May Instagram Fave - Hülya Özdemir

May 18, 2022

When I find an Instagram page where I can’t stop scrolling I feel I need to share! One painting after the other made me stop and smile.

Hülya Özdemir is a Turkish artist from Istanbul who creates incredibly colorful and full of pattern watercolor paintings. The whimsical and beautiful women she portrays have vivid personalities that are full of life. I love her mix of contrasting textures within each piece. The individuality of their expressions, color and various flora and fauna that surround them, gives them vibrant life.

You can see more here.

I am super inspired! Gotta go get my paints out.

Vibrant watercolor by Turkish designer Hulya Ozdemir. — © Hülya Özdemir

All images in this post are © Hülya Özdemir

Rosie McGuinness

June 29, 2019

Super beautiful fashion illustrations with patterns by Rosie McGuinness. I’m pretty obsessed. Click to see more.

Trend Forecaster Mirella Bruno →

March 25, 2019

Mirella has been my favorite trend forecaster to follow for many years now. Whenever I need a glimpse into what is going on and what is coming up in the trend world, I look to her incredible compositions. I could really scroll through them for hours and hours. She has the most incredible eye and her work is lush and vibrant, always telling a bold story. Here are a few examples—enjoy this feast for the eyes! See more of her wide scope of work here.

Artist Spotlight: Rafaela Mascaro

November 1, 2018

I found a bold print of the the Brazilian artist Rafaela Mascaro on Pinterest and had to investigate to see more. And oh boy, is there more! You know I’m drawn to bold and colorful art especially if it includes patterns and that is exactly what these are times 10. Click link above to see more from this versatile artist and click on images to purchase prints.

Currently Coveting

October 29, 2018

Here’s a little bit of my own inspiration for the week. I was really struck by this particular piece of art by Sally West. It has stayed in my mind for a few days now and I wanted to share. I think I’m most struck by how spare, yet bold the strokes are. It’s just a bunch of little blobs and smears of color on a canvas, yet you feel the brightness of a blue sky beach day immediately.

It makes me want to practice using fewer strokes for greater impact; a good creative challenge for the week!

Instagram Fave - @thegreaterbombay

September 9, 2017

Rachel Lopez, a journalist in Mumbai, has taken time to record her many rides in taxis with their colorful and kitschy ceilings. Under the Insta handle of @thegreaterbombay, you can savor all the delectable patterns that she captures. The wonderful contrast of her scarves and red-framed glasses with the ceilings just adds that extra vibrancy of mixed patterns that I love. Take the colorful ride with her and enjoy the sights.

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.56.02 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.47.13 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.46.09 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.48.40 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.46.34 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.46.57 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.49.15 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.48.09 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.48.23 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.48.54 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.47.52 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 7.56.13 AM.png

My Minted Mural

March 17, 2017

So exciting! The final cut of my Minted vignette is done. Take a peek inside my apartment, studio, and see where I get some of my creative inspiration.

Also hear what what Minted means to me, and about how rewarding it was working with them.

Click through to watch on Vimeo.

February Instagram Fave - Vanessa Amisano

February 9, 2017

I see lots of great things on Instagram and I follow tons of people, but Melbourne-based artist Vanessa Amisano's work really caught my eye. Her distinct style is vibrant and full of pattern which is of course, my jam.

I especially love her 100 girls project. I like how clean and simple her girls are yet also colorful and dynamic—each with a distinct style and personality. And their outfits! Don't you want to own these clothes?

Connecting with creative Instagram friends around the world is a wonderful thing that feeds my soul. Follow Vanessa's Instagram here. And check out her site for more in the coming weeks.

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.33.47 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.33.57 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.34.08 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.34.30 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.34.38 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.34.44 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.36.24 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-02-05 at 9.36.53 AM.png

2016 West Coast Craft Fair

November 12, 2016

My favorite fair of the year! Such a wonderfully curated event at Fort Mason in SF. It's on again tomorrow if you missed it today. Worth a look at some really beautifully-crafted art, clothing, home decor, jewelry and ceramics.

Here are just a few I enjoyed, out of hundreds of vendors. Click through to see more from the designers.

My hips don't lie

October 31, 2016

I have really been terrible about keeping up with posts lately and it's mainly because I took a break from everything while I recovered from hip replacement surgery. That's right, I am now bionic! I feel much too young to have gone through this, but it's a genetic thing and I've been needing a new one for a while. I'm excited to see what a pain-free life can bring me now. I love to walk outside for inspiration and I was greatly limited for a long while, but I will be back in action again very soon. In the meantime, I can post about a trip to a museum I made before the surgery.

I went to the teamLab interactive exhibit at the PACE Gallery in Menlo Park. It runs through December 18th of this year and is absolutely worth a trip if you are in the Bay Area. As stated on their website:

"teamLab, the renowned Japanese art collective, recognized for challenging and expanding the digital art making practice, and Pace Art + Technology will present Living Digital Space and Future Parks. The large-scale installation will invite participants of all ages to immerse themselves in the multi-room environments spanning 20,000ft² and showcasing 20 digital works."

