Notable Artist // Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo de Rivera (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter best known for her self-portraits. I'd vaguely heard of Kahlo before, and until I had a better insight into her life I wasn't able to fully appreciate her beautifully tragic paintings. She must have had to endured a severe amount of physical and emotional pain in order to create such paintings.

Themes of extreme emotional pain and passion were more often than not evoked through her works, but her unequivocal, carefree nature was such an inspiration to me. It takes a great deal of courage to transform personal pains into art, and has always been an admirable trait in my eyes. Though she remained unaware of the fact that anyone could relate to the chaotic thoughts and feelings aroused in her paintings, it is these artists who have such a powerful impact on others. The movie based on her life, Frida, is an inspirational and intimate look into the beautifully tormented story and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about her.

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a few of Kahlo's quotes:

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.”

“I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.”

“I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.”

Notable Artist // Kseniya Simonova

Kseniya Simonova took first place in Ukraine's Got Talent series with her breathtaking sand animation performance piece. After watching this in one of my classes tonight, I wanted to share it with anyone who hasn't seen it. See a video of one of Kseniya's past performance under the cut.

Notable Artist // Bri Emery

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Bri is a California based graphic designer and art director for Rue Magazine. She comes off as such an enthusiastic and hilariously rad kinda lady who could surely b r i g h t e n up anyone's day! Bri has an impeccable eye for fashion, too. The above are just a few of her many wonderful designs. You can visit her blog here, and her style column here. 

3 words to describe her design aesthetic:

xx. happy blogging :)

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a bit more:

- an interview with bri

- her pinterest page

- her blogshop blogger classes (more under the cut)

Notable Artist: Kris Trappeniers

Kris Trappeniers is a paper sculpture/stencil artist who currently resides in Belgium. When I first noticed one of her pieces I found it refreshing to find art work that was so unique and original. Her approach incorporates unusual mediums and it's hard to believe that most of them were solely constructed out of paper. The tiny details and intricacies are beautifully put together.

Notable Photographer // Rafa Castells

I first noticed Rafa Castells photography on the blog Too Much Chocolate, ran by Jake Stangel. The blog mostly features up-and-coming, fine art and avant-garde photographers. Upon reading the individual interviews, you're able to get a sense of each photographers lifestyle, and what drives their passion for the work they produce.

What stood out to me in Castells photographs was his ability to shoot raw, simple, everyday subject matters, and how he highlights the beauty in a less than interesting scene or backdrop. I find his photographs to be more of a documentation of his life. By not only keeping, but highlighting imperfections, his work can be quite intimate as well. You're able get a strong sense of who Castells is through his photographs if you pay close attention to the subtle details he incorporates.

One of Castells main subject matters is that of his girlfriend Alba, whose unique features adds a sense of depth and emotion to the images he captures, and the look in her eyes he freezes in time. Together, Rafa and Alba seem to have a rare sort of relationship that evokes a profoundly tender and cherished  connection through his photographs.

Tragic Girls with Dusty Dresses

KT Smail is a Scottis illustrator who holds an art degree in illustration from Edinburgh College of Art. She currently resides in New York City, where she continues to draw tragic girls with broken hearts, faraway lovers and dusty dresses.

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I love art with underlining themes of emotional sadness and distress. I can identify myself, as I am a someone who tends to feel everything very deeply.

(source) 

On Seeing Spots

This handmade painting by Tom Judd is available to purchase from Anthropologie, I found it while browsing through the website and thought it was just darling.A 

Notable Photographer // Scott Schuman

Scott Schuman is a fashion photographer who you may know as the man behind the well known blog, The Sartorialist.  His blog is an eclectic collection of trend setters and fashionistas roaming the streets of New York City, Paris, Madrid and other big cities around the world. See more of his work below.

Notable Artist // Audrey Kawasaki

Audrey Kawasaki is a Los Angeles based artist. She has a way of creating oil paintings that are seemingly straight out of  a dream, consisting of beautifully innocent, yet erotic + disturbing undertones. She studied fine arts at the Pratt Institute in Brookly, NY for 2 years. She ended up taking a leave of absents prior to the completion of her degree, but hasn't stopped perusing her artistic endeavors. 

Flickr Pick: Many Small Guesses

I came across this flickr through tumblr a while back. I bookmarked it right away because I so adored the illustration, drawings and the thoughtful notes. Above were a few of my favorites.

(illustration credit @ Mia Nolting)

Notable Photographer // Jamie Beck

Jamie is a New York based photographer. She has the ability to capture some of the most stunning photographs I've seen, and you can tell from the photographs above that she's just as stunning.

Beck's photographs are very feminine overall, and have a rare eloquence that sets them apart from other photographers works. She also creates cinemagraphs (gifs) that incorporate the same graceful allure. On her tumblr, fromme-toyou, it's noted that she collects vintage cameras, old typewriters and still uses film on occasion! I'd recommend her blog to any aspiring photographer, as she has inspired me in many ways. It's not everyday you come across such gorgeous photographs + blog entries such as Jamie's.

Below are a some of my favorite photographs of hers.

Jamie, thank you for showing us a glimse of the world through your eyes.

All photo credit @ Jamie Beck.