What can I say, I’m naturally drawn to
botanical abstract compositions. Of
course I can’t help but admire the beautiful vibrant work of San
Francisco-based artist Jennifer Garrido.
Some paintings are done in acrylic and oils on wood panels and some
watercolour ones are done on paper – lending them a more ethereal feel. Especially the way she uses neon paints alongside more opaque neutral colours creates an extraordinary striking effect – evoking the
experience of discovering unexpected botanical gems in the midst of some dim
garden corner.
Who knew, yet another Cape
Town-based artist making waves – or rather filling spaces which others wouldn’t
even consider spaces to be filled in – like vintage tennis- and badminton
rackets. Of course I couldn’t help but
be stunned by the impressionistic embroidery done by Danielle Clough. There is a vibrant and quirky air about the
way she uses the thickly textured and colourful yarn to stitch up these amazing
embroidered works of art. Personally,
I’m especially fond of the flower embroidered rackets, which just happen to be
so in tune with the current upcycled vintage trend.
I find it quite rare to come across an artist who inspires me
on both the sculptural as well as two-dimensional level. Liz Miller is such a rare artist whose mixed
media installations and drawings would inspire jewelry designers and abstract
artists alike. Her unique skill lies in
her ability to draw inspiration from (for example Baroque and Gothic) patterns,
then through the use of felt, foam and whatever tangible means alter and compose
them alongside simplified shapes to form almost out-of-this-world hybrid-like
environments. The relation between good
and evil also seems to be conveyed throughout her dramatic works, revealing the constant state of flux in perception.
Sometimes
an artist just shouldn’t put too much thought into what the observer’s
perception would be behind the so-called meaning of a given piece (whether it is suppose to have meaning or not). Especially if inspiration pops mainly from
botanical- and anatomical elements like flowers, leaves, mushrooms,
butterflies, and so on… who needs explanation then really? That is exactly the case of the whimsical and
sometimes somewhat bizarre pieces made by Lyndie Dourthe. She starts off by dyeing and hand-painting
some fabric and then she meticulously cuts it out to fashion ethereal like
flowers or leaves… or she sews it together into an object. These components can eventually become a necklace,
an anatomical study or a still life to display, to wear or just appreciate. For her, she says “the difference between
science and art is not that great – both can be poetry”.
