Minako Saitoh Botsford is a (figurative) illustrator from Tokyo, Japan who creates digital paintings of fashion, pin-up girls, beauty and fantasy using Photoshop. Her work is available for commercial advertising agency work for fashion, urban culture, women’s themes, magazine and book publishing, cosmetic and beauty companies, retail and corporate in house freelance work. An highlight of her portfolio is the icon section made for the ‘Ohimesama Exhibition’ held in Gallery Dazzle (Aoyama, Tokyo, 2006), it’s full of these 50s style fashion fantasy portraits of women of all ages. She provides much more than just visual imagery: she offers energy which communicates with viewers at many different level, supported (in part) by a wicked sense of humor.

Minako has worked for major ad agencies and publishers across Japan and abroad. Her clients include SONY, Elle Magazine, Christian Dior, Yojhi Yamamoto, La Foret Harajuku, among others. Minako is represented by Art Limited. Her work is available for commercial advertising agency work for fashion, urban culture, women’s themes, magazine and book publishing, cosmetic and beauty companies, retail and corporate in house freelance work.

For more info on Minako’s gorgeous imagery, visit her site.

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

Spring is coming, and the migrant birds on the lower left of the painting have returned. The river depicted in the painting is called the Tongtian River, which literally translates into English as “the river up to the sky or paradise”, hence the name of the painting. With a total width of 800 kilometers, the Tongtian River winds through the valleys between the Tanggula Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. Relatively inaccessible, the upper reaches of the Tongtian River have remained virtually unperturbed by human activities and are still the most un-spoilt regions of the Yangtze areas. However, recent years have seen a worsening degeneration and desertification of the grassland. A sand dune strip of nearly 40 km has been spotted in the upper reaches of the Tongtian River. From Tongtian River estuary to Qidukou in Qumalar, the river flows for 400 km at an elevation of above 4,000 meters. Until fifty years ago, this area had had no human habitation and had been called an uninhabited area of 800 kilometer.

Wang Yi Guang is at the forefront of the Chinese contemporary art scene. His passion for painting followed in the footsteps of his older brother and pursued his ultimate desire to become a painter. The painting above (River of Paradise) was part of Wang’s first solo exhibition Retrospective of Tibet - The Spirit and Movement (shown in Dec, 2004). This series (in part) was inspired by the humble beauty of the Tibetan plateau along with Tibetan way of life, their respect for the environment and nature, as well as their optimistic approach to life. have provided an infinite source of inspiration to his body of work.

According to the press-release of this show, Wang’s fond memories of Tibet - particularly catching sight of young girls running and laughing across the magnificent Tibetan plains, their sheep and cattle in tow - remind the artist that Feitain (or flying Devi, a mystical character, which is primarily found in the murals at Dunhuang and in sculptural forms in a handful of cave grottoes in China) does exist in life.

Since graduating from the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Wang has participated in various national and international exhibitions, in addition to a number of art fairs in Beijing, Guangzhou, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Wang Yi Guang currently works as a creative designer for the China Railway Construction Corporation.

More of Wang Yi Guang’s dream-like paintings can be seen following the jump. more…

Edward Day Gallery is currently showing a new series of paintings and drawings: “Lost in The Echo” by Toronto-based artist Dan Kennedy. His series explores Pop culture and historical fiction through a multitude of finely worked layers and seamless line work. You’ll also find an incredible explosion of colorful content, made using a lush, bright and deliciously flavorful palate. Amid all the cacophony, we can see a whole host of enchanting elements and characterized figures. These include depictions of Emma and Darwin (see above ), Geologists and Tramps to Hunters and Itinerant Professors, all elaborately taking the viewer into a world of stories.

Kennedy’s work has been featured in Bordercrossing’s, Canadian Art Magazine, Juxtapoz Magazine, The Star and National Post. His works are in numerous public and private collections Canada and the U.S., including the Canada Council Art Bank, in Ottawa.

View more from this series at the Edward Day Gallery.

Hate & Hate detail - Mixed media on wood- 70 ” x 40 “

Canadian Turf One aka Jean Labourdette is a street artist/painter/illustrator and his debut show, humorously titled: Turf One’s Pathetic Theater is opening today at Fuse Gallery. His paintings feature freaky surreal characters and a host of other strange looking oddities, set in a world reminiscent of a vintage circus sideshow. A closer inspection of these works reveals a variety of materials and media types he uses to meticulously paint his characters on. His ability to retain technical mastery while working on such surfaces’ simply magical to me. Here’s the flyer for the show…

Turf One’s Pathetic Theater Flyer for the show

A note on his show: “Turf One’s Pathetic Theater” - paintings by Turf One, runs November 3 through December 8, 2007 at Fuse Gallery, 93 2nd Ave (between 5th & 6th Sts, 2nd Ave stop on the F), NYC, NY. The opening reception, on Saturday, November 3rd, from 7 to 10 pm, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Fuse Gallery at 212.777.7988 or fusegall@fusegallerynyc.com.

See more of Turf’s unique artistic visions by visiting his portfolio or his his blog.

The Great Fat Fuck - Acrylic on wood - 86 ” x 43 “

The Great Fat Fuck (detail) - Acrylic on wood - 86 ” x 43 “

Dead Kid-B - Acrylic on wood, vintage frame - 21 ” x 32.5 ” x 3″

The Party, 2007. Oil & glitter on canvas, 66 x 84 inches

(Brooklyn-based) André Pretorius has a second solo show at ZieherSmith, from October 9 – November 10, 2007. Reception for the Artist: Thursday, October 18, 6-8 pm. Below is a press release statement by the Ziehersmith gallery, followed by some of Pretorius’ new works featured at the Ziehersmith. If your lucky enough to see this show, be sure to leave your reactions in the comment area.

André Pretorius’s new series of oil paintings presents his sardonic mix of allegory and personal experience. Appropriating composition, technique, and subject matter from various old masters, he relates contemporary characters of New York’s slick affluence in grand parables and portraits. Casting an arch glance at the elite class with a wry humor and caustic vision, Pretorius questions both their leisure and glamor, cognizant of his own complex relationship to this world as an emerging artist. more…

Backseat Driver, 2007 oil on board/rearview mirror/air freshner

Honeymoon Sweet | Seeing Red, 2006. Oil on canvas / 11 x 14

Am loving the work of Chicago-based artist Ken Keirns. His bio reads: “Ken Keirns was born on the thirteenth of November. Shortly after that he decided that growing up was not such a good idea. He has always wanted to be an artist, except for that short-lived stunt man period when he was nine.”

From “Hot Babes” painted on board and framed inside Fisher Price Toy TV sets to wickedly designed doors with whores, there’s really no limits to Ken Keirn’s talents. Most of his artworks depict women, spectacularly characterized with long necks and rather large heads. And, more often than not, each female portrayal transmits an array of sensations, in all art flavors: this could be either painting, illustration, sculpture,animation, book or a very beautifully smooth doll.

Keirns’ incredibly diverse artworks are part of Subtext’s “The Witching Hour” exhibition which is on right now, until November 1st. Many of his pieces showcased there, you can see after the jump. Along with some works originally shown at the Hot Babes In Toyland Show 2007, Chicago, IL. more…