Love Lexa

vendors from above.

2017-04-24T17:01:00.002-07:00

Well, hello. Here we are again. I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Today we are loving the photography of Loes Heerink. I immediately fell in love with his series Vendors from Above on Art Fucks Me. These photos touched a place in my heart, taking me back to Vietnam, where I recently visited in November.

Of course, the Hanoi street vendors are legendary in what they carry on the back of a bike. While in Hanoi, I'd always see postcards with full flocks of geese or 10 pigs on a bike, but in the streets I'd mostly see fruits, veggies and basket wares.

Heerink lived in Vietnam from 2012 to 2015 and compiled many photo essays on the different regions of the county. And he has gathered his Vendors from Above photos in a book, which you can purchase at his site, plus see more of his photos from around the world.

All photos (c) Loes Heerink

So, I thought I'd go ahead and make this a fully Vietnamese-themed "Love" today.

I love my own images of vendors from my trip to Hanoi.

I love the restaurant feu in Studio City. It's in that strip mall with my dry cleaners, the new pot dispensary, the liquor store, the Jamaican restaurant and the wig shop--you know the one. And they make the most stunning bowl of vegetarian pho. Order it with a side of truffle oil.

And I loved this book, about a Communist double agent who escapes to America after the fall of Saigon (although it seems a lot of people did, as it won the 2016 Pulitzer).

That's all for you. I'll be back soon with more to love.

bridget davies.

2017-04-13T17:58:00.001-07:00

Hello, and welcome back!

Today we are loving the work of UK artist Bridget Davies. I've long been a fan of her fashion illustrations, and I may have featured them on the blog before. But I'm not quite sure. In any case, her pieces are so beautiful, they are worth spotlighting again.

Influenced by a love for paper dolls as a child and the glamorous illustrations of the 40s and 50s as a budding artist, Davies' work is a marvel of water and ink, a union of fashion and art. As she says in her artist statement:

                 "While the constantly changing face of fashion doesn’t preoccupy me,
                   the silhouette and detail of women’s fashion is a major source of
                   inspiration for me. Layering personal experience with ideas from
                  literature and conversation, I use the genre of fashion painting to
                  create scenarios and characters that I would best describe as visual
                  anecdotes, blended fact and fiction that tell secret stories drawn from
                  my own presence and desires."

Davies' illustrations are whimsical and deceptively simple, yet they have a unique depth, transporting you to a more glamorous world of gowns, parties and witty conversations (about literature, of course). You can see more of Davies' art at her site and at Saatchi Art.

All art (c) Bridget Davies

And a few more things to love today.

This Japanese couple has been married for 37 years and coordinate their outfits every day. They've only been on Instagram for three months, but already have a following of 435,000! How cute are they! Via My Modern Met.

I love these posters for The Wicker Man, a favorite film of mine.

And I would love to attend this double show at Team Gallery in Venice on April 23rd: Robert Janitz, Hypothetical Types of Biochemsistry and McDermott & McGough: Hollywod (Homosexual) Hopeful. More details here.

La Coleur Des Jours Heureux, 2017, Robert Janitz

Twilight Men, 1965/2017, McDermott & McGough

Hope to see you there! And I'll see you back here soon, with more to love. xoL

johanna ortiz.

2017-04-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Back with more to love. I hope your week is looking good.

Every time I feature fashion on the blog, I always feel compelled to reiterate that I am not a fashion blogger. I think it's pretty obvious, and I'm not sure why I need to clarify it. Maybe it's because there are so many fashion bloggers and influencers, and so many that do it so well. And while I would not say that I am fashion fanatic--most days you'll find me in a striped tee and leggings--I do have one or two fabulous things in my closet. And I know what I love.

Today I am loving the Fall 2017 collection of Johanna Ortiz. I see the name "Johanna Ortiz" all the time in my Moda Operandi e-mails, and her designs have always caught my eye. But her Fall 2017 collection is just breathtaking. The Colombian designer seems mostly inspired by The Ruffle, and who knew there were so many variations on it--both for day and night. I love how she mixes denim, chunky sweaters, tees and feminine prints. If I were in the .01%, I would fire off an order for the entire collection today. Alas, I am not, so I'll just keep sighing over these gorgeous photos via Vogue.

All photos (c) Vogue

And a few more things to love today.

I love this photograph by Vivian Maier.

I love these film posters for the classic Things to Come.

And this painting by Lucian Freud. Via Saatchi Gallery.

Night Interior, 1969-70

That's it, but I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL.

