Dana Oldfather‘s paintings are so full of life and energy, I’d like to jump inside one and bounce around for awhile. They remind me a little of electrical storms with each one’s mood dictated by the color palette Oldfather has chosen.
Andy DeCola creates the unexpected – in the form of paintings that masquerade as collages. The Burlington, Ontario-based artist paints and creates as a response to the media that surrounds us as a culture. It’s the interesting color palettes and juxtaposition of patterns that catch my eye most.
London-based painter Charlotte Hopkins Hall‘s figures appear to be lost in their own thoughts, ignoring the viewer and everything else. But if you had the picture perfect hair they each possess, wouldn’t you as well? Charlotte paints the dreamiest highlights, and the negative space she uses in every piece makes them stand out all the more.
Grant Legassick‘s Urban Etchings are in a league of their own. By taking multiple photos and layering them overtop one another – similar to a double exposure – Legassick creates the illusion of a pencil drawing or etching. Each city street turns into a story with its own flow and imagined movement.
The lives of street vendors are fascinating and a bit mysterious. Photographer Loes Heerink captured Hanoi’s vending scene, aptly named Vendors from Above, oftentimes standing atop the city’s bridges for hours in wait of the perfect shot. Their bicycles packed high with fruits, vegetables, and flowers, each vender wakes at 4am and pedals miles per day selling her goods. Heerink is currently selling a book of the series through her site.
In her work, Toronto-based Elisabeth Heidinga combines the often entwined worlds of arts and crafts. Several painted canvases are cut into fine strips before being woven into an entirely new piece of art.
Historically, painting is largely male-dominated and craft is traditionally identified as a female activity, and my paintings bring these two worlds together. However, this is beyond gender issues, but simply two opposing concepts meeting, challenging and rethinking the mountains that stand in our way – thoughtfully taking apart and reassembling what lies before us to create a new perspective. It’s the ups and downs, the give and the take, the blunders and the victories.
Our #resistance postcards post last month BLEW UP, so we’re doing a second round! You all downloaded and printed and shared and made my heart so full. Even more creators reached out afterwards asking to be part of any future projects and that’s where we are now, with 17 more postcards for you to mail out. I’ll continue to share new designs as long as artists and designers want to keep creating them, so if that’s you let me know!
Each download has two postcard fronts per letter-sized page, you can download the universal postcard back here. It goes without saying that these are for personal use only, each artist and designer retains the copyright to their work.
Brandi Marie Little – download here
I believe in resistance through a reclamation of the feminine. There is power in women’s work, a woman’s intuition, childbearing, mothering, moon cycles. We are far from the weaker sex and the world needs our voices.
I wanted to explore the concept of resisting not just in thoughts and words but also in our physical actions – so many of us have marched lately and used our bodies and movements as a form of resistance. I love the power and community created in that way! For this artwork, I wanted to incorporate not just a visual language, but a physical one, so I chose to spell out “resist” using American Sign Language – a form of communication based on physical action.
I often need a reminder to think bigger, plan long term goals. ‘Go bigger’ is about being brave, taking risks, and taking up space. This piece was inspired by the incredible artist and human Katie Armstrong.
Anne Smith – download here
I spent the majority of my young life watching my parents fight for what was fair. From leading strikes out of factories in the south with unfair working conditions, to standing up the KKK when they came after their friends. Resistance and justice run deep in my veins. Forever the squeaky wheel for those who feel they have no power, I am proud to be a pain in the ass for a system that is stacked against the poor, the abused and neglected. I will remain that way until the day I die.
Annabel Inganni – download here
Ongoing, constant mindful resistance. We the people, made up of every kind, are powerful when united.
Lindsay Goldner – download here
This quote is a line from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. I fell in love with Hamilton over a year ago, but I’ve discovered a new love for it in light of what’s happened in our country politically. This lyric is a good reminder to me that resistance is something that has to be cultivated and fanned like a fire.
Of Note Stationers – download here
We are deeply grateful to the Women’s March for inspiring our nation to get writing. On January 23rd, they released their first action of writing “a postcard to your Senators about what matters most to you.” The first 10 days are over, but let’s keep stuffing mailboxes.
We designed this postcard (1 of 8 in the series) as both a rebuttal to President Trump’s campaign slogan and as a way to preserve the Women’s March chant of “Love, not hate, makes America great.” The design was inspired by our love of old book covers and is our offering and encouragement to keep writing. Write to your senators, your mayor, your governor, your town police, community organizers, local lawyers, friends in need of a little encouragement, etc.
