Pretty Southern

Category: Art

Art

  • Coastal Inspiration

    Coastal Inspiration

    Drawing from my week spent here on the beautiful North Carolina coast (Duck, NC to be exact- on the Outer Banks) I have been inspired by the sights, sounds, and textures of the beach.  These are some of my favorite beach-inspired finds, all from everyone’s favorite handmade market place, Etsy.  First imagine yourself down on the coast- and the south has plenty of them from North Carolina’s Outer Banks stretching around Florida’s crystal coast, all the way into the Gulf of Mexico.  Take in the sounds of waves crashing, breathe in the salty air, and feel the warm sun and wind on your skin.  Now you’re ready to bring that beach inspiration into your home and wardrobe with these lovely handmade goods.

    First, slip on this gorgeous peacock ore ring from A Lovely Little Shop. It is one of a kind and it’s swirls of blue, teals, and gold will remind you of the ocean and all of its various hues.

    Next throw your essentials into this adorable pastel makeup bag by Scout and Catalogue.  The fabrics for these come from thrift store finds that are then upcycled into these gorgeous pieces that will remind you of sun-kissed beach days.

    Hang the quirky beach umbrella print by Alice B. Gardens photography seen above for a instant summery face lift in any room of your home.  Or if you lean more towards the abstract, display this beautiful beach-hued original abstract painting by Tracy Kafka.

    Lastly, before running out the door, throw on this truly unique triple starfish headband by Dreams By the Sea for a summer look that screams beach babe.  Pair it with a simple sundress or distressed denim shirt for a look that is laid-back cool, just like your last coastal getaway.

    Check out etsy for more unique handmade and vintage finds that will surely make your summer home and wardrobe the most original around.

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/KatHeadShot.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Kat Kraszeski-Jackson is an art teacher, artist, and diy crafter living in Greensboro, NC. She loves sharing her favorite artists, projects, and creative inspiration here on Pretty Southern.[/author_info] [/author]

  • Talking Music & Art with NC artist Kat Lamp!

    Talking Music & Art with NC artist Kat Lamp!

    Born and raised in North Carolina, Southern artist Kat Lamp combines classic illustration and drawing with a modern, playful, graphic style in her signature work.  Whether designing gig posters for Southern bands, displaying her work in local galleries and coffee shops, or decorating a wall of a nearby Children’s Museum; award-winning artist and illustrator Kat Lamp has a style that is uniquely her own- yet beautifully fits whatever project she is working on.  I had the pleasure of getting to know a little bit more about the inspiration, influence, and drive behind this lovely lady.

    Tell us a little bit about your background.

    I was born and raised in North Carolina and have been drawing ever since I could pick up a pencil. My grandma has been probably been one of my biggest artistic influences. She took art classes at her local community college when she was 50. Before that, she was a professional seamstress for a few decades. Grandma’s main source of inspiration is the Outer Banks, and she has her paintings in galleries up and down the NC coast.

    How would you describe your overall style?  Tell us about the work you are currently creating.

     

    My style could maybe be described as Pop-Cartoonism meets All-Over-the-Placeism.  I’m currently in school learning graphic design, so lately I haven’t been able to paint as much as I’d like. Right now, I’ve been selling prints of my paintings & have been fortunate to work on some exciting graphic design gigs. If you’re searching for professionals who offer services like professional custom website design, you can easily find them online.

    What media do you work in?

     

    Most of my paintings are on scrap wood from a furniture factory dumpster & I’ve also been experimenting with painting on vinyl records that are too scratched to play.

    How did you get into the arts and how has your upbringing in the South influence your work?

     

    Getting into the arts just seemed natural for me.  I’ve often switched back and forth between spending large chunks of time playing music or making art.  My grandma taught me how to paint in acrylics and oils one summer when I was 7.  She is the most patient & gentle woman I know- she carefully taught me how to mix colors, use different brush techniques, AND clean everything up!  That being said, I learned early on that I didn’t have the patience for oil painting, and I’ve avoided it ever since.  I still hear her cute Southern drawl in my head instructing me sometimes while I’m painting.

    Those who want to pursue a career in the music industry may find more information online about organizations like Save The Music foundation that may help them continue studying music.

