I heart art: The Summer Project

Want summer nostalgia without the sunburn and sand in hard-to-reach-places? Then feast your eyes on the dreamy art of Samantha R. Sano. The Dallas-based graphic designer returned to painting this summer and appropriately named her effort The Summer Project. Through the venture, she wanted to "escape the hustle and bustle for a while to take a deep breath, get reinspired before fall, drink lots of iced tea and jump feet first into the deep end."

So if you're not living in Phoenix where it's pretty much summer year-round (Yeah, it's still 100 at the end of September), then you should probably snatch up one of these incredible pieces.

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Check out more lust-worthy art here.

I heart art: Jonas Gerard

My latest art crush is courtesy of Jonas Gerard. The North Carolina-based artist is self-taught (there's hope for us amateur painters yet) and creates visually arresting abstract pieces using amazing color combos and pretty detailing. 

As if it isn't enough that his painting skills are off-the-charts-crazy good, he also works in mixed media and sculpture. Watch this interview where he explains his process and how he loves to paint to music (me, too). Now, to begin saving my pennies for one of his small pieces. A girl can dream, right?

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Check out Jonas getting down during a live paint at Artizen Fine Arts Gallery in Dallas. He looks so happy!

Find more heart-worthy art here.

365 days of color

Keeping that resolution to get organized in 2011 just got a lot prettier thanks to Michelle Armas.

The Atlanta painter, graphic designer and branding expert's Antonia Calendar is the perfect addition to art-starved walls or desks. And after the year is finished, cut off the calendar portion and frame the print.

If you're looking to spend a little more cash, Armas creates colorful masterpieces that look like they could just burst off the wall. 

Check out her blog and an interview she did with Little Paper Planes. 

Wise Math

Zena

Capri

Marbles

Madeline

  

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Five for Friday: The art of inspiration

I've been inspired to paint lately. And these beauties have a lot to do with the reignited passion to create with a paintbrush and canvas.

1. Vanessa Briggs: Sunset 03

2. Matthew Heller: Homage to Music #7, Against All Odds

3. Laura Trevey: Girlie Girl

4. Kate Long Stevenson: The Mirror

5. Jamie Shelman: Untitled

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All in the name

HomeGoods definitely delivered the goods and Hobby Lobby should think about calling itself "Lobby of Amazingly Cool Ish." These two stores produced some fabulous finds this past weekend.

We went to Hobby Lobby on Saturday on the recommendation of my cousin who basically lived at the store when she resided in Kansas. And now I can see why. They have everything from fabric to ribbon to model rocket kits [Bruce was smitten] to furniture. Think a combo of Jo-Ann's, Michaels and HomeGoods on craft store steroids.

The objective at the Hob Lob was to get a knob for the revamped coffee table.  Mission accomplished.

 

 I also snagged a few other project goodies:

My search for a reasonably-priced framed bulletin board came to an end Saturday. This beauty was originally $39.99, but marked down to $13.60 because of two small holes in the cork. Hello! I'm going to cover it up with pictures, words and other assorted inspirational items anyway. So I had to snatch it up. I'm thinking of painting the frame and covering the cork board with fabric or pretty paper. Stay tuned.

You can never have too many mason jars in my opinion. They are good for vases, votive holders, trinket catchers or just on their own.

I have an idea for a project in the master bedroom that includes stencils on a huge canvas for over the bed. And there's nothing better than Helvetica.

The final and most-needed purchase was this sectional frame for a print of my favorite painting I bought at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art almost two years ago. The print is an odd size at 24x24, and we had no luck finding a regular frame in stores. I was resigned to the fact it may need to be custom framed, which is a pretty penny. I had my Modest Mouse concert poster done at Michaels, and while they did a great job, it set me back almost $200. With a coupon.

Enter Hob Lob's sectional frames. They sell length and width sizes seperately, so I got four 24-inch pieces for about $12 total. Granted it doesn't come with glass, but I can always have Home Depot cut some later.

And now Richard Diebenkorn's Berkeley #57 has a proper place on the wall. A lot of my color inspiration for the living room came from this amazing piece of art.

And let's not forget the object of my obsession: HomeGoods. Each time I go there, I have to restrain myself from buying the entire store. Most of their stuff is super cute and the prices can't be beat. I like to think of it as the step-sister or long-lost cousin of Pottery Barn, West Elm and Crate & Barrel.

Here's a sneak peak at my latest HG acquisition:

Is it Christmas, yet?

 

These are a few lovely items I've had my eye on for so long they now warrant a post. The "Live What You Love" picture was a special edition print from the talented artist Hijirik. You can find the newest edition with a red heart here. 

 It's no secret I have a soft spot for all things chevron/zigzag. So when I came across this beauty for that price, it shot to the top of "my next-big-purchase-list" for the townhouse. Soon, you will adorn our living room floor.

File this circle credenza under "probably never going to live in our home." For a price tag of around a few thousand dollars, it's not remotely in my grasp right now. A girl can keep dreaming, right? The circled-doors make such a statement, though. They give just the right amount of punch to the otherwise simple piece.

This on-trend garden stool was in my grasp and, sadly, I let her get away. Hopefully, she'll be at the HomeGoods where I found her next time I visit the smart-priced decor mecca. 

I <3 everything about this painting from Jamie Shelman. The colors are amazing and it is the perfect size for the massive focal wall in our living room.