The time is now to make your voice heard.
Having spent over 500 hours in a natural history museum making artwork about the science of our interdependence with nature, few things about politics frighten me more than the prospective damage that can be done to our already strained environment by policies passed by our elected officials. We won’t get a second chance at this, so let’s speak up like it matters.
As always, women – particularly women of color – are getting together to fix some bullshit, call out inequality, and hold those in power accountable for their actions. Thank you to everyone who’s shouting out for human rights for all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or anything else. WOMEN! WOMEN! WOMEN!
Laurie Smithwick – download here
Empathy. That’s what is missing. The fact that anyone would argue against this most basic of statements shows how unwilling we are to walk in someone else’s shoes. The fact that anyone would perceive this statement as a threat (as though it said “ONLY black lives matter”) shows how privileged we are. That everyone wouldn’t just understand that it’s actually saying “black lives matter, TOO” shows how unwilling we are to listen. There are so many things to be angry and frustrated about with our new President, but to me, “Black Lives Matter” is the archetypal rally cry. Until we embrace this fundamental truth about our fellow Americans, we will be, at best, a nation divided, at worst, a nation that espouses hate and discrimination as guiding principles.
In the aftermath of this election, I, along with so many others, have been suffering from “all the feels” as the kids say these days. I’ve found glimmers of post-election hope from the massive marches, the protests, and by taking whatever small steps I can to help make some sort of difference. I think this quote from Hillary is a perfect aspiration for us right now: “Let persistence plus resistance equal progress…” Our officials were elected to represent us – let’s remind them of that fact!
Miya Hirabayashi – download here
In science truth, in art honor.” This is a reminder that art and science are indispensable, for what they bring to our lives, and for what they bring to our society. To defend them is patriotic.
Caroline Cohenour – download here
I tried going full theme, painting in red, white and blue, including words reflecting my love of our American history and texts. But ultimately I felt hemmed-in and too on-the-nose, which seemed in contrast to the idea of speaking freely and being creative. I ended up instead going full ME: all color, some pink, a touch of neon, but not too much. And I stuck to one term which kept repeating in my head like a chant as I painted: “out loud” instead of cluttering what is ultimately your postcard with a bunch of my words. If each of us take the time to amplify our best and most authentic voices to the world and to our government, then we have a real chance to affect change, whatever our politics.
Megan Dusenberry – download here
Be the resistance even when everything is crazy and hectic.
My inspiration for this design is two-fold: First, I have been extremely troubled by how so many people (both politicians and everyday citizens) are normalizing or turning a blind eye to Trump’s actions (and in the case of politicians, favoring party line over human decency). Ever since the election – at each horrid turn – I keep thinking: How can these people look themselves in the mirror? How will they explain to the next generation that they played a role in this period of history? This song title by Lin-Manuel Miranda encapsulates how I feel about everyone who is not resisting. Second, the United States feels painfully fragmented, yet I refuse to lose hope that we will find ways to connect and find common ground. It was actually pretty therapeutic to create this design – to intersect and lock together the fragments as I moved from one side of the country to the other.
Natalie Shahmiri – download here
Resistance is the strongest when it comes from a place of love, compassion, and support. Volunteer in your community, donate to organizations that protect human rights, and make your voice heard by your representatives. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Action expresses priorities.” Every positive action you take is a step forward, and that’s all that matters.
Posted In cards, create, downloads, graphics, illustration, mixed media, painting, paper goods, series
Sue Williams A’Court explores the combination of painting, collage, and drawing through reimagined landscapes. Classic landscapes get an update in graphite on a variety of surfaces, meant to make the viewer achieve a state of mind – solace – rather than a specific location.
Ghostly and enchanting, Amanda Clyne‘s Erased Photographs are otherworldly. It begins with a photograph printed onto a type of paper to which the ink will not adhere, creating a wet, inky surface that Clyne can manipulate with her brush. Painting over the photograph ultimately leads to the ink’s removal, leaving only residue of the ink.
A combination of science and fantasy, Lana Crooks works with fabrics and found objects to create faux specimens and soft curiosities. Her technique easily fools you into believing what you’re looking at is actual bone that’s been bleached by the sun.