1000 movies

2017-03-29T16:54:00.002-07:00

Finally! We're back. Hope you are having a wonderful week.

Today we're starting a new feature on the blog called 1000 Movies. If you follow me on Instagram, then you know it's not entirely new.

I know the title of my feature is a little close to the book 1001 Movies You Need to See Before You Die, but I'm sticking with it. Here's why. Rather than create a ranking or a "must-see" guide to film (there are already so many of those), I thought I would document my own journey, follow my own interests and discoveries, see the hows and whys of one film leading to the next. And how I write about it all. I'm no professional film critic, of course, but I have enjoyed writing little tidbits for the movies I watch on Instagram. I think it will be fun to see how it all develops--and I hope you do, too.

Since I've already watched 57 films, I thought I would encapsulate those here, play a little catch-up, calling out the 13 I truly loved and then get right on track. So without any further adieu, here are the first 57 of 1000 movies.

1. Gilda

Like everyone else on Planet Earth, I knew the hair. I knew the stills of the impossibly beautiful woman. I knew it was a film noir, one of my favorite genres. But I still had never sat down and watched Gilda from beginning to end. Two wonderful things I discovered about this classic: one was how nasty and sordid the characters all were, and not in a fake-y, Hollywood kind of way. In the 1940's--who knew! It always shocks me when I watch a film from way back that goes up against the rules of bland, mainstream entertainment.

The other surprise: Gilda had one producer, a woman. Virginia Van Upp was the screenwriter on 24 films and produced six. In 1945, Harry Cohn named her Executive Producer of Columbia Pictures. Another woman would not hold this position again for 31 years.

2. Sicario

This movie hooked me from the first frame, which is rare. I always love Emily Blunt--she seems wise beyond her years, her performances always understated yet gripping. I love this series of lotería-style posters representing the characters of the film. But what I loved most was how director Denis Villeneuve portrayed the worst violence in the world with quiet images and minimal violence.

3. Ex Machina

I loved everything about this film--the gorgeous sets, the intellectual sci-fi premise, the unsettling ending, the questioning of gender roles and my archetype--Oscar Isaac.

4. The Girlfriend Experience

5. The Martian

6. Barbarella

7. Entourage: The Movie

8. The Woman in the Window

9. Bridge of Spies

10. The Witch

Primal, period horror with a story. More than cheap scares and gore, a comment on sexual paranoia and religious hysteria. Live deliciously!

11. Magic Mike XXL

12. It Follows

13. Spotlight

14. The Big Short

15. The Bank Job

16. Green Room

17. Eye in the Sky

18. Tangerine

I loved this film because I felt like it was shot in my backyard--on an iphone no less! Sweet, touching, real and incredibly funny. Oh, Donut Time, we miss you!

19. Diary of a Teenage Girl

20. A Prairie Home Companion

21. Mojave

22. Maps to the Stars

Because I love anything that gets to how depraved Hollywood really is. And I love Julianne Moore, even more so (ha ha!), when she's playing against type. Type being the sobbing, saintly mother figure. Here she is completely deranged.

23. Take Shelter

24. Hush

25. A Clockwork Orange

This film came out when I was one year old. It's taken me 46 years to get over my fear of seeing it. You do the math. The set designs were off the chain.

26. Ghostbusters

27. In the Loop

28. Zoolander 2

29. Jason Bourne

30. Hell or High Water

31. Don't Breathe

32. Spooks

33. Dark Skies

34. What We Do in the Shadows

35. Pop Star

36. The Invitation

Loving the sleeper thrillers on Netflix. This one had slow-burn suspense, Hitchcock-like direction and a humdinger of an ending.

37. La Dolce Vita

38. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

39. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

40. Creep

41. Point Blank

42. Die Another Day

43. Our Kind of Traitor

All I can say is: I love espionage thrillers. And I especially love Le Carré adaptations. In that light, this one might have just been middle-of-the-road, but they always work for me. I'm generally not a Damian Lewis fan, but he was excellent here. So was the beautiful Naomie Harris.

44. A Man for All Seasons

45. Le Samourai

46. Bartleby

47. Sing Street

Of all the movies on the list, this is the one I watched twice (not my #1, however.) It was just so sweet and captured my heart. It had "the magic." A MUST for anyone who came of age in the 80s.

48. Nocturnal Animals

49. Paterson

THIS is my #1 movie on the list so far. It's hard to describe how this film moved me so, especially since the purpose of this whole exercise is to write about film. But aside from being a deceptively simple, crafted movie, this one hit me right in the gut. Paterson follows the routine life of a bus driver named Paterson in Paterson, NJ, a like-clockwork routine that ultimately breaks down as the days of the week pass by.

