Fran Caldwell at Home - Original Art

The Delightful Mixed Media Art of Jennifer Kerr at Etsy

2009-11-13T09:30:00.005-05:00

Jennifer Kerr is a mixed media artist of some note. From delicately sensitive to dramatic and thought-provoking, each painting speaks directly to us. They are on those lovely chunky canvases that can be placed anywhere, perfect for the images she produces. You'll find yourself staring into them, as there is so much more here than just pretty pictures. When I find someone like Jennifer, I think, "Where have you been? How come I didn't spot you earlier?" But I've found her now. Enjoy.

Take a peek at her store, Jennifer Kerr at Etsy. Her prices are reasonable and she is totally collectible.

The gorgeous girl above I have named Gladys. She is a thank-you gift from Debra at Monnie Bean Art for featuring her recently. She's huge - a foot high! - and looks great on my desk. Well, I think Gladys says it all about the mood I'm in today. Happy, optimistic, a little bit mischievous, and also, considering all the hair rollers and the makeup, looking forward to a hot time tonight.

Thank you, thank you, Debra. I'll treasure her.

Have a lovely weekend, all of you. Hope you have a hot time tonight, too...

Writer and Artist SarahBeth Purcell Really Needs Our Help

2009-11-06T08:54:00.008-05:00

I featured SarahBeth Purcell on my writing blog some time back. She is a young published writer of enormous talent, who deals with heart-rending emotional issues that many of us wouldn't have the courage to tackle. Her books are available at Amazon, and their page alone is so worth reading.

But SarahBeth, like me, also paints. She's going through a rough time right now, and in desperation is offering big discounts on her paintings, in a last ditch effort to raise some cash to save her beloved cat's life.

It takes humility and guts for her to reach out like this, but she has been coping with huge expense because of her ailing baby, Willow Fern, for months, even selling her car, but she's now run out of funds. Another book is in the works, but won't bear fruit for ages. (We all know about that part of the business.) She has nowhere else to turn but to her followers and kindhearted strangers. Now, perhaps you don't know SarahBeth, but I do. She would never ask for help like this unless she was at her wit's end. This lady is normally donating time and money to other animal care agencies.

If you're in a position to help, please go to SarahBeth's art page and check out her paintings. They are usually quite pricey, but she's now offering the largest at $100, and the price goes down relative to size. This is not only a great opportunity to own a piece of highly-collectible art, but to do some real good.

Alternatively, as sensitive, caring people - and don't most artists and writers fit this category? -consider donating a small amount of $5, $10 or $20 to help her through this. The cost of healing her cat once and for all, using a specialized Radioactive IodineTherapy, is around $1500. Seventy-five people donating $20 each would cover this. Anyway, this is my route. $20 is small change these days - coffee and muffins for a very few guys at the office, a paperback, whatever. And if $20 is too much, consider $5 or $10. SarahBeth and Willow Fern will be so grateful.

Like SarahBeth, I have no modesty when it comes to helping animals. And this animal is part of the family - our collective art and writing family. Please try to help.

You can purchase SarahBeth's art, or donate, paying through PayPal (citing her email address), or arrange an alternative method by emailing SarahBeth here.

I'd like to think that we all could expect support from our fellow blogger friends if we were in a similar situation. This is a reminder that we are all in this together, and should never be shy about reaching out for help when we need it.

Have a good weekend guys. See you next week, when this blog will be exactly one year old.

And this is sweet Willow Fern. Convince me, after looking into her little face, that you aren't able to help.

The Charming Country Folk Art of Claynfaye at Etsy

2009-10-30T08:30:00.003-04:00

If you're not yet in the right mood for the season, take a look at these images from the clever hand of Claynfaye at Etsy. Faye involves herself with much more than conventional painting, but I like my choices today because they simply cry out "Fall!" don't they? There are no witches or hobgoblins, no pumpkins in sight, yet I feel the crispness of the air - not too cold, but just right, and I can smell cinnamon and apples, and pastry fresh from the oven. There's apple cider spicily mulling on the stove, cats curled up in front of the fire, and dogs on the chairs. All this just from looking at these paintings.

I imagine the artist living in a saltbox house similar to the ones she paints, way out in the country, with lots of craft collectibles around, gingham fabrics, pine cones in a bowl. Of course, she could live in a loft in Uptown Manhattan, but the magic would be the same, wouldn't it? Ah, Americana, I love you.