    On finding support and inspiration in the South.

    I find inspiration all around me, all the time. Friends, bad jokes, good music, animals, pop culture, everything outside, boring things, non-boring things…  anything, really.  That might be why my style is kind of all over the place.  I’ve been really lucky to have opportunities to work with such incredible local musicians such as The Avett Brothers, Filthybird, and Lee Wallace.  I love the synergism that happens when mixing music and art.  It’s magical.

     

    I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without the support of our strong arts community here in the Triad.  It feels like one big giant, extended creative family- everyone helps each other out in so many ways.  I love the strong connection between the music and art scenes.  I first started really getting my work out in public back in 2002-ish when I would make gig posters for some bands I played in at the time.  It’s been pretty much non-stop ever since.

    What does it mean to you to be a Southerner in the 21st century?

    Sweet tea and biscuits everywhere!!

    See more of Kat’s work and buy copies of her gig posters at http://www.katlamp.bigcartel.com/

     

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/KatHeadShot.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Kat Kraszeski-Jackson is an art teacher, artist, and diy crafter living in Greensboro, NC. She loves sharing her favorite artists, projects, and creative inspiration here on Pretty Southern.[/author_info] [/author]

  • Beth Evans Watercolors at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

    Looking for something to do in Atlanta this Thursday? Consider Cocktails in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens from 6 to 10 p.m. with “the most beautiful cocktail party in the city”. Be sure to visit the Fuqua Orchid Center Art Gallery for the opening of Beth Evans Watercolors to enjoy a collection of lovely paintings inspired by the colors, textures and habitats of birds.

    A true Southern native, the artist is originally from Montgomery, Ala. She earned her fine art degree from Auburn University, and now resides in Metro Atlanta. Beth’s work focuses on Southeastern birds in their local habitats. She draws her inspiration from the wide range of flora and fauna of her southern surroundings.

    Artist Beth Evans is proud to show her work this week at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

    “Watercolor is the perfect medium for discovery. I enjoy exploring color, light and technique in my paintings. I have chosen nature as my subject because it lends itself so beautifully to the medium,” Beth explained. “I believe our sight brings in many different colors to everything we see if we are just willing to search and enjoy.”

    Cocktails in the Garden features a full cash bar, live music, and hors d’oeuvres from top Atlanta restaurants. Guest admission to the gardens is $18.95. To purchase artwork by Beth, please visit the Garden Gift Shop. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of artwork benefits the Atlanta Botanical Garden. “Beth Evans Watercolors” will be on display June 23 – August 1, the gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am- 7pm.

    For more information visit: the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Event Page or Beth’s website.[author]

    [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/RachelEvans.jpg[/author_image]
    [author_info]Rachel Evans is a true Southern girl. A native of Metro Atlanta, she ‘s a graduate of Auburn University and the Savannah College of Art and Design now residing in the historic city of Savannah. As a participant in the Miss America Organization Rachel served as Miss Atlanta, and Miss Auburn University, working across the South to spread her passion for the arts. [/author_info]
    [/author]

  • Craft Time: A d.i.y. confetti card!

    Craft Time: A d.i.y. confetti card!

    I love sending and receiving real mail.  Not just on birthdays, but any occasion I can send someone some sweet snail mail I love the chance to put a smile on someone’s face.  Today’s d.i.y. craft tutorial will give you just that chance when you create and send someone this adorable, homemade confetti card.

    I have seen fancy confetti filled cards at boutiques and online stores before but I wanted to recreate this idea in a tutorial that could easily (and cheaply) be done with items you can find at home.  Below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to make this one-of-a-kind creation AND a free printable template of the “hooray” card I designed just for Pretty Southern readers.  You can print it right at home, in any of three color schemes, and use it for your confetti card today.  I think that deserves a HOORAY!