He drives a bus, writes some poetry, has dinner with his wife who tells him all about her big dreams for them both, walks the dog, has one beer at the local bar and goes to bed. That's pretty much the movie. I think the reason it hit me is because--that's my life, only with different details. When you live with cancer, you're existence is simply the 24 hours in front of you. It's all you can manage, all you can think about. The rest is too much. The idea of tomorrow, of next year--it's all too much. Yet this beautiful, fully expressed film made me feel I could live my life the same way, too.

50. Fences

51. Jackie

52. The Nice Guys

I remember when this first released, I pretty much dismissed it as a run-of-the-mill buddy cop movie with bloated, over-the-hill Russell Crowe and cutie Ryan Gosling. Then at the end of 2016, I was surprised to see how many Best-of-the-Year lists it topped, so I decided to give it a chance.

I was not disappointed. I LOVED this movie. It was just straight-up entertaining and so much fun. And you know, no matter how much down-and-dirty gossip I hear about Russell Crowe, he really just commands the screen. Gosling proves himself to be quite the physical comedian here.

It's a complex mystery set in the 70s Boogie Nights era, but feels totally like an 80s movie--written and directed by Shane Black, King of the 80s Buddy Action Flick. The action was ridiculous and over the top--and I would totally watch it again.

53. Manchester by the Sea

54. A Most Violent Year

55. Oldboy

56. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

57. Moonlight

I really believe there are two kind of movies. There are ones that as you watch them, you're like "this is ok, this is fine," and afterwards, the movie slips under the skin and you can't forget it. Then there are movies where, as you're watching them, you're like, "whoa, this is incredible," and when they've have a chance to sink in, you're like "wait a minute. Not so incredible."

Unfortunately, Moonlight falls into the latter category, even though it makes the list of my favorites. It's also one of those movies where the anticipation of seeing it is so much worse than the actual viewing. I thought it was going to be like 12 Years a Slave--I knew I needed to see it, but couldn't bear the idea of how harrowing it was going to be. I was actually pleasantly surprised at how poetic and riveting Moonlight was--I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. But ultimately, the third act, with the main character Chiron as an adult, fell flat and felt somewhat unbelievable. Still, I loved it.

That's all for now. I hoped you enjoyed this list and look forward to more movies to come. And as always, I'll be back with more to love. xoL

spring summer.

2017-03-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Here we are, back again after a lovely weekend.

Today we are loving the paintings of Sanja Milenkovic. I discovered the Serbian artist, now based in Milan and Paris, on one of my favorite sites, Saatchi Art. These beautiful pieces fill me with the ideas of spring, summer and vacation--especially in Europe (we'll see if hat happens this year!).

Says the artist about her work:

“My inspiration comes from different constance [sic] scenes and situations from the real life. The majority of the urban and almost conceptual paintings I am creating is a research on my memory and how snapshots shape can change and create something new. In my works people are playing a major role. I like the moment when the painting is changing and suddenly there is a perfect disorder and some imaginary conversation between the people."

You can see more of Milenkovic's paintings at her site and Saatchi Art.

All art (c) Sanja Milenkovic

And here are a few more things to love today:

I love this movie poster. Via The Red List.

I love this Lentil Baked Ziti recipe via one of my favorite food blogs, Cookie and Kate.

Image (c) Cookie and Kate

And here it is: your Song of the Day.

That's all for now. I'll be back soon with more to love.

sew sarah.

2017-03-16T17:08:00.003-07:00

Hi there, and welcome back!

Today we are loving the embroideries of UK artist Sew Sarah Walton. These stunning pieces encompass some of the most important things in a woman's life: friends, vintage dresses and dogs. That's it. The minimal, free-form designs are punctuated with bright pops of patterns. The effect is simple and sweet--yet mind-bendingly beautiful. Once I saw them, I couldn't get them out of my head. And one day, they will hang in my bedroom.

You can see more of Walton's work at etsy and Instagram.

All images (c) Sew Sarah Walton

And a few more things to love today.

I love Barney's feature on the Best-Dressed of Fashion Month.

Via Barney's

I love this recipe for Creamy Kale Pasta from this food blog by a Minnesota couple.

Via Pinch of Yum

And here it is: your Song of the Day.

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with more to love. <3 br="">

trash riot.

2017-03-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hi, it's Lexa. I'm back and blogging again.

