(Art) crushing

I am crushing, ok, let's be real - loving, obsessing(??) - over this artist I found on Pinterest a couple days ago. 
Love her.

Love.

Love.

Love! 

She is one of my new art crushes!

Her name is Starla Halfmann and she is a burgeoning artist out of Austin, Texas. 

One day, I decided to check out the "everything" option on Pinterest and as I was scrolling down the page caught a glimpse of this painting...

Painting (c) Starla Halfmann. Photo courtesy http://paintabirdaday.com/.

I flipped! 

The color!  The whimsey!  The flowers!  

I scrolled through her whole website.  I clicked to a place where I could purchase.  After conversing with Starla on Pinterest (a very friendly, helpful gal she is too!) I bought two.  One for our living room and one for someone I can't name yet because it is a gift.  :)

Here's her current project idea according to her website:

I typically paint huge impasto oil paintings that are heavily symbolic with a dreamlike quality; however, since large scale work like this usually takes months, I’ve decided to change it up! So I’m going to challenge myself to try and paint a bird a day.  It’ll be my daily “workout” as an artist. Some days I might paint 3 – some days I might not finish one. Regardless, I will post something daily. Each bird painting will have a quote or inspirational message on the back of the canvas  depending on what I was feeling when I painted it. - Starla Halfmann

To crank out something like this daily - let alone ever! -  just blows my mind.  I could never, ever do that and I envy those that have the artistic ability to do so.

Here is today's bird.  I want it too.  In fact, I commented on her pin of this painting that I have a feeling I'll be buying a lot of her stuff this year...

Painting (c) Starla Halfmann. Photo courtesy http://paintabirdaday.com/.

Here is a painting I am DYING, absolutely DYING over, but isn't part of the Paint A Bird A Day series...

Painting (c) Starla Halfmann. Photo courtesy http://pinterest.com/pin/78601955966291135/

Take a look at her Pinterest page at her other artwork.  Isn't she amazing?  http://pinterest.com/starlahalfmann/www-starlamichelle-com/

There is another artist, of the best friend type, who's got a cool thing going on too!  Since I'm not sure if she wants to be named I will stick to her Etsy handle of sevenwing. 

I just saw her newest piece and was amazed.  Honestly, I didn't realize how much talent she had!  This is "I Love You :12 Languages."  Check out the detail behind the words (you might have to blow it up to see it better)...

Painting (c) sevenwing.  Photo courtesy http://tinyurl.com/7b4k789.

Amazing! 

Now, to find wall space for all my new art crushes!