I realllllyyyy hope to one day use some of Richard Ahnert in a project. I would love to design a kids room around the Union Fox piece (the first one below), it’s such a killer piece, full of personality.     Richard’s work is so whimsical and his attention to detail is impeccable! We both used to be graphic designers so we’re obviously kindred spirits.   Let learn more about Richard Ahnert…   Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist? Yes, indeed. Always have been an artist. (don’t we all start that way?) A lifetime of various art studies and workshops surprisingly led me to become a graphic designer for a number of years. Eventually, I found my way back to pushing paint, and today it still remains my full time career.   As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved? You alway push yourself as an artist to discover new paths and methods. It doesn’t always work out, and rarely does it keep. The basics of my work have always remained the same however. Story telling. Keep the subject matter interesting to myself and that will translate onto others.   What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces? This, I entirely leave up to the viewer. I don’t believe in force feeding messages to art lovers. Take what you will from the art. As long as it creates dialogue and stimulates imagination.   Did you ever have insecurities with sharing your work? If so how did you get over that? Not really no. Literature is meant to be read, music heard, and art seen… Love it or hate, it makes no difference to me. Just thanks for looking!   Sometimes I come across a quote that speaks to my core so intensely I have to share it with others. Do you have a favourite quote that has touched you or pushed you in some way?  No particular quote, sticks throughout life as meaningful. They shift depending on where you are in life. But to play nicely: “It takes a long time to become young” ~Picasso   What’s been the toughest part about turning your passion/art into a business?  Honestly its been nothing but…

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Alice Zilberberg create beautiful images through photography and digital manipulation. As a former graphic designer, I have an affinity for this this type of art. The first work of hers I ever saw was her Oasis series. It became a fast favourite of mine. I recommend checking out her behind the scenes videos to get an inside look on the process, it’s incredible and mesmerizing. Let’s get to know Alice Zilberberg a bit more… Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist?I started painting when I was little, and I played around with photo-manipulation even before I picked up a camera. Once I experimented with photography, I saw that I was drawn to the surreal style that I can create with manipulating photography. I continued to work in a photo-digital fusion since then. As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved?There has definitely been an immense evolution in the work since the yearly years. I think it’s always evolving. The most recent work is more minimal than the older pieces, for example. I’ve also noticed a change in where my themes are derived from. When I was younger, I used to draw my ideas directly from information I learned from books, like folklore. I still do research on the theme I’m exploring but the original ideas are first derived more from personal experiences. My latest themes explore things like emotionality and the self. What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces? There are many messages, and every project is unique. Emotional intelligence is something that I’m exploring a lot lately, and I like to share that in my work. I think we live in a world where it’s beneficial to look inward. Did you ever have insecurities with sharing your work? If so how did you get over that?It’s always a guess how people will react to something. But it’s not something I think about much. I create what I want to create, and I definitely hope people connect to it. Sometimes it surprises me which images the audience connects to the most. Sometimes I come across a quote that speaks to my core so intensely I have to share it with others. Do you…

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At this point I have no idea how I find any of the artists I’ve grown to love. Which means, I can’t tell you how I came across the work of Peter Colbert. What I do know, is that that the featured piece above is the first piece I ever saw and loved back in October 2019 (I saved it to my “Art” board on Instagram).   I am very drawn to portrait and figurative art, and I find his pieces so interesting because many of his work is of the backs of his subjects. Are they walking away from something or towards something? “Everyone sees something different” he says, and he leaves that with you.   Let’s learn more about Peter Colbert…   Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist? I’ve been drawing since I was a tot… I was always an inveterate scribbler, and was always drawing. I chose to be an art director/illustrator out of a need to have a “real job” but have been a fine artist now for about 13 years. Being allowed to paint, with all the tools, and people who buy my art, is a revelation. So much fun.   As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved?  My art has pretty much stayed the same, with essentially the same loose style I’ve always had, naturally. I’ve always valued “instinctive” drawing, feeling that the first sketch I do has intrinsic value, the most feeling and flair. For example, I’ve always excelled at “gesture” drawing of the figure – the quick study where the model holds a pose for 1-2 minutes. The longer, more ponderous poses, with perfect skin tone and highlights in the eyes, bored me and seemed contrived and overdone. Same thing for any painting I do – it may take me some time to get it right, but I want it to look fresh, loose and full of personality.   What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces? Everyone sees something different in my paintings. Who knows what subconscious demons are working in my brain, with the experiences, joy and pain I’ve experienced?… you may see it in my art, you may not. I…

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I learned of Laura Campbell when I selected a print of hers through vintageprintgallery.com. I instantly fell in love with the abstract piece (the first one below) as if just felt so perfect for our new green living room.     Laura’s body of work is diverse and I specially love some of her mixed media!  Let’s get to know more about Laura Campbell…   Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist? I was always a dreamer and maker of things. Nature has always been the root of my art and I think it’s because my childhood was spent outside. The backyard was a blank canvas for my daydreaming and the trees gave me a sense of security. While I played outside my father worked in his garage tinkering away on cars and various house projects. He was always working with his hands and it gave me a front row seat to what it was like to remain dedicated to your work and seeing value in the process of creating something. Rather than rushing to the finish line I can appreciate the slowness and tap into the meditative nature of the process in any project.   As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved? As artists we must adapt and change or the evolution cannot happen. I committed to art in college after taking a course on art therapy, and from both a clinical and spiritual standpoint, my eyes were opened up to the value of making art. Creating art is healing and revealing and I learn a little more about myself every time I try to create something new. I received classical training in oil painting as a foundation and went on to explore so many different materials/mediums from glass and clay to literal garbage (recycled art!). All of the exploration has led me back to what is most important and, for me, it has always been nature. Currently my artwork is inspired by colors and textures found in nature as well as animals, shapes, and sounds.   What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces?  Stimulated, curious, calm, connected to themselves, open to what they might not understand, hopeful, dreamy, and maybe…

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I’m so excited to be launching our “Artist Spotlight” blog series, where we’ll be featuring two new artists each month. By now you probably know how much I love art. My father is a professional artist, so I know how important it is to support artists, as well as get to know a bit more about them and their craft.   Back in November, I went to a event hosted by Tara Gavin of On The Wall framing (a trade-only framing partner I work with regularly!), and she was featuring Lee Lessem‘s art. Her walls were filled with Lee’s art and they were absolutely stunning. Lee is not only talented, but also hilarious which made me love her even more. We were all lucky enough to leave with a limited edition print (the first one you see below). I’ve got a few places in mind for where this gorgeous piece will live in my home.    Let’s get to know Lee Lessem…   Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist?  ALWAYS 🙂 My parents were fond of telling the story of my first “creation” – barely able to stand, I found my older sister’s crayons and covered our bedroom wall with my “art”.   As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved? Born on a farm in Africa and surrounded by the majesty of natural beauty, from as far back as I can remember, painting has been something I simply HAD TO DO. Painting has also been an excellent medium for me to test the tension between the real and the abstract – what we perceive and that which truly exists. I am, and have always been, an abstract painter – constantly excited by everything that we all see but most often don’t notice. There is a delicate balance between fluidity and structure, softness and vitality, transparency and solidity, mystery and clarity in my art. The only “evolution” would be in perfecting my technique – my subject matter (NATURE in all its glory) has never changed.   What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces?  I hope to inspire people who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them…

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