Anything is better then 2009!

Really - anything...I'm pretty sure. And what's better for the new year then a calendar! I have very special access to the annual Christopher Foster 2010 calender offering a variety of landscape images from the western US; from wine fields to lavenders fields, Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon. Bay Area fans can enjoy Mt. Diablo and San Francisco.

Display this calendar with green pride because it has been published on 85% recycled paper and soy based inks which are voc-free - none of that yucky off gassing. Christopher has also added another bonus and included an offer for 50% off the limited edition of your choice.

Please contact me for purchase and I will send a PayPal invoice for $23.00. ($20 for the calendar and $3.00 for shipping and handling).

Thank you for your interest and everyone at Tuesday Moon Studio wishes you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year.

More art to come in 2010.

A Bird in Flight

I found this on Flickr today from my Photoshop Collage group. The soft quiet design and playful departure from reality caught my eye. I enjoy the way the artist seemed to make the birds appear on crinkled paper with just the slightest hint of a botanical in the lower left corner. See the rest of LoverCore's work right here.

The Meaning of Life

I found this today on We Heart It. It says it all in a neat little square.

What Makes Me Happy!

The artist who creates some of the best collages I have ever seen said he creates because it makes him happy. Well...why not me! I think it's just about the finest collage work I have ever seen. Go to Misprinted Type and see for yourself. And while you are there you can download fonts and they are so fabulous! This piece shown here is from Collage Book2. Do you think the nurse with the human face notices that the other nurse has a beak? I'm not sure.

Playful, ingenius, witty and honest. Eduardo Recife is truly in a league of his own.

A Many Dimensional World

Here is an Etsy discovery from this morning. I was just looking for art prints and came upon this surreal and magical place so I just had to go in. And my am I glad I did. The original piece called Silk was created from pen and ink and markers. Yes markers! That is probably what gives it the fabulous translucent quality that I am loving so much right now. The rendering is quiet and thoughtful; makes me want to go to yoga.
Visit Yellena's Etsy shop for more eye candy like this piece: Flare. Oh my....

An Optical Delusion

Playful and mysterious, eventful and quiet yet stormy and curious. Just a few adjectives to describe the work of Kelly Allen. After browsing her galleries I was intrigued and mystified and oh so grateful for finding her and getting to experience it. It is the season to be grateful right?
Kelly uses gouache and mixed media as well as watercolor and heavy doses of acrylic to come up with her whimsical paintings. This just might be one of those "must haves".
Clip, from Gallery Five is oil and acrylic mixed. Who does that??? Check out Little Paper Planes for Kelly's limited editions.

Decision Time

Should she stay or should she go??? Suitcase is ready, red ballet slippers pointed just so.

This print, Crossroads, by Alex Wijnen is humorous yet thought provoking. I'm left wondering? And for $25.00 you can too. These illustrations are beautifully rendered then digitally colorized. Check out the lamb image too. So cute! Yet kind of eerie. Look at that expression?

A Pear By Any Other Name

This is not just any pear. It's direct from the US Postal Service. New Etsy photographer, Stephen Sheffield, offers this whimsical yet borderline serious pear for some serious decorating. Titled One Cent Pear, it's offered as a 8x10 silver gelatin print from a Polaroid T-55 negative. It's a must have for modern decor with vintage sensibility. Now Stephen, get busy! I want to see more of your gritty, urban and thoughtful images.

Dots and Dashes

Well - maybe not dashes but plenty of pink dots in this enchanting piece by Velvet Morning. Eight layers of text and texture and tiny bits of postage ephemera combined with vintage charm and Polaroid magic. Tiny Spark. All this for only $12.00. What's not to love!

