Thanks to everyone that supported us this holiday season. We are feeling very thankful for wonderful, loyal customers! The holiday shopping madness left our stock looking a bit picked over, so we have been working to replenish our inventory. New items have been arriving daily. Here is a peek at some of the new goodies we got in the last few days. They are hitting the floor today & will be added to our online store soon!
Original pencil drawings by Ryan Myers.
Children’s books from our friends at Buy Olympia
Porcelain Votive Candle Holders by Miss Millie.
Jewelry + Soap Dishes by Miss Millie
Sublime Stitching’s new line of Embroidery Floss in the most amazing color palettes like Frosting, Breakdance, Flower Box + More.
and stunning tops & skirts by Malagueta
We have so much in store for you in 2013 – please check back often!
We’ve been super busy over here at Art Star HQ. I always think of when Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh finds the sign on Christopher Robin’s door that reads “Bisy Backson” (which is supposed to read Busy Back Soon) or something like that………Then in the Tao of Pooh they explain that Rabbit is a “Bisy Backson” (always too busy) and that is so me! At least that is what I took from it…. We just released a new Art Star branded product – this annual weekly planner, in collaboration with the wonderful Julianna Swaney of Oh My Cavalier. As you can see, I’ve got a good amount on my agenda this week.
starting to fill out my weekly planner….complete with doodle collaboration with my hubby
I know that I am not great about always remembering to write in these things, so we thought we’d make one that is dateless. So if you don’t keep up, no worries – you can add the dates yourself! There are 52 weeks & some space for notes in the back. We are so happy to be working with Julianna Swaney – her illustrations make me swoon!
The holidays are right around the corner, so we’ve been looking for new artists & stocking up on all of our products. We just got in a box from Paper Sparrow filled with prints, plush, party invitations, calendars, + notecards. I really love her illustrations of animals, instruments and animals playing instruments. Very sweet! Above is a sneak peek of some of her work, which will all be added to the site soon! Look out for a full blog post on her soon too!
Ceramic Beer Cups by Hope Rovelto
We’ve also just got in these ceramic cups by local artist, Hope Rovelto. These are cast in ceramic from actual plastic party cups & feature Obama, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and more! She does have Mittens but I just couldn’t carry that one – sorry! These will be up soon too & I’ll also be posting a really cool exhibition/event that these will be a part of…..
We are now fully stocked with 2013 calendars & planners! Many of them are made in limited quantities, so grab one before they are gone for good!
And finally, I decided to paint these doors with chalkboard paint. It was driving me crazy the way it was. It still needs a few coats, but I plan on using it to write a blurb about Art Star & also hang the magnets. Maybe I’ll let our little customers draw on it too while their parents shop. That might get too messy though.
We teamed up with San Diego based artist Susie Ghahremani of www.boygirlparty.com to create this awesome mug. Susie created this illustration just for us & we hope to continue working with her on new products. Local ceramic artist, Hope Rovelto of Little Chair Printing printed the illustration on these mugs for us & she did such an amazing job. I’m excited about future collaborations with these two talented ladies.
I went and got a Pumpkin Butter Soy beverage from Soy Cafe across the street to test out the mug. It was like drinking fall in a cup! My favorite thing to do during the cold weather days is to curl up with a good book & drink a hot toddy made by my husband, Cisco. That is what I will be drinking mostly from this mug.
Have you ever made a hot toddy? It is easy. Just add as much Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey as you’d like (usually just a finger or so) to hot tea. Get an orange or lemon wedge & stick some whole cloves into it & plop that in. The honey whiskey adds just the right touch of sweetness. Enjoy!
Susie Ghahremani is a 2002 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a BFA in Illustration. Her artwork combines her love of nature, animals, music and patterns. Born and raised in Chicago, Susie now happily spends her time painting, drawing, crafting and tending to her pet finches and cat in San Diego, CA.
We just got in some great original pieces by Minnesota based artist, DC Ice. I was curious to learn more about her. Check out my interview below.
"27, A Following" by DC Ice
Art Star: Where did you grow up? Did you draw as a child? DC Ice: I grew up in Rochester, MN in an old stucco perish house on top of a hill. Surrounded by trees, exploring in my backyard and picking wild raspberries was my favorite pastime. I have always loved creating art. One of my very first memories is of painting with my mom.
AS: Did you go to art school? If so, what did you study? DC: I have a BFA degree from The College of Visual Arts. My major was illustration.
AS: What mediums do you work with? What is your favorite? DC: I work with acrylic and oil paint, colored pencils, pen & I sew critters called “scary dolls.” Recently I have been enjoying drawing with razor blades on scratchboard. I constantly change up mediums which I feel keeps my art fresh.
"My Tea Tastes Like Dirt & Old Fruit" by DC Ice
AS: DC Ice is such a cool name! Is it your real name or do you just use it for your work? DC: I was born “Dawn Candace Silvernagle.” My parents never just called me “Dawn” though, they always called me “Dawn Candace.” When I went to college and introduced myself at “Dawn Candace”… well, everyone just started calling me “DC.” I married a guy named Nick ICE. Sooo, DC ICE is actually my name.
