The Quilted Garden
Jane Sassaman
I had seen a couple of samples of Sassaman’s work in the book Masters Art Quilts. Coming from a strong graphic design background, Sassaman’s works are unlike any quilts I have ever seen. The designs are strong and bold, rarely using more than the smallest of patterns in the fabric. Nor are there any of the traditional patterns or maudlin, saccharine themes so commonly seen in quilt art. Sassaman incorporates weed leaves, writhing vines, jagged spikes and more into her nature-inspired quilts. Check out her site for the book, her line of Prairie Gothic fabric and a portfolio of her amazing work.
http://www.janesassaman.com/...
Masters – Art Quilts – Major Works by Leading Artists
An inspiring collection of modern art quilts made by masters. Rich and detailed, these quilts rival any painting. From photo realistic trees, portraits and modernist grids this thick beautiful collection shows a dazzling array of fabric masterpieces.
http://www.janesassaman.com/Quilt_Gallery.html
http://www.bryerpatch.com/gallery/gallery.htm
Pete and Pickles
Berkeley Breathed
I was kind of shocked when Breathed killed off Opus earlier this year. I understand his rationale that the world is really just too messed up for an Opus, no matter how feisty he is. However, I think Breathed did a great disservice by taking away a gently sarcastic bright spot in a cynical world. Regardless, he has partially redeemed himself with his gorgeous new children’s book Pete and Pickles. Full of Breathed’s luminous illustrations, Pete and Pickles tells the story of a quite little pig who spends his days tending his wife’s grave. However, once he rescues an elephant named Pickles, his whole quiet life goes out the door....
The Full Body Project
The Full Body Project - Leonard Nimoy
I heard a lovely interview by Nimoy months ago on his new book and the fear of working in this “new” medium. Unlike his past works (and most other photographers) Nimoy used plus-size models for his project. After being approached by a member of the Fat-Bottom Revue, a larger-than-life burlesque troupe, Nimoy agreed to shoot a group of obese women. Modeling his shots after other famous photo shoots and paintings, Nimoy presents a collection of strangely beautiful, almost sculptural, images. While the vast majority of the population is much more likely to be the size and shape of the women in the book, we so rarely see...
The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss
The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss – Claire Nouvian
This book is gorgeous. While the subject matter, sea creatures of the deepest abysses, is certainly fascinating the pictures are what makes this book so wonderful. Some show perfect, tiny jeweled creatures floating in the dark. Others, lit by ROV lights, look like computer generated movie sets. Unreal and intensely...
Voyage of the Basset
Voyage of the Basset – James Christensen
Christensen is both an immensely talented artist and an excellent writer. His illustrations has the fantastic, otherworldly beauty of earlier artist/illustrators such as Arthur Rackham. While some of his work does tend to the maudlin and cutesily religious, the bulk of his work is brilliant and meticulously detailed. The story of Voyage of the Bassett compliments the gorgeous illustrations perfectly. A fairy-tale aimed more for children, The Bassett can serve also as a lesson for adults who don’t take appreciate the value of traditional stories and ...