[uhp-steyt fan-see] - adjective

1. not exorbitant or extravagent by city standards, however in a rural setting (like upstate new york) it is in fact, quite fancy.

2. a wonderful blog dedicated to art, design and other things that are indeed upstate fancy.

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Mar
12 art
MY NEW OBSESSION Michelle Maule

I love Michelle Maule. The end.

But seriously, what’s not to love about her crisp clean color choices, and feminine style? There is something so soothing about her composition and sensibility that it always puts me in a relaxed mood. I have a print of hers hanging in my bathroom because it always makes me start my day a little bit less stressed that I would otherwise. If you haven’t been by her etsy shop lately check her out, she’s constantly updating and releasing new prints and affordable original paintings. Keep an eye out for Michelle’s artist inspiration post here on upstatefancy when they return for their regularly scheduled monday slots in April!

michelle

Mar
10 art
BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL portraits

I love the photography of Sharon Montrose, it reminds me of the work of Andrew Zuckerman, but less academic. She has such an eye for detail and the patience of waiting for the perfect shot. We all know animals can be unpredictable, and much like children never seem to sit still, but Sharon manages to capture a stillness in her subjects that most people don’t get to see. The curiousness of a baby chick, a confused goat, and the wonder of a macaw in flight. I’m pretty jealous when I think about being this close to these amazing animals, but I don’t think my shots would come out nearly as beautiful as these.

animals

Mar
09 art
GIVING A HOOT about great art

I’ve been spending a lot of time searching for affordable original art lately. I have come across some great finds including the mixed media work from Lionhead, a collective from Massachusetts. I’ve always been a big fan of mixed media and found objects collage, especially when it doesn’t scream folk art. I think these artists have managed to take something that can sometimes be a little too country, and make it into something modern and well thought-out, and having an owl or two in your work doesn’t hurt either. 

I would love to know your favorite affordable art artist. So leave a comment with a link and i’ll be sure to check them out.

owl

Mar
04 art
IS IT SPRING yet

I try and keep things varied here on upstate, so I do apologize for featuring two bird pantings in the same week. I think maybe I am just tired of waiting for spring and these birds are making me feel a little more chipper. So without further ado I bring you Curiosity No.3 – Litte Red Birds from Lexy Art. The original painting was done on chipboard, and to keep the look and feel of the original, the giclee prints have also been mounted to the same 3mm chipboard for an extra special touch. The vivid colors of her work really pop, and I love the rococo elements she ads in some of her work. Check out this wonderful artist from Down Under and become mesmerized by her work. 

birds

Mar
02 art
TWEET TWEET TWEET meow?

Mike Dutton is my new favorite obsession. He makes me want to try my hand at watercolors again. He has so many different styles to his illustrations he can gesture an old movie palace, or draw in every detail of a fantasy world. My favorite of course is his bird masquerade series. These wonderful creations are simple and fantastical while being perfect for any age. So often humor in illustrations are aimed at children, but these masked birds are dying to nest in your living room. Check out his website then pick yourself up something nice at his shop. 

dutton

Feb
26 art
OPEN UP your heart

…and  let the sun shine in. Take a look at these lovely prints and cards from Slide Sideways. Her original illustrations are super cute and have a retro feel and a modern twist. They look like they would be right at home inside Urban Outfitters. Her Let the sun shine in  print is hand screen printed so grab one while you can. And check out her endless summer inspired print  and some of her fabulous sketchbooks too.  

33

Feb
20 art
ISLANDS in the sky

What happens when chunks of land are ripped from the earth and suspended in an unknown atmosphere? Islands is a work in progress by Markus Hofko, a German artist living on New Zealand’s North Island. These sculptures are absolutely brilliant, will people keep doing what they were doing, become concerned and filled with unrest, or just enjoy being on an island? This is a work in progress, so keep checking back for more island in the near future, just maybe we will find out what happened to the Lion from the Zoo Train. 

islands

Feb
10 art
FLOWERS FLOWERS FLOWERS i made you out of clay

I know what you are thinking.. These flowers are pretty but so what? These beautiful flowers by DK Designs will last forever because they are made out of clay. Oh thats right, these amazing creations are made out of CLAYCRAFT by DECO Soft Clay. Can you imagine filling your home with one of her bright Hawaiian arrangements, they are sure to brighten up even the cloudiest day. And best of all you don’t have to worry about having a neighbor water them when you go out of town, just grab your swiffer duster and a quick swish they are perfect again. DK Designs also makes some of her clay flowers into hair clips, perfect for everyday or that special occasion. So in these tough economic times, you can still have beautiful arrangements year round, without having to go the silk flower route. Add some color to your space and don’t worry about being bad with plants. 

flowers

Feb
05 art
LOTS OF LOVE in tiny envelopes

Who ever said its the small things in life that matter most, might have been talking about the World’s smallest postal service. Run by the wondrous Lea Redmond out of San Francisco, the Worlds Smallest Postal Service (WSPS) is a teeny tiny transcription service. She sets up her miniature desk all over the Bay Area, and is also now offering online orders. You can write a letter to whoever you want, and Lea transcribes them onto tiny paper, with tiny stamps, and seals them with an itsy bitsy wax seal with the senders initial pressed into it. And no need to worry if the recipients eye sight isn’t the best, each mini letter comes packaged with a magnifying glass. It’s a good day to send a letter with a little bit of love. 

letters

Jan
30 art
I MISS the sound of birds

Tweet Tweet it’s Friday! I’m just fascinated by the collage work from Kareem Rizk. These bird pieces are just a drop in the bucket of  creativity flowing from this Australian artist. A lot of his work has this very fresh retro vibe that I haven’t seen before. Airplanes, senior portraits, and cars from the 70’s, he incorporates them all with color blocks and scrap paper into very modern works of art. So check out his shop and his site offering original collages, as well as affordable prints.

birds

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