Save Your Money by Hal Mayforth

If you are anything like me, it’s way too easy to take life – and art – too seriously. Which is why I so appreciate artists who are willing to go out on a limb to bring humor into their work. In honor of April Fool’s Day, I tip my (clown’s) hat to some Artful Home artists who crack me up!

Hal Mayforth’s street-art style work always makes me smile first, and then think a little more. The irony of selling a print which tells you to save your money does not escape me. And the idea of a leering, yelling piggy, demanding that you save your pennies, could be great inspiration to inveterate spenders like me. I imagine buttons with this image, murals with this image, a homepage with this image.

Eric Bailey is a master of lampworking glass, and uses his skill to make – yes – robot perfume bottles! Why not? While we most often associate this collectible form with the precious and delicate, bringing humor and whimsy to perfume bottles reminds me of what ceramic artists have been doing for years with teapots. When I met Eric last month for the first time and saw these robots, of course I had to smile – a lot!

Ray Gun Robot by Eric Bailey

As a serious non-hunter who spends a good deal of time in Wisconsin, I was delighted when I discovered these mounted animal heads made completely of used farm equipment. What a great double entendre about farms, hunting, and animals, with naïve charm. I am imagining mounting a few of these “trophies” over the mantle, or perhaps giving to a favorite vegan friend or two.

Ram’s Head by Ben Gatski

Continuing in the “mounted heads” theme, but for everyday wearing, is Kristin Lora’s conversation-stopping “Mounted Shark Head” brooch. Sterling silver makes it precious, but the subject matter makes it absolutely hysterical, and perfect for a day like today.

Mounted Shark Head Brooch by Kristin Lora

Happy April Fools!

As we embark on 2010, I wanted to reach out to wish you well, to reflect on 2009, and to thank you for your continued support of North American artists and our business, Artful Home. I know no one for whom 2009 was easy, and unfortunately know many for whom the year was difficult if not devastating—friends, customers, and artists. From a business perspective, we at Artful Home had a tumultuous year, what I lovingly refer to as “kayaking through a tsunami”! While I would certainly never volunteer to repeat 2009, I also realize that I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. “Why”, you may be asking. The primary reasons are:

1. As a company we were forced to become stronger in order to survive, and survival was something we were absolutely committed to. We realized that if we had not survived, the effect on the lives of thousands of artists as well as on our own associates would have been devastating, and their lives were already tough enough in this economy.
2. As a small company, we realized that one of our greatest strengths was our relationship with customers, and we worked like crazy to make those even stronger through greater direct communication. The end result has been that we have learned so much about you, about what we can be doing better, and about how much you love the work.
3. We met so many new artists, and were able to present so much new work. More than 200 new artists joined Artful Home in 2009, and between them and existing artists, more than 8,500 new works appeared on our site and in our catalogs.

With this behind us now, we approach 2010 with tempered optimism and excitement about more new things happening. We remain committed to seeking out and offering the work of North America’s finest artists, and continuing to make fine American art and craft a part of more people’s lives. The fact that President Obama received a beautiful glass shoulder vase by our very own Mark Rosenbaum in New Orleans was thrilling; the fact that the President then chose to give art glass as a present to world leaders at the G-20 summit only added to our excitement!

On that note, I thank you again for your continued support, and wish you my heartfelt best for the coming year. May it be beautiful, peaceful and fruitful.

Lisa