Get into the spirit of this autumnal season and check out Claynfaye at Etsy for more of Faye's wonderful pictures. My mood is lifted just by having this talented artist here today.

Have a spooky and rewarding Halloween! (But stay warm and safe.)

Be extra wary of witches in tandem...double trouble.

Impressionist American West Landscapes from FoustArt at Etsy

2009-10-23T08:12:00.002-04:00

As a change from my more whimsical images of recent weeks, I'm presenting a young artist from Missouri, who produces sweeping impressionist vistas of the American West. Foust is also a photographer of some merit, but it's his colorful paintings I'm featuring today.

Dramatic, passionate, confident, colorful, or wonderfully serene, these paintings lend themselves to countless descriptive tags. I think we'll be hearing a lot more from Foust. See his other paintings and his photography at FoustArt at Etsy.

Have a lovely weekend. The blaze of fall color is at its most vivid here, although the wind has been busy blowing a lot of the leaves away. Halloween weather, isn't it? Next week, guys...

The Magical Myxie Sculptures of Caralyn Edwards at Mystic Reflections at Etsy

2009-10-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

I featured the weird and wonderful sculpted Myxie creatures by youthful talent, Caralyn Edwards of Mystic Reflections at Etsy, back in June. Caralyn never stops creating, it seems, with many more at her site, and these are just a few of her latest.

The thing that I find so captivating about these little figures is the illusion that they are alive. You almost hear them breathing their little breaths, sighing little sighs, and giggling a lot. Of course, if you asked Caralyn, she'd probably smile mysteriously and look at you blankly. "What illusion?" she might ask.

Go check out these fantastical creatures at Mystic Reflections at Etsy.

Have a wonderful weekend and be careful where you tread - there could be Myxies about... It's that kind of season.

Donna Lacey Derstine - Americana Fine Artist

2009-10-09T08:50:00.001-04:00

I don't know how I came across Donna Lacey Derstine's lovely paintings - probably delivered to me via Google. However they arrived, I'm proud to show them here.

If I could wave a magic wand, this is how I would paint. As it is, I can't, and must simply sit and gaze in awe at her evocative images. There aren't many artists producing this kind of work, particularly the Colonial-themed folk art, although her impressionist landscapes are equally delightful. She will be passionately collected, mark my words.

You can see a huge display of her work at Donna Lacey Derstine. Isn't this kind of art perfect for the season? Thank you, Donna.

Have a wonderful fall weekend, everyone. If you're up my way, stay warm.

Roz's Whimsical Fine Art - Drunken Cows at Etsy

2009-10-02T15:49:00.009-04:00

Roz is a fine artist with a whimsical view. She paints everything - kids, landscapes, fish, cows, cowboys, roosters, and on and on. I imagine her getting up each morning daydreaming about the subject of the day. How does she decide? I've featured just a few here, but there are dozens of others to be seen at both her Etsy store and her blog.

I'm very fond of this cowboy. Look at her use of color and light, and the dramatic brushwork - such command of her craft. Check Roz out - grab a coffee and prepare to spend a bit of time looking - at Drunken Cows at Etsy . Congratulations, Roz. You deserve your success!

Have a lovely fall weekend. I don't mind the rain and chilly winds up here. It's perfect weather for beginning both hybernation and the hockey season. Go Leafs!

Amin Saffar - progressive metal guitarist, and Debra, from Monnie Bean Folk Art

2009-09-25T07:40:00.010-04:00

I've never featured a musician before. No doubt the following will come as somewhat of a surprise, but I found young rock guitarist, Amin Saffar, at Putiton.com, which is a new art site.

If you're always looking for yet another online venue for your art, INCLUDING music, film and fashion, register with them. It's free, very polished, and full of talent. Art is art, whatever the form, and I'm proud to find Amin so early in his career.

Amin loves 'progressive metal' according to his bio, but this particular track, 'Glasgow Kiss', has a distinctly jazz feel to me, and I love the 'bagpipe' riffs at the end. I've certainly never been a metal fan, but I guess you can always open your mind to new things. Amin is hot, and his bassist (his brother, Armin - yep, almost the same name) and drummer are no slouches either.

Check this new group out at Amin Saffar at PutItOn. Leave comments on his page. He'd love that. Let your hair down. It's Friday.