I think I may have mentioned this before, but in 2014 I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, and shortly afterwards I revamped the blog from "Toy Tanks & Chinese Firecrackers" to "Love Lexa." I really wanted to make it about all the things I love so much—art, collage, photography, design, music, food and film—just to name a few. But then the the unexpected happened—I got a new job, I was diagnosed with cancer again and managing a blog full-time just became too much.
After shuttering it for a few months, I was again diagnosed with cancer and this time had to go on disability. I thought the blog would keep me occupied while I rested most days, but the chemo was so draining. On the stronger types of chemo, it's difficult to even watch a movie or read a book. I often resorted to watching sitcoms and SNL sketches. It's all I have the attention span for. Again, I bid the blog good-bye.

And then just this week, that little flicker came back—how much I love scouring the internet for new art and photography and what's closest to my heart—collage. And I thought why not? What the hell? Let's give it another go.

So here we are again, back open for business. I'll just be posting at my own pace, for family and friends and the few people who love what I love as much as I love it. Without any further adieu, let's see what we're loving today...

Many moons ago, I posted a collage by Philadelphia-based artist Trash Riot. I loved it so much, I brought his work back as today's feature. I true "riot" of color, humor and on-what-planet-have-I-landed-ness—heh, heh. This is what I like to call classical collage--50's vintage photos combined with a sci-fi flair. Many throw these images together, but few do it with the artistry of Trash Riot.

Free Falling

Future Landscapes

Laissez Faire

Orbital Noise

Requiem

Skydiving

All images (c) Trash Riot

And here's a few more things to love today.

I love this article "The Final Resting Places of Seven Famous Dogs."

Via Atlas Obscura

I love this vintage film poster.

And I love this: your Song of the Day.

Have a wonderful week. I'll be back with more to love. xoL

sew wandering.

2016-08-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hello! Welcome back. I'm really excited to talk about my latest discovery: Sew Wandering.

Teresa Lim is a Singapore-based artist who combines illustration and embroidery to create the loveliest works of textile art. Her series "Sew Wanderlust" documents her travels around the world with embroidered "postcards" from the many places she's visited. Seriously, these global vignettes are off the chain. You can see more of her stunning pieces at her site on on her Instagram.

Holocaust Memorial, Berlin

Laufersweiler, Germany

Big Ben, London

Charles Bridge, Prague

Tokyo

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

All images (c) Teresa Lim via Daily Mail UK

More to love today.

August Book Covers of Note via Casual Optimist.

Design by Brian Moore

This photo of Jean Shrimpton by Saul Leiter.

And this painting

(c) Sally Muir

That's all for now. I'll be back soon with much more to love. xoL

polaroids.

2016-08-03T21:47:00.001-07:00

Hi there! Today we are loving the photos of Alicia Bock.

Before Instagram made everyone a photography star, you might remember a little site called flickr. During the early age of Flickr (and Blogger), I came across--and fell madly in love with--the Polaroids of Jen Gotch and Alicia Bock. They both inspired me to pick up my own Polaroid camera, a momentous event (wink, wink) which led to the creation of this blog. Alas, it was just before Polaroid announced they would stop making film--not to mention film becoming near obsolete with the following Age of Smart Phones with Fancy Filters and Apps.

While Jen has gone on to great fame as the CEO of ban.do, Alicia continues to post her breathtaking images on Instagram, her site and her etsy store. While Alicia photographs her travels to places such as Paris and Chicago, she mostly snaps pics of her home life in Michigan--and makes it feel like the loveliest place in the universe.

Here are some of the (now vintage) Polaroids that sparked the love affair with Alicia Bock. And you can see much more of her work here, here and here.

A Fine Way to Spend the Afternoon

Beside the Little Red House

2900 Miles #6

Pretty Pony

Whispering Wind

The Renault

All images © Alicia Bock

A few more things to love today.

I've been meaning to watch the Netflix-streaming film In the Loop for so long, and I finally did it! Loved it. A wincingly funny take on U.S. and UK bureaucrats causally planning the next war in the Middle East. I also love this series of posters that wickedly riffs on the iconic Obama "Hope" design.

This collage.

By Trash Riot

And this room.

Via Design Files

That's all for today, but I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

spaceman.

2016-07-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hi there, and welcome back. Today we are loving the paintings of Scott Listfield, who has the best artist statement ever:

"I paint about astronauts. And sometimes dinosaurs."

I love following his journey of a lone astronaut who wanders through nearby cities, distant lands and historical eras—with a more-than-occasional glimpse of pop culture icons.

