Odin Parker Curates Toys That Help Feed Children In Need

Atila and Blakeslee is the couple who founded Odin Parker and run is out of their home in Oregon. The sweet little brand has a story behind it, when they were expecting their son they went shopping for cool toys. Much to their disappointment they could not find anything that matched their style, and at the same time was suitable for a baby boy.

That night, the couple searched online and came across small businesses who made the kind of toys they were looking but they were mostly sold abroad. This was the beginning to Odin Parker, a brand that curates gender neutral toys and accessories that are loved by the babies and parents alike. 

The lovely collection of wooden toys featuring adorable animals, objects, pretend play sets, and puzzles are made with ash and beech wood, and painted with non-toxic water based paint. Also, they have partnered with Children's Hunger Fund to feed children in need. Each product on their website is associated with a number meals which helps them know how much to donate to the non-profit partner. Find more details and the products on their website.

Paintings Nestled in Beautiful Glass Frames with Dried Flowers

Katie LeVan is a full time artist presently working and living in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 2013, Katie finished her graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Mercyhurst University. Besides being an artist she is an outdoor adventurer who explores nature through colors and textures in her artwork. 

Her paintings feature lot of elements from the world around us, dried flowers are often seen as an embellishment in her work. She picks up flowers on her walks with her dog and dries them by pressing them between books before laminating then for sturdiness. She then sands the sharp edges before they are set into beautiful glass frames along with her paintings.

"Nature is dually exciting and calm. The bold, quick strokes of the palette knife in my landscapes mimic the often fast and exciting energy we find around us, while allowing the paint to lay precisely where it wants to, as if it knows where it wants to exist in the world. In contrast, the pressed flower elements that I often incorporate are delicate, peaceful, and directly from the Earth. This harmonious balance is what makes each day in our world a beautiful thing. Through my work, I hope to portray the natural beauty that exists outside of each of our doors for others to appreciate."

She currently works as a Gallery Director at Stonewall Gallery. Her role entails finding fresh talent for shows, curating art, and displaying artwork, and working closely with her team behind the scenes work. Katie has received Honorable Mention at Campbell Pottery’s annual In the Garden Art Show and has been honored with a Purchase Award for two of her pieces from Mercyhurst University. These paintings are now in the permanent collection that the University on display at its main building.

Decorative Paper-Cut Sculptures by Daria Alyoshkina

Daria Alyoshkina is a Ukrainian paper artist who grew up in the region of Vynnytsia Oblast. The art of cutting out intricate designs out of paper is traditional art technique with which locals decorate their homes and windows. Daria learnt the Slavic art of Vytynanka (decorative papercutting) from her parents, who learnt from their parents, and have taken it to another level.

She creates both small and large pieces, she has cut paper installation measuring 2×4 meter. Her work is intricate in nature with thousands of teeny tiny geometric cuts into paper resulting which gives her work a delicate feel. She is a member of about thirty sculpture symposiums of Ukraine, Poland and Transnistria. Her works has made to private collections and has adorned several cities including Kyiv city, Lviv, Illichivsk, Zhovkva, Colomya, Kalush, Kamyanka (Transnistria), Rodovo (Gdansk, Poland), Plavna (Wroclaw, Poland). You can view more of her creations on Instagram.

Scientist Quits Her Career To Paint Watercolor Birds Full-Time

Melbourne based artist Nadine Dudek is known for her beautiful watercolor paintings of birds. I featured Nadine's artwork on the blog a while ago here. While browsing through online I came across some of her new work which immediately caught my attention. Birds has been a primary subject matter in her work and she finds watercolors to be a perfect medium to capture their movement and fluidity in flight.

When she was a little girl, she spent many hours watching birds in Canberra with her family which later influenced her paintings. Her work is a composition of loose strokes and washes of watercolors that draws the viewers into the character of the subject.

If you live in Melbourne and wish to see her work in person then get in touch with her through her website.