Over the last few weeks, we’ve taken added a special twist to our usual line-up of “Sneak Peeks.” In addition to featuring behind-the-scenes looks at unique interiors, we’ve decided to showcase the inner workings of some of our favorite artists’ sketchbooks. So far, we’ve taken you through the hand-bound books of Anna Emilia and the…
Seeing the Portland Bazaar go from an idea in my head to a successful holiday event is still one of the proudest moments of my life. Getting to meet, support and then continue to follow the shops and makers at the show makes me so happy. One of the store/galleries I’ve been most excited to…
As we continue with this month’s special round-up of Sketchbook Sneak Peeks, it is with great pleasure that I share one of my new favorite artists: the illustrator and lifestyle designer Courtney Wotherspoon. I stumbled upon Courtney’s work by chance while browsing the work of alumni from my alma mater, the Brooklyn-based Pratt Institute. I fell…
If you’ve been a long-time reader of this site, you know that every Monday, we run a series of “Sneak Peeks“—inspiring photographic tours into some of our favorite homes. This month, however, as we celebrate a 31 days of all things color, we’ve been in an art frame of mind. We decided that, instead of…
When it comes to paintings, I tend to fall in love with two specifics styles: colorful abstracts and simple still lifes that focus on kitchen or food subjects. I have a small one of each in my home (A painted jar of pickles by Chelsea James next to my sink and an abstract landscape by…
In honor of family month, I thought it would be fun to look at all the different options that exist for custom portraits online. From watercolors and line drawings to oil paintings and pastels, there are dozens and dozens of artists on Etsy that offer beautiful custom portraits for anyone who feels like the traditional…
I’ve been so excited about this month’s theme (Family + Pets) because it gives me a chance to shamelessly indulge in my love of animals. Aside from photos on my fridge, I’ve never really kept portraits or photographs around my house. I have artwork on my walls, but I tend to keep photographs of friends…
Today Design*Sponge is almost entirely devoted to paper crafts. Coming up, we’ve got two interviews with artists who specialize in the classic paper techniques of marbling and paper cutting, as well as two paper-based DIY projects, a roundup of marbled design goods and an in-depth look at the history of marbling. To kick things off, I…
I’m always excited to hear what Stacy at Leif is working on. Earlier this winter, we chatted about business life over chowder, and I got a sneak peek at the artwork she was planning to add to the site. Just like the jewelry, home goods and ceramics she currently stocks, she’d rounded up some incredible prints…
Sometimes work is so beautiful, so detailed and so special that I’m stunned into silence. Looking at the work of Anne ten Donkelaar, I had one of those “so beautiful I can’t speak” reactions. Anne creates these breathtaking Flower Constructions, 3D collages made from a combination of delicate pressed flowers and cutout pictures of flowers….
I’ve been keeping an eye on Elisa Werbler’s work ever since I met her at the RISD alumni sale last year. I love the way she layers color in her work, and because this is the month of pink and red, I thought it would be the perfect time to highlight her new Birthstones collection….
There was a lot of diary talk here at D*S yesterday, so it only seemed right to start this morning with some beautiful artwork from Mario Kolaric’s Diary Fragments series. Mario had been working in notebooks, jotting down small ideas and concepts, for years, but decided in 2010 that he would display these smaller fragments…
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so before we start our normal schedule of home tours and design ideas, I wanted to take a moment to pause and honor the work and life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are a number of ways to honor the achievements and messages Dr. King…
When winter rolls around in Brooklyn, it feels like there’s no bleaker place on earth. All of the industrial architecture in Greenpoint takes on an especially dreary air, and the building opposite our office windows starts to look like a set location from Resident Evil. To combat the winter blues (and the hoard of zombies in…
As a California-based artist with a love of interior and spatial design, I could not think of a recent art-related venture that fills me with more excitement and joy than Western Edge. Klea and Nikki will travel from Tijuana, Mexico, to Vancouver, Canada, visiting over 40 artists along the way, not just to share these…
Sky maps are so romantic and mystical to me. We don’t get to see the stars much here in the city, so having pictures or maps of them around the house is a nice way to imagine them without seeing them. This beautiful Southern Sky map is from Stellavie Design in Germany. Their silkscreened print…
With two new columns dedicated to flora and fauna now running on D*S, I’m constantly on the lookout for great examples of animal, plant or insect illustration. These beautiful watercolor prints are from Virginia artist Holly Ward Bimba. Holly has an interest in natural history and curiosities, and she documents them using watercolors and gouache. Her…
If I won the lottery, I’d probably spend whatever money I set aside for purchases on beautiful original paintings. As much as I’d love to, buying time-intensive original artwork isn’t quite in my budget yet, so I’m always eying them for down the road. One of the artists whose work I’m coveting is Caroline Zucchero…
Carson Ellis’ work is the stuff of my wildest imagination and dreams. Her illustrations for the incredible Wildwood Chronicles series (written by her husband, Colin Meloy) were so beautiful and moving that they inspired me to turn them into a tattoo design. So when I say that I love her work, I really really mean…
As much as I’m embracing minimalism in my own home these days, it’s always fun to visually collect pattern and colorful new home pieces. Amber at Busy-Being in Austin has a great eye for artwork and home goods, and these pieces in her shop caught my eye this week. I love all the bold color and…
