It was a water photo that drew me in, of course. A snow-covered rock up on Minnesota’s North Shore, sun peeking through icicles, wave movement, sea smoke, the gorgeous clouds of sunrise…Minneapolis photographer Scott Youmans captured magic in that moment, and shared it with us all. 

I first discovered an extraordinary artist, Erica Bradshaw, in a local coffeeshop (you can't be surprised!), Great Grounds Coffee. Her use of colors was not only beautiful, but made me want to stop and look more closely. Little did I know that when I explored her socials (especially her gorgeous instagram!), I would fall into an Alice-like rabbit hole of delight. 

When death leads to life, art is inevitable. And art, as creation, is a reflection of its creator. Brinston and his work consistently grapple with the revolution of death and life and death again. The cacophonous symphony of color and shape, rhythm and structure that compose his work is all at once chaotic and calm. Just as the artist himself is an amalgam of mania and peace. The composition of art and artist is indistinguishable... just as his art is an extension of himself, the artist has become an extension of his art. For the artist, art is valuable in its making life worth living.

From September 25th – October 30th, 2021, downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery proudly presents their next major solo show, entitled Monochrome, Apples and Animals, from Japanese oil painter Mayuka Yamamoto in the Main Gallery.

The minute I saw the art of Kippy Sage, I was entranced. There's a certain joie de vivre that glows from within her art; her creativity is extraordinary! Read on for more about Kippy, including inspiration, finding her art online, and a special project with the Smithsonian.

Without further ado, the words and art of Kippy Sage...

With a conceptual approach, Chinese-born and Oakland-based interdisciplinary artist Zhang Mengjiao, aka Jasmine’s work investigates social issues of “immigration” and explores questions pertinent to the autonomy behind being a woman of color, Chinese, artist, and human being. Her socially engaged art takes the form of photography, texts, painting, performance video, and sculptural installations.

This spring, Quirk Books published a book on my very favorite thing, by my very favorite writer. So imagine my happiness when I read Candace Rose Rardon's new book, Stuff Every Coffee Lover Should Know. Whether you're a coffee aficionado, or new to the game, this book is quite useful.

The internet is an incredible place. I first saw Melanie Whitson's art on facebook, in a Scotland group. Her clean, beautiful drawings truly capture the essence of place. My favorites? While they are all so evocative, her Leanach Cottage at Culloden has grasped my heart. I feel the wind blowing across the battlefield, smell the smoke and humanity, and remember moments of history, both large and small. 

Nora Martin Hall is a contemporary representational painter working primarily in oil paintings, and utilizes a wide range of techniques, from classical painting methods to photorealism, creating trippy, large-scale portraits and installations. Requiring thousands of hours of focused training and dedication to execute, she blends the innate need to be spontaneous and reckless, too.