    First of all, materials.  These are all items you should easily be able to find at home or at your local craft or party shop.  You will need to collect:

    supplies
    1. A card for the base of the project, you can use an blank greeting card you have already or print the free template I have included here.
    2. Scissors.
    3. Confetti- you can make your fromscrap paper using a hole punch or simply buy a bag.
    4. A cutting board to cut your card on, or simply cut with scissors and a ruler
    5. Tape and a glue stick
    6. Parchment paper for the “pocket” you will create to hold the confetti.  I  used this because I already had it at home from baking and it has a nice translucent quality that allows the confetti colors to show through.  You could also use tissue paper, vellum, or regular paper.

    Now on to creating your card:

    1b. cutting your card
    1a. print card templates
    1. Print and cut out your card. I have included printable templates in blue, gold, and grey.  These can be printed at home on a heavy 8.5″x11″ paper or cardstock.  Then cut your card out to a standard card size- 8″ high by 5.5″ wide and fold at the 4″ mark.  There are cutting guides on the template to make this super easy!

      parchment paper pocket
    2. Next you will create the pocket that will hold the confetti on theinside of your card. I cut my piece of parchment paper to 3″x7″ and then folded slightly off-center (horizontally) to leave a little space at the top for a flap to fold over and close.  The end pocket was 3×3 with a top flap of 1″.
    3. Fold and glue the back of your pocket to the inside of your card.  Then put a little glue up each edge to hold the front and back of the pocket together.  Make sure you leave a little extra at the top for a flap to hold the confetti in.

      3. adding pocket to card
    4. Fill the pocket with confetti.
    5. Tape the pocket closed and add a personal note to your recipient.
    6. You are finished!  Send this little gem off to someone special!

      4. fill with confetti

    I hope you enjoyed this crafting lesson and I will be back here posting more d.i.y. tutorials for you to keep your creativity flowing!

    Print your free hooray cards from one of these files:HooraycardgrayTemplate, HooraycardgoldTemplate, HooraycardblueTemplate.

    **project and templates copyright katjackson 2011 and should only be reproduced for personal use.

  • Southern Roots Influence Modern Design

    Southern Roots Influence Modern Design

    Noelle O’Reilly founded her etsy shop, Priss Designs after graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Design. Afterwards, she needed to find an outlet for her creative side. 

    Her work is modern, digital art but has a strong influence from her Southern roots, having grown up in rural southwestern Albany, Ga. You can see the influence of nature throughout her designs, whether in bird silhouettes, repeating birch trees, or vintage leaves; and she describes her work as “rustic modern.”

    Chrysanthemum on Blue 8×10 Print

    Noelle grew up in a family that worked with their hands, made the things that they needed, and were a part of the handmade community long before it was trendy. Her grandparents grew, canned, and sold vegetables out of a wooden store her grandfather built, plus her dad is a mechanic who has always known the importance of making something by hand. 

    She says that, “growing up in an environment where everyone makes what they need with their hands, it really influenced me to want to make things myself, and also influences me to support the handmade movement in general.” It was not until college, originally pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, that Noelle decided she needed to find a degree that would better fit her desire to create and work with her hands the way her family always had. That is when she made the switch to Industrial Design.

    Custom Couple Tree Print

    Fast forward to today and Noelle is keeping busy with her etsy shop, selling designs that are a fresh, clean-lined take on the nature of southern Georgia that inspired her while growing up.  She has combined these natural references with her experiences at an engineering school and a design degree to create truly unique work with a special Southern flair.  She knows her roots are in the South and has let that help shape the creative person that she always had in her!

    Bird on Yellow 8×10 Print

    Be sure to check out Noelle’s shop, Priss Designs, where she is offering Pretty Southern readers free shipping for all of 2011.  Just use the code “FREESHIP11” at checkout!  You can also read more about her background and her creative process on her blog, Priss This.


  • Cute Thank You Notes

    Thank you notes are essential to gentility. One cannot claim to have fine manners if he or she is not willing to pen a grateful response. Both ladies and gentlemen will love these adorable cards of appreciation.

    These adorable items are designed by our very own Kat Kraszeski Jackson and available at her Etsy store. If you don’t happen to see a thank you note fit for your taste, email Kat and she can design your own custom letter press. Her store also offers your essentials for decorating in Southern style.

    PrettySouthern.com readers get 20% off their purchase. Simply enter the coupon code “prettysouthern” at checkout. It’s Kat’s way of saying thank you!