Everyone looks at art in a different way.

 One kid's awesome comment card from the Museum of Modern Art!

Adore + Free Shipping

Thank you so much to Adore Home Magazine for including my pillows as one of their new favorite things!  Let me tell ya, that magazine is full of some of the most colorful home decor items around.  Such a fun read! 

It also happens to be the perfect time to snag one of those pillows if your couch needs a little face lift.  Using this super special promo link will apply free shipping to your purchase at my Society6 shop! ----> http://society6.com/emilyrickard?promo=46f772   Happy Shopping!    

 (Free shipping link expires May 12, 2013 at Midnight PST. Offer excludes framed art prints, stretched canvases & throw pillows with inserts)

Recent Work

             

This is the first piece in a new collection of collages I'm working on titled the "Paper Trail" series.  It's one of the more biographical projects I've done (usually I'm all Color! Composition! Color! Abstraction! Color!) but this is more of a self portrait as told through the pieces of paper that I collect and which happen to find me.  Airline boarding passes, junk mail, parking receipts... my paper trail!  I'm pretty excited about this series, it's an idea that I started in college but felt was too simple or obvious at the time.  Silly kid!  Sometimes the best art ideas are the ones that come easily.

Stay tuned for more works from this series.  Prints of Paper Trail I are available for purchase in my Society6 shop.

Rue Magazine: Spring Color Issue

Happy spring everyone!  I hope it's beginning to feel like spring wherever you are and that shorts and sandals and the end of winter weather are in sight.  I realize that I'm writing this while looking at palm trees from my living room, but once a Midwesterner always a Midwesterner.  You never forget what March in Ohio feels like!  

This morning I had a chance to sit down with a cup of coffee and the lovely, decidedly spring-y new issue of Rue Magazine.  I'm a big Rue fan and I was extra excited to learn that this is their first annual Color Issue.  Sounds perfect right?  Bring on the bright colors!  I was so stunned to see my Candy Coated iPhone case design featured as an Editor's pick... like fall off my chair surprised.  Like call my mom surprised.  So thank you x a million to Maia and Kelli and all the fantastic ladies behind Rue for including my work in such a beautiful magazine!  It completely made my day.     

Click on the image to see the full article.  Candy Coated iPhone case is available for purchase here!

Recent Work

Love bright colors?  Do you dig polka-dots?  YES?  Me too!!!!!!  In that case, bebop on over to my Etsy shop and check out some of the new paintings.

PS... New prints and pillows keep poppin' up in my Society6 shop too (like this one!)
PPS... Be the first to see all of the spiffy new thing I make by following me on Pinterest (hi, my name is Emily and I have a pinning problem)
PPPS... Have a great week everyone!  Hope these bright colors make your Monday a little less Mondayish!

Awesome Weekend

Every once in awhile some really cool stuff happens that warrants a blog recap, you know?  Tyler and I just had one of those weekends, full of incredible art, spectacular views, celebrity sightings, and 90s childhood freakouts.  But back to the beginning:  Our friend Steve surprised Tyler and me with tickets to see Nick Offerman's comedy show (best Christmas present ever.  Thanks Steve!)  We are both big Parks & Recreation fans and even bigger Ron Swanson fans... I could, literally, watch this all day.  So Saturday evening we booked it to Beverly Hills to watch Tyler's man crush tell jokes.

We arrived pretty early and had just found our seats when Chris Pratt, who plays Andy Dwyer on Parks & Rec, sat down a few seats away from us.  Tyler & I entertained ourselves until the show started by quoting Bert Macklin FBI and I tried to talk Tyler into giving him a hug then just walking away.  But he wouldn't do it.  Nancy & Beth were the trashy/classy musical act, Megan Mullally was hilarious, then the man himself talked about red meat, canoes, Lord of the Rings, what it means to be a good American, the importance of saying please & thank you, and how the people of LA should cut their own lawns & learn how to change a light bulb.  It was perfect!  He also rapped at one point and we thought we'd died and gone to heaven.  Nick Offerman rapping is one of the funniest things that will ever happen.  For the finale (picture this Parks & Rec fans) Ron Swanson, Tammy 2, and their backup band bust into Lil' Sebastian's memorial song, 5,000 candles in the wind.  Then Andy Dwyer of Mouse Rat fame jumped onstage and sang the lead.  It was AWESOME.

