Pretty Girls Making Cool Shit

We discovered the work of Erika b Hess when she started her podcast, I Like Your Work, with its episode featuring Ekaterina Popova of Art & Cocktails. It was apparent that she is passionate about painting and community within the arts, two things we love as well! She utilizes bold colors and energetic brushwork to contribute to the meaningful context of her beautiful paintings. 
Erika b Hess is a painter who is the co-founder of MUSA Collective Boston and creator of I Like Your Work podcast. Hess' work has been recently exhibited nationally including Prince Street Gallery in Manhattan, NY, Last Projects in Los Angeles, CA, and Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, MA. Her work has been published in various publications such as Poets and Artists, Fresh Paint, and in Post Industrial Complex, a book released by the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Her work was selected by John Seed to be featured in "Fifty Memorable Artists 2015". She served as a visiting juror for Da…

To say we were impressed with Gina Altadonna's work the first time we saw it would be an understatement! She has an astounding figurative ability, which is apparent in her narrative work, exploring themes many of us can relate to.

Gina Altadonna was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a rural farming community. In 2010 she received a BFA  with a concentration in drawing and painting, from The Pennsylvania State University. She spent a year cultivating a new body of work before attending Graduate School. In 2014 she received her MFA, in Studio Art, from Stony Brook University. Since graduating, she has been featured in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally and has been published in several art magazines both online and in print. Altadonna has also received several grants, fellowships, and awards in her field, for example: she was awarded the New Courtland Artist Fellowship, and the Dorthy L. Piper Purchase Award, to name a few. Professionally, Gina has taught…

Fantastic images and scenery come to life in these tin collages by Emily Wamsley! Who knew you could make such colorful, beautiful work with discarded material?
Tin artist Emily Wamsley cuts and nails discarded tins to wood for her collage media. Having never met a tin artist before, naturally we had to ask more about the process, here's some insight into her work,  "I love making my ideas come to life with tin. Half the fun is searching for that prefect pattern, color or image on old tins. My artwork is of things I love; sometimes inspired by the image on the tin itself or just an idea in my head. I have an endless supply of ideas and there is a seemingly endless supply of tin to make them."

Wamsley lives and works in Seattle, WA.

You can see more of her impressive work on Instagram @emily_wamsley

As painters, we have minimal experience or knowledge of three dimensional work, particularly fibers. We saw fiber artist Mariana Baertl on social media and couldn't stop talking about the amazing color schemes and textures in her work! She utilizes her background in fashion and oceanic inspiration to create her work.

Mariana Baertl is the creator and artist behind Living Fibers. Baertl was born and raised in Lima, Peru's capital, surrounded by the countries' traditional handmade trades, especially textile work. She studied Fashion Design in Peru and later moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina to focus on Coolhunting, the study of "trends" and how it relates specifically to the fashion industry. Baertl then moved to Barcelona, Spain to begin her work in Haute Couture and pattern making. Her Haute Couture education taught her the level of patience and precision needed in creating handmade designs. Thereafter she earned a post graduate degree in Fashion Buisness managemen…

Words do not do justice to the work of today's featured artist, Jennifer Gennari! She has an amazing ability to capture all elements and likeness of the figure.

Jennifer Gennari is a classically trained figurative artist. She graduated in 2005 from Ringling College of Art and Design and in 2008 left for Italy to study at the Florence Academy of Art where she spent three years abroad studying classical realism under Daniel Graves.

Jennifer returned to New York in 2011 and started working as a painting assistant to Jeff Koons. She eventually left to pursue teaching at the National Acadamy Museum and School, the Long Island Academy of Fine Art, and instructs students privately from her studio in Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Jennifer has written a book on drawing the human figure, and has also hosted an online class through Craftsy that instructs beginners on the techniques used in creating traditional portraits.

Jennifer's work has been shown internationally and has received mult…

As lovers of animals, nature, and fun use of color, we were instantly impressed by the work of recent Arizona State University alum, Kaitlin Cristal! We love how she is able to capture the likeness and personality of each subject.

Kaitlin Cristal has always been passionate about animals. Whether it's a house cat or a leopard, every animal is a worthy subject. Half of Cristal's practice focuses on making custom acrylic pet portraits that people love, almost as much as their pets. The other half brings attention to endangered species through unique oil paintings. She tells each animal's story and ultimately gives back to the organizations that help them.

You can find her on Instagram @kcristalpaintings and shop her work on Etsy www.etsy.com/shop/KCristalPaintings

Vibrant, dreamy color schemes, sumptuous textures, and a modern approach to landscapes, we loved Sally West’s work the first time we saw it! Naturally we had to reach out to have her on the blog J
Sally West studied at KVB College Of Visual Communication in North Sydney and received her bachelor of visual communication in 1995. Following graduation, West traveled throughout Asia and spent a year in Ireland, where she worked in graphic design, producing and selling artwork and doing portraits. After moving to Bondi, New South Wales in 1998 she began working at Wadi Gallery, participating in group exhibitions and selling artwork at the Bondi Markets. The same year, she had her first major solo exhibition (The Journey) at the Bondi Pavillion. West spent the next year traveling through India and Nepal, meeting other inspiring artists and another major solo exhibition. West returned to New South Wales in 2000. She has continued to show work worldwide including Australia and New York. She li…