As part of our Artistic Endeavors series, artist and art-lover Carrie Bergman aka BergmansBear shares her favorite original paintings found in Etsy’s treasure troves of Art.
One of the things I love about art — painting
s in particular — is how the artist can choose to display or withhold the visual information that allows your brain to make sense of what you are seeing. My favorite artwork usually contains secret symbolism, ambiguity, and situations that grow more mysterious or illogical the longer you look at them. Here, I’ve picked pieces that inhabit that foggy zone between the familiar and the unknown.
Like an illustration from a lost storybook by Francisco Goya. The beasts have strange and wonderful powers. I want to explore the world where this scene is taking place! By spenfold1, $550.
A bizarre and disturbing situation, beautifully presented, with just the right amount of missing information. I can’t stop looking at this painting. By thomasdeininger, $120.
small hands II – original painting
I love the texture of this tiny piece (check out the detail shot). To me, it conjures up thoughts of magic and rituals, prehistoric cave paintings, and transmutation. By NuitBlanche, $60.
I love the way her head floats, detached, amidst the bundled sheets, and the subtle contrast of her pink skin with the grey-green wall. Calming and comforting, but also mysterious. By garyjwhitehead, $300.
I own a print of this ink painting, and am really glad to see that Justin Durand has finally come to Etsy! He illustrates some very unusual characters. Mr. Prancer doesn’t seem human, exactly…I like to think of him as a kind of spirit that has assumed human form to prance around and play, oblivious to the elements, so that he can wear fancy footwear. By justindurand, $125.
Personal Mantra Power in the Repeats
When I go through periods of anxiety, I make myself feel better by imagining that everything in the world—every person, animal, object, everything—is just endlessly reflecting love to me and everyone else as a kind of net of support for each other. I was instantly reminded of that by this ink painting, but what I especially love is the juxtaposition of the uplifting words with those confounding brown shapes in the middle of everything. By nucrone, $30.
The puppet-characters from “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” loomed large in my imagination as a kid, especially King Friday, who morphed in my mind into a simultaneously frightening yet kind father-figure-archetype. All in silhouette except for adornment and a large staring eye, the little kings painted by Iris Schwarz evoke that same feeling from the corners of my memory. By irisschwarz, $28.
Eliza in gloves – original gouache watercolour painting on paper
Cathy Cullis’s amazing embroidered and painted images are like secret fairytales. Eliza, ghostly and innocent, poses sweetly with her menacing gloved hands. By cathycullis, $40.
March Fields, Larger Landscape Painting on Paper, Original
I want to adopt Harry Stooshinoff’s work ethic: “There is a desire to bear witness every day. It seems negligent not to record how the world looked and felt today…..it will be very different tomorrow.” His shop is filled with beautiful glimpses and memory fragments. This acrylic painting is one of my favorites. It reminds me of my own memories of tromping around in wintry New England fields. By Paintbox, $200.
I’m not quite sure how to explain why I am so attracted to this image; all I know is that it makes me really happy! I want to be tangled in a balloon string, drifting with my feet off the ground. By TheSmallFactory, $150.
Looking for more artwork? Stay tuned for the rest of the Artistic Endeavors series.
Art Category | More Art Related Posts | Painting Category
Original Paintings | Art for Every Room Showcase
What’s your favorite painting on Etsy? Post in the comments below!
49 comments
Sign in to add your ownsagittariusgallery says:
Some truly powerful pieces chosen here. I have had Bergmans "The Whale Took My Grandparents" in my faves for quite a while. It's breathtaking.
3 years ago
lynncyrart says:
Oh - what beautiful pieces!! Imagine having all of these pieces in your home... how lucky would that be! Art is very subjective, and that's the beauty of it :)
3 years ago
Sinta says:
Ooooh gorgeous pieces! I like 'They Fall down'. Very dark, shadowed and brings up creep factor. I like!
3 years ago
yaelfran says:
oh, wonderful taste!!!!!
3 years ago
AnthologiE says:
I love Mr. Prancer, too. Great interpretation of him :) He does look quite playful, and definitely proud of that footwear! The expressiveness of annaslezak's work is beautiful as well.
3 years ago
OffTheHooks says:
great paintings- its great to have some articles focused on the "art" side of etsy. The first 2 paintings are definately my fave; great references to art history & modern day life.
3 years ago
lauratrevey says:
LOVE Walking the Weiner!!
3 years ago
MRSBAUBLES says:
Thank you Carrie, for taking me on a "walk" through some of Etsy's fine arts. Carrie's description of each painting was so eloquent. The next time I see a painting on etsy that gives me pause, I will not just click it away. I will take the time to really think about why I stopped to look at it.
3 years ago
TheMayofTeckClub says:
beautiful!
3 years ago
jamieribisi says:
So refreshing to see original art selections on Etsy and lots of fresh new faces-- Make a front page from this!! :) I love Paintbox's work-- I own a few of his paintings and they are truly intricate and amazing.