The Seven Commandments of Noah

I read this in the SF Chronicle yesterday and it really hit home with me. Doing business ethically; what a great idea. Now I am sharing it with you. This is from a new book by Noah Alper (Noah's Bagels fame) called Business Mensch. Mr. Alper uses Jewish tradition to explain the lessons he learned in 38 years of entrepreneurship:
1. Have a little chutzpah. Accomplishing great tasks requires risk-taking.
2. Discover yourself. Bring your own gifts and passions into your work.
3. Go forth like Abraham. Be ready to take action.
4. It takes a shtetl (village). Know when to seek help from partners, advisers or employees.
5. The power of the mensch. Treating people right pays off in the long run.
6. Come back stronger. Nearly all businesses fail; the trick is learning from failures and using them as as springboard to rebuild.
7. Remember the Sabbath. Step away from work for a revitalized perspective.

With that I wish you all a wonderful week. Tomorrow - more art.
Cheers.

Retro Pop

Collage artist Claudine Hellmuth never fails to make me smile with her originality, whimsy and unique sense of humor. Women of the 50's land in surreal 2 dimensional worlds getting a new do, practicing yoga or getting caught in a rainstorm. Visit her site - there is so much going on and cool stuff to buy.

Glow in The Dark Art

No - seriously. I'm not joking. Silkscreen prints made at Tender Loving Empire in Portland, OR. It’s two colors, black on phosphorescent green on white. They are signed and in a small edition of 50 measuring 8.5x11. Got to have it! And...only $20. That's like the deal of the week for sure. Go to Little Paper Planes. (I love the name of this shop).

Bay Area Holiday Art Events

Lots of good stuff happening. So let's get going. First off: The Bazaar Bizarre Saturday Dec 12 in SF. Come one, come all to one of the oldest and best indie craft fairs in the nation!
Next: The Renegade Craft Fair. I like the sound of this one! Over 150 of today’s finest indie-craft and contemporary design talents will be setting up shop at the Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale on December 19 + 20 from 11am –7pm at the Fort Mason Center Herbst Pavilion!
Ok what else what else. Ah Yes! Silver Bells Arts and Crafts Fair. Sounds kind of Holidayish. Celebrate the holidays with Kimochi and a record-breaking 83 longtime favorite and new vendors, at the Silver Bells Arts & Crafts Faire on Sunday, December 13, 2009, from 10 AM-4 PM, in The Event Center at St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough St.
And finally...drum roll please. The First Annual Holiday Lite Small Works Show at Clayton Valley Frameworks. But art from fab artists like Johnny Botts, Chris Foster, Linda Yoshizawa and Tiffany Dow. Located at 5420 Ygnacio Valley Rd. Concord Cal. 925-672-6066.

Inspired photos

What a fun tweed skirt and the family photos. Teen angst? Notice the record so unceremoniously ditched behind her. What? Don't like Johnny Mathis anymore? I Heart this photo.

If Beans Could Talk

If only they could I think this is why they would be doing. I'm not really sure actually what they say...but I'm quite sure it's fascinating. Don't Take Her by TheDimka is very very original.

From Awful Jewelry to Fabulous Wall Art

My daughter discovered Jenn Bell's work in a gallery in Sonoma and said "Mom..you would love this!" She was right. Jenn's work is copper and enamel and circles and squiggly shapes that just make me feel good. Her site has three galleries, each a little different but all the simple shapes that are calming and satisfying. And she is really funny and honest and a little self depracating ( I have been wanting to use that word!).

Jelly Beans Spilling

I came across this print, Jelly Beans Spilling, from the PaperMoth shop and the colors jumped out at me - but in a really quiet way. Love the spa like calm tones and soft hues. This 12x18 would look so great in a living room or bedroom...or maybe anyplace you need some peace and quiet.

And speaking of quiet - well speaking of happy birds , this print from Dazey Chic, So Very Happy made me smile because...well it begs for an answer really. Do french fries and birds belong together? I love creative risk and thinking things no one else would ever think of.

Do Penguin's Skate?

I asked myself that and found out that they in fact do skate. Well - they do in Chicago and they do when Gemini Studio paints them. This limited edition, Penguin Skate Company is so funny and whimsical and a bit subliminal that it just begs to be purchased. And for $78 is there any reason not too? Oh - and if you like dogs even more then you like penguins...well....you just need to visit this shop. Now.