Where is is this astronaut? What time is he in? Is he from earth or a galaxy far, far away? Is it pre-historic? Or post-apocalyptic? His work is like a non-stop Twilight Zone episode, only funnier and in prettier colors. You can see more of his marvelous paintings on his site and Instagram.

A Very Large Robot

The Man Who Fell to Earth

Shadows of Dangerous Men

The Parking Ticket

It's a Quest of Simian Survival

Post-Nuclear Guggenheim Visit

All images © Scott Listfield

And a few more things to love today.

This photo.

Latin Quarter Show Girl, Paris 1950s by Peter Basch

This collage.

By Scott Sueme

And this poster—from Notebook's retrospective of Anna Karina's lesser known, non-Godard films.

Thanks for taking a look! I'll be back soon with more to love.

ghosts.

2016-07-03T14:37:00.003-07:00

We're back!

Today we're loving the collages of Winnipeg artist Paul Butler. Spare and haunting, Butler creates urban spaces where ghosts weave in and among us. These images are from his series "What's Within." In partnership with Montreal's Division Gallery, L.A.'s @Four Six One will be presenting Butler's work, along with a group of Canadian artists on July 6. The details are all here. And you can view more of Butler's minimal collages here.

All images © Paul Butler

And here are a few more things to love.

Finally read and loved Just Kids by Patti Smith.

Photo © Norman Seeff

On a recent visit to Minneapolis, I fell in love with Five Watt Coffee. Their house specialties sound more like craft cocktails. I oped for the Busy Beaver, but if I still lived in the Twin Cities, I'd be working my way through the entire menu. Every drink looked amazing.

And I love this Picasso.

Violin, 1912

That's all for now. Have a wonderful 4th of July, and I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

dream world.

2015-12-23T21:49:00.000-08:00

We hereby interrupt your holiday frenzy to take you to dreamy world for a few moments of wonder and peace...

Today we are loving the the photo collages of Indonesian artist Jati Putra Pratama. It's easy to call most any collage art "surreal" or "dreamlike"--where vintage magazine cutouts float away into space or dive into cups of coffee. While these scenarios appear in Putra's pieces, his softly juxtaposed photos are a universe of their own, one that defies gravity, nature and logic. You can see more of his work on Instagram.

All art © Jati Putra Pratama

Here's a few more things to love--before we take off on our holiday break.

This painting.

The Confidence Man, 1919 by Guy Pène du Bois

This photo of parrots. Via The Guardian.

Photo by Jaipal Singh/EPA

And this octopus typewriter (!). Via This is Colossal.

That's it for now. Have a wonderful holiday, and I'll be back next week with more to love. xoL

brock collection.

2015-12-16T21:23:00.002-08:00

We're back! And we haven't talked about fashion in awhile. Let's do that today.

I mean, there are enough fashion bloggers out there in the internet-o-sphere--doing their thing (and doing a fine job of it). If you've been a reader of this blog for any time, you know I prefer to focus on the corners of the world that exist outside of the spotlight and the glamour. But sometimes a designer makes me say, "Hey, that's really cool," and "I would totally wear that."

The Spring 2016 line of the up-and-coming Brock Collection is making me say, "Damn! I wished I had married some money, so I could have all of this in my closet with one phone call."

Cool and effortless, classic and hip, casually architectural--these designs feel like a Soho art gallery come to life. I love them. Kristopher Brock and Laura Vassar, the husband-and-wife team behind the Brock Collection, are truly a breath of fresh, fashionable air, and I look forward to seeing more from them in 2016 and beyond.

All photos Peter Goldman via the Brock Collection

And just a few more things to love today.

This collage.

Cosmetic Massacre by Eugenia Loli

This photo.

Tokyo, Japan, 1964 by Michael Rougier

And these wall designs. Via Anabô.

That's all for now. As always, I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

swimmer.

2015-12-14T20:22:00.001-08:00

Hi there, and welcome back. Hope your week is looking good.

Today we are loving the paintings of swimmers by Colombian artist Pedro Covo. They're the definition of tranquil, wouldn't you say? I love how the shades of blue and green meld with the nudes, the same way bodies do when they splash into water. There's something so peaceful about swimming alone in your personal watering hole. Covo paints other portraits and nudes, too, with the same mesmerizing sweeps of color and abstract brush strokes. You can see more of his work at his site and on Instagram. Via This is Colossal.

All art © Pedro Covo

Just a few more things to love today.

This photo. Via By the way...

Harlem, 1960 © Saul Leiter

These John O'Hara book covers.

