Deirdra and I had a great time yesterday cruising the Portland Artist Open Studios tour. Everything was inspirational in its own way, and the artists were expecially wonderful to talk about their work. Two new favorites for me are artists that I would highly recommend for everyone to visit: Christopher Bibby (from Liverpool, England!) and Barabara Paanakker (from Holland!). Christopher's vibrant cityscapes are oils mixed with a waxy medium that allows him to scribe lines into the surface and bring up underlying layers of color. Barbara's work is also very texturized. She builds up the surface with a thick gel paste and then paints with acrylics on top of that, adding found objects and also distressing the surface. Color and form are rich and lively. Go see!
Driving around to see all these studios, Deirdra let me look through a new catalog she'd received, knowing I would love what I saw. Oh yeah, let the chorus of angels chime in - AHHHHHHH! Lookie here at Gudrun Sjoden designs. It's like Hanna Andersson for grown ups! I loved the catalog because it showed women from all stages of life: the maiden, the mother, and the wise woman. As I enter my wise woman stage of life, it's refreshing to see a real live role model in a catalog. Her hair is silver, her eyes are kind, her skin shows the lines of a life well-lived - she is NOT botoxed! Is it not surprising that this is a European catalog, not American?
I have long been an aficionado of folkwear. I used to study the traditional costumes in my undergrad days as a textile student, and I used to dress with a folkloric flair in everyday life. Maybe now as I veer back into my artsy fartsy self, folklore would fun again. But would I have to buy a whole new wardrobe? I'd love to buy from this catalog, but they have to ship all the way from Scandinavia! Deirdra suggested I look for goodies from Goodwill that I could modify - good idea. But what about right NOW? I decided to look through my closet late last night, and here's what I pulled together:
So, it turns out I've already got quite a bit of folkloric funk hanging out in the closet. I decided to put this last one on for today. I think a mixed media self-portrait might be on the way!
3 comments:
I love those outfits. Sounds like your travels were inspiring :)
Wow. Looking through you closet would be a dream...to dress up like that every day, I would love that! My clothing is sooo boring...I DO have great jewelry tho.
This is one of my favorite posts, EVER
I'm going to look again.
xox, Lisa
Hi LK,
Had to check out your blog too. Thanks for the comments. Isn't the
Gudrun Sjoden catalog gorgeous. Just the colors and layouts alone will inspire. I love that folklore dressing too.
Your omo dolls are wonderful.
Judy wise hooked me on encaustic too. I can't wait for her to come
back to the East Coast next year.
Corrine
Post a Comment