But it gets better!  As we were leaving and shuffling through all of the people in the lobby I did a double take, grabbed Tyler's arm and pulled him aside while I incoherently pointed out someone standing a few feet away from us.  Tyler was confused, I was freeeaking out, and all I could say was "It's...it's...Tyler...that's...omg...right there...Jaleel White.......It's Steve Urkel!!!!!!!!!!  We giggled kind of hysterically about how he was dressed cool & casual like Stefan Urquelle and Tyler giggled "I heard he was dead!"... I guess that rumor circulated for awhile and is rather eloquently addressed here.  We can confirm that Urkel is alive and well in Los Angeles.  My 90s childhood was built on a strong foundation of Family Matters and Full House, so needless to say running into Steve Urkel was a pretty significant deal.  The car ride home was alot of "Did I do that?" and "Whoa Mama!" and "Heidi-ho Winslows." and "Got any cheese?"

So what do you do with yourself when it's midnight in LA and you've just run into a plainclothed Urkel after seeing topless Ron Swanson in an American Flag hat?  You go to In-n-Out burger and order two double-doubles.

Free Shipping

Happy holidays!  Stock up on colorful stocking stuffers this week with FREE SHIPPING worldwide on art prints, iPhone cases, pillow covers and more at my Society6 store.  Use this link to apply the free shipping promotion: http://society6.com/emilyrickard?promo=0fe686

*Offer excludes Framed Prints, Stretched Canvases, & Throw Pillows with insert.  Free shipping offer is good thru Dec 9th.  Happy shopping!

Recent Work

Some quite colorful new original paintings now available for purchase in my Etsy shop:  

 Something Wonderful is about to Happen, 16" x 20", Acrylic on Canvas

  Eternal Optimist, 12" x 16", Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

Smitten, 9" x 12", Acrylic on Canvas

Happy Shopping at Society6

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping! Use this promo link to take $5 off each item from my Society6 shop: http://society6.com/emilyrickard?promo=fb0b20

Happy Shopping!

*Promotion ends November 11, 2012 Midnight PST

Gift Idea: Framed Art For Under $5

If you're like me, then you're probably already starting to put some major thought into the perfect holiday gift ideas for family & friends.  I've done the last-minute shopping thing before (so stressful) but my motto this year is be prepared and shop around for the best deals possible.  So how does gifting your bffs with colorful framed art for less than $5 each sound?  AWESOME?  I think so!!!

All you need are these 5" x 7" fine art stationary cards from Society6 ($20 for a set of 10 cards).  Pop each card into a RIBBA frame from Ikea ($1.99 each) then finish it all off with some darn cute gift wrapping.  Ten pretty framed prints for around forty dollars total.  Give them to all of your favorite people...or keep one for yourself! 

Artwork For Your Phone

My Society6 shop now carries iPhone5 cases in addition to prints, stationary, and more.  

Check it out and snag some colorful art for your phone!

Pssst!  Use this link for free shipping this week on art from my Society6 shop:
http://society6.com/emilyrickard?promo=5724bc
 
*Promotion expires October 14, 2012 at Midnight Pacific Time. Offer excludes Framed Art Prints and Stretched Canvases

Bravo Mr. Anderson

Tyler and I saw Moonrise Kingdom last weekend, and if I remember correctly, it was the first time I've been in a theater where the whole audience burst into applause at the end of the film.  The colors, props, the textures and patterns of the clothing, the attention to detail, the music, the composition of everything (even the credits) was so flawless, and insanely inspiring.  It was magical!  A thing of beauty.  Oh, what I wouldn't give to a be a Khaki Scout!  

Recent Work

New paintings for sale in my Etsy shop...get 'em while they're hot!

A Few Friday Favorites

I'm diggin these awesome prints by Society 6 artists.  A few of these framed & hanging together would be the best ever cure for bare walls!

 Solar Primitive 001 by Matthew Korbel-Bowers

New York by Daniel Cassaro

the King of Van Horn by Christina Shaffell

 

Astronaut by Nicoleap 

 Dark Forest by Tina Crespo

Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned 60 years ago today, and in the spirit of her Diamond Jubilee I'm gushing over these lovely illustrations by London based artist Emma Block.  I'm so happy to have stumbled across her Etsy shop stocked with sweet portraits and pretty illustrations.  I especially love the style icon series, like this one of Queen Elizabeth looking elegant in her bling!  Check out Emma's shop to see more (it will make you SO happy!)           

