Author: juliemlmitchell_lchs7g

Meyer May I?

Leave a comment

I had every intention of spending another day at ArtPrize yesterday, but the universe had something else planned for me (the universe being my sister). She’s been dying to tour the Meyer May house in Grand Rapids, so we went over there expecting to walk around for a bit and then take off. It turns out, the Meyer May house is a bigger operation than we anticipated!

First, we watched a film about the restoration of the house, which Meyer May commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to build in 1908. Seventy-seven years later, Steelcase bought it and began a complete restoration. I mean complete. May’s daughter was able to provide some artwork, books, etc. and the restoration team located much of the original furniture (which was placed in the same spots May had them.) Even the books were carefully re-covered and bound! If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the mural that resurfaced after they removed at least five layers of paint!

During the tour (our guide was so knowledgeable, and did I mention this was all for the low low price of free?!) we learned that it was unusual then as it is now, for the architect to also act as interior designer, but Frank Lloyd Wright sure did. In fact, he was a little obsessive if you ask me. He put wooden knobs on which to hang pictures, because he didn’t want them hanging just anywhere! He designed the light fixtures, furniture (all circles and squares, thank you very much!) and the landscaping (the yard slopes downward, so the house sits in sort of a nest.) Like his flat roofs, not super practical, but what the heck- he was Frank Lloyd Wright! Practicality schmacticality!

Even the landscape was restored to the 1909 design!

Eventually we did make it over to ArtPrize- more on that tomorrow!

Odorific Art

Leave a comment

Happy Monday! My weekend was destined to be awesome because it kicked off on Friday with ArtPrize! My girlfriend and I went in sundresses (because when it’s above 70 degrees in September, you dress like it’s 90 degrees. It’s a rule in Michigan.) which made things extra exciting because it was a really windy day. The heavy-duty signs in front of the exhibits were blowing over and I’m pretty sure large groups of art-lovers saw my undies maybe more than once.

ArtPrize is so unique and has such FUN art! It is the opposite of pretentious and stuffy. I especially love interactive art like Bart Woloson’s.

It really did smell like a shamrock shake!

If we learned nothing else from Mr. Sketch smelly markers it is that smells have a place in the world of art!

Two For One Artwork!

Leave a comment

You probably saw the msn.com article today about age affecting how we see the famous optical illusion of the old lady/young lady. The claim is that people under 30 see the young lady first and those older see the old lady. Is that true for you? My daughters and I all see the young woman first (though I am over 30- even my eyes are resisting their age!) The girls loved the picture, and I love charting who in my family sees what (4 of us heard Laurel, by the way and only 1 heard Yanny!) so I found some classic optical illusions for them. You know the ones: the rabbit/duck picture, the couple and the goblet…

All of this got me thinking about other illusionists, so I did a little Googling and found some beauties! There is a ton of chalk art and body art that is incredibly deceiving, but I prefer an old-fashioned painting if I’m going to be tricked. Check out these fun pieces of visual trickery!

Russian artist Konstantin Korobov painted this dark, beautiful picture.

I wish this was hanging in my house! (Robert Gonsalves)
Rex Whistler drew a series of “reverse faces” for an campaign. 

More than Okay in OK

Leave a comment

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a couple pictures I added to my story yesterday. You are probably still laughing hysterically at the joke that went along with them. I know, it was hilarious, but it’s time to pull yourself together so I can tell you about those painted buffalo! 

The buffalo (there are actually three of them) are in downtown Oklahoma City outside Red Earth, a Native American art gallery. I was so sad the gallery was closed when I was there, so I was left to stalk their website and all the artists that won their 2018 Red Earth Festival. I should tell you two things: 1) You want to go look this stuff up. It is stunning. You can find it at www.redearth.org. 2) You might weep. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you are low on time, let me just tell you, Dylan Cavin’s paintings were my favorite. I am completely enamored. I couldn’t get his pictures here, but I’m sure I’ve talked you into going to his website, right? Here it is: www.theartofdylancavin.com

I won’t leave you artless though! Another winner (in the oil/acrylic category) was Micqaela Jones. In addition to being awesome because her name breaks the “u always follows q” rule, she painted this:

Standing His Ground. This wasn’t the piece that won the festival, but I bet it could have!


I love that it is a little cutesy, but also bold and inspiring. And a little scary. Because bison are a little scary if you ask me.

A Tale of Two Pauls

Leave a comment

I was being so productive today. It was the perfect balance of accomplishing things and getting human contact. In other words, I was getting stuff done and talking on the phone. Or trying to talk. Except my phone does this charming thing in which it turns off and restarts without any warning. It makes conversations super exciting! 

So I finally bit the bullet and headed to the Apple store, where I spent the rest of this sunny afternoon. In honor of my new phone (this story isn’t all doom and gloom- I was still under warranty so this phone was free! Normally I like to wait until 2 days post-warranty to turn in a defect.) I present… Still Life With Fruit Dish by Paul Cezanne!

Unlike my phone, these apples never give me a hard time!

This piece sits in MoMA now, but belonged to Paul Gaugin at one time, who adored it and only sold it when he desperately needed funds for his medical expenses. Gaugin knew a thing or two about painting fruit himself! Here is one that he did:

Gaugin’s Still life with Oranges

I think you know why I chose this still life? Because comparing the two Pauls is like apples and oranges.

Michigan’s Got Talent

Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but I am still reeling over the death of Burt Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds was in one of my all-time favorite movies, Mystery, Alaska so I have a special affinity for him. What an icon. What a legacy. What a Michigander! It is a little-known fact that Burt was actually born in Lansing, Michigan. He didn’t live here long, but still. We are claiming him and adding him to our collection, along with Madonna, Jeff Daniels, and all of Motown.

