green chair studio

inspiration - day four

More papercutting!!  Today the lovely work of Elsa Mora.  Find her main blog here, papercutting blog here, fashion blog here, and her etsy shop here (yes, she's a busy, busy lady!). 

Also, check out her papercuts inspired by classic children's stories here.  Wouldn't those make such a lovely grouping of pictures for a baby nursery or child's room?  {{swoon}}

Anybody else itching to pull out a cutting mat and x-acto knife?

inspiration - day three

Beautiful, beautiful - the work of Virginia Rose Kane combines lots of elements I love - collage, botanicals, ephemera, old imagery, and intricate paper cutting.  I first met Virginia years ago when she lived in Michigan and we were both participating in the U.I.C.A. Holiday Artist's Market.  She has since moved but I have had the joy of seeing her work progress through her website, shop, flickr, and blog.  Really stunning work!

    

    

   

 

 

inspiration - day two

My featured artist today is the amazing Su Blackwell.  Her book-cut sculptures are meticulously crafted and so very beautiful and inventive.  I would love to see her work in person as I'm sure that it is even more stunning in all its dimensional, delicate glory.  I thought she also had an interesting artist statement:

Paper has been used for communication since its invention; either between humans or in an attempt to communicate with the spirit world. I employ this delicate, accessible medium and use irreversible, destructive processes to reflect on the precariousness of the world we inhabit and the fragility of our life, dreams and ambitions.

It is the delicacy, the slight feeling of claustrophobia, as if these characters, the landscape have been trapped inside the book all this time and are now suddenly released. A number of the compositions have an urgency about them, the choices made for the cut-out people from the illustrations seem to lean towards people on their way somewhere, about to discover something, or perhaps escaping from something. And the landscapes speak of a bleak mystery, a rising, an awareness of the air.

detail 1:

detail 2:

She also did this really cool ad for Beringer Wine:

inspiration - day one

This week I want to share some of my favorite inspiring artists, concentrating on some of those working with paper and bookmaking/sculpture.  I'll be featuring someone every day this week so stop back often! 

First up:  Mister Rob Ryan, paper-cutter extraordinaire.  I was absolutely smitten when I first saw his work.  I can hardly imagine the patience and precision it takes to make these ridiculously lovely pieces.  (And I'm curious how many x-acto blades he goes through in a week!)  Check out his website and shop.

my sentiments (almost) exactly...

My friend Terri recently posted this video on Facebook.  It just really resonated with me and my current struggle to make time for art in my life...