My Etsy artist today is Debra from Monnie Bean Folk Art who produces these amazing folk pieces. Think early primitive - the sort of art that's usually only seen in museums - when you check out Debra's work. She's clever, hugely imaginative, and has retained the outlook of a child, which brings freshness and humor to everything she makes. Along with her art work, she has a very funny way with words, which you'll see in her descriptions. You'll find paintings at her site, but I especially love her funky dolls.

Oh, I so like having this kind of art on my blog.

Well, it's fall again. Another week or so and we'll be tightly closing those windows at night, pulling out the heavy-duty comforters. With the first sniff of chill in the air, something strange happened to me this week. I suddenly have this huge urge to knit a sweater. I haven't knitted in years, although I'm very good at it, but that craft was swamped by a need to crochet for a couple of years, and then I went back to my painting. Knitting just fell by the wayside. Now, out of the blue, I'm actively looking for just the right yarn and pattern. I know exactly what I want. I'm itching to start. I'll keep you posted. It's another form of art, isn't it? I might even show it here as a work-in-progress...

Have a good one. Dry out Georgia.

Subversive Stitchers and Studio Arts Quilt Associates

2009-09-18T09:13:00.008-04:00

The following works of art are one foot square quilts, brilliant fabric collages by individual artists. I found them being auctioned at Studio Arts Quilt Associates and you can find many more there. Most are sold, but the SAQA will undoubtedly lead you to a particular artist, if you're interested in a similar piece.

I worked in fabric for some years, producing impressive hangings which I still have, as not one sold. The problem was, of course, that they took hours and hours to make, and the price I placed on my time was out of reach for most people. But they are heirlooms of the future, for my family to do with as they wish one day. Perhaps they'll have huge value. Anyone looking at the stunning work below can understand how that might happen.

I found details of this auction originally at Subversive Stitchers, which is a charming quilters' blog, with lots of lovely links if you're a fabric maven.

Have a great weekend. See you next week.

Postalguarelas at Etsy

2009-09-11T08:30:00.000-04:00

Paulo J. Mendes is a charming Portuguese watercolorist at Etsy. The delicate colors and amazing detail in these small paintings reveal an artist who loves where he lives and the people and animals that he meets every day. I had a hard time deciding which ones to feature because he has so many to choose from. I hope you like my choices.

I feel as if I've been to this wonderful part of the world after looking at these. It's warm here, of course, and the food is wonderful. The people are welcoming and friendly. You probably stay up a bit later than you do at home, sitting outside, talking, sipping Quinta do Noval. It's all in these paintings, isn't it?

See many more at Postalguarelas at Etsy.

Alex Clark's English Whimsy

2009-09-04T08:30:00.002-04:00

Those of you who have been following my posts know that I usually feature artists who might benefit from a little more publicity, even from as modest a source as my blog. A lot of these clever people over the last year were found at Etsy, but occasionally at other art sites. Our economy is such that things can be awfully slow for creative endeavors, and I simply like to do my bit for those struggling to find recognition.

But when I found Alex Clark's wonderful prints as I browsed yet another English gift shop during my vacation, I knew I had to share her with you. Self-taught, she struggled and made it. We all need that kind of inspiration. I fell in love with her mood with this particular greeting card range. Alex is a loving, warm, funny human being, who thinks she chooses her subjects. However, it's obvious that they chose her to represent their antics, and that she had little say in it, other than to cleverly wield her brushes and pens.

England (as if you didn't know) loves nostalgia, things evocative of hearth and home. Their much-loved classic TV commercials for Bisto Gravy, Hovis Bread, Ovaltine, and Birds Eye custard, along with others, genuinely create a sense of coziness, security and well-being. These ads are downright schmaltzy, but they've been working for years. You can't wait to get home on a winter's eve.

Alex Clark must have grown up with this advertising genre. Me too. And so I present this charming artist in anticipation of fall, with its snuggling-at-home, apple-pie-in-the-oven, hot-chocolate-around-the-kitchen-table yumminess. Alex produces serious classical art too, but these are the images that really appeal to me, especially at this time of the year. Looking at them, I just want to get home.

I'm sorry I can't reproduce these in a larger size, but you can zoom, right?

Her website is undergoing construction, but should be available in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know when. Along with her huge variety of prints in various sizes, I believe there are one or two originals still available, and I can't wait to find out more about those.

