Missouri native Kelly Louise Judd‘s illustrations are lovely, sure, but they’re also just a little bit creepy. They are the sketched equivalent of having all the lights cut out as you read aloud an old ghost story or dark fairy tale from your childhood. You may be all grown up now, but, still, something in the back of your mind suggests that you don’t turn around… The artist interjects a bit of humor just when it’s needed, though. The Big Bad Wolf snickers, carrying Little Red Riding Hood in his fat, furry belly as he strolls away from grandmother’s house. A fox sneaks a peek at his very own foxglove shoes, and a pair of Victorian ladies step out for a smoke, filling the sky with phlegmy constellations. The influences of Victorian illustration, Renaissance art, fairy tales, and abnormal psychology are evident in all her pieces, as you can see here. Check them out below.  

Martine Johanna is a Dutch artist with a beautiful portfolio of illustration work. While being heavily influenced by Art Nouveau, Johanna’s work is decidedly modern, juxtaposing organic, undulating waves of hair with geometric shapes, and delicately wrought shading with surprising peeks of color. Her drawings often depict seductive modern muses in fantastical worlds, proving that fairytales aren’t just for children anymore. 

Lot’s of fun illustrstion, prints, and good ol’ fashioned graphic design by London based creative Thom Lambert!

Aldis Ozolins is a maker of zines, posters, and experimental illustrations that represent memories from the place he was born: Riga, Latvia. While Aldis’ current professional direction and focus is on graphic design and interactive experiences (both of which he is damn good at), we chose to feature his illustrative work and side-projects due to the strong emotional qualities embedded so clearly within each of the pieces. It’s easy to get lost in the figures and environments his images bring to life… enjoy a selection after the jump.

Michelle Morin’s works are beautifully detailed natural scenes depicting flora and fauna. Each of her pieces is full of painted texture, and puts an earthy calm spin on classical animal paintings. As a once professional gardener, she has a unique insight into her subject matter. I think it makes all the difference, don’t you?

Fans of typography and clean illustrations with a dash of experimental yet calculated layout need to keep tabs on German designer Sven Neitzel AKA Nicer Graphics. Lets hope has access to good printing services with all gorgeous prints, posters, and graphics that are piled high on his portfolio site.

(Via it’s nice that)

Begone/Bygone, 2010
8″ x 10″, ink and watercolor on paper

Welcome to our third offering of Click To Collect, Beautiful/Decay’s campaign to help art lovers start their collection of original artists works at affordable prices. Our featured artist this week is Justin B. Nelson whose delicately rendered watercolor , charcoal, and ink drawings have graced the pages of Beautiful/Decay as well as our website many times. For the first time ever we are offering Justin’s original drawings for sale as part of our Click To Collect initiative to bring original works of art to the masses at affordable prices. Read more about Justin’s fantastic work and see more pieces that are available for sale after the jump!

Biotopographica, 2010
15″ x 18″, charcoal on paper

About The Artist:

Justin Bryan Nelson is a self-taught visual artist born on November 15th, 1985 in Astoria, Oregon. He currently lives and works in Tampa, Florida. Justin’s recent body of work focuses on personal experiences and exploration. In his mixed media drawings he creates strange people, landscapes, and objects often inspired by photographs he has taken in his travels. Sometimes grotesque, sometimes beautiful, they are representative of experiences that he has encountered while exploring distant places.

Real Love, It Finds You, 2009
8″ x 10″ framed, pencil, ink, and acrylic on paper

Pessimysticism, 2010
7.5″ x 7.5″, Ink and watercolor on paper

An Island, 2009
7″ x 7″, charcoal on paper

In A Dark Place, 2010
8″x10″, ink and pencil on paper

About Click To Collect:

Eight months ago I bought my first house and renovated it, which meant my art collection was packed up in boxes and bubble wrap not to be seen for another 5 months. In the mean time, staring at the boring white walls in my house was literally driving me up a wall. And the second the dust settled, before even moving in the furniture, I installed every piece of art I owned in the new space. The art transformed the whole house, what felt soulless and sterile before was now filled with the chatter of all the different works of art telling their individual stories.

That got me to thinking about how important art is in making a house a home, and how everyone should be able to collect it. That’s how the the CLICK TO COLLECT project was born. We wanted to give everyone a chance to collect our favorite artists and keep the prices to $500 or less…. Art Within Reach, if you will, ahem. Each week this month we will offer you 5-10 original hand-made works priced $500 or below through our CLICK TO COLLECT project. It’s our hope that by making these original works available at these prices, we’re helping our readers start or grow their very own collection that they will enjoy and treasure for years to come.

- Amir H. Fallah
Editor In Chief