If where you live is anything like here, May flowers are a bit lacking. (Possibly from a lack of April showers, but that’s another story.) In any case, for the flower-deprived, check out these, what she dubs “flower constructions”, by artist Anne Ten Donkelaar. Crafted from photos and meticulously collaged, these beauties are filled with bright and cheery colours. Plus, look closely – they pop off the page as if truly alive and casting the most delicate little shadows back onto their bed of white. Pretty neat, huh?

Images via Anne Ten Donkelaar

I’m a bit lost for the right words. But that’s okay; sometimes something is so overwhelmingly awesome, words don’t even seem to be on the same level. They are inferior. And in this case, words couldn’t possibly begin to describe the art of Kristjana S Williamas. It’s beyond words. Her work seems to be living in its own fantastical realm of magic and mysticism with incredibly intricate illustrations filled with vivid bright bursts of colour, exotic creatures of Jabberwocky or Wonderland-esque nature, and landscapes overflowing at every inch with flora and fauna of every sort imaginable like the most artful and imaginative scientific textbook never published. Composed of hundreds of layers of collage, it’s no wonder I’m near speechless and 110% mesmerised. Look on and join me in my wonderment.

Images via Kristjana S Williams

I’ve always had an affinity for local folk art. It’s one of the things I always look for when exploring new places. When I was in Australia last summer, I fell in love with the colourful and animated style of artwork the indigenous peoples created. Sadly, I didn’t take as many notes as I wish I had now looking back, but one name I’ve found scribbled in my notebook was Gloria Petyarre. I adore the offbeat simplicity of it all, the unpretentiousness of the blots of colour and the inherent movement in each piece. And of course, there’s the vibrant colours. How could those bright, monochromatic palettes in all shades of the rainbow not bring a giant smile to your face? They radiate cheer, happiness, whimsy! And that’s how I like it.

For the interested, you can check out more of Gloria Petyarre’s (and other aboriginal Australian aritsts’) work at Aboriginal Art World.

Images via Aboriginal Art World.

A well done double exposure is pretty rare and incredible on its own. Now take that piece of art and turn it into a painting. That’s just what artist Pakayla Biehn did in her Double Exposures series: turned a handful of double exposures by a series of photographers, and painted them. Wait a second, a painting, you say? Yuppers! These are all paintings! Incredible, right? The close attention to detail is almost unbelieable. You’d almost never know these weren’t photographs, that’s how incredibly realistic Pakayla’s work is. This level of precision and photo-realism kind of boggles my mind a little bit. In the best possible way. Because … just WOW.

Images via Pikayla Biehn.

Today I’m obsessed with this floral painting infused editorial for 10 Magazine. Because it’s really flippin’ rad. And flowers are about 50 times cooler when 50 times their natural size. In my books, when in doubt, always go over-sized with florals. These beauties were painted directly over top of a set of photographs for a spiffin’ multi-mixed media look – photography, painting and fashion. Works for me!

Images via Trendland, found via sfgirlbybay.