Fine Art Friday - Part 1: whitneyj

My first feature for Fine Art Friday is an Etsy seller who creates wonderful collages. Whitneyj constructs them from magazine images and affixes them to wood, which creates an incredible earthy feel, despite the glitz and forced glamour of some of the images plucked from the pages of fashion magazines. I love that they are mounted on wood too. Something about that root element drives the message home.

My favorites are from a collection of collages that transforms images of women into a mother - nature hybrid. Back to basics, so to say. whitneyj speaks about her inspiration and process in her Etsy Profile: "Many of my images are pulled from fashion magazines where the female form has become a hanger for expensive uncomfortable clothing. Models are posed in objectifying ways that often remove any sense of strength and joy. Let's face it, women are art's muses. Why not celebrate our strength and beauty? My approach is to extract women from their constructed photo shoots and place them in an environment that is empowering and engaging. "

Very true... and it makes for such captivating work! Check out my favorites:

Check out this whole collection and perhaps buy a few of them. How cool would these all look right on a row on your living room walls?

Fine Art Friday - Part 1: jdegarmo

My first entry for Fine Art Fridays is jdegarmo. I was drawn to this shop for many reasons. I first noticed a painting entitled, "Contortionist" through a general Etsy search, and was immediately prompted to enter and poke around. The art filling the rest of the shop was equally visually appealing to me. I think I liked the expressions on the faces of the people. The color and detail also sucked me in.

Most paintings in the shop are 6"x 4" acrylic on paper, and are framed and matted in a fantastic deep Black frame, which is an excellent finishing touch, as it makes the piece ready for you! All you have to do is hang it up! There are also a few paintings on canvas and wood that are very awe - striking.

jdegarmo states that he injects his "awkward sense of humor into the images whenever possible," which is apparent in several slightly twisted pieces, including a slightly sadistic twist on Willy Wonka...entitled, "Five Scrumdiddliumptious Youths", which I would buy in a heartbeat had I the funds!!

Here are a few of my favorites:

I especially like the second painting, titled, "Say Uncle". I had a nightmare once about that giant white rabbit from the skittles commercial. He was singing and trying to eat my stomach. I climbed up on the roof to get away from him but that punk rabbit jumped up after me. Anyway, I painted a squirrel caught in the act of decapitating that rabbit, which made me feel a lot better.

I digress... visit jdegramo and buy your favorite one!