In addition to singers and actors, Michigan has an abundance of amazing artists; truly this blog could feature MI artists exclusively! Today I just one of my favorites: Andrea Kowch. I first saw Andrea’s piece, Sojourn, in the Grand Rapids Art Museum and I couldn’t stop looking at it. Do you see why? I tried to walk away, but my body just looped back around to take it in again.

I am also happy this features a redhead.
I love the detail in all her paintings. Her art is so precise and interesting. If you’re a little creeped out, I don’t think you’re alone. The farmhouse and bare tree give off an eerie feel, and the girls with their wild hair and blank stares are just enough to give me goosebumps, but not make me so uncomfortable I want to look away. It sort of teeters on the surreal, but why? It’s actually a very plausible scene. I love it! Kowch is super young, so be on the lookout for her because she’s only going to get bigger!

Surreal Storms

Leave a comment
As I type, the east coast is bracing itself for Hurricane Florence. She’s shaping up to be a real B. Diane Ackerman said, “Hurricane season brings a humbling reminder that, despite our technologies, most of nature remains unpredictable.” I know the whole country is hoping that if Florence is going to be unpredictable, she falls on the side of “not as bad as expected.”
Nature is terrifying, especially (in my opinion) when it comes to storms over large bodies of water. Terrifying, but majestic. Of course, royalty can be kind and merciful, or cruel and unforgiving. As damaging as hurricanes can be, I have to admit they have inspired some incredible artwork. Joel Rea is an Australian surrealist, and most of his work I’ve seen includes tumultuous bodies of water. This one is fitting for our east coast friends:
Brave This Storm. Except, please don’t. Evacuate!
Surrealism isn’t typically my favorite, but I have really fallen for his work. The tiger in this painting isn’t very prominent, but find some of his work where they are because he has perfected the tiger. Hurricane Florence is a vicious beast in and of itself. Stay safe, friends!

A Prodigy and a Prince

Leave a comment

There is a Molly shaped hole in my house (and heart!) this week because my oldest daughter is at her middle school retreat. She was so excited to go, and I was excited for her. It is her first year of middle school and the retreat is a big rite of passage at her school. I know she’s having a blast. Without me. Hard to believe, but I know it’s true.

I miss her, but I wasn’t worried about her going. Her class is a great bunch of kids; not to mention, I know the chaperones and they are keeping me posted on all the things. I’m pretty sure I was never as cool or confident or smart or artistic or, or, or, as Molly and her classmates. Middle schoolers now just seem more advanced than back in my day. Probably thanks to Fortnite.


It reminded me of Akiane Kramarik who, by the time she was in middle school (3rd grade, actually) had painted Prince of Peace, shown below.
Akiane used a carpenter (of all people!) as a model for this painting.
Again, she was 8. Just as a point of reference, I made a shoebox diorama when I was 8 and my teacher told me to take it back and try again. Prince of Peace became famous not only because of her age or it’s beauty, but because it was mentioned in “Heaven is for Real,” as an accurate portrayal of the Jesus that Colton Burpo met when he died. On her website, you can search her gallery by age to see what works she accomplished at each stage of her life. I’m pretty sure she would have been a huge hit at the crafts table at her middle school retreat!

Piet Mondrian Sure Can Boogie

Leave a comment

Artists, cover your ears. Everyone else, you know the art you see and think, “Well, I could make that!”? We’ve all said it, right? (Right? When you first saw Jackson Pollock’s work, for instance?) Anyway, here is the gentleman that made me re-think that.


Some people call that moustache “The Charlie Chaplin” but I prefer “The Toothbrush.”

Piet Mondrian. A Dutch artist who lived from 1872-1944, which shocked me because I really thought his art was waaaaay more contemporary. Take a look at my favorite “cube” piece he did:

Broadway Boogie Woogie

Is that funky or what?! Clearly he was not only forward-minded, but also great at naming his pieces. It just looks like I would imagine Broadway Ave. in 1943, and it really does make me want to Boogie Woogie! Or play Frogger. This is the kind of thing I used to look at and think I could do, but guys? I can’t. I totally cannot. For you millennials, I can’t even. But here’s what really kills me. He also made this: 

The Red Tree

Isn’t it gorgeous?! I never would have guessed it was a Mondrian! Don’t you love an artist that can paint an entire tree series (Yes! There are more!) that is somehow colorful and spooky at the same time, then turn around and make totally progressive cubes? Mondrian’s talents are far and wide; his trees are exquisite, but I am so thankful he decided to branch out.

Putting Stephen Wiltshire on the Map

Leave a comment

The second season of one of my favorite Netflix series starts today! Atypical is about a teenager on the autism spectrum (and his family) navigating life, and specifically, romance. It’s a little like The Rosie Project, if you’ve read that book. It’s sweet and serious and funny and I’m hooked. Check it out if you are so inclined and let me know what you think!

The most noteworthy painter (that I know of) who is rumored to have been on the spectrum is Michelangelo, but more recently Stephen Wiltshire has rocked the world with his cityscapes. Wiltshire is autistic, and a genius with buildings. He was commissioned at age 8 by Britain’s Prime Minister for heaven’s sake! 

Can you get over this detail?!?! The soft waves! The Eye! The buildings!

And did I mention he does much of his work from memory? He takes a quick helicopter ride, then draws these perfectly detailed cities and we commoners fall flat on our faces over them. Wiltshire has drawn other big cities like New York, Sydney, Rome, Hong Kong, and the list goes on. If you haven’t heard of Stephen Wiltshire yet, you will. He is getting more and more recognition city by intricately drawn city.