Cover designs by Hans Tisdall

And these stills from Paris, Texas.

That's all for today. I'll be back this week with more to love.

but first coffee.

2015-12-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Let's not waste any time today, and get right to it.

Please join me in loving the java-themed paintings of Boston-based artist Susan Jane Belton. Her charming works of disposable coffee cups emblazoned with a plethora of logos are deceptively simple. They illustrate the prevalence of branding, the ubiquity of corporate identities--less-than-friendly artistic subjects--and transform them into provocative works of art. Her renderings of piles, stacks and rows of empties not only highlight our mass consumption but our addiction (and yes, guilty as charged) to this universal elixir that's magically both energizing and soothing.

Belton expresses it so eloquently on her artist's statement:

"This work is about what I do while I write letters and think about

all these urgent, global concerns and feel frustrated and powerless.

I drink coffee. I drink a lot of coffee. It's a constant in my life. I drink

it to think. I drink it to comfort. I drink it to celebrate. I drink it to

socialize...I wonder if there is any connection between global issues

and our private, automatic behaviors, like drinking coffee."

These delightful, often mesmerizing, paintings are really a brilliant comment on the modern world. You can see more of Belton's work on her site.

All art © Susan Jane Belton

A few more things to love today:

You know what always breaks my heart wide open? An unlikely animal friendship. Witness that of a female wolf and a male bear captured in the Norwegian wilderness by photographer Lassi Rautianen. Via Bored Panda.

Photo © Lassi Rautianen

I love these never-before-published photos of Brooklyn Heights and the story behind them. In 1958, a young Truman Capote, shortly after the publication of Breakfast at Tiffany's, was being profiled by Holiday magazine. He took the assigned photographer on a tour of his Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Only four of Dave Attie's shots were featured in the article.

The rest of the 800(!) photographs were stashed in the back of a closet for decades, only to be unearthed by Attie's son and published in a new book Brooklyn: A Personal Memoir with the Lost Photos of Dave Attie. I feel like this is such a common street photography story, and I'm always fascinated by it. Via Atlas Obscura.

Photos © Dave Attie

And tomorrow night (Thursday, 12/10), photographer Vincent Laforet shows from his new book Air, a series of his gorgeous, nighttime aerial photography at Fahey/Klein, 7-9 p.m.

Photo © Vincent Laforet

That's all for now. I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

abandoned.

2015-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Well, hi! We're back, and today we're loving "Abandoned & Forgotten," the photographs of Jan Stel.

Abandoned buildings always stir the imagination. They conjure ghost stories, horror films (Session 9, anyone?) and general tales of darkness. No happy endings here (although they're always more interesting).

Since 1998, Stel has devoted his entire career to photographing abandoned places, from subway tunnels and manufacturing plants to private homes, cars--even a castle! The result is a fascinating world of lost and forgotten lives. States the artist:

"Most of the general public only see decay, vandalism and ruins;

I look much deeper. Silenced by men, our man-built world is

now being reclaimed by Mother Nature; it seems a desolate and

soulless place but is still full of history and life."

You can see more of these amazing photos at Stel's site and on Behance.

All images © Jan Stel

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A few more things to love today:

This cover for Wüthering Heights by illustrator Hayley Potter.

Art © Hayley Potter

This Picasso.

Portrait of Dora Maar, 1936

And Notebook's feature: The Best Film Posters of 2015. You know I love a good end-of-year list!

Design by Eric Buckham

That's all for today--but you know I'll be back with more to love. xoL

nature, interrupted.

2015-12-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

Hi there. We're back, and we are loving the landscapes of Mary Iverson.

Iverson's unique paintings are often called dystopian or apocalyptic, but I feel like there is something that's both deeper and more subtle at work here. Her breathtaking landscapes are dotted with shipping containers and often ships themselves--sinking or crashing into their natural surroundings. These pieces have a feel that's both historical and futuristic--a pattern throughout the eras of history, underscored by the graph lines that crisscross and run through her paintings. It's nature on the brink of collapse, rudely interrupted by the industrial and commercial worlds. And yet, it's clear that the natural world will always endure; it's still far more powerful than any of the man made forces constantly working against it.

You can see more of Iverson's work at her site. Via Juxtapoz.

All art © Mary Iverson

And a few more things to love today:

This heartwarming story of a goat who was fed to a tiger, was not afraid of the tiger, so the tiger made the goat his constant companion. Via My Modern Metropolis.

Love this story on a forest in Poland where all 400 trees are bent at a 90-degree angle, facing due North. Cue the conspiracy theories and horror screenplay synopses. Via This is Colossal.