 

images via Emma Block Illustration

Favorite Artists

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - Things I had no words for." 

(Georgia O'Keeffe)

Etsy Love

My Etsy shop is getting some TLC!  I just listed some colorful little paintings, like this guy, that are looking for a good home.  And I'm painting my way through a big stack of brand new canvases

which means...........

More art coming soon!

Recent Work

A few weeks ago I finished up a collage commissioned by Aaron, president of Evo Design in Connecticut.  Aaron is also a CCAD alum and it was ridiculously nice of him to take interest in my work!  It was a fun piece to work on because the canvas was so much larger than the paper collages I've been making recently.  Which is like suddenly having a giant backyard to run around in when you're used to something considerably smaller.

What I think is really neat is that this collage is hanging in what used to be an abandoned water treatment plant that is now Evo's design studio.  I'm always saving collage materials that other people might throw away and giving them a second life as part of my artwork, incorporating scraps into a beautiful composition.  Sometimes it just takes a creative eye to see the potential in certain things.  I hope this collage contributes a little extra color & fun to their workspace!

Abstraction for Evo, 2012, Acrylic, Oil Pastel, and Mixed Media on Canvas, 48” x 48”

History Lesson

I wanted to share this pretty palette that my friend Lindsey from Lost & Fawned created based on my painting History Lesson.  She did a sweet post about my artwork over on the lovely blog Cotton & Brass.  If you haven't already checked out the blog, you're in for a treat!  The ladies at Cotton & Brass do the most lovely, dreamy Ohio inspired photo shoots based on the beauty of life in the heart of the midwest.

Speaking of Ohio...our plane tickets are purchased and Tyler & I will be visiting home for the first time since we moved to CA!  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!  See you in May Ohio!!!!!!! 

The Cream

Tyler was my date to The Cream event at the Book Bindery in Culver City which showcased some of the most gorgeous and creative wedding vendors in the LA area.  I was super lucky to win tickets from TresSugar and The Cream was only about fifteen minutes from where we live!  Very serendipitous.  The whole evening was like a big sparkly pink blur...

There were sequins and glitter everywhere - these were totally my people!  There was a Bhldn fashion show, drinks by Pharmacie LA (we had grapefruit champagne and an amazing drink that involved tequila & honey), I bought a gold sequined heart from the ban.do gals (their booth was so cute!), there was a dance-off, banjos, beautiful Geronimo balloons, flip books, and so much more.  I was a little overwhelmed.  Tyler, on the other hand, stayed pretty focused on the sno-cones from Sno-Con Amor.  I think he had three! 

We went home with some pretty giveaways from the vendors, and most importantly, so many fun, colorful decorating ideas for our wedding.  Plus a few funny Smilebooth pics.  Thank you Bash, Please for throwing such an awesome party!

Top of the Muffin to You!

For all you Seinfeld fans out there, I'd like to share some photos that I really love.  They make me laugh.  And smile.  And make my stomach hurt just a little.  Backstory first: In Columbus Tyler and I had a Seinfeld potluck with some of our best friends.  Everyone had to bring something and it could be anything as long as it was mentioned in an episode of Seinfeld.  We ended up with a strange and wonderful assortment of food, from pastrami on rye to black and white cookies.  And so many egg rolls!  That day Seinfeld quotes flowed like Franzia.  It was probably the best random assortment of food ever assembled.  Tyler and I brought boxed wine and muffin tops...but somebody has to clean up the stumps right?  That's where Tyler comes in.

Help Ink

Help Ink is a collaborative project, using the sale of premium and exclusive art to help charities in an exciting way. With each purchase you’ll be doing your part to help charitable organizations and individuals around the world.  What could be better than buying art, crossing those hard to shop for friends and family off your Christmas list, and helping a good cause while you're at it? 

This Be Good print by Aaron Eiland is on my wishlist!  $20 via Help Ink

Long Distance Pie

Tyler's mom baked an apple pie and sent it to us in the mail from Ohio.  Ty was so excited!  He says: "It was baked, frozen solid, shipped across the country, and still awesome."  He loves his mom's apple pie more than anything and it didn't last very long once it got here!

It arrived in LA looking just perfect.  A beautiful long distance pie!