Category: ‘A’ for Art

  • Scientific Botanical Prints

    Scientific Botanical Prints

    Would it really be surprising that someone as fond of pink as I am would also be fond of flowers? Even the less girly among us can appreciate a good bloom, no?

    A few people, in writing about my keynote at BlogPodium, noted that I had dressed to match my blog. My branding. The truth is that I’m just consistent in what I like. My blog matches my clothes, my home… even down to some of the book on my shelves. For example, here are two of my favorites.

    The Rose: An Illustrated History, and more recently, The Art of Instruction. My dog rose print is the same one featured on the latter’s cover.

    I designed two themes for Making it Lovely, and if you’re on the default “Lovely” theme, you’ll see an abundance of flowers in the background. Even if you choose to view the blog in “Minimal” mode, you’ll still see my custom floral illustrations in the header. As much as I love a good, clean site with a true minimal aesthetic, it’s just not me. The flowers (and colors and patterns) I use aren’t part of a larger, calculated move on my part to reflect my branding (though it works as one), I just like them. Simple as that.

    I saw that a flash shopping site was selling framed botanical prints a few weeks ago. I had enough credits to cover the cost, so I bought one. They’re no longer available on that site, but they can be found (unframed) at The Evolution Store.

    I would have loved to hang two prints over the sofa (like this), but the picture rail in my living room doesn’t leave enough clearance.

    These prints are huge. I love the scale of mine, but I don’t know if that corner of my living room is interesting enough to warrant art of that size. Something feels a bit off too, between the print, the plant, and the vase on the other side of the TV. I’m going to leave things as they are for a while to see if I get used to the print’s (rather commanding) presence, but I may play around with the placement. It’s beautiful though; I’m glad to have it.

  • Chromatic Typewriter

    Chromatic Typewriter

    Amazing! This is a conceptual piece by artist. Tyree Callahan, who modified a typewriter by replacing the keys with pads of color.

    p.s. Check out another artist’s take on a different ‘type’ of typewriter art.

    [via Collossal]

  • Paint-by-Numbers, Giant Wall Mural Inspiration

    Paint-by-Numbers, Giant Wall Mural Inspiration

    I’ve painted original murals before for my nephews, but it’s been a while. These giant paint-by-numbers murals have me inspired though, maybe enough to actually commit to making one! It might be something fun to do in the play room area of the basement.

    – Camp Wandawega

    – Camp Wandawega

    – Curtis Robertson

    – Camp Collective for Etsy

    – Scott and Cheryl White

    I don’t think it would be difficult, but it would be incredibly time-consuming. Here’s a peek at the process…

    – Curtis Robertson

    – Cabin Collective

    – Cabin Collective

    A crazy amount of work. I think the results are just the right amount of cheesy goodness though! You like? Or are they too cheesy for you?

  • Batanica Caps Poster

    Batanica Caps Poster



    Beautiful. Illustrator Sasha Prood has launched a new print shop, which includes the hand-lettered Batanica Caps Poster you see above. The letters are also available as a non-keyable font.

    You can see more of Sasha’s work in her portfolio too.

  • Jere Urchin vs. Nova Starburst

    Jere Urchin vs. Nova Starburst

    What do you think about these? The original C. Jere Urchin sculpture has been reissued and is available through Jonathan Adler. The other is called Nova Starburst, but appears to be heavily influenced by the Jere Urchin. I like both and was considering the less expensive set for my office, but I’m not sure.

    So, “inspired by” or “knockoff of?” And does it matter to you?

  • Will We Have Rainbows, Day After Day? (Free Printable)

    Will We Have Rainbows, Day After Day? (Free Printable)

    My Grandma Rose sang when she was happy, and it wasn’t until years later that I realized most of the songs she sang were by Doris Day. Que Sera, Sera was one of her favorites.

    I thought it would make a sweet print for Eleanor, though I did take a little liberty with the lyrics. Doris asks her mother, “Will I be pretty, will I be rich?”, and she asks her sweetheart the line about rainbows. I transposed them because I thought it was better for a little girl’s room that way, and the fact that I could make “RAINBOWS” in rainbow colors may have swayed me a little too.

    You may download and print this PDF for your own personal use. The file is 8″x10″, so it will print nicely on a sheet of paper. I used card stock and a white wooden frame from Target.

    I’d love to see it if you put this print in your own home too!