indie artist spotlights

Maya Land: a taste of the surreal

~ jama ~ 4 Comments

Hungry? Dive right in! Today’s Soup of the Day was cooked up by London-based surreal collage artist Maya Land. 🙂

We all crave something different from time to time; images that blend fantasy with reality can satisfy our sometimes quirky appetites. Until I recently stumbled upon Maya’s work, I didn’t realize surreal collage art was “a thing.” I’ve since noticed other artists who create similar pieces.

Surreal Collage Artist Maya Land.

But back to Maya. A native Londoner, she’s been interested in art since the age of 5. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Greenwich, then studied oil painting at The Art Academy. After graduating, she soon realized collage art was her true love and hasn’t looked back since.

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ginny p. worsley: winsome, warm and welcoming

~ jama ~ 4 Comments

Why, hello! You’re just in time for Sunday Brunch. Take a seat and help yourself to pancakes and milk. Thanks to Ginny P. Worsley’s charming painting, everyone’s welcome to linger for a leisurely meal and friendly conversation.

This piece immediately caught my eye as it speaks to my love of naive art and my special interest in interiors (especially kitchens and dining rooms). If there’s a table set with cute crockery, or vintage textiles and furnishings in a cozy room, I’m all in. I like the calm and comfort of quiet, domestic spaces and appreciate the joys of common experiences depicted with just the right touch of nostalgia.

Tennessee artist Ginny P. Worsley in her home studio.

Imagine my delight when discovering that “Pancakes and Milk” wasn’t a stand alone painting, but a piece from Worsley’s Sunday Brunch Collection! Whether “Cereal & Bananas,” “Oatmeal & Honey,” or “Toast & Tea,” I could just imagine myself stepping into each scene and becoming part of the story. Yes, I have a weakness for floral wallpaper. 🙂

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Melanie Vugich’s Lovely Still Life Paintings

~ jama ~ 5 Comments

A longtime fan of beautiful tablescapes, I was happy to stumble upon Australian artist Melanie Vugich’s still life paintings recently. Her oil on canvas pieces are a pleasure to behold with their interesting objects, inventive compositions, and rich, bold colors.

I do enjoy seeing what others have collected and how they create a visual story to reflect their mood of the moment. This, in turn, gives the viewer a chance to pause, reflect, and appreciate the familiar in new ways. Melanie’s still lifes are characterized by their sense of intimacy, personal history and cherished memories.

photo of Melanie Vugich in her studio by Jordan Wheatley via Cornerstore Gallery.

Melanie grew up in the remote outback town of Broken Hill in New South Wales, and has been painting since childhood. Even though she didn’t know any female artists or had never visited any major art galleries, she always knew she would be an artist.

Living in such a remote part of the country without many external influences allowed my imagination to run wild, and all of the early childhood paintings my Mum stashed away are a bright and happy reflection of this.

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rommydebommy redux

~ jama ~ 8 Comments
More than just a cake, it’s a handbag!

Happy 10th Birthday to RommydeBommy! 2025 is a banner year marking a decade of being in business!

Today we’re excited to feature more of Netherlands artist and designer Rommy Kuperus’s amazing wearable art. Back in October 2015, she was one of the first artists we interviewed for our Indie Artist Spotlight series. We were blown away by her over-the-top, fun and fanciful food-inspired handbags, purses, and fashion accessories.

We were impressed by how she made everything by hand herself, creating unique, drool-worthy pieces. Now, 10 years later, she’s still a one-woman operation and continues to wow everyone with new designs that defy belief. Whether croissants, a stack of pancakes, a loaf of bread, layer cakes, s’mores, fish ‘n chips, cherry pies, burritos, tacos, TV dinners, fruit tarts, hot cross buns, on and on — all of her hand-painted clay-foam accessories look sooooo realistic and continue to turn heads.

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Paige Spearin: of bunnies, bars and beds

~ jama ~ 12 Comments

Basket of apples, please. Or maybe a baguette from the local bakery. Then we can settle in for a relaxing game of backgammon, cozy up with a book, or putter in the garden.

(I like your long ears and whiskers, btw.) 🐰🐰🐰

Fun, whimsical, playful: when you step into a Paige Spearin painting, you know you’re going to have a good time. Inspired by things she truly enjoys (travel, tennis, skiing, interior design, parties, flowers, bike riding), Paige works her magic with India ink, watercolor, gouache, and sometimes acrylic and oil.

Paige Spearin in her home studio.

An artist and surface designer based in Winnetka, Illinois, Paige specializes in creating fine art, illustration, textile design and custom stationery. After earning a BFA in Fibers from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2008, she began working with Lilly Pulitzer, where she was a print designer for over 16 years. She’s now self-employed, having established Paige Spearin Studio in 2019.

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