AS: You have illustrated 6 children’s books. How long have you been doing that for? DC: My first book was published in 2006 and I have been doing it ever since. When I was little I remember trying to copy the artwork in books I liked. Now I get to create the real deal. Really exciting. I am currently working on a book called “Can a Pig Swim?” by Thomas Rush.
books illustrated by DC Ice
AS: Do you work as an illustrator full time? DC: I DO! And I love it. I also get to take care of my niece and nephew a couple days a week. Their little creative minds are a joy to be around.
AS: How much does children’s book illustration inspire your own art? Have any specific illustrators influenced your work? DC: I think Edward Gorey has been my biggest influence because he illustrated adult themes in a children’s book format. My art is a bit grim like his. I adore his work. Other artists that I love include Julia Pot, Owen Gent, Lizzy Stewart, Anne Faith Nicholls, Evan B. Harris… just to name a few.
Illustration by Edward Gorey, from the Gashlycrumb Tinies
AS: Based on the titles of your work (which are great) & the fact that you illustrate books, I feel like you must have some great stories behind each of your characters. Is this a correct assumption? DC: Yes, my characters definitely tell stories. The titles to my art pieces are sometimes ridiculously long though. A few works just finished this month include, “I Concur Claude, It’s a Complex Mystery”and “Greetings from the Abyss Under Your Bed.” I like illustrating animals with human attributes because I think it is a purer way to portray feelings. I don’t want sex, race and sometimes wardrobe, to taint the onlookers view of the feelings I’m trying to portray. When using animals as a way of conveying a mood, the onlookers perception is less contaminated due to associations that people often create towards people.
"Fresh, Oblivious & Missed" by DC Ice
AS: You must have an Amazing imagination to come up with your subject matter. Where do you go for inspiration? Do you keep a sketchbook? DC: I am inspired by other artists and music, but mainly personal experiences and my past. I always have a sketchbook nearby and keep my old sketchbooks. It’s funny to see how my art transforms through the years.
AS: Do you plan out a piece from start to finish or is it a more intuitive process for you? DC: With small pieces I just start drawing, it’s neat to see what comes to life. With larger pieces though I have an idea in mind and sketch out something really quick to figure out the composition.
AS: What is a typical day like for you? Do you have a studio that you go to each day? DC: Years ago I had a studio in Minneapolis which I shared with some dear friends. These days however, I love having my studio right in my house so I can jump into my work whenever I get inspired. During art school I was told once that there are too many distractions when you have an in-home studio. I go into my art cave in the morning with a cup of coffee, turn on music, and the world fades away for me.
"Ghostly Noises" by DC Ice
AS: If money was not an issue, what would you be doing? Would you be focusing more on your art or would you still be illustrating? Or would you be doing something entirely different? DC: Illustration is my love. I consider all my art illustration, the paintings, the books, and even the scary dolls, they are 3D illustrations. I enjoy creating my art most of all but there’s something spectacular that I feel when I get handed a book in printed form. Warm fuzzies. I wouldn’t change a thing.
AS: Any fun projects or shows in the works? DC: I am thrilled to have my art with you in Philly right now. This is the first time my art has seen the east.I am really excited about getting my work into Gallery 360 in Minneapolis too. That show opens on March 3rd and will be up for 6 weeks. I also have a show at Frameworks in St. Paul right now. Please visit dcice.com for more show updates and new art.
Thanks to all of our customers who shopped handmade this holiday season. Purchasing an item from our shop directly supports over 50 national artists – many of whom live right here in Philly. These times are tough, so we appreciate everyone that made a commitment to shopping local & handmade this season. It really makes a difference!!
Now that the holidays are over – its time to get organized. Pick up one of our 2012 Calendars by Art Star favorites: Amy Rice, Rachel Bone, Eleanor Grosch, & Kurt Halsey. We worked directly with these artists to create these calendars & they can only be found at Art Star. We only made a limited quantity, so pick one up while they are still in stock.
Rachel Bone 2012 Calendar
Rachel Bone is a Baltimore based artist, painter & apparel designer whose illustrative paintings center around women on absurd adventures with open ended narratives and symbolism. This series – titled I Bet You – plays with typographical design. Each painting subtly represents one alphabet letter, while still standing alone as individual works of art. Signed prints of the entire alphabet series are available through Art Star. Rachel also runs the hand-printed, folk inspired apparel line Red Prairie Press which is carried at boutiques across the country (including Art Star) and sold online.
Eleanor Grosch 2012 Calendar
Eleanor Grosch is a Philadelphia based artists who loves animals; you name it, she’s probably drawn it! Eleanor’s unique graphic perspective aims to simplify line and playfully arrange form to capture the essence of each animal she draws. She’s well-known for her graphic take on our feathered, furry, and fuzzy friends. With roots in modernist design, she brings the mid-century aesthetic up-to-date.
