South African artist's work do you admire?

I have a keen interest in South African art, so there are many, but if I have to name one it’s Tracy Payne.  I first saw her large hexagon shaped oil on canvas paintings at a 2005 exhibition. I was in awe of the paintings she produced at the time - abstract, but with photographic precision, layered with washes and drips.  I’ve been an admirer of her work since then.

Favourite place to go for dinner in Cape Town?

The Duchess of Wisbeach in Sea Point.  Eclectic décor, energetic vibe and tasty food.   

What is the one "must visit place" for a first time visitor to Cape Town?

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.  For the adventurous and fit, stroll through the gardens, then hike up Skeleton Gorge and down Nursery Ravine to return to the garden.  Otherwise go there for a lazy picnic or to watch a concert. 

Thanks for sharing with us, René, The Duchess is definitely on my list of places to go and your home sounds amazing- patterned fabrics, colourful art and wooden furniture, just my style!

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Framed!

Last weekend I had a wonderful visit from my parents, which afforded me the opportunity to play tourist and go to a few museums- something I don't do often enough, despite the fact that Washington is a museum mecca! I have visited the National Gallery of Art on numerous occasions and find it spellbinding whether it is your first visit or your five hundredth.

This time, what struck me (in addition to the paintings themselves, obviously) were the equally breathtaking frames. Though they varied wildly from plain to terrifically ornate, all had one thing in common- they were perfectly and expertly selected to compliment the painting which they accompany. Many of them looked as old as the artwork itself. I'd love to know more about framing practices in the world of fine art; something tells me some of these frames have been paired with their respective works of art for decades, if not longer.

A few highlights are below. My apologies for my lack of art history expertise- there are a few paintings that, for the life of me, I cannot seem to identify now! If you know what they are please leave a comment!

Claude Monet, The Japanese Footbridge, 1899

Incidentally, after I took this picture, I saw a little boy go up to a neighboring Monet, lay his hand squarely on the middle of the painting for a good five seconds, and then give it a decisive push! The painting swung a bit on the wall. My jaw dropped....and worst of all, no security guard even noticed. Can you believe that???

Moving on...

Paul Guigou, Washerwomen on the Banks of the Durance, 1866

Vincent Van Gogh, The Baby Marcelle Roulin, 1888

Vincent Van Gogh, Girl in White, 1890

[I cannot identify the painting below, but had to include it because the frame is so over the top!]

Camille Pissarro, Place du Carrousel, Paris, 1900

Edouard Manet, The Tragic Actor (Rouviere as Hamlet), 1866

[I cannot identify this painting- please let me know if you can- but I loved the wide frame]

Coming back to earth for a moment- while we don't have the burden of worrying about what frame will best compliment our new Van Gogh, looking at these pictures definitely makes the case that a fab frame is worth pursuing! Sure, the sleek, basic gallery frames most of us are used to are affordable and modern, but if you have a special painting, why not spring for a grand frame to help it reach its fullest potential?

For purchasing reasonably priced frames online, check out pictureframes.com.

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Etsy Art Showcase

Our latest obsession is Etsy, a website that features hand-crafted art, jewelry, clothes, home goods, vintage items, and much much more. Not since we discovered eBay have we been so enamoured with an online market that seems to have a little bit of everything on it! We love Etsy because it's easy to find unique items from up and coming artists and designers that are wallet friendly. There's much less "clutter" to sort through on Etsy than on eBay so searching for that special something is a little bit easier.

We're always looking for artwork that is not only affordable, but unique. Why be the millionth person with an ubiquitous Ikea poster on the wall when for basically the same price you could have a lovely print from an up and coming artist? There are hundreds of talented sellers on Etsy, but here are a few of our favorites.

Janet Hill of Janet Hill Studio is a Canadian artists whose prints are striking and feminine. For $17 each, these would be a perfect for prettying up a dressing room or bedroom.

Summer House

Summer Dresses

The Yellow Chintz Chair

We'd love to inhabit the chic, striking rooms that Anne Harwell of Annechovie paints. In the meantime, we'll have to settle for a print! All are $22. And we love the notecards Anne offers that also feature her work.

Courney's Favorite Things

Orchids

We are drawn to David Hinchen's architectural images. Through David Hinchen Design, you can order a number of prints or even commission your own work.

Lobster Pot, Provincetown $38

David does custom portraits of doorways for $185; above is a sample. Wouldn't this make a fabulous gift for that friend/parent/spouse who has everything?

He also does custom house portraits for $350, such as the one above.

We love Richmond artist Laura L. Trevey's watercolors. Just looking at them is relaxing.

Three of a kind watercolor painting, $30. One can never have too many bromiliads!

Red Crab print, $15.

Pepe's Key West print, $12

Finally, Robert Joyner of Suffolk, Virginia creates fascinating original paintings. What a fabulous focal point these would make in a room.

Bay Days, $325

MooMoo's, $155

Fifth Avenue, $425

Think about it- for less than the price of a new lipstick you can purchase a fabulous, unique print that will brighten your day for years to come. And if you are looking for original or commissioned artwork, Etsy presents a variety of affordable options. We think Etsy is an amazing opportunity for artists to showcase their work, and we'd rather send our money their way than to a chain store that sells the same mass produced art in every mall in America.

Take a browse around Etsy and tell us what you think. Do you have any favorite sellers on Etsy we should check out? Tell us by leaving a comment below.

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