lori earley

Little need to be said when you look at Lori Earley's works.
To me the paintings are of ethereal beings, with expressive eyes and strong faces. Perhaps as Pavelina put, our alter-egos on canvas. So devastating beautiful and breathtaking. Here are 3 of my favourites, though I do find myself adoring Ms V. (gotta master my pout and get a red lipstick lol)

Ms V

Drained (those eyes...and the details of her hair an surroundings...)

Leila

By Pavelina, Artonfix.com
I am very fond of surrealistic art, as a form of expressing pure, genuine emotions. That is probably why these otherworldly girls, painted by Lori Earley, gained my full interest. Born and raised in New York, Lori studied at School of Visual Arts from NY City and from 2004 began exhibiting her works all over USA and in Europe.

Her portraits, often painted with oil on board or on linen, are actually an expression of her emotions, moods, alter-egos or representations of her own experiences. Painting is a form of self-expression. "I paint because I have to and need to, not necessarily because I want to", says Lori on her website.
Her mature style in portraits, with elements of Baroque and Mannerism, embodies an undeniable feminine force and a supernatural energy. I think they're splendid.

marie larkin

Reminds me Blythe Dolls from Japan; with exagerrated large eyes big heads, which I love.

Used to own a couple but sold them all as I do not spend enough time 'dolling' them up as many collectors do. Never really a girly-girl but deep down I do appreciate looking at them, holding them and after that, I have no idea what to do with them lol.

Marie Larkin's work has that same sweet, quirky element, with a delicious dark side and more; putting the subjects in make-believe fantasy world which I enjoy looking over and over again.

When a child loves

Ahoy Ahoy

Butterfly Wishes

Later Jack

Mis-Muffet

Never lend a pony

waiting for the North Wind

By Carrdora, Artonfix.com
Inspired by fairytales and nursery rhymes Australian artist, Marie Larkin creates dainty feminine art with a dark humorous twist. Richly colored and detailed like a lavish couture embroidery Marie’s oil and acrylic paintings weave quirky little narratives. Fragile, dollish heroines with fascinating eyes subtly wink at us as they get their sweet revenge.

The Rhyme and Reason series of drawings, paintings and sculpted art dolls play with familiar children stories, surprising the viewer with a different interpretation, in a black humor note.
Nobody can describe her beautiful work better than the artist herself.
"The girls have an otherworldly whimsy about them that takes a little away from their sugary cuteness." Their appearance evolved from sad and introspective to a more forceful mood: “cheeky, vengeful, downright cruel or somewhat trippy”.
Marie Larkin is a visual artist and art teacher since 1980. She achieved national recognition and success in the 1990s as an embroiderer winning important awards, grants and media coverage. Nowadays she works in a loft studio near Tamworth, NSW, creating beautiful paintings, drawings, sculptures and mixed-media art pieces.

jonas löfgren

OK. When I first saw the illustration of Mary-Kate and Chlöe Sevigny, I love it!

Uber Quirky and fun, what's not to love?

I saw some of the other works by him and I just have to blare my love for his work out.

Mary-Kate Olsen, Lula Magazine

Perfect Mess, Lula Magazine (oh I so love this)

Bath (those waves are inspired by Japanese cultures it seems.)

Five Birds (chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp - gossing? haha)

Lydia Deetz, Lula Magazine

Rooftop (that face!)

The Diamond (that face again! LOVE it)

by Pavelina, Artonfix.com
Jonas Löfgren is a young Swedish illustrator who draws sulky, mysterious young feminine figures. His graphite and watercolor heroines remind me of Wednesday Adams or of Amelie, both intelligent, fearless, young ladies with a quirky persona.
Löfgren also provides illustration for Lula magazine, where his works have another approach, closer to fashion and showbiz world. Portrayals of Chlöe Sevigny wearing Louis Vuitton or Mary-Kate Olsen in Lanvin are indeed, something unique in the glamour industry.
Delicate lines and magic backgrounds are also two important features of Jonas works. If you ask me, I'll tell you that this Swedish artist doesn't just draw. He explores a feminine universe with the talent of a psychologist, showing us the complexity of his character's dreams, feelings and beliefs.
By Pavelina, Artonfix.com

nom kinnear - king

Another favourite artist is Nom Kinnear-King.

Saw her work from Artonfix.com, and was immediately transfixed in the imagery that Nom conjures in her paintings.

Goth like women with haunting eyes. Mysterious, strong yet fragile all at once. All her subjects are, to me, devastating beautiful but with eyes that suggest of a dark past that awaits unveiling. Makes me want to know each and every one of their stories.

