Minted: Wall Art for Awesome Babies

I don't know about you, but when Spring rolls around I get antsy for change. Not major life-changing change, but aesthetic change. I'm happy to banish the grey skies and cold temperatures for a brighter and sunnier point of view which, for me, translates to adding more color to my life and my living space. Occasionally this means I put some sort of bright color in my hair but more often it means I buy art.

Maybe it's the art school kid in me but I am a bit of an art junkie. I give myself a small monthly budget for buying art from independent artists which means I spend way too much time trolling the web for budget friendly originals and prints from relatively unknown artists. Over the last year I've found that Minted has an ever-growing selection of outstanding art prints available in a variety of sizes, prices and color options. Some of them are even customizable and make great gifts! Plus, they are all created by Minted's infamous global community of designers! (Of which, I am lucky enough to be one.)

A color that has really grabbed my attention lately is pink, but not super sweet pastel pink. I'm really digging bright pinks, especially when paired with darker, sophisticated colors. While I am not inclined to base a room in my (temporary, sigh) home around pink but I am an equal opportunity color appreciator so I still have fun designing the "idea." Using Minted's groovy new inspiration board builder tool, I've matched up some pink-ish prints to curate a collection that is both sweet AND smart yet doesn't scream "Princess Party." This is the kind of art that would be perfect for a baby girl's room yet is adult enough to "grow up" as she does. Shoot, she may even take them to her future dorm room!

Colorful Girl collection of art from Minted

Pinterest: the new hotness

I am in love!

I first discovered Pinterest through some link jumping via Inspired Bride where I ended up on Maddy Hague's Pinterest page. What I love about this site is that I no longer have to save images I like to my computer in order to reference them again. With Pinterest I'll always have them and be able to figure out where they are from!

Whoever created this site is brilliant and deserves a high-five.

You can see my pins here and apply for your own account.

Inspiration: Charley Harper

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I only wish I the same sensibility for color, shape and composition!

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He's funny too! (I had that original Nokia cell phone!)
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Inspiration: Dog Food?

I had to share this great Pedigree ad with you! It makes me happy just to watch it (over and over).



Thanks to Linda & Harriett for pointing it out! (I love my feed reader)

Inspiration: Gina Triplett

I absolutely love Gina Triplett's work. I couldn't tell you exactly why, it's just a feeling. Joy in color. Animals. Dynamic composition. Love! I only wish I could do this kind of thing though I would settle for owning it.

I bought this print through Thumbtack Press in an 8"x10" and have it hanging on the wall by the dining room table. I only wish I could afford more in larger sizes!!

Here is a print of hers nicely translated to fleece blanket format for sale through Urban Outfitters for the low price of $32!

Inspiration: Ron von Dongen

These black and white flower portraits are gorgeous. I adore his sensitivity to subtle texture and his strong compositions.


It doesn't end there! He works in color too!



Love, love, love!

[Photographs by Ron von Dongen, found via Design You Trust]

Inspiration: Bunting Flags

I occasionally will surf the millions of great wedding blogs out there in the blogosphere for a boost of inspiration. I stumbled upon a cake with tiny little bunting flags draped around it and fell in love. I got so excited to create a design using bunting flags that I forgot to note exactly where I saw the picture. I did find a few more inspiring examples to share with you.

What a sweet way decorate for a garden wedding and reception!

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I had a ton of fun creating this invitation poster design and it's now for sale in my shop. Enjoy!
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Inspiration: Jermaine Rogers

Jermaine Rogers is known for his rock posters. He's done an incredible amount of show posters for more bands than I could list. What I love about them, aside from the semi-creepy nature, is the great use of color. It's almost acidic but the strong blacks and whites help to balance out the "neon-ness."

I've had a hard time finding good images to post but here are some. Check his site for more.

[Summer]

[I Am Not Lost ...]

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I saw a print of this at the gallery I used to work at and planned on buying it. When I returned the show was gone. I really, really wish I had been a little faster to get back and purchase it!
In the future with my big bucks ...

Inspiration: David Altmejd

David Altmejd is a Canadian sculpture (installation?) artist that I discovered on my art major trip to New York City in 2004. While I enjoyed seeing the classics, no trip to New York is complete without visiting the hip galleries full of artists who are still alive! No one moved me as much as David Altmejd did.

"Altmejd is known for creating works which set up a duality between a geometric architectural space and more figurative material, manifest in his well known platform-like sculptures housing a glittering cabinet of curiosities . . . Altmejd's sculptures are always in a state of becoming. Mirrored, spiraling staircases are a visual metaphor of infinity and the seemingly growing clusters of crystals and mirrored cubes, hair, and stalactite epoxy clay all work to picture a sculpture in a constant state of change." -Andrea Rosen Gallery

The Glass Walker

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The Settlers

Yes, his work is grotesque but not gory. I like that. It's not conventional, it's not "pretty" and easy to look at. It's hairy and decayed but also sparkly and organic. It's about death and life and the cycle of decay and growth. The micro and macro elements provide interest from all angles and distances and his work is absolutely fascinating in person.

Altmejd "allows the viewer to bypass the need for a simple intellectual explanation and allows him or her to instead become a visceral participant in the construction of worlds that much like our own are forever a mystery, infinite in their ability to change, generous in meaning - a world of glittering growth and sublime decay"
-Andrea Rosen Gallery

I think I spent two hours looking at this installation and would spend another three if I had the chance!