Julia Humpfer: HerbstKind and Dreams

This morning, while I was drinking my coffee and browsing the web for some inspiration, I stumbled across these wonderful prints. I love the simple palette and intricate line work of Julia Humpfer's illustrations. Her drippy watercolor backgrounds remind me of the series of drawings I made last spring.

I have had some very vibrant dreams lately. I am hoping to put some of the images into some new drawings. Last night I was befriended by a beautiful deer, after I had run away from home and sought refuge in the wild forest. When I was re-captured, I hid the deer in my room between my clothes hanging in my closet. I could talk to the deer and it could understand me, but it couldn't talk back, it just made soft grunting sounds.  I was quickly sent away to a mountain school for witches, housed in a cold stone castle, where I learned to interpret secret messages coming from a small silver figure of a woman with a large bell skirt. The messages were from Xena the warrior princess.

Spring Bird

A few nights before this, I was escaping from two talking mountain lions who had the ability to walk on walls.  They were after me because I had not packed my suitcase fast enough. Interestingly, gaudy costume jewelry was the only thing I packed into the suitcase. The whole dream took place in a retail store that had closed for the night.

As I remember, David was calmly shopping in the dark while I was being attacked. 

Dragon

Of course my favorite dream of recent weeks is the one where I am living with giant (as in the size of a house) talking bunnies in the woods. The rest of the dream was pretty complicated and it involved escaping (yet again) from bad guys who I believe were trying to smoke us out of the forest with torches. There were some gruesome scenes that took place in a castle, but the talking bunny part was pretty wonderful. I believe Albus Dumbledore also showed up at one point. 

Balloons

So: themes of forests, bad guys, castles and talking animals. Pretty good material for some new pictures I think. Today, however, I have to make a trip to Raleigh (30 minutes away) to stock up on some panels for encaustic work and an encaustic workshop I am teaching with my friend Shannon in Washington State next week. I am sure I won't even get to start on any new drawing today. But the ideas will roll around in my head while I am driving back and forth from the art store. I hope that actually being in a forest next week will provide the perfect environment to begin the new series.

Have a happy, creative Friday everyone!

Gird with Birdy

Susie MacMurry and Olivia Jeffries

Argus - Made with peacock feathers

I am having a rather slow start to my studio day this week. This morning I got distracted by, of all things, my bible study! Who knew you could get so lost in Judges chapter eight and nine? Well I did, and now my head is full of all kinds of crazy old testament goings on.

Now I am trying to bend my brain back into the pieces I am working on, which have absolutely nothing to do with ephods, brambles, or millstones.  Although those things together might make an interesting piece all on their own. Hmm, I'll just file that away for another day.

So, without further distraction, here are some artists that inspire me, may they inspire you also:

Susie MacMurry's work was sent me almost two years ago by my friend Kate Van Dyke. I continue to look at her pieces when I am in need of something visually interesting. I love her use of materials, and how very ethereal all her work is. The portfolio on her website is only updated to 2008. I so hope she is still making work!

Echo

Echo (detail) - Yes! These are hair nets.

Shell

Shell (detail) - Velvet filled mussel shells - Why did I not think of this?

Gauze Bandage - Can you believe this is a drawing? Gorgeous. 

Olivia Jeffries is another artists whose drawings I have been enjoying. She draws on pages from old books, how could I not love it! The way she keeps thing so simple makes her drawings wonderfully mysterious. I think I would use the word ethereal for her work also. In a world so over-stimulated, I love looking at quiet whispers of things. 

Something so Utterly Sublime

My Secret Self/At Rest

Everyone Wants a Piece of You When You're Pretty

Surely I Don't Exist if You Can't See Me

Drawn

Enjoy these two talented ladies. I smell my melted wax, so I am off to tackle my own creations. Have a happy Friday!

James M. Smith

Orion

For a while I have been wanting to write a post on having a schedule. Making a schedule for myself has really helped me to accomplish artistic things each week. However, this week did not play by my schedule rules at all. So perhaps it is not the best time to go on about the benefits of my schedule keeping. Another time.

In my schedule for the spring there are two blocks of time to write on the blog. One on Friday and one on Monday. Fridays are also my studio work days, and my plan is to post a short blog about an artist, picture, or quote that has been informing my work. Just something to warm me up and get me thinking before I start working. So today, at the beginning of Friday Inspiration posts, I have James M. Smith to share with you.

Gros Ventre

I love the layering and texture he achieves in a way that looks effortless. Can't you imagine him just sticking these pieces of fabric and paper on top of each other at random? I know it took much thought, but I so enjoy its feeling of spontaneity.  I am trying to learn from him about using color in the midst of a mostly neutral palette, and including texture while retaining simplicity. I really like texture and I tend to either go over-board, or not include it at all.

Green River-R

I also am drawn to how abstract these are; it encourages me as I try to move in that direction with my own work. I am having trouble navigating the question, "What is it about?", as I try to make things that are more visceral and intuitive.  I want to practice making things from my gut, but when I know that people are going to ask me that question, I get distracted trying to answer it. In that distracted place I am tempted to give them something more representational to hang on to. These are so beautiful that it encourages me to keep trying.

Gunnison-R

My wax is now melted in my crock pot, my is desk clean, and I am off to give some of these ideas a try. Happy Friday!