A look back at…Amy Wilke’s Still Lives: Wunderkabinett

01/24/201501/24/2015 | sandpaperdaisy

Amy Wilke has been known in the past for her wonderful cut-paper works, but more and more recently she has been letting us see her equally marvelous talent for clean, hyper-detailed ink drawings. Paired with her whimsical and macabre subject matter, her rich and delicate linework will have you staring raptly at each piece for minutes upon hours. There’s always more to discover. But don’t take my word for it, have a look at these pieces from her “Still Lives: Wunderkabinett” show.

I was reminded of this amazing show a few days ago when I saw one of Amy’s pieces over at a friend’s house. The show actually took place last year, but since 2014 was a very busy freelance year for me I haven’t been able to document it properly until now.

When I first saw the show I was immediately reminded of the concept of studiolo, something a former art history prof of mine told me about long ago. The studiolo (or “study”) was a special room that was richly appointed with interesting and mysterious paintings, myriad books, curiosities, tools of science and writing, and objects d’art. The room’s function was to serve as a place for a learned man to sit musing or contemplating deep and interesting things. He would turn over the room’s curiosities in his hands, examine a book or skull or sculpture, and perhaps come away with a new understanding of some minute aspect of our universe.

It came as no suprise when I went to find the meaning of “Wunderkabinett” that it was basically the German counterpart of the Italian studiolo, a “cabinet of wonders” that contained strange and interesting objects that invited the owner to handle and contemplate them in quiet moments.

The insects, skulls and other curiosities in these delicate and exacting drawings bring to mind that same appreciation and worship of the natural world, while at the same time underlining how beautifully disturbing and uncanny it can really be. Every cell and and scale is lovingly imagined, giving almost infinite facets to these gems. I think these particular pieces might all be sold by now, but you are always welcome to check out Amy at Paper Raven Art + Design and see what she has brewing now…or even better, commission something of your very own.

Melissa Erwin’s The Mother Load

Digital mixed media brilliant colors and unexpected textures and ideas

10/08/201410/08/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

Today I want to show you some of the crazy-awesome pieces from TACODoom artist Melissa Erwin‘s newest show, The Mother Load down at PG Gallery. As you can see below, these incredibly rich and detailed pieces are lavish with color, texture, and unexpected associations. They’re made even better by being gorgeously printed on canvas and mounted onto interesting and varied surfaces including leather and reeds. (Of some sort, I’m not a reed/tatami/bamboo sort of expert even though I adore it.) As usual, I took pictures of a few but not all of the wonderful pieces in the show. Feast your eyes on this!!

So where did all these crazy ideas and textures come from? I’ll let the artist herself explain in her own words. From Erwin’s facebook event page:

Sometimes after suffering some severe frustrations my brain will vomit out a large quantity of questionable imagery. Then I need to do something about it more constructive than a stabbing spree.

This would be that.
A series of digital illustrations based on scribblings in my trusty sketch pad.
Fair warning, I’m not responsible for any weird feelings or nightmares resulting from them.
After all, I don’t sleep at night, why should you?

I have to warn you, I saw a lot of “sold” stickers already, which did not surprise me in the least considering the amazing artwork and the unreal prices (I’m talking $35, $65…it’s nuts!!). The show’s up until the 17th~18th so be sure to check it out before then before everything sells.

Incidentally, keep your eyes peeled for more posts about Erwin’s art. I’m planning “A Look Back At…” series of posts featuring other amazing art shows I wasn’t able to document at the time, including Erwin’s Grenade Pin Girls series, her It Can’t Happen Here show and her Benign Acquiescence show. I’ll also be featuring Amy Wilke‘s awesome show Still Lives: Wunderkabinett, Space Madness II, some past shows of mine, and other shows and events that were too good to miss.

Here’s some of what was at Night Gallery!

works by Ryan McKain Damon Murray and Megan Black

10/07/201401/24/2015 | sandpaperdaisy

Would you know it, my phone died while I was setting up. No event photos for me! Fortunately for you all, I went and grabbed a lot of art for myself. So I can at least show you pics of what I bought. If I get permission, I’ll also feature some other pieces of art I admired that I know people took pictures of, so stay tuned for a possible update.

First off, the featured image above is a painting on poster-board by Ryan McCain, who somehow manages to be an amazing artist and a heck of a nice guy as well!! He has a huge body of work and he’s done mural work too…I’m a new huge fan. The second image of a creepy and fascinating guy is by Ryan too:

Below, I also snatched up a gorgeous little wire and bead tree on driftwood by Damon Murray. Next year this sculpture artist will have an even more amazing array of art, which will be hard considering how beautiful all of his trees and other small wire sculptures are. But he’s experimenting with MAGNETS now!! Our fellow artist Megan Black showed me an amazing little spider he made that actually moves and dances because of magnets. It was awesome…

wire, bead and driftwood small sculpture of a purple tree

Speaking of Megan Black! Check this out: this year she premiers her new loveable and intricate Voodoo Babiez styles!! Each one of these individual dolls is painstakingly and lovingly crafted with Meghan’s love rather than with bad juujuu, and I GOT ONE. Not only one, a PINK BUNNY ONE. …yeah my excitement pretty much knew no bounds when I took this little lady home…

adorable hand-stitched felt voodoo dolls crafted with love

Lastly, I grabbed an amazing Monster Pin-Up Calender by Christy Jochum!

