Greece

I want to run away to the white washed streets of Greece. When I was in probably 4th or 5th grade, I discovered Cats in the Sun by Hans Silvester at the library. I would drag the huge hardcover book around with me for weeks, obsessing over the pictures and saving my favorites with slips of paper. I loved the cats lounging in the streets, jumping from buildings, and basking in the sun, but I also loved the painted white lines on the little tiny streets, white buildings with a touch of blue, and the shadows.

Images via Pinterest

Gail Grinnell

I love the thin black ink lines on yellowy pattern paper and the juxtaposition of organic, curving lines against straighter, printed lines Gail Grinnell's earlier work.

Matthew Cusick

Matthew Cusick's work is ridiculous! It blows my mind that he can create so much detail and depth using cut up maps.

Graphic Surgery

All images can be found on Graphic Surgery's flickr. Love their work. I love the clean, straight lines and how the layers build up in some of their paintings. I kind of feel like I'm looking through /up at a truss bridge. After looking at some street art and watching Exit Through the Gift Shop a couple days ago, I really really want to go spray paint something. I should probably up my badass game a little before I try it out.

Power lines

Photo by JVC
I've become increasingly aware of power lines and cables as I walk around my neighborhood. I find myself staring up at them, enjoying the contrast between their crisp black lines and the blue, often cloud-filled, sky. I love how they hang and sway, come together in a tangled mass and spread apart into a single line -- that something so mundane and forgettable can be so beautiful.

Josef Albers

Josef Albers is one of my heroes. His work & colors are amazing. Looking at his work always inspires me to get out paint chips and play around with color relationships. (Images from The Albers Foundation)

Michael Knutson at Blackfish

This video is kind of long, but it's really interesting to hear Michael Knutson talking about his work, his process, and where he's coming from. (And how cool is it that he has a Captain Hook-esq claw?! I love! And I'm super impressed that he makes incredible, detailed work with one hand - I can't even imagine!)

Michael Knutson

Michael Knutson's watercolors are gorgeous and the amount of detail is incredible! The colors are vivid and deep -- unusual for watercolors. I love the undulating shapes that seem to be alive and breathing.

Holton Rower

Her paintings are awesome, but watching her process makes them a million times cooler!

Light & dark

Looking through photos from Rome, I ran across this one. Not only is it in Campo, my home for two months, I also love the contrast of the dusky lighting casting its shadow on the buildings and the tiny pops of white lines around the windows.

Views from Castel Sant'Angelo

View of St. Peter's

So many windows! I love the repetition & never-ending rooftops


PS. Just a thought -- It's funny how the interior ceiling of the Pantheon is so famous but the exterior dome is completely ugly and unappealing.

Push III

I still can't get over Push and his amazing paintings. The colors, the lines, the shapes, the energy. They're just too good!!

Buongiorno Roma

You sure look beautiful today!

If only words could describe how much I miss the light in Rome and all those early sunny mornings.