something fresh - wear more orange!

something i made - spring! by Opal Retzer

acrylic and ink on canvas. copyright Opal Retzer.

something to be inspired by - the artwork of Isabelle Tremblay

I first saw her work in Montreal in the gallery linked at the end of a long day of looking at sinking potholes and 3 storey H&Ms. It was absolute soul food. I can taste and relive it in full IMAX worthy dimension when I see these photos, my eyes salivating and my heart gnawing at the thrill. Among my absolute favourite modern artists - in the sense that her work inspires me to push myself in my own artwork as well as by the inner measurement that I could own and look at one of her pieces in my home, only love it more each time I admired it. I am dazzled by her innovative portraits, her fearless use of unorthodox colour and texture, and her portrayal of femininity, dreamy and grounded all at once. Click the title link and have a taste (or as my Dutch grandpa would say "a shmeck") for yourself.

something i made - sunlight by Opal Retzer

acrylic, oil and ink on canvas. copyright Opal Retzer.

something i made - night poppies by Opal Retzer

oil, acrylic, ink, and vintage sewing pattern paper on canvas. copyright Opal Retzer.

something i made - divine by Opal Retzer

ink and charcoal on paper. copyright Opal Retzer.

something to be marvelled - the artwork of Audrey Kawasaki

the skill! the detail! the absolute beauty and depth of feeling! the utter creativity. her work inspires me to push myself as an artist. the quality, the effort, the flawlessness (yet not "perfect", as it were), the genius. i'm into it.

http://www.audrey-kawasaki.com/