I also admired everyone else’s stuff including all the amazing vintage paintings and drawings by Lisa Herzog.

It was a fantastic event and a great night all around, I can’t wait to see who will be there next year!

Night Gallery is tomorrow!

Gorgeous morbic handmade jewelry by Silent Salvation Jewelry

10/03/201409/27/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

Come on down to the Ahh Spa, 600 North Weinbach, tomorrow October 4rth from 6pm to 9pm to snap up some fantastic scary and morbid art, jewelry and other treats and goodies! At least 20% of all sales go to benefit PAAWS Animal Rescue, and some artists do more! The lovely piece above is by Jamie Gish-Bates of Silent Salvation Jewelry and Watches.

Here’s the Night Gallery event page where you can see awesome art and cute Voodoo Babiez plushies that people will be bringing, and more! I’ll be bringing a fistful of new morbid and creepy art prints, so be warned.

A couple of more previews of Nomadic Views art!

images from the upcoming October 4rth 2014 art opening at Corvidae Collective in Nashville

10/02/201409/30/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

Check them out, don’t they look awesome?? This from Corvidae Collective’s facebook page. I’m also blown away that DIVE is honored to appear next to these awesome pieces. I just know that the overall show is going to be phenomenal. I can tell that the leftmost image is another one by Karen Short, but I’ll have to find out who did the middle one (which I also adore) so I can point you toward their page.

I did discover another awesome artist named Dolly Gode through this art show though. She’s freaking awesome!! I don’t know if she did the middle image or not, but I like her work a lot.

Ghostwriting book I’m helping illustrate

illustration by sandra kang book by lauren tharpe

06/19/201412/09/2015 | sandpaperdaisy

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on here, but I’m doing 3 illustrations for Lauren Tharp’s upcoming book on ghostwriting. This cute ghostie is by Sandra Kang, I’ll be posting some teaser ghosts in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, feel free to check out Lauren’s post on the book or look at any of her other awesome freelancing advice…she frequently helps me out with freelancing dilemmas and her site is chock-full of info on the subject.

Let’s Agree to Disagree Duo Show by Amanda and Kristofer Sibrel

06/04/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

Today let’s take a look at the playfully irreverent work of the artistic team of Amanda and Kristofer Sibrel! They’ve currently got a wonderful show at PG, showcasing pieces characteristic of each artist’s very distinct approach. Here’s the Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/248066348731601/ and below I have more images of each artist’s work! First, Amanda:

Amanda couples delicate pencil work on wood with painstakingly wrought patterns and tessellations to create a series of small gems that superficially resemble Russian or Greek icons, complete with roughly hewn wooden frames. However, this religious imagery is humorously applied to cats, with names like “Lazarus, Lord of Terror” and “Devourer of Souls” accompanying the admittedly rather adorable haloed housecats they describe. Although I must admit, as a long-time cat owner (or maybe “tolerated room-mate” is a better term) I could easily see any of these fearsome descriptions fitting a cat.

Kristofer’s gorgeous and unusual stained-glass pieces, each boasting its own light source, are a wonderful counterpoint to these quiet wooden portraits. Not pictured is “Sensory Fenestration,” a joint stained-glass effort between Amanda and Kristopher blazing with the different talents of each artist. These stained-glass works continue the theme of turning religious imagery on its head with pieces like “Lucifer’s Leotard,” a light-hearted and visually pleasing piece which nonetheless is modestly framed in an inverted cross. “Nosfowlratu” reveals more and more bird shapes as you look at it. And of course, like Amanda’s iconic pieces, stained glass is a medium many of us might typically associate with a religious setting.

I suspect that this gentle kaleidoscopic shifting of provocative elements may be the secret of “Let’s Agree to Disagree.” In an understated way, these pieces appropriate religious imagery to poke gentle fun at the ideas and images which have caused so much passion and unrest over the centuries. When you think about it, that’s pretty bold stuff! But rather than approach their bold statement like a shout or a slap in the face, this show resonates with the promise that even those with radically different beliefs and backgrounds can find a common ground, even one where they can laugh.

As usual, I’m only going to show you a few of these marvelous pieces. Suffice to say I adored the show in its entirety and I highly recommend it! It will be hanging at PG until June 17th, so go catch it!