My favourites by far are MaritimeGrace(Rosa), Margarita, Incognito and Cafe Rose.

The last reminds of myself; reminising...pondering...waiting...hoping but afraid.

Epitome of many, I so believe.

Really beautiful and inspiring.

Night Walker

Cafe Rose

Darina (reminds me of a certain supermodel of the moment. Non?)

Incognito

Luna Wood

Margarita

Maritime Grace (Rosa)

Maude

Poppy

By Pavelina, Artonfix.com

Nom Kinnear-King is a young British painter focused on female imagery, as projections of her passion for literature, travelling, folklore. Some of her works are results of special encounters; others are inspired by theatre, circus, and Balkan music, films of Jean Pierre Jeunet or famous artists like Toulouse Lautrec, Marc Chagall and Frieda Kahlo.

Nom defines her style as magic realism, as she enjoys playing with reality, showing her character’s imagination and inner world as their heart on a sleeve. These fragile characters are fascinating, hiding all sorts of secrets under a childish allure, challenging you to find their stories and ending up loving them all.

Nom Kinnear-King works with different mediums, with oils on boards and on canvas or acrylics on canvas. She studied Fine Art Print at Norwich School of Art and Design then moved to Brighton, Melbourne, then London, currently painting from her “barn attic in the Norfolk countryside”. Paintings are available from The Fine Gallery(Bath), The London Miles gallery(London), Nom being part of Just Another Agency in Melbourne, Australia.

kelly vivanco

When I encountered the paintings by Kelly, I was haunted and enchanted all at once.

I was keen to see more of her works and know about the artist herself.

I chanced upon a blog about her by Pavelina on artonfix.com.

What Kelly represents through her works, truly coincide with my personal work.

I used to make jewellery (ateliernuu) and I had been asked many times by people why I made them so, whats the idea behind it...

Each of us carry with us different experiences in life, have different ideas and views based on background and education; thus how we intepret a piece of work; be it painting or sculpture or artwork of some form, will be different even from the artist.

Thus 'letting imagination run free and see where it takes her' should be the basis of creativity. 

I truly love Kelly's paintings.
There is this 'Alice In Wonderland' sort of feel to them.
The subjects are girls with haunting beautiful big thoughtful eyes, with dark hair and animals dressed in costumes (suggesting perhaps they indulge in secret parties while we are not looking; which makes me smile).

I stare into the eyes of the subjects in the paintings for hours and find myself enjoying the odd peacefulness while I 'communicate' with the girls.
Often trapped within with no one around to speak to, and yet when surrounded I fear losing myself sharing myself to people around, giving them the 'tools' that can hurt me; which left me feeling terribly lonely.
Which is probably why Kelly's works 'speak' to me.

Often I felt wonderment, silent observation, hidden words unspoken, deep loneliness and (oddly) mischief; her girls epitomises that child-like-wide-eye woman in me. Most times melancholic, but never lack of the curiousity and hope what else is out there, what tomorrow brings. Which probably reflects how I feel inside,'Maybe tomorrow, it will all be better. Maybe...'

My favourites by far is THOUGHTS, KNOTHOLE and SAFE JOURNEY.
The last brings tears as it reminds me of my unwillingness to let my cat go when he sadly departed some years back (and reminded of me how he looked back at me when he went in my arms) and another who I left behind when I left to live in England; just as how the black bunny in the painting looks back at the girl.

I will add on pictures of her paintings here, especially those that 'speaks' to me; for my own enjoyment and those who kindly stop by to read this blog.
Perhaps one day I should be fortunate enough to own one of Kelly's works.
Before I do, I shall indulge in the rapture of that day to come.
 

Kelly Vivanco - Knothole

Kelly Vivanco - Little Party (the cat in this painting looks frightfully like the ones I have now) ^_^

Kelly Vivanco - Safe Jouney

Kelly Vivanco - Glow

Kelly Vivanco - Thoughts

(By Pavelina, artonfix.com)

Kelly Vivanco was born and raised in the Southern California. She received her with honors from Laguna College of Art and Design in 1995, and in 2004 she became a studio artist at Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios, located in Escondido, California.

Her artworks painted with acrylic or oil on canvas or panel, are mostly inspired from nature, vintage photographs, children's literature and her own dreams and fantasies. The artist depicts a late childhood’s fantasy world where animal talk (and wear hats) and young girls are the heroines of great adventures which imply magic wildlife, treasures, fairies, epic tests and a secret reward.

Kelly Vivanco admits she enjoys painting without planning, just letting her imagination run free and see where it takes her. To people who ask what are her artworks about she encourages them to find their own meanings.