Have a lovely long weekend making your wistful farewells to summer. Almost time to break out the crocheted throw for the back of the sofa.

Gintare Bruzas at Etsy

2009-08-03T10:23:00.009-04:00

Artist Gintare Bruzas paints various subjects, but today I'm featuring her portraits. Soulful, brooding, mysterious, these lovely faces have a classical feel to them, as if from one of the early Spanish masters.

I find myself going back, and back again, to study these faces. There is a great depth of emotion in each, and the writer in me wants to write a story about all of them. Gintare also paints the occasional landscape and still lifes, and she produces colorful and whimsical illustrations. Do check out her store. She has prints available if the pocket book is a bit thin.

Kyata of Caterpillar at Etsy

2009-07-23T06:58:00.015-04:00

Kyata of Caterpillar at Etsy really likes pigs. The following are an unusual assortment, from towel holders to canvas totes. I fancy pigs, too, (but never to eat, vegetarian that I am) so these please me. Along with the whimsical work, she also produces serious impressionist paintings which are worthy of the best galleries. Poor Kyata must be like me, always torn between the fun stuff and the serious. You'll find Kyata at Caterpillar at Etsy.

Benedetta generously awarded me The Uber Amazing Blog Award which is a blog award given to sites that:
Inspire you, make you smile and laugh, give amazing information, are a great read, have a wonderful design, or any other reasons that make them super.

The rules of this award are: * Put the logo on your blog or post. * Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing! * Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. * Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

I pass along this award to these five Uber Amazing Bloggers:

Kate at The Holdfast Seeker
Kit Courtney Writes
Karen Fields
Gumball Grenade at Fables and Foxes
Bella Rustica

It should go without saying that we are busy people, and also that some blogs look better clean and uncluttered, so it's understandable if you prefer not to accept the award, and not pass it on. We all understand. But be aware that you are appreciated.

Thank you for thinking of me, Benedetta.

Have a great, lazy weekend.

Lady Bug Circus at Etsy, and Me

2009-07-17T09:30:00.001-04:00

Lady Bug Circus is a neat place to visit. This innovative artist uses recyled tin, soda cans, anything she can get her hands on, and cuts out images, then collages them to plywood to make unique pictures. The one below of the stressed bears is just one example. The dark blurb at her store about these teddies is worth the read, but not for the gentle-hearted, and definitely not for very little kids.

The delightful birdies here, flying around your living room eventually, it's hoped, are equally fun. They are not toys! We must always emphasize this when describing decorative art. I find them charming, and I'm sure my cats would agree too.

These are yet more examples of artwork that you're unlikely to find anywhere else. One of a kind has never been truer. Go check out her other creations at Lady Bug Circus at Etsy.

I sold one of my paintings last week. This is such a novelty for me - things have been very slow - that I thought I'd announce it. One of my lovely customers from a couple of years back chased me down through Google (I'm no longer selling on eBay, which is where we originally had dealings) and pounced on me out of the blue. She wanted to order a couple of custom pieces, which I can't handle until the fall and she's happy with that, but then she dug around and found my work on Etsy, and - voila! - she bought Spring Fair.

To replace the fair painting at Etsy, I've now listed "Stay Very, Very Still", which I'd offered some time back, but felt it should be unveiled again. And it doesn't hurt to remind you that I do still offer my paintings there for sale. Sometimes I almost forget that myself.

Last, I found this really funny video at another blog yesterday, and have shamelessly 'borrowed' it to get you in the mood for the weekend. Do, do, open the link and enjoy Evian Babies.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Vusova's Fairy Tale Watercolors at Etsy

2009-07-10T11:05:00.007-04:00

Victoria Usova is a fantastic watercolor artist at Etsy, producing fairy tale scenes, magical settings and creatures, in the most beautiful and delicate colors. With so much available at her store, I had a difficult time deciding what to feature here today. Go ahead and 'Ooh...' and 'Aah...' over these little gems - I certainly did.

Victoria is now a New Yorker, but much-travelled, and I believe that's reflected in her work - a sort of other-worldliness that comes from having seen many different landscapes. Oh, and my favorite creatures here? The Sheep!

I'm so proud to have these lovely paintings here today. In a very introspective mood of late (blame it on my soon-to-be-over novel-in-progress), I was quite restored by these lovely pictures this morning. Thank you for sharing your beautiful imagination, Victoria. I think everyone will agree these are a perfect choice for Whimsy Friday.

