Author Archives: Ami

Sarah van Dongen

Been a while since we posted pages from a sketchbook.  The ones posted here were created by Amsterdam-based artist Sarah van Dongen.  She is a graduate of contemporary literature focusing on children’s book.  Missing the creative life she decided to enroll in children’s book illustration at Cambridge, UK and since then has never stopped drawing. The Dutch illustrator takes her sketchbook and art supply everywhere resulting in illustrations based on observation and daily life.  On an interview with Gumclub she says this about her sketchbook:

“My sketchbooks are like diaries. They are a safe place where I can experiment. They also hold up a mirror to me in terms of productivity. I know when I draw every day it gets a little easier next time. And in my sketchbook I see when I last drew, because I add a date everywhere.”

More of her work can be found on her website and on Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Sarah van Dongen.

Aki Kasara

Taisuke Takehiro aspired to ceramic art and studied in Tokyo, Bizen, and Shigaraki.  She constructed her kiln in 1987 and in 2014 established her brand, Aki Kasara in a quiet mountain village in Kakegawa City, Japan.  Her focus is on simple, primitive, flat brooch that looks like metal but is actually hard porcelain.  By adding platinum, palladium and other elements the color can be changed according to the application.  Her designs include plants, animals, geometric patterns.

More of her work can be viewed on her website, Instagram and on her Iichi shop.

Images:  Courtesy of Aki Kasara.

Andrew Holder

We love many of illustrations but today we narrowed in on his renditions of the  Zodiac signs.  They are the creations of Andrew Holder an accomplished illustrator and designer from Southern California.  Using a variety of digital and other mixed media, Andrew create original works reflecting his unique style with vibrant colors, intricate lines and pattern-work.  His art has been featured in solo and group exhibitions worldwide and is recognized by private collectors as well as commercially.  On Staf magazine he says this about himself and his work: 

“I have always enjoyed creating. For as long as I can remember, I have always been creating something with whatever I had in hand. As soon as I realized that I could make a career through art, I moved from San Diego to Los Angeles and enrolled in school. Surfing or more specifically, the sea, began to appear in my work inevitably.”

“My most personal works are usually colorful compositions, with flat figures, textures and graphic elements. My goal is to create pieces that, above all, explore the barriers between the artificial world and the natural world.”

“I take inspiration from almost everything around me, or at least I try to keep an open mind to almost everything. I tend to go to auctions or garage sales as much as I can just to take a look and expose myself to things that come out of my daily routine.”

The artist can be found on his website, Facebook and Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Andrew Holder.

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