And finally, I love "Locals Only," a Hugh Holland's series of photographs from the 70s of skateboarders in Venice, L.A. and S.F. Via UFunk.

That's all for now. I'll be back tomorrow with more to love. xoL

street.

2015-12-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Welcome back. After some holiday vacay and a few days to fix technical glitches, we are ready to get our love on again. So, please join me in adoring the incredible street photos of Janet Delaney.

Like many, I was floored my last year's documentary Finding Vivian Maier, and it piqued my interest in street photography. Updating the old cliché, "every picture tells a story," I think every street photo tells a Russian novel. Ok, maybe that's pushing it. Every street photo tells a Chekovian short story--or maybe a Dostoevsky novella.

In addition to her storytelling, or story "capturing," I love the composition of Delaney's photos. She snaps the most fleeting of moments--split seconds in time--where the background and subject are in perfect balance--like a great painting. Although Delaney is based in the Bay Area, these photos are from her series, "New York City 1984-88." She has equally mesmerizing collections on South of Market (San Francisco), Dehli, Beijing, Athens and Istanbul. You can see all of her work at her site. Via Miss Moss.

And a few more things to love today:

This book cover. From: "Book Covers of Note, November 2015" via The Casual Optimist.

Design by Strick & Williams

This Cactus Watercolor Wall Mural via anewalldecor.

And this painting. Via MyDarlingFlowers.

La violoniste, 1920, Kees Van Dongen

That's all for now. I'll be back tomorrow with more to love. xoL

lost highways.

2015-11-13T21:39:00.001-08:00

Hi there! Welcome back. Let's not waste any time and get to the love.

Today we are loving the paintings of Long Island-based artist Grant Haffner. Lonely roads dotted only with telephone poles come alive with neon skies. A deceptive emptiness is transformed with mesmerizing plays of color. You don't care where it all leads. You're just happy to be on the the best road trip ever. You can see more of these stunning pieces at Haffner's site and on Instagram. Via UFunk.

Also loving: tomorrow night's (Saturday, November 14) art openings.

FP Contemporary hosts "In Tribute," a retrospective of artist Dirk De Bruycker, who passed away this year. 6-8 p.m.

Allois presents "No Particular Night or Morning" at the bG Gallery, 6-9 p.m.

And the David Kordansky Gallery shows "Starfuker" by Aaron Curry, 6-8 p.m.

That's all for now. I'll be back next week with more to love. xoL

space.

2015-11-11T10:04:00.002-08:00

Hi there! Can you believe it's already the middle of the week? Almost the middle of November? I cannot. I just CAN'T!

So. Let's get right to what we're loving today--the collages of UK artist Joe Webb. Using only two or three images, a pair of scissors and NO Photoshop or any type of graphic manipulation, Webb's deceptively simple and elegantly surreal pieces make quiet statements on the political, social and environmental.

I'm especially fond of his collages created from vintage movie star imagery and playful uses of negative space. Again--in the most minimal way--the artist illuminates the fleeting--and ultimately--empty nature of cinematic romance and fantasy. You can see more of his work at his site and Saatchi Art.

And here's a few more things to love.

This Norman Parkinson photo. Via Beetles and Huxley.

Wenda and the Ostriches, 1951

This fan poster for Mulholland Drive. Via Notebook.

Art (c) Kevin Tong

And art on the ceiling--yay! Via Carla Aston.

That's all for now. I'll be back with more this week. xoL

weekend.

2015-11-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

Hello, and TGIF to you! There's so much to do this weekend--let's not waste any time and get right to what we're loving.

First up: I wanted to tell you about an art show hosted by my sweet and delightful friend Maggie Parr. Maggie will be presenting a 20-year retrospective of her work, featuring both her fine art and the commercial work she's done for Disney. 20 years encompasses a lot of work, so prepare for an intense show. I'm particularly a fan of Maggie's Carousel Horse series. Six01 Studio in Burbank, 6-9 p.m.

There's lots of music and art to love this weekend, and I'd love to give you all the details. But I'm a bit pressed for time today, so I'm providing all the links for you to check it out.

Tonight (Friday, November 6th) Regen Projects premieres John Bock's "Three Sisters." 6-8 p.m.

Tomorrow night (Saturday, November 7th) Kenton Parker is showing "By Any Means Necessary" at the CES Gallery. 7-9 p.m.

Another wonderful event on Saturday night: Jane Brockman hosts her series Music and Conversations featuring the Lyris Quartet. If you're a reader of this blog, you know I'm a HUGE Lyris fan. Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, 7 p.m.