What's Old is New

Just when I thought typewriters are so last year. This vintage Royal Typewriter illustration from Nan Lawson's Etsy shop is so wonderful it makes me forget about my laptop altogether. This 8x10 print is a great addition to retro decor.

And then yesterday I was Etsy shopping... again... and I came across this magical little charm and I couldn't resist. Should I gift it or keep it? Gift it or keep it? I'm so keeping it. Who else could resist it more them me? Full of ephemera and a real bone! Other goodies too. Yes - a little creepy. But sometimes a little creepy goes a long way. Altered Beauty's shop is a little shop of oddity's and enchantment.

The Mysterious Bike Boy

JenLou's shop on Etsy is filled with the mysterious bike boy. Apparently he's an obsession for Oregon artist Jenny Grey. A past life maybe? Sometimes the unexplained is the most fun of all. This little guys shows up as an original in green or in pink as a limited edition. The pink is so..well...pink...and yummy and bubble gum like.

So many Events - So Little Time

This month and December in our wonderful and eclectic and never dull San Francisco Bay Area we have so much going on! Where do I start? Here I go: Dec 5th: Chillin Productions, music live painting, photography art and video. Don't miss art by Jeffrey Nemenzo. 444 Jessie Street.

In Oakland on Dec 12th and 13th at The Crucible, 1260 Seventh St, observe more then 70 Bay Area artisans in their natural habitat as they blow glass, cast metal and throw pottery. Check out DODEXT by Billy Hiebert.

Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale: DIY Indie crafts selling everything from ceramics and posters to onsies and tea towels. Fort Mason Dec 19-20.

Keep following this blog for more events. Lots in the East Bay too.

Can't Sleep!

Whenever I look at the works of Jennifer Sanchez it's like a bolt of caffeine just got forced into my veins; and the very best caffeine ever! Love her bold strokes, bright splashes and uncontrolled painting urges. From works on paper to works on canvas Jennifer's work will knock your socks off....or sandals if you aren't wearing socks.

Blue Bird am I ever gonna see you again?

That's a lyric from a Kasey Chambers song and Rebecca Trawick's fabulous Blue Bird Studios site just reminded me of it. Naughty ladies, collages and really sexy tattoos make this site charming, creative, original and other worldliness. Is that a word? 100 Tattooed Ladies are little gems of perfection, sheer awesomeness and whimsy.

Ok - we did have a car like that

Yep - I come from a big family and we did have a big Ford station wagon. It fit all 8 of us and all our stuff. Mark Weaver brings back those memories and lots of other cool retro thoughts with his enigmatic and inquisitive images.

I'm not going to tell you why I like this image, 1963. That would be giving away way too much!

Not Sure What it is?

I'm not certain what a Schmook is but I know I like it. Vist Schmook's shop on Etsy. This artist is another gem out of Australia. Do they just breed good artists? The creative energy there could solve our energy crisis. No - really. I mean it.

A Little shout out...

..to myself. I just added these little guys to Etsy. Urban Pop 1 and 2. An 8x10 for $10...and it's got a mate. How cool is that? I like crisp colors so I thought these two urban landsacapes fit the bill. They can go as large as 24x30 so please do not hesitate to ask about custom sizes. If you need squares they can be cropped to fit as well.

Lines Lines Lines

I found this artist today. And what a lucky day for me. Hedwige Jacobs. Love the name! These drawings are mix of humor, whimsy and a little juxtoposition with a surreal sensibility. Opposites Attract is so complex in thought yet simple in design.

And The Great Escape just makes me laugh. How long did this one take???And how did they all get in their in the first place.?

Clay and Hidden Treasures. Oh my!

I met this artist at an art show in Woodside. Clayswan's delicate clay creations are yummy and gorgeous with just a touch of whimsy. How does she get her colors so bright???

And then for something entirely different! I found the perfect place to hide my treasures. These little magnetic lockets are just too good to share - almost. What treasures should I hide? Notes or diamonds? Treasure maps? How does Polarity do it? And she makes them from recycled steel. Even better.