Kurt Halsey 2012
We have been working with Portland based artist, Kurt Halsey, since we opened up shop in 2004. We had no idea how huge of an online following he had when we asked him to exhibit his work in our shop. He is still by far one of our best selling artists!
Kurt captures small, precious moments in time through his sweet renderings of couples & animals just living life. The imagery is illustrative in nature & the artist typically incorporates text, which is simple yet poetic. The calendar includes all new work, rich in browns & sepia tones of drawings on collaged found papers. Grab this calendar while you still can. We only have 1 box left!
Amy Rice 2012 Calendar
Beginning with not-so-traditional print making methods (hand cut stencils and a Japanese Gocco printmaking toy) Minneapolis based mixed-media artistAmy Rice makes original, one-of-kind pieces by additionally employing acrylic, gouache, ink and collage. Her “canvases” range from weathered wood panels and discarded objects to antique envelopes, age-worn love letters, and found journal pages yellowed with time.
Amy’s imagery, nostalgic and wistful, is largely biographical and reflective of her pensive nature. She draws inspiration from childhood memories growing up on a Midwestern farm, the urban community in which she now lives, bicycles, street art, gardening, collective endeavors that challenge hierarchy, acts of compassion, downright silliness and things with wings.
Amy has exhibited her work in galleries throughout the United States, Canada and the U.K.
We are stocked to the gills with holiday ornaments & cards that have been handmade by over 20 of our artists. Artists include Noosed Kitty, Happy Owl Glass, Oh My Cavalier, Kurt Halsey, Andrea Kang, Ecoleeko, Hoosier Magnolia, Miss Millie, Bedhead Sheep, Horrible Adorables, Abby Glassenberg, Damned Dollies, Abbey Christine, Eleanor Grosch & more. Give the gift of Handmade this holiday season!
Reindeer Ornaments by Andrea Kang – a shop favorite!Felted Animal Ornament by BedHeadSheep – new this year!
Shop online or stop by the shop. We will be adding more ornaments to the site regularly. Check out what we have up so far here
Cards will be added soon!
Winter Ornament by Happy Owl Glass – New this year!Holiday Display at Art Star
We would like to welcome Adam Smith to our growing list of artists – we are thrilled to be carrying his work! Adam is a Philadelphia artist, designer, illustrator & silkscreen printer. We learned about his work after he applied to our summer craft bazaar. We now have a good selection of his Men’s T-shirts, prints, & original paintings in the shop. All of his work is very affordable. It is hard to find an actual silkscreen printer these days – especially one as talented as Adam. What impresses me the most about him is that he designs & hand draws all of his own lettering.
"The Floorboards Hide Secrets" Silkscreen by Adam Smith
Aesthetically, we tend to be a bit on the more feminine side here at Art Star, so we are always trying really hard to look for an artist that will appeal to guys as well. I think Adam fits that bill, as evidenced by the fact that almost every man in my life purchased an item from him at our last bazaar. I hope you enjoy his work as much as we do.
"Going Home" acrylic painting on found wood by Adam Smith
Namoo makes simple, modern quilts, hand sewn fabric accessories and hand printed goods for babies, kids and the home. Insung Kim created Namoo along with her sister not long after her daughter was born. Her work is inspired by the geometric shapes she finds both in the city buildings and in the wood blocks that her daughter plays with. She also finds inspiration in shapes and colors found in nature—the colors of the sky, leaves, trees, or even the squirrels in her back yard. Namoo is a line of simple and fresh modern pieces designed for someone who appreciates craftsmanship, creativity and natural beauty.
Namoo is busy making items for the upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar! She will be debuting her new product line – The Baby Ball.
Babies and toddlers love to play with this soft sensory ball. They are safe for play & can be gently thrown and rolled on the ground. Colors, patterns, textures and shapes, will awaken your baby’s mind and interests.
The Baby Ball doesn’t have to be just for babies. Pick up a bunch in assorted colors to display in the home or use them as pin cushions.
Visit Namoo at the Art Star Craft Bazaar at booth #71. They will also be selling a variety of quilts in spring colors made from high quality designer fabrics & organic cotton batting.
Original pencil drawings by Ryan Myers.
Children’s books from our friends at Buy Olympia
Porcelain Votive Candle Holders by Miss Millie.
Jewelry + Soap Dishes by Miss Millie
Sublime Stitching’s new line of Embroidery Floss in the most amazing color palettes like Frosting, Breakdance, Flower Box + More.
and stunning tops & skirts by Malagueta
We have so much in store for you in 2013 – please check back often!
And finally, I decided to paint these doors with chalkboard paint. It was driving me crazy the way it was. It still needs a few coats, but I plan on using it to write a blurb about Art Star & also hang the magnets. Maybe I’ll let our little customers draw on it too while their parents shop. That might get too messy though.
