Eric Cator

The open spaces in these paintings emphasize the psychological space of the characters without actually revealing anything about them. And they're kind of funny.
Sometimes a title can really propel a piece that one extra notch further into the realm of compelling; for example this first piece. The others have titles more appropriately descriptive, less telling, but that's okay too, because sometimes it's good to wonder.
http://www.ericcator.com/


















"Returning to the Scene of the Crime" 16x12" 2007

















"The Crossing Guard" 30x24" 2008



















"The Sound Recordist" 30x24" 2008

Jeremy Enecio

Here's another illustrator whose illustrations (and talent) need no text to make make an impact.
There's a limited number of images on his website but that just makes it easier to look through them all, right?
www.jenecio.com















"Koi" 12x16"













"The Watersnake" 19x11"

Jason Hackenwerth

It's balloon art. Seriously. You have to love a gimmick when it's really pulled off well. A gimmick that isn't can be just about the most annoying thing in the art world. But the balloon actually seems to be a very good medium for these suggestions of primitive organic forms. My only complaint might be that the balloon manufacturers should provide him with a little more range in colors. But then maybe that might take away from the gaudy spectacle of it, which is half the fun here.
Check out his website: www.jasonhackenwerth.com


















"Cochleapods" 2009
















"Liminal Space"


















title unknown


















title unknown

Michael Kareken

I seem to post a lot of art about trash. Or maybe, just because there's a lot of it out there, trash that is, a lot of artists take a good long hard look at it and decide it's worth painting. The paintings themselves are anything but trash. These pieces capture collections of refuse with all the deftness and nuance of a nineteenth century impressionist landscape. Engaging such anti-bucolic subject matter jars our perception of what a beautiful painting is all about, not to mention making us think about all that stuff we leave lying around. It's pretty damned effective.
See more plus older work on his website: michaelkareken.com




















"Scrap Bottles" 68x72" 2009



















"Scrap Engines" 84x96" (in progress)

















"Metal Piles" 24x30" 2007






















"Large Magnet" 96x78" 2009

The Blackheart Gang

I'm generally trying to post the works of individuals. And this is the first animation I've ever posted. It's from 2006 so excuse me for being behind the times, but... wow. I didn't know anything about this. And I should have. Just watch it, please.
For more information go their website theblackheartgang.com

The Tale of How from Shy the Sun on Vimeo.

Kathleen Lolley

These paintings, much like those of Andy Kehoe (dec. 2008), set out to create their own mythical universe, and largely succeed. There is a recurring cast of characters portrayed in narrative images. The narratives themselves explore the very real emotions of loneliness, grief, wonder and hope.
Check out her website www.lolleyland.com.
She also has a blog complicatedmuse.blogspot.com

Marc johns

Yes, these are cartoons. Why not? These particular cartoons mine a rich vein of artistic material. I mean if you think about it, a lot of 20th century art is really funny.
Check his website/blog (www.marcjohns.com) and there's few more things at Artdoxa.com
























































































An explanation by the arist:
"A nod to Rene Magritte, Damien Hirst, and all of my art history professors.
I've always been interested in how art is analyzed by critics and historians, and wondered if the artist ever gave it as much thought as they did. I like to be helpful, so I thought I'd provide a clue for anyone analyzing this one."


















"Yeti costume"
included because I cannot resist any reference to Bigfoot or Yeti.

Kirstine Reiner

Too many realist still life painters exhibit enormous technical skill creating cold lifeless images. These have a subtle humor to them and the painting itself is warm and inviting. Her portraits, including some self-portraits, have the same candid and wry approach. It was hard to pick which pieces to put here. It's better to look through them all. With some artists the cumulative effect is more potent than any individual piece. Go to www.kirstinereiner.com.

















"The White Pillow" 2008
















"Recognition" 2006






















"Dressed Up" 2005-7

Eric Franklin

These are cool. I've seen the real things and really, they're cool. Sometimes that's really all you need. It doesn't have to be relevant to the fractured perceptions of the modern experience or reflect the withering angst of post industrial consumerism or whatever. It can just be cool.
It's all flameworked borosilicate glass (he said, huh?) filled with either argon or krypton (I know I'm a nerd, but krypton? really? Now that's cool.)
www.ericfranklin.com






















"Embodiment"












detail "Embodiment" 2006-2008
click on this image to view larger.






















detail "Embodiment"


















"Distend" 2004

















"Spiral" 2003

Adrian Ghenie

A Romanian artist obsessed with the darker side of the 20th century leavened by the absurdities of Dada and Marcel Duchamp apparently. At any rate the paintings are very dark indeed. And something as innocuous and silly as a pie in the face becomes a mask of horror. Good stuff. You can see more at these two gallery websites. Definitely click on these images to view larger!
www.nicodimgallery.com
www.andreianamihail.com


















"Pie Fight Study 2" 55x59cm 2008
oil on canvas


















"Dada is Dead" 42x52cm 2009
acrylic and collage on paper















"The Hit" 52x80cm 2007
oil on canvas

Claire Sherman

I'm including a few more pieces here than usual because I think the cumulative effect is more telling than the individual pieces might be at first glance. I love how she seems to approach these landscapes as if they were merely abstractions, but despite this or maybe because of it, they really capture the atmosphere of the place. And I love the big bold almost loopy brushwork that could almost go over the top if it weren't for the pitch perfect colors.
www.clairesherman.com






















"Rock Wall" 9x7' 2009


















"Woods and Snow 6.5x8' 2008




















"Shore" 6.5x7' 2007




















"Overhang" 7x9' 2009





















"Hole II" 36x40" 2009

Kim Cogan part2

He's been busy. There's a bunch of new paintings on his website and they're just as gorgeous as ever (see May 2009 ). There's a sense of loneliness, isolation or reflective melancholy that is unique to an urban existence. That description may be oversimplified and it's not necessarily always a negative experience, but what ever it is, Kim Cogan seems to infuse every brush stroke with it.
www.kimcogan.com























"Five Stories, Night" 72x64" 2009






















"Testing the Waters" 40x30" 2009











"Sanctuary" 36x32", 36x42" 2009

Chris Buzelli

I've said it before and will go on saying it. The difference between illustration and art is blurry at best.
Two of these pieces were done for galleries and two for jobs, but which is which? What makes Chris Buzelli's best illustrations so wonderful is that they not only capture the context of the particular assignment but stand alone equally well as purely visual images. There's charm here that would be easy to underestimate but his seemingly bottomless well of visual ideas is pretty remarkable.
There's loads of more at www.chrisbuzelli.com
He also has a great blog worth looking through at www.drawger.com/buzelli






















"Harbinger" 10x10" 2008






















"The Skinny Dippers" 14x19" 2009






















"Toxic Secret" 15x20 2009























"Abracadabra" 10x10 2008

Ben Grasso

Decay and things falling apart are common themes for angsty contemporary artists. But Ben Grasso's paintings don't depict things falling apart so much as things exploding with dynamic exuberance.
bengrasso.com






















title unknown 2006
















title unknown 2007






















title unknown 2008

James Jean

I prefer posting relatively obscure artists, not because my blog would help them at all but just so I could say I told you so when they do get famous.
This guy's already famous (or at least quite successful). And he's 30. Look through his website and see why.
www.jamesjean.com






















"Excavation" 60x40" 2009






















"Hive" 29x42" 2008






















"Crayon Eater" 12.5x17" 2007