New Chevron Neckaces and NYC Trains

 

This black chevron necklace and these other two chevron necklaces have been inspired by the gate of the New York subway trains that is placed at the front and back of each train in front of the the doors (see the photo above of the 7 train) and in between the cars. Next time you are in New York take a look and see if you see it.

As you can see, the black chevron necklace looks most similar to the train gate and the other two are more loosely inspired by it.

 I need a name for these two chevron necklaces, any ideas? I will be adding them to the il gatto selvatico etsy shop this week.

The Piano Book Locket

Several weeks ago I saw The Piano for the first time and was inspired by it in many ways. I saw the possibility for future art and jewelry projects which I talk more about in this post. Now I've finally made one of those jewelry ideas. I made a Book Locket which was inspired by the necklace that Holly Hunter's character, Ada McGrath wore. She was mute and had a gold necklace which contained papers that she would use to communicate with when her daughter who translated for her was not around.

Augustin Lesage

 Composition symbolique, oil and graphite on canvas, 1928

 Composition symbolique, oil on canvas

oil on canvas (date and title unknown)

 (date and title unknown)

Diligently working in his studio (date unknown)

I just found out about this French outsider artist, Augustin Lesage (Saint-Pierre-Lez-Auche, 1876 - Burbure, 1954) and I'm wondering why I didn't already know his name. He was a coal miner who believed that spirits were guiding his hand and would come home from the mines every evening to work on his paintings. I think these works are amazing because he was way ahead of his time. Google him, his paintings are amazing and he was a really fascinating guy too.

Rene Magritte

 La Cascade, 1961

 The Blank Check, 1965

Castle in the Pyrenees, 1959

Song of Love, 1964

 

Clear Ideas, 1955

Rikka Sormunen

 Cruel Summer

 Dark Waters

 

Nest

I love these compositions that are packed with patterns and textures by Rikka Sormunen.

Kadinsky

 Several Circles, 1926

 Blue Mountain 1908-09

 Composition 8, 1923

 Decisive Rose, 1932

 

Composition 2, 1909-10

Some of my favorite paintinsg by Kadinsky at the Guggenheim Museum. Some of them are in the special exhibition Kadinsky at the Bahaus. Definitely worth a look. I was very inspired by these and others to make some similar designs into dresses and scarfs.

A basket (house), wind chimes, a monolith and a chain ladder

 

You are probably wondering what all these images have to do with each other. The answer is they are the inspiration of my newest jewelry which you can see below...wind chimes necklace, basket bib, chain ladder, ball locket and monolith necklace.

I need 36 hours in each day!

I've put this scarf by Franki Morello here to me is a reminder that I want to make cabled and fair isle knitted, woven looking black and white and colorful infinity scarfs for next winter. I have too many arts and crafts project ideas and not enough time to execute them. Sound familiar?

The Piano

I saw the piano for the first time last week, while I was watching I thought of a 3 ideas from scenes and objects in the movie. Do you remember the necklace that Holly Hunter's character was always wearing? It was a gold box with a tablet of paper in it for her to communicate (since she was mute). I think it'd be interesting to make a gold tablet necklace for notes, I just need a jewelry studio. I also thought that the prosthetic finger would make a cool but creepy ring or necklace or something, although it doesn't really have to do with my aesthetic. The third thing that I found inspiring was the last scene where Holly Hunter was floating in the bottom of the ocean hovering above her piano with her skirt billowing out around her like hot air balloon, I think it would make a really beautiful illustration.

Captain Dakota

I was asked to paint another portrait of Dakota the chihuahua, but this time as a sailor. As you can see I had a great time. I was inspired by the photographs of Pierre et Gilles and by pictures of Dakota herself (at the beach at sunset). She even has a little anchor tattoo.



















Pierre et Gilles
















Dakota

Amazing Paper Cuts

The work of Danish artist Peter Callesen inspired me to make my own little paper sculptures. I was at a standstill with my installation for my thesis show in my last year of college and when I saw his tower of babel sculpture I knew I wanted to make a little paper village. And I've been making paper houses ever since.
See them at my website.



















Tall Tower of Babel, 2005

Here are some other enchanting works by him both big and small.


























































It's hard to believe that this is made of paper!

Elsita Mora is another very talented artist who makes paper cuts but that's not all. She also makes dolls and porcelain sculptures, jewelry and illustrations.























El Bosque de la Mente























Frida Kahlo Necklace, inspired by the self portraits of Frida Kahlo.

Just Kids, Patti Smith

I'm reading Patti Smith's new book Just Kids about her and Robert Mapplethorpe growing up, making art, (getting known) and being together in New York in the late 60's and early 70's. It's like reading a fable about 2 people long ago and far away in the magical castel of Hotel Chelsea and the mystical land of New York in the 60's.

Dolls and Soft Sculptures

I've always loved this Owl and Pussycat (2002) flip doll by Kiki Smith. I first saw it at the museum shop of the Fabric Workshop in Philadelphia. Silkscreen on fabric.














I made these soft sculptures in college. Fabric, felt, plastic, wood and wax.

















Here are some beautiful dolls and soft sculptures that are being sold on etsy.

These beautiful lavender scented ravens remind me of the Kiki Smith dolls a little bit. You can buy them from The Diggingest Girl. Printed Cotton, polyfill, lavender beads and hemp.

















I love these "feltidermy" felted faux taxidermy plushies by Girl Savage. This one is a jackalope. Wool felt, wood and polyester fiberfill.






















These Russian Nesting Doll inspired soft sculptures are called Nest and they are a limited edition of hand screen-printed soft sculptures by Beside Herself.
Here is the description of the dolls and the concept behind them:
This series is an exploration of traditions; those that are learned in a particular cultural context and those that are learned in the home. It is about our relationship to our traditions and how this relationship and the traditions themselves can change over time, particularly in the context of migration. This piece is about both the comfort and burden of traditions when we find ourselves in new settings.
These NEST sculptures consider how the process of nesting is an ongoing one. We find ways of nesting in new surroundings as these sculptures will in their new homes.

















I also love these strange and playful monster dolls by Ninon. Linen, cotton, buttons, yarn, polyfil, faux fur, velvet and fleece.















And last but not least, these pissy fishwives by Charming Rosie's Bazaar give me the biggest kick. I think they are so clever. Digitally printed cotton, wool and polyester filling. The artist who makes these is also a talented animator see her animation here.