Squeakie Stone's Southern Folk Art

My friend, Squeakie Stone, from South Carolina, was featured here a while back. At that time, his paintings were scattered around several online sites, and I found it difficult to find them all, so that posting of mine didn't show the sheer variety of his work. (There's that word "work" again, but it's not work for Squeakie; it's play-time every day. He just loves what he does.)

I'm happy to announce that Squeakie has his own website now - and just look what I found - absolutely the best of his art - from cotton pickers, tobacco croppers, flower ladies, houses, chickens, boats, landscapes, and on and on. He works in so many different subjects that it's still impossible to show them all here, but at least I'm able to give you a taste of his style, from Naive to Impressionist.














One day soon, I intend to go visit Squeakie down South. Of all of the artists I've met online, he is the one I find most fascinating. He only discovered his talent in 2002, giving up his day job just two years ago. Since then he has painted hundreds of pictures and is able to make a simple living at his art - something a lot of us aspire to. His work is still affordable - I say still because eventually this has to change.

Go check out his site at Spring Gully Folk Art.

You won't find any miniatures, 8x10s, or even 12x16s at his site. His canvases are big, averaging 24 inches square and up. Just so you know...

Reclaim2Fame at Etsy

Okay folks, hang on - it's Whimsy Friday.

I know sculptor Will of Reclaim2Fame at Etsy must be a bit of a nut case, but what a charming nut he is! He's been involved in some aspect of art all of his life (like me), more recently concentrating on recycling materials. Describing himself as a well-seasoned artist (like me - and what a nice adjective), he has tried a lot of things over the years, from interior design, to mural painting, to running design stores where everything was made with 80% recycled materials. Years later, Will is still passionate about reclamation art. I love his kind of imagination, and always have.








I can imagine Will, pondering over a pile of old metalwork, candlesticks, coffee pots, old drills, widgets and gizmoes on his workbench, suddenly saying "Eureka!" And a new piece of art is born.

These sculptures are quirky, but intricate. Your friends will be knocked out by them, I promise. Of course, as I said, Will is a bit of a nut, but he uses a lot of those in his work anyway, so I guess it rubs off. But, wow, does he ever enjoy his artistic gift - his sense of fun just jumps right out at you.

Go take a look at all of his startling sculptures at Reclaim2Fame at Etsy. Oh, and Will's Mom has quite a lot of recycled things of her own in the store. She's a senior, should be sitting back with her feet up, but - of course - she's not. She's Will's mother, after all. Where do you think he got his drive from?

Have a great weekend, art lovers. It's going to be warm here. Perhaps I'll see some flowers waking up and stretching.

Wayne French at Brushspace

As a child, I lived on the South Coast of England, and, later in Australia in both New South Wales and Queensland, I was always near the sea. I tell people it's in my blood - whatever that means. One of the things I miss most, here in Ontario, is the absence of the ocean, substituting lakes as my watery muse. So finding Wayne French at Brushspace was wonderful for me this morning, knowing the North Coast of New South Wales where he lives (in fact, using it in my novel, Hafan Deg), and almost able to smell the brine as I look at his images.







Wayne's canvases are large - very large - and I can imagine how amazing they would be on a wall in my home. It would be like a window to the warmth, something to help me get through some of the more miserable days of a Canadian winter. As I've said before, not all winter days here are bleak, not when the sun shines and the snow is crunchy underfoot. But on those slushy, gray days - that's when I need one of Wayne's evocative paintings.

If you find his colors and images somewhat larger than life (an ocean is an ocean is an ocean, right?), I assure you they're not. Australia has a different light, the colors more vivid, a different drama. Its seascapes (and landscapes) can take your breath away.

You can find Wayne at Brushspace, or check out his web site here.

And don't feel sorry for me near the many lakes of Ontario. Glorious Spring is just a few days away...

Suzy Taylor of Vegaslammy at Etsy

If Suzy Taylor drew her pictures with fine pens and Indian ink, or used black acrylic paints and the finest brushes to produce her work, I would be very impressed. There is such a wealth of detail and accuracy in her artwork, and they are remarkable pieces, each one unique and original. When I tell you that this work is produced from cutting paper and applying it to a mounting board, I think you'll be astounded. How does she do this? How can her hand be so steady? How long do these take to do? How many have to be scrapped because of a slip of her knife?

