Artist I Heart: Leilani Wertens

The photography of Leilani Wertens is nothing short of breathtaking.  She ventures into estate sales, not in search of vintage deals, but to capture the past, the silent stories that lie in the homes and possessions of people passed.  At first, as an avid thrifter, I was drawn simply to the vintage decor and the thought of finding such amazing retro loot on the cheap!  But then I was seized by the stillness of the discarded items and abandoned spaces.  It’s calming, yet the mystery of each moment is gripping.  I could stare and wonder for hours.

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Artist I Heart: Romina Pelagatti

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I love Romina Pelagatt’s work.  It’s as simple as that.  I love the sweet, delicate lines.  I love the swirls of pastel colors that blur the sharp edges of rocky ground and bony knees.  It’s youthful and imaginative.  It reminds me of playing outside all day, not noticing when it starts to get dark and you’re ready to eat.  You just want to play forever.

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Artist I Heart: Katie Rose Gill

I’m living vicariously through Katie Rose Gill of Girl & the Deer.  Sassy haircuts, sleek British style, European sightseeing, raucous partying and indie music gigs?  Uh… yes please.  Not to mention the ease with which she seems to spit out quirky doodles, band flyers, tote bag designs and one bizarrely fantastical collage after another.  Katie, my darling, you’ve got it all.  And I can only imagine your cute English accent.

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Artist I Heart: Mia Christopher

I imagine that if you put all of Mia Christopher‘s illustrations together, you would end up with one kooky story about a circus family.  You’ve got the contortionist jugglers, the expertly balanced human pyramids, the zebra wrangler and the ribbon dancing cat tamer.  That sounds way better than any real circus I’ve ever been to.  Luckily, we can each bring the magic home with a print from her shop.

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Artist I Heart: Natalie Kaplan

With runaway vacuum cleaners and flower buds pretending to be flames, Natalie Kaplan‘s photographs delight the eye with a sprinkling of red and a dollop of peculiarity.  It’s as if she’s caught these inanimate objects right as they forgot to be inanimate.  She’s surprised them with a click and a flash.
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Artist I Heart: Maria Lamar

Maria Lamar is in the business of making magic.  I’m in love with the colors, the smudged graphite, the peculiar figures in her work.  I wonder what goes through her head as she creates each piece.  Does she just sit down to a blank piece of paper and then, voila, a seed of inspiration bursts forth, travels down her arm and jumps onto that unsuspecting piece of paper, creating an image that is both eerie and delightfully fun at the same time?  I think… yes.

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Artist I Heart: Mary Virginia Carmack

Mary Virginia Carmack  { Flickr }  { Blog }

Artist I Heart: Sally Linsdell

Hey Sally Linsdell, stop being so cool already.  You’re making me jealous.

Artist I Heart: Valentina

My brain feels a bit like mush today, which might explain my attachment to this morning’s bright visuals.  I need a punch of color and sharp, erratic shapes to wake me up.  These collages by Valentina are just what the doctor ordered; they’re like the prize in the cocoa puffs box!

Artist I Heart: Cat Lauigan

If you read many design blogs, you may have seen some of Cat Lauigan‘s work; she’s got some stellar pieces for sell on the Parlour Shop at Fontanelle.  But have you seen her mixed media stuff?  Meee-OW!  With bubblegum colors, textiles and furry animal imagery… it’s layer upon layer of kooky-coolness!