Art Hound

Sarah Williamson is a Los Angeles-based artist who has shown at Black Maria Gallery. Her watercolors are both poignant and humble and at times quite humorous. My favorite is the man with his dog but then again I have a soft spot for dachshunds.

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Paintings by Pasadena, California-based artist Jen Lobo. I found Jen’s work through Black Maria, a gallery in Glendale, CA with a great roster of offbeat West Coast art. Jen’s paintings border on the verge of kitsch but are also unsettling and very engaging – quite an unusual combination.

.“Jen Lobo has a great affinity for all things feathered and furry, avian and aquatic. Her work is a testament to that love for the natural world with a blend of human themes of love, loss, tragedy and triumph.” – Black Maria

I must admit I had a strong negative reaction to “Let Them Talk” (below left) when I first saw it – I was uncomfortable and mildly disgusted. I think I was reacting to the deer’s strange human qualities, its alien pink tongue and the odd fleshy background, but that doesn’t fully explain my visceral reaction.

I wanted to share this experience because a lot of really good art hits us deeply, perhaps subconsciously and causes this kind of emotional response. When people say they “hate” a piece of art I believe they are often responding to that kind of subconscious discomfort, but ideally we move beyond these initial reactions and are inspired to stop and reflect.

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