Outsider Art

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Exploring a narrative on the hazards and uncertainties of love, the artwork conveys the idea that letting oneself fall into affection is a gamble. The wood ba...

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In this whimsical painting, a family of deer roams around a nature reserve. An owl perches on one of the trees, silently observing the woodland activity. A profusion of flowers adorn the scene, adding to the charm of the composition.

About the Artist
Artist Jessica JH Roller paints whimsical and playful compositions of animals and people, marked by bold colors and primitivist linework. She distills a scene into a few simple shapes, using color to create contrast and vibrancy, often choosing palettes that reflect pop culture. "My adopted kittens, Tony and Larry, opened my eyes and unleashed the artist inside me," shares Jessica. "After, I started to notice birds, trees, color, everything." Jessica brings to life her dynamic creations in the comfort of her studio in her century-old home. She enjoys listening to music and audiobooks while painting with her 18-year-old acrylic-covered easel. When not painting, Jessica cherishes time with her family and five cats, teaches yoga, and enjoys cycling along the river.

Words that describe this painting: forest, deer, deers, wildlife, folk, trees, owl, tree, trees, whimsical, nursery, animals, primitive, acrylic painting, red

Yellow Springs Deer Family...

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Artist Jessica JH Roller shows a young girl hugging a black cat. Both with striking green eyes, the duo is set against a bright purple background. "Pepper is ...

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Artist Jessica JH Roller crafts a visual tale of a playful interaction between creatures of the night. "Long before the break of day, a bat enters a home, awa...

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Artist Pamela Hoke displays a closeup of the large leaves and spiny tips of a giant Agave. The piece evokes a simply enchanting cal...

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A yellow tabby cat captures attention with its enigmatic and inviting gaze. Behind it, the dog shows a protective aura, silently vowing loyalty and friendship...

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Artist Libby Ramage shows a father and daughter being swept away by the beauty of the autumn leaves. "They try to grasp that which is beyond their size," says Libby. A horse gallops forward, representing the fading summer days. She chooses highly saturated colors to enrich the intensity of the moment. "Nature looms large in this artwork."

About the Artist
Libby Ramage infuses a playful and whimsical mood into her works. In fact, she credits the children she works with for greatly influencing her aesthetic. She often uses children’s abandoned work in her collages. Libby currently lives in New Jersey and finds inspiration in the work of Rauschenberg. She believes collectors should buy from the heart.

Words that describe this painting: man, daughter, fall, autumn, season, mixed media, small, leaves, people, horse, primitive, primitivism, nature, people, primitive, acrylic painting, orange

Falling Leaves...

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Artist Libby Ramage presents an autumnal scene marked by large leaves falling from the sky. "As the sun fades, a young boy becomes the man," says Libby. Showi...

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In primitivism style, artist Kira Yustak presents a majestic view of the jungle. She draws inspiration from natural phenomena occurring in nature. A prismatic...

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Artist Andrea Doss presents a whimsical narrative of a fairy reading a book to animals in the forest. "She read all sorts of books, but her favorite kind were...

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A dancing lady throws her arms in the air with fervor in artist Libby Ramage's mixed-media piece. The work expresses the exuberance of a young girl in a flowi...

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Artist Pamela Hoke exhibits an alluring view of a blooming lotus flower. An expression of rising above adversity with gorgeous blos...

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Using her signature folk art-style, artist Jessica JH Roller captures an endearing portrait of a wolf and two hedgehogs in a verdant abstract landscape. Jessi...

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Artist Jessica JH Roller paints a woman sitting on the ground with her legs crossed. Vibrant wildflowers in pink and red thrive all around her. "Summer is in ...

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"This lovely and graceful girl wearing her new red coat greets her smallest cat," says artist Jessica JH Roller. She holds her wide-eyed pet against her chest as if showing the viewer. The cat stares out with open curiosity. A delightful portrait using bold hues and painterly strokes.

About the Artist
A few months after Jessica JH Roller and her husband were married, they adopted two young Siamese cats from a shelter -- Tony and Larry. Jessica quickly fell deeply in love with the kittens and says the cats changed her. "They opened my eyes - I started to notice birds, trees, water, color, everything. It was as if the artist inside had been unleashed.” Jessica uses bold colors and primitive linework to create whimsical, expressive portraits. She intends to capture real or imagined moments that are both common and extraordinary.

Words that describe this painting: girl, folk art...

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Artist Libby Ramage presents an image of two human figures and an insect. She paints the glove crimson and attaches beads and pages of a book for a revolution...

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In this whimsical assemblage by artist Libby Ramage, a man and his pooch attempt to court the lady and her wolf with a song of love. "Maybe it's the wine talk...

