Sara Elizabeth Block Printers Studio

Posted on | May 4, 2010 | 9 Comments

Over the weekend I visited Sarah Elizabeth Block Printers studio in Rockport, Massachusetts. The thirty year old shop is a living museum honoring the work of Folly Cove artist Sarah Elizabeth. Established in Gloucester in 1938, the Folly Cove Designers were a guild of designer-craftsmen that grew out of a design course taught by Virginia Lee Burton Demetrio. After the designers disbanded in 1969, Sarah Elizabeth continued block printing and in 1974 opened the Sarah Elizabeth Shop.

Today the shop is run by her apprentice, Isabel Natti. Isabel started block printing as a weekend job, and now, after thirty years continues to print the linoleum blocks she has designed and carved. The prints include scenes of nature and marine life on the coast of Cape Ann. The prints are available as placemats, runners, cards, and wall hangings. My favorite is Oceanside a multi-block wall hanging depicting a fish company in Gloucester.

Above and below a photos from inside the studio. Isabel is shown sitting in front of her 150-year old Acorn Press—a press she inherited from her Aunt Lee Natti. To find out more about Sarah Elizabeth including shop hours and purchasing info visit: sarah-elizabeth-shop.com.

Sarah Elizabeth Block Printers
5 Whistlestop Mall
Rockport, MA
(978) 546-6541
sarah-elizabeth-shop.com

DSC 2336 Sara Elizabeth Block Printers Studio

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different designs available Sara Elizabeth Block Printers Studio

Category: affordable artwork, artist, boston and metro

Artist: Mikael Kennedy

Posted on | April 21, 2010 | 4 Comments

Spring is complicated in New England. It teases us with warm summer days and then blasts us with cold damp rain. The rhythm is unpredictable.

I came across the work of Michael Kennedy last night on themainemag.com. To me his images conjure the feelings of those cold, wet to your bones, spring days. The air so thick and damp it wets your entire face with mist. The photos seen above and below are from a series called, Odysseus. To learn more about Mikael’s work and photographs click over to his website: mikaelkennedy.com.

Interested in finding more work by my favorite artists and photographers? Click here to view 165 of my favorites.

Category: artist

Lida Umbrella Shop

Posted on | April 12, 2010 | 2 Comments

I’ve been thinking about these patterns from Iida Kasa Ten for over a month. The colors and motifs are so lively and perfect for spring. They kinda remind me of Samantha Hahn’s work.

I first saw the prints on Dear Ada which she discovered via ffffound!. The identity of the artist was unknown but then through the power of the internet one of Lena Corwin’s readers shared they were by Japanese artist Lida Kasa Ten—an umbrella designer. Wouldn’t you love an umbrella in any of these prints? More prints can be view on her website but direct purchasing is not available. Bummer. But we can still enjoy these beautiful prints as inspiration.

Category: artist

Eric Ravilious: Landscape Prints

Posted on | March 16, 2010 | 15 Comments

Lombardy Poplars, May 1935, can be purchased through Emma Mason.

I came across Eric Ravilious’s (1903-1942) work at Ben Pentreath’s shop in London last week. The images taken from the website have been sitting on my desktop for days. I keep revisiting them, studying their compositions and realizing how much I really do enjoy landscape paintings.

Eric Ravilious’s watercolors depict scenes of rural life in England in the early half of the 20th century. Lines and marks swoop through the composition creating a layered effect that keeps the eye moving. Washed out watercolor hues are unobtrusive and captivate the viewer inward.

I’ve done very few landscape drawings or paintings. My drawings are very abstract and I’ve never pursued landscapes because frankly they’ve sucked. But it’s something I would love to explore once the weather gets nicer. Sounds kind of romantic to be on the side of the road painting or drawing? Do you have a favorite landscape artist?

Below prints available for purchase through Ben Pentreath’s shop, click here.

chalkpaths popout Eric Ravilious: Landscape Prints

hadleigh popout Eric Ravilious: Landscape Prints

furlongs popout Eric Ravilious: Landscape Prints

tea at furlongs output Eric Ravilious: Landscape Prints

Category: artist

Spring Green Photographs: Abby Try Again

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | 4 Comments

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6a00d83451904a69e20120a917eadf970b 500wi Spring Green Photographs: Abby Try Again

Beautiful verdant landscapes are popping up all over in blogland. Photographs from California by Abby Try Again are my favorite. Greens mixed with undertones of yellow and blue is stunning and moody. I’m thinking about getting a few printed really large to hang in my bedroom? The green is so seducing and fresh. Check out Abby’s shop for purchasing and her blog for even more inspiration.

Thanks Abby for letting me share your photos.

Category: artist, photography

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