Here is her own description of the process:

My folk art-inspired papercuttings are entirely handcut (no diecuts or lasercuts!) by me from a single piece of paper. They are mounted on Canson, bright white, acid free base board (0.6mm thickness) with archival permanence.

Suzy is a newbie at Etsy, where her work caught my eye because it is so like those wonderful Medieval woodcuts used in early printing - not so much William Blake, who concentrated more on the human form, but something like this one of Early London -

William Caxton introduced the printing press in 1476. This woodcut is of London, from Caxton's Chronicles of England, and printed in 1497 by Caxton's successor.
© Museum of London

Suzy produces all kinds of art, and this one is just her current passion. Check her out at Vegaslammy at Etsy. Oh, darn, now I have to buy one! (I am not an artaholic... I am not an artaholic...)

Oh, this a postscript. EtsyVeg featured an interview with me today. I am very excited about this. Take a look at it here.

Robin Pocisk, Robin's Art at Etsy

Robin Pocisk has an impressive variety of original artwork at her store at Etsy.

She is an abstract/impressionist painter, with a graphic arts background, but there is a folk quality to much of her work as well, and her color use is fantastic. I had a difficult time this morning choosing the pieces to feature today, so I'm presenting my favorites. I am particularly drawn to the first two paintings of the stores. I love buildings in art, straight on, full focus - in fact, I've painted a couple similar to these myself.

Robin's an almost-neighbor, living here in Ontario. I like featuring local talent.





This pairing above is actually two paintings, for sale separately (but discounted if you buy the pair).



And finally, this lovely painting of lilacs. I can smell them, can't you? (It won't be long now...)

For a large and varied collection of original paintings, go to Robin's Art at Etsy. I'm glad I found her.

Divine Images at Etsy

Divine Images is a store at Etsy operated by a brilliant artist working in the realm of digitally-altered images. I am so naive about this kind of work that I needed to run my description by her, before posting this today. She takes various images - her own art, old photographs, illustrations, and scans them into her computer's photographic program and manipulates them into these stunning prints. If this description is in any way not true of her process, I apologize, but it's complex work, and I am somewhat in awe of it. You can get more technical detail at her store. The resulting pieces are a mix of fantasy, romance, mystery, and pure classicism and the colors are amazing.

This work can be found at Divine Images at Etsy. The store name is an understatement.








This is the first time I've featured digitally-altered art. It impresses me because it obviously involves other mental processes than we conventional painters use. I find the work fascinating, and believe you will, too. Some of her pieces are mounted in a layered, almost three-dimensional form, which I am too inept to describe properly, but which you'll see at her store. I'm sure the artist will be happy to answer your questions, or to discuss any commission work you have in mind.

Award for Jenny Carter, Alley Cat Rescue

Whimsy Friday, yes? So, who better to write about today than Jenny Carter of Wonders of Whimsy. I featured Jenny's work some time ago. She's a multi-talented artist and designer, with a passion for unwanted cats.

I can't describe how moved I am by her work with feral cats. Jenny feeds them in the alley behind her home, and then, over time (and with luck), she traps them and takes them to the vet, where they are spayed or neutered, and given their shots, and then she releases them back at their 'home alley', aware that they would be unhappy, for the most part, with a more comfortable, but captive life. Most of this expense she covers herself, although she does get some donations towards the work, but I can't believe it's enough to cover it all.

We need more Jennies. This is a small token for a modest woman with a huge heart. My little award is not fancy, but made with love. The art is by Tanya Bond, whom I featured on Wednesday and who has approved my use of it. I find it sweet that the name "Bond" so easily describes what Jenny tries to do with those little urchin cats each day.

Here is the award:



You'll find out more about Jenny's work with homeless cats at - Alley Cat Rescue. Perhaps you'll be moved to offer a dollar or two towards her work. In fact, she has a little raffle going on at her sites right now, although I know that's not the reason you'd help her, but it's a little fun.

Also check out The Wonders of Whimsy, where you'll also find a link to her third blog, Art by Jenny. Last, you'll find her Etsy store at Hand Made By Jenny at Etsy.

Of course, if Jenny is happy with this, she can hand out this award to anyone she feels deserve it, whatever their cause. But the original intention was to acknowledge all those wonderful people out there who selflessly concern themselves with the welfare of animals.