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A pink chrysanthemum blooms in artist Pamela Hoke's lively floral piece. "An island friend gifted me with an enchanting autumnal bouquet from her farm," shares Pam. The playful waving magenta petals drew her attention and compelled her to paint the flower. Pam expresses the vibrant bloom in naturally flowing paint strokes.

About the Artist
Profound sensory experiences of nature unfold in artist Pamela Hoke's stylistically primitive representation of the world and her connection to it. Her vast array of subjects, including landscapes, florals, and animal portraits, emerge as intuitive expressions of energy in motion. She creates her own paint with natural earth and mineral pigments mixed with walnut oil—a beautiful and organic process used by the old masters. Pamela received her degree in fine arts at Ohio State University. Being fully immersed in the natural world ignited her creativity and increased her sense of belonging and overall well-being. She shares a semi-private studio with a group of painters on San Juan Island called the Friday Harbor...

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In this piece, artist Libby Ramage utilizes torn wine labels to define the two figures and their clothing. "A mother is scolding her child for the pile of torn paper at her feet while a guilty bunny in the lower right corner sneaks away," Libby explains of this playful collage.

About the Artist
Libby Ramage infuses a playful and whimsical mood into her works. In fact, she credits the children she works with for greatly influencing her aesthetic. She often uses children’s abandoned work in her collages. Libby currently lives in New Jersey and finds inspiration in the work of Rauschenberg. She believes collectors should buy from the heart.

Words that describe this painting: wine labels, bunny, mother, child, figurative, family, folk art, people, representational, primitive, mixed media artwork, beige

Bad Bunny...

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"Three dogs created from the labels of Italian wines, primarily Chianti, meet to share the day's news," describes artist Libby Ramage. Utilizing paper, wine l...

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"With the world asleep, the fox's senses are awakened," says artist Jessica JH Roller. Running free through the crisp evening air, the nocturnal creature frol...

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This is the eighth in a series of pieces done from old photographs my mother took of the now extinct amusement park, Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio. Idora Pa...

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"This piece is a pure expression of my delight from poppies," declares artist Pamela Hoke. She draws detailed focus to the elegant blossom's soft petals and ...

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Artist Pamela Hoke depicts a soft, moving embrace from a sunflower, one of her favorite flowers. She draws inspiration directly fro...

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Artist Lee Smith presents a mischievous-looking rabbit in the act of running away. She leaves out the pursuer from the composition, allowing the viewer to create their own narrative. Bold black linework with strategically placed teal accents outlines the patterned golden hues of the charming hare. The gray background allows the subject to take center stage, enhanced with a complex system of white tick marks, which add interest and help create the feeling of action and motion.

About the Artist
Artist Lee Smith combines abstract, expressionist, and gritty contemporary art in her work. “My style is greatly influenced by years spent in CGI production and an unapologetic love for the daily comics,” says Lee. As a keen observer, she finds her inspiration in the social aspects of life. Her work represents human emotions and portrays these emotions by illustrating the animal world, often using those popular companions—cats and dogs. In her long professional career, Lee has worked as a newspaper layout artist, a visual merchandising specialist, a freelance graphic artist, a technical illustrator, and an art director. Lee retired from the corporate world ten years ago to concentrate on her art career. “Although I studied art in college, I prefer to describe myself as 'self-taught.' Years of irreplaceable hands-on experience have provided an extensive and invaluable continuing education in the arts,” says Lee. When building her current home in Oregon, she added a small studio that she keeps organized and clutter-free. She wears her trusty paint-covered denim overall when working, and typically listens to audiobooks or podcasts. “I have dozens of paintbrushes in cans all over the studio, but I have only about 10 favorites that I always use.”

Words that describe this painting: rabbit, bunny, grin, teeth, eyes, pattern, running, run, leap, leaping, animal, ears, feet, legs, jack rabbit, mixed media, playful, animals, mixed media artwork, grey

The Getaway...

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A man collaged out of sheet music sings loudly in a visual stream of maps. His animal companion howls a silent tune. Artist Libby R...

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The photographs that form the head of this catlike creature are images of the carousel from the amusement park Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio that is long go...

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Artist Libby Ramage takes inspiration from her seventh-grade son's algebra homework. She imposes a sheet of equations on the face of a prince's portrait. Libb...

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Artist Libby Ramage portrays the mischievous god, Eros in a quaint assemblage of wine labels and charcoal. Inspired by the illustrations on the wine label, Li...

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"There is nothing better than welcoming a new day with the sun shining in a cloudless sky," says artist Pat Forbes. Topsy turvy monochrome structures in pale ...