3 years ago
fricdementol says:
Aewsome choices!
3 years ago
michelemaule says:
Wonderful choices. Found some new favorites!
3 years ago
TeenAngster says:
I am in love with all of these paintings.
3 years ago
elizandaxel says:
Fabulous paintings!!
3 years ago
leahgiberson says:
Love the selection of work here.
3 years ago
EpicBones says:
i LOVE the featured image!!!
3 years ago
rosetung says:
OH. MY. gosh. CARRIE! we went to college together!!! i am going to write you a peronal msg soon. i always loved your art and POV and personality :) so happy to discover you here. love what you have to say about all the pieces here. people!!! Carrie was a big stand-out in college, as an artist. She is wonderful and amazingly talented! I'm excited!
3 years ago
Mattson says:
Nice works, all, and nice curating! Thanks!
3 years ago
slidesideways says:
It's a truly great selection you've got here.
3 years ago
Ozknits says:
Wow! Some amazing artists. I found some new favs :)
3 years ago
weirdwolf says:
Fantastic work! I'm thrilled to see paintings featured... And Bergmans Bear is a personal favorite!
3 years ago
Babalu says:
These are very beautiful as well as inspirational, thanks so much for bringing them into view.
3 years ago
bread says:
Really great choices,Ive loved the Paintbox peices for some time now.
3 years ago
alamodeplease says:
weiner doggies!!!
3 years ago
VedaArts says:
beautiful collection. very random.
3 years ago
jeannesu says:
I will love everything - especially the weiner dogs!
3 years ago
spareGus says:
haunting and beautiful work presented here!
3 years ago
rebeccarebouche says:
i agree about the balloon string metaphor on the "force recoil" piece. what a nice mental image. the wind forcefully flapping, tight rope tension on the playful long string. last year for valentines day my boyfriend placed red balloons strategically along my walk to work. one of them had a REALLY long string and it was waving back and forth across the street, high in the blue sky. it's such a nice memory, me standing there in the early morning sun, coiling that long string to bring the balloon down to me. :)
3 years ago
groundwork says:
I really love your work and everything you've selected here. Wonderful job!
3 years ago
blnoopesup says:
I keep reminding myself I have adopted this mantra!
3 years ago
Lundberg says:
Very nice to see original work presented on here.. these are some very good examples...many new ones I have never seen before... :)
3 years ago
calloohcallay says:
Love this series--keep it up! Some wonderful artists here.
3 years ago
Krystyna81 says:
interesting pieces. The curator has put together a well-thought out and cohesive collection. Keep in mind that there are all kinds of beautiful original art here on Etsy, done in a variety of styles and media. I look forward to features that hi-light a broad range of the fabulous Art etsy has to offer.
3 years ago
rosetung says:
yes! echo-ing Krystyna81. How bout some sculpture?! That would be cool. Sculptors have a tougher time than 2D artist no? Everyone has walls. Not everyone has space for 3D work. Let's help promote them!
3 years ago
mloartwear says:
It is so amazing and refreshing to find two articles concentrating on the visual art. I like especially the fact that you decide to emphasize on what makes a artwork "successful"; the fact that one can find in it so many different interpretations and answers and also I like the fact that you chose to select originals. Thank you for a well-thought selection!
3 years ago
TheCottageCheese says:
Paintbox is a poet as well. Thanks so much for introducing us to these incredibly talented artists!
3 years ago
debhillart says:
It is staggering how much art is here. When one considers the difficulty of simply narrowing it down to these choices you had your work cut out for you before you started. I liked small hands and walking the weiner, the first for its exuberance and the other for feeling sunny and social.
3 years ago
beyeler says:
So beautiful and interesting!
3 years ago
artdecadence says:
Love your choices here...so interesting...and all covetable...
3 years ago
GollyBard says:
So many lovely pieces selected!
3 years ago
kristensteinfineart says:
So many great picks. Lovely and mysterious.
3 years ago
irisschwarz says:
Oh Carrie, this could be my choice - I love all those works! YOUR paintings are beautiful. Thank you so much for adding one of my pieces and your note about King Friday...
3 years ago
treeartist says:
Very unique and creative artwork.
3 years ago
windowsill says:
so good. i will come back to so many of these pieces.
3 years ago
juliebcreative says:
cool!
3 years ago
BluCille says:
Some good ideas. Very creative.
3 years ago
merrydaledolls says:
Excellent collection of original art. I love to browse through the original drawings and paintings on etsy.
3 years ago
Penni1 says:
"Betsy Sleeping" is wonderful-
3 years ago
miladyproductions says:
wow, i haven't had that sort of wow moment on etsy for a while...i absolutely lOVE your work in the same way i absolutely LOVE Amanda Blake's art. Thank you!
3 years ago