Saturday night also has Thinkspace hosting Brian Viveros's latest show, "Matador." 6:30-10 p.m.

And Michael O'Neill celebrates his book (10 years in the making!) On Yoga: The Architecture of Peace at Taschen Books. 7-9 p.m.

Debra Scacco presents "The Letting Go" at Klowden Mann.6-8 p.m.

On Sunday afternoon, the New West Symphony (with new concertmaster Alyssa Park, of the aforementioned Lyris Quartet) performs an all-Mendelssohn concert at Barnum Hall in Santa Monica. 4 p.m.

And James Turrell(!!) is at Kayne Griffin Corcoran. 4-6 p.m.

This is not a Netflix and chill kind of weekend. Get out there, and have some fun. See you next week.! xoL

landscapes.

2015-11-04T17:32:00.001-08:00

Hi there, and welcome back!

Today, we are loving the paintings of Melbourne artist Kate Shaw. These amazing, riot-of-color landscapes are created using collage techniques and pouring the paint directly onto the canvas. While they're a celebration of the natural world, the intensity and artificiality of the colors suggests the manipulation of humanity on the environment. As the artist states on her site:

               "This intersection of creation and corruption in Shaw's alchemical
                creations teases out our conflicted relationship with nature--a
                relationship fraught with awe and fear, closeness and distance."

You can see more of Shaw's unique work at her site. And when you buy one of her prints, she donates 10% of the proceeds to charities like Save the Children, Greenpeace, Pets Haven and more. Via Beautiful Decay.

And just a few more things to love today:

This collage. Via Crayola Dreams.

This Polish film poster for Vertigo. Via Creative Review.

And this painting. Via Berfrois.

The Reading Light, 1884, Georg Pauli

That's all for now. I'll be back soon with a very special edition of LL.

xoL

up in the sky.

2015-10-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Hello again! We're back, and today we are loving the conceptual photos of Logan Zillmer.

As you may have noticed, I've been on a surreal kick lately, so clearly I was drawn to Zillmer's imaginative, dreamy--and very amusing photo work. Blues skies, clouds and green fields. An air of whimsical, a hint of the cinematic and an obvious nod to Magritte. I just love it all. You can see more of Zillmer's work at his site. Via UFunk.

A few more things to love, before we venture out into the weekend.

The cutout newspapers of Myriam Dion. Via Beautiful/Decay.

The cut paper and lightbox dioramas of Hari and Deepti. Via This is Colossal.

And these dresses from the Gucci S/S 2016 collection. Via Tommy Ton.

That's all for now. Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back on Monday with more to love.

into the wild.

2015-10-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

Hey there--we're back. Hope you're enjoying the week, and here's a little something to get you to Friday.

I've been wanting to feature the work of artist Andreas Lie for quite some time. These unique prints blend portraits of wild animals and double exposed photographs of forests, mountains--even the Northern Lights. I would imagine these are all common sights in the artist's home of Norway. I like to imagine myself hiking the fjords at nighttime, bears and coyotes galloping at my side.

The details of the photos often mesh perfectly with the texture of the animals' coats. It's as if nature is encompassed within the animal, fading into their silhouettes. If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I love that kind of thing.

Lie's work has been featured on Beautiful Decay, UFunk, This is Colossal and many other art sites. His pieces are available as prints and on other assorted merchandise at Society6.

More to love:

This chair and painting from Rachel Bilson's home. Via Lonny magazine.

Photo: Douglas Friedman via Lonny

This cover for my favorite novel.

Source: Trevor Baum

And this Saul Leiter photo.

Source: The New Yorker

That's all for today. I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

sammy slabbinck.

2015-10-18T20:56:00.001-07:00

Hi! Took a little break last week, because we were feeling a tad under the 100+ degree weather, but we're back with some wonderful stuff to love.

Today, we're featuring the incredible collages of Belgian artist Sammy Slabbinck. A sense of whimsy, vintage images, surreal worlds and bonus--giant women. These works of art have it all. Time, place and scale are all out of whack, the proportions are distorted and yet it's all in perfect harmony. They make me giggle. I could stare at them all day and always see a little something new.

You can view more of these brilliant pieces at the artist's site. Via Beautiful Decay.

And here's a few more things for you to love:

This photo. I've nicknamed it "Linda Evangelista, the Glory Days."

These ocean wave decals from 3rdAveShore on etsy.

And this Matisse.

Portrait of Greta Pozor, 1916 via i killed jack johnson

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL