What Inspires Me

             

I'm always interested in finding out what inspires other artists, so I thought I'd share a bit about what inspires me.... 
      

First and foremost, vintage children's book illustrations! I can't think of a time when I wasn't entranced by the playful, colourful illustrations you find in children's books. Mid-century children's illustration has been the most influential to me these days. It hit me one day while doing some research that these are the books I grew up with  (in the '70s and '80s) - no wonder they've always brought me delight!   

Holidays, specifically Halloween and Christmas. I'm lucky to have many, many wonderful memories of both as a child. Halloween was always such a fun, magical time when I could be anyone (or anything!) I wanted to be! When I create my Halloween ornaments I'm taken back to my days of trick-or-treating and all the nostalgia that only an '80s Halloween can hold. Christmas decor to me means lots of kitsch and colour, thanks to the many wonderful decorations my mom used from her own childhood. They just make me smile and remember that feeling of giddiness every Christmas morning...

Through the years, regardless of medium, nature has always inspired me not only with my art, but life in general (and has obviously been so beneficial for my anxiety). I can't remember a time where I wasn't creating animals in some form, and plants and florals have usually found their way into my creations. My husband and I love to go hiking and sheep are always a common sight, which is one reason I love creating my felted/spun cotton sheep (mine are just a bit more colourful, of course!).

Colour. Working with colour has always been a favourite of mine, but there's something so magical about dipping a brush into paint and watching it glide across the spun cotton, bringing a creation to life. Even when working with neutrals I can't resist adding a touch of pink somewhere!

What inspires you?