It’s Beary Cold Outside
It’s a very cold and foreboding first of June outside today, so this collage on the June page of my Frankie calendar of a Fair Isle kitted bear by Donna Wilson is very apt. She works in a combination of traditional watercolour and digital media, and although she says little of herself, you can see more of her work at her website.
I’ll be battening down the hatches and keeping warm today. Happy June wherever you are!
To Know Her Was to Burn and Be Burned
Of late I have been researching pulp fiction book covers in preparation for a photoshoot on the theme. HOW some of these ridiculous or over-the-top sexpots on these covers make me laugh! ‘To know her was to burn and be burned … but when you are dealing with drug traffickers you must keep cool … and alive.’ Or, ‘She was gorgeous – and her curves spelt death!’ They’re like the bodice rippers aimed at women. There is a thesis in here somewhere, but I’m sure it’s been done already. I also love these pulp fiction reimaginings of modern tales: Blade Runner, The Matrix and George Orwell’s 1984.
Flights of Fancy
Touch the SkyWhat a pleasure to discover a new artist whose work very much appeals to my own aesthetic. Dreamlike and surrealist, fanciful and full of whimsy and strangeness and visual puns, Catrin Welz-Stein beckons one to step into another world of the imagination.
Originally working as a graphic designer in Germany, Welz-Stein now lives in Malaysia and, inspired by her young children, switched to illustration three years ago. She creates her images digitally, collaging old illustrations and photographs, blending them seamlessly into fairytale works of art. Her colour palette is muted and delicately tinted with a dirty edge; the grungy textures add depth and grittiness.
Heaven and EarthIt is no surprise to learn that she is inspired by fantasy, children’s stories, the medieval age, Jugendstil, folklore and Surrealism, and by artists such as Otto Dix, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Gustav Klimt, Magritte and Botticelli.
Who needs realism after all? There’s plenty of that around to drag us back to earth with a sudden jolt. Float away whenever you have the chance …
For more, visit Welz-Stein’s blog or Red Bubble gallery.
Madonna of the Tree
Sunshine Tattoo
Snow White
Summer Dreaming
Geese and Fox
Snow GeeseApril gives way to the first of May and my calendar flips over to this delicate illustration by Julianna Swaney. She lives in Portland, Oregan and says of herself on her blog Oh My Cavalier: “I love fairy tales, any and all animals, classical music, houseplants, beautifully designed household items, and antique typography and design.
“I have a BFA in printmaking but these days I make my living painting and drawing, showing work in galleries, doing illustration and hand lettering work, and designing custom logos and wedding invitations.”
You can see more of her work and inspirations on her several blogs, and purchase some of her work over at Big Cartel.
Happy May to you.
Reception, Julianna Swaney
Pin Pals
The April page in my Frankie calendar is illustrated in appropriately autumnal tones, and comes from Pin Pals. That Fair Isle knit is nice and cosy for the weather too.
Sam and Sara of the cutely named collective Pin Pals are two creative women who live in two cities. They say this of themselves: “Living in two cities. Busy making and drawing independently, but inspired by similar things. Mainly, folk art, children’s book art, lost handmade articles in thrift stores, cats and dogs, coffee drinking, radio, people and places.”
You can visit their blog and see what inspires them, and see some more of their work on Flickr.
Happy April!