Things I want Now.

Eco-friendly and Oh So Lovely! These little gems by Swept From The Sea are made from 100% authentic sea-glass. I feel a little like a fairy princess right about now.

Ready to Ski?

This print intrigues me. Not sure if it's summer or winter but either way I know I want to be there. Above the ground, watching the trees and skies and my legs dangling free. F2Images has a way with photography. Check out this cicada too! OMG!

I Heart It!

Truly a little treasure of dare I say, "Heartness"? I heart everything here! Not sure where it all comes from but it's a present to my sanity. WE Heart It is a blog of images. You can make favourites. Mine are all text images. And search by tags for whatever your little heart desires. It's truly hard to pick a favourite image, so for today it's this one...love the Henry Miller poem!

Katrin Schwulst, a fabulous illustrator out of Dresden is truly a romantic. Her Seasprayblue shop in Etsy offers us hints of everyday life with vignettes and simple designs. She adds a story behind this images...defining the character and makes me wish I was there. Her whimsical and honest renderings just make my heart go pitter patter...just a little.

Raven Support

Who would have thought that ravens needed support? But - hey they have feelings too. They don't like to be alone just like the rest of us. So I created these three little ravens sitting on a line...hanging with each other. It's pen and ink and in a small 4"x4" manageable size. Now available on Etsy. And it's only $15! Not bad for an original work of art. Collect the whole series.

My Euro fix

I came across these truly gorgeous mixed media prints from Stephanie Levy out of Munich. I love the simplicty of design - a typical Swedish influence. The bright orange is so yummy too!. I want to move into this room. Don't you?

Things That Fly

Whenever I need an art fix or feel uninspired I turn to Jodie Hurt's designs. She takes things that fly, like butterflies and birds and turns them into little bits of magic with her mixed media collages. I'm constantly amazed at how well balanced and composed these are. Visit Jodie on Etsy. Her ACEO cards are so fun and affordable. A mini original.

Coffee Cups...no seriously - coffee cups

Obviously the art gods were shining on me today because I came across the most amazing artist. This person draws on coffee cups. Really...you have to see this. Your standard un eco friendly Styrofoam cup is now an ingenious thorougly original positively absolutely sublimely decorated coffee cup masterpiece. I need more adjectives. Boy Obsolete. He is a dreamer, an artist and an animator.

The unexpected Stool Sample

I found this on a site called Monsieur Cabinet. It's a Stool Sample. Bet you didn't expect this did you?

And here is a poem about beans. Don't you love an artist who has a sense of humour and can draw at the same time!

DIY Desk

I thought I would go another direction in this post and talk about a recent project I completed.

I needed a desk. But I didn't want the usual boring office desk that you buy at Target or Staples and put together. I wanted a unique DIY piece of furniture. Here's what I did. I took two floating shelves that we no longer used and painted them in a bright Citron from Benjamin Moore. #2024-30. High gloss finish. Once they were dry we attached them together with wood on the underneath side of the desk.

Then I bought table legs from Ikea and attached those. Once it was complete we finished it with a custom made glass top that fits perfectly on the top of the desk pulling it all together.

Next - I searched for the right color to go with Citron. Not an easy task. I used catalogues - especially Flor to see how they brought colors together and found exactly what I needed. Back to Benjamin Moore for a warm aqua color: Covington Blue, no#HC-138. I painted two walls of the room in this color and kept two in their original white.

Finally I needed shelves. Once again I used floating shelves that we didn't use much and painted them in a high gloss white. I bought four shelf brackets at Ace Hardware and we mounted them securely to the wall with wall mounts I picked up a few desk organizing items at The Container Store...and voila! a new office! Almost entirely DIY. I reduced, reused and recycled and the whole space cost right around $200. I still need an office chair. :)

And by the way- the cat is extra.

If you have a DIY project that you want to share can you send it to me? I will need a description and 2 or 3 good photos. I will include your name the project on my blog. Thanks!