This girl is prolific, and you'll find something for everyone at her store -
Vusova at Etsy. Grab an original now before this artist becomes really famous.

Have a fantastical and dreamy weekend!

Rene's Clay Things at Etsy - humorous ceramic sculptures

2009-07-03T07:32:00.008-04:00

Rene's Clay Things at Etsy are more than worthy of Whimsy Friday. These little nonsenses will make you smile. I guess Rene smiles a lot, especially while she's sculpting them. This artist has worked in all media, but 'loves the mud', as she puts it, creating these delightful, colorful ceramics. And, yes, Dorothy, she's from Kansas.

Go to Rene's Clay Things at Etsy for more of her work. (But fancy calling this work...it's playtime every day for this clever artist, surely.)

Have a great July 4th holiday!

Kirby at Etsy - Vintage-Look Art

2009-07-01T10:02:00.011-04:00

I've painted figures similar to these at times, enjoying the dramatic jolt of color on the plain backgrounds. The artist, Kirby, is also a costume designer, and her skill is evident here. These are detailed and finely-painted little statements about another age, of more innocent times, and Kirby manages to convince us they might have been painted in that earlier era. At the same time, they are contemporary in their simplicity and would look equally good in both a modern or classical interior.

Check out Kirby at Etsy for other original paintings and an array of prints. Kirby also operates a vintage clothing site, and you'll find a link to it there.

Oh, and Happy Canada Day! Eh?

Pop Art Cafe at Etsy - Wendy Presseisen's Americana Folk Art

2009-06-29T08:00:00.004-04:00

Wendy Presseisen is my kind of artist, producing classic Americana folk art. I'd give a lot to be able paint images like these. They perfectly capture Colonial nostalgia, a North America the way it was reflected by roving artists in more innocent times. Check out the price of antique paintings in this style, and you'll be amazed at the prices they command. Perhaps we can't afford museum quality antiques, but Wendy guarantees we can have the next best thing with these lovely paintings.

Oh, and she does amazing cats, too, so I had to have some here.

Although I listed Wendy at my Great Sites to Visit months ago, it seems I never featured her, which is strange. I apologize for that. Check out Wendy's work at Pop Art Cafe at Etsy

Goodbye, Michael...

2009-06-26T08:52:00.003-04:00

Luvs2Paint at Etsy - Gentle Paintings from Nature

2009-06-24T10:00:00.004-04:00

Brenda Thour Luvs2Paint at Etsy and is an artist who works in both oils and water colors, taking delightful themes from nature, including birds and wild animals. She is a romantic, I think, considering her soft and gentle approach to brush work and subjects. There is such a sense of peace in these paintings.

Brenda sells a variety of art, other than the originals I'm featuring today. Below is an example of her exquisite pendants:

I'm delighted to feature her here today. I'm now totally relaxed and ready to face the world. Thanks, Brenda. You are, incidentally, the 101st artist to appear on this page.

100 Artists Featured to Date - Wonders of Whimsy

2009-06-22T09:56:00.008-04:00

According to my calculation, I've profiled exactly 100 artists at this site since I started my blog last November. They are all listed in the left sidebar under Great Sites to Visit, spilling down the page, all of them talented, joyful, and superbly optimistic.

Here's just one of mine from way back, 'Gallery Opening', which is fitting for today, I think.

During my own hiatus from painting while I got back to writing, finding other artists whose work inspires me has been a delightful exercise. I've used Etsy a lot for my research, but other sites, too. The cute thing is that I'll often find an artist on, say, ArtFlock, or ArtWanted, only to find they have an Etsy store as well. I think, once this recession is over, Etsy is going to prove the most successful with an explosion of sales for artists. During this time, people are still looking, as you know. They mark you as a favorite, or scribble your shop ID down, knowing they'll be back eventually.

I suppose some of you dream of being in a high-end gallery. Nice to have someone else promote your work, and bring in the customers. Etsy is a bit like that - it's just that there are so darned many of us taking up wall space! But I love them all, however crowded it is.

There are auction sites, of course, but there it's usually difficult to receive proper compensation for all your talent and hours spent on each work. So, I guess this is a plug for Etsy. If you want to know the truth, the camaraderie there is what I appreciate most, sales or not.

