my love for you is a stampede of horses.

chris pew makes me want to cry.

chris pew's art blows me away.  his paintings are prolific in color and design.  i look at them and i kind of want to cry they're so amazing.  chris' inspiration is based on his interpretation of scientific theories: "ideas of an abstract cosmos and different trajectories for the unobservable universe."   you can check out his beautiful work on his website or check it out it in person.  he's got a show right now at white walls sf w/ alex lukas and amy casey.  there is only a little over a week left in the show.  so if you are in the tenderloin, you know, just hangin' and bangin'  and wheelin' and dealin 'make sure you stop by.  i wish i could, but like an old friend's dad used to say, if wishes were horses we'd all ride to the fair.

can't ever get enough of matthew feyld.

this is a tad bit on the early side...but i can't stand it.  it's important that you see these now as matthew's pieces sell quickly...so best start savin' those pennies and gettin' a place in line now.  matthew feyld's work is always so colorful, whimsical and oddly great, these new pieces are no exception.  he's truly one of my favorite painters.  matthew's got a show coming up at cinder's gallery in brooklyn on february 22nd w/ a few other folks.  matthew is always updating his blog and flickr account w/ new work, be sure to stay tuned to those channels, as i'm sure there is more awesomeness coming our way.

goodshape design & chris bianchi.

goodshape design just released their 2nd artist series w/ chris bianchi.  a freelance illustrator living in london, chris' work is bold and graphic, often employing primary colors and big chunks of black.   he has self-published two books and is behind the illustrative magazine le gun.  t-shirts and prints are available now.  check 'em out here.

monica johnson.

in an age where over-saturation is the gold standard, it's refreshing to stumble upon an artist who is almost hidden from the web's ever reaching long tentacles.  artists have so many outlets, avenues and vessels to showcase their work, which in no way is a bad thing.  but sometimes it's a real treat to see talent that isn't everywhere.

so when i recently found monica johnson's work through the jack fischer gallery, i was intrigued.  jack fischer gallery is really the only place one can find monica's work.  so it was only natural that i was taken w/ her work.  anything that is interesting, thought provoking and elusive and i'm sold, hook, line and sinker. i mean who isn't?

monica's work is a range of chalkboards, drawings, embroidery, gouache and the list doesn't stop there.  monica's sense of humor is unexpected and well done in her work.  it's what initially drew me in.  her beautifully drawn, childlike limerick on a chalkboard made me smile.   her style and technique is what kept me.  at the moment monica is at pratt working on an mfa in painting.  her work continues to grow and expand.  so the web may not have swallowed her whole yet, but i do believe we will be seeing more of monica.  at least i hope so.  any interest in her work should be directed to the jack fischer gallery.

nigel peake.

recently julie, co-owner of analogue books in scotland and online (take note folks, these guys have wonderful books!  check it, please.) tipped me off to nigel peake and shea' finch's new endeavor subtle circle.  my interest was peaked (ummm, errr, no horrible pun inteneded, i swear!) for two reasons.  one being, i am a sucker for any sort of colorful button i can stick anywhere on my clothing.  gotta love the flair.  two, the combination of the two folk who are doing it...nigel peake an incredibly talented artist and shea' finch part master mind behind tiny showcase and all around HIGH-larious mass email writer (if this eludes you got to t.s. and sign up for their weekly newsletter now.).

ever since i landed foot on nigel peake's website i have been really intrigued by his work.  his use of water colors, roman numerals, map making and photography all make for a delightful trip into his world.  he also has a real way w/ words.  i sent him an email asking him to just answer some q's so i could make a nice, rounded post to make me sound like i know what i am talking about and to direct people to subtle circle and his work.  however, his email was so interesting, i am just going to share it w/ you.  hopefully, nigel won't mind.  he also sent along a great smattering of photos...enjoy.

can you tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind your work?

i - home

its always tricky to put down on paper inspiration because normally it is the wonderful thing about inspiration, most of the time you have no idea what causes you to draw or make things. i guess i enjoy that. sure I can make a list of some of the things that i like and suspect something inside me  wants to record these things.  i find a real joy in certain things and i guess it this that sometimes causes you the move to draw it or to simply think about it.  when i return to my home road (i) I also get an urge to draw because it is simply beautiful.  I have a joy for small and almost broken things.

so that list?

well the list would include amongst other things - branches, cathedrals, benches in parks, forests, train rides, bike trips, , walking around my home, walking through a city at night time, radio documentaries, typing things, misunderstanding, listening to things, flags, sheds, friends, conversations, books and books, stories, stories from old people, sharing dreams, clearings in forests, paths, long grass, fences, visits to the cinema, things that are almost broken, colours, the fall, the spring, the winter, water, paper, photography, film, the process of making something, heavy rocks, chairs, museums, maps, sheds, music, encyclopaedias, et cetera...

it seems like maps and buildings are a big passion of yours.

ii. building fragment
iii. a utopian town
iv. alaska home
v. river of feather
vi. shed for hermits

i guess at the moment buildings (ii) and maps (iii) are the things that i draw most - its funny because these are mainly modes of a city  and i know that nature and the deft hand that turns the fields in the country are the things that i love the most - but it is in cities that i now live so i think i try to find the joy of fields and rivers in the buildings and  built forms that i see everyday -  going from one place to another, to do one thing to the other thing that is due.  after some walks and bike rides escaping the city, days when more time is spent outside and you travel at a slow speed and notice the shifts in wind and shadows, have led to me to drawing things that are linked to the life of those in nature. (iv and v and vi)

what's the story behind the subtle circle set you are doing w/ shea'la finch?  have you done other projects w/ her?

vii.  subtle rules
viii. the hundred circles

i don't know if there's a story behind subtle circle unless both shea' and me make one up.  it all started when we where in rio and needed circles to escape the man with the limp who wore the red cowboy boots and  wanted to teach us the violin.

nope, it is more simple than that.

i did a print with the wonderful tiny showcase last year and then shea' (one half of t.s.)  moved across the water for a while and she found herself in this windy city.  so we decided to take refuge from the wind and rain and make things.  the first project ( 100 hundred hand painted badges) which was released last december the next one should be complete before feb.  so for sure there will be more.  each project a little bit more laborious i guess.

can you tell me what shows and projects you have coming up?
ix. show in antwerp.
x. drawing of the venue for the instal festival.
xi. tray for habitat.
xii. shirts for howies.
xiii. 'because everything is made from something small' book.

well, i am just back from a show in antwerp (ix) with marcus oakley, ephameron, logan hicks and swoon.

a week of bike rides around a city i kind of know,  bridges, beers in the shadow of a cathedral brewed by monks, jewish diamond cutters with amazing hats & the guy who threatened to kill us because two thirds of us had blue eyes.

the next show 'this & that' which is in philadelphia in april.

i am currently working on finishing the artwork for a music festival - instal.

the habitat spring/summer collection is about to be released in the uk - this includes plates, deck chairs, towels, bags and hammocks.

started some shirts for howies.

working on the book 'because everything is made from something small' due to be released in spring

and then there is  projects i can not mention because they are just beginning and its best not to talk about things beginning.

p.s. nigel forgot to mention that he just finished a new zine: anatomy and animals, you can buy it in his shop.