Surreal Artwork by Deborah Hamon Combines Photography & Painting In Photoshop

above: Deborah Hamon's The Game combines a painted figure with a photographic background.

41 year old artist Deborah Hamon, born in Adelaide, Australia and now living and working in Marin County (my own home town), was recently named one of PDN's 30 Photographers to Watch and has been featured in New American Paintings, Israel's Picnic magazine, Flak photo, has a permanent piece (Wonderland) in the prestigious Crocker Bank Art Museum Collection, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, honors and mentions.


above: The artist, Deborah, in her studio, alongside Queen of The Hill (also shown below):


Her unusual work consists of both 'constructed' photography and complete paintings. Her surreal photos (c-prints) combine a study of fiction and reality, placing flat graphic painted figures (almost always girls) usually confronting the viewer, with photographic backgrounds of exterior settings. She uses Photoshop to construct her photographs with figures from her paintings.


above: detail of Forever and Ever shows the contrast of the painted figure with the photographed tree, combined in Photoshop.

Here are a few examples of her Constructed Photography:

Facade:

Forever and Ever:

Grandma's House:

Huff and Puff:

Manicured:

Sandtrap:

Snowbound:

Tree Fairy (left) and Walkabout (right):

Wonderland:


It seems as though her photographs have received more attention than her paintings, likely because of the unusual combining of media. But, as you will see from the images below, her large acrylic paintings which consist of similar subject matter, are also very compelling and thoughtfully rendered.

Here are a few examples of her acrylic paintings:
Poolside:

Cowgirls and Butterflies (left) and Rope Swing (right):

He Loves me, He Loves me Not:

Haven:

Red Arrow:

Victory:

Deborah Hamon

Acrila - Modern Acrylic Furniture That Goes From Baroque To Pop Art.

Founded by designer Jean Christophe Bernard, Acrila of France, produces attractive and unusual modern lines of decorative acrylic furnishings for both commercial and residential use.

With works by designers Vincent Poujardieu, Carlo Rampazzi, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Elodie Acoca and Patrick R. Lavoix, Acrila has designed furnishings that include dining chairs, lounge chairs, dining tables, console tables, end tables, lamps, adjustable bar stools and even necklaces.




Most recent additions to their fun furnishings are the Grand Soir collection; black and white lasercut baroque chairs, bar stools and tables.




And the City Collection; a typographic treatment of International city names in black or white on a console, bar stools, floor and table lamps.






Other collections, by the aforementioned designers, include the following:












Here are some examples of their fun lamps:




A City Skyline screen and Eiffel tower chair are also available:



And even acrylic handgun necklaces:


There's a lot more to see at their site.

Acrila is available to the trade only.

Meet Mr. Acrylic: Aaron R. Thomas

Above: Mr. A.R.T. himself

Aaron R. Thomas (ART) reinterprets some modern classics as well as designing and inventing his own, all in acrylic (As a matter of fact, he is sponsored by Plexiglas®).

Last year he was chosen as the lead designer to oversee the development of the Wasser Klar acrylic furniture line.

In addition to much whimsical design, he does make some high end gaming tables, beautiful lamps and more. Below are some images of his inventive and original furniture:


Above: gaming table



Some are frosted, some are hand painted.



All are fun.


above: The Lane Table made with a maple wood bowling lane top.

And all can be cleaned with a sponge.


I particularly like the acrylic eames LCW (pictured above).


above: The DJ table he created for the Golden Globes, complete with Louis Vuitton Trunk!

In addition to creating furniture, Aaron also creates sculptures from acrylic as well as custom displays for things like auto shows.

Below is an example of one of his fun sculptures titled "Freeze":



The following is reprinted from his site:
Aaron R. Thomas (A R T™) loves acrylic.

Aaron has an uncommonly intuitive way with acrylic, surely due, in part, to his lifelong exposure to the material. His Parents' acrylic workshop was his playground and he entertained himself learning to use the tools to manipulate the transparent plastic by watching his craftsman father at work. Aaron loved to turn secretly salvaged scraps into an efficient and appealing object that would bring beauty, joy, and vivacity into the world.

Aaron's philosophies of ART and Life stem from these formative experiences of the capacity for creation and invention to instantly change the world for the better.
Eliminating loveless design became his crusade.

Aaron's infectious passion and talent have enlisted a broad network of support and admiration across an intriguing variety of industries.

Aaron R. Thomas Design enjoys the exclusive sponsorship of Plexiglas®

Aaron creates custom unique pieces for top architects and designers worldwide.

Aaron's work is displayed in museums and exclusive private collections worldwide.

Aaron R. Thomas Website - Art in Acrylic

You can also see some of his other custom work and get information at another site of his: http://www.thomasplastic.com/