And, to celebrate the 100th artist feature, I'm going to show a current piece from the list, every Monday, starting with the very first - Jenny of Wonders of Whimsy. Jenny uses much of her sales revenue to finance her cat rescue scheme, which you can read about on her site.

I don't talk about my writing at this site, since I began my separate writing blog, but I need to tell you - because it's huge! I have an agent!

On Saturday I received an email from England offering representation for my novel, Hafan Deg. I've been querying agents for it since February. Needless to say, I've been over the moon all weekend, and only just came in to land this morning.

I did the art for the cover of my book as it appears on my website and writing blog. Now I'm wondering if I might actually use this, when/if my agent secures a publisher (nothing's certain in the writing journey). It would be so nice to have both sides of my creative self reflected in one book.

See you Wednesday.

Michelle Rae Schafer's folk art dolls at the Studio at Crowhaven Farm

2009-06-19T12:08:00.007-04:00

Michelle Rae Schafer is another oddball artist from Etsy. I find so many of these lovely, weird and wonderful people there. No one should be offended by my description, because it's simply an indication of their child-like glee, the cheeky eccentricity that they bring to the world.

These quirky dolls (which are not toys, of course) are part of Michelle's 'Gossip Girls' series. They are hand-sculpted out of polymer clay, with movable arms and legs. They're hand-decorated, then receive numerous layers of acrylic paint, which, in turn, is crackled and antiqued, finally sealed with double coats of glaze for added protection. The skirts are hand sewn and dyed in coffee for that authentic vintage folk art doll look. Each is approximately 7 inches high.

Whimsy Friday just wouldn't be the same without people like Michelle. Go check her out at The Studio at Crowhaven Farm at Etsy. Don't forget to find the link to her blog there, too. It's brimming with all kinds of interesting bits and bobs. (But be prepared to stay for a while. There's a huge amount to look at.)

Have a great weekend. If you can - if you're so privileged - give your Dad a hug.

Cathy o'Riginals at Etsy

2009-06-17T13:28:00.008-04:00

Cathy O. Lewis is an artist who mostly devotes herself to fabric art, although her work sometimes includes regular paintings, paper collage - even digital art. It was difficult for me to choose items from her store to feature today, but, as a fabric collage artist myself for a number of years, I appreciate the huge amount of time that goes into these - certainly far more hours than is indicated by her pricing. Along with these delightful wall hangings, I've included a charming ACEO paper collage, because it's so cute, and two of her angel dolls.

I wish it were possible to show the detail in these wonderful textured hangings. All of you who quilt conventionally will immediately recognize the amount of work in each one.

Cathy is no stranger to the various diseases that plague the world these days, particularly in her own family, and produces these custom-made awareness-colored angel dolls. A percentage of sales for these dolls goes to each cause they represent. Go to Cathy o'Riginals at Etsy to get the full details of these and her other artwork. While you're there, marvel at Cathy's own journey.

Donna David's textured art - The Invitation at Etsy

2009-06-15T12:27:00.010-04:00

Donna David is a painter who incorporates a huge amount of texture in her classical work - in fact, she says the textures are essential to her tactile art. In order to appreciate her methods, you must read the individual descriptions of her paintings, and definitely see her profile, which is poetry in itself. I wasn't surprised, reading it, that she finally revealed that she's also a writer. Writing is visual too, of course, and painting is telling a story. One is a complement to the other.

I wish it were possible for my blog to allow magnification. The textures here are so amazing, and my images don't do the work justice, but I think you get a sense of how impressive her art is. See Donna's store, The Invitation at Etsy, and get to know her better.

Jessica Simanowski's wonderful, whimsical art at Etsy

2009-06-12T14:47:00.006-04:00

Look at these amazing paintings by Jessica Simanowski at Etsy. Is this whimsy, or what? Not only does she mesmerize us with her incredible subjects, but she then bowls us over with her exquisite colors and technique. As an artist, I recognize how much time goes into each of these pieces - such detail! To fully appreciate her, you must read the little stories that accompany each artwork. She's a true story teller, as well as being an exciting artist.

There are many, many examples of her work at Jessica Simanowski at Etsy. She's also (of course, she is!) a fabric designer, and has another Etsy shop where she sells fabric creations. But, on this Whimsy Friday, I can't think of a more joyful way to end the week than with these amusing, highly-entertaining paintings.

Have an amusing, highly-entertaining weekend! Watch out for pink and blue elephants.