August 18, 2010 - 10:08 am
How about a nice mid-week break? Stop what you’re doing, grab a nice glass of water or cup of warm tea, and take just a few minutes to yourself. For some visual serenity, gaze at the enchantingly simple work of Yoco.
Based in London, England, little else is mentioned about Yoco’s background. Her creative style is clearly inspired by traditional Japanese watercolors, embracing the power of paint & the expanse of unused space. A divine combination of simple & complex, Yoco’s work is timeless.
[Images courtesy of Yoco/Dutch Uncle Ltd]
July 13, 2010 - 11:07 am
Made from Washi (Japanese handmade paper) and magazine pages, Mayuko Fujino‘s works are a visual delight of colors, shapes, and subtle three-dimensional texture.
Unfortunately, I can’t read Japanese, so there is little else I can learn from her website … so I’ll let her artwork do the talking:
What did I tell you? Her works are like paper masterpieces!
Big plus: Mayuko Fujino has an Etsy shop, selling both originals & prints.
[Images courtesy of Mayuko Fujino]
June 21, 2010 - 9:45 am
I’ve heard that, amongst the peaceful song of birds & playful rustle of wind through the trees, one can find mental clarity. Growing up in a town of less than 16,000 people, I believe that we could all do more without the noises of the modern world.
Creating exceptional art from another unassumingly average town in Canada, Marco Cibola is a strong example of my point. His use of muted colors are sharply realistic lines creates an image that you know is a drawing, but connects to your mind like a photograph. Social commentary, political debate, environmental destruction – he can illustrate it all with a cunning, subtle edge.
Unfortunately, with all of his freelance work & a part-time teaching gig at Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, you won’t find a blog or online shop from Marco. I’ll be the first to say that … if Marco happens to read this … I’d buy an art print of his work any day (and I’m sure I’m not alone in that).
[Images courtesy of Marco Cibola]
May 3, 2010 - 4:30 pm
A day like today (when I begin writing my 2nd book!) calls for simple pleasures: warm cup of tea; smooth dark chocolate bar; 497 original-print pages of An Autobiography by Charles (Charlie) Chaplin.
The perfect addition? Wayne Pate‘s colorful & charming artwork. Brooklyn-based Pate uses clean lines, wide color palette, & euro-like sensibilities to create frame-worthy pieces that complement every personality. Along with silkscreen prints, Wayne’s online shop features his quaint creations on tote bags & pillows.
Visit Wayne Pate’s blog for more of his charming art & inspired life.
[Images courtesy of Wayne Pate; discovered via Mixed Plate]
March 3, 2010 - 9:50 am
Week after week, I find yet another reason that I adore San Francisco. Though I doubt I’ll ever live there again, I long to visit and reconnect with the many friends I made there. Tis a pity that I didn’t meet Aimee Sicuro during my 3 years in the city.
Finding Aimee’s illustrative works in the December 2009 issue of Yoga Journal (YJ, stop being so awesome!) led me to her website. From there, I found that Aimee has both a blog and an Etsy shop! Swank 
With a client list ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Good Housekeeping to publisher Simon & Schuster, it’s clear I’m not the only one who fancies Aimee’s talents.
(From the December 2009 issue of Yoga Journal – enchanting, no?)
[Images courtesy of Aimee Sicuro]
February 3, 2010 - 10:25 am
I was first introduced to the illustrative work of Tracy Walker in 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom from Chronicle Books (one of my all-time favorite publishers). Her style is pleasantly modern but with a complex simplicity that is a bit hard to describe … but very easy to appreciate:
Unfortunately, Tracy doesn’t keep a blog or have an online store with prints … but maybe we can convince her otherwise. 
[Images courtesy of Tracy Walker & i2i Art]
January 26, 2010 - 11:54 am
Soft lines and pastel colors contrast with emotional eyes and nightmare fears. They all blend seamlessly in the artwork of Australia’s Kareena Zerefos. I was introduced to Kareena via the ever-awesome decor8blog and was entranced by her subtle, realistic style.
Stop by Kareena’s website/blog for all her latest works & visit her online store, featuring t-shirts, signed prints, greeting cards and more!
[Images courtesy of Kareena Zerefos]
January 19, 2010 - 12:25 pm
Time for some awesome art! I discovered Scott Bakal a few months ago & can’t get enough of his work. Living most of his live on Long Island but now settled in Massachusetts, Scott’s work has been recognized with numerous awards. His client list ranges from Yoga Journal Magazine and the Wall Street Journal to Runner’s World and Business Week. Even with 3 college degrees, Scott still spends most of his time drawing, painting, & lecturing to college students.
There are countless ways to describe Scott’s exceptional artwork: emotional, vibrant, spiritual, shapely, political, contemplative, dynamic … Judge for yourself – I think you’ll become a fan of his work as quickly as I did. 
For even more Scott Bakal, visit his news blog & art blog.
[Images courtesy of Scott Bakal]
October 29, 2009 - 10:38 am
Autumn has truly arrived – the leaves are changing color, falling fast, and the rain just keeps on coming. A bit of irony, if you ask me. The next two days are forecast to be rather sunny, which I’m happily embracing!
The scarcity of the sun reminds me just how inspirational it is & the impact it has on our body’s natural rhythms. I am so much more rested & productive on sunnier days. In contrast, on rainy or overcast days, it takes me longer to complete tasks & I often need a nap in the middle of the day.
With the sun shining brightly through the skylight in my living/dining room, I’m in a creative, colorful, animated mood. As part of my enlightened outlook, I’m delighted to share the illustrative works of Annick Poirier. Based in Quebec, Annick has been working in the graphic design industry for over a decade.
Annick’s work has been featured in countless advertisements and magazines, including Yoga Journal (how I found her), Natural Solutions, and Reader’s Digest. Her love of nature can be easily seen in almost all of her works. “Her style of illustration is the sum of her past experiences and that of its values,” says her website’s biography.
I hope you enjoyed Annick’s work. No matter the weather where you are, try & smile today – it will brighten everyone & everything around you.
[Images courtesy of Annick Poirier]
September 1, 2009 - 10:18 am
Having just returned to the world of college education, I haven’t had much time to kick back or write blog posts. Thankfully, I’ve found an artist that makes it very easy to smile and to share her great creations with you.
Born in Germany, Anke Weckmann has been living & designing in London since 2001. Even her Twitter profile simply says, “I love to draw very much.” It’s a good thing that she does because Anke has some serious talent. I’m not the only one who thinks so either. Just this month (yeah, it is September already), she has illustrations in 3 magazine and 2 new prints in her Etsy shop.
What I adore most about her drawing style is her proud use of color, angular edges, and rosy-cheeked people. Can’t get enough Anke? You can also read her blog and find her on Flickr.
[All images courtesy of Anke Weckmann]
