Kumi Obata's art appeals to me the way a beautifully crafted sketch does. Her etchings are a perfect balancing act between drawn doodle looseness and sophisticated, refined art. Rich in texture, line, and pattern, her work is no doubt influenced by the quiet beauty and tradition of her home country, Japan. The first day I happened onto her site, I felt like I was transported into someone else's dream and floated around from one beautiful scene to the next, not wanting to leave. A year and a half later, I still feel the same.

First off. Thanks DA for having having me for February, and OKAT for the really swell things you said. I will try my best to make this icy cold month all warm and bubbly on our insides.

Okay now to business. Maura Cluthe (aka: Fragmented) was easily the first artist that came to my mind to feature here. The first time I saw her stuff I was blown away. I instantly felt a kindred spirit and connection. She reluctantly agreed after much prodding (just kidding). Maybe it was the robots and monsters, or her eye grabbing textures or was it the hyperdoodles (as she calls them) or her expert design sense. I'm going to say it is all of that and more! Maura is the complete package. She just finished up a children's book titled It's Not Easy Being Brave that I can't wait to get my hands on. There are prints available at her online shop. Yay Maura!

From the moment that I met Amelie in 2008 and saw her work, I knew I was hooked. Her whimsical and playful approach to her art and her life is endlessly inspiring. I was first introduced to her as my tutor from Central Saint Martins, where she always guided us to draw and doodle away because any doodle can become something so much more she would always say.

Her sketchbooks always amaze me because they are so filled with nostalgia, amazing colors, mixed materials and textures. Her brilliant doodles seem to glide right from her mind to the pages of these fun filled books. I really felt a strong connection to her work from the get go, a lover and collector of vintage toys, a textile artist, and oh so much more... meet Amelie Labarthe »