Happy Art

One of the things about married life that I'm most looking forward to is making my new house a home. People are what really makes a house a home, but I think some well-chosen throw pillows and artfully displayed knick-knacks can't hurt, either. I'm definitely starting to think about what I want hanging on my walls. Whatever it is, I've decided, it must make me think happy when I look at it.

Two of my favorite "happy" artists are Rosina Wachtmeister and Maira Kalman.

I first encountered the work of Rosina Wachtmeister a few years ago in Germany as I was passing by the window of my favorite toy store, Wirth der Kinderladen (seriously, Readers, German toy stores will make you want to have children just so they can play with the amazing German toys). The window was filled with toys and puzzles based on Wachtmeister's famously quirky cat art.

We Want To Be Together

Colorful Flower Meadow I, II, and III

I could not just justify buying one of the 90 euro stuffed cats, but I did manage to justify buying a cat puzzle and set of cat glasses. Last year I found a Wachtmeister print at TJ Maxx. I put it in my bathroom, and now I brush my teeth with happy cats every morning!

I was familiar with Maira Kalman from her collaboration with Kate Spade. I'll admit, it wasn't love at first sight back then, but when I rediscovered Kalman through her New York Times blog, And the Pursuit of Happiness, I. FELL. IN. LOVE. The first post I read was the much blogged-about In Love with A. Lincoln, in which the artist riffs on researching, falling in love with, and dating the sixteenth President.

Invitation

For a scholar, I'm far too emotionally attached to the material and people I study, and Kalman does such a magnificent job of expressing that joy and longing.

Here are a few others by Kalman that I love...

Dog Reads Book

Vase and Tassel

Maira Kalman's art makes me so happy I want to cry...

I hope they make you happy, too, tears or not. : )