“floodplain studio” is now “the micromentalist”

I know, I know, when it comes to branding and marketing I shouldn’t change things like this, but this name more accurately reflects exactly what I’m doing over at Etsy, offering up small, accessible art for everyday people to buy. So, anyhoo, here’s my new shop logo…

And here’s a sampling of the kind of thing you can get there…

"op head" panel by the micromentalist on Etsy

"bunny friend" by the micromentalist on Etsy

"beetle" drawing by the micromentalist on Etsy

"how it stands" by the micromentalist on Etsy

more little lovelies

"everything to bear," 2011, mixed media drawing, 6x6x1 inches with overhanging bits

"tough as nails," 2011, mixed media drawing, 3x3x1/2 inches with overhanging bits

 

boo hoo

Although his work will always be with us, I was saddened to hear Cy Twombly died last month of cancer at the age of 83. A long, prolific life, yes, but still, since he was one of the first to make little or no distinction between painting and drawing I couldn’t help but sigh and frown in between bursts of hectic activity in the studio and in front of the computer. Only now have I been able to take a breath and say, “Goodbye, Cy.”

I was most fond of his work that employed a lot of semi-erasure…

Anyhoo, click here to read his obituary if you’re not familiar with his work. He’s less known than many abstract artists, but he’s one of the best.

 

right here, at home

Three of my mixed media drawings will be in the Arizona Biennial held at the Tucson Museum of Art. The show opens June 24 and runs through October 5. It’s nice to be recognized while standing in your own back yard once in awhile. Here’s a preview of one of the three…

"Eva and Louise," 2011, mixed media, 6x6 inches with overhanging and dangling parts

almost May Etsy feature

"Letters to you" by paperiaarre

You might want to get ahold of an affordable, elegant, original piece of matchbox art, sent to you from the Finnish shop paperiaarre. This is my favorite one.

Gawd I love these!

Here’s some recent work by my good friend Joe Bussell, from his frag series…

how friendly?

 

I’ll let you know because this stuff just might be for me. Supposedly you microwave it in a cup of water, glop it around into a shape and let it cool. Gotta try it.

Fred’s Scary Toys

My friend Fred Trease is a brilliant and prolific photographer. Here’s a few of his recent photos…

And now for the pièce de résistance…

¡Olé!

House & Home magazine featured my equestrian panel in their Trendwatch feature this month. I’m giddy!

Here’s a closer look at it…

Colbert as Kali

portrait of Stephen Colbert, digital collage, March 2011

I was watching The Colbert Report a couple days ago and saw that he wants artists to make portraits of him as part of his Art Me Up segment. So I made one. Then I go to submit it and it’s actually more like a Wooly Willy type deal. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wooly Willy and I might still do something there, but this portrait, which literally gave me a neck spasm, is a no go. Boo hoo. I really like it.

But heck, this gives me an excuse to pop a Wooly Willy into my blog, so it’s not all bad…