Asylum

I have always found great beauty in the decay of aging buildings and items. When I open an antique book I think of all the others before me that held that same tome in their hands, examining each page and studying the words written there. I get the same feeling when I walk through an old building; I think of all the other souls that have walked down those same halls and stood in those rooms, their stories delight me and my imagination. As time ticks by there is a constant cycle of decay and renewal and I think it is important to stop and reflect on ages past and find the beauty in even the most dire situations.
This video was created using over 35,000 still photographs of and abandoned Asylum. Opened in the 1920's this Asylum was closed down decades ago and has remained untouched since the last employees departed. A porthole into the past and the horrors of that time accompanied by an original score this video highlights the delicate beauty of the imagery that is left.

Asylum from Drew Geraci on Vimeo.

Bicycle Chain Sculpture

Classical sculpture featuring the human body has been created and admired since the creation of art. There is something admirable and mesmerizing about the human form. South Korean artist Seo Young Deok has explored the human form using bicycle chains. He welds the miles of metal chain together to create extraordinarily detailed figures that resemble classical sculpture despite the unconventional material. This video is of his solo exhibition.

Missed Connections

One of the most fascinating things about humanity are the connections that tie us together. Whether it is a quick glance from a stranger or the embrace of a childhood friend we are constantly making connections.
Spohie Blackall has been illustrating these interactions prompted by Craigslist's Missed Connections forum. Missed Connections is where people post about their meaningful interactions hoping that perhaps they may be reunited with their mystery person. It is sweet and bitter all at the same time and provides a unique perspective on humanity and its relationships. Sophie's illustrations are personable and detailed giving you a peek into each of her character's stories. Inspired by love lost and found, her illustrations bring New York City's Missed Connections to life.

Handmade Portraits: Sophie Blackall from Etsy on Vimeo.

Visit her Etsy shop to see more of her work!
www.etsy.com/shop/sophieblackall

Public Art

As years pass cities and towns can become a mass of grey and brown decaying structures. Industrial buildings are built for function and not esthetic beauty and over time rust and dirt eat away at whatever paint was originally there.
A group of artists in Braddock, Pennsylvania are working to change the esthetics of the aging steel mill town to one of creative artistic beauty by painting the buildings, bridges and store fronts and creating new works of art. This takes the art out of the galleries and puts it in a place that everyone can enjoy in a town that desperately needs a face lift.
Using mis-tinted paint Maya Hayuk creates architectural and linear designs in unlikely places with unlikely colours. This authorized graffiti has created small corners of fine art in unexpected ways.

Handmade Portraits: The Public Art of Maya Hayuk from Etsy on Vimeo.

Fail Harder

"Fail Harder" together these two words fight against all of the slogans ingrained in my brain throughout my public education experience. As a child we are told to work hard and try our best, and we diligently do so because of the ever constant fear of failure.
Fail: to fall short of an accomplishment, to get less than a passing grade in school, to die...etc.
Failure is a scary word which is mostly associated with not being enough or being 'less than'. In school children fear letting down their parents by getting an F and being made fun of in front of their peers. When you reach adulthood failure is more often weighed with risk and personal humiliation. What we forget are the lessons that come with the failure. The things we learn from what goes wrong ultimately will contribute to all the wondrous things that go right. Unfortunately the only way to really learn these lessons is to fail and sometimes we must fail over and over to get the lesson. The harder we fail the more we will learn, and the more we learn the wiser we shall become in our decision making.
This message of failing in a grand scale is simply communicated in this art instillation by the use of thumbtacks. It is simple and effective and reminds us not to fear our failure but to do our best in life and learn from all the things that don't turn out just right.
Fail Harder

Gravity Painting

I love watching time capture videos of artists working because everyone's process is different. Personally I try to be very precise and painstakingly exact. Because of this I greatly admire artists that just let the painting happen.
Amy Shackleton allows her paint to drip and run down the canvas, turning it to create different lines and effects. She essentially allows gravity to pull the paint down across the canvas creating memorizing landscapes with bold colours and shapes.
Watch this time lapse video to experience this for yourself!

Traditional Art Turned Digital

The question as to whether digital 'painting' can be considered fine art or just graphic design is one that has plagued the art community in recent years. Some define painting as a physical relationship between the paintbrush, paint and canvas carefully controlled by a skilled craftsman. But many others feel that the digital paint used in photoshop and similar programs is of an equal artistic value.
Personally I have always felt that since there is no original final copy to hang on a wall, digital painting, while respectable as a medium is perhaps not as 'fine' an art as an oil painting. There is also the constant concern that the images originated from a photograph making the artwork slightly less original.
This video however shows the skill needed to produce awe inspiring digital paintings. After watching this time lapse video I can not discredit the digital medium and have much respect for this talented artist!
Raffy Dematawaran is one talented guy!

Art of Whimsy

I have always admired artists that create a sense of whimsy in their work. Something that transports you to a new world of possibilities where anything is possible. John A. Kurtz has successfully found this porthole in his artwork.


His creative illustrations have been seen all over the world in such publications as Libido, Playboy and Chicago Magazines. I encourage you to check out his website to view more of his fantastical Art!


Check out his website, John A. Kurtz and have a fantastic and whimsical day!

Romantic Paper Cuts

Rob Ryan takes the simple act of cutting paper to the next level. His whimsical and romantic imagery transports you to a two dimensional world without limits. His vision is realized through paper cut images that move and touch your heart. His work is honest and bold and warms my heart.
This short etsy video takes you into Mr. Rob's studio where you will experience his process and see his visions realized.

Mr. Rob's studio experience