It is pretty incredible and I could have stayed for hours. Take a look at these videos for a peek at what's in store if you can make it.

Crystal Universe

Flowers and People

Black Waves

Artist Spotlight: Bunnie Reiss

September 21, 2016

I love seeing art out in public spaces and especially when it is a creation by L.A. artist Bunnie Reiss. I discovered her vibrant art recently and right away had to have a piece of my very own (see gloves below). It makes me so happy to see them on my wall, as her artwork has all the elements I love, and some of which I incorporate in my own work. Decorative folk elements, check. Bright colors, check. Strange birds, check.

She not only paints amazing wallscapes, but also works with textiles, odd materials, creates installations, illustrations and more. See more of her work here on her site.

My very own pair of Animal Gloves! Sigh.

Artist Spotlight - Ugo Rondinone

July 1, 2016

I came across an image on Instagram of these colorful stacked rocks in the desert. Anything this bright is bound to catch my eye. After investigating a bit further, I found Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone's website and on it he says he has made his site-specific installation, Seven Magic Mountains, "a creative expression of human presence in the desert...that punctuates the Mojave with a poetic burst of form and color."

And that it does. It's hard to grasp the true scale in the photos, but these colorful boulders stand 30 feet high, which means the bottom rock alone, is taller than a person. Cool! They are located about 10 miles south of Las Vegas and are up for another year or so. Road trip anyone?

Watch a really cool video on how this installation came to be over a 5-year period HERE>

*All images are from Ugo Rondinone's website. Click through to see more.*

June Instagram Fave - LIVINGPATTERN

June 28, 2016

Wow! I love to see how people are influenced by nature and this feed by Jenny Kiker is full of lush botanicals along with the sketches and paintings they inspire. She is a botanical artist who started Living Pattern "to connect herself and her audience to the still delicateness of nature and to themselves." I feel like I'm breathing fresher air just looking at these!

Artist Spotlight - Steven Vasquez Lopez

June 3, 2016

Look at these cool plaid fabric swatches. But wait! They aren't fabric - they are pen and ink drawings. What!? Steven Vasquez Lopez's drawings are just unbelievably realistic. You can go see these up close for yourself at his group show at Hashimoto Contemporary Gallery in San Francisco that runs until June 25.

May Instagram Fave - Lily & Hopie Stockman

May 31, 2016

Made my May Instagram pick just under the wire this month! I just love Block Shop scarves and one of the sisters behind the company is Lily Stockman. I thoroughly enjoy her images of her colorful studio, paintings, her dog, and her travels. Take a look at her site and feed and enjoy!

And if you want a double dose of awesome images, her sister Hopie's feed is equally wonderful. If you love textiles, color and travel both feeds are worth a follow.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/lilystockman/

Peter Zimmerman Installation

May 4, 2016

I love these beautiful candy-colored floors of poured resin created by German artist Peter Zimmerman. The resin covers 1,400 square feet of floor at the Museum für Neue Kunst in Freiburg, Germany, where it complements his abstract art hanging on the walls above. Click here to read and see more on thisiscolossal.com.

© Peter Zimmerman Photographer: Bernhard Strauss

Peter Zimmerman All images: © Bernhard Strauss

Faded Beauty

April 23, 2016

I'm inspired by this editorial from Andréa Huelse Studio this week. Precious Forever is photographed by Erik Madigan Heck and styled by Leith Clark (who is also editor of Lula magazine). The ethereal quality of the work, as if they are trapped in a steamy greenhouse is so dreamy.

April Instagram Fave: Ana Montiel

April 14, 2016

It's been a while since I shared a favorite Instagrammer. I just love Ana's colorful, abstract artwork and bold patterns. Her feed, that is filled with vibrant shapes and color as well as wonderful inspirational photography is a joy to peruse.

You can see more of her artwork on her website here. and her Instagram feed here.

Katja of Sweden

April 5, 2016

I love that I am following in the steps of another Katja in textile design and I also love that her designs resonate so much with me—their bold patterns and bright colors really speak to my own design aesthetic.

Katja was born Karin Hallberg in Sweden, and later lived in NYC, where she went to Parsons School of Design. She created wonderful patterned fashions and later designed home textiles as well.

I didn't realize the connection before, but I have a picture of myself standing in front of a Katja Bedding display in the window of NYC Macy's. The picture was taken in the early 80s and I'm pointing to the large sign of her (and my) name in the window display. It was the first time I'd come across my name anywhere in the United States. I was very excited about it and now I know whose designs they were advertising! I later bought some of her towels and sheets for my dorm room in college. Funny to think of that now. I wish I could find that photo to share with you.

You can read some more about her here.