Organic Observation

To all artists and designers, I am sure you would agree that the word "organic" have been overused and overstated, but in this particular work of art, it is appropriate. Macoto Murayama's art gives us a different perspective in botanical illustration, examining the art of nature that is stylistically beautiful and colorful, mimicking a contact print of a flower over photosensitive paper.

Macoto would carefully find plants and flowers, dissect and examine them under a microscope, and replicate it digitally by using Autodesk 3ds Max, Photoshop and Illustrator. He stated, "People are apt to be fascinated by things which we see superficially. However, there may be more important and truly essential aspects inside things." He continues, "There is beauty not only on superficial part but also at the internal part as well. I want to show fascinating world of plants that differs from usual."

Fairy Tales Gone Awry

There is something interesting about these oil paintings I can not explain. Every element in the paintings offers a message of a story to be told, from the facial expression, to the color choices, and the environment. According to Jasmine Worth, they are "fairy tales gone awry – swirling seamlessly between sweet and surreal, inevitable dipping into the valley of the morbid."

Jasmine stated to Monzuki, she has always had the passion for art, drawing from cartoons at a very young age. She graduated from the Laguna College of Art and Design. The medium in these recent work is oil on gessoed board. Check her website for available artwork.

Exhibition:

Last Rites Gallery (group show)

New York, New York, USA

October 24 - November 30, 2009

Distinction Gallery (group show)

Escondido, California, USA

December 12 - February 6, 2010

LeBasse Projects (group show)

Culver City, California, USA

February 20, 2010

Urban Scrawl

I saw Rik Catlow's Edward Scissorhands a couple months ago at the Crazy For Cult 3D, and I was very tempted to purchase it. Trying to refrain in owning additional art with not enough walls to claim it, I walked away in pain but that is not going to stop me from blogging it.

Rik's process in his art is using found items, magazines, drawings, and acrylic paint. There is no rule in his process but mere randomness. His influence is the raw city streets of New York City, filled with graffiti, post bills, signage and discarded papers. I like his usage of space, great character design and vibrant colors. Rik Catlow is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. He studied illustration at The Kubert School and The School of Visual Arts in New York City.