Ramping up for SPACE MADNESS 2014 with a look back at SPACE MADNESS 2012!

05/27/201405/27/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

As you may see in the “Upcoming Events” section below, I hope to be at The Arts Council of Doom‘s Space Madness II: There is No Cure group art show this summer.

The first Space Madness show was back in 2012 and was absolutely amazing. I was just becoming aware of the Arts Council of Doom’s activities when they were doing this show. Therefore, I missed it. So how do I know how stunning the show was?!

JEANNIE WORLEY’S AWESOME PHOTOS DOCUMENTING THE EVENT!!

You can see them two different places, on The Arts Council of Doom’s tumbr, and in this Facebook album. They give you some idea of how truly mindblowing this upcoming show promises to be. Check ’em out! And then come see the show. I’ll have more information on the 2014 show when I have a firm date, flyer and etc for it. Stay tuned!

Photos from Wilke’s January 2014 solo show “All is Naut”

05/12/201405/08/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

As promised, here’s some images from Wilke‘s January 2014 solo show at PG Gallery and Cafe, “All is ‘Naut.” It was a hum-dinger of a show, wildly successful and enjoyed by all! (I thought the Tang was an especially nice touch and guzzled my fair share.) The overall whimsical and satirical tone of the subject matter was a good compliment to the bright, cheerful colors and clean lines of the ‘nauts. I would be surprised if any of these gems are left unsold at the time of this post. However, Wilke is another digital artist like myself so don’t hesitate to ask him about a re-print. It’s one of the great things about the medium!

To see more ‘Naut goodness, check out Wilke’s tumblr page here: http://drxwilke.tumblr.com/

Wormwood: Life in the Zone

05/09/201405/06/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

The next Arts Council of Doom solo show to come after Gary’s show in February, “Wormwood” is Wilke‘s exhibition of digital paintings on canvas documenting life in the still uninhabitable Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. (description taken from Event Page) Below are a few images graciously provided by the artist himself, showing first the paintings themselves and their final form on canvas. There’s many more where these came from, so make sure and go check out the show at Tin Man Brewery before it closes May 17!

That event page again: https://www.facebook.com/events/691375340901638/

From the Wormwood Press release:

These digital paintings are inspired by photography from the abandoned Ukrainian city of Pripyat. Located 3km from the Chernobyl nuclear power facility, the city was evacuated three days after the 1986 accident. Pripyat is deep inside the 30km Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a highly contaminated area that remains uninhabitable 28 years later. The show’s title is drawn from Revelation 8:10-11, wherein a star, Wormwood, poisons a third of the fresh waters; Chernobyl is often reported to mean Wormwood in Russian.

Wilke’s Artist Statement gives more details on the Chernobyl catastrophe and describes the former Soviet Union’s construction of a temporary protective “sarcophagus” over the hazard, going on to describe the fragility of the under-maintained, under-funded structure and concluding:

Should the crumbling sarcophagus collapse prior to the completion of its replacement, the consequences could very well be greater than those of the initial accident.

Wilke ends on a somewhat upbeat, but ultimately ambiguous and haunting note, much like his images.

Wormwood: Life In The Zone is my attempt to draw attention to this situation. Inspired by photography from the abandoned Ukrainian city of Pripyat, located 3km from the Chernobyl nuclear power facility, these digital paintings on canvas, despite their somber inspiration and ominous namesake, continue in my vibrant and whimsical cartoon-inspired style and depict radiation suit-clad figures in a variety of amusing scenes. I hope you find these images fun, but also thought provoking. Should we fail to address the situation, we face the very real possibility of finding ourselves consigned to radiation suits ourselves.

Wilke also did a wonderful show called “All is Naut” in January 2014, right after my “God From the Machine” solo show in December. These both occurred before I started documenting art shows on my website, but I recently found a treasure trove of photos of both so I’ll be going back and doing featurettes on each of them soon.

Photos from the Big Lebowski in Little China movie mashup show

big lebowski and whats opera doc imagery combined in this fanciful paper sculpture

05/08/201405/07/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

As usual, please forgive my horrible digital shots. There are many more fantastic pieces in this show than what I have pictured here, it was painful to create just a sampling! But the show is still on, and if you want to see all the stunning pieces you gotta get down to PG Gallery and Cafe! Show ends May 17, 2014.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1424815697773134/

Incidentally, I wrote this post while drinking a White Russian.

Phonetasia I: Several months of a small child’s abstracts

05/04/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

I always save my little son’s phone doodles simply because they’re so bright and cheerful. My goal was eventually to make a big gallery of them so I could view at them all at once and enjoy the feast of random colors and shapes that emerged. (Kind of like Jodie Foster listening to washing machines in Contact.) After seeing the finished gallery, I actually think it would be fun to try a “redraw” of some of these sketches where I took an interesting form or idea from one of Paul’s pieces and then actually tried exploring it in one of my own drawings. I might try it!

