I like

this painting by Marie Kazalia, and this website in general. Check it out.

Reasons why I'm quitting my job to be an artist

I read in the NY Times yesterday that several contemporary works set price records at a recent Phillips de Pury & Company auction. In fact, in one evening they sold $117 million in contemporary art. Hmmmm.

$63 million

Andy Warhol's "Men in Her Life" (1962)

Image via Art Market Monitor

$6.8 million

Takashi Murakami's "Miss KO1" (1997)

Image via MSNBC

$2.9 million

Maurizio Cattelan's "Charlie" (2003)

Image via Flickr

$4.5 million

Felix Gonzalez-Torres's "Untitled (Portrait of Marcel Brient)" (2003)

Image via IExpo2010

$3.6 million

Thomas Schutte's "Grosse Geist No. 15"

Image via Fadwebsite.com

Why Didn't I Think of This

I had a big "Why Didn't I Think of That" moment this weekend. I swear that SOMETIMES all it takes to be a famous artist is a good idea and not necessarily talent in the classical sense. But I repeat, SOMETIMES. Anyway, this weekend my mom came in town which gave me the impetus I needed to figure out what to do with this huge blank canvas (literally) I've had hanging on my wall for months. I had it there hoping that the idea would come, but alas, no good ideas so I resorted to copying someone else's good idea. Then there it was.... WHY didn't I think of this!

Atlanta artist Scott Ingram's series of nail polish paintings is my latest idea to blatantly copy (for personal use!!). It's economical, easy and really great looking.

Image via Apartment Therapy

Cover of Atl Homes and Lifestyles

A Room by Suzanne Kasler

I'm half way through my own version, and it's looking pretty darn good. I'm great at dripping finger nail polish!

I sort of don't feel bad about copying Ingram's idea in my own house. Because Morris Louis's did kind of have this idea years ago (minus nail polish)...

FYI Art News

Peter Doig's “Reflection (What Does Your Soul Look Like)” sold at Christie's auction for $10.1 million on Tuesday. It's interesting that this painting sold for much more than it was thought to be worth, while a Basquiat and Warhol fell way short at the same auction. I actually really like this painting. YOU?

Image via NY Times

Was looking for some portraits and stumbled upon these by Vincenzo Rizzo on Etsy. They are really inexpensive, and I think that one resting on a console or mantel would look cool. Or I may just come off as a total creep.

Very cool art posters

ArtRiver has such a great selection of grown-up, so not dorm room art posters.

Sugar Ray Robinson by Jean-Michel Basquiat

November 1954 by Clyfford Still

Betty by Gerhard Richter

Delian by Cy Twombly

1951-D by Clyfford Still

Untitled Ross Bleckner

I'm sure it's fate

So today when I was walking around my neighborhood, I noticed a house for sale that I liked. For really no reason at all, I decided to look it up. Lo and behold, this house has my favorite horse triptich in REAL LIFE. Amazing.

Images from Atlanta Fine Homes

I like...

If I ever decide to change my room around (possibly if I move apartments in September...) I think this would look cool over my bed. The painting by Carolyn Holman is called Rainbow Meadow #3 and is for sale at Sundance (art work, who knew?). The canvas is actually a wood panel that Holman then layers with beeswax, resin crystals, and pigment, all blended with a blow torch. I think this little bit of color would look great in my otherwise neutral bedroom.

The Crevasse

I know you probably have gotten the email with the sidewalk painting about 10 times by now, but I still am mesmerized looking at this.

Georgia on my mind

Evening Star, No. III by Georgia O'Keeffe at MOMA. 

I'll just ride on the coattails

The best part of going to SCAD was the other students.  This is a student's senior project and it is pretty amazing.  Go here for "the making of."

More art

I think it is safe to say that I would do just about anything to own this art. Lord Denver's Prize Horse "Aditoc" (Triptich) at Tonic Home. Love love love.

Ugallery Landscapes

I'm feeling landscapes.  Well-priced, landscapes by students, actually.  All from UGallery.com.

6th Street Tower by Greg Byers, Brooks Institute, $400

Roman Ruins by Logan Cason, University of North Carolina Charlotte, $150

New Orleans, LA 2009 by Matthew Maruca, $100

Persistence by Cameron Justice, New York University, $80

Jerry by Michael George, New York University, $85

Red Cars by Ben Jerabek, University of South Carolina, $75

tungl by J. Nicholas Corich, Truman State University, $320

The Outsiders

There is a lot of discussion in the art world about outsider art and its value.  I personally think outsider art reminds us the importance of any kind of art.  These outsider artists do not have any predisposition to being an artist and usually lack any exposure to art, yet somehow know that they have to create art.  It shows that art is a force more powerful than just the people involved.  Here are some of my favorites:

Scott Griffin

Jesse Howard, famous for his handmade yard signs.

Madge Gill From Wikipedia: She claimed to be guided by a spirit she called "Myrninerest" (my inner rest) and often signed her works in this name.

Harry

Lee Godie

Autistic artist Gregory Blackstock

Henry Darger worked as a janitor in Chicago and his works were discovered after his death.

Annie Tolliver (daughter of Mose Tolliver, probably the most famous artist of this style)

Help wanted.

During my Guggenheim visit a few months ago, I bought this to go in our BORING living room above the couch (beige, of course).  Now its just sitting on the ground, because its a weird shape and I can't decide what type of frame would work best... BUT I really like it.

I think I'm really having the trouble with the framing, because I recently saw this in your DIY Magazine and can't stop thinking about it.  I just don't necessarily think it would work for this type of art...really neat/different idea though.  

GoGo

I first heard of Gogo Jewelry years ago from my friends from South Georgia and people with ties to St. Simons, GA. Turns out, they were on to something, because Gogo Jewelry is going to be on display at the High Museum of Art sometime in November (more to come when I know more, I'm so excited!) I wish I had bought some of her work when it was less expensive.

The owner, Gogo Ferguson, makes her jewelry out of anything from seemingly odd material such as rattlesnake jawbones and ribs, alligator scute (apparently part of the skin) to real starfish. She casts them in 14k gold or silver to preserve the fragile item.

Rattlesnake ribs

Rattlesnake ribs

Alligator scute