Buy Art: Magnificent Creatures
Lions and oysters and snails, oh my
Hi! Thanks for reading Buy Art, a spinoff of Handpicked, my weekly link list newsletter. Just so you know, I’m hoping to bring more art-loving women into my audience, so if you know one, I’d be very happy if show her this email. I love y’all!
While I am super not an animal person, I am absolutely an animal ART person. My favorite piece in here is Number 3 because it’s the perfect justification for a magnificent frame.
Seven artworks featuring the Great Creator’s original handiwork, right this way.
1. Romantic Swans in a Lake by Manon Galama
Photograph on paper, framed // $488 // Buy it here
The shape of the swans is what caught my eye first, that natural star formation — what a beautifully fleeting moment to capture in a photograph.
2. Oyster Pearl in Shell by Ann Love
Oil paint on hardboard // $66 // Buy it here
A terrific price for an original oil! And the subtle rainbow tones here and there are a sweet nod to the pearl itself. I have this in my cart right now, it’s going in my kind-of-beach-themed bathroom.
3. Buffalo Postage Stamp by Unknown Artist
Vintage, set of ten // $5.25 // Buy it here
Okay, I’m so excited to share this piece. First I must say I don’t know who the original artist was, I wish I did. (I searched high and low for a name, but I guess the USPS didn’t share that back in 1970 — any stamp experts out there, please let us know if you can ID the artist).
How to display it: 1. Center and stick a single stamp on an unlined colored index card and put it in this mini frame for a twist of interest in a narrow wall space. 2. Adhere the whole set of stamps to a toothy watercolor paper and frame it in this incredible Ralph Lauren hand-tooled leather frame:
4. Garden Snail by Alex Steele
Digital download of 35mm photograph // $9.99 // Buy it here
This little fellow was hands-down the best model of my career. (Here’s the famous tale of Lucy’s pet snail, Matthew McConaughey.) I shot a whole roll of him on Kodak Portra 160 film in our front yard, inspired by the title page of Amy Merrick’s On Flowers.
5. Study of a Lion by Wilhelm Lorenz
Pencil drawing on paper // $386 // Buy it here
This is the piece that inspired this edition of Buy Art. Thanks to my natural nosiness, studies have always captivated me — like we’re getting a sneak peak, or a piece of art before the art.
6. Horse and Peacock by John Derian
Decoupage glass tray // $195 // Buy it here
No one does whimsical animal artwork better than John Derian! We love a piece of art that doubles as a useful object, too. Make it your keys’ landing place or, if you’re cool like my grandma, the Hershey Kisses holder next to the front door.
7. The Great Oak and the Horse by Nicolas Auvray
Silver gelatin photograph on paper // $5,200 // Buy it here
Finally, a photograph I have been DYING to share with you. Silver gelatin prints are made in a darkroom from black-and-white film negatives and photosensitive paper, with a process that activates and draws actual particles of silver to the surface of the paper in the darkroom, giving the print a quality of depth you cannot achieve (in my opinion) with an inkjet printer. I used to make silver gelatin prints in college for my classes with the late great John Telford, who I believe would have praised the scale, motion, and tones, but most of all, the storytelling in this piece.
Yay for art! Thanks for reading and clicking!
xoxo, alex
Love your photo of Matthew!
I didn't really know I was an animal art person until I read this. The swans! The oyster! The gorgeous tree and horse. All beautiful.