With due credit to the original artist of course.

I’ll be making more “phonetasia” posts exploring the weird things you can do with various phone apps and filters. Paul’s art below was made using Kids Doodle.

Check out all the cool things I saw at Art in the Wild!

04/07/201404/07/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

From the adorable “pot o rocks” and cute sock critters to block prints and leather masks, Art in the Wild featured a whole gamut of creative beauty. Many of these artists and crafters will be at the Earth Day Art Crawl and I’m doing my best to get even more there! In the meantime, feel free to drool over these beautiful examples of local art:

Individual shots of the mandala, necklaces and flower print are the pieces I went home with. Sorry, you can’t have ’em! =D (Incidentally the cute white, pink and blue crocheted surface these items are resting on was created by my friend Jenny of Jenny’s Unique Crochet! It’s actually my favorite hat.)

Painted rocks: Erin Bowen
Leather masks and feathers: Courtney Hostetler/Nondecaffinated Art
Block prints: Stephanie Osborne/Little Lemon Press
Mandalas: Anitra Larae/MahjaMandalas
Upcycled jewelry: Jamie Gish-Bates/Silent Salvation
Sock critters: Jan Steinmark
Ceramics and Pottery: Cheyenne Knox
Glassblowing and metal jewelry: Andy Roques

The shot of my booth features Sandpaperdaisy Art’s plushie stars (a joint effort between myself and my wonderful friends Kim and Jay Williams) and my original prints and pinback buttons, as well as jewelry made by Kristy Spindler and Rebecca Trapp.

Pupienus’s Glove and The Art of Collective Mythmaking 2 at PG Gallery

03/18/201403/18/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

PG Gallery and Cafe has a new group show up! This is only some of the cool stuff in the show, many of the shots I took did not pan out or I couldn’t see the name clearly in order to credit the art. But here is a sampling of the awesome art of Collective Mythmaking II, including my completed collage “Kaguya Hime.” For the rest, well…you’ll just have to go! Show is up until April 18th.

WILKE, among the artists included here, has a new show Wormwood opening the evening of April 19th at the Tin Man Brewery. Many of the rest of us including myself, Stephanie Osborne and Christy Jochum will be at the Earth Day Art Crawl outdoor art sale earlier that day!

Amazing new work by Gary Logan Hobdy

Two lovers in motorcycle helmets painted in a graffiti style

02/22/201402/17/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

I hope you’ll excuse my horrible camera photos. These are a few of the pieces from Gary’s new solo show: “Too Much/Not too Much” at PG Gallery and Cafe. The show runs until March 15 so get on down there if you’re in the Evansville area! I’m not exaggerating when I call it an “amazing” show, but see for yourself…the following are a few pics Gary graciously allowed me to share from the show.

Gary runs MiLKSOP STUDiO and is pretty much phenomenal! I don’t know if you can tell much from my photos, but he uses various collage elements in his work like music sheets, labels and graphs, and I believe he achieves his impressive linework with ballpoint pen among other things. His bold lines and bright solid colors remind me of graffiti. At the same time, he treats his subjects with a great deal of sympathy in a way I honestly find beautiful and touching. (Hopefully that won’t piss him off.)

I’ll be featuring more great local artists and shows as I go to them. I had intended to do so before because there’s no dearth of talent in my modest little city, but I haven’t had the occasion until recently. As you’ll see, I’m incredibly fortunate to work with so many amazing people.

Red Museum is out in book form

02/01/201303/27/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

If you’ve ever looked in links section at the top of this site, you may have noticed Red Museum there. And if you ever checked it out, you saw some seriously awesome and horrifying comics and art by Ramiro Roman Jr.

If you haven’t checked it out before, you’re in for a treat. Dusk Comics is now selling the whole set of comics as a complete volume (minus HOLE). I highly recommend it to anyone interested in horror comics or just plain anyone into awesome art…there’s a reason I love this guy.

Red Museum for sale on Amazon

Red Museum for sale at Barnes & Noble

Courier and Press article about our DOOMSDAY show!

12/20/201203/29/2014 | sandpaperdaisy

TACO DOOM’s next group show is coming up this Friday, 12/21/2012 at Angel Mounds! Here‘s the article about it, featuring a couple of cool pieces of art that will be in the show!

I’ve got one piece in called “Fenris Devouring the Sun” and believe you me, the other pieces in the show are absolutely amazing. I didn’t even see all of the entries and I was completely blown away.

I’m planning to be there from about 6pm to 8pm but the show will be rocking until at least 10pm. So come on down for the fantastic art and the End of the World!!

Featured image is “Lord of Death” by my awesome buddy Stephanie Osbourne. See more of her cool stuff at Little Lemon Press (also one of my friend links).

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