Rex Benson - Sculptor and Freelance Loafer

Naturally, I found Rex Benson at Etsy. That loafer reference is his. (I would never be so rude, even if it was true.) The crazy fired clay images below need no explanation (as if I could give one, anyway).

From his own profile:  "For more than thirty years, ceramic artist, Rex Benson, has been creating three dimensional clay cartoons. Each sculpture is handcrafted individually with colored clays and fired in an electric kiln to temperatures that would melt your face.

From Dragons on swings to Rastafarian Ducks, this endangered American artist combines handbuilding skills with a chronically twisted wit."

Each of these pieces is one of a kind. He'll repeat an image, but no two are ever the same.

I'm fond of dragons. My background is Welsh, and the dragon is the country's national symbol. I'm not sure about Rex's dragons, though. They seem a little frivolous - even mischievous. I can't imagine them embellishing a flag. I'm somewhat concerned about those wall faces, too. He calls them "Morning Faces". Hmm, has he been spying on me before I've put makeup on?

Joann Loftus and Whimsies Folksies Mixed Media at Etsy

Mixed Media is the most fun of all art, I think. Since we were kids, we've treasured tiny bits and pieces of things, and find ourselves looking at a minute collectible, an old but beautiful button, a vintage birthday card, a snippet of fabric, wondering how we can display it somewhere. Too tiny to frame, yes? It ends up in a scrapbook or a knickknack box. But mixed media artists don't hide anything away. Everything has a chance to shine. Give this artist an old newspaper, tissue, a tiny swatch of fabric, a feather, paint, glue, anything, really, and they'll turn it into art.

Joann Loftus does just that. She's not stuck in a rut with her style, either, producing both vintage and modern pieces, and dolls!  In looking at these wonderful images, don't overlook the fact that she's a brilliant painter in her own right, and the clever embellishment is incidental to that, in fact.

Go to Whimsies Folksies at Etsy to see a nice collection of her work, which includes the magical pendant pictured above. Joann also makes her work available as archival quality prints.

There's something for everyone here. I'm glad I found her this morning. Thanks, Joann.

Ginette Callaway at Etsy - Breathtaking...

Ginette Callaway's impressionist art is so breathtaking, I am almost lost for words. She works in most media - I especially love her water colors - but the last painting at the bottom is in oils, just to give you an indication of her scope. I'm so impressed by her use of color, the delicate imagery, that I simply had to feature her here today. Ginette is inspiring. What else can I say?

She has dozens of paintings to consider at her store, Ginette Creations at Etsy. Allow some time there. Grab a coffee first. Perhaps bring lunch as well. It could take a while.

And how about that owl?

Jackie Dives Collage at Etsy

Jackie Dives is multi-talented, dipping her toes into everything from acting to running art galleries in glorious Vancouver. She is highly creative and diverse in her interests - hence her current involvement with collage work.  Recognizing her restlessness when it comes to her passions, one can only wonder what she'll be working on in a couple of years.

These collages, not too complicated, but carefully considered, are mounted on solid wood bases or canvas panels, and are a tiny indication of her mind set. Mind set? Hang on. She really doesn't have one. She hops from subject to subject, oddly marrying the most unlikely images to produce quirky and collectable pieces. You have to take a look at her store because there are so many items, and I couldn't make up my mind which pieces to feature today.

Okay, I suspect Jackie is a bit of a nut-case. I, and - I'm guessing - those of you who enjoy visiting my little blog, wouldn't have her any other way. The world could use a lot more Jackies.

See the rest of her collage work (for now, at least) and certainly read her profile at Jackie Dive's shop at Etsy, Divesin. She certainly does.

Walking Quail at Etsy - Fairy Tale Art

I'm feeling a bit skittish today. I'm preparing for a big move, away from country isolation and the sweet sound of late-night Canadian trains, to warmer climes, where my cats can chase lizards. And so these paintings of artist, Walking Quail at Etsy (don't you just love it?), aka Terry Blair, are suitably light, frivolous, and essentially child-like. She'd be a perfect children's book illustrator. You know I have a weakness for this kind of work.

Because the state where she lives has a different kind of light, the colors in Terry's paintings are different, too. My own work from Australia was equally different from the ones I did here in Ontario. It's the position of that old sun.

I like all of these, but that goat would look particularly fine in a posh frame over the fireplace, if you have one, and especially if you're a Capricorn.  Interesting use of color and impressionist strokes here, cheekily punctuated by those tiny daisies. 

Check out more of Terry's work at Walking Quail's Trail at Etsy.  I have no other gossip about the artist, other than she loves animals and fairies. Well, as if we needed telling. Anyone can see that.

Selene's Painting a Day at Etsy - Dreamlike, beautiful images.

Selene is a magical and romantic painter who is accomplished in both oils and acrylics. With such variety in her work, it must be a constant novelty for her when she reaches for a fresh canvas. What will emerge today?  From dramatic mystical scenes, to fairy-like creatures, she captures the imagination, and has me thinking gentle, other-world thoughts as I study them. Dream a while with Selene, with these beautiful images.

You must read her profile at Selene's Daily Paint studio at Etsy. She'll lift you up and leave you smiling. Here's another painter who can write! She's probably musical, too...

Alan Moore Folk Art at Etsy

Well, here we are again, at the start of a brand New Year and Decade. Time to dust off earlier resolves and approach everything we do with enthusiastic optimism.

Alan Moore is an optimist. I know this just by looking at his art. Bright, joyfully colored, his paintings on recycled materials are cheerful and innocent. Who else would think of multi-hued alligators as subject matter?

Alan makes these comments at his shop:

"99% of what I create on is from recycled and salvaged stuff. Reused salvaged fence art from my older collections. I didn't sell the some of my fence art pieces so I chopped them up and reused them. Original art on sheet metal from the ole farm on Serenity Lane. I finish all my art with a fairly shiny coat of polycrylic stuff so it’s brighter-also for protection and durability.

Call it earth friendly if you want. Some of the paint I use is recycled too. I sign all the work on the back because I think names on the front of art are sometimes obnoxious. I choose to let my art tell who created it, not my signature. Also my handwriting is horrible."

Take a look at Alan Moore's shop at Etsy. Read his profile and his descriptions of the images.  He sounds like a thoughtful and interesting guy.

Oh, and Alan - have a happy birthday on Sunday! My timing with this feature was excellent, I think.

Happy, happy New Year, everyone! Don't make too many demands on yourself. Take it easy. Slip into this new decade with realistic goals, and just chip away at them, like a sculptor at a new block of stone that hides wonder within. Who knows what might emerge?