In the Spotlight: Elizabeth Grubaugh at PATCH NYC

As a designer your day is full of running around either on job sites or scouting items for clients but for the last few months I have committed myself to spending one FULL day in the office. Let me just tell you it is heavenly. Not only am I checking items off my list but I am able to take a minute to open interesting promotional emails that come across my screen....instead of you know letting them build up with the hopes that I get back to it someday. Well today I am so happy to have been at my desk as the delightful guys at PATCH NYC just sent out their email blast where I was introduced to a wonderful new artist!

Elizabth Grubaugh's prints are prominently featured in Patch's store for their Open Studio series. I immediately fell in love with her use of bold colors and abstract florals. A bonus is that they are super affordable at $30 each unframed.

This is how Elizabeth describes her process "All my prints start as paintings first. I usually use Japanese sumi ink on water color paper. Then everything gets scanned, and I have fun trying lots of different color combinations."

 "Field of Daisies" is by far my favorite. The subtle hint of soft pink takes the boldness of the print down a notch and in doing so adds a delicate feel.

This is the print that first caught my attention, I love the "Sunshine Flowers" it exudes such happiness and I think it would be perfect in a little girls bedroom. A bit mature but also very fun, a print she could grow up with!


If you are in Boston pop on over to PATCH NYC in the South End to view many more pieces of Elizabeth's artwork. Not local? No worries you can visit her online at Dewey Howard or on Patch NYC website. Now I am off to order a Sunshine Flower for my own office, after all who could not use a little happiness while going through emails?

(images via Patch NYC and Dewey Howard)

In the Spotlight: Tracey Sylvester Harris

I first came across Tracey Sylvester Harris' work through a One Kings Lane sale (a favorite place to look for new artists), her paintings captured my attention to such a degree that I was compelled to investigate further! As I learned from the website her new collection is based on black and white images she collected from flea markets. Tracey takes these age old images and brings them into the modern day with colorful paint.This is a description from the website:

"Harris' paintings explore the relationship between the past and present, contrasting the manufactured images made popular through postcards and advertising to the authentic moments captured in snapshot photos from long forgotten holidays."

The below 3 paintings had me wondering what each of the subjects were thinking or daydreaming about. Were they leaving a long lost love on the train? Is the older woman reading a book to keep her mind alive and young? What is the young woman on the side of the pool gazing over the water thinking about? Each has a story to be told that only we the viewer will be able to interpret. This is what I love about art, it is unique to each of us!

 

"Blue Train"

 

"Enjoying the Journey"

"Deep Water"

Pop on over to Tracey Sylvester Harris website to see even more of her inspiring artwork! If you are in New England you can view her work at the Quidley and Company Galleries in Boston